Its body was more slender than a Bone Eater's, with a wingspan nearly six and a half meters wide. Its feathers were a bizarre silver-gray, their edges shimmering with a cold, metallic luster.

Most terrifying was its speed—when it dove, it was like a bolt of silver-white lightning tearing through the sky. Before its talons even arrived, the wind pressure was already slicing at the skin like a blade.

Zhao Hu gripped his shield tightly, his eyes fixed on the silver-gray trail flickering in and out of the mist.

"Lord, this thing is too fast... I'm afraid yesterday's head-on tactic won't /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ be able to touch it."

Lin Feng did not respond.

He looked up, his gaze piercing through the haze to lock onto the figure circling and darting like silver lightning.

The Windsplitter was also watching him.

In those eerie green soul-fires, there was no anger, only the cold scrutiny of a predator toward its prey.

It was waiting—waiting for Lin Feng to show a weakness.

Lin Feng suddenly spoke: "Zhao Hu, Shadow Snake, retreat fifty meters."

"Lord?"

"Retreat."

The two didn't ask further questions and quickly pulled back, disappearing behind the jagged rocks.

Lin Feng stood alone in the center of the open cliff plateau, his Wildfire Spear held horizontally before him.

He didn't move, and the Windsplitter didn't move either. One man and one eagle faced off across three hundred meters of mist.

Three breaths.

Five breaths.

Ten breaths.

The Windsplitter's patience ran out first.

It tucked its wings and dove vertically from high above like a giant silver arrow released from a bow! It covered the three hundred meters in just two breaths!

The shriek of talons tearing through the air sounded like the whisper of the Grim Reaper! Lin Feng still didn't move. His right hand slowly tightened around the Wildfire Spear.

Faint golden ancient seal script runes began to flow along the spear's shaft. The Windsplitter dove to within a hundred meters.

Lin Feng raised his spear, the tip pointing diagonally toward the heavens.

The next second—

A blazing crimson beam of light erupted from the spear tip!

【Blazing Spear Light】

The first one!

The Windsplitter flapped its wings violently, its silver trajectory shifting three degrees. The spear light grazed the tip of its left wing!

The second and third beams were fired almost simultaneously!

One blocked the left, one blocked the right!

The Windsplitter's body twisted forcefully in mid-air like a compressed silver bowstring, narrowly passing through the gap between the two spear lights!

Silver feathers flew everywhere!

The fourth! The fifth! The sixth!

Lin Feng's expression remained unchanged as he tapped the Wildfire Spear repeatedly. One Blazing Spear Light after another shot out like rapid-fire cannonballs!

The Windsplitter dodged desperately. Its speed was indeed terrifying; its silver-gray afterimages darted, twisted, and turned frantically within the death grid woven by the crimson beams.

The seventh! Grazed the tail feathers—scorched!

The eighth!

Thwack!

A direct hit on the fragile joint connecting the right wing to the torso!

-101!

The Windsplitter let out a shriek so sharp it nearly broke its voice! Its right wing instantly lost power, and its entire body tilted violently in mid-air!

It flapped its left wing frantically, trying to stabilize its body and climb again.

The ninth! Like a released crimson fire dragon, it plunged accurately into the chest and underbelly exposed by the tilt!

-100!

Silver-gray feathers exploded into a cloud of charred mist! The Windsplitter's body convulsed violently in mid-air, and for the first time, fear appeared in those eyes burning with green soul-fire!

It wanted to flee.

It flapped its broken wings with all its might, lurching crookedly toward the heights.

The tenth spear light! It pierced through the base of its left wing!

-102!

The Windsplitter's last bit of lift was completely severed.

Like a kite with a cut string, it plummeted headlong from fifty meters in the air!

Boom!

The massive silver-gray body crashed onto the rocky slope, kicking up a cloud of dust and broken feathers!

But it wasn't dead yet.

Those green soul-fires still burned in the dust, filled with resentment and unwillingness. Its tattered wings were still flapping, and its talons clawed frantically at the rocks as it tried to stand, tried to take flight once more.

Lin Feng was already before it, and he slammed the Wildfire Spear into the ground!

【Skill: Beacon Fire Prairies!】

Boom—!

A circular fire shockwave with a ten-meter radius erupted! The blazing flames, like a blooming crimson lotus, completely engulfed the struggling Windsplitter that had just hit the ground!

-30!

The damage wasn't high, but it was enough. This fire shockwave wasn't the killing move; it was a mark.

The faint red 【Prairie Fire Mark】 branded itself onto the Windsplitter's broken and charred body like a maggot in the bone.

For the next sixty seconds, any attack it received from Lin Feng would deal an additional 10% damage.

Lin Feng pulled out the Wildfire Spear.

He gripped the spear with both hands, his stance firm and his power unified. His entire strength surged like an opened floodgate, pouring into the spear's shaft!

A most simple and unadorned, yet most fierce and precise thrust!

The target—deep inside the Windsplitter's beak, which was wide open from heavy gasping and lined with fine, sharp teeth!

Puchi!!!

-170! (Fatal Blow! Prairie Fire Mark Bonus!)

The spear tip pierced through the throat and emerged from the back of the neck!

The Windsplitter's massive body twitched violently. Its wings flapped one last time, and its talons plowed four deep furrows into the rock.

Then, those green soul-fires were suddenly extinguished, like a candle blown out by a gale.

【Killed Lv15 Bone Eagle Elite (Windsplitter), Experience +800!】

Silver-gray feathers scattered in the wind.

Lin Feng leaned on his spear, breathing slightly.

The golden runes on the Wildfire Spear gradually dimmed. A burning itch came from his palms—the aftereffect of triggering ten Blazing Spear Lights in such a short time.

Zhao Hu and Shadow Snake rushed out from behind the rocks. Looking at the rapidly dissipating elite remains on the ground and then at Lin Feng's still-upright back, they didn't know what to say for a moment.

Ten spear lights. All used on this beast.

"...Lord." Zhao Hu swallowed hard, his voice carrying an irrepressible shock. "That was... too ruthless."

Lin Feng didn't turn around.

He watched the blue glow beside the Windsplitter's remains, which was denser than any before and hadn't yet fully dissipated. His tone was flat:

"A trump card kept and never used is called a collectible. One used when it counts is a trump card."

He paused.

"Go see what dropped."

Zhao Hu hurried forward, pushing aside the remains and broken feathers.

A thin, bronze-colored booklet with a cover depicting a silver feathered arrow piercing through clouds lay quietly amidst the ashes.

【Class Change Book: Windchaser Archer】

【Core Skill after class change 'Wind Trail': Passive: Agility +30%, Strength +30%. Active Activation: Enter 'Windchaser' state, the next shot's arrow flight speed is increased by 100%. Cooldown: 10 minutes.】

Zhao Hu's eyes suddenly widened, and then he grinned broadly, the scar on his face bunching up:

"Hahaha! That kid Arrow Eye really hit the jackpot this time!"

He laughed heartily, his voice devoid of any jealousy, only genuine joy:

"That kid treats his wind-chasing hunting bow like a treasure every day. Now even his class matches it!"

"Windchaser Archer! Tsk tsk, the name sounds a hundred times better than his crappy nickname 'Arrow Eye'!"

Shadow Snake stood to the side, silently looking at the Class Change Book.

She didn't speak.

Her gaze lingered on the silver arrow on the cover for only a brief moment.

An instant later, she looked away and lowered her head to continue wiping her pair of green claw blades, which had mottled edges. Her movements were slower and more careful than usual.

Lin Feng noticed.

He said nothing.

He took the Class Change Book from Zhao Hu and put it into his inventory.

"Gather the loot. We're heading back to the village."

...

【Level Up: 12 → 13】

【Free Attribute Point Gained: 1】

【Agility: 15.4 → 17.2】

【Zhao Hu Level Up: 10 → 11】

【Shadow Snake Level 10 Experience Full】