Unlike humans, the soul world of griffins is purer and more straightforward.
Standing on the top of the snow-capped mountains in the soul space, Todd looked at the two adults and three children flying in the sky, sighing softly with a complicated expression.
The two larger figures are naturally the griffin couple, and the three little griffins are their unborn children.
Flying freely in the sky with its spouse, all the children, is the whole soul of this griffon.
This wish is so simple, yet so beautiful.
Unable to disturb its thoughts, Todd avoided attracting the griffon's attention and began to look for other entry points to connect his soul with the griffin's.
Since the body mutated, Todd discovered that the superpowers in his body had evolved qualitatively.
Among them, soul link is the most mysterious and peculiar ability among all powers. After mutation and evolution, it has received many unexpected enhancements. For example, the expansion of the soul world can last longer without appearing again.
Fatigue; for another example, calling the linker to enter the soul world no longer requires the other party's permission, but can be forcibly pulled in.
In the griffon's soul space, Todd discovered a new power enhancement. When facing weak and well-intentioned creatures with simple thoughts, the soul link can peek into the other party's memory to find the entry point for the link.
For example, with this griffon, Todd's upgraded soul link ability can directly read the memory, find out the opponent's mental weaknesses, and directly establish a link between the two.
Moreover, compared to humans, griffins do not protect their memories too strictly. At the same time, they do not seem to remember all the memories of the past one by one. Only a few of the most important fragments are stored deep in their souls.
Among them, these have greatly reduced the difficulty of Todd's link.
When Todd established the link, he glimpsed the most profound fragment of the griffin's memory.
The sky-high fire burned the forest, and black smoke covered the entire sky. Humans leading hunting dogs, holding nets, spears, crossbows and swords, surrounded a group of injured griffins, and curses and roars filled the entire space.
The protagonist of the memory, the male gryphon, in this memory, is just a frightened young bird hiding under his mother's wings. He watched helplessly as his kind fell one after another, and his parents gave him a chance to escape with their lives.
These images and sounds left indelible blood and fire in its soul.
The forest has been burning, relatives and enemies have disappeared, and only the young griffon is left, kneeling on the ground and whining.
As a bystander, Todd walked into this memory.
He walked in front of the young griffin, and the latter was caught off guard. Seeing his appearance, he kicked the ground with all four limbs, yelled and retreated.
Todd knelt on one knee, and metallic scales slowly grew on his body, and his palms turned into the shape of monster iron claws. The appearance and smell brought about by the mutation slowly calmed down the griffin.
Carefully stretching out his hands, he took the gryphon into his arms. Todd gently stroked the top of his head and murmured something in his mouth.
Soon, the griffon closed its eyes, turned into a beam of light, and flew into Todd's body.
The first soul connection with a non-human race is completed.
Todd, who exited the soul world, stared blankly at the male gryphon opposite him.
In the other person's eyes, he could see gratitude and even a hint of dependence.
"You cried..."
Rachel walked to Todd's side and said softly.
Touching his cheek, the moist feeling made Todd look surprised and confused.
In his memory, Todd has always remained optimistic and sunny since he traveled to this different world, whether it was the cabin in the snow when he first arrived, or when he fell into the bottom of the sea in despair.
But when facing a creature that people regard as stupid, Todd showed sentimentality and vulnerability for the first time.
After a long time, Todd, whose tears were still wet, turned his head to look at Rachel, forced himself to smile and said, "Sometimes, I really don't understand, what is a human being?"
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The top of the snow-capped mountain three days later.
Rachel, who was meticulous in her work, once again took inventory of the supplies she needed to carry, and checked the chair cover tied to the griffon again. After working for a long time, she finally nodded and said: "No problem, we can set off."
Todd looked at the male griffin who was lovingly parting with his mate. Hearing her words, he suddenly said: "Now that I think about it, I don't think I have named them yet."
Meredith, standing aside, widened her eyes and said in disbelief: "You want to name these monsters...?!"
Ignoring her questioning, Todd said to himself: "I'm going to call the male one Henry, and I'm going to call the female one Sonia."
Meredith fiddled with her crow feathers, looked at Rachel, and rolled her eyes.
Todd walked up to Henry the griffon and scratched his neck. The latter purred with enjoyment and rubbed his head against the former's face.
Meredith's tone was filled with surprise: "These monsters in the Kingdom of Shadows have always been hostile and defensive towards humans, but you can actually be so close to them."
Todd gestured to Rachel, turned over and sat on the back of the gryphon, adjusted his sitting position and said to Meredith: "They are not the crazy monsters the world calls them. If you can understand them, you can
You will find that they will be your best friends."
Meredith nodded noncommittally and looked at Todd with a smile: "When do you plan to come back?"
Supporting Rachel and letting her sit in front of him, Todd pulled the reins on the back of the chair and said with a smile: "Believe me, it will be quick."
Meredith opened her mouth, wanting to say something more. But after some thought, she finally gave up.
Just when Todd was about to give the command to take off, a brown figure flew through the mountain stream and flew above everyone's heads.
While waiting for the figure to land on the snow, Todd looked intently. The manticore, which he was all too familiar with, slowly walked towards him with an amber-like stone in its mouth.
Taking the stone from the manticore's mouth and waiting for the manticore to gradually move away, Todd turned over and carefully examined the strange thing.
From the surface, this stone has the transparent texture of amber. When you touch it with your hands, it looks like three-quarters of metal and seven-quarters of rubber.
Put it under your nose and smell it. It's like ambergris in a whale, but it actually has a strong fragrance.
Todd raised the amber stone and looked inside at the sunlight. The thick black substance flowing inside made him feel cold all over and his pupils shrank.
A deep and dull voice sounded in his ears.
Half-human... The small step you took gives me some hope... This is your reward and your key... Use it properly, and you can discover the essence of species...
Remember, I will always be watching you...
He found Todd holding the amber stone and sitting on the back of the griffin. He didn't speak or move for a long time. Rachel whispered to him: "What's wrong? Did something happen?"
Todd turned his attention to the object in his hand and said in an unusually low voice: "I think we have found the tyrant."