Wings Of Deception
Chapter 43 Learning Skill

Chapter 43: Chapter 43 Learning Skill

As usual, the birds gave their all during training, following every instruction John laid out for them with unwavering dedication.

Yet, even amidst the daily discipline, John felt it—a tension in the air, like a storm waiting on the horizon. Chaos was knocking, and this peaceful sanctuary would soon be swept into war and turmoil.

He had to be ready.

First and foremost, he needed to make sure his flock reached its peak. But he also had to face a hard truth: there would come a day when he couldn’t rely solely on his tamed beasts. He needed to grow stronger, too.

The thought of raising an army had crossed his mind more than once. And now, it seemed more necessary than ever. His unique skill—Mark of Deception—might just be the key. Although it had been marked as an anomaly by the world’s laws and rules, he could no longer afford to hesitate. The clan needed numbers.

Summoning the flock, John landed at the heart of their gathering and announced:

"Listen up. Starting today, everyone has new assignments.

Parrot Hall—you’ll scout the surrounding regions. I want detailed maps of everything you see.

Swallow Hall—head out in all directions and bring back any beasts you encounter.

Pecker Hall—I have a special task for you. Gather all the birds you find out there and bring them to me."

With a loud chorus of chirps and squawks, the flock dispersed into three groups, eager to follow their orders.

John’s gaze fell on the woodpeckers, particularly Woodie, who was watching the others with envy and barely hidden excitement.

"Don’t keep staring," John said, narrowing his eyes. "I know every instinct in your tiny head is telling you to fly, huh? I’ll let you—if you master your skill. Until then, you stay."

Woodie chirped passionately, eyes sparkling with pleading hope.

"That’s not going to work," John replied with a deadpan expression. "You can’t charm me, stupid bird. Just stay alert and guard the clan. I’ll be in cultivation. And make sure no one—no one—enters my cave."

With that, John flapped his wings and soared back into the cavern. He landed gracefully on the majestic throne carved from bone and stone, exhaling deeply.

Reaching for the old book resting on the armrest, he opened it—and a sharp jolt of electricity surged through him, forcing his transformation back into his desired human form.

"This will do," he muttered, sitting upright and flipping to the first memory—Bubble’s memory—and diving deep into the foundational structure of the skill.

Hours passed as he immersed himself in study and comprehension.

Then, it happened.

A sudden click in his mind—a realization, a breakthrough.

The familiar chime rang in his ears.

[Host’s Current Progress Status:]

Bubble’s Skill – "Silver Glow"

Mega Grade Mastery → Giga Grade Mastery (15% Completed!)

His eyes sparkled as he began chanting the mantra silently, mapping out the energy pathways inside him.

"Silver Glow, activate."

He felt his inner energy shift, flowing in a deliberate, spiraling rhythm. His body began to heat up, his mana burning like wildfire. Around him, the ambient water element responded to his call—resonating, condensing, forming a glowing water bubble in the air.

He could feel it now.

Control.

He could shape its size at will. Move it with thought. Influence it with intent.

The bubble hovered above the cavern floor, following his every whim like a loyal pet.

"How about this?" John whispered, raising his hand and clenching his fist.

The water bubble burst—pop!—splitting into dozens, then hundreds of tiny bubbles. They floated in the air like a swarm of bees, swirling through the cavern in graceful patterns.

And with a flick of his mental will, they all moved at once—dancing, weaving, spinning.

His grin widened.

"Let the training begin..."

While John was immersed—enthralled with experimenting various ways to wield the Silver Glow bubble skill—something unexpected unfolded outside.

To be precise, all three scout halls returned from their missions at the same time, ready to announce the success of their assignments. Yet, before they could even cross the great tree’s perimeter, they were stopped.

Blocked.

By none other than the ever-naive little pecker.

"Wait!" Woodie chirped, her tone firm despite her small stature. "Master instructed me not to let anyone inside. So stay there!"

Bubble and Blackie landed casually on their usual spots atop the massive, sentient tree, observing the scene with aloof expressions. They had no intention of joining the fray.

The rest of the flock, however, were fuming. They had braved the world, gathered new resources, met their goals—and they expected praise for their bounty. But here they were, being blocked by a "good-for-nothing" pecker who had done nothing all day but stand guard.

Their egos flared.

At first, they tried to negotiate. Friendly convincing turned into agitated murmurs. But Woodie was too stubborn, too naive. Her unwavering loyalty only grated on their already-frayed nerves.

Finally, one parrot snapped. With a flap of its wings, it spat a small ball of purple flame toward a branch near Woodie—not to hurt her, just to frighten her. The flame scorched the bark, leaving a black mark.

But it had the opposite effect.

Woodie’s eyes widened. Her feathers fluffed up in anger as she let out a shrill, piercing chirp.

"I said I was ordered! Why are you all so stupid?!"

The parrot laughed mockingly, echoed by the others.

"Stupid?" he cackled. "You’re calling us stupid? Oh, dear Woodie... have you looked at yourself lately?"

The mocking grew sharper, crueler.

"While we worked hard to gather food and expand our territory, what did you do? Sit here like a decoration? Don’t blame us just because you’re too slow to even learn the basic of your skill. Maybe your head’s full of feathers instead of brains."

Laughter erupted among the flock.

Woodie’s eyes grew misty. She opened her beak to retort—but no words came out. Just silence. A pitiful chirp caught in her throat.

"See?" the parrot jeered. "Now she can’t even speak. Forget her. Poor thing. Come on—let’s go see the Master."

They turned and began flying toward the entrance of the cavern.

But before they got far, a voice rang out behind them.

"Halt, you bastards!" Woodie shrieked. Her tiny body trembled, her eyes blazing with righteous fury. "I won’t forget any of you who try to break Master’s command!"

And just then, as if responding to the storm inside her heart, the massive tree shuddered.

The air cracked.

A roar like distant thunder echoed through the entire sanctuary.

For the first time, Bubble stood up straight, his eyes narrowing as he sensed the change.

"This... overwhelming energy..." he muttered. "Not good."

From the soil, thick roots erupted—cracking through the earth like coiled serpents—and twisted upward into a towering wooden gate, completely sealing off the entrance to the cavern.

The sentient tree had chosen a side.

And it had chosen Woodie’s. Its master.