Chapter 2/2] The Bird Continent's Unification
Linsley didn't flinch. With his Real Fantasy gift, he rewrote the trajectory of the lightning strikes, dissipating them harmlessly.
Summoning frostfire in his hands, he clashed with the eagle leader head-on. The frostfire's chilling blue flames overwhelmed the lightning, freezing and burning it away with each strike.
The hawk warrior hesitated, his confidence wavering as the eagle leader's attacks faltered.
Linsley turned to him, his tone cold. "Do you think defiance will save you now?"
The hawk's winds dissipated, and he lowered his gaze. "No... we'll listen."
The eagle leader, now grounded and defeated, raised his head with visible effort. "What... do you want?"
Linsley raised his hand, summoning a Soul Contract in the form of a glowing purple scroll. "Your loyalty. Sign this, and you will serve me. Betrayal will mean annihilation."
The eagle and hawk leaders exchanged tense glances, their pride clashing with the reality of their defeat.
Finally, they pricked their fingers, their blood marking the scroll. The purple energy pulsed, binding their loyalty to Linsley.
The warriors in the sky lowered their heads in submission, their defiance extinguished.
—Back on the Ground—
Linsley stood amidst the subdued bird clans, his white flux glowing faintly. His gaze shifted toward the Phoenix Clan's citadel, perched majestically in the distance.
"The Bird Continent is falling into place," he murmured. "But there's still work to be done."
Summoning another portal, he stepped through, his focus turning toward the remaining clans and territories. Unifying the Diviner World was no longer a goal—it was an inevitability.
…
—In the Western Bird Continent—
Linsley stepped out of the portal onto a serene cliffside. Below, the dense canopy of an untouched forest stretched endlessly, teeming with life.
The peaceful scene belied the simmering tension in the region—territories claimed by the Owls of Wisdom, who were known for their ancient knowledge and strategic acumen.
The air was heavy with an aura of vigilance. Unlike the other bird clans, the Owls had not engaged in open conflict, nor had they shown signs of infection. Instead, they maintained a quiet but formidable presence, their leaders watching from the shadows, calculating every move.
Linsley's white flux shimmered faintly as he took a step forward. "The Owls... careful and calculating, yet isolated. Their intelligence is their strength, but it also blinds them to the greater danger."
A low hum filled the air, and the shadows around him shifted.
Within moments, a dozen figures emerged—humanoid forms cloaked in flowing robes, their eyes glowing faintly with an eerie silver light. Their movements were precise and deliberate, their presence exuding a quiet menace.
The tallest among them, an elder owl with piercing eyes that seemed to see through everything, stepped forward.
His voice was calm, yet it carried an unspoken weight. "Human, why have you come to the sacred lands of the Owls of Wisdom? Speak quickly, for our patience is not limitless."
Linsley met the elder's gaze, unflinching. "I am Linsley, ruler of the Astral Dominion. The infection spreading across the world is a threat to all life, and your isolation only ensures your eventual destruction. I offer you a choice: join my unification, or be swept away with the chaos."
The elder tilted his head slightly, his silver eyes narrowing. "You presume much, Linsley of the Astral Dominion. The Owls do not act without purpose, nor do we submit without reason. Why should we trust that your intentions align with the survival of this world?"
Linsley's expression hardened, his voice cold and unwavering. "Because while you hide in the shadows, I've cleansed the Fierce Monster Continent and brought the Phoenix, Eagle, and Hawk Clans under my rule. The infection doesn't wait, and neither do I. If you won't act for the world's survival, I will act for you."
The elder's robes fluttered as he raised a hand, and the other owl warriors tensed. "You speak with certainty, but words are hollow without proof. Show us your strength, ruler, and we may consider your offer."
Linsley's white flux flared, illuminating the cliffside as he stepped forward. "You want proof? Then watch closely."
With a wave of his hand, his Real Fantasy gift activated, summoning a projection of the surrounding regions.
It displayed the infected zones creeping closer to the Owls' sacred lands, their edges glowing with ominous crimson flux. The elder's gaze darkened as he observed the undeniable truth.
"The infection is already at your borders," Linsley said. "It won't stop until everything is consumed. Your knowledge won't protect you from annihilation."
The elder's silence was heavy, his gaze locked onto the projection.
Finally, he spoke, his voice quieter but laced with resolve. "If what you say is true, then the Owls cannot remain idle. But submission... is not our way."
Linsley's flux surged, casting long shadows across the cliff. "Then let me make this simple. You will sign a Soul Contract and swear your loyalty to me. This is not submission—it's survival. Defiance will mean extinction."
The other owl warriors stirred, their unease palpable, but the elder raised a hand to silence them. "A contract that binds our will to yours? That is a heavy demand, even for survival."
Linsley stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. "The world doesn't need hesitation. It needs action. Make your choice."
The elder studied him for a long moment, the tension between them thick enough to cut. Finally, he extended his hand. "Very well. If your strength is enough to protect this world, then we will follow."
Linsley summoned the Soul Contract, its purple scroll unfurling in the air between them.
The elder pricked his finger with a small blade, letting his blood mark the contract. The other owl warriors followed, their reluctance clear but their loyalty bound.
As the contract pulsed and faded into their forms, Linsley's voice resonated with quiet authority. "Prepare your forces. The infection won't stop here, and neither will I."
The elder bowed his head slightly. "We will be ready, ruler."
Linsley turned, his white flux glowing faintly as he summoned another portal.
The Bird Continent was nearly unified, but his work was far from over.