Nothing Like a Fowl

*Hiss!!*

Their presence scared off the tiny reptiles as they strolled. None of those serpents dared to make any move, not against evolved humans.

"How long will this take?" Allyn questioned.

"I can't say," said Baron in reply, "One way or the other, this is the right path,"

"These tiny reptiles are acting vicious,"

"That's all they can do,"

Up ahead, the light penetrating the tunnel became a glimmer of hope, yes they've made it out of the cave at long last.

"Yes! fresh air," Diesel excitedly fasten his walking pace outside of the cave.

The scenario in this area can only be described as awe-inspiring due to its extremely beautiful outlook.

Large bodies of water covered some part of this surrounding and a massive waterfall that stretches very high could also be seen. None of them are as awing as these blue crystals popping out every place that's close to the river.

Its aura is impossible not to detect, and Allyn and the rest of the group can feel every single bit of its radiation.

"Diamond_Blue," Cassius mumbled.

"I guess our efforts were not in vain," said Claudex in relief.

"So all we have to do is cut a piece out of it and we are done, right?" Diesel strolled towards a large river.

"Don't move any further!!" Baron exclaimed.

"Why?"

"Step away from there now," he said.

Baron had a fierce expression on his face and this heightened Diesel's survival instinct…

"Harmful sea creatures are lurking in there. You do not want to fall into their hands," Baron said.

"Then how do we get that Diamond Blue over there?"

"We have to go around it,"

To get a piece of the crystal, the team strolled over to the higher ground that's a little closer to the waterfalls.

Baron held on to a rope that was tied around Cassius' waist. He will slowly let go of it until Cassius reaches one of the blue crystals, from which he can cut a piece just as planned.

"You better not let go,"

"I understand," said Baron in reply.

He let go of the rope with care. Cassius was moving downward.

"Alright, that should do it!" he said at the top of his voice.

Pulling out a short blade, Cassius tried to chop a part of the glowy crystal. This proved difficult…

"Shit!"

He let go of it by mistake, and the Crystal fell into the river down below.

"Be careful," says Claudex.

"It's done," he announced, "pull me up,"

The physically strong Baron pulled the ropes as he slowly lifted Cassius.

"Oh, crap!" Diesel cursed at the sight of a massive and bizarre creature leaping out of the river with an open mouth that's revealing a lot of fangs.

Cassius saw his imminent end, but Baron wasn't about to let his teammate die.

With everything he has, he pulled Cassius up and the sea creature missed him by an inch.

"I almost died,"

"Not on my watch," Baron said.

Cassius handed the Diamond_Blue over to Baron.

"Good, we're done here," Baron nodded.

"So what now?" Claudex asked.

"Now... we go back,"

"We haven't gotten mine yet," Allyn announced. "It's the only reason I helped you guys," he added.

"I understand, but we can't go any further, it's not safe," said Baron.

"It was never easy from the very beginning. So why turn back now?"

"We've been exposed, it's just a matter of time before the Skycruel catches up to us,"

"Tch!" Allyn is losing it.

"So I'm on my own?"

"Unfortunately, yes you are,"

Without a word, Baron walks away, and they all followed him...

"Diesel, what are doing?" Claudex asked.

They had noticed he wasn't going with them, which is very unusual since he should be the most enthusiastic one among them who would want to leave.

"We had a deal with him,"

"And that deal is off," Baron seems annoyed. "Are you coming with us or not?"

Allyn snapped once he heard Baron's words. It took him everything he had not to retaliate.

"Let's just leave him behind. He is a deadbeat after all," said Cassius.

'They are all showing their true colors,' Allyn thought.

He is regretting all of his actions. He should have never trusted them.

"Looks like they never really cared about you," Allyn spoke to Diesel, who was left behind.

"Those guys," Diesel clenched his fist in anger, "To think they would walk away just like that... Someday, I'll make them eat their words,"

"You should go with them,"

"And abandon you?"

"I can take care of myself... I think,"

"But if you insist on coming with me, just know that our next journey won't be an easy one,"

"I've come this far already... nothing scares me," Diesel spoke in conviction.

"I highly doubt that." Allyn wasn't moved in the slightest.

"You shouldn't be honest all the time," Diesel pouted.

Since he had duplicated a copy of the Skycruel's territory map on his interface, Allyn could still navigate his way to his goal.

Meanwhile...

"I've found the culprits... So it turns out there are over one of them and for an unknown reason, they've been separated into two groups,"

Hiding among the shadows, a human had been taking pics of every one of them. He, of course, was employed by the Skycruel to fish out the unwanted guests, which he had successfully done.

{"Great work, you will be rewarded for this,"} says a voice from the other line.

"How about setting me free?"

{"We'll talk on that,"} The other caller ended the call.

.

.

.

'This creature looks nothing like a fowl,' Allyn said inwardly.

As was said in the earlier chapters, the journey to the Mutant Fowl wasn't a lengthy one. However, this so-called Mutant Fowl has a strange look compared to what Allyn is familiar with.

"Its comb has sharp and pointy edges, that is not a good sign... and why is it so tall?"

"The stronger they become, the taller they grow," Diesel said. "However, it still doesn't explain why the Skycruels are so invested in them,"

"Speaking of the Skycruel, I don't see anyone close by,"

"Is that weird?"

"Your stupid boss said that the Skycruel take extra care of their fellow Ave counterpart,"

"I wouldn't call Baron my boss," Diesel corrected, "But maybe he is wrong,"

Several numbers of these creatures are roaming around and according to Gamepedia, Mutant Fowl will become vicious if they find anyone or anything threatening them of a fellow Fowl. Allyn will have to make sure they don't spot him killing or kidnapping one of their kind, as they will not let him off the hook.

"This will take a while," he mumbled to himself.

They've been carefully keeping themselves hidden for such a long time. With the knowledge he had gained about these creatures, attacking mindlessly was not a smart move.

"What's your plan exactly?" Diesel asked.

"Find one of them that is isolated from the rest of the group and kill it,"

"Even if you found one that separated from the rest, how will you attack and kill it?... Just to make sure you are aware, these creatures can defend themselves,"

"I already figured that out," Allyn said as he pulled out a large revolver from his in-game storage space.

"This should do it," he said.

"He never ceases to surprise me," Diesel mumbled.

Allyn and Diesel tailed a Mutant Fowl that is slightly away from the rest of the group. With the confirmation that shooting it down will not attract the other's attention, Allyn pulled the trigger without a moment's hesitation.

One of the Mutant Fowl's heads got blown to smithereens.

The moment Allyn stored the dead fowl, up in the sky, a very enormous flying creature hatefully dived in his direction with a human riding on top of it.

"Shit!"

The massive bird is an evolved version of a Mutant Fowl and it must have noticed Allyn's deed, or more precisely, the Skycruel sent it against them.

"Run if you can!!" says the human with excitement.

The flying creature caught up to them in no time. It is especially going after Allyn.

"Damn my luck,"

Knowing he cannot outrun this creature, Allyn activated the Mecha_Suit, but for the first time, the suit was rendered useless.

A slap from the creature destroyed his all-powerful suit and the King Fowl grabbed hold of him and took off.

"You should never have taken such a risk of coming here. Now the Skycruel will sentence you to death."

"A death sentence!!"

"Indeed. Killing any living being in their territory is an ultimate death sentence. You even killed a fellow bird... your death will be a painful one,"