Affinity: Chaos

The Inner Court.

The Thunderbird Clan.

Sir Astarot and the two Thunderbird leaders were gathered inside the large orange-leafed tree.

“It has been two weeks,” the silver Thunderbird said. “I can say I did expect Grey to last this long, but I did not think the other young man would endure it as well.”

“He is the only Summoner I have seen use an Elemental Warrior the way he does,” Sir Astarot replied. “It is normal for him to stand above ordinary geniuses.” He had originally believed neither of them would last more than a week. That they had already spent two weeks beneath the lightning tree was surprising, yet not unbelievable. He had stopped judging Grey with common sense since the young man left the small world the last time.

While they spoke, several powerful auras approached the tree. Four Half-God Magical Beasts entered one after another. The first was the Toad Clan Leader, the same one Grey had clashed with during his first visit to the Inner Court. Behind him came a sleek Fox with sharp, calculating eyes, a green Lizard whose horned head and armored scales gave off a heavy pressure, and a broad-shouldered white Ape whose presence felt solid and direct.

They exchanged brief greetings with those already present.

The Toad Clan Leader swept the interior with its purplish rectangular pupils. “Where is the boy?”

“Still cultivating,” Sir Astarot answered. “Are your materials ready?”

The Toad tossed over a storage ring. The Lizard and the Ape did the same. The Fox, however, kept its ring and said, “I will hold onto my materials until the boy finishes. You told us he would be ready in a week. What caused the delay?”

“He is training under the lightning tree,” Sir Astarot began, then paused. His expression shifted slightly. “They are coming out now.”

The two Thunderbirds immediately spread their senses. They located Grey and Reynolds just outside the lightning tree’s range. The other Half-Gods did the same, each taking a quick measure of the two young men before withdrawing their senses.

“They stayed under the lightning tree for two full weeks?” the green Lizard asked, clearly surprised.

“Yes,” the silver Thunderbird said. “And Grey entered with his physical body.”

“His physical body?” The Fox, Lizard, and Ape spoke almost at once.

The Toad Clan Leader, on the other hand, gave a low sound of dismissal. “What is strange about that? He refined a Dragon’s blood essence. I would have been more shocked if he could not endure it.” Years ago the Toad had wanted to devour Grey precisely because of the vast energy contained in his body. It knew better than most how unusual the human’s physique was.

Sir Astarot chuckled. “I still remember you trying to eat him. I wonder whether you would still be alive if you had succeeded.”

The Toad snorted and said nothing. It understood the meaning. Lucas Dawson would not have let such a thing pass.

The two Thunderbirds exchanged a glance. Learning that Grey had once clashed with the Toad did not surprise them much. The Toad was overbearing by nature, and Grey was proud enough that he would never accept being treated as prey, especially when he had allies nearby.

The Fox looked at the Toad and laughed softly. “Of all the humans in the world, you always manage to offend Lucas. I am surprised you are still breathing.”

“I am not a coward like some of you,” the Toad shot back, expression dark. “Lucas is only another human. I can kill him whenever I choose.”

“You have lost to him more than once and still talk like that,” the blue Thunderbird said.

“They were draws,” the Toad insisted. “I even injured him in one of those fights.”

The white Ape let out a short, rough laugh. “What bullshit draws? He beat you to a pulp and tore the webbing from your foot. You still cannot swim properly. Look at yourself.” It gestured toward the Toad’s legs. Only one of the front feet still had intact webbing; both hind feet were bare. The injury had come from their last battle at sea, when Lucas had cut the webbing away. The Toad had been lucky to keep even one.

“If his insane wife had not interfered, I would have finished him,” the Toad growled. It refused, under any circumstance, to admit that Lucas was stronger.

“The only reason you’re still alive is because of his insane wife’s intervention.” Sir Astarot remarked.

“Nonsense!”

While the Half-Gods continued their argument, Grey and Reynolds had already stepped beyond the outer range of the lightning tree. They did not fly straight back to the Thunderbird Clan. Instead they stopped in the air to take stock of their gains.

Reynolds rolled his shoulders, lightning faintly flickering under his skin. The two weeks had come with significant increase for him, he was currently on the verge of breaking through to the Ninth-stage of the Sovereign Plane. Grey’s gains were less visible on the surface, but the steady, refined presence of his lightning essence and the deeper stability in his overall aura showed the time had not been wasted. More importantly, the living forest inside his Wood Space remained vivid in his mind, a constant reminder of the breakthrough he had made.

Grey turned toward Reynolds, ready to speak, when several powerful spiritual senses swept over them. He recognized Sir Astarot and the two Thunderbirds at once. The other four were new, except for one. The moment he felt the familiar, oppressive presence of the Toad Clan Leader, his brows drew together.

His history with the Toad Clan had never been pleasant.

Reynolds noticed the change in his expression. “What is it?”

“Remember the Toad Clan Leader I told you about?” Grey said. “The one who wanted to eat me the first time I came to the Inner Court.”

Reynolds thought for a second, then nodded. The image of a Half-God Toad trying to turn Grey into a meal had been hard to forget.

“He’s here,” Grey said.

Thank for reading and have a great day y’all!

Cya next chap!