Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons-Chapter 555: The Wind Hawk’s Death [2]

The Wind Hawk’s flight pattern destabilised momentarily as pain and damaged aerodynamics affected its aerial control.

"Winter Beast—ice spears! Flamingo—water sphere barrage! Don’t let it recover!"

Both legendary summons responded in perfect unison.

CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!

Massive ice projectiles materialised and launched toward the wounded hawk, each spear sharp enough to pierce steel and moving with supernatural velocity.

SPLASH! SPLASH! SPLASH!

Simultaneously, compressed water spheres shot from the Flamingo’s position, creating a deadly crossfire that forced the Wind Hawk to choose between dodging ice or water attacks.

SCREEE!

The hawk’s superior agility allowed it to avoid most of the barrage, but several attacks connected. An ice spear grazed its chest, drawing blood. A water sphere struck its injured wing, exacerbating the damage. Another ice projectile caught its leg, leaving a deep cut that made landing difficult.

Meanwhile, below their aerial battle, chaos erupted as the other combat unfolded.

CAW! SCREECH! SHRIEK!

Hundreds of superior-rank birds dove toward Bloom, the Mane King, and the Cackle Queen in coordinated assault waves. The Wind Hawk’s followers maintained impressive discipline despite their master’s struggle, executing complex attack patterns designed to overwhelm through sheer numbers.

Bloom’s twisted consciousness reached out with invisible tendrils, targeting the strongest flyers in the approaching swarm. "Yes... come to me... let me show you new masters..."

SCREECH!

A level 23 eagle suddenly broke formation, its eyes glazing as Bloom’s psychic manipulation seized control of its consciousness. The bird turned on its former allies, attacking a nearby raven with berserker fury.

CAW! CAW!

More birds fell under Bloom’s influence.

A level 22 hawk, two level 21 vultures, and a massive level 23 hummingbird. Each mind-controlled creature became a weapon against the swarm, creating pockets of confusion and friendly-fire incidents.

"AHAHAHA! Look at them fight each other! So beautiful! So chaotic!" The Cackle Queen’s hysteria intensified as she targeted diving birds with psychic paralysis.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Frozen mid-flight by mental disruption, several attackers crashed into the ground with bone-breaking impact. The Cackle Queen’s laughter grew more manic with each successful kill, her disturbing voice becoming a weapon that sowed terror among the approaching forces.

ROAR!

The Mane King stood as an impenetrable wall before Bloom, his golden fur blazing as he swatted birds from the air with devastating paw strikes. Any creature foolish enough to land within his reach died instantly, crushed by superior-rank strength that exceeded their defensive capabilities.

"Master’s doing great up there!" Aether chirped excitedly, watching Arthur engage the Wind Hawk with his own strikes. "The big boss bird is getting all scratched and hurt!"

Arthur pressed his advantage ruthlessly. He teleported around the Wind Hawk’s position with precision, his katana finding gaps in its defences. Each strike was enhanced with spatial manipulation that allowed the blade to cut deeper than normal physics would permit.

Slash! Slash! Slash!

Blood sprayed from multiple wounds as Arthur’s relentless assault accumulated damage. The Wind Hawk’s superior attributes meant it could withstand punishment that would kill lesser creatures, but even legendary durability had limits.

SCREEE!

The hawk attempted to create distance, powerful wing beats carrying it higher despite its injuries. But Arthur simply teleported to match its altitude, appearing directly above the creature with his katana positioned for a devastating downward strike.

"Not so impressive without your domain advantages, are you?" Arthur taunted, bringing his blade down in a powerful arc.

SLASH!

The attack carved through the hawk’s back, severing muscle and cutting dangerously close to its spine. The legendary creature’s flight became erratic as pain overwhelmed its concentration.

The three-way domain clash continued, maintaining perfect neutrality, ensuring the battle remained decided by skill and power rather than environmental advantages. Arthur’s tactical gambit had succeeded completely—he’d negated the Wind Hawk’s greatest strength through clever application of multiple weaker domains.

The hunt was approaching its conclusion, and the legendary bird was learning a harsh lesson.

-------

Arthur continued his relentless assault, his katana finding purchase in the Wind Hawk’s increasingly desperate defenses. Each teleportation brought him to optimal striking angles, each spatial-enhanced slash carved deeper wounds into the legendary creature’s body.

Slash! Slash! Slash!

Blood rained from the sky as the Wind Hawk’s injuries accumulated beyond its ability to regenerate. Dark crimson stained its once-pristine white and storm-grey feathers, and its flight patterns grew increasingly erratic as damaged muscles struggled to maintain aerial control.

SCREEE!

The desperate creature’s golden eyes blazed with cornered fury as it recognised the deteriorating situation. Its domain had been neutralised. Its superior strength wasn’t translating to victory against an opponent who could teleport at will. Its aerial advantage meant nothing when the enemy simply appeared wherever they wanted.

The Wind Hawk made a brutal decision.

SCREEE! SCREEE! SCREEE!

The creature’s commanding cry echoed across the battlefield, and immediately, dozens of its followers broke off from their engagements below. Superior-rank birds—eagles, hawks, ravens—abandoned their attacks on Bloom’s group and dove toward Arthur with suicidal intent.

CAW! SCREECH! SHRIEK!

They weren’t attacking to kill.

They were attacking to intercept, throwing their bodies between Arthur’s strikes and their master with complete disregard for their own survival. The Wind Hawk was sacrificing its own loyal followers as living shields, buying precious seconds to recover or create distance.

"How pathetic," Arthur muttered, watching the first wave of suicide attackers approach.

Whoosh!

His katana moved in a fluid arc.

A level 21 eagle that had thrown itself in front of Arthur’s strike was bisected cleanly, its body falling in two pieces toward the forest below.

Slash!

Another bird—a level 22 hawk—met the same fate, its desperate sacrifice accomplishing nothing as Arthur’s attacks carved through flesh and bone with contemptible ease.

Slash! Slash! Slash!

More followers died in rapid succession, their loyalty to the Wind Hawk transforming into meaningless deaths against an opponent operating on a completely different power level. Arthur disposed of each intercepting bird with efficiency, barely slowing his assault on the primary target.

"Winter Beast—ice barrage! Clear these pests!"

CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!

Dozens of ice spears materialised simultaneously, each projectile targeting the incoming suicide attackers.