Rogue Villain-Chapter 346: No Shame

*You two having fun?*

Ackster returned to where he had left Mio and the eight-winged bird, only to find them playing and hopping around together.

The bird might be intelligent, but only because it needed to be. It was the first time it did something that wasn’t essential for its survival. Of course, it was going to have fun.

Ackster looked at Mio. The bird probably wouldn’t have held a grudge for long since it would know that the death of its companions is nothing short of inevitable in this place, especially in fights to the death. Besides, the birds attacked Ackster first.

But still, Mio’s actions of giving the bird a taste of enjoyment that its entire species had forgotten for several millennia would make it a lot easier to bring the bird along.

The bird and Mio froze as they looked at Ackster. Both of them could smell the air of blood around him. But it wasn’t like he wasn’t scary before. Now, it had just taken another form.

However, they were a little awkward to have been caught playing like that.

Ackster looked at the bird.

*Do you want to live?*

It was a stupid question. The bird nodded its head in a frenzy. Ackster had just gone on a killing spree to try and make it possible for his body to unlock Anima. The bird wasn’t sure how that worked. But it knew that itself was the greatest food if Ackster wanted Anima. There was a reason why the bird was one of the few with a pack, after all. It was strong enough to take care of itself and its flock. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

*Good.*

Ackster walked over to the bird. It couldn’t help but shrink back slightly. It didn’t forget Ackster’s strength and brutality. It had also heard from its flock how gruesome it was to be consumed by Ackster.

Ackster didn’t stop even after arriving right in front of the bird. He had to jump just a little, but Ackster took a seat on the bird’s back. It was just large enough for him to fit as long as he crossed his legs. He couldn’t have them on the sides since the bird’s eight wings were in the way.

*Up.*

The eight-winged bird was stiff from shock. It couldn’t believe what was going on. It was the first time it carried something not with its beak or claws. Still, it gently flapped its wings and leaped into the sky before gloriously crashing at once.

Ackster was heavy, and the bird wasn’t used to the imbalance.

Ackster landed on his feet with his arms crossed and brow furrowed in disappointment.

*That better not have been intentional.*

He didn’t wait for an answer before climbing back onto the bird.

*No fooling around. Just fly. You’re a bird, right? It shouldn’t be that hard.*

The bird looked at Mio, pleading for help. But Mio just gave a happy thumbs up in support. If the bird flew with Ackster on its back, it would, by extension, fly with Mio on its back. Mio was looking forward to it.

The bird sighed. Being a transport was better than dying, and for a species that had prioritized survival through countless eras, there was no shame in surviving.

The bird took it slower this time. Since Ackster was so heavy, it couldn’t just take off like it was used to. Ackster was also dense, and his mass gathered in one point. It was unfit for flight, compared to the bird’s own even distribution of weight and sleek body.

It probably wouldn’t be able to reach its top speeds when Ackster was on its back.

’Am I really that heavy?’

Ackster saw the bird struggle to even stand with Ackster on its back. Ackster got a little self-conscious and tried to lighten his weight by using his Will to half-carry himself. He willed himself to be lighter.

Ackster wasn’t sure it would work since it hadn’t worked when he tried to fly. But the bird seemed to have found it a little easier to carry Ackster. The bird concentrated and took several deep breaths before gathering power.

It started flapping its wings, building a current below itself. The frontmost pair of wings began the sequence. The second pair quickly followed the first, and the third followed the second. The fourth was tight on the third pair of wing’s heels. And as soon as the fourth pair of wings finished their downward motion, the first pair initiated another cycle.

Ackster could feel how the bird began taking to the air with the almost hypnotical wing motions.

The bird tilted its body from side to side and moved around to see how Ackster’s body and weight were affected by different moves and angles. After getting a feel for what it was like to carry a person on its back, the bird increased the frequency of its wings flapping. It stayed in place for a moment before zipping off toward the horizon.

Ackster sighed.

’What the fuck kind of acceleration is that?’

Ackster landed on both feet as he looked in the bird’s direction. He was not prepared for that. If the bird had been stronger or if he hadn’t ranked up Limit Breaker when he did, he would have had trouble defeating the bird. He probably wouldn’t have died, but it would have been a downright mess to win.

After a little while, the bird came back and apologized. It didn’t realize Ackster flew off until it was already on the other side of the jungle. It looked scared Ackster would punish it, so it hid behind Mio. But Ackster couldn’t care less about that. All he was interested in was flying. The bird’s speed and acceleration only made him want it more.

So, they went again after Ackster made sure the bird understood that it wasn’t in trouble.

Ackster couldn’t wait to travel at speeds he needed completely Limit Broken senses to catch up with.

It took a while, and they hadn’t reached the bird’s top speed, but the bird and Ackster finally got the hang of it, which meant it was time to leave this place.

*But first, how about a name...?*

Ackster looked at the bird, eventually settling on something perfect that neither Mio nor the bird could convince to change.