A colossal figure descended upon the city, its sheer size defying belief. The sky giant possessed a seemingly translucent body, appearing as a dusky shadow against the bright sky. Its immense foot blotted out the sun, plunging the city of Aquanus into an eerie darkness.

  Inside the estate, Avan was diligently practicing weapon arts under the watchful eye of one of the instructors. He paused, noticing the unusual darkening of the sky, as if a massive cloud had suddenly enveloped them. He had witnessed this phenomenon only once a month. A phrase instantly surfaced in his mind: Sky Festival.

  Growing up, he had seen many sky festivals. The tradition involved hunting enormous, magically imbued fish that swam through the air, followed by a grand celebration upon their capture. He had never participated in a hunt himself. It was considered dangerous, yet the rewards were said to be substantial. The thought of hunting the elusive flying sky fish now ignited a spark of excitement within him. This rare event occurred only once a month, offering a unique opportunity.

  He had been diligently preparing for his upcoming school entrance exams. This festival presented one of the few chances to hunt magical beasts within the relative safety of the city, a far cry from the perils of venturing alone into the forests and beyond the protective walls. This could be an excellent exercise to test my skills. Maybe I should sneak out? Shouldn’t be too difficult, he mused, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

  “Sir Avan, you seem unusually distracted during swordsmanship class today,” the instructor observed, his brow furrowed slightly.

  “Sorry, sir,” Avan replied quickly. “Could we end today’s session now? I need to meet Father.”

  The instructor nodded, excusing him without question, as it was a general order he wasn’t privy to.

  Before departing, Avan turned back. “Have you seen my brother?” he inquired, trying to sound casual.

  “Yes, he has been training with Trainee Knight Allister. He doesn’t attend my classes, so I don’t know anything beyond what I’ve observed,” the instructor replied.

  Avan’s thoughts drifted to the past four weeks, recalling his older brother’s sudden dedication to physical training. It was so unlike Rayhein, who had always been more inclined towards books and quiet contemplation. Avan also remembered the unsettling conversation from a few weeks ago, when his brother had uttered those appalling words: that he loved his family. Avan remained convinced it was nothing but a blatant lie.

  Someone like that doesn’t deserve a family. A coward who would run and abandon everyone to save his own skin. He is utterly revolting, Avan thought, his jaw tightening with resentment.

  Haunted by the past, Avan found it increasingly difficult to trust anyone. My brother abandoned him when it mattered most. How could he possibly count on others?

  Avan was sick of feeling weak and helpless. He pushed himself relentlessly in his training every day, determined to overcome his perceived pitiful self. I want to be strong. Strong enough that nobody could harm me, and no one could challenge me. So no one can ever take anything from him again, he vowed silently.

  He pulled out a pocket watch, its cover engraved with the image of his late mother. Gazing at her face, a wave of emotion washed over him. I will succeed, Father. I will help our family become nobles. Ray doesn’t deserve to be part of our family. Once I become the head, I will get rid of him for good, he resolved, his young face hardening with grim determination.

  Avan strode out of the villas, heading towards the bustling city. Two figures watched him from a balcony, their silhouettes framed against the darkening sky. The small figure of Avan soon disappeared into the distance.

  “Dear, are they going to be alright? Shouldn’t we stop him? It’s dangerous,” Ullie, the mother of the family, said, her voice filled with worry. This sky festival was known to be perilous. My own sons, Avan and Rayhein, are both in the city. They are still such young children. These fish monsters (Skyfish) are far more dangerous than people assume, she thought, her heart clenching with anxiety.

  Her husband, Ivan, stood beside her, his gaze fixed on the rapidly changing weather and the stormy hues spreading across the sky. “I have sent Hans to watch over the children. All the champion knights of the city have also been deployed for safety, so don’t worry,” he reassured her, though his own expression remained serious.

  “There will be far more dangerous situations in the future,” Ivan continued, his voice grave. “They have to grow stronger. This kingdom and its people will not be kind to the likes of us. They will face discrimination and be easily taken advantage of if they don’t become strong. These are cruel times. This festival will give them a taste of the threats that are out there.”

  Rayhein watched, his gaze fixed on the colossal foot as it descended towards the city, its impact causing the once clear sky to cloud over, casting a dusky gloom. These sky giants possessed no tangible form that could interact with the physical world, yet Ray experienced something fascinating. Within the giant's ethereal body raged a storm, a swirling vortex of condensed energy high in the air. Countless flying fish circled within this tempest, their movements synchronized, diving downwards after a time, acting as a collective, a living bait ball reminiscent of how terrestrial fish behaved for safety. Seeing these magical beasts mimic such behavior was intriguing to Ray. There must be a predator if they're acting like that, right? he pondered.

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  Observing the surroundings, Ray noticed that some hunters had already managed to capture several fish. Their movements were efficient and professional, subduing the creatures with minimal apparent effort. Upon closer inspection of the captured fish, Ray noted their sharp, elongated teeth and claw-like fins. Two antenna rods protruded from either side of their bodies. The sky above teemed with countless sky fish, their sizes ranging from ten to seventy feet. The sheer number of them filled the air.

  This can’t be right. How is this a festival? These are literal monsters that could tear apart houses with their massive jaws, Ray thought, a sense of unease creeping in.

  Scanning the area, Ray realized that most of the town was deserted. Windows and doors were tightly shut. Only individuals equipped with specialized gear and knights were actively preparing to seize this opportunity and capture these magical creatures. Most of them had taken positions on the rooftops of buildings.

  “Allister, should we call this off?” Ray asked, his voice tinged with concern. “How are we even supposed to catch these things if they can fly? Can’t they just fly away?”

  Allister, meanwhile, was scanning for a high vantage point to try and catch a smaller sky fish. Ray trailed behind him. “Well, most people use gear built by the dwarves – harpoons and incredibly sturdy nets. Some just try to cut off their antennas. I know the general basics: if both antennas are severed, they fall to the ground. The problem is, they have very tough bones and skin. Shouldn’t be too hard, though,” Allister added with a confident shrug.

  “Can’t we just use the house’s ceiling?” Ray suggested, looking up at a nearby building.

  “No, we’ll get into trouble, and we’ll be held accountable for any damage,” Allister dismissed the idea.

  Still searching for an elevated spot, Ray and Allister scouted the city streets. Using private homes was out of the question due to potential property damage. “What about that stone pillar?” Ray pointed towards a thick stone pillar, one of many scattered throughout the city. Several people had already claimed their spots, and some were actively climbing. These pillars stood at least forty feet tall.

  Ray and Allister quickly ascended a pillar that was wide enough for several people to stand on comfortably. Reaching the top, they had a good vantage point, ready to try their luck. Many sky fish were now descending in tight bait balls, while others hovered as strays, some as low as forty feet in the air.

  “These monster fish are here. Be careful,” Allister warned, his eyes scanning the approaching creatures.

  “You too,” Ray replied, a knot of apprehension tightening in his stomach.

  Neither Ray nor Allister had any specific gear; they were simply hoping a fish would stray close enough for them to attempt to subdue it. Suddenly, a fish roughly fourteen feet in length was approaching their pillar.

  “Use your hand as a catapult,” Allister said quickly, his eyes fixed on the approaching fish. “With your full strength, launch me at that fish!”

  Ray was far from confident in this reckless plan. His brow furrowed with worry. “Are you sure? I don’t think these things are as easy to catch as we think. Just look at them.”

  “Just do it! We’re here anyway; might as well get something out of it,” Allister insisted, his voice brimming with excitement.

  Grabbing Allister’s hand, Ray began to whirl him around with surprising intensity, Allister’s feet lifting completely off the stone. Ray spun Allister’s body as if he were weightless. Stopping his momentum for a split second, Ray aligned Allister towards the approaching fish at precisely the right moment and hurled him into the air with all his might.

  Swish!

  The force with which Allister was launched created a distinct swirling sound of displaced air. Allister soared towards the fish with unwavering focus. Mid-air, he subtly shifted his weight, aligning his body and trajectory directly towards his target. His hand instinctively moved to the hilt of the sword sheathed at his hip, his fingers closing firmly around it. He had only truly mastered one skill in the junior academy: how to train and hone his use of inner force abilities. Force, in essence, was the manifestation of inner strength through the channeling of bodily energy. The output varied greatly from person to person, requiring significant time and dedication to refine and evolve its use. Allister, utilizing his force, was now as strong as Ray.

  Drawing his sword in a swift motion, he contorted his body into a 360-degree spin, using the momentum to deliver a devastating sword strike. Allister was confident; the fish was oblivious to his approach, facing in the opposite direction.

  The fish and Allister’s sword collided with a sharp shing.

  The sword shattered into tiny fragments; the blade hadn't even scratched the fish's thick hide. Allister’s body slammed into the fish headfirst, the impact knocking him unconscious as he plummeted towards the ground.

  “Shit!” Ray exclaimed, his face paling as he witnessed the events unfold in a terrifying instant. Despite spending the last few weeks training with Allister and witnessing his strength, the fact that his sword strike hadn't even marked the fish was deeply unsettling.

  We need to retreat. This is beyond our capabilities, Ray thought frantically.

  He rushed towards the spot where Allister’s limp body was rapidly descending, his eyes fixed on him with intense focus. WHAT the fuck? I’m too far! No, no, no!

  The fish, enraged by the attack, was now pursuing the falling body, its pointed mouth opening wide, ready to devour the unconscious Allister. It was rapidly closing the distance, and for Ray, the sight was one of utter hopelessness. Glancing around, he saw that everyone else was preoccupied, battling their own encounters with the sky fish.

  We seriously underestimated the threat, Ray realized, his heart pounding in his chest.

  No one seemed willing or able to intervene. Ray sprinted with every ounce of strength he possessed, but the distance was too great.

  Boom!

  A sudden blast of energy struck the fish dead center in its eye. The creature shrieked in disorientation, its momentum faltering as it plummeted towards the ground. Its wounded eye caught fire, burning fiercely as it crashed, creating a crater in the stone below. Standing nearby, panting heavily, was a young boy, his right hand visibly burnt by flames. It was Avan. Their eyes met across the chaotic scene, but the deafening shrieks of the injured fish drowned out any possibility of communication.

  The fish, however, quickly righted itself, using its antenna rods as makeshift legs, its one good eye fixed on the three teenagers as if they were mere prey. Its jaws opened, saliva dripping onto the ground, sizzling and melting the stone beneath. Ray stared in stunned horror as the creature began to advance towards them.

  This thing wasn’t handicapped at all by falling. Its big claws and jaws are ready to rip us to shreds, Ray thought, his mind racing.

  With surprising speed, the fish propelled itself forward using its antenna-legs, closing the distance rapidly, its single burning eye fixed on them with murderous intent.

  “ROARRR!”

  Ray braced himself, ready to defend the unconscious Allister. Only one thought echoed in his mind: How the fuck is this a festival? We are so fucked.