A small dot appeared in the sky, and then grew larger and larger. In a short time I saw the full shape of the thing.

It was a huge griffin, hovering down from the shimmering sky, and finally gliding slowly down to its master, two round black eyes gleaming at him.

"Get up there."

As I wondered how to get up there, my master turned and took me by the arm, jumping onto the griffin's back in one fell swoop.

I sat behind my master, my hands clutching the griffin's feathers, and I wanted to hug her back, but I didn't dare. That was just one of the few physical contacts where my owner was not hitting me, and the warmth that remained on my arms put me in a bit of a trance.

"Cross, go to the Gurren Mountains."

The order came down, and the griffin re-vibrated its wings and slowly flew into the sky.

It was like flying in an airplane that would have a centrifugal feeling, and my heart kept thumping as I flew in the sky for the first time in this otherworldly creature, but I wouldn't be childish enough to shout, besides I wouldn't dare.

From time to time, the long hair of my master fluttering from the rapid flight hit my face, though not so much as to be painful, but rather as if someone had been tickling my face.

I wanted to sit back a little, but I was afraid that if I let go I would fly off the griffin's back.

The master sat forward a little, the hair stopped hitting my face, and again I forgot that the master could read my mind.

The rich scent of my master's hair still fills my nose; the scent is strong, but not pungent. This is one of the few times that the master is gentle and attentive.

After flying for about ten minutes, the griffin swooped down to the ground and I was clutching the griffin's feathers as if a gale was coming, which was more exciting than riding a roller coaster.

Finally the griffin landed in a clearing and my owner took me by the arm again and jumped down.

The griffin lowered its head, and the master reached out and touched the feathers on it.

"Go back."

The master's voice was soft, with smile on her face and gentle eyes.

.

For a moment I thought my master had changed, but her countenance changed back to a kind of expression with noble indignation after the griffin flew away.

"Irodia, here, adapt to your abilities."

What abilities do I have? I don't think I'm much different from a normal person right now.

"Awakening, one level."

The master uttered the mantra.

The mark on my chest tingled, then my whole body was filled with hot streams, and countless knowledge of combat and magic flooded into my mind.

The heat flow calmed down. Slightly I felt like I were a weapon now.

The master's palm suddenly slapped over, her hands were glowing with purple light, and I reflexively released a barrier at the place she was going to attack.

Just as I stood still, a hexagonal star formation appeared around me, and my brain quickly flipped to this type of magic. A blue light flashed through me, and the hexagram array disappeared.

As the light dissipated, purple oval balls of light suddenly appeared in my field of vision, and I didn't have time to react before the balls of light penetrated my abdomen one by one.

The pain was so intense that my legs were weak and my stomach was bleeding. Why couldn't I heal myself? Beisdes, the wound just kept growing.

"That's all the strength of the first tier."

I raised my head and looked at my master standing in front of me with a pale face and eyes full of disdain.

"Second tier."

She shouted another incantation, the seal tingled again, the heat stream poured over my body once more, the wound on my abdomen healed quickly and the pain disappeared instantly, except that my clothes were torn.

This time I felt some changes in my body, I could hear very subtle sounds, and I could look up and see the distant sky clearly.

"Irodia, come here."

The master walked towards the jungle ahead, I stood up and followed her into it.

My ears could hear many animals breathing, as well as could feel a strong killing aura emanating from all around, which was not emanating from my master.

We continued walking until a black creature that looked like a tiger appeared, and as soon as the master leapt over, the black tiger pounced on the master as well.

My dynamic vision I had just noticed was also much enhanced.

"Boom!"

The master just punched the black tiger in the jaw, and the black tiger flew heavily into the sky before landing on the ground with a loud bang.

The master condensed a purple javelin-like crystalline object in her hand and nailed it to that black tiger's limbs. The black tiger was on all fours, and its blood flowed from the place where it was nailed, and the blood was surprisingly black as well.

"Roar! Roar! Roar! ..."

The black tiger kept roaring in pain as the master turned back to look at me with an expressionless face.

"Ilotia, kill it!"

The tone of command.

I bit my lower lip. What I would do was a bit unbearable for this miserable tiger, but it was a torture for it to be nailed like this, so I would help it to be relieved.

I leapt to the master, slowly condensed into an ice gun in my hand, aimed at the black tiger's heart and thrust it down hard, black blood splashing out. Then the black tiger lay motionless on the ground and lost its life.

"There is no reason to kill. Don’t make excuses for your killing."

I just nodded my head without saying anything.

"Next, kill a large creature when you see one."

Commanding me with such an emotionless tone, I lowered my head and looked at the dead black tiger with dismay.

"Do you hear me?"

My master tugged at the collar around my neck and forced me to lift my head up.

Looking at my master's murderous red pupils, I bit my lower lip and nodded.

"Yes, my master."

With that I was kicked away from her, the kick was still in my abdomen. Even so I just endured the pain and didn't dare to make a sound.

...