One Against Three

The Gray Mountains were treacherous terrain. Among the five great demon realms, there wasn't a single one that wasn't harsh, but these mountains were treacherous in a slightly different way. It wasn't like a desert or glacier, where the environment itself was an extreme where vegetation struggled to survive. It was the physical landscape itself.

Jagged stone peaks were scattered everywhere, and blade-sharp rock spires jutted up in places. The highest summits were capped with eternal snow that never melted. Even the toughest demonic beasts found it nearly impossible to roam the range freely. It was terrain so unforgiving even for monsters that flying types, relatively unhindered by it, naturally dominated. Wyverns weren't as rare as dragons, and far sturdier than birds. Over time, wyverns had effectively become the masters of the mountains.

Thousands of them inhabited this vast demon realm. Naturally, they didn't move as a unified force. They were divided into dozens, even hundreds of flocks. Female wyverns grew larger than males. Males tended to leave the flock once they matured to a certain point, while females had an instinct to defend their group. Thus, the leader of a wyvern flock was called a Queen.

Considering the vast differences in combat power among individual wyverns, the Queens varied just as much. Some were no different from ordinary wyverns. Others had evolved long, dragon-like horns and could breathe fire. Scour the wide demon realm, and you might even find one with two heads. A wyvern that became Queen lived far longer than ordinary ones. As long as it survived battles with other flocks, it grew stronger through repeated evolutions.

Saturnu Wyvern Queen Chugota was one such being. She was an ancient wyvern who had survived for centuries. After dozens of evolutions, she had lost her shining scales and gained a moist, pale white hide instead. She possessed several layers of hidden strength imperceptible at a glance. By the time she earned the name Chugota, she had already become the ruler of the mountain range's eastern sector.

Wyverns with white scales mostly fell under her command. Wyverns instinctively formed flocks based on their body ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠colors. Over 80% were achromatic, with white and black flocks being the most numerous. At some point—or perhaps three months ago—she set out to conquer the entire mountain range demon realm. How a "conquest lust" fit for human tyrants had taken root in a monster's tiny brain was anyone's guess. The influence of evolution? Or maybe she'd been struck by lightning mid-flight, implanting malice in that small mind?

Inevitably, her gaze turned to the southern sector of the demon realm and its ruler, Celleta. Chugota's trusted subordinate, the White Sword Wyvern, was gliding through the skies. Its muzzle was longer and sharper-edged than other wyverns', resembling a blade.

"Kkuk."

Moments ago, Chugota had unleashed a judgment of light from the heavens. A strike against Celleta's empty nest—a declaration of war. The White Sword Wyvern's mission was to tear apart any hatchlings that might still be alive. Two were nowhere to be seen, but one flapped desperately, diving down. It had hatched recently, yet its growth was astonishing. Still, escaping an adult wyvern was impossible.

The Sword Wyvern folded its wings and plummeted. Fierce speed. Before hitting the ground, it snapped its wings open, the massive air resistance altering its trajectory.

"Chuiiiit!"

The startled hatchling screamed. It would soon be torn to shreds. Saliva dripped from the wyvern's maw. Then, something odd caught the Sword Wyvern's eye. A white snake dangled from a rock spire, gripping it with its mouth while holding one hatchling in its tail and another with vines sprouting from its back. Distracted by the bizarre sight, it failed to notice a long blade suddenly materialize in midair—a weapon like those used by humans or dwarves—hurtling toward the flying wyvern.

The wyvern scoffed and swung its muzzle. No matter how sharp the blade, it couldn't match its jaw's toughness. Crunch! But the black blade sliced clean through the wyvern's lower jaw in an instant. Blood sprayed.

* * *

Anyone who's raised a Shiba Inu knows how ridiculously dramatic they are compared to other dogs. A mere brush, and it yelps like it's been stabbed.

"Chuiiiik!"

The youngest, Chui, was rolling on the ground in hysterics. Ironically, the intruder wyvern was the one with its lower jaw severed, gushing blood—and the one tumbling and fighting it was me!

"Chuchiii!"

"Kkugagagak!"

The adult wyvern's roar was even louder. These three cute siblings would probably bellow like that when grown. Pity, but better they survive than die here. With that in mind, I tried to repel the intruder. When I severed its lower jaw, I thought victory was mine. But wyverns weren't ordinary beasts.

Even spraying blood, it lunged ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠for Chui, forcing me to bite into its body. The scale-covered hide was tough—way too tough. I barely sank my fangs in to inject venom, but it didn't collapse easily.

Whoosh! Fire breath had no effect either. Its scales resisted even that firepower.

- It's not that wyvern scales are impressive; your flames are just pathetic. How are you still stuck at beginner elemental magic... Pellelian's criticism stung extra hard today. True, my magic progressed much slower than my swordsmanship. Fire was useless, and so was Ray. The only attack strong enough to end it instantly was plunging the Celestium sword into a vital spot. But that had drawbacks. Biting with fangs or grabbing with tail was fine, but...

...the Transparent Hand's durability and strength weren't great. Like now, when the wyvern pinned the sword with its foot—retrieving it was impossible. Its maw slammed where I'd been. Boom! Fortunately, it swallowed dirt instead of me.

Pippi and Kay, landing with me, bravely charged the Sword Wyvern.

"Pipiaak!"

"Jiiit!"

With no skills, they could only bite and claw. Their teamwork helped not at all. But it bought me time. I planned to yank the longsword free with my fangs, but then—Isil extended vines to grip the hilt.

"Saaak!"

I pulled hard to extract the sword. No use—too much weight difference. Just as I drew my dagger Dawn to stab its foot...

Oh no! Hellfire was so hot up close it could burn even me. A double-edged top-tier skill. Fortunately, the flames ignited not on Isil's body attached to me, but on the vine gripping the sword hilt—violet fire erupted there.

"Kkugeeeeeek!"

The wyvern pinning the sword let out a chilling screech. Its foot ignited instantly. My flames barely singed scales, but this fire didn't stop at burning. The foot charred black like coal and cracked off. The sword was free.

Fwoooosh! A mad heatwave blasted from the blade. Held by frail vine strands. Thanks to Isil's astonishing evolution perk, 'Flame Immunity'.

- Hah. As Pellelian marveled, I was momentarily entranced. The Celestium longsword lifted by vines. Both vine and Celestium were among the few materials that could withstand hellfire. But what flesh could endure it unscathed? This flaming sword was a weapon stronger than even Thunder Decree—the world's deadliest fang, incinerating anything.

- This... surpasses an Aura Blade. Pellelian vouched. Unlike my previous talisman fake-out, this was the real deal. Thanks to Empathy? I lightly conveyed my will to Isil: Swing it. And Isil did.

Tsssk! A unique slicing sound rang out. The blade tore scales, crushed flesh, and instantly vaporized blood and moisture within. The wyvern's neck severed. The stump charred black instantly—no blood flowed.

Fsssh. The sword's hellfire extinguished instantly. Mana drain must be immense—worse than Thunder Decree, probably. 'Isil!' One glance at Isil confirmed it. Its healthy, plump leaves were wilted and drooping. Not injured, just starved. Good thing I secretly shared my nutrient slurry! Seeing the fearsome Sword Wyvern roasted, the trembling trio rushed me.

"Piii!"

"Keiii!"

"Chui!"

Finally grasping big bro's awesomeness? Unlike my centipede sibs, these three were a bit much—bigger than me. Oblivious, they rubbed heads against me like mom. Each time, I staggered. After rolling once, I nearly snapped—

—but I'd tamed them. No names, though! As I backed away, the youngest flopped down. 'Chui!' Lifting Chui—

Shock and horror. Dislikes it? What's wrong with Chui?! All my previous namings were hits... - Isn't that just ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠your opinion? A shocking twist, then. Like it or not, the other two sulked over lacking names. Forced by their tantrums, I named them: Pippi and Kay. They disliked theirs too. Why ask then? Well, their mom had the cool name Celleta...

"Kueooooh!"

A majestic roar unmistakable as wyvern mom's. No need to look. Boom! She landed roughly before us, wounded. Ambushed while out? 'Did she see me use the Blazing Hell Sword?' If so, she might realize I'm not her kid. Unknown. She spread wings wide, scooping us up, then placed us on her foot and took off before we could react.

The hatchlings clung to mom's foot in fright—not easy without hands. I briefly considered jumping and fleeing, but 'Eh, Isil, tie the kids so they don't fall.' They might drop. Isil's vines secured the trio nicely. Wyvern mom was Medusa-mom huge. Plenty of foot space. But looking up, I yelped in shock.

"Saaaak!"

Not sure if she understood. Part of the cloud glowed. Peeing! A destruction beam fired from it. Mom veered sharply—near-crash dive. The beam pierced where she'd been. Immense power. Three spires behind vaporized. Even the initial nest strike had been held back. Destruction Beam was strong, but this output? Mystery solved seeing the enemy beyond the clouds.

Shocking visage.

- ...A freak mutation or evolution's product? 'Three heads!' A colossal three-headed wyvern loomed in the clouds. Reflexively focusing my eyes—

No way. Is this one or three?