Chapter 2: The Clan Leader

The sun dipped below the horizon, night unfurled its cloak, and the stars glittered like diamonds in the sky.

Jarius and his three young companions trudged back to Gaoman Mountain, hauling the carcasses of three forest wolves—their hard-won spoils.

By the time they arrived, a roaring bonfire blazed atop the cliff. A plump, thick-skinned wild boar sizzled on a spit, its rich aroma wafting through the air.

Some of the younger Eagle children couldn't hide their hunger—drool glistened at the corners of their mouths, their gazes locked on the prize.

In the Whispering Forest, thick-skinned wild boars were the juiciest, most tender prey around. Even for Jarius and his crew, spotting one was a rare stroke of luck.

This time, they'd stumbled upon three wolves ganging up on the boar. Seizing the moment, they turned the tables—a fortunate break they didn't often get.

When the roasting finished, Jarius claimed the choicest cut of the succulent meat.

Once every Eagle Person had eaten their fill, an elderly figure rose unsteadily to his feet. His wings were streaked with gray-white feathers, his back hunched with age. Stepping before the bonfire, he raised his voice to address the clan.

"Fellow clansmen, it's been three years since our leader, Yi, took all our able-bodied men to fight in the war sparked by the Thunder Titan in the Vast Sea Forest."

"They haven't returned. I fear their bones now lie buried beneath the sands of that battlefield."

"You all know this, deep in your hearts."

His words cut like a blade through a faded scar, and a heavy silence fell. Heads bowed among the Eagle People, grief rippling through the crowd.

Soon, the sound of quiet sobs reached Jarius' ears.

The Eagle warriors were frail—flight was their only gift.

In a war of titans, they were mere fodder, swept away by the shockwaves of mightier foes.

"But three years have passed, and some of our children have come of age. They can hunt alongside their mothers now. Especially Jarius—he's even taken down a forest wolf single-handedly."

The old Eagle continued.

Six months ago, Jarius had felled a lone wolf on his own—a feat still whispered about.

"Wolves have their alpha, and a clan cannot thrive without a leader."

"I propose that Jarius take Yi's place as the clan leader of our Gaoman Mountain tribe!"

The elder's intent rang clear.

He was too old, the clan too thin on capable hands. Jarius stood out as the only choice, young though he was. His skill rivaled any adult's.

As the words settled, the first to cheer were the youths near Jarius' age.

They'd grown up with him, awed by his prowess.

Their mothers followed suit—half the clan rallied behind him in moments.

Even those who stayed silent offered no dissent.

And so, it was decided.

The old Eagle smiled, a weight lifting from his shoulders. He shuffled over to Jarius, studying the boy's steady gaze with quiet approval.

"Jarius," he said, "are you willing to bear the future of the Gaoman Mountain Eagle People?"

Jarius didn't waver. He nodded, his expression solemn.

"Elder, I am willing to become the clan leader."

In this ancient, savage land, danger lurked at every turn. Without extraordinary power, only the clan's unity could ensure survival.

He wasn't a player anymore—not some immortal soul with endless lives. He had just one.

Leading the clan was a duty he embraced.

After three years of living side by side, how could he not care?

"At the very least. I'll change the fate of my Eagle People."

He vowed silently.

...

Late Night.

Moonlight spilled across the earth.

Jarius sprawled atop a massive bluestone at the cliff's edge, the wild breeze of the starry night brushing against his skin.

"After much thought…"

"The old turtle's task nagged at him. It never mentioned how to avoid being burned by Titan's blood."

"But if he was just an ordinary turtle back then," Jarius mused, "he couldn't have been far from the battlefield when the Titan's blood rained down."

A spark ignited in his eyes.

"In the early days of the human empire, that old turtle rose to fame with thunderous power. It's likely he was drenched in the blood of the Thunder Titan."

"And the Thunder Titan? He's the master of all Eagle People."

"Turtles love water. The secret to surviving the Titan's blood must lie there—in the water!"

"And where? It has to be the Vast Sea Forest."

"Only one foe could make the Thunder Titan bleed: his archenemy, the Blue Dragon King, Alileitos."

"A clash that fierce—a life-and-death duel—would spill rivers of Titan blood, soaking the forest and that turtle below."

"The puzzle clicked into place. It's simple, then. Find the stream or river where the old turtle lived. Track him down. Learn how he endured the Titan's blood."

"And with that—I'll awaken my own power!"

Clarity surged through him, and his mind raced onward.

"But the Vast Sea Forest isn't some stroll in the woods. It's the frontier between Titan and Dragon territories, crawling with their strongest vassal races."

"Extraordinary beings from every corner—too many to count."

"If I barge in unprepared, I'm dead on the spot."

"No one would blink at an Eagle Person's death, even one under the Titan's banner."

"There's only one way in: follow my father's path. Answer the Eagle royal court's call, join the soldiers bound for the Vast Sea Forest."

"I just need to move fast—head out the moment the conscription order drops and reach the forest early."

"Eagle People are scouts by nature. If I'm there first, I'll land a spot on a recon team. That's my chance to hunt for the old turtle's lair."

Step by step, a plan took shape in his mind.

"The royal court drafts Eagle soldiers from the clans every decade or so."

"Seven years from now, I'll seize that shot."