The Sky Buzzard was massive, its wings spanning twice the width of a wagon, with splayed feathers like sharpened blades.

Its talons glistened with something dark and wet, probably blood.

Wade threw himself backwards, skidding on the dirt.

The buzzard's talons sliced through the space his head had been just an instant before.

The force of the mind sent him stumbling back, its wings missing him by inches.

As the bird passed, its head whipped towards Wade. Its beak opened wide, revealing a throat that shimmered with electric light.

Sparks crawled along its feathers. It was charging an elemental strike.

Wade's heart lurched. His hands moved on instinct.

Basic Ward!

Aegis of Reflection!

He layered them atop each other.

The barriers flashed to life just as the buzzard unleashed a bolt of blue lightning. The world lit up for a moment, everything going white.

The barrier held for half a second before cracking, shattering under the pressure.

Wade was thrown back by the blast, rolling through the mud, his ears ringing.

When his vision cleared, he saw the buzzard spreading its wings again, preparing for another dive.

"What the heck was that?" Wade spat.

"It's a Sky Buzzard Patriarch. They can shoot lightning!"

Around them, adventurers were locked in their own life and death battles, too occupied to intervene.

Brody staggered to his feet, grabbing his spear. "You take the left?"

"Yeah," Wade said, spitting dirt. He tightened his grip on Toothpick.

The Sky Buzzard circled high above, its wings beating like thunder.

The beast was lining up for another dive, its feathers glinting with a faint electric sheen. Static crawled along then as it screeched.

Brody planted his spear into the ground for balance, shouting over the chaos. "It's coming again!"

"I see it!" Wade shouted back.

The buzzard tucked its wings and dropped, a streak of blue-gray fury cutting through the sky.

Its speed was unreal. It closed the distance in seconds, aiming straight for them.

Wade braced, his gauntleted hands glowing as he gathered mana into his palm. The air shimmered.

"Fireburst!"

A violent explosion of fire erupted from his hands, streaking upwards in a torrent of orange and red.

The blast barely missed the bird, but it was enough to force the monster to twist in the air, shrieking as flames licked across its feathers.

The Sky Buzzard righted itself, its talons flashing as it adjusted its trajectory.

Wade barely had time to shout before the creature corrected its flight path and dived for Brody.

The spear wielder was ready. "Come on then!" Brody yelled, bracing his weapon and angling it upwards.

The buzzard crashed into him with a sound like an avalanche. Brody held firm, the tip of his spear lodging into the creature's chest.

Under its skin was a layer of armored bone, stopping the spear from penetrating too deeply.

The monster screeched, flapping violently and throwing up a cloud of dirt and feathers.

"Move!" Wade shouted. He sprinted forward, swinging Toothpick with all his might.

The hammer end connected with the creature's flank, leaving a dent on impact. Sparks flew as bone and metal scraped.

The Sky Buzzard shrieked in rage. Its beak opened, the inside glowing white-blue again, the sign of another lightning strike incoming.

"Scatter!" Wade bellowed.

Both men dove in opposite directions. A crack of blinding light split the air where they'd stood.

The lightning bolt slammed into the ground, exploding in a flash that melted the dirt into glass.

The shockwave threw Wade onto his back. He rolled over, panting, the smell of ozone filling his lungs.

The buzzard's shadow passed over him again.

It was already in the air, and diving towards them again.

Wade forced himself to his knees, gripping Toothpick tighter.

He waited, the mana already building in his hands. The bird descended, its broken feathers trailing sparks.

"Closer," he muttered under his breath.

The buzzard's screech tore through the air as it zeroed in.

"Closer…"

Its talons stretched towards him, ready to tear him to shreds.

"Now."

Wade thrust out his hands. "Fireburst!"

The explosion detonated point-blank.

A wave of fire engulfed the bird mid-dive, a blazing inferno swallowing its body.

The monster screamed, a horrible, burning sound.

"Got you," Wade hissed, teleporting to the side

The Sky Buzzard slammed into the ground he had just been standing on. The impact shook the earth, sending cracks spidering across the ground. Dust and ash billowed in every direction.

One of its massive wings bent at an unnatural angle, bone snapping audibly. The creature thrashed, its lightning aura flickering erratically.

Brody, already on his feet, sprinted towards it. "While it's down!"

Wade didn't need to be told twice.

The two men converged on the fallen beast, weapons swinging.

The monster swung its beak at them wildly, sending sparks flying as it struck the dirt.

Wade ducked under the blow, driving Toothpick's hammerhead into the bird's shoulder. The impact crushed through feathers and bone.

Brody lunged for its other side, his spear punching into the creature's ribs. The bird shrieked in pain.

"Keep it down!" Wade shouted.

"Working on it!" Brody grunted, twisting his spear deeper.

The Sky Buzzard lashed out again, wings flapping weakly as it tried to push itself upright.

Wade teleported above it, just a short hop, and brought Toothpick down hard onto its skull.

The strike hit with a crunch, fire bursting from the contact point. The flames spread, wrapping around the monster's head like a crown.

The creature convulsed once, then again. Brody stabbed it one last time through the chest, and finally, the Sky Buzzard collapsed.

Its entire body sagged, the light in its eyes fading to gray.

Wade and Brody stared at the dead monster, panting heavily.

"Guess you don't fly so well when you're on fire," Brody said between breaths, grinning faintly.

Wade gave a short, exhausted laugh. "Guess not."

He stepped back, wiping the sweat and grime from his face, chest heaving. The ground beneath the dead bird was scorched black, the air hot and heavy with the smell of burnt feathers.

Brody turned to Wade, brows raised. "Stick together?"

Before Wade could answer, something massive slammed into his side.

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