Apocalypse: Starting With Three Unique Blessings-Chapter 43: Dark Clawed Eagles

The Dark Clawed Eagles screeched again, this time even louder, their numbers swelling to over a dozen in the swirling sky.

"Everyone, prepare yourselves! Countermeasures, now!" Magnus roared across the chaotic battlefield, his voice barely audible above the din of clashing steel and monstrous roars. The ground forces were already locked in a desperate struggle with the relentless beast horde, and now a new threat emerged from above, adding another layer of peril to the already dire situation.

The Dark Clawed Eagles, with chilling precision, began their descent. Each eagle locked onto a target within the struggling mass of soldiers, their razor-sharp talons and wings poised to strike.

"Be careful!" Magnus shouted, his eyes scanning the battlefield. He spotted a young man, almost overwhelmed by a wolf-like creature, completely oblivious to the winged predator diving towards him. The young man, entangled in the fierce battle, had no time to react; a single moment of distraction could mean his death.

Fortunately, Magnus was close enough to intervene. With a burst of speed, he lunged forward, tackling the young man out of harm’s way just as the eagle’s talons swooped down. The eagle’s attack, thrown off course at the last moment, struck the wolf-like creature instead, raking deep gouges across its face.

A roar of pain mingled with the eagle’s enraged screech. Under normal circumstances, the two beasts might have turned on each other, but in the frenzy of battle, their fury was directed at Magnus.

The wolf-like creature, closest to Magnus, lunged. Magnus, wasting no time, sprang to his feet, his sword flashing. A spray of blood erupted as the blade plunged deep into the creature’s skull, ending its attack instantly.

The Dark Clawed Eagle, seizing the opportunity, adjusted its trajectory and swooped down towards Magnus with astonishing speed. Magnus saw the attack coming but didn’t immediately move. He waited, almost as if unconcerned, until the very last moment. Then, with a sudden, agile movement, he dodged the eagle’s razor-sharp wing, the tip missing his throat by a hair’s breadth. As the eagle flew past, Magnus reached out and, with a powerful grip, seized its leg.

The eagle screeched in surprise and pain, beating its wings furiously as Magnus’s weight threatened to drag it down. It fought back with surprising strength, pulling Magnus off balance and dragging him across the ground. Magnus gritted his teeth, his boots scraping against the earth. He struggled to regain his footing, digging his heels in, bracing against the eagle’s desperate attempts to escape.

The eagle screeched again, its cries turning desperate as Magnus finally stopped his slide. It attempted to attack Magnus with the talons of its free leg, but Magnus was too quick. Now firmly planted, he exerted his full strength, yanking the eagle down with a powerful heave. He slammed the creature against the ground again and again, the sickening thud echoing through the air, until finally, a system notification confirmed its death.

But there was no time to rest. Another screech pierced the air, filled with rage. Another Dark Clawed Eagle, having witnessed its companion’s demise, descended towards Magnus, its eyes burning with fury.

Without hesitation, Magnus swung the massive corpse of the dead eagle at the incoming attacker. The eagle, startled by the unexpected projectile hurtling towards it, tried to evade, but it was too late. The dead eagle slammed into it with bone-jarring force, sending it crashing to the ground. The impact shattered its wing, crippling it instantly.

The downed eagle struggled desperately to fly, but its broken wing rendered it helpless. At that moment, a fireball streaked through the air, exploding on impact with the crippled eagle, tearing a gaping hole in its body and sending it flying. Its death was swift and brutal.

Magnus, having dealt with the immediate threat, turned to survey the battlefield. Not everyone had been as fortunate as the young man he had saved. Five others had succumbed to the eagles’ onslaught, and many more lay injured, victims of either the eagles themselves or the chaos they had caused, which had allowed the other monstrous creatures to inflict further casualties.

Magnus frowned, his gaze sweeping across the battlefield. The beast horde attacked with unrelenting ferocity, while the Dark Clawed Eagles circled overhead, a menacing aerial force scouting for their next victims. He knew he had to neutralize the airborne threat quickly to prevent further casualties. A grim smile touched his lips as he realized the countermeasures were ready.

The eagles screeched in unison, preparing for another coordinated dive, but this time, they were met with a volley of projectiles. Dozens of heavy nets, weighted with metal at their corners, shot towards them with surprising speed. Panic rippled through the flock as the first nets found their mark, ensnaring several eagles. Their wings bound, they plummeted to the earth.

The remaining eagles, witnessing the capture of their comrades, attempted to flee, but another wave of nets swiftly followed, leaving no avenue of escape. This time, none were spared. The entire flock of Dark Clawed Eagles was incapacitated.

Magnus glanced towards the wall, where a group of his soldiers stood beside ten strange-looking catapults designed specifically to launch the nets. These weren’t standard issue for the territory’s defenses; they were a strategic purchase Magnus had made from the system store in preparation for this trial.

Kael’s earlier scouting of the assembling beast horde had proven invaluable. The information he gathered had allowed Magnus to anticipate the enemy’s composition and devise effective countermeasures, including the net catapults designed specifically for the Dark Clawed Eagles, which he knew would pose a significant threat.

A cheer erupted across the battlefield as the last of the eagles fell. While the beast horde still posed a formidable challenge, the soldiers recognized the grave danger the eagles had presented. Seeing the aerial threat so effectively neutralized boosted their morale considerably.

Magnus seized the opportunity, activating his [Resonant Voice] skill. "Advance! Slaughter them all! Leave none standing! Kill these monsters! For the Lancaster territory!" His amplified voice boomed across the battlefield.

"For the Lancaster territory!" The soldiers roared in response, their spirits ignited by Magnus’s words and the morale-boosting effect of his skill. With renewed energy and fierce determination, they surged forward, engaging the beast horde with renewed vigor.

"For the Lancaster territory!" Magnus echoed, charging forward with superhuman speed. His sword flashed, leaving a trail of blood and carnage in its wake. Each swing claimed a life.

The surrounding soldiers were no longer surprised by Magnus’s extraordinary strength and speed. Their lord had long since defied expectations, and his display of power served as an inspiration, fueling their own attacks as the battle raged on.

Hours later, the grueling fight finally reached its conclusion. The last beast fell, its lifeless body adding to the mounting pile of slain monsters.

"All hail the Lancaster territory!" The exhausted but triumphant soldiers cheered, raising their blood-stained swords high, their eyes burning with pride and unwavering resolve. Magnus, too, felt the strain of the battle, his breath coming in ragged gasps. This wave had pushed them to their limits. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

He surveyed the scene, a weary smile spreading across his face. Despite the brutal fight, his men’s spirits remained unbroken.

Just then a system notification appeared before him:

-[Congratulations on completing Tier 2 (Minor) difficulty. Would you like to continue to the next tier?]

Magnus acknowledged the notification but didn’t immediately respond. He turned to his men, issuing instructions for them to rest and recuperate. Vorax, as always, diligently began clearing the battlefield, consuming the corpses of the fallen beasts.

Another notification flashed:

-[Warning! You only have 1 hour to respond or the system would assume you declined.]

Magnus remained unfazed by the warning. He had a plan. He knew that accepting the next tier would trigger a three-hour countdown before the next wave began. By delaying his response, he could maximize his men’s rest time. He would wait until the last possible moment before accepting, giving them every precious minute they could get.

Having settled on his strategy, Magnus sought a place to rest himself. Kelvin soon arrived, delivering the casualty report. The news was grimmer than before: thirty-six dead and hundreds injured. The cost of victory was steadily rising.

Magnus sighed. The trials were proving to be a brutal test of their strength and resilience.