Thunder also longed for a staff—but only after mastering intermediate magic.
A distant dream, given his current abilities.
Maria, unable to resist Sisi's pleading, finally handed over her staff. The girl marveled at the intricate runes swirling along its length, pulsing with elemental energy. At its tip, a violet core the size of a baby's fist glowed—pure lightning affinity.
Sisi raised it toward the sun, giggling as prismatic light scattered across the clearing.
***Whoosh!***
A gust of wind tore through the air. Thunder squinted against the glare—just in time to see a massive shadow diving toward Sisi.
Talons outstretched.
Sisi, lost in her fantasy, noticed nothing. Maria, back turned, remained oblivious.
*Beak of an eagle. Claws of a leopard. Body of a lion. Tail of a tiger.* Wings spanning three meters, its crimson breast feathers gleamed like blood.
The name flashed in Thunder's mind:
*Griffin.*
An eighth-tier aerial predator. Unlike reclusive dragons, these were the true rulers of the skies.
*Why here? Why attack Sisi?* Then he understood—the staff's reflected light had provoked it.
**"Move!"** Thunder lunged, his footwork surpassing its limits. He tackled Sisi just as the griffin's claws grazed his shoulder. The beast banked sharply, soaring back up with a thunderous flap.
Maria whirled, her face paling. Eric stood frozen, knees trembling.
Thunder hauled Sisi up, retreating toward Maria. "Griffin," he hissed.
The creature hovered ten meters above, ruby eyes locked on the staff in Sisi's grip.
"Put it away!" Thunder snatched the staff, stashing it in his spatial bag.
The griffin's gaze shifted—first to Thunder, then the girls.
"You're bleeding," Sisi whispered.
Two gashes marred Thunder's shoulder, staining his shirt crimson.
"Focus." He kept his voice low. "No sudden moves. Adult griffins understand human intent. Stay calm, and it might leave."
Maria knew this. But Thunder worried about Eric and Sisi.
"Th- Thunder..." Eric stood isolated by the spring, just meters from the griffin. "I'm scared."
"Pretend it's family."
"That makes it worse," Eric whimpered. *My only family's my sister.*
Maria's chest tightened. *This is my role—protecting them.* Yet here stood Thunder again, blood soaking his sleeve, smiling calmly at the beast.
***GRAWWK!***
The griffin wheeled, talons flashing toward Eric.
Thunder moved faster. Lightning coiled around his palm as he intercepted the strike.
**"Earth Shield!"** A talisman activated, encasing him in amber light.
He ignored the slashing claws. His charged hand slammed into the griffin's belly.
***CRACK!***
Point-blank lightning erupted. The griffin shrieked, its feathers singed.
Not enough. Thunder unleashed two more talismans.
**"Flame Lotus! Dancing Embers!"**
Twin sixth-tier fire spells detonated—fireballs peppered the griffin's wings as a blazing lotus bloomed across its back.
**Would their desperate assault enrage the beast—or drive it away?**