A Waste of Time

Chapter 64: Stilted Reverie

“W-What is that?” Jia asked, her eyes widening as the tiny ghostly bird inside the Fireball tilted its head at her, sharp eyes bright with an odd curiosity far too human for a mere flame spirit.

Daemon shrugged, stepping closer to peer at the swirling inferno cupped in her palm. What the hell is this thing? A pet? A Spirit Beast? Or just a fragment of Fire Element that decided to play nice?

He squinted, shielding his eyes from the intense glow. “No idea. But I get the feeling it’s more interested in you than me. Am I right?” He flicked his eyes at the flickering shape.

Jia inhaled slowly, and the connection struck her. Deep beneath the swirl of Fire Qi and her own Lightning Qi, something recognized her. It wasn’t just a pet — it felt like a bond knitting together from stray threads of Spirit and Soul.

Kirin is gonna hate this.

Sure enough, the colossal Harpy-Eagle — standing over fourteen meters tall — lowered its massive feathered head over Jia’s shoulder like a storm cloud ready to crackle. It loomed close, its hooked beak clacking once in disapproval.

“Caw…” Kirin’s massive cry, muted this time, still made the ground shudder beneath Jia’s feet. She giggled and stroked the bird’s scaled brow with her free hand. So jealous… Big baby.

She smirked. “Heh… Someone’s getting possessive.”

Daemon just stared at the scene, memories flickering behind his eyes.

A sudden squawk thundered and the tiny Firebird puffed its chest. Daemon’s eyes flicked from the tiny Firebird in Jia’s palm to her other hand feathers dark as pitch but crowned with three gleaming plumes — one Silver, one Purple, one Red.

That damn bird from before… The one that laughed at the world’s strongest and pranked them like it was invincible. Is this the same spirit? Is it really something spawned from my memory?

“Huh!” Jia jerked back as the ghostly creature solidified, one glowing bright its tiny form exuding heat like a miniature sun. The other black and its voice booming, far too deep for its size.

“Quiet down, you little punk.” Daemon flicked its beak with a finger. Instead of pecking him, the bird fluffed its feathers and wiggled its plume then leaned in for more. He smirked. “Tsk. Little masochist.”

“Crow…” It made the sound almost proudly, flaunting the metallic crown on its head.

Daemon stepped back, hands raised in surrender. “You two have fun. I’m grabbing some grub before I pass out.” He jerked his thumb at the Firebird. “Don’t let this one burn your hair off.”

Jia just rolled her eyes and sat cross-legged under Kirin’s massive wing. The Harpy-Eagle folded one enormous pinion over her like a protective canopy, its talons pressing into the earth and crushing small stones like brittle bread. It eyed the tiny Firebird with predatory interest, feathers bristling with fighting spirit when the black bird chirped at Jia’s palm.

Daemon watched them from the other side of the campfire, his mind racing in too many directions to follow. What’s the science here? Plasma? Mana? Spirit energy? Rules? Stop, idiot. This isn’t Earth.

He squeezed his temples, brow furrowed. Forget the old framework. This is a world where Trees walk, Metal walks, and Fire spawns Spirit Birds.

A strange sense of relief spread through his chest. For the first time since waking in this world, he didn’t feel like dragging old shackles behind him.

“Hahahahaha…” He threw his head back and let the laugh echo through the trees. His actions startled Kirin and Jia on his side. Daemon’s eyes glowed in the flicker of flame. Yeah… I see it now.

[15:17:22]

Daemon checked the timer of his Asura’s Buff, a sliver of time left dancing like an hourglass stuck on its last grains. He let out a long sigh, dipping his hands into the barrel of cool water beside the tent.

I won’t be able to breathe freely once this runs out. Not yet. But I can’t waste it either.

He washed his face and let the icy splash wake him up. Breakfast was quick, routine — roasted rabbit thigh from the stockpile and a handful of nuts Xia packed.

Moments later, Kirin lowered its colossal body beside him. It tilted its gigantic head, the gleam of its talons reflecting the morning sun as it offered its feathered back. Daemon clambered up the feather-armored shoulders, grabbing hold of one thick quill like a riding pommel.

“Up.” Kirin responded with a deep, rumbling caw and launched skyward with a gust that flattened the campsite grass for dozens of meters around.

From high above the forest, Daemon’s mind drifted as they glided past the treetops. Hunting for old man Lou used to feel like survival. Now it feels like routine. Even a damn Rhinoceros doesn’t get my blood racing anymore. It’s too easy with Kirin’s speed.

He leaned forward, pressing his forehead against Kirin’s massive feathers. I’m grateful… But when did this become so boring?

His Dice-Roll in Asura’s World earlier that dawn was equally uninspiring.

[Mission: Orc Camp]

Increase Orc Residents: 2/200

Daemon groaned when he saw the flickering message hovering over the crude Chief’s Tent Grunt and Runa were hammering together from massive logs and stretched hides. Two out of two hundred? At this rate, I’ll be an old man before I get that mission done.

He checked the edges of the forest for anything worth killing but found only docile deer and a half-blind warthog. Not worth the effort.

His awareness shifted back to the present just in time for Kirin to circle the village. Down below, the main street was jammed like a clogged artery — carts, crates, loud merchants bartering over dried herbs, chunks of meat, and everything possible to sell in this territory. The tiny open space by old man Lou’s shop was clear though, a neat patch like a shrine just for him.

Kirin folded its wings and dropped lower, the wind of its descent blowing hats off the heads of gawking villagers. The massive Harpy-Eagle didn’t even flap hard — it just drifted, talons extended, and released the Jade-Rhinoceros it had carried in its claws. The creature’s heavy carcass hit the ground with a dull thud, making a few men yelp and scramble back.

“Is that him?” someone whispered near the street edge.

“Has to be. Who else rides a Ferocious Creature like that?”

“I heard he bagged an Aquatic-Boa and a potbellied-Hippo in the same week.”

A group of merchants bickered, their eyes darting greedily at the fresh kill’s glossy white hide.

“Old fart, I grabbed the Boa’s skull and skin, the boar tusks and elk antlers as well as their hides too.”

“Hah, I got the Hippo’s hide and fangs for a song.”

“You can pry this Rhinoceros's Ivory and hide from my cold dead hands — I’m paying whatever old Lou asks!”

"I was content with the meat and gallbladder from the Aquatic-Boa, meat and bones of the potbellied-Hippo, but I'm definitely getting the meat, bones, heart, and liver of this Jade-Rhinoceros."

A woman rolled her eyes at their squabble and stepped forward, blocking Daemon’s path before he could greet the shop owner. She knelt with practiced grace, skirts lifted slightly to keep the hem clean from the dusty street.

“Greetings, young master Da Niu. I’m Han Hongyu — it’s an honor.”

Daemon blinked, then offered a polite nod while slipping around her. Not now, lady.

“Good morning. Pardon me — kind of in a rush.” He gave her a casual grin that barely reached his eyes and pushed into old man Lou’s shop, ignoring her small frown.

Inside, the air smelled of dried pelts, fresh cuts of wild game, and faint spices sprinkled in burlap sacks on the back shelves. Old man Lou’s eyes twinkled under thick brows as he puffed on his short-stemmed pipe, the faint scent of bitter smoke swirling around his bushy beard. The old Merchant straightened his spine, folding his rough hands behind his back, pride swelling his chest as if Daemon’s arrival crowned him chief of the street.

Han Hongyu followed, voice silk-soft but her tone firm. “If this isn’t the right moment, young master, perhaps we might speak later? My Caravan doesn’t depart until tomorrow.”

Daemon turned, his palm raised to stop her words cold. “If it’s just talk over tea, fine — Qiu’s stall, maybe a little while from now. Or my campsite later. But for now — my deal with old man Lou comes first.”

Han Hongyu’s lips twitched as if to protest, but Daemon shot her an amused grin that showed no room for negotiation. He turned to the other merchants who had pushed in behind her.

“If any of you want that Jade-Rhinoceros out there, talk to Lou. We have an agreement — and I value loyalty more than mountains of Gold and Silver.”

The statement cut through the tiny crowd like a blade. Greedy smiles soured into tight nods as they glanced at old man Lou, who stood there stroking his short beard like a feudal king anointing a loyal vassal.

Daemon winked at him. “It’s all yours, old man. Cut it, sell it, get rich — just keep my share clean.”

Lou pulled the pipe from his mouth, knocked the embers into an iron tin by his boot, and chuckled through yellowed teeth. “Understood, young master. Loyalty’s my best product — besides fresh meat.”

Outside, Kirin’s massive wings rustled — a silent reminder to the gathered scavengers that some prey comes with claws too big to steal from.

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