Ch 211.

  Soaring over the fields of stumps was a revelation for Matt, who could only imagine the colossal destruction wrought by the fall of such immense trees. The stumps stood like grim sentinels, some cracked and splintered, while the ground between them bore deep scars, remnants of a once-vibrant forest. He found himself pondering the quality of the timber that had been lost and how a world designated as A rank could still teem with life amidst such devastation. Radoznaormr's words echoed in his mind—the higher a world’s rank, the more perilous it was for its inhabitants. Suddenly, everything clicked into place.

  The bird carrying him was an A rank monster, likely emerging from a dungeon, driven by an instinctual desire to thrive and expand. Its ancestors must have witnessed the same struggle, as the dungeon had likely encroached upon the world through the very trees that now lay in ruins. Were the foes the bird mentioned merely desperate natives fighting to reclaim their world? The thought lingered uneasily in Matt's mind, but he understood that probing deeper with questions could lead to trouble. Instead, he recognized there was a lesson to be gleaned from this experience, even if he wasn’t entirely sure what it entailed.

  As they approached another towering forest, one that dwarfed the stumps they had just traversed, the atmosphere shifted dramatically. Entering this new grove made it evident that it was far more densely populated with both the giant birds and humanoid figures. The increase in nests and makeshift homes was striking, but it was the overpowering stench that truly caught his attention. The odor was so pungent that he instinctively adjusted his sensory perception to a more neutral state, wishing he had done the same before sampling the fruit earlier. Now, he concentrated on their path, though it proved challenging; the surroundings all looked alike, and only the steady, straight trajectory they maintained offered any hint of direction. He hoped he could retrace his steps back to the tree in the middle of the lake if the need arose.

  Finally, they arrived at a point where the towering trunks of the massive trees stood starkly devoid of any nests or structures clinging to their bark. A rush of fresh air enveloped Matt, bringing with it a sense of relief; even without a sense of smell, he could recall how oppressive the polluted atmosphere had been. Yet, this newfound clarity sparked confusion in his mind. What distinguished this area from the rest of the forest? As the bird landed gracefully on a broad branch, it released him and began to speak. “This is a hunting reserve, a domain where only those of B rank are permitted to hunt. The further you venture in, the closer the prey you encounter will be to A rank.”

  “And I’m about to become both hunter and prey,” Matt shot back, determination lacing his words. “So, what happens if I kill one of your kind when they come after me?”

  “All who enter this territory take their lives into their own wings,” replied the giant bird, its eyes glinting with mirth. “Just ensure you aren’t seen while doing it.”

  “Alright, but how will you find me when it’s time for me to present my idea to your leader?”

  “Fool, you already have; this is where you will receive your answer.”

  “You’re just afraid to risk killing me yourself,” Matt challenged, his voice steady despite the tension in the air.

  “No, your strength must be demonstrated. Had you remained where you were, your host would have attacked to test your mettle. Now, if you can reach the tree with a resting nest within its branches, you will be safe, as I will inform the guards there of your approach. If you cannot accomplish that within a galactic week, you are too weak for your words to be taken seriously.”

  “Right,” Matt replied, gathering his resolve as he leaped from the tree. “You should be more concerned about what happens if I fail to reach it!”

  With that, he found himself alone in a strange land, uncertainty swirling around him like the mist that clung to the ground. He suspected the damn birds regarded anything that couldn’t soar through the sky as prey, and he longed for the chance to converse with a humanoid from this world without the bird’s piercing gaze looming over him. The very notion that the bird was deliberately avoiding giving him such an opportunity suggested to Matt that he wouldn’t be facing them directly in combat. No, his expectations leaned toward encountering genuine dungeon monsters that would manifest as he ventured deeper into their territory. Taking a deep breath, he steeled himself and moved forward, anticipation thrumming in his veins, yet nothing stirred in the stillness around him.

  Hours passed in this way, with Matt lost in thought, grappling with the possibility that he had misjudged his surroundings. If he wasn’t navigating a world ravaged by a dungeon's takeover, then perhaps the towering trees surrounding him were indeed a natural phenomenon, thriving under the influence of the system. This idea felt off to Matt; as far as he understood, trees couldn’t gain levels unless they somehow adapted to the world’s overall level. The more he contemplated, the more uncertain he became about everything. Just as doubt began to cloud his mind, he caught a flicker of movement from the corner of his eye.

  Turning quickly, Matt barely managed to grasp the tips of the horns on a massive, deer-like creature that charged at him, its intent clear as it tried to impale him. The animal’s fur blended seamlessly with the bark of the trees, providing it with perfect camouflage, and it sported an extra eye perched atop its head, nestled between the two prominent horns. Yes, he was certain they were horns, not antlers; he could feel the solid, bony texture beneath his fingers as he struggled to gain control over the creature, adrenaline surging through him as he fought to assert dominance over this foe.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  Just then, Matt noticed another flicker of movement, and a second creature charged directly toward him. He remained calm; the strength he felt in his grip on the first creature assured him he was more powerful than it. With a swift sidestep and a twist of his body, he maneuvered the first beast between himself and the oncoming threat, all while scanning for any additional attackers. The last thing he needed was to be encircled by a herd of these aggressive monsters, their relentless assaults overwhelming him.

  As the second creature raised its formidable horns, preparing to collide with the first, Matt released his hold and sprinted toward the nearest tree. He instinctively transformed his hands into claw-like hooks, ready to scale the trunk. When his first hook found purchase in the rough bark, he struggled to pull himself upward, nearly losing his grip as he attempted to dig in with his second hook. In a moment of quick thinking, he shifted his knees, allowing sharp spikes to protrude from them, which provided him with the traction he desperately needed to ascend.

  Climbing swiftly, he reached a height of about fifty feet and glanced down at the ground below, where the deer-like creatures gazed up at him, their eyes wide with confusion. He counted five in total, having finally spotted the ones hiding among the trees, but only the two that had attacked him bore horns. This observation hinted that the others were likely female, with the horns serving as a distinguishing trait, though he couldn’t be entirely certain. At their size, which would dwarf even a moose, he had no intention of taking the time to inspect them closely.

  Matt had little desire to kill these creatures; his true prey would be whatever hunted them. From their brief encounter, he gauged they were barely B rank at best, meaning any experience gained from defeating them would be minimal. However, he found himself puzzled about how to navigate past them if they didn’t wander off on their own. Just as doubt began to creep in, a dark form swooped down from the higher branches above, and a grin broke across Matt's face. Sure enough, as he swung to the side, away from the tree he had been clinging to, the giant black bird—indistinguishable from the one that had left him to fend for himself—adjusted its flight path to catch him.

  As its claws latched onto his arm and leg, Matt adjusted their strength, allowing both limbs to weaken before they burst, sending the wound back to the bird as he healed. The creature emitted a piercing screech, losing a wing and a foot as it began to spiral downward, dragging Matt along for the chaotic descent. The impact from rolling against the rough ground and the sudden stop, compounded by the loss of two limbs, left Matt teetering under 70% HP. Meanwhile, the giant bird fared even worse; though it was still alive, a look of defeat clouded its eyes. Its remaining wing hung at an awkward angle, and its neck appeared grotesquely twisted.

  “Today’s your lucky day,” Matt declared, a predatory grin spreading across his face as he gazed at the wounded bird. “You get to live, even if you don’t deserve it after attacking me.”

  Matt remained silent as he carefully severed a small piece of his own flesh and inserted it into the bird’s beak, initiating the transformation into a puppet. His prior experience allowed the puppet to seamlessly integrate with the bird’s body, and within five minutes, the creature had regrown its lost limbs and healed all of its injuries. The bird’s eyes widened in confusion as it sensed the restoration of its physical form, yet it found itself unable to move a single muscle.

  “I have taken control of your body for my own purposes, but don’t worry; I’ll return it when I have what I need,” Matt explained, his voice steady. “Now, you’re about to regain control. I want you to spread the word that a new creature is roaming these woods and that it escaped your grasp. Should you defy me, I will end your life by stealing your ability to breathe.”

  The bird began to gasp, feeling the sudden rush of air fill its lungs, but Matt’s puppet constricted its breathing, a reminder of the power he wielded. They both understood that while it would take hours to suffocate the creature this way, the message was unmistakable. Panic flickered in the bird's eyes as it flapped its wings frantically, prompting Matt’s puppet to loosen its grip.

  “Do we have an understanding?” he asked, his tone firm.

  “Yes,” the giant bird squawked, its voice shaky. “But why?”

  “Don’t concern yourself with the details. Your survival is all that should matter to you now.”

  Matt didn’t hesitate any longer, noticing the deerlike creatures shifting uneasily, preparing to charge as he darted toward the nearest tree. The giant bird he had just wounded took flight, its massive wings beating furiously before it vanished into the canopy above. With that distraction in play, Matt focused on finding a safe spot to rest; his destination was no longer his primary concern. Instead, he was acutely aware of the need to avoid drawing too much attention to himself. The giant bird's departure was merely a diversion, a simple ruse to keep the focus away from him.

  His true objectives lay in the knowledge he could gather through the bird’s eyes and ears. It was crucial for Matt to understand the landscape he was navigating and formulate a solid plan to achieve his goals. The fact that he now had two puppets embedded within the giant birds meant he would likely gain a more comprehensive view of their society. He hadn’t missed the opportunity to implant his puppet when the giant bird who had brought him to this world had consumed the fruit he had bitten into; he had let it grow quietly in the background, and it was already beginning to learn everything about its new host.

  Radoznaormr had tasked him with securing allies, and that was precisely what he intended to do. He simply needed to survive long enough to ensure that the head of the Raven Association became his puppet. A wry smile crossed his face as he recalled how he had claimed that digging would be his method for crossing the lake; that was a ruse, as he would have employed the same tactics on the serpents that he was now using on the giant birds. Though he felt a twinge of discomfort at resorting to such methods, he understood the necessity of proving his worth, ensuring he was too valuable for his other self to eliminate. He would need to make it clear that if anything were to happen to him, his other self would find himself in a troublesome situation.