Chapter 66

"Yah!"

It was Phiro who initiated the attack first.

Leaping high, she aimed a powerful kick at the massive body of Phytria's abdomen with her strong legs.

"Quack"

Phytria deflected it with her wing-like arms.

"Whoa!"

After deflecting, Phytria followed up with a powerful strike from her large wings as Phiro landed on the ground.

"Whoops!"

Phiro dodged by shifting her body.

"Go, Phiro-chan!"

Melty cheered loudly as if it were her own battle.

"「「「Guaaaaaah!」」」

The other Filorials also seemed to be cheering, raising their voices.

"I won't lose!"

Phiro ran up Phytria's body.

"Quack!"

Phytria tried to shake her off with her wings, but Phiro skillfully jumped, using the wings as a platform to leap onto Phytria's face.

"Wow! Amazing!"

Although the attack failed, Phiro exclaimed in admiration.

"She's so fast. But I won't lose."

Phiro positioned her familiar wings up and down and started running.

Is she going to use her special move right away?

"Here I come!"

Phiro's body wobbled.

The next moment, a sound of "Bash Bash" echoed, but...

"Quack"

Phytria moved her wings up and down slowly, as if in slow motion.

"Whoaaaaa!"

Phiro was sent flying in the air, spinning around. She spread her wings to catch the air and landed.

"Phiro's trump card was easily deflected."

"Quack"

Phytria placed one of her wings on her hip and taunted Phiro.

It was as if she was saying, "Is that all?"

Impressive.

To easily deflect Phiro's ultimate attack...

"Truly a legendary Filorial."

Melty said in admiration.

I agree.

How do you even describe it? Phiro, who is outstanding in combat among us, was being toyed with.

"Then, this time, it's my turn!"

Phiro flapped her wings again.

‘The source of power, Phiro, commands. Reinterpret the principle and blast the opponent with a fierce vacuum tornado.’

"Zweite Tornado!"

"What!?"

Phiro can use intermediate magic! And she didn't even learn it from us...

If she could use it, she should have used it regularly.

In the previous battle with the hero, if she had used that, we could have escaped more easily.

A tornado was created from Phiro's hand and aimed at Phytria—

"Quack Quack Quack Quack Quack Quack Quack Quack Quack!"

"Quack Quack Quack Quack Quack Quack Quack Quack Quack!"

Something created by magic appeared around Phiro, and the spell she cast disappeared as if nothing had happened.

"Neutralized!?"

I think this was a phenomenon described in the beginner's magic book.

Interference with the casting of magic. While theoretically possible, it requires the ability to analyze the essence of the opponent's power to put it into practice.

Magic patterns change each time they are cast. To create a spell that neutralizes it before it hits is apparently quite difficult.

For high-level magic, the time it takes to cast makes neutralization more likely, but for intermediate magic, it's difficult.

"Wow... Phiro's magic didn't work, but she won't give up."

Phiro bravely ran towards Phytria.

Phytria struck Phiro with her large wings.

"Ha!"

Phiro blocked the powerful attack with both wings, causing a ground-shaking impact.

"Gr... Heavy... But..."

Bearing the weight, Phiro kicked one of Phytria's wings and leaped.

At this moment, Phytria had no time to swing her raised wing, and Phiro flew up to Phytria's face.

She was slightly enveloped in wind, indicating her improved jumping power.

"Take this!"

A spinning kick with her whole body seemed to hit Phytria's face—

Or so it seemed.

However,

"Quack!"

The wind cloak around Phytria blew Phiro away, and the kick missed.

Phytria's feathers were slightly grazed and flew off.

"Quack"

Phytria looked at the feathers that flew off with a smile.

At this moment, I realized something.

Phytria, aside from her hands and magic, hadn't used anything else.

She hadn't moved from her spot.

It was impossible to gauge how strong she was.

A legendary Filorial. She truly lived up to the name, easily handling Phiro.

There was no way to win against her.

"Muu..."

Phiro let out an unhappy sound, seemingly annoyed.

"I won't lose!"

Her feathers stood on end.

"Whoosh..."

She took a deep breath. Something was flying around her... I understood that Phiro was gathering magical elements.

She could do that?

The problem was that she couldn't move easily and had been standing still for nearly 30 seconds.

"Here I go—"

Phiro positioned her wings up and down.

The wind currents behind her were visible, indicating the concentration of magic.

This was probably Phiro's ultimate move.

The premise was too harsh. This wasn't something practical for actual combat.

"Quick!"

Phiro shot out like a bullet, heading straight for Phytria.

With her beak forward, she flew low, spinning as she charged. It was the fastest she had ever been.

For Phiro, who usually relied on kicks, this was a rare beak attack.

How do you describe it? It was like the ultimate move of a robot in a strategy game that looks like an airplane.

"Quack!?"

Even Phytria was surprised, her eyes widening.

She took a big step back and then...

The battle was decided.

Phytria spread her wings wide and, as if clapping with both hands, or rather, squashing a mosquito with bare hands, pinned Phiro down with her wings.

"Kyu..."

Phiro's eyes rolled back, and she fell to the ground when Phytria opened her wings.

"Phiro-chan!"

"「「「Guaaaaaah!」」」

The Filorials cheered.

Despite the noise, Melty was the first to rush over, followed by the rest of us.

"Are you okay?"

"Umm... Ah..."

Phiro, who had been dazed, came to when Melty shook her.

She looked around and then hung her head.

"Phiro lost."

"But you did great. You fought well against the queen of the Filorials."

"She held back a lot, and I couldn't do anything."

Phytria quacked at the pouting Phiro.

"What are you giving me?"

Ah, she's giving something after all.

"Quack Quack"

"What's the reward? What is it?"

Phytria plucked a feather from her crown-like head and released it towards Phiro.

The feather glowed faintly and landed on Phiro's head.

It burst into pieces, and a tuft of hair stood up on Phiro's head.

"..."

Rafthalia and I were silent.

What was that? Was that the reward?

"Eh?"

"Phiro-chan is so cute!"

Melty was excitedly praising Phiro, but Phiro seemed confused about what had happened.

"What happened?"

"Um..."

I pointed to her head, and Phiro tentatively touched the outline of her head.

"Something strange grew! Ah!"

Snap!

What!?

She pulled it out forcefully.

"It hurts!"

Despite the pain, Phiro was pleased with the tuft of hair she had pulled out.

Snap.

But a new tuft of hair grew back in the same spot.

"It grew back!"

"Eh!?"

Phiro, with tears in her eyes, tried to pull out the tuft of hair a few times, but it kept growing back, so she gave up and hung her head.

That tuft of hair was creepy.

"Quack Quack"

"Mean!"

"What did she say?"

"Even if you pull it out, it will grow back, so give up."

"Quack Quack"

"Ah... it will be like that..."

I looked at the crown-like feathers on Phytria's head.

What was the intention behind the legendary Filorial giving Phiro such a thing...

I checked Phiro's status screen.

...Her abilities had improved since the last time I saw it.

It was probably a blessing that granted ability corrections.

It was a good reward for Phiro, who couldn't level up.

"Quack Quack"

Phytria pointed at me and beckoned with her hand.

"She says she has a present for you too, sir."

"I don't want a tuft of hair."

"Tuft of hair?"

I didn't explain. It would be noisy if I did.

"Quack Quack"

"A better one."

"Hmm..."

I didn't know what she would give me, but I didn't want anything strange.

I couldn't refuse, so I approached.

"Quack Quack"

Phytria pointed at my shield and gestured for me to raise it.

"Like this?"

I raised my shield. Phytria plucked a crown feather and placed it on the shield.

The shield reacted strongly and absorbed it.

All Filorial series have been unlocked!

"Huh?"

Checking the tree, the shield named "Filorial" was glowing.

Most equipment bonuses were for base abilities and speed increases, and there were open items that didn't overlap, such as Filorial ability corrections, growth corrections (large, medium, small), and specific growth corrections (large, medium, small).

Additionally, there were notable items like "Mounted ability increase (large, medium, small)."

However, many shields were beyond my current level and couldn't be equipped.

It seemed that all the shields with "Filorial" in their names had met their conditions.

"I'll thank you."

"Quack Quack"

Phytria nodded with a smile.

What a strange reward.

Was that feather condensed with Filorial power?

Since Phiro couldn't level up, it was a good thing.

By the way, Melty had mentioned a legend that the Filorial Queen fought alongside the hero.

If that legend was true, then Phytria was that divine bird.

So, Phytria knew at least a little about the hero's weapon system and decided to share it.

"Quack"

"Since we're done, we'll leave now."

"Ah, ah..."

Melty timidly and shyly spoke to Phytria.

"Quack?"

"Please shake hands!"

Was she excited because it was the legendary Filorial? She asked for a handshake, which felt more like something you'd do with a sports star or an idol.

"Quack Quack"

Phytria, who was taken aback, gently patted Melty's head and placed a large wing on her hand.

Then she hugged her warmly and smiled.

She was so kind.

"Wow..."

Phytria placed Melty on her head, as if giving her a grand service.

"High, high!"

Melty was very excited.

Phytria ordered us to step back. We did as she said.

Then... she grew to about 18 meters, twice her previous size.

She was like a building.

"Amazing, amazing!"

Melty's voice could be heard from a distance. Was it okay to go that high?

How big could this Filorial get?

Maybe she was originally that big and transformed to 9 meters.

...Would Phiro grow that big too?

I looked at Phiro with a puzzled expression.

"What is it?"

"Nothing."

What would we do if she grew that big... That was the problem.

We could probably hide her size by transforming, but the food expenses would be a concern.

She lived in the wild and was a real queen with a flock, so she was probably fine with her omnivorous diet.

But Phiro was a domesticated Filorial, and I would have to take care of her.

Maybe I should consider reusing the Bio Plant seeds I obtained before.

After playing with Melty for a while, Phytria returned to her normal Filorial form and waved as she pulled a luxurious carriage.

"Um, about the ancient vow, she says she will say goodbye in human language."

"Okay."

It was probably a matter of etiquette or something.

"Bye-bye!"

"Wha!?"

Her voice was almost the same as Phiro's! That bird!

And she could speak in her normal Filorial form!

The other Filorials around her also dispersed as Phytria left.

"Ha..."

Melty sighed dreamily.

"Like a dream..."

"It would have been better if it were a dream."

It felt like a monster battle.

The strength that could toy with Phiro, who could even take down a dragon, was endless.

Anyway, it was a night with a significant potential for Phiro's power-up.

The journey to the southwest would continue for a while longer.