Awakened Talent: 10,000 Exp Converter!

Vincent had assumed that, given their level, his mental domination wouldn't easily work on them. So, before using mental domination, he activated the second skill of his Astral Rune.

[Skill 2: Mental Shatter]

— Allows the wearer to shatter the mental defenses of enemies, bypassing mental barriers and inflicting massive mental damage.

Cooldown: 60 seconds

Cost: 50 Origin Energy

Once their mental defenses were broken, he used Mental Domination to control them.

Now, they were essentially his pets.

Before long, amidst the confusion of the passengers, the Crimson-Winged Condors started flying away. Vincent commanded them to fly ahead from a distance, ensuring they remained within his control but out of sight to avoid further panic.

Meanwhile, the Blue Avion resumed its flight, following the usual route despite Cooper being unconscious. The passengers were left in a state of bewilderment, their murmurs filling the air.

"What just happened? They left just like that?" one passenger muttered, his voice tinged with disbelief.

"...It doesn't matter. What's important is that we're alive," another replied, though the unease in their tone was palpable.

The passengers glanced suspiciously around, still unable to comprehend the sudden turn of events. It wasn't until one of them noticed Cooper, still unconscious, that their attention shifted.

"Sir Cooper! Is there any healer here?!" a passenger cried out, desperation creeping into their voice.

"I don't think there's a healer here. They would have already assisted Sir Cooper. Just use a recovery potion!" another suggested, their tone more pragmatic.

Upon hearing this, Clauny slowly pulled back her half-raised hand, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. She had been so overwhelmed by fear that she had forgotten she could have supported Cooper earlier. Her eyes darted to Vincent, who immediately offered her a comforting smile.

"It's not your fault. Don't worry about it," Vincent said softly before turning his gaze to the sky, where the two Crimson-Winged Condors now flew obediently.

[You have successfully controlled a Crimson-Winged Condor — Tier 3(3★)]

[You have successfully controlled a Crimson-Winged Condor — Tier 3(3★)]

[Duration: 7 days!]

Vincent couldn't help but smile as the system's notifications echoed in his mind. He had been skeptical at first, unsure if his Mental Domination would work on such high-tier targets. Yet, to his relief, it had succeeded. The addition of two Tier 3 primals would significantly bolster his strength and aid his future plans. However, the limited duration of his control left him slightly disappointed.

"Should I upgrade it?" he wondered, his mind racing with possibilities.

He contemplated whether to upgrade his Yellow Heaven Mental Aura now to extend the duration of his Mental Domination or to wait for a more opportune moment. Curiosity got the better of him, and he used his talent to check the requirements for upgrading the skill.

[Target Item: Yellow Heaven Mental Aura (Epic)]

[Upgrade Quality: Available]

Requirements: Three epic-grade Mental Skill Books and 1,500,000 experience points.

[Upgrade Quantity: Available]

Vincent's brow furrowed faintly as he read the requirements. While they weren't drastically different from his other skills, the specificity of needing mental-type skill books stood out.

"Why is it different this time?" he mused, his thoughts swirling.

He could only assume that the reason was tied to the skill's inherent potential. His other legendary-grade skills had originally been common-grade, whereas the Yellow Heaven Mental Aura had been epic-grade from the moment he acquired it in the Tower of Illusions. That, he reasoned, must be the key difference.

Fortunately, the requirements wouldn't hinder him too much. He had a stockpile of various skill books and had coincidentally upgraded a mental-type skill book to epic-grade earlier. Still, he decided to set the matter aside for now, aware of the many watchful eyes around him.

The journey continued smoothly, without further incident. After an hour, Cooper, the transportation escort, finally regained consciousness.

A low groan escaped Cooper's lips as his eyes fluttered open. His vision slowly cleared, and he found himself staring at the clear azure sky above. For a moment, he lay there, disoriented, before a single thought crystallized in his mind.

"I'm alive?"

It was a question more than a statement, as he had fully expected to wake up in his own world—a world that lacked the vibrant blue skies of the Origin World.

As he slowly sat up, the passengers immediately noticed his movement.

"Sir Cooper, you're awake!" one exclaimed, relief evident in their voice.

"Are you feeling alright?" another asked, their concern genuine.

Cooper, however, was too confused to respond immediately. His eyes darted around, searching for answers.

"What happened? Where are the Crimson-Winged Condors?!" he demanded, his voice tinged with wariness as he scanned the empty sky.

"Calm down, Sir Cooper. They're gone," a passenger reassured him.

"Gone?" Cooper echoed, his confusion deepening.

The passenger nodded and began to explain the events that had transpired while Cooper was unconscious. As Cooper listened, his bewilderment only grew. He knew the behavior of Crimson-Winged Condors well—they weren't creatures to retreat without reason.

His eyes narrowed as he scrutinized the passengers, suspicion flickering in his gaze. He was certain that someone among them had intervened, though he couldn't pinpoint who.

Vincent, of course, noticed Cooper's lingering gaze as it briefly settled on him.

Yet, he remained unfazed.

Between the Shifting Visage mask, which concealed his appearance and level, and the Astral Invisibility skill from his Astral Rune, which shielded his thoughts, he was confident Cooper would find nothing.

As expected, Cooper's attention soon shifted away, leaving him muttering under his breath.

"Just who is it…"

Despite his curiosity, Cooper found no answers. The rest of the trip passed without incident, and he could only chalk it up to some inexplicable miracle.

By 9 a.m., they finally arrived outside the No. 3 Novice Sanctuary.

"We're finally back!" Clauny exclaimed, her voice brimming with relief as she hopped off the Blue Avion, Mochi cradled in her arms.

Just as she was about to step into the Novice Sanctuary, Vincent's voice stopped her in her tracks.

"We're not heading there…" he said, his tone calm but firm.

Confused, she turned to him. "Where are we going?"

Vincent didn't elaborate. Instead, he simply turned and began marching toward the Verdant Wilds. "Follow me."

Curiosity piqued, Clauny fell into step behind him, Mochi still clutched tightly in her arms.

Unbeknownst to them, a pair of piercing eyes watched from a distance, their intent unreadable, before vanishing into the shadows.

After walking a considerable distance from the Novice Sanctuary, Vincent suddenly came to a halt. Clauny looked around, her confusion mounting.

There's nothing here…

Just as she was about to voice her bewilderment, a powerful gust of wind swept through the area, startling her. Her eyes widened as two massive, familiar winged primals descended from the sky, landing gracefully before them.

The Crimson-Winged Condors.

They were half the size of the Blue Avion, their crimson feathers glinting in the sunlight.

"H-How are they here?!" Clauny stammered, her voice trembling with shock.

But her surprise didn't end there.

The two Crimson-Winged Condors lowered their heads in front of Vincent, their movements deliberate and respectful. It was clear they were acknowledging him as their master.

Vincent reached out without hesitation, his hand gently caressing their feathers. The sight left Clauny speechless as the pieces of the puzzle finally fell into place.

So, it was him after all… she thought, realization dawning.

Clauny decided then that she shouldn't be surprised anymore. Vincent had a way of defying expectations, after all.

Her thoughts were interrupted when Vincent called out to her.

"Let's go."

Clauny hesitated for a moment before accepting Vincent's outstretched hand, her eyes still wary as she glanced at the Crimson-Winged Condor.

With a single, powerful flap of their wings, the creatures launched into the sky, carrying Vincent and Clauny with them.

The wind rushed past her face as they soared higher, the ground shrinking beneath them. Clauny's grip on Vincent tightened, her heart racing with a mix of fear and exhilaration.