Skyflayer Army

{Meanwhile...}

Above the storm clouds, there lies an army of Skyflayers floating above the moonlit sky flying around and cackling with malice.

But someone further up is different. A woman with 10 cold steel blue straight spikes protruding from her body. Two on each arm, two on each leg, and six on the back. She looked down upon the dark clouds, but what she was truly looking at is her prey. Three high value prey that is smart and is staying in the caves.

"They haven't left their caves. Kehehehe." a Skyflayer lets out a sinister laugh. "They're scared."

"They'll soon become irrational with fear and become reckless with their decisions." another one hissed.

"Good, we have until the storm passes." The Skyflayer said.

She then noticed a powerful presence below. She don't know who exactly, but she knows that her prey is high value.

*Shinkt!*

She pulls one of her blades out of her back and surrounds it with Wind Magic. The Skyflayer then fires her shot.

*Bwoosh!*

{Meanwhile...Alden's POV}

Andre peeked out of the cave to find any Skyflayers flying around, but all he heard is the pouring rain, the howling winds, and the booming thunder.

"This is weird. I can't even sense them." Andre said.

As he further got out, he sees a faint green glint in the dark clouds. And then he instinctively pulls out his greatsword.

*Vweee!*

*CLANG!!*

A projectile darts through the sky and was intercepted by Andre's swing. The projectile flips in the air and impales the ground.

Andre walks to the projectile and looks closely. It was a straight spike instead of a typical curved blade.

"It's an Archer Variant." Andre said. He then looks up and see two more projectiles.

*Shoom!*

*Whoosh!*

Andre dashed backwards and the projectiles hit the ground. Andre dashes back into the cave and looks at the projectiles.

"Guys, it's a Archer Variant." Andre said. "The Skyflayers never left and are outside our Perception range."

"No wonder I can't sense them." Ashley said.

"Now that you got your Sanguine Aggravation, what's next?" I said.

"From the Sanguine Aggravation location, it would be the Sanguine Persecution north of this island." Andre said.

North of this island has a active volcano and have monsters reaching S rank, Skyflayers included.

"The Skyflayers are still a threat." I said. "I'll distract them."

"How much time can you buy us?" Ashley asked.

"As long as I can." I replied "Andre, meet us at the shore!"

Andre's eyes glowed brightly and gave his monsters his command.

"Spread out and distract the Skyflayers." Andre commanded his monsters. The monsters immediately charged out of the cave, roaring and hissing at the sky.

Andre used Shadow Sneak to head to the shore as fast as he can.

I grabbed Ashley's arm and used Space Magic to arrive at the shore.

Ashley transforms into a dragon and grabbed the chain to Andre's coffin with her mouth.

*Shoom!*

"Alright, we'll go around the storm and call you when we made it there." Andre said and jumps on top of Ashley.

"Xydrid!" I called.

*Vooom!*

Xydrid emerges from the Isolated Space and puffs his nose, letting out steam.

"Follow Za'trika and Azaron and stay with them. I will stay here and distract the Skyflayers." I said.

*Rrrrgh...!*

Xydrid growled in protest, knowing that I died that day. I don't blame him though. I petted him to comfort him.

"I'll be fine, Xydrid. Now go!" I said. "I'll distract them."

Xydrid and Ashley flapped their wings and flew away from the island to go around.

*Shoom!*

I used Shadow Sneak through the island until I see a pack of monsters spread around, getting slaughtered by the Skyflayers since they're out in the open.

I checked the stats of that Skyflayer.

This is a Skyflayer without any variation. To defeat one, you have to drag it out, but even fighting one is proven difficult.

I jumped out of the shadows into the air. I fly towards a Skyflayer and swung my Halberd.

*SLASH!!*

I cleaved the Skyflayer in two, killing it instantly.

[C Rank target slain. 50,000 EP acquired.]

The Skyflayers looked at one of their kind dead on the ground and then looked at me holding a bloody halberd.

Instead of feeling rage or grief of their kind being killed, they became excited that they have found a worthy prey.

"Look sisters, we have a larger prey to catch!" one of the Skyflayers yelled.

The rest of the Skyflayers looked and grinned viciously as if they have found a great feast.

They dashed forward with malicious glee to tear me apart, cackling, brandishing their blades.

I rushed forward in kind and began my attack. Lightning flashes upon the Skyflayers and I swing my halberd.

*WHOOSH!*

*SLASH!!*

[4 C rank targets slain. 200,000 EP acquired.]

I continue to kill more Skyflayers and yet more rushed towards me. Some of which surrounds me to weaken me, to tire me out.

"KYAHAHAHA!!" The Skyflayers come

I imbue my halberd with Blood Arts and swing my halberd with one arm holding by the pommel.

*SWOOOSH!!*

*SLASH!!* *SLASH!!* *SLASH!!* *SLASH!!*

[20 C rank targets slain. 1,000,000 EP acquired.]

The storm continues to rage on and even more Skyflayers descend from the steel clouds. Much more than ever. Yet, I didn't break a sweat.

However, I better find a way to get that variant that is up high.

"I guess one weapon ain't gonna cut it." I said.

[Kibuki activated.]

[Tyrant Aura activated.]

[Bloodlust activated.]

*Vwooom!*

Red energy forms in my hand into a shape of a halberd, the same shape of my physical one. The Kibuki in my hands radiates a bright red light in the dark storm, revealing the pouring rain, the blowing grass, and the savage Skyflayers fascinated by my performance despite me killing them.

"Oooh, we got a powerful prey! Too bad that you can't fly!" a Skyflayer mocked me.

"Careful, this 'prey' got a lot of bite." I retorted.

*KRAKOOOM!!*

The lightning flashed and I jumped at them. I let out a war cry that if they wanna kill me, they better prepared to be killed.