The Imperious Flame Eagle's true size was unknown, but the gait it maintained was similar in size to a one-story building.
It had a huge wingspan, and like the Sword Hawk had blade-like feathers, each of this bird's feathers was laced with flames.
Its pure existence was enough to heat up the atmosphere, and the fluctuations of its element raged chaotically around its body, a condition caused by the incomplete world laws.
It sat perched in its nest, not quite in the center of its territory but not far away from it, and got ready to spend another peaceful day.
Challengers rarely came to this part of the mountain. Those who did were usually far too weak, and only fought him because they underestimated his power.
Therefore, it had been a quiet life since the creature earned its place at the top of the mountain.
Still, it wasn't the strongest.
Both it and the Thunder Demon Crow became kings through the Ascension Ceremony, but the Pegasus had existed for as long as the mountain.
It subtly oppressed the two of them, making sure they knew they would never match up to it or the Cloud Emperor it served.
There wasn't much to do as a ruler in this place, so the Imperious Flame Eagle spent most of its time understanding the flames that surfaced on its body when it reached 4th class.
However, today was once again a day of challenge.
He felt the presence of outsiders in his territory.
Haa…
He sighed to himself and flapped his wings, shooting into the air.
His expansive shadow tracked along the ground, putting fear into the hearts of the animals living in this territory.
Even from far away, this shadow was visible.
Damien and the girls had only just entered the area, but they already saw the visage of its lord moving in their direction.
Damien's eyes narrowed.
"There's only one thing you need to remember," he said to the girls.
"No matter what happens, don't stop running."
They nodded in response, their expressions hardening.
It was clear that the moment of battle was approaching.
And it wasn't going to give them any more time to prepare!
WHOOSH!
Furious winds kicked through the air as the Imperious Flame Eagle arrived above the group.
It looked down on them like ants. Without a single word of greeting, it flapped its wings again, sending a rain of flaming feathers to the ground!
"Damn!"
Damien exclaimed and picked up the pace, making sure the girls were following him.
He grabbed Freya and fired a single shot into the air, perfectly aimed at one of the feathers.
Bang!
The feather exploded into a fiery wave that consumed those around it and burned the air.
"It's just a probe! Get out of range and make a break for the peak!"
Damien slammed his feet into the ground, skidding to a stop and facing the eagle.
Mirage appeared in his grip and he slashed it without mercy, sending hundreds of crescent-shaped spatial ruptures into the sky.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Feathers continued to explode and the atmosphere was instantly filled with chaotic waves of battle.
The girls followed Damien's instructions and continued running without waiting for him.
If there was one thing Damien excelled at, it was running away!
Damien kept using Freya and Mirage to block the Imperious Flame Eagle's projectiles, watching it seriously.
'It's not changing its attack patterns? Is it looking down on me that much?'
Well, it wasn't unwarranted considering the strength difference, but Damien still didn't appreciate it!
'It looks like they're out of range. Let's get started.'
The girls were moving with haste and cleared several dozen kilometers in just a few seconds, which gave Damien space to enact his insane plan!
He jumped into the air and teleported, flashing higher and higher until he was at the same altitude as the eagle.
The beast looked at him with a spark of anger in its eyes, and he grinned in response.
"Now!"
He flicked his arm out. A vortex of pitch-black mana appeared before him.
He felt a certain connection that remained restricted until now opening up due to the influence of Void Mana, and…!
Haaa!
A fierce battle cry rang through the air.
A green blur split sound itself and approached the Imperious Flame Eagle in a single instant.
BOOM!
The blur's fist slammed into its head with the crushing power of a 4th class being.
And it's figure became visible at the same time.
It was none other than Elvira, who'd come to assist from the Sanctuary!
"Elvira, there's no time! Do as much damage as possible!" Damien yelled.
"Understood!" She responded, chasing the eagle she'd just thrown.
B-BOOM!
The sky clouded over instantaneously.
Damien gaining access to the Void meant he could force open the pathway to the Sanctuary, which was maintained by the Void itself.
Since those he summoned didn't enter the Severed World naturally, the sub-universe's restrictions couldn't be applied to them!
However, the Severed World wouldn't just accept their existence.
If it couldn't be controlled, it had to be eradicated!
Elvira pushed through the air, controlling her mana to bring massive vines bursting out of the ground.
They entwined around the Imperious Flame Eagle, and just as she moved to attack—
"Time to go!"
Damien swept his arm out and wrapped her in his mana, sending her back to the Sanctuary.
KABOOOOOOOM!
A tree-trunk-like bolt of lightning fell from the clouds and obliterated the space it tore through, striking down on Elvira's past location!
The Imperious Flame Eagle was just unfortunate enough to get caught in the blast radius.
CAAAWWWW!
It croaked in absolute anguish.
It was only hit by the residue of the lightning, but that was still lightning strong enough to incinerate a 4th class being!
Damien grinned to himself.
'As expected, it works!'
Damien flicked his hand out again and repeated the process.
"Lucius!"
The Demon Emperor appeared in reality and used his shadow-like abilities to stab tendrils of darkness into the eagle's body.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
A bolt of lightning struck once more, much faster than the last.
Damien was barely able to bring the man back to the Sanctuary before it hit!
'The world really isn't happy…but, I need to do a lot more than this if I want to kill it.'
Damien's face turned solemn, his mind reaching pinpoint focus.
He had to react faster than the world laws no matter what!
"White Dragon King!"
"Haha, you're still a crazy brat!"
The White Dragon King came third and by this point, Elvira and Lucius already filled the rest in on the exact situation, something Damien forgot to do.
Since he came prepared, Bai Longxuan had his 4th-class aura hidden as he moved.
He didn't attack like the previous two, but instead let his entire draconic aura loose once he was in range of the bird!
ROOOOOAAAAAAAAR!
A guttural dragon roar reverberated through space. The pressure of a pure dragon bloodline crashed down on the eagle, forcing it into the ground!
Once again, lightning fell from the sky as Damien transported his helper to safety.
Once again, the Imperious Flame Eagle was struck!
The strategy was utter insanity that risked the lives of Damien and every subordinate he called…
…but for the sake of the mission, it had to be done!
