章 19: The feeling of having power(2)

"Was that a black-crowned eagle?" Luke wondered as he watched the spot where the eagle had just flown by.

Understanding different creatures and their weaknesses was also a warrior's duty.

For example, a skilled warrior would know their enemy's weaknesses, making them less powerful.

By knowing the weaknesses of these creatures, a warrior could plan their fights better and increase their chances of winning.

Even though Luke wasn't great at studying, he did know a lot about many beasts.

So Luke already had some idea about the creature that attacked the city.

There's a defense system 500 meters above this city.

This creature was definitely flying more than 500 meters high.

Even from that far away, its roar was incredibly powerful. And ordinary beasts wouldn't even think of roaring over a human city!

'With that kind of power and boldness, and based on the sound... If I'm right, this must be one of those fearsome "black-crowned eagles!"' Luke thought.

A fully grown black-crowned eagle is at least a 6-Star beast!

They are about 21 meters long. Their wingspan is around 36 meters, and they can fly at speeds up to 3.9 times the speed of sound.

Using 340 meters per second as the speed of sound, that's 1326 meters per second, or 4774 kilometers per hour.

Luke knew the black-crowned eagle was strong, but when he learned it could fly at an incredible speed of 1326 m/s, he was stunned. In just one second—the time it takes to blink—it can cover a thousand meters.

The eagle's feathers are even tougher than diamonds. They are likely as strong as metal used in 5th-grade science projects.

There are videos online showing the black-crowned eagle facing large groups and even armies. It has been shot at by a 20-mm "fire-king" cannon, which can fire 7,000 bullets per second. That's a constant stream of bullets, each capable of piercing through a 100-mm-thick steel plate. Yet, despite the intense fire from the cannon, not a single feather was harmed on the black-crowned eagle.

Later, a mysterious Star Warrior with a battle knife created a beam of light and sliced the black-headed eagle in two!

Luke's heart raced as he recalled the events in that video.

The video was everywhere, so he had watched it too.

'I will definitely become a Star Warrior one day... I want to be strong enough to hold a weapon and cut through monsters like the black-headed eagle and the strong devil gorilla.' Luke thought to himself.

But according to the internet, that mysterious, powerful fighter who cut the black-headed eagle in half is one of the top 500 in the world—a super Warrior!

Every teenager in this world dreams of this.

And it's Luke's

After watching a video of the Star Warrior slicing through a black-crowned eagle and recalling how that eagle had attacked the city, he tightened his fists.

He knew he had to get stronger.

"Brother, you just!"

Leila stared at Luke in shock, trying to understand what had just happened.

How did her brother manage to catch a shard of glass and toss it away like a weapon? It was all a blur in her mind.

No ordinary person could do that; only a Star Warrior possesses such strength and quick reflexes.

"Brother, are you…"

Before she could finish, Luke quickly reached out and gently covered her mouth, stopping her from saying more.

They were still near their school, and Luke didn't want anyone to find out he was already a warrior.

"I'll tell you everything, but not here," Luke whispered, glancing around to make sure no one was listening.

"Mm"

Leila nodded, understanding they needed a more private spot to talk.

She followed Luke to the Extreme Dojo, where he planned to sign up for the upcoming Warrior test.

Only when Luke was sure they were far enough away did he turn to Leila, his face serious and determined.

"I'm already a warrior, Leila."

Luke didn't try to hide from her that he was already a warrior.

Leila looked at Luke in surprise, but quickly regained her composure, knowing from his earlier actions that he must already be a warrior.

Her heart swelled with pride and joy, knowing he was already a warrior. She was also aware of the bet her brother had made with their mother about Luke's future as a warrior.

If Luke can become a 1-star warrior, their mother won't stop him from chasing his dream of being a warrior.

'That means I'm not totally hopeless!'

She started thinking of crazy thoughts, imagining something a sister should never consider.

Luke glanced at Leila, waiting for her to say something. She seemed stunned and unable to speak.

Unaware that his sister had a lot of wild thoughts running through her head that would leave him speechless if he knew.

"Leila?"

"Huh? Oh! Yeah, sorry. I was just surprised by your sudden statement," Leila finally answered, trying to dismiss the inappropriate thoughts that had filled her mind.

But she couldn't stop the smile on her face, and her eyes sparkled with relief and excitement. It was like heavy chains had been taken off her, letting her finally show her real feelings.

Before Luke could do anything, Leila quickly moved forward and hugged him tightly, her head resting on his chest. The hug was strong and almost urgent, surprising him completely. For a moment, Luke stood still, his arms just hanging by his sides.

"Leila…?" he managed to mutter, his voice tinged with confusion.

She didn't respond right away, holding onto him tightly as if she was scared he'd disappear if she let go. Her heart was pounding, and her mind was racing. She felt a mix of relief and pride, along with emotions she didn't want to admit.

"I knew it," she finally said softly, her voice shaking. "I always knew you could do it… I just—I'm so proud of you, Luke."

Her words were heartfelt and sincere, but there was something more beneath them. Luke finally relaxed, his hands awkwardly finding their way to her shoulders. He patted her gently, not sure how to handle her sudden show of emotion.

"Thanks, Leila," he replied, his voice uncertain but kind. "But this is just the start. Becoming a 1-Star Warrior is only the first step. I still have a long journey ahead."

Leila leaned back a little, just enough to look up at him. Her cheeks were red, and her eyes sparkled with excitement—and something more.

"You're going to be great; I'm sure of it!"

Luke laughed a bit nervously, rubbing the back of his head. "Thanks for the confidence, but you're making it sound like I'm already a top-level Star Warrior or something."

"To me, you might as well be!" Leila blurted out, her cheeks turning red as the words left her mouth. She quickly looked away, trying to hide her embarrassment. "I mean… you're my brother. Of course, I'd think that."

Luke raised an eyebrow, sensing something unusual in her voice but deciding not to push it. "Alright, alright. Let's not go too far," he said with a little laugh. "You're going to make me too confident before I even take the Warrior test."

Leila smiled, though her heart was still pounding. She felt like she was balancing on a thin line, her feelings ready to burst out. She knew she had to stay calm.