Chapter 161

The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple. Max sat on a rocky outcrop, his legs dangling over the edge as he gazed at the sprawling landscape below. The mountain was quiet, the only sounds the rustling of leaves and the distant calls of nocturnal creatures.

He leaned back, stretching his arms as he took a deep breath of the crisp mountain air.

"Not a bad spot," he muttered to himself, pulling out a small, portable stove from his storage ring. Within minutes, the smell of warm stew filled the air, and Max dug in with relish.

As he ate, Lucy jumped up, joining him on the meal. While the crows protested at the back of his mind about fairness and what not.

Max ignored them and pulled out his super phone, scrolling through the web, checking the lastest news pointlessly.

Finding nothing of interest he leaned back against a rock, his eyes half-closed as he watched the stars appear one by one. The mountain was peaceful, a stark contrast to the chaos he had been jumping in recently or his heavy study schedule. For a moment, he allowed himself to enjoy the calm.

"Man! i am getting used to this Wilderness thing a bit too much."

Lucy tilted her head while eating. ' is it bad.'

"nope, not at all." Responded Max as he ruffled Lucy's hair.

.....

The first rays of sunlight peeked over the horizon, casting a golden glow across the mountain. Max stretched, his body refreshed after a night of rest. He packed up his belongings, his movements quick and efficient.

"Time to move," he said, glancing at the mountain and Lucy appeared in front of him.

Max pulled her inside the pet space, and spread his wings, their dark feathers glinting in the morning light. With a powerful leap, he took to the skies, the mountain shrinking beneath him as he soared toward Kain-city.

Max flew steadily, his wings cutting through the cool morning air. The landscape below blurred into a patchwork of forests, rivers, and small towns. He pulled out his super phone, scrolling through articles as he flew, his mind half focused on the journey.

Hours passed, and the sun climbed higher in the sky. Max's stamina was impressive, but a break was always welcomed. He landed in a secluded clearing, pulling out a quick meal from his storage ring. He ate in silence, his eyes scanning the horizon.

As the sun began to set, Max took to the skies again, determined to cover as much distance as possible before nightfall. The stars appeared once more, and the world below grew quiet, as Max slowed down his speed, and kept gliding through the skies expending no stamina, since he didn't need to sleep each night, flying like this was a better option at night.

.....

Far to the east, a figure with bat-like wings soared through the night sky. His disheveled hair and beard fluttered in the wind, and his bloodshot eyes gleamed, as he clutched the ancient compass, its needle pointing steadily in one direction.

Unbeknownst to Max, the man's path was converging with his own. The compass led him westward.

The compass suddenly stopped working the needle rotating madly, but the man didn't flinch, and kept flying at the direction it has been pointing to until now.