CHAPTER 262: 262: SKYBOUND MONARCHS

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The tunnel entrance rumbled with a deep, rising tremor. Dust sifted from the cracked ceiling as shadows danced across the broken stone floor. Everyone paused. Outside the tunnel, even the smallest of the lizards on the trees perked up.

And then came the sound, it was an ear splitting cry that tore across the mountain air, like thunder being shredded by a thousand knives.

Kai’s eyes flicked upward. His eyes twitched. A smile crept across his bruised face.

"She is here," he muttered.

With a whoosh that bent trees and scattered moss, Alka descended from the sky like an avian storm beast. Her sable feathers flared outward like twin curtains of night, shimmering with ocean deep hues. Her wings alone spanned wider than a warship’s deck. Her obsidian talons curled beneath her as she dropped lower, wind howling through the tunnel’s broken opening.

Outside, several frogs still lingered,scouts and lesser elites who had waited for the general’s arrival and command. Now, they looked up and saw doom.

The frogs croaked in confusion. Then in panic. One hurled a spear. Another launched a slime arrow.

Alka did not flinch.

She tucked her wings mid-dive. The projectiles missed her completely, sailing harmlessly into the trees.

Her claws gripped the edge of the tunnel like a god claiming her throne. Then, with calculated grace, she landed directly over the ruined trench, her weight sending cracks along the rim of the collapsed floor.

The frogs tried to scramble away. They did not succeed.

Alka opened her beak and unleashed a bird cry that could flatten clouds. It struck the frogs like a physical wave, blasting them backward into trees, stones, and very unfortunate piles of mushrooms.

Kai stepped forward, shoulders aching but pride blooming in his chest.

"That is my bird," he said, barely standing. "Six star sky predator, half marine, half nightmare. Alka the controller of air."

Sha pointed up from beside a rock. "She just crushed three frogs by sitting on a hole. So, cool! I want one too."

Azhara waved her claw like a fan. "Did you see the feathers? I want to wear one. Or ride one. Or maybe date one."

"Sir, Kai, can you dress like a bird and make love to me. Or maybe I should be the bird. Ohh my... How tempting. I am feeling wet think about sir Kai." She added.

Vel rolled her eyes and began dragging dead frogs into a pile. "Focus, weirdos. Loot first, love later."

Kai took a deep breath, feeling the pounding ache in his chest slowly settle. His legs still wobbled. His aura was nearly empty, but his mind remained sharp.

"Collect the cores. Anything that is still glowing or breathing or twitching with value. Dump them into a pile."

The girls moved with practiced efficiency. In less than a minute, they had gathered what could be salvaged. Vel dropped a limp frog with a squelch. Sha, brought over a weapon made of sharpened coral. Naaro handed Kai a glimmering toad stone still humming with toxic energy. Azhara presented a golden ring shaped like a tongue.

"Do not ask where I found it," she said.

Kai gave her a very tired look. "I won’t." With a slow inhale, he raised his hand.

The air shimmered as his soul storage cube activated.

A glowing ring appeared behind him, wide enough to swallow a cart. One by one, the items were absorbed into it, vanishing in flickers of light.

The last item was a frog helmet shaped like an open mouth. He hesitated. Then tossed it in too.

Sha tilted her head. "Why even take that?"

Kai replied, "I will gift it to someone I hate. Maybe Roddick."

With the loot secured, he turned toward the group. His vision blurred slightly. His aura remained at three percent. His entire body felt like it had been sat on by a glacier made of frogs. But there was no time to rest.

"All aboard," he said.

Akayoroi gave a sharp nod. "Everyone is ready. Warriors, guards, eggs, and gear are secured in Kai storage treasure. We number twelve, including you."

Kai glanced up at Alka, who knelt now, lowering her massive wing like a ramp. The wind rustled her feathers, each one larger than a sword and tougher than iron.

The group moved.

One by one, the girls climbed aboard. They found footholds along the base of her wing, scaling toward the saddle platform on her back, a space nestled between reinforced plumes near the base of her neck.

Naaro reached the top and flopped down first.

Sha followed and slapped her thigh. "Move. Prime seat, mine."

Azhara dived over them both like a squirrel.

Vel sighed. "They are going to start biting each other soon."

Akayoroi climbed with elegant precision, already calculating the best place to seat the eggs and secure the warriors. Her movements made even Alka seem humbled.

Kai was the last.

As he climbed, his limbs screamed with each motion. Every feather he touched sent jolts of pain up his arms, but he pressed forward.

Just as he reached the base, a new noise echoed through the trees.

Croaking.

Loud. Angry. Multiplying.

The frogs were returning.

From the tree line, over two dozen emerged, rallying under one eyed captains and weird tribal war drum beaters with bloated cheeks.

Sha cursed. "We just finished fighting. Tell them to go away."

Kai turned, lifting one hand.

But Alka moved first. She stood. Wings out. Eyes glowing. She let out a single, short cry. It was a warning.

The frogs halted. For a long moment, the battlefield went quiet. Then one of the captains stepped forward.

"You may have killed the general," he croaked. "But we are the Marshborn. We do not forget. We do not forgive. This world belongs to the Swamp King."

Kai tilted his head. "Is the Swamp King just another frog with a fancier slime hat?"

The captain’s eyes bulged with rage. "We will hunt you. We will track you. No matter where you fly, the marsh will find you."

Kai looked at Alka, then at the girls, then back at the frogs. He gave a slow smile.

"Okay. See you at Monarch Mountain. Bring more frogs next time. Maybe they will survive longer than thirty seconds."