Cliff inspected his new pair of wings carefully, a fascinating mix of falcon and owl feathers. Their bright white color almost shimmered under the cold sky, both sturdy and delicate, built for precision and speed. He spread them slowly, feeling every movement as a natural extension of his body. The energy of the variant essence stone had perfectly fused with his mana, granting him an unprecedented harmony with the air around him.
Just as he was about to test a new sequence of movements, a violent explosion echoed in the distance, shattering the relative calm of the environment. The deep rumbling spread through the valley, followed by a shockwave that made the ground tremble beneath his feet. Cliff turned his head toward the source of the sound, his eyes narrowing slightly. A column of black smoke rose on the horizon, tearing through the sky.
He knew what that meant. Battle was raging, and he had a meeting he couldn't miss.
