At the griffin's nest
Author: Ashdenroth
last update2024-04-03 23:00:50
Jasenki had managed to get a head start on Ezra by choosing to set off early and climb the steeper and more barren side of the mountain, but his advantage meant nothing now.

The griffin had escaped with minor injuries while Jasenki lay unconscious with little hope of resuming the hunt anytime soon.

Meanwhile, Ezra had taken a safer route cutting through the woods, and managed to avoid fighting the griffin. However, he was now approaching the griffin’s hunting territory.

The long journey had brought Ezra out of the woods, and now he was ascending a winding trail littered with animal bones, tattered blood-soaked clothes, and rusty weapons.

“It looks like our flying friend has been using this place to dispose of the leftovers after its lavish meals,” Marlin remarked as he scanned the path ahead with his cursed eye.

Ezra’s horse started neighing and shaking its head as he continued ascending the trail. He tried to spur it forward, but the beast refused to move. Instead of trekking up
Continue Reading on MegaNovel
Scan code to download App

Related Chapters

  • Reincarnated in another world with a Gunsmithing System   The killing ace

    When Ezra had embarked upon this hunt, he had made all the preparations necessary to confront a griffin. But he wasn’t expecting something like this. Even Aurelia hadn’t told him the Southern Fork-tailed Griffin had access to a magic ability. Ezra was completely cornered by the dust storm, and his magic power kept dropping steadily till it finally hit zero. [Magic power completely drained!] [Current magic power: 0%] With all his magic power drained within seconds, Ezra could no longer shoot enchanted bullets from his gun, and the longer he stayed in the middle of this storm, the more fatigued he would feel. A Gunner without magic power was just a normal human, and despite Ezra’s skill with the gun, he knew he had no chance of killing the griffin with normal bullets. “The winds are getting too unruly. We can’t stay here much longer,” Marlin said to Ezra. Even though he was a mere parasite, the magic drain was affecting him too, causing him tremendous pain. “Get us out of here!”

  • Reincarnated in another world with a Gunsmithing System   A humiliating defeat

    Inside a small hunting cabin deep within the Zakashi Woods, Glenn Azarenki closed his eyes while sitting inside a pentagram painted with his own blood. In front of him was an earthen bowl surrounded by red candles. The scroll Glenn had given Ezra before parting ways contained a third-tier blood curse that could be used to drain low-level enemies. By unleashing the curse, Ezra had bound the griffin hatchlings to the blood mage. Now Glenn could feed on their blood as long as they were alive, and they could neither fly away nor hide. As Glenn’s bowl filled with griffin blood, he smiled and thanked Ezra. Griffins were rare and powerful hybrids, and drinking their blood would not only restore his youth but augment his powers as well. “You have been very kind to me, Lord Ezra. I promise I shall repay the favor someday,” he vowed, crossing his heart before drinking the tangy red liquid pooled inside the bowl. As the griffin blood coursed through Glenn’s veins, his skin turned clearer and

  • Reincarnated in another world with a Gunsmithing System   Degrading the dignified

    Cecilia stood there like a statue as all eyes stared at her, expecting her to keep her promise. Her eyes welled with tears as she turned to Ezra, hoping to find some compassion. But Ezra simply smiled at her and gestured toward his horse. “What is going on? Ezra?” Lord Sebastian tried to intervene, but Aurelia pulled him back, grabbing his hand. “A lot has transpired in your absence. The Rodels started this, so it is only fair they pay for what their choices. I will explain everything later.” Even the commoners gathered at the festival ground flocked to the tents in the middle to watch what was happening. Unable to bear the humiliation anymore, Cecilia lashed out at Ezra. “I won’t do such a degrading thing. I am Lady Cecilia Rodel from Stonewell City. My father owns—” “Your father is not here, dear lady. And a woman who breaks her promise is despised by everyone,” Ezra replied. “I won fair and square and now I am here to claim my prize. Don’t keep the people waiting. The sun’s abo

  • Reincarnated in another world with a Gunsmithing System   Ramel’s little secret

    Even though they were in their own house, Aurelia was wary of curious ears. A single twisted truth could spark a wildfire and burn down the foundations of their family, so she had to be certain no one would catch wind of their conversation. Aurelia locked the door of her room and drew the curtains before accessing her inventory and pulling out a corrupted crystal from inside. “Do you know what this is?” she asked. “A corrupted crystal,” Ezra replied. “It looks similar to the one I saw inside the training dungeon.” “You are correct. It’s a corrupted crystal that can link one low-level training dungeon to another dungeon, typically a dark dungeon or a monster nest,” Aurelia replied, placing the crystal on the table. “These things aren’t easily available. Only dark mages and black-market vendors keep these in their inventory. And they do not come cheap.” Ezra listened with close attention and his thoughts immediately went back to the Stirge invasion. “Where did you find this one?” he

  • Reincarnated in another world with a Gunsmithing System   A meeting of the elders

    The following morning, Lord Sebastian requested the elders to meet at Dragon Claw clan’s council hall to discuss two important issues which needed their immediate attention. Red dragon banners hung from the walls of the room, and the ceiling was graced by a chandelier carved from the skull of an ancient Dragon Lord felled by the first Ace Gunners, two hundred years ago. Lord Cornelius was seated on the left, and facing him on the opposite end was Flavius Lazel, the elven archer who had managed to awaken his magic talent after communing with Vishulia, the Goddess of the Forest. Even though Flavius had risen to the rank of an Elder in Dragon Claw, many still doubted his potential, and a few raised questions about his allegiance as well. However, Flavius always chose to answer with his longbow and dual Pit Viper revolvers. He was one of those calm and silent types, but when provoked he always knew how to respond with actions instead of words. The last Elder on the council was Abigor

  • Reincarnated in another world with a Gunsmithing System   Ezra’s initiation

    The three Elders accompanied Lord Sebastian and Ezra to the clan’s training arena. It was a raised circular platform, floating ten feet off the ground. Around it were three rows of seats for the spectators. All duels and shooting initiations used to take place in this arena. However, since it was Dragon Claw’s private arena, only members of the clan were allowed to watch the duels. Ezra could still remember the humiliating words and laughing faces from his last training session, and he was glad that the townsfolk weren’t there to watch him today. Even though he had come a long way since then, and his arms no longer trembled, just the thought of being ridiculed by the commoners made him uneasy. Lord Sebastian was led to the high chair in the third ascending ring of seats to watch the training from the best spot while Flavius and Abigor took their seats beside him. Since Lord Cornelius was in charge of conducting the test, he accompanied Ezra to the floating platform. But just as h

  • Reincarnated in another world with a Gunsmithing System   Ezra’s initiation (2)

    Ezra fired a few shots around him at random, hoping to hit something, but his aim was way off. The power crystals were floating so far away that he had no hope of even scoring a single hit. Lord Cornelius watched with satisfaction as Ezra desperately struggled to hit anything. All his magic bullets kept flashing into nothingness as they hit nothing but air. “That is enough! There is no way even a Veteran Gunner can hit these targets while blindfolded!” Lord Sebastian exclaimed, rising from his chair. “Lord Cornelius, you are doing this on purpose just to fail my son.” Hearing Lord Sebastian’s furious outburst only made Lord Cornelius happier. Instead of getting into an argument with the Prime Patriarch, he calmly replied, “Your son has already cleared the first two stages with perfect points. I am only trying to test his mettle. Besides, he only needs to hit half the targets. That should not be too difficult for an E-level magic user.” “You are being partial toward him and intent

  • Reincarnated in another world with a Gunsmithing System   A Gunner’s Oath

    Lord Sebastian and the Elders returned to the council room to discuss how to deal with Zepheroth and his cultists, while Ezra was allowed to walk freely inside the Guild House and explore the place at leisure. Dragon Claw’s Guild House was an old manor house converted into a residential and educational building for the members of the clan. The most prominent room here was the private library with hundreds of books on different shooting techniques from different parts of the continent as well as detailed histories of the most widely-used firearms and enchanted bullets. There were also various training manuals to guide new Gunners about dungeons, duels, and monster hunts. Adjacent to the library was the Gunsmith’s workstation where he crafted customized firearms for the members of Dragon Claw and also forged bolts, daggers, and arrowheads. Just opposite that lay the clan’s special armory which contained a unique collection of blunderbuss rifles, muskets, multi-barrel nock guns, whee

Latest Chapter

  • Choose your fate

    “I never really thought the boy had it in him to keep going after he lost his home,” someone observed in a calm, benevolent voice. “I must admit his resilience is quite impressive for a mortal. Were it anyone else in his shoes, the ending would have been a lot different.”“I knew there was something about him right from the day he was born. Alas, his mother never got the chance to see him grow up,” a feminine voice stated wistfully. “The question remains, what must we do with him now?” the male voice questioned.“I think it is time to leave the choice in his hands,” a second feminine voice spoke aloud. “Wake up, my dear child. Your mortal troubles cannot touch you here. Wake up and choose.”Groggy and disoriented, Ezra slowly parted his eyelids and immediately squinted as the bright white light flooding the room smarted his eyes. Still dizzy and weak, he somehow rolled over and gasped.“Where am I? What happened?” “You are safe inside the Hall of Wandering Souls,” a measured feminine

  • Sins of Thy Father

    “The hour of darkness descends upon this world like a shroud, and the bleeding moon beckons the Lord of Decay to reclaim his lost domain. Come forth and ascend the throne of darkness, my Lord!”Ezra’s heart pounded inside his chest like a caged animal, and his head throbbed in pain as he heard muffled words shouted in the distance. Lying in a bloody puddle on the black marble floor, he parted his droopy eyelids and saw Lord Wilhelm standing behind the altar and Lady Lillian facing him on the other side.Though Tanya’s face was hidden from view, Ezra could see her supple white fingers tingling as her delicate arm dangled from the stone altar. She was still alive, but Lord Wilhelm was already anointing the ceremonial dagger forged from infernal obsidian and preparing to plunge it into her heart.“You…cannot do it. You need the crimson moon to…summon Zepheroth,” Ezra said, fighting the pain.“The hour of our Lord is nigh. And all celestials shall obey his will,” Lord Wilhelm continued cha

  • Heroes never win

    The enchanted nock gun vibrated with elemental energy as Jasenki loaded it with enchanted rounds. The glyphs carved into its stock shimmered and dazzled as he aimed at Ezra.“Scream for me, Ezra!” Jasenki yelled, pulling the trigger.Bang! Fwoom!A fiery barrage lit up the dark pavilion as fifteen fireballs erupted from the silver-dusted barrels. The first hit burned Ezra’s left sleeve, setting his tattered leather jacket ablaze, and the rest of the fireballs charred his white shirt, burning his skin.“This gun was forged by the best Gunsmiths in Stonewell, and enchanted with the rarest of ancient glyphs. No one can withstand its power!”Jasenki reloaded his weapon and fired again, unleashing another flaming barrage.But this time, a barrier of flames erupted around Ezra, cocooning him within an elemental shell.All fifteen fireballs exploded into sparks as they collided with the flame barrier, leaving Ezra unharmed.“Damn you, Ezra. Keep trying your tricks and see how long you can su

  • Lovers in Crime

    Ezra looked at the two Spectral Companions hovering behind Jasenki and Cecilia and realized these spirits weren’t obtained from their ancestral artifacts. “I see you have abandoned your family relics,” he said, carefully analyzing the two specters with his Dragon Eye skill. “These spectral entities are gifts from the Lord of Decay,” Jasenki replied, raising his head with arrogance. “I bet you have never encountered anything so powerful before.”“Go on, Ezra. Call your little Spectral Basilisk, and let us see if it can stand up to our companions,” Cecilia mocked, casting a disdainful glance at Ezra’s tattered brown jacket and muddy black boots. “You still look as beggarly as before. I suppose some things never change. I am so glad I rejected you when I did.”Suddenly, Ezra’s eyes glinted, and his pupils brightened with a bright blue flame that blazed with magic energy. The scar on his chest glowed through his shirt, revealing his true power.Reaching inside his jacket, Ezra pulled out

  • Hour of Judgment

    Following the glowing trail left behind by the Spectral Beholder, Ezra avoided the rot vines squirming in the mire, and the Medallion of Purity hanging over his chest shielded him from the swamp's corrupting influence.Dark geysers erupted around Ezra, spewing molten tar several feet in the air and filling the swamp with a sulfurous haze. The choking odor brought tears to his eyes, but he pushed on through the vaporous veil.The Spectral Beholder led Ezra to a small patch of dry land surrounded by rotting oak trees. As he stepped onto the elevated mound, he spotted a fiery blue orb floating in the distance.Ten more orbs appeared out of thin air, floating through the foggy darkness. At first glance, they looked like glowing power crystals, but as Ezra took a closer look, he realized these orbs weren’t floating crystals or fireflies, but Elven Wisps.The Elven Wisps were unique spectral entities only found in the Violet Everglades. Unlike Banshees and Spectral Wraiths, the Elven Wisps w

  • Lady of the Swamp

    A weary traveler lost inside the Violet Everglades was an easy prey for the creatures of the dark, and Ezra had just encountered one such nefarious entity. But instead of fear, his eyes lit up with a strange hopefulness.“You called out to me in Tanya’s voice, so you must have seen her passing through. Point me toward the Fountain of Chaos, and I won’t kill you,” he spoke in a cold, emotionless voice, without even turning to look at the creature creeping toward him.The creature laughed at his words and rushed through the darkness, moving like a shadow to play with his mind. Her voice echoed from different directions as she disappeared like smoke and danced around Ezra.“You are in my home, youngling. The dark ones told me you’d be coming,” she cackled. “But you won’t be walking out alive. So, forget about your friend and save yourself if you can!”As Ezra stood there motionless, a howling shadow rushed past him and gathered on a dry patch of grass overgrown with violet tulips that glo

  • Swamped!

    The upturned black carriage slowly sinking in the mud, had turned into a feasting ground for the necrophages prowling nearby. But these slimy creatures neither resembled Ghouls nor Drekavacs. At first glance, it was easy to mistake them for Merfolk due to their scaly bodies and fish-like gills. However, their sharp black claws and long white fangs gave away their real nature.About thirteen of them were gathered around the carriage, fighting for the best share of the food and tearing out lumps of flesh from the dead horses lying in the mud. Seeing no human bodies around, Ezra concluded the cultists must have ditched the carriage upon entering the swamp and proceeded on foot from this point onward.“The cultists are already here. We should be careful,” Ezra cautioned the Count as he slid out of the saddle and dismounted from his horse. It was far too dangerous to ride any animal into the swamp, leaving him with no choice but to walk.“We are losing time here. Let’s go in and kill thos

  • The Everglades dilemma

    Marquis Desmond volunteered to stay behind and defend Stonewell while Count Gressil and Aurelia joined Ezra, ready to venture into the Everglades and rescue Tanya.However, as soon as Flavius heard their plan, he immediately objected to the idea.“The Violet Everglades is a perilous swamp haunted by malevolent specters and damned elven warriors who were cursed to roam this world forever. Chaos magic flows in its murky depths, twisting everything it touches and distorting the surroundings. Aberrations and magical anomalies are as common in the Everglades as trees in a forest. It is not wise to willingly venture into that death trap.”“The cultists have Tanya, and they are going to sacrifice her at the Fountain of Chaos. I don’t care about the dangers!” Count Gressil retorted, his fatherly feelings pushing all thoughts of caution out of his mind.But Flavius, being a distant guest, could look at things objectively without getting overwhelmed by his emotions. He looked calmly at the Count

  • Pieces of the final puzzle

    Ezra rummaged through the pile of ashes on the ground, hoping to find that one elusive clue that would lead him to Tanya. But all he managed to get his hands on was a pile of disjointed bones buried amidst the heap.“God, how I wish you were here with me, Marlin. I could really use your help.”The thought of summoning Vorus’ departed soul to this mortal plane crossed Ezra’s mind for a moment, but as he looked at his shattered Mystic Lamp medallion, he remembered the necromancer had destroyed his old relic, vanquishing the Tainted Djinn.“Damn it, Vorus. You are a pain in the behind even after your death!” Ezra clenched his fists, anger, and frustration surging in his heart. Even after killing all three necromancers, he had learned nothing about Tanya’s whereabouts.As Ezra’s pocket watch ticked the minutes away, his heart raced faster and faster. He knew he barely had a couple of hours to locate Tanya and free her before the other cultists sacrificed her.The sound of heavy footsteps m

Scan code to read on App