Unexpected

THIRD PERSON POV

CLANG

CLANG

CLANG

It would have been quite amusing a scene to watch, a bird using its beak like a sword while he, a humanoid defended if he didn't feel endangered with each strike dished out.

It was a brutal battle.

No, not brutal. Just deadly. It was even more aggravating than the fight with the Dare Molv.

Daedalus slid beneath the huge form of the Sun eagle his copper blade attempting to cut into the skin of feathers.

But how could a basic-grade weapon harm an upgraded beast? The copper was even showing signs of lesser durability. The strong strikes from an advanced-grade god against the skin of an upgraded-grade divine beast were something the poor sword could barely bear.

Sparks ignited the air as both beings traded blows. Beak pecking only to be parried aside. Sword slashing only to do no harm.

"It's almost like all my battles are meant to be stalemated." the god grumbled before rolling away. Something he found harder to do than others due to the wings on his back.

Wing force barely did damage especially when he found the Sun eagle just negating or waving away his strikes.

"Air affinity".

Since the use of skills had less chance of working it was down to the battle. Wings flapped as he burst off the ground sword raised he came down with a powerful downward strike.

The sun eagle swatted him away like a fly. The scene was so comedic that for a moment Realer and Kondark couldn't help but chuckle.

The eagle attacked. Its wings spread as its body rose, feathers ruffled. The wings slammed together creating a gust that slammed into the still-rising god. Daedalus now thrown off balance found himself spinning in the air before slamming face-first into the ground.

'At least it's not the wings' he thought as he pushed himself up. Rising again he frowned as he felt the wind part. Eyes moved swiftly as his superior argonne sight locked on the discrepancy around him.

He was standing in a fast-spreading blackness.

'Not blackness.' he jumped to the side out of the shadow just as a thump sounded out. The sun eagle screeched in annoyance. Then it stomped after him.

" I miss goblins" with the complaint made he raced forward. His wings tucked into his back and the copper sword which was surprisingly still in hand held upfront. Both arrived and Daedalus slid early putting his sword forward for another strike at its legs. The sun Eagle halted its approach with its claws digging into the ground to slow its momentum and lunged down with its beak to spear the player.

"Got you"

His wings flapped instantly and Daedalus stamped the floor for an added boost. His body bolted into the air over the surprised eagle's eyes. Right before he completely passed the god grabbed onto a long golden feather atop the eagle's head and tugged himself down onto it.

The eagle was quick to realize what just happened as it burst into a rough display of head shaking. Trying to toss Daedalus off.

The Argonne was having none of it. His fist held tight to the feathers. His copper sword continuously struck over and over and over again. He was unyielding.

'Since I can't cut you, I'll just thrash you". The sword hit the Eagle without care. Sharp edge, flat side Daedalus didn't check or care. The Eagle screeched in panic as it felt its consciousness wobble.

Then it took to the skies.

Daedalus saw it from a mile away. The classic get off my back skill. The eagle spun and then plummeted down head first.

"Moron". Daedalus scoffed at the bird's attempt. Just as it reached the ground he leaped off and rolled to a halt. The bang of the eagle slamming into the golden field head first caught everyone's eyes.

"What now?. " Daedalus stalked his prey as it lay shaking its head. It was seeing stars. The god contemplated and accessed his chances. The sword was useless except as a club. His affinity was bad against the beast and it was higher level. His only grace against it had been his higher tier. Yet even that did little.

"I need something that can help. Yet my wind affinity won't do much. It disrupts my attacks too" He watched the creature finally get its head into the game.

"But it has to see it to disrupt it." Daedalus smiled. "Over here you big chicken". he shouted. A part of him winced as he realized that he also had wings too.

The eagle equally seemed to find distaste in the taunt or maybe it just appreciated him telling it where he stood. Either way, it screeched and pounced.

"Here goes nothing".

Left arm extended, palm facing forward he waited. Right hand behind him with the copper sword dismissed he stirred the wind. His intent flowed pulling at the air and tugging the element into a sphere around his grasp.

It tightened and compressed while a pinch of pain registered in his head. The eagle dove at him. Daedalus shot forward smirking. His eyes filled with determination. The eagle opened its mouth to screech and suddenly an arrow embedded into its beak shutting it up prematurely.

Daedalus made one quick side glance surprised at Porteis's quick aid. His arrow had effectively disoriented the eagle increasing the chances of his victory with the intent.

Then his eyes narrowed.

Daedalus frowned as he pushed to see clearly, to understand. To know.

[Passive Skill Unlocked - Acceleromy]

[Acceleromy] - [PASSIVE]

[Lv0 - 0/50] - [BASIC]

As a god of might you have the ability to exert control or force over what is and what can be. Acceleromy is the might over reaction time. By forcing your will over the events hidden within the peripherals you have gained a sense of heightened perception. [Passives of godhood will feed more on divinity than regenerated intent]. Mind you this does not make you any faster than you already are. Just alerts you to last-second changes and gives you time to decide. [Duration - 3secs] [ Cooldown - None]

Daedalus blinked, not from the mental influx of the skill info. But for this very reason, the one which made his mind activate the skill. Everything was frozen. His body, the sun eagle, the other gods, and the attacking beast.

A mental time ticked down in his head. 2 seconds left. His eyes locked on the group. Porteis already turning away to notch an already-formed arrow, Jean locked with a Molv, and Hardima going whack-ah-mole on a fallen imp. Kondark and Yarrow holding off the other two Molvs.

'What was it?' His eyes found what had prompted his need for the passive.

The NPCs and Gertrude. The dagger-wielding goddess of technology was held off by two imps. Her position was lost. But it was the Molv hanging in the air that finally had him pausing.

1 second left.

Its maws open, right above Mariet, the Elosas goddess. His eyes, the only part of him that could move backtracked to the eagle.

It was now or never. But, his eyes moved back to the group. No one had seen the Molv. The last person who should have was pouncing to aid Gertrude leaving the NPCs truly endangered.

'Fuck'

[Acceleromy has ended]

His fist shot out. The compressed wind drilled out and into the flesh of his foe. A screech rang in the air.

The drill of the air strike found its mark right at the heart of the animal. creating a burst of blood that shattered the Molv's midsection in a spray of golden lifeblood.

The group shivered as all eyes went to the NPCs. Then there was confusion, alertness, then both understanding and anger. Finally silence.

Then the growls and barks of the Molves arose once more. Yet this time everything had changed.

[You have slain Dare Molv Lv2]

[For killing an enemy two levels higher you gain x2 bonus exp]

[+6 Exp]

[You have leveled up]

[Skill learned - Air Blow]

[Air Blow] - [ACTIVE]

[Lv1 -0/100] - [BASIC]

Compressed wind needs intent to be released. With the use of strength, the need for intent has been nullified and instead cost has been negated with the use of a physical trigger.

[Cost - 10 Intent] - [Cooldown - None]

Yet it was neither the skills nor the level-up messages he got that surprised him. Just like the rest what did shock him was the spike of ice that smashed into the side of the eagle freezing its wings and forcing the animal to crash to the floor.

Mariet stood her arms stretched forward, round eyes a chilling ice blue. Daedalus was still speechless even when the three other Npc gods retrieved weapons and dashed to aid the player gods.

Mariet herself bounded skillfully away from the circle of gods and raced elegantly over to Daedalus and the Eagle.

The Argonne stood stunned as the Elosian raced past him. His head followed all the while like a dazed puppy. He watched as her tail coiled up as before she leaped off the ground with her lean but muscled legs and soared above the eagle.

It screeched, the sound shaking Daedalus out of his daze and making him clear-headed enough to see the Elosas, spear in hand descend like the wrath of the tundra.

As the Argonne watched ice spikes manifest around her, his feathers shivering from the air as he felt the freezing presence she brought. He was now sure of her godhood.

She struck. The spikes shattered and pierced creating a white mist of cold. Then he received another notification.

[You have assisted in the slaying of Sun Eagle Lv1]

[+35 Exp]

Amidst the notification in his head, he watched the Elosas strut out of the mist with a cute smile.

"I think we can help them now?" She pointed while smiling like she hadn't just killed an eagle with one strike. Well, several but that was beside the point.

Too shocked to comprehend Daedalus just blurted out his initial thought.

"What the f*ck"