Wings Of Deception
Chapter 42 Comparing Status

Chapter 42: Chapter 42 Comparing Status

[Confirmed. Locked Trait: Stormfeather Wings – Status: Dormant.]

John grinned, wild and electric. "Now that... is definitely where it gets interesting. So, tell me, System—how do I unlock this trait?"

[To unlock the Stormfeather Wings Trait, Host must learn and master all the traits of your current pets up to the Kilo Grade Masterly Level.]

John blinked. "Masterly Level? Now what the fluff is that supposed to mean?"

[Apologies. Important classification data was not previously disclosed... Retrieving now...]

[Skill and Trait Mastery Grades are classified as follows:]

Milli Grade

Centi Grade

Deci Grade

Master Grade

Deca Grade

Hecto Grade

Kilo Grade

Mega Grade

Giga Grade

(...and beyond)

John’s eye twitched.

[Host’s Current Progress Status:]

Bubble’s Skill – "Silver Glow": Mega Grade – Mastery: 89%

Other Parrots: All Skills in Kilo Grade, but low Mastery.

Remaining Pets: Mostly Milli Grade.

John stared blankly. "So, basically, I have to grind my butt off like a level one scrub."

He sighed, wings drooping dramatically. "And I was dreaming of flying with storm-charged wings like some divine thunderbird."

Still, a part of him—buried under the complaint and the sass—felt fired up. The challenge was real now. It meant something.

"Alright then. System, let’s do a stat check on Damien—see where I stand against that fuzzy mane."

[Analyzing Damien Mufasa...]

Species: Lion

Bone Age: 421 Years Old

Host Age: 2 Years Old

Cultivation Path: Dual – Mage and Knight (same as Host)

Magical Realm: High Mage (Grade 1)

Knight Realm: Junior Knight (Grade 2)

Comparison Analysis:

Host surpasses Damien in Magical Realm

Host exceeds Damien in raw physical strength, both offensive and defensive

However, Damien has greater battle experience

Probability of Victory in Duel: High

John grinned like a little kid who just beat his older cousin at a game. "Ohhh? The old lion ain’t all that after all. Not bad for a hatchling me."

"Okay, now what about my feathered army? Give me the full list."

[Pet Status Overview Initiated...]

— Parrot Hall —

Parrot 1:

Mage: High Mage (Grade 3)

Knight: Junior Knight (Grade 5)

Skill: Blue Flame – Kilo Grade (Mastery: 20%)

Parrot 2:

Mage: High Mage (Grade 3)

Knight: Junior Knight (Grade 4)

Skill: Purple Flame – Kilo Grade (Mastery: 13%)

Parrot 3:

Mage: High Mage (Grade 3)

Knight: Junior Knight (Grade 4)

Skill: Cyan Flame – Kilo Grade (Mastery: 12%)

Parrot 4:

Mage: High Mage (Grade 3)

Knight: Junior Knight (Grade 4)

Skill: Red Flame – Kilo Grade (Mastery: 9%)

— Woodpecker Hall —

Pecker 1 (Blackie):

Mage: High Mage (Grade 9)

Knight: Junior Knight (Grade 9)

Skill: Silver Glow – Mega Grade (Mastery: 50%)

Pecker 2 (Unnamed):

Mage: High Mage (Grade 3)

Knight: Junior Knight (Grade 6)

Skill: Iron Wings – Kilo Grade (Mastery: 64%)

Pecker 3 (Unnamed):

Mage: High Mage (Grade 2)

Knight: Junior Knight (Grade 5)

Skill: Ground Spiker – Kilo Grade (Mastery: 49%)

Pecker 4 (Woodie):

Mage: High Mage (Grade 9)

Knight: Junior Knight (Grade 5)

Skill: Triant Anomali – Forbidden Skill – Milli Grade (Mastery: 25%)

[Swallow Hall]

Swallow 1 (Nickname: Bubble) — Dual Type

Mage: Senior High Mage (Grade 1)

Knight: Junior Knight (Grade 5)

Skill: Bubble — Gega Grade (Mastery: 99%)

Swallow 2 — No Nickname

Mage: High Mage (Grade 7)

Knight: Junior Knight (Grade 4)

Skill: Water Bullet — Kilo Grade (Mastery: 67%)

Swallow 3 — No Nickname

Mage: High Mage (Grade 6)

Knight: Junior Knight (Grade 5)

Skill: Water Storm — Kilo Grade (Mastery: 60%)

Swallow 4 — No Nickname

Mage: High Mage (Grade 7)

Knight: Junior Knight (Grade 6)

Skill: Sea Tide — Kilo Grade (Mastery: 64%)

John reviewed the flock’s status screens carefully, nodding in approval. Aside from Blackie and Bubble, most of them had well-balanced stats—nothing too flashy, but solid foundations.

Then came Woodie’s profile.

He blinked.

And blinked again.

A slow chuckle bubbled up from his beak. "Now that’s a headache."

Among all the birds, she possessed the most powerful innate skill... and yet her intelligence and comprehension were so pitiful, her magic mastery was stuck at Milli Grade.

John squinted at the line of red text below her data. "Hold on... ’Forbidden Skill’? At Milli Grade?"

[Caution: ’Triant Anomali’ is a Forbidden Genetic Trait. Growth potential: Unknown. Progression path: Non-linear.]

He sighed, ruffling his feathers. "Of course. One unsolvable mystery per day, huh?"

Still, his mind began connecting the dots. Blackie was clearly his powerhouse. The parrots formed a strong elemental offense unit. And the other peckers? Raw potential waiting to be sharpened.

He tapped his claws on the wooden table, eyes sharp. "I need to split them into squads. Rotate training. Practice copying. Deepen affinities..."

[Reminder: The stronger the emotional bond, the faster the host can learn pet traits.]

John smirked. "Ah yes. The ol’ power of friendship trope. Alright, then. Time to get fluffy."

He stretched his wings, feeling the magic ripple through them. Excitement buzzed in his bones.

"Stormfeather Wings, huh? Just you wait. I’ll bring the thunder."

He turned toward the mouth of the cave, expression hardening. "Once those cultivators arrive in full force, this place is going to be chaos. I need to get ahead of the curve—grind out the skills, sharpen these pets, and push them past their limits."

He gave a chirp of command.

In perfect sync, the flock flapped into action, carefully carrying the sealed scrolls into the cave’s inner sanctum—each of them ready for what came next.

Meanwhile...

At the northeastern end of the zoo, a large group of human cultivators had gathered. Over twenty thousand strong, including women and children, they all wore matching black-and-white robes—clearly part of the same faction.

They belonged to the once-great Monte Fressco Family.

Monte Husso, the family head, clapped his hands to get their attention and declared, "Alright. This will be our temporary home from now on."

Grumbling rippled through the crowd. Many wore expressions of discontent and disbelief. But what choice did they have? Their homeland had been decimated. Now they were fugitives, running from a tragedy that still haunted their every step. And this... zoo, strange as it was, had become their safest sanctuary.

A bold, broad-shouldered man stepped forward from the crowd, his face twisted in anger. "How did the mighty Monte Fressco Family fall to this level? What are we now, caged animals? Are you proud of this, Uncle?"

Monte Husso’s eyes narrowed. "Shut up, Arnold. Do you think we’re here for a holiday?"

He took a step forward, voice thunderous with authority.

"No. We’re here to survive. To hide from them. I’ve done more for this family than the rest of you combined. And now you complain just because your privileges and luxuries are gone?"

He pointed toward the boundary of the zoo with a sneer. "If you don’t like it, the door’s right there. Go back to our ’home’—what’s left of it. Face them if you’re so brave."

Silence fell.

No one moved. No one dared.

No one was willing to throw away their lives just to make a statement.

Monte Husso’s expression softened, only slightly. "Good. Then let’s make this place our home."

He reached into his robes and pulled out a tiny, ornate castle figurine no larger than a palm.

Infusing it with mana, he flung it across the grassy field. It spun midair like a top, then dropped and burrowed into the ground.

Moments later, the earth rumbled beneath their feet. Massive pillars erupted from below, piercing the sky. A grand castle, built from crimson stone and gray brick, emerged with a roar—towering over the grassland like a defiant monument of survival.

Their new sanctuary had taken form.