Aeralon had barely pulled away when the roc arrived.
It swept in like a storm given form, its massive wings cutting through the air. Its gaze flicked over Ethan—and froze for half a beat.
Shock, raw and unmistakable.
It couldn't wrap its head around it. A human at Tier 24… holding off a Tier 33 Aeralon for that long? Long enough to buy it time to recover?
That didn't make sense.
Then it noticed Ethan's missing arm. Something shifted in its eyes—just a flicker—but it didn't stop.
In the next instant, it shot past him, accelerating straight after Aeralon.
"Hey! Don't kill him!" Ethan shouted after it. "Break him and leave him for me!"
The roc didn't slow. No clue if it even understood.
Ethan clicked his tongue, a little uneasy. Aeralon would make perfect material for a soulless thrall. Killing him outright would be such a waste.
Still… no way he was going after them in his current state. If he pushed it, he'd be the one getting killed.
