Affinity: Chaos

Chapter 2204: The Thunderbird Clan

The Thunderbird territory lay in the far eastern part of the Inner Court. This was Grey’s first time coming here, so he did not rush. He and Reynolds flew at a steady pace, taking in the changing landscape as the forest grew denser and the air heavier.

The moment they crossed into the territory proper, the difference became obvious. The atmosphere carried the weight of continuous fighting. Faint traces of destructive elemental energy lingered between the trees, and the usual vibrant life of the Inner Court felt muted, as if the land itself was under strain.

According to Thalvyr, the Thunderbird Clan lived deep inside a region known as the Thunder Forest, a vast stretch of woodland where thunderstorms rolled almost without pause.

As they moved through the high-canopy forest, Reynolds spoke up.

"Isn’t the Dragon Clan Leader a Half-God expert?"

"Yes," Grey answered.

"Then what’s the point of him being here? Don’t the Magical Beasts still have to follow the same agreement with the Gnomes?"

Grey understood what he was really asking. "They do. He’s probably here to assess the situation himself and take direct command of the Dragon forces supporting the Thunderbirds."

Reynolds nodded. The explanation made sense.

They continued deeper. The trees grew taller and the light that filtered through the canopy became dimmer. At one point Grey suddenly slowed, brows drawing together as he scanned the surroundings.

For a split second he had sensed something.

It was not an aura in the normal sense. It was a faint, almost formless presence that brushed against his spiritual sense and then vanished completely. In that brief instant his heart had given a hard, involuntary thump, as if his body reacted before his mind could understand why. The feeling left a lingering unease that refused to fade right away.

Reynolds noticed the change in his expression and stopped as well. "What’s wrong?"

Grey remained quiet for a few seconds, still probing the area, but found nothing. He finally shook his head. "I’m not sure. Let’s keep moving."

They followed the direction Thalvyr had given them. Before long they came across a group of Thunderbirds whose auras sat at the Venerable Plane. The birds immediately circled them, sharp eyes watching every movement in silence.

Grey did not wait for them to become aggressive. He spoke clearly, stating that he had come from the Dragon Mountains and was looking for Sir Astarot.

At the mention of the Dragon Clan Leader, one of the larger black Thunderbirds broke from the circle and flew closer.

"What makes you think we’ll believe a human?" The bird’s voice was cold and carried a harsh, screech-like edge even though the words were understandable.

Grey stayed calm. Silver-white dragon scales rippled across the skin of his arms and the sides of his neck, catching the thin shafts of sunlight that pierced the canopy.

The black Thunderbird’s eyes flashed with recognition. Magical Beasts rarely involved themselves in the affairs of other clans, but all of them knew that the Dragons sometimes formed ties with humans, and that those humans could develop such traits after refining dragon blood essence.

"Follow me," the Thunderbird said at last, then turned and flew deeper into the forest.

Grey and Reynolds followed.

The deeper they went, the more impressive the settlement became. The trees here were enormous, many of them more than twenty meters thick at the base. Large openings had been carved into the trunks at different heights, and strong life auras radiated from inside. Thunderbirds of various sizes perched on thick branches or emerged from the hollows to watch the two humans pass. The air smelled of ozone and damp bark, and distant rumbles of thunder rolled continuously overhead even though no rain fell.

They were led to a particularly massive tree whose leaves glowed a vivid orange, standing out sharply against the surrounding green. Even before they reached it, Grey felt the familiar, powerful aura of Sir Astarot.

Inside the hollow of the great tree, Sir Astarot stood with two other Thunderbirds. The three of them had been discussing something when the Dragon Clan Leader turned toward the entrance. His gaze landed on Grey and Reynolds as they stepped inside behind their guide.

"It seems luck is on our side," Sir Astarot said.

The Thunderbird who had escorted them started to report, but Sir Astarot dismissed it with a small gesture. The bird left without argument.

Grey and Reynolds offered formal greetings to Sir Astarot and the two Thunderbird Half-Gods.

Sir Astarot waved it off casually. "Grey. What brings you here?"

"I went to the Dragon Mountains to find you," Grey answered directly. "They told me you had come here after the Gnomes attacked, so I decided to come as well. I thought you might need help. I also have a favor to ask."

The two Thunderbird Half-Gods studied him openly.

The one on the left had sleek silver feathers that seemed to catch and soft light even in the dim interior. Its presence felt refined and controlled. When it spoke, the voice was clear and measured, almost serene.

"Sir Astarot, this is the boy from that meeting, correct?"

"It is," Sir Astarot confirmed.

The second Thunderbird was larger, its feathers a deep blue marked with clean white stripes. Its aura felt heavier, more forceful. The voice that came from it was low and thick with authority.

"He’s only a Ninth-stage Sovereign. What difference can one Ninth-stage Sovereign make?"

Sir Astarot chuckled, the sound low and confident. "Grey has a method that forces Gnomes to stop using their puppets. Tell me whether that is useful or not."

The atmosphere inside the tree changed at once. Both Half-God Thunderbirds turned their full attention on Grey. Their gazes were sharp and probing, carrying the weight of ancient beings who had lived far longer than any human. For a moment it felt as if they were trying to look straight through him to the source of the technique itself.

The blue Thunderbird spoke first, its tone leaving little room for refusal.

"Hand over the method, boy. You are a Lightning Elementalist. We can reward you well. You humans are fond of benefits, are you not?"

Grey met the commanding gaze without flinching. "It is not something I can teach. If it were, the Gnomes would not still be a problem for our world."

The silver Thunderbird continued to watch him in silence, while the blue one narrowed its eyes slightly. Sir Astarot, already familiar with the nature of Grey’s ability, observed the exchange with quiet approval. The young man’s composure under the pressure of two Half-God auras was steady, neither arrogant nor submissive.