The East Sea, its shores.
The wind swayed gently, and the waves bloomed like flowers.
Jarius stood on the beach, gazing far into the distance where The Giantwood Clan had vanished from sight.
Before their departure, the The Giantwood Clan had sought to "borrow" some of Jarius' tribesmen to serve as scouts for their perilous voyage across the vast ocean.
In truth, crossing the sea without the support of a larger group meant those scouts would face odds steeper than scaling the heavens to return.
Still, Jarius gathered a group of young tribesmen born with a spark of adventure in their hearts and asked for their willingness.
In the end, fifty volunteered to sail with the The Giantwood Clan across the boundless waters.
Before they left, to ensure these youths never forgot their roots, Jarius bestowed upon them a surname and granted them the tribal name of the Winged Man in advance.
Thus, the fifty, surnamed Wind, set sail across the ocean, becoming a branch of the Winged Man.
In the years that followed.
Jarius led his tribe to thrive along this coastal haven.
As time passed, under the influence of the Titan's Blood, the tribe's appearance gradually shifted toward the vision Jarius held for them, their extraordinary talents blossoming further.
The Third Decade in the East Sea Haven
The Paradise Mountain Tribe's population reached ten thousand.
Nearly a hundred had awakened as transcendents.
The wars raging beyond their sanctuary burned fiercely. From time to time, refugees from other intelligent races fled to these shores, sharing tales of the conflict's horrors.
Not only had the Titan Giants and Ancient Dragons suffered catastrophic losses, but half of Felander's myriad races had vanished entirely!
The Fourth Decade in the East Sea Haven
The Paradise Mountain Tribe's population swelled to thirty thousand!
The number of transcendents climbed to several hundred. Under Jarius' guidance, unique transcendent professions exclusive to the Winged Man emerged.
Among them were Sky Knights, Radiant Swordsmen, Guardians of Light, and Sky Assassins.
Nearly all were light-attributed transcendent professions.
However, as these were first-generation creations, their potential was limited, capping at the first tier of their professions.
Only the Radiant Swordsman, with Jarius' aid, evolved into the Radiant Swordmaster, a profession with a second-tier ceiling!
Jarius longed to pass down his own profession, but none in the tribe had awakened to both light and lightning affinities, forcing him to set the idea aside.
Fortunately, among this generation of Radiant Swordsmen, a prodigiously gifted youth reached the second tier in a mere thirty years. Perhaps, in time, they could elevate the Radiant Swordsman profession even further.
The Sixth Decade in the East Sea Haven
Jarius finally reached the final stage of the Sacred Wingstrider, standing just one step from the realm of legend!
Yet, that final step eluded him, no matter how he tried.
By now, the Paradise Mountain Tribe boasted a population of one hundred thousand!
Beyond Paradise Mountain, the Winged Man's stronghold, villages and towns dotted the surrounding peaks and valleys.
At this point.
Nearly all newborns bore a striking resemblance to Jarius's form.
After a century, the last traces of their former Eaglefolk heritage had faded. They now resembled miniature, winged Titans.
In that same year.
Jarius summoned the entire tribe to Paradise Mountain and formally declared their separation from the Eaglefolk, proclaiming the birth of the Winged Man as a distinct race!
Simultaneously, news from the outside world reached the East Sea.
The Titan King and the Ancient Dragon Emperor had led their final kin into a cataclysmic final battle on the Plains of the Firmament, nearly annihilating each other.
In the aftermath, both the Titan King and the Ancient Dragon Emperor vanished without a trace.
And at that very moment.
Far to the north of the Felander Continent.
Where mountains stretched endlessly beneath a blanket of ice and snow.
A band of goblins clad in thick furs rode shaggy dwarf wolves. They approached a massive, imposing metal gate.