The Moonlight Swordsman

Aizel and Soren were walking along the river, looking for the blue sprint grass that Kayle had described. Despite its unassuming appearance, the grass was distinguished by a distinct blue hue that made it easy to identify.

Aizel scanned the shoreline, and his keen eyes caught a glimpse of the blue sprint grass, which he quickly began to gather in his ring. He wasn't sure how much was needed, but he knew having more on hand would be helpful.

Soren was looking for a Grade III monster that hunters in town had spotted while Aizel was collecting grass.

"It's good that there is not a monster here," Aizel said while collecting grass.

"What good! I wanted to fight that monster."

"That is a Grade III idiot; who knows how powerful it can be?"

"It's just a Grade III beast; a dragon doesn't fear anyone."

"Someday you will die because of your attitude if you don't fix it," Aizel replied.

Soren gazed at Aizel for a few moments but remained silent.

As Aizel focused on collecting the blue sprint grass, a strong gust of wind began to sweep through the area.

Ignoring it, Aizel carried on with his task, but Soren's senses were heightened as he grew wary of the sudden change in the weather.

Roaarrr.....

A deafening roar reverberated through the air, forcing Aizel to stop collecting grass and look up. Soren's instincts were correct, as they witnessed a Grade III monster flying towards them at breakneck speed.

"That's a very big fucking bird," Aizel murmured.

The monstrous creature's massive size became apparent as it approached, towering at least three meters tall.

Its wings beat with incredible force as it soared through the sky before crashing to the ground with frightening speed. Aizel and Soren were stunned as the creature landed directly in front of them.

They got a better look at the creature as it landed on the ground. Its fur was a dark purple color with light blue spots all over its body.

It stood like a human on two feet, but it had wings attached to its underarms. It had sharp claws on its hands and a metallic sheen on its tail that resembled the bloom of a flower.

"Is that a peacock?" Aizel asked.

"No, it's Pafugl, a flying bird-type monster.

"They have a very high affinity for wind, and their tails are like metal daggers. They can shoot them at their prey and regenerate it very fast." Soren explained.

Given its similar appearance, Aizel couldn't help but compare the creature to a peacock as he caught a glimpse of it.

However, upon closer inspection, the monster revealed a much more sinister demeanor, with a sharp, pointed beak capable of easily rending flesh and tearing apart limbs.

The creature's piercing blue eyes were fixed on Aizel and Soren, intently studying them. It remained motionless as if pondering its next move.

"So… What's the plan?" Aizel asked.

"Plans are for peasants…

Soren took a deep breath and began to walk slowly toward the Pafugl monster, tilting his head to crack his neck.

"Kill the fucking monster and grill it afterward to savor its flavor, and don't die...

Soren's unexpected movement caught Aizel off guard as he watched him charge straight at the monster, leaving him speechless.

Soren directed a powerful punch at the monster by channeling mana into his arm.

The Pafugl monster deflected Soren's enhanced punch by twisting its body and spinning its arms to create a gust of wind.

The gust of wind served as a barrier to Soren's attack.

The monster then spun around and flung Soren through the air, sending him hurtling toward the river.

Aizel's eyes widened as he watched Soren fly through the air like a cannonball and land in the river with a splash.

"Oi oi oi oi what happened to all that talk about grilling the meat?"

Aizel's mana sense heightened as he felt the monster rush towards him at breakneck speed.

Aizel felt Pafugl's claws lashing out at him, ready to shred him apart. He quickly reinforced his own leg with mana and used it to deflect the monster's attack.

They continued their dance of blows until the creature spun around, creating a strong gust of wind that knocked Aizel over.

He struggled to regain his balance as the monster opened its sharp beak and unleashed a powerful blast of wind aimed directly at him.

The impact hit him square in the stomach, launching him at breakneck speed toward the nearby mountains. His body collided with the rugged terrain, leaving deep craters in its wake.

The air crackled with energy as a surge of water erupted from the river, spraying droplets everywhere. Monsters noticed his prey standing atop the water with a fierce grin on his face.

As he gained speed, Soren's feet glided smoothly across the surface of the water, leaving a trail of ripples behind him. Not to be outdone, the Pafugl monster followed suit and flew low over the river to meet him.

Soren's hands were glowing with mana as he prepared to face the Pafugl monster. The creature's arms unfurled sharp, feather-like blades, ready to strike.

Soren's mana-enhanced hands collided with the monster's blade-like feathers. They began fighting in a frenzy of movement, with the monster attacking wildly and Soren expertly blocking and deflecting every strike.

They circled each other on the water, their movements causing small bursts of water to form around them.

As the battle progressed, the monster's tactics shifted, stabbing Soren with its sharp feathers like a deadly spear.

He reacted quickly, dodging the attacks with great agility by bending and tilting his body. Their movements on the water were so quick and precise that they appeared to be dancing together, each attempting to gain the upper hand.

The fight became more intense as the monster launched a surprise attack by hurling its blade-like feathers at Soren with a powerful gust of wind.

Soren's quick reflexes, on the other hand, allowed him to catch the blades just in time, narrowly avoiding a fatal blow to the face.

He attempted to draw the monster closer to him in an attempt to gain the upper hand, but the creature countered with a devastating blast of wind from its beak, sending Soren hurtling through the air once more.

ROOOAARRR…..

The monster let out a triumphant roar as if it had already emerged victorious in the battle against its two prey.