The Riders 4

Lucas leads them to the higher end of the zip line. The hot-blooded adventurers turned into a block of ice when the reached the edge of the pit. They can't see the bottom of the pit, darkness covered their field of vision.

"Nervous? Don't worry it'll be fast! The zip line is only 200 meters and the passing condition is so simple!" He took out one of the bolts on his quiver while wearing the shrink archer gloves. "At the end of the zip line, there's a huge log with a bullseye I drew. First is without using crossbows, throw this to the target! When you pass, please put the bolt and the gloves back to the sculpture. Second, you have to live, don't fall to the abyss, okay?"

"Hik!" The nervous adventurers suddenly stop breathing when they heard his second condition.

Redford was stunned when he heard him, "Y-you mean, we don't have any safety measures!? Brat! Are you trying to kill my people?"

"Old man, could you please calm down? If they fall from the sculpture who don't move, what will happen if they ride the real deal and fall on the midst of war?" He gets near Redford and whisper, "Old man, do not worry, they won't die. Just watch, it won't kill them.

Hearing his words he felt secure. He raised them from when they were just a brat, a starting adventurer who knows nothing. He did not just train them, he even treats them like his own child. He gritted his teeth, stopping himself from getting angry, 'Damnable brat! I won't forgive you!'

Lucas steps forward to pull the rope that is minded on the eagle sculpture's body. This way, he could help them stabilize their position before he released the rope. But before they started, another twenty raised their trembling hands and decided to quit.

Lucas sigh, he never thought that even though they're adventurers who endanger their life in every expedition was actually afraid of heights. He takes a look to the adventurers who did not back down. Looking at their appearance, he shook his head and said, "If you guys want to quit, I'll give you last chance. No one? Okay, let's start with Roman."

Roman did not move as if he did not hear his words. Mona who is his side poke his waste, "Hik! Wh-what happened!?"

"Roman... You'll take the lead, like the first two test... Right?" Lucas asked him with a mocking face. He tapped the sculpture and wave his hands to call Roman.

Roman suddenly trembles a lot, he walks slowly as if he was taking a walk in the park, making enough time to calm himself. When he reached the platform and mounted on the sculpture, Lucas tapped his shoulder and whisper to him, "Hey, are you a coward, your girl is watching you, and yet you are so nervous? How can she even like you?"

Roman suddenly woke up from his fear, he took the gloves and bolt on Lucas' hand and hold the rope that is tied into the neck of the sculpture. "I'm not a coward! Release the rope!"

Lucas smirked before he released the rope. The look on Roman eyes say it all, he can do anything if it was for the person he likes. And even death could not stop him.

The sculpture drifts into the rope and started to gain speed. Roman put his head forward and gripped the rope tightly. He was gritting his teeth as he held the bolt on his hand, 'Fuck you for tricking me!'

When he reached the middle, Roman finally reached his top speed, he lifted the arrow and look at the other end of the zip line.

120 meters, 150 meters, 180 meters. The target is already on his sight. He was reaching the end of the zip line before he throws the bolt to the target, the bolt expands and went back to its original size.

Bang! The bolt hit the target. But it's not the end, Roman was overjoyed when he hit the target and he released the rope. Plush! He was thrown away and buried into the snow.

"Argh! That's hurt! Oh! Ahaha! I did it!" He raised both of his hands as he runs into the target. He pulled out the bolt with the shrink gloves and put it together on the sculpture.

On the other end of the zip line, Lucas told the adventurers to pull the sculpture back and continue the test. After a few minutes, the test was finally ended without any casualties. Everyone has a different reaction when they reach the finish line. Some of them were pale, some were so excited and still feel the adrenaline rush, and some even vomit and can't take the nervousness they felt. But out of 76 participants, there's 11 who failed to make a bullseye.

Lucas and Bedford also decided to take the zip line in order to join Roman and the adventurers. Lucas clapped his hands to congratulate them. "You all are able to pass, but not all of you are able to hit the target. Well, that's not bad! Also, since there's only 76 of you who take the test, I'll make consideration and let you all join in the squad."

The adventurers were silent. They don't know what to say and forgot how to respond. Redford stomped into the ground to wake them up. Those who failed jumps and rolled into the snow, screaming the name of their squad.

"Blood Phoenix! Woohoo!"

"Haha! Look at those Sagittarius! They don't even know what is happening!"

Lucas smirk and told Redford to tell the Sagittarius that they are going back. He took out a piece of paper and give it to Roman. "Roman, you'll be the leader for now, okay? Take this piece of paper and this pen. Write down the name of your squad on top and write down the name of your squad member..."

"Lucas, " Lucas isn't done yet when Redford cut in, "You want them to list down their name, but not all of them can write properly. If you need their name, I'll send it to you later, I'll also try to put them on their own squad."

"So you can do that too huh?" Lucas nodded and went back to the fortress. On the way, Lucas told him to let his people have some rest and when the night comes, tell the members of Phoenix Squad to went to the first room in the 'Underworld'.

Back into the fortress, Lucas did not take a rest and went straight to the first room in the Underworld. It was already 2:00 pm, and he needs to meet the Blood Phoenix Squad at 8:00 pm. He still has time to make a preparation, he fed the Blood Orange Eagles with mana grains in order for them to grow faster and decides to pick their leader.

Within the four hours, the Eagles finally showed some improvements, they finally grow their signature weapon, their long and deadly talons started to grow. The chicks suddenly chirp out loud, they look like having competition in who will be able to chirp louder.

'Oh, Is this their way of choosing their leader? Interesting.'

After a few minutes, the noise made by the eagles died down. Finally, they have already chosen their leader. The chicks laid down to hide their feet and bow their head in the front of the one they have chosen.

Lucas also offers a mountain of mana grains to the leader and slowly, the chick started to mature. Their feathers on their body started to become more crimson, while the feathers on their become lighter. The color of their eyes become darker and their beaks and talons become sharper and longer.

The speed of growth feels like watching a science documentation about a growing animal with 200× fast-forward. The eagle stuck into two meters tall. Lucas was baffled when he saw him grow in a fast-speed.

He doesn't know what to do. Is it good if he just gives it more mana grains? What if it grows larger than what he expected and won't fit into the tunnel? Lucas stood up and planning to call Hugo when the leader opens its mouth.

'Skriiiiech!' 'Woove!' The eagle released an ear-piercing screech. The screech woke up the sleeping cubs and crocs. They started to wail and make another noise. The screech also travels out of the tunnel and heard by everyone in the dome.

They were shocked when they heard it, Redford, Neil, Della, and Hugo rushed to the Underworld to check the situation. What they see makes them step back from fear. Especially Hugo and Della who knows the eagle's original size.

Lucas scratches his head and smiles embarrassingly before he stood up. Considered that he was near the sound, a bloodstream was coming from his ears.

Neil approached him and look for any injuries, luckily there was none. "Lucas, is that eagles produced that defeating screech? That's terrifying, did it hurt you?"

"Nah! I'm okay now grandpa, I just need you to speak louder for a while?" Lucas replied loudly as if he was shouting at him. 'Why? Can't Della run up to me? Why did grandpa have to take the initiative!?'

Neil was also shocked when he hears his reply. What did this kid shout on me? But when he heard his last word, he finally understands why. He nodded took Lucas on his shoulders.

"Old man Redford and brother Hugo, can you stay here for a moment and calm them down?" Lucas asks with full of respect. "I have to take their leader for a bit."

Hugo and Redford nodded as they started to tend the baby lychee crocs and the cubs of Almond Wolves. The eagle chicks were still bowing down and were as calm as ever.

On the surface, Lucas continues feeding the eagle using more mana grains. The eagle happily received the mana grains. After a few seconds, the eagle has it's evolution continue.

The feather becomes silky and the color becomes morning solid. It grows and grows until it finally becomes a 5 meters tall King Eagle.

He tried to give more mana grains, but it looks like it can't grow anymore. But the final appearance make you wonder, what kind of people will kill them?

The feathers and wings are so detailed and every feather have a visible fiber pulp. Its beak became red oranges with a crimson dark beak. Its talons have become sharper, and color become shining metallic black color as if his feet are a source of death gods reaper.

"This is so beautiful," Lucas said as he caresses its neck.

As if the eagle understand him, it put out its large chest before spreading it's crazy big wing. The eagle's wingspan reached nearly 12 meters wide. It flaps its wing and started to fly inside the dome.

"Eagles really are magnificent!" An adventurer that will be joining the Blood Phoenix Squad exclaimed as he pointed to the eagle flying around the dome.

"Woohoo! That's cool, let's go. We have to inform the rest about this!" The second adventurer said and run out of the dome.

Lucas watches the eagle as it flies into the mid-air. But suddenly, he remembered something. He turns around and looks at Della "Della, could you tell Old man Redford and Hugo to bring 74 eagle chicks here? Tell them that I will be going to do something. I will wait here. The Phoenix Blood will be here any moment."

Della nodded and went down the Underworld to inform them. Lucas continues watching the eagle leader and murmurs "The eagles are prideful existence. They need to grow themselves instead of waiting for it to grow."

Neil look at him strangely and shook his head, "Do you think, they can fight on the battle that will happen a month from now?"

"Yes, of course! We still have a month to prepare. I'll make sure that these nobles will pay about what they did to a lot of adventurers!"