The Wyvern Funeral

The process of choosing what to evolve into was remarkably rational. First off, becoming a wyvern was out of the question. Wings weren't a bad idea. But suddenly switching species here would be no different from narrowing my infinite possibilities. The grand journey that started as a Little White Snake might end right there. If I stopped being a snake altogether, would Dad stop being Dad? Would Wyvern Mom become my real mother? Anyway, I still wanted to hold onto my identity as a snake.

Crystal Double Crown Python. Evolving from Crkpa to Cdrkpa. It looked like a textbook evolution tree, but did it really need two crowns? There's a saying about excess being as bad as deficiency. It might even be a deviant evolution rather than a kingly one. Thinking ahead to future evolution trees, I had some concerns. In myths, there are always those multi-headed snakes—Hydra, Typhon, Orochi, the nine-headed dragon, that sort. Personally, I didn't want to evolve that way. Multiple heads? Scary as hell.

That left two options. First, number three: Big Head Serpent. Number four: Little Prince Serpent. I wanted to evolve into a serpent ASAP, so finally, I was stepping into the serpent stage. Big Head Serpent just meant a serpent with a big head, but I had no idea why that was even an option. What connection did it have to my exploits and big heads? Maybe because it suited dwarves, the poster children for big heads, so well. Pellelian's spirit form hanging around with me did have a head and body of similar size.

Little Prince Serpent had that pesky "little" prefix. In my mind, serpents were supposed to be hefty and imposing. Little? Was it little by serpent standards, or objectively small? Evolving into Crystal Crown Python had made me a bit smaller than before. Getting a tad smaller again wouldn't be bad. I could always use Giantification to bulk up anyway.

...Hmm.

In truth, the deliberation didn't drag on. Prince equals royal heir, right? Any smart snake could see it. Prince and Crown. They were linked. In other words, it might be the canonical route for my Crown trait tree. Decision made.

It begins! Normally, I'd feel my body changing here. Scales hardening, the crown on my head growing, something like that. But this time, the transformation didn't kick in rapidly. There was new text below the options.

I'd half-expected this since serpent was my only choice anyway.

Ooh, oh! Something was enveloping my body. No way I'd have to spend 30 days just blinking in the dark, right? Perfect timing, too. Evolving safely in this nuclear-bunker-level underground shelter. I was already asleep, but drowsiness hit anyway. Half-dreaming, half-awake. I slowly drifted into deep slumber. When I opened my eyes, I'd be a cool serpent. With that hopeful thought.

* * *

"Hoo, haa."

Pandan exhaled ragged breaths. He was an excellent adventurer and skilled rogue. But keeping up with the elf and Hairit was brutally tough. If they hadn't held back, he'd have been left behind. And honestly, falling behind would have been ideal. He didn't want to tangle with these two dangerous types. But they dragged him along anyway. Straight to where flames roared. Right to those perilous wyverns, no less.

Finally, Hairit released Pandan's wrist. He collapsed to his knees, dry-heaving.

"Urk, haa, heuk, heuk."

"You said there was a stone tower!"

At Hairit's words, Pandan lifted his exhausted face. And froze in shock.

"Wha...?"

"Where is it?"

"Th-there definitely was one?"

There had been a stone tower. Pitch-black. They'd confirmed it and left, but now... nothing.

"Ah, it, it must've collapsed!"

The air reeked of dust. That massive tower had clearly crumbled. Thunderous booms had echoed on the way here, after all. Sturdy stone chunks piled up. But why had a perfectly intact tower suddenly ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠collapse? Pandan couldn't guess. He didn't know it was a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠remnant left by the infamous Reverse Heaven Mage.

Iris and Hairit whispered.

"What now?"

"What do you mean? We clear the rocks and dig."

The presumed Pellelian dungeon had collapsed. Only one option left.

Hairit's face turned ashen.

"Us three... moving those rocks?"

At her startled shout, Pandan glanced around. Three? Why three?

"Yeah."

"Better to hire laborers and demolish slowly..."

"..."

"Right, can't do that."

"Call your kin?"

"Summoning elves here would take ages."

Hairit sighed. She bickered with Iris but was willing to help—that's why she'd come. But this?

Still, this is too much...

Digging through the collapsed tower for Pellelian's trail? Even with laborers, it'd take months. Secretly? Years. Stuck here the whole time? She wasn't an immortal elf; absurd.

Honestly, we're not that close.

Hairit steeled herself.

Yeah, sorry, but I'll say I have to go.

The elves could handle it from here. As she turned to speak—

A pale lump splatted down before her.

"Agh, shit! You scared me!"

Human-torso-sized white blob. Undigested white ant monster shells and legs mixed in. Looking up revealed the source.

"Bird shit—no, wyvern shit..."

Two massive wyverns flapped high above. She knew of them from Pandan. But something was off. They weren't fighting. Just circling.

"Kukagagak!"

The black Wyvern Queen. The monster roared at them, eyes wary—like don't you dare approach.

She's warning us.

Hunter Hairit Langrei instinctively pondered tactics. Named monster, sure. Huntable? Not impossible. Skilled hunters could take even unbeatable foes. But not ideal now.

"Can't approach without taking them out."

"Hmm..."

Iris was stumped too.

"Let's hunt 'em. Three of us..."

"Pardon? Are you mad? I'm out."

The elf treating him as combat-ready? Pandan nearly lost it. But he wasn't conscripted for wyvern hunting.

One black wyvern head. Three white ones.

"Kuaaaah!"

"Guwaaa."

"Duwuuuu."

"Kerelerelerere!"

Four heads suddenly chorused. Not just showing off strength. Calling. Kin, minions.

"Uh...?"

Wyvern Queen wasn't queen just for size. Her cry summoned wyverns from afar, respecting her authority. Not one or two.

"What a swarm..."

White and black wyverns swarmed like bees. Queens never called others even mid-fight. But now, for a reason.

"Kuwak!"

"Guwaaang!"

Orders given. The horde dove earthward. What was happening? Even ancient elves or mighty heroes would retreat, holding breath.

* * *

Squelch. Squelch squelch.

Back when I was a kid, I read about the Dead Sea in a science comic. Dead (死) + Sea (海)—no life survives due to salt. Float instead of sink. I couldn't swim, so intriguing. Wanted to visit, but died first.

Now, this sensation evoked it. Cozy, damp, sticky. Body adrift.

How small would Little Prince Serpent be? Dad, once seeming huge, was smallish. Not bad. Giantification anyway. Dad was a big, cool snake. I wanted that. Like the apocalyptic monster. Eat tons, grow strong. Continent's top snake.

Ah. Dream set. Planet's best snake. Super strong, long as strength, huge as mountains. Universe's best snake!

Thud—mind hazy.

Woke from long sleep soon after. Boom—

Gasp!

Vision blurry, foggy. Like wrong glasses. Tried rubbing eyes with tail—body wouldn't move.

Wha, why not moving?

Frozen stiff. Paralyzed? Panic surged.

—Awake, eh?

Pellelian popped out.

Why can't I move? Evolution fail?

—Evolution? Unexpected reply.

—Only 7 days since it started.

What?

Felt like one blink to me. Why wake on day 7, not 30?

—You melted into soup in there.

What?

—Literally. Body went squishy, regrowing. Not fully set yet.

Screech.

Horrific. Pupae start as thick protein shakes, huh? Snake me too.

Focused inward.

Ooh. Name changed. But mid-evolution, no details. Can't see self; frustrating. Day 7 means 3+ weeks more.

Gonna be boring.

—Doubt it.

...Why?

Pellelian didn't need to answer.

Boom!

Vibration with roar. Dreamed it too. Deep underground. Construction outside?

Kwaaang!

Huge sound. Crystal-coated body hears this loud? Actual must be massive.

Kwaaaaang!

Stone crashed from ceiling—a wyvern head thrust down. Shock toppled me. Blinding light. Surface sun. Tower ruins cleared?

Shocked rigid—literally couldn't jump.

Wyvern Mom's head. Exhausted, dust-covered, scratches from stones on maw and head.

"Ku, ku..."

Saw crystal-me, speechless. Joy, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠shock, fear, grief swirling.

"Kugaaaak!"

Mournful roar. Thinks I'm dead-stiff? Tears confirm.

Bang—Kwaang!

Ceiling shattered again. Three heads. Nearly pissed myself. Chugota's trio.

Saw me, mournful roars.

"Guooooh!"

"Kerelerelerere!"

"Durururu!"

Two queens wept, heads thrashing. After a while, emotions settled.

Wyvern Mom Seletta gently bit me.

"Kuooh."

Chugota didn't interfere. Relations improved?

Finally surfaced.

Aaagh!

—Wha, wha!

Mental scream. Delphram's center now plain. Black tower debris-covered ground swarmed by hundreds of wyverns. Exhausted, dusty from digging rocks.

All stared at me.

Wyvern Mom set me down.

—There, there! Why's he here!

Pellelian urged look away—I couldn't turn.

—Th-that's Iris, Golden Leaf Investigator, and the redhead who plucked your scales!

What!

Eyes darted. Yep, glimpsed. Humans watching afar, tents mean camped here.

Seeking Pellelian's dungeon? Didn't recognize me?

Then Wyvern Mom looked skyward, unusual low wail.

"Kuuuuuuu..."

Long, drawn-out. Others joined, heads up.

"Uuuuu..."

Chugota too. Sibling trio below too.

Soon hundreds chorused.

""Uuuuuuuuuuuu—""

Delphram quaked. Trio tears flowed.

—This is...

Pellelian and I realized.

—Your funeral.

Gasp...

Wingless, legless runt born flawed. All Delphram wyverns united to save him. Found as hard corpse. Mothers mourn. Group silence.

Coincidence or fate. That moment, new power awakened.