The broom jerked beneath him as Fenix kicked off the ground, sending a jolt through his stomach. He shot upward into the sky, the city’s rooftops falling away faster than he anticipated. His breath hitched as he rose higher and higher, the ground becoming a blur beneath him.

  Even though he wasn’t usually afraid of heights, the sudden rush made him second-guess that. The distance between him and the ground was unnerving, and though he knew this was all virtual, the thought of plummeting wasn’t something he wanted to experience.

  Gncing over, Fenix spotted Maya already darting off in another direction, her broom zooming across the rooftops like she was born to fly. She was scanning the buildings, searching for animals. Maybe all those hours of watching that witch movie had paid off because she looked like a natural on her broom. Fenix, however, didn’t feel quite as confident.

  "Alright, let’s do this," he muttered, gripping the broom’s handle tightly as the wind whipped past him. His heart pounded as he looked down at the destroyed town below. The broom wobbled slightly under his tense grip, and he let out a nervous chuckle, trying to steady it. "No way I’m gonna embarrass myself by falling off."

  He cautiously leaned forward, and the broom obeyed, picking up speed as it cut through the air. His stomach fluttered again, but he steadied himself, determined to get the hang of this. Eyes scanning the rooftops, he searched for any animals stranded below.

  It didn’t take long before he spotted movement—a rge bird perched on the edge of a crumbling tower. Its feathers were ruffled, and its sharp eyes were locked on him as if sizing him up. The bird, some kind of hawk, looked ready to take off at any moment.

  Fenix hovered above the tower, gripping the net in his hand. "Alright, easy now," he whispered to himself, trying not to spook the bird. Slowly, he guided the broom down, positioning himself just above the hawk. The broom swayed again, responding to his unsteady movements, but he managed to keep it under control.

  The hawk let out a sharp cry, spreading its wings as Fenix swung the net. His heart raced as he caught it mid-flight. The mesh of the net glowed faintly and expanded just as it snapped around the bird. Fenix grinned in relief as the net shrank back down, securing the hawk safely inside.

  "Got it!" he said, his smile widening. Now to drop it off.

  Looking down, Fenix spotted one of the rescue boats bobbing near a half-submerged building. Adjusting his broom, he angled toward it, wobbling a bit as the hawk squirmed in the net. The boat was rge, and he could see several cages lining its deck, waiting for the rescued animals.

  "Alright, birdy, let’s drop you off," he muttered as he positioned himself over the boat. He leaned down and released the hawk, watching as it dropped into one of the open cages. As soon as the hawk nded inside, the cage door snapped shut.

  [System: You have gained 5 points! You now have 5 points!]

  Fenix smirked at the notification. "Okay, let's get some more points."

  Leaning forward, his broom sped off once more, the wind tugging at his robe as he flew. He couldn’t help but gnce down at the shimmering water below. The city looked both eerie and stunning, with sunlight reflecting off the water’s surface, casting a golden glow over the half-submerged rooftops.

  Bits of debris floated between the buildings, and the occasional ripple hinted at something moving beneath the surface. Despite the unnerving sight below, Fenix had to admit riding a broom at this height was a thrill.

  Fenix gripped the broom tightly. "Alright, no more sightseeing," he muttered, his eyes scanning the rooftops. The water below made it tricky to spot movement between the buildings, with the sunlight bouncing off the surface and creating a blinding gre. He squinted, searching for his next target.

  Suddenly, he noticed movement out of the corner of his eye—on a partially submerged building. A pair of white foxes were stranded, pacing back and forth near the edge of a broken roof. The water was dangerously close to reaching them, and they looked like they’d jump in a panic at any moment.

  Fenix leaned forward, urging his broom to speed up as he angled toward them.

  “Just like before… easy does it,” he murmured, adjusting his broom’s speed. He hovered above the foxes, careful not to startle them as he prepared the net.

  The foxes, however, were a bit more skittish than the hawk. Their wide eyes darted frantically as they zigzagged across the rooftop, their tails flicking nervously. Fenix tightened his grip, waiting for the right moment. As one fox bolted toward the roof's edge, he swooped down and swung the net, snagging it mid-stride.

  "Gotcha!" he muttered gleefully, securing the first fox. But the second fox let out a startled yelp, scrambling to the far side of the roof, its paws slipping dangerously close to the water’s edge.

  "Alright, it's your turn," Fenix said, shifting to get a better angle. The fox trembled, cornered with nowhere to run. Just as he moved in for the catch, a sudden gust of wind sent his broom wobbling off course.

  “Whoa!” Fenix gasped, clutching the broom handle as it lurched beneath him. The second fox took its chance and darted toward the opposite side of the roof, teetering on the edge, ready to jump into the water.

  "No, you don't!" Fenix leaned hard to the side, swooping in just in time to snag the fox with his net. The mesh glowed, wrapping around the animal securely. Fenix let out a relieved breath, a grin spreading across his face. "Two for the price of one."

  Scanning the water below, he spotted a rescue boat a little farther out, half-hidden by the wreckage of a colpsed building. Carefully, he descended, guiding his broom toward the boat and lowering both foxes into the waiting cages.

  [System: You have gained 10 points! You now have 15 points!]

  Before Fenix could rex, something else caught his eye—a wooden crate perched on a nearby rooftop, just a few buildings away. His heart jumped in excitement, but there were other pyers nearby.

  He had to get it before they saw it.

  Leaning forward, Fenix urged the broom to move faster. The wind whipped around him as he sped toward the crate, his cloak snapping behind him. The crate sat precariously on the edge of a small, crumbling tower, half-hidden by debris. As he neared, he could hear the wood creaking under its weight.

  Fenix hovered above the tower, reaching out carefully. His fingers brushed the edge of the crate when—

  CRACK.

  The tower groaned and began to colpse beneath the crate. "No, no, no!" Fenix lunged forward, stretching his arm as far as he could. His broom wobbled dangerously, and for a moment, he thought he might lose his bance entirely. But at the st possible moment, his fingertips grazed the crate.

  It dissolved into light, and a notification fshed in front of him.

  [System: You have gained a Common Crate! It has been sent to your inventory!]

  Fenix grinned, pumping his fist. "Nice!"

  Gncing at the timer, he saw he had 33 minutes left. Plenty of time to grab more points. He shot higher into the sky, scanning the rooftops again for any signs of animals. "Like Pokémon," he muttered with a grin, "I'm gonna catch 'em all."

  Author Note:

  Want to read 50 chapters ahead? You can do that here: ko-fi.com/momocatt If you’re happy reading at the current pace, that’s totally fine too—I appreciate every single reader.

  But if you feel like sending a little support my way (maybe for a coffee or some extra motivation), you can also do that here: ko-fi.com/momocatt

  No matter what, thank you for being here and enjoying the story! (????)