Chapter 164 Grim (1/2)
CHAPTER 164
GRIM
Lino was currently dubiously staring at the creature before his eyes that he had summoned from the Dimensional Pouch. The creature was nearly five meters tall and Lino estimated it weighed at least a ton altogether. It had the head of a bird except larger, with two round, crimson eyes dancing effortlessly as they took in the surroundings.
On top of its head was a golden comb that appeared rather majestic, its neck spilling into a feathered cape dyed beautifully scarlet. At the creature's sides were a pair of beautiful wings, similarly dyed scarlet, spanning so far out they could blanket the sun and provide Lino with perfect shade. The creature had four clawed feet -- two at the front and the other two at the back -- that exuded a metallic sheen and three, feathered tails springing out its backside proudly and gracefully.
”H-hippogryph?” Lino mumbled as he recognized the creature. It was one of the subspecies of the Pegasus Lineage, a hippogryph. Except, from what Lino read, they shouldn't be this big... and they certainly shouldn't be as red as blood... and they most definitely should have neither the golden comb nor the three tails. Really, only the creature's head and wings somewhat resembled what he thought hippogryphs looked like.
”Caaw-caw!” the creature actually replied to him, nodding its head lightly as it continued looking around, occasionally fluttering its wings as though it was stretching after a long sleep.
”... what the heck?” Lino studied the hippogryph in detail yet, no matter what, at the end of the day it was still a hippogryph, despite the numerous... anomalies. ”No wonder he didn't want to part with it,” Lino shook his head, smiling faintly. ”It's a mutated species. Most-likely with extremely pure Bloodline.” in reality, however, the main reason Erkhaan didn't want to part away from his pet was because he enjoyed sleeping against the latter's feathered body. ”Anyway, your name's Andy, right?” a cold glint suddenly flashed through the hippogryph's eyes causing all of Lino's hairs to stand up. You idiot!! Because you named him like he's a harmless worm, now he's taking it out on me!! ”Khm, yeah, that stupid name doesn't suit a magnificent bastard like you.”
”Caw caw!” the creature fervently nodded, that cold glint passing away similarly to all the feelings it had for its previous owner.
”How about... hmm... Crimson Nightmare?” Lino blurted out randomly.
”CAW CAW CAAAW!!” the creature rose up to its hind legs and bellowed out into the sky proudly. He seemed to like it.
”No, wait, that's way too long. Imagine if I had to keep calling you that in front of others? Geez, I'd rather you just kill me now. Hmm... we gotta keep that crimson somehow. Let's see... crimson... crimson... huh? Crim-son... crim... oh, right! How about I call you Grim?”
”CAW CAW CAAAAW!!” the creature replied in even greater fervor than before, suddenly barreling at Lino and hugging him with its wings, stroking its head against Lino's chest while the latter stood frozen in place. I-it's probably best I don't tell him I was making a pun...
”Hah, good, good! From today onwards I baptize you as Grim!” Lino spoke through laughter as he stroked the creature's head.
”W-woof, woof! Woof!” a familiar bark interrupted the beautiful bonding scene, causing the warmth that Grim was exuding to turn frigid as he dangerously looked at the newcomer.
”C-caw? Caw caw caw!”
”Woof woof!”
”Caw?”
”Woof woof!” Non nodded.
”Caw caw caw!!” Grim nodded fervently.
”... you... khm, I must have misheard. Ha ha, after all, there's no way I can actually understand what you guys are saying. It's all in my head. All in my head. Yeah, it's all in my head.”
”Caw caw.”
”Woof woof.”
”No, shut the fuck up! It's all in my head!! There's no way you two are blood-related!!”
”Woof woof woof!!”
”Caw caw caw!!” yet the two seemed rather certain that Lino definitely understood their conversation properly.
”... fuck everything.” Lino mumbled faintly as a strange image appeared inside his mind, scarring him for all eternity. It would be a while since he'd be comfortable with doing this and that again. At the same time he withdrew Grim back into the Pouch, also forcing Non into it.
As he had nothing else to do inside the Ancestral Grounds, Lino tailed back toward the entrance. His appearance, however, was more rugged than after he fought Erkhaan. He simply couldn't shove out that image inside of his head... what's more... it began... moving. A furred creature... mounting...
”AAAGRRH!!!” he collapsed onto his knees as he held his head, tears nearly streaming out of his eyes. He remained so for nearly half an hour, even beginning to shake.