Chapter 257
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 257
Chapter Title: Wyvern Mountains
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"Those mercenaries we saw on the way here?"
"Seems like it."
"Come to think of it, their auras feel kinda similar. Can't see 'em clearly from this distance, though."
There'd been only one other party they'd run into on the way here.
Jun and his crew had figured they were after the same simulbloom herb, but nope—they were tailing the White Whale Mercenary Corps instead.
"So, what's the play, boss?"
"They're just scouting too. No point poking the bear first. Let's leave 'em be for now."
These guys couldn't keep up anyway once they hopped back on the air carriage.
Following Jun's call, the group boarded the carriage and left the Frigid Breath Plains behind.
Next stop: the Wyvern Mountains.
"Name says it all, but air carriages are off-limits in the Wyvern Mountains."
Unless you were on Ranes' level as a mage, dropping wyverns from the sky was straight-up suicidal.
They had insane mobility, and unless you were some top-tier powerhouse, knocking them out of the air was damn near impossible.
"So how do we fight 'em off?"
"Lure 'em down to the ground. They don't start with breath attacks right off the bat."
Wyverns had to eat too, after all—they wouldn't waste breath on the first move.
"Instead, they drop straight down stealthily, snatch you up with a thwack, and you're done."
Unless you'd trained hardcore for it, spotting a wyvern ambush was insanely tough.
They were sharp as hell, striking only when their prey let its guard down.
"Drop your focus for even a second..."
And you'd end up torn limb from limb mid-air, served up perfectly.
"Not a pretty sight..."
Eleanor shook her head, already looking queasy.
"One more thing, though. There's a time they go full agro, no hunting instinct—just pure murder mode."
"When's that?"
"When you get near their nests. That's when the all-out assault kicks off."
Breaths of every element raining down from the sky like crazy.
Even Jun's [Shield] couldn't block that barrage completely.
"The leader wyvern's the real nightmare. No other wyverns dare approach its nest."
The alpha was dragon-sized just from its bulk alone.
You might think a big target like that has weak spots galore, but nope—once it climbs high and unleashes breath attacks, you'd be dodging nonstop with no shot to strike back.
"And you're explaining this 'cause we're heading to its nest, right?"
"Bingo. The tallest peak in the range, home to the alpha wyvern. We're taking it over to use this."
Jun shook the massive hurricane vial infused with Fenrir's essence.
Aiden bowed to the group, gratitude and guilt mixing in his eyes.
"Everyone... thank you."
"Whoa..."
The moment they crossed the layer boundary, a fierce wind battered the group.
"This ain't messing around..."
Sheer cliffs everywhere, howling gales whipping between them.
Were they on a mountain or in the clouds? A sea of white mist drifted lazily below the cliffs.
And then.
Kieeeaaah!
A wyvern's roar echoed from afar.
The group felt it sink in—they'd arrived at layer 7, the Wyvern Mountains.
"This won't be easy..."
"Terrain like this is why it's never been claimed."
Wyverns were tricky and deadly, but every part of them was premium material.
Sure, monsters dissolved on death, but they sometimes dropped fresh loot.
"Plus, their magic stones carry elemental affinities—mages lose their minds over 'em."
Jun himself had farmed here back when he was leveling a hunter alt.
He knew wyverns inside out.
"So... that's our target peak?"
"Yup."
One summit dominated between razor-sharp canyons, oozing presence.
Even the wyverns circling nearby steered clear of it.
"That's pretty far... how we getting there?"
"The normal way? Would take forever."
Every peak towered endlessly—no friendly neighborhood trails here.
They'd need pro climbing gear and a death wish, like in those movies or docs.
"No air carriages, right?"
"Right. Wyverns see anything else flying as a threat, not food."
Eye-level with them? Breath attack incoming, no questions.
"Got a way. See that? Down there, cave entrance."
"Uh... yeah, I see it."
"Pitch black."
"Can't see shit."
A bit downslope from their current mountain: a cave mouth.
That was step one.
"We're heading there first."
"Why there?"
"You'll see. Spoilers ruin the fun."
"...?"
What the hell was he hiding?
Anyway, the group picked their way carefully toward the cave Jun mentioned.
Luckily, the layer boundary kept wyverns at bay—for about half a day.
Then their stares started prickling.
Good thing the cave mouth was close by then.
"Made it quicker than expected."
"Whew... terrain this brutal forces you to stay sharp. Already wiped."
"Part of the experience."
Once they grew stronger, terrain excuses would vanish.
Breaking level 7's wall meant transcending human limits.
"So, what's this place?"
The cave they'd slipped into, wyvern eyes dodged.
Blue mana crystals glowed faintly here and there.
Ethereal vibe, but no pushover spot.
This was layer 7, after all.
"Something's deeper in. That's our goal."
"What the heck is it...?"
"Focus up. Monsters spawn here too. Tough bastards."
Didn't black tigers come when named?
A faint tremor rippled underfoot right on cue.
"They call it One-Eye. Absurd senses, so watch yourselves."
True to the name: three-meter frame, muscles honed for battle, bipedal like a man with two arms—and one massive eye.
The monster thudded toward them warily.
"'Good senses' means this..."
One-Eye.
A step below the Cyclops bosses of layers 7 or 8.
But no cakewalk.
Aiden wiped sweat from his brow, eyeing the corpse he'd barely decapitated.
'Reactions were unreal...'
It moved like it predicted every step. Even Maya got exposed multiple times despite hiding in subspace.
It sniffed her out anyway.
Bare fists shattered rock; it absorbed Aiden's mana, cracking his [Stone Shield] to hell.
Offense and defense in one—like it read their moves, locked them down, then closed in with that iron body.
If Aiden's [Mountain Sunder Sword] hadn't stalled it, they'd be in deep shit.
"Feel that tension now?"
Same layer 7, worlds apart.
Rockwind Plains: unique environment and pressure.
Frigid Breath Plains: foul stench, illusions, endless undead.
Wyvern Canyons: individually powerhouse monsters.
"You dragging us through this to build experience, senpai?"
Aiden glimpsed Jun's intent amid the grind.
Jun owned it straight.
"Yeah. So when disaster hits outta nowhere, you're prepped. One experience like this makes a world of difference."
"..."
What future was he seeing to drag them into this hell?
Didn't feel like something they could brush off.
"Worry later. Focus on now."
Jun led deeper; animal bones littered the path.
They hit the cave's heart.
Eleanor reacted first.
"Wha... mana density just spiked insanely."
"Told ya."
High mana sounded great, but not always.
Jun remembered struggling in a mana-choked realm dragged by a corrupted spirit once.
"Mana density's off the charts. Mana poisoning risk—manage it."
Forewarned was forearmed; no one here would fumble that.
They delved deeper, heeding him.
"That what you meant, boss...?"
"Yep. Mana Spring. First waypoint."
A massive mana pool flowed like liquid, intense currents swirling.
"Mana ignores physics. Pure spatial energy."
Jun shielded his body with mana, stepping closer.
Even with [Demon God Body], the concentration awed him.
"Sometimes, these flows carve paths between spaces."
"Ah!"
Aiden and Eleanor cottoned on, mouths opening in sync.
"'Mana Sea!'"
They gawked at each other—how'd you know?
Mana Seas weren't common knowledge.
Aiden from adventure books or novels.
Eleanor from rumors.
"Man... how'd you navigate this range? Secret like this?"
"What's got you so hyped, sword girl?"
Maya cocked her head nonstop.
Simple terms: Mana Sea was a teleport object.
With caveats.
"Like I said, huge mana flows link spaces. But not for just anyone."
Screw up, and you'd pop out underground or thousands of meters up.
"Sounds risky..."
"If it was just risky, I wouldn't be here."
He knew the trick.
"Mana Seas link mana-dense spots naturally. Wyvern Mountains pool mana in caves like this."
"What luck. Like it was built."
"Cave was built. That One-Eye dug it."
Monsters craved mana too.
Not why wyverns nested here for nothing.
One-Eye tunneled this with its own hands, drawn by the mana.
"Whoa... a monster-made ecosystem."
"Exactly."
Jun flipped open his enchantment book, wrapping everyone in mana barriers.
"This keeps accidents away inside. Let's dive."
"H-how? Just... jump in?"
Aiden's mix of fear and thrill got a grin from Jun.
He plunged into the Mana Sea with a splash.
Living as the Mage of the Hero Party Chapter 258