Chapter 117: Divine Sun Bird
The light lingered for a few breaths, then sank back into the shell, leaving only faint ripples of warmth across Rhys’ palms. He exhaled slowly.
"So it is Aurelius—the Divine Sun Bird. Not a species name. Not a placeholder. A true name."
He turned the egg carefully, watching as radiant veins of gold flared like dawn breaking across obsidian. This wasn’t just another Ancient. This was a being tied directly to the concept of sanctity itself, something that carried the weight of life and holiness in every fiber of its being.
Puddle stirred faintly in his chest, the ripple of his presence questioning, almost wary. Rhys smiled faintly.
"Don’t worry. You’ll still be my first. But if you’re water, dark, and light... Aurelius will be my flame of the sun. Together you’ll balance each other."
His HUD pulsed again:
[ Aurelius – Divine Sun Bird ]
[ Status: Ready to Hatch ]
[ Hatch Condition: Infuse with Life Essence ]
Rhys’ brows furrowed. "Life Essence...? Not mana, not health."
He opened his inventory, skimming past potions and relics until he found the faint green crystal he’d looted months ago from the Garden of Withered Blossoms. A rare drop, too obscure for him to use back then.
[ Life Crystal Fragment ]
[ Contains: Pure condensed vitality of the world. ]
He held it up, then pressed it gently against the egg’s surface. The reaction was instant—light blazed, the egg drinking in the crystal’s glow until nothing remained.
The courtyard trembled. Wings unfurled in silhouette behind the egg, shadows cast by a light that wasn’t there. The air filled with the sound of feathers rustling, as if the dawn sky itself were preparing to open.
Cracks spiderwebbed across the shell. Each one spilled radiance, not blinding but warm, comforting, holy.
Rhys tightened his grip on his sword hilt instinctively. His heart raced—because even he, who had resurrected beasts from ash, had never seen something this pure, this absolute.
And then, with a final pulse, the egg split.
A small bird tumbled out—golden down shimmering like sunlight on water, eyes still shut. It gave a single, fragile chirp before collapsing softly into Rhys’ hands.
The system chimed.
[ Aurelius, the Divine Sun Bird (Hatchling) has joined your bond. ]
[ Element: Life / Holy ]
[ Current Status: Hatchling – Weak, requires nourishment. ]
Rhys’ lips curved in a rare, genuine smile. "So you’re mine now... Aurelius."
The hatchling stirred, eyes fluttering open for the first time—twin sparks of dawn gazing at him with recognition.
The little bird blinked slowly, then tilted its head, releasing a faint glow that washed across Rhys’ chest like the first rays of sunrise. Warmth—not heat, not mana, but life—flowed into him. The kind of warmth that chased shadows out of bones, that made the heart feel lighter just by existing.
A cascade of golden script lit up his HUD.
[ Bond Established – Aurelius, the Divine Sun Bird ]
[ Classification: Mythical-Class Ancient Beast ]
[ Rank: Rare (Mythical) ]
[ Affinities: Life / Holy ]
[ Passive Effect – Dawn’s Grace: The bondholder and all allies within a 10-meter radius gain +50% health regeneration and +20% resistance to curses, corruption, and decay. ]
Rhys looked suprised. Mythical-class. Not just Ancient. Higher. Beyond even the rare lineages he’d uncovered so far. A beast whispered about in the oldest lore, reborn into his palm.
The hatchling chirped again, this time stronger, golden feathers fluffing up as tiny sparks of radiant motes drifted from its wings. A miniature halo flickered above its head before fading, as though its own power was too vast for such a small form to contain.
Rhys extended his will, testing the new bond. His chest thrummed in resonance—Aurelius’ essence wasn’t sharp or forceful like Puddle’s, but expansive, like an open sky that wanted to shelter everything beneath it.
He chuckled softly, brushing a finger against the downy crown of its head.
"You’re not just light—you’re the kind of light that heals."
The system chimed once more, a smaller note this time:
[ Aurelius has unlocked First Hatchling Skill: "Radiant Pulse." ]
[ Effect: Releases a burst of holy energy that heals allies for 5% of max health and blinds undead or corrupted enemies for 3 seconds. Cooldown: 60s. ]
Rhys smirked. Even in hatchling form, Aurelius was already proving its worth.
"lest meet your senirs" rhsy sad a she bed oute puddel whi cma otein liteh girl form and ye Sir moonbounce, the Mon ted as sete hsi al ared was oset whie he wa sle an litte cuteted boste teh Aurleous as tey psleud iwhit hapy wo fod enaotehr paed or sibeling ofrthem.
" Take care fehsle one until he setosyeuled heisad bothe Pudle and bounce nodded
Rhys smirked. Even in hatchling form, Aurelius was already proving its worth.
"Let’s meet your seniors," he said, the corner of his mouth tugging upward.
With a thought, Puddle slipped free from his core, materializing in her lithe girl form—silver-blue hair cascading like flowing water, eyes luminous with shifting tides. Beside her, Sir Moonbounce thudded onto the ground, his massive divine shell gleaming faintly with moonlight before his body rippled and shrank. In an instant, the towering guardian became a small, round turtle no larger than a melon—shell still glowing softly, eyes like twin moons.
The two of them regarded Aurelius curiously.
The hatchling chirped once, wings fluttering awkwardly as he tottered forward, golden feathers puffing. Puddle tilted her head, then crouched low, extending a finger for him to climb onto. The newborn bird hopped into her palm without hesitation, nuzzling against her hand with another faint chirp.
Rhys’ lips twitched. Aurelius had no fear—already acting as though he had always belonged.
Moonbounce gave a tiny "mrrrp," his turtle voice comically soft compared to the weight of his presence. He waddled forward, his glowing shell radiating calm, and nuzzled against Aurelius. The golden bird wobbled, pecked at the turtle’s smooth shell, then curled up against it as though the warmth of the moon itself was cradling him.
A surprising scene unfolded—Puddle smiling softly while Moonbounce settled protectively beside the hatchling, the three forming a circle of light, water, and sun.
For the first time, Rhys felt playfulness ripple through his bond.
The three beasts weren’t just allies—they were beginning to feel like... siblings.
"Take care of the fledgling until he settles," Rhys instructed quietly. His voice carried more weight than command; it was trust.
Both Puddle and Moonbounce nodded, their bond pulsing in affirmation.
Aurelius let out a tiny trill, as though agreeing with the arrangement, and then promptly fell asleep, nestled between Puddle’s arm and Moonbounce’s glowing shell.
[ Tamed Beast: Aurelius ]
Type: Divine Sun-Bird (Hatchling Phase)
Level: 1 → Will fully synchronize with Master’s level after 48 hours
Rarity: Ancient (Mythical)
Elemental Affinities: Light, Fire, Air
Health: 2200
Mana: 6500
Attack Power: 520
Defense: 370
Speed: 950
[ Dawn’s Grace ]
[ Eternal Hatchling (Passive) ]
The Divine Sun-Bird is an immortal flame given form. Even as a hatchling, Aurelius cannot truly die. When struck down, his body ignites into holy embers, leaving behind a dormant egg that reforms with time.
Effect: If defeated, revives after 24 hours in hatchling form.
Each revival accelerates growth and strengthens bond with Master.
Level synchronization begins once hatched; full sync occurs in 48 hours.
[ Ancient Lightfire Magic – Level 1 ]
The newborn sun-bird channels primal light entwined with celestial flame.
Solar Flare: A radiant blaze that blinds foes briefly while searing them.
Effect: Small AoE Light + Fire damage, blinds targets for 2s.
Mana Cost: 40
Cooldown: 15s
Feather of Dawn: Sheds a glowing feather of solar grace, mending wounds.
Effect: Restores 6% Health instantly to one ally.
Mana Cost: 35
Cooldown: 20s
[ Hatchling Skills ]
-Skybound Flutter: A burst of divine wingbeats creates a radiant gust, knocking enemies back.
Effect: Small AoE knockback.
Mana Cost: 25
Cooldown: 12s
-Sunlit Trill: A joyous hatchling’s call infused with solar mana, uplifting nearby allies.
Effect: +7% Attack Power for allies within 10m, lasts 12s.
Mana Cost: 35
Cooldown: 30s
-Radiant Pulse
Rhys let the glowing text fade from the air, his hand lowering slowly.
Aurelius’ stats weren’t just good—they were absurd for a newborn. He wasn’t merely a tamed beast; he was a living sun, a divine ember tucked against his chest.
Puddle leaned closer, brushing her silver-blue hair away from her face as she whispered, "He shines like the morning tide..."
Moonbounce—small and round in his turtle form—gave a soft "mrp" of agreement, his shell’s glow resonating faintly with Aurelius’ warmth.
Rhys exhaled.
"Then let him sleep. In forty-eight hours, he’ll be at our level."
Rhys glanced down one last time. Aurelius was nestled snug between Puddle’s arm and Moonbounce’s softly glowing shell, all three radiating a strange harmony—sun, water, and moonlight breathing together in unison.
"Rest," he murmured. With a thought, threads of his bond stirred, and one by one the beasts dissolved into streams of light. They folded back into his heart space, their presences warm against his soul. Aurelius’ tiny ember flickered faint but steady, like a candle lit against the dawn.
The courtyard quieted. Only Rhys remained, his hand brushing the hilt of his sword as his HUD dimmed. The warmth of his companions lingered in his chest—a heartbeat within his heartbeat.
He turned toward the road, boots striking against the cobblestones as the horizon stretched wide.
[ Destination: Smithfist City ]
The world ahead shimmered with possibility. Smoke and steel, forge and fire—that was Smithfist, the city of anvils and hammers where warriors came to temper both weapon and will.
Rhys adjusted his cape, the golden dawn still faint on his skin from Aurelius’ hatching, and set off.
Every step carried him closer to new battles, new power—and the next Chapter where sun, water, and moonlight would march beside him.