Chapter 139: Bird-Riding Warrior? (Second Update)

Thanks to the oak tree's regional radiation characteristics and the long-since-sublimated life intensity, the nearly two thousand birds in the sky could not completely resist the purple moon's radiation, yet they could still endure for several hours while exposed to it.

Moreover, these flocks of birds were not constantly soaring over the outer forests.

For the very next moment, accompanied by a loud, piercing cry from a sleekly feathered golden-plumed hawk eagle atop the oak tree's canopy, the flock, as if hearing the call of a sovereign, immediately converged toward the location of the canopy.

At this moment, right in the center of the oak canopy, a bipedal golden hawk eagle standing over three meters tall and boasting a wingspan exceeding eight meters was gazing with sharp, piercing eyes at the distant sky beneath the purple moon.

Its gaze was filled with a deeply anthropomorphic and formidable fighting spirit. After its constricted, vertical pupils narrowed for a brief moment, it flapped its majestic, broad wings and soared straight into the heavens.

Simultaneously, beside this hawk eagle king, three other hawk eagles with wingspans exceeding five meters all took flight to follow it.

In an instant, high above the giant oak canopy—which spanned over a kilometer in diameter—all the mutated birds began to circle around the hawk eagles.

The two thousand birds were arranged in three distinct, overlapping circular formations at varying heights.

At the very lowest level, hovering less than two meters above the canopy, was the smallest group of birds.

These birds were recent additions to the oak's flock, numbering around five hundred. Most of them had wingspans of less than a meter, yet even so, their talons and beaks were exceptionally sharp.

Though they were the smallest in size and had not yet reached the limit of primary-tier life forms, they showed no fear. Instead, amid the hawk eagle's continuous, loud calls, they echoed back with cries brimming with a dense fighting spirit.

Above this circling layer of birds was a larger flock numbering nearly twelve hundred.

Most of these birds had wingspans within three meters, and nearly forty percent of them were at the peak of primary-tier life form status.

However, due to lower potential or because their evolutionary direction did not manifest in physical size, they had been categorized by the hawk eagle into this group.

These birds circled, echoing the loud calls, waiting for the hawk eagle's command to attack.

Occupying the highest tier and possessing the strongest combat power was the third ring, consisting of three hundred giant birds hovering at an altitude of about one hundred meters above the oak canopy.

The wingspans of these birds all exceeded three meters, with most sporting broad wings nearly four meters across.

Carnivorous birds made up the majority of their species, though there were also creatures such as macaws and owls among them.

The macaws were resplendent in feathers of red, blue, and yellow, appearing both beautiful and carrying the inherent deterrence brought by their massive scale.

They all circled around the four hawk eagles, taking orders from the king whose crest featured a hint of gold.

Thus, the entire flock assembled in less than ten minutes.

It was precisely after the flock had gathered that Hughes's whistle rang out from beneath the oak tree.

Instantly, the hawk eagle named Ophelia among the group flashed a trace of hesitation in its eyes and looked toward the hawk eagle king beside it.

The hawk eagle king, whose life tier had just broken through to the secondary level, cast a sharp glance at its companion, and then looked down at Hughes, who was waving from the ground.

Following this, the hawk eagle blinked its eye at Ophelia.

Immediately, the hawk eagle known to Hughes as Ophelia let out a joyful cry and swiftly swooped down from the canopy.

Ophelia arrived by Hughes's side, while Hughes stepped forward with a light rifle slung across his back.

"Ophelia, can you understand me now?"

"Can you get Wickliffe to call all the larger birds down so we can take our guns and help you deal with the enemies in the sky together?"

"I've already spoken to the Great Holy Tree, but Her reply hasn't come yet. Will you go talk to Wickliffe first, please?"

Hughes's eyes were filled with anxious urgency, while the surrounding tribesmen had long since gathered at the side, waiting for the interaction between Hughes and the hawk eagle.

Every single one of these tribesmen had prepared their firearms and ammunition.

Now, they were just waiting on the negotiation.

None of them were optimistic about this dialogue; after all, clever as these birds were, they had not yet reached the point where they could completely understand human speech.

Even so, everyone could only hold onto a glimmer of hope as they awaited the outcome.

When all was said and forth, the tribesmen truly did not wish to see heavy casualties among the flock.

At this moment, the population within the tribe had long surpassed five hundred. As per Simon's prior arrangements, he had transferred another five hundred people from the small town outside the forest to serve the oak tree in his capacities as mayor and tribal chief.

Therefore, the tribal crowd gathered beneath the oak tree now exceeded one thousand.

Having enjoyed the finest radiation environment and received the blessing of the mistletoe and oak ritualistic enhancements, these individuals had all long since reached the peak state of primary-tier life forms, just like the earlier tribesmen.

Advancing to a secondary-tier life form was no easy feat; aside from the hawk eagle king atop the treetops, not a single second "person" had broken through yet.

Hughes spoke anxiously, but the hawk eagle Ophelia only looked back with bewildered eyes.

Although it was smarter than other birds, as a bird at the peak of primary-tier life, it still could not quickly learn or comprehend human language.

Naturally, this excluded the names Hughes frequently called them.

Wickliffe was the name Hughes had given to the hawk eagle king, a fact Ophelia knew.

Yet, while it understood that Hughes had mentioned the hawk eagle king, it remained entirely clueless as to the meaning of Hughes's other words.

Ophelia let out an uncomprehending, low cry, which thoroughly troubled Hughes.

The oak tree's divine revelation had warned of danger and awakened all the surrounding people and animals. In everyone's understanding, it was not hard to guess that the impending danger would certainly be substantial.

Fearing catastrophic losses for the flock, Hughes had discussed the matter with his fellow clansmen and, with the consent of Priest Patton, intended to have the large birds carry the clansmen to participate in the aerial battle.

This was precisely why Hughes had mentioned earlier that he had already appealed to the oak tree without yet receiving a response.

At his wit's end, Hughes found his negotiation with the hawk eagle deadlocked.

However, right at this moment of impasse, high in the sky, the hawk eagle king named Wickliffe suddenly let out a piercing cry and led nearly three hundred of the largest birds in a steep dive.

Seeing the hawk eagles descend, Hughes was stunned for a mere fraction of a second before instantly leaping with joy.

"The Holy Tree Lord must have agreed to the proposal! Wickliffe has come to pick us up! Hurry, everyone! Choose a large bird each, make sure you hold on tight, and don't fall from the sky!"

Hughes shouted excitedly, beckoning to the surrounding tribesmen at the same time.

Amidst these calls, the prepared tribesmen immediately rushed toward the flock, which had begun to land in an adjacent clearing.

During this process, the hawk eagle king Wickliffe acted with supreme arrogance, refusing to allow anyone to approach it. When one defiant clansman tried to draw close and mount it anyway, he was kicked head over heels and sent tumbling a long distance away, instantly drawing roaring laughter from the surrounding crowd.