A Wyvern suddenly appeared and began attacking indiscriminately, turning the surrounding area into a sea of flames.
The Hummingbird Harpy, the master, was lying down in front of the Wyvern, who was desperately focused on it, ignoring everything else. I had to rescue it before Nigpyura could get its hands on it. I was going to ask Nina and Philiana to distract the enemy… but everyone had been scattered by the current attack.
There was no other choice; I jumped out from the bushes and headed towards the fallen Hummingbird Harpy. I felt a cold gaze from behind. But scarier than that was the Wyvern right in front of me. Even incapacitated, it could still breathe fire. And right now, I had almost no equipment. I had thrown away my shield and cloak towards Nigpyura.
“GAAARGH!”
The Wyvern threatened me, the intruder who dared approach its master. If it breathed fire now, I’d be roasted.
“W-wait!”
The back of its widely opened mouth began to glow red. …Huh? It’s not attacking. The fire being held in its throat wavered, but it didn’t come out. Only sparks were spilling from between its teeth.
“Hey, calm down. I just want to help, you know?”
Hot steam exhaled from its nostrils with a hiss. Even that felt like it could burn me. And yet, why wasn’t it attacking? Was it perhaps showing me a little mercy?
As I took a step forward, the Wyvern’s body suddenly began to freeze. It let out a pained roar as it was turned into ice sculpture while still alive.
I immediately scooped up the Hummingbird Harpy lying behind me.
“Hold on, are you okay?”
“Ah, no!”
The girl burst out of my hands and ran towards a spirit. Just then, Nigpyura sent sharp ice shards flying like missiles.
I reached out for the girl who had run off, her back to me. Unfortunately, I had to give up on the spirit.
A cracking sound was heard from behind me, and powdered ice scattered on the wind. When I turned around, Philiana was there, with Elana riding on her back.
“You saved me, thank you.”
“Use this.”
She threw something towards me. It landed with a jingle nearby. When I picked it up, it seemed to be a magical tool she was wearing. The red stone embedded in it was something I had obtained when we defeated a Chimera. It was the one I’d split in half and worn.
Use *this*? How? Oh, I hope not, but is it out of fuel that the thing can’t breathe fire? I want to believe it’s a lie, but I have no choice but to try. I really, really don’t want to.
“Hurry, while we’re covering you.”
Elana intercepted another ice shard that flew in. Amidst the scattering ice, I climbed onto the Wyvern’s back and reached its head. Its sharp gaze seemed to say it would kill me. Am I really going to do this? I glanced at Elana, but of course, she didn’t turn back to offer advice.
Sharin, Nina, and Cecilia also appeared and stood in front of the enemy. At this point, I had no choice but to go for it, even if it meant losing an arm.
“GAAAH, HSSHOOO.”
The moment it opened its mouth wide, I shoved Elana’s choker into it.
“GOGA, GAAARGH!!”
Ignoring the pain of its fangs digging in, I pushed it in up to my shoulder. I was blown away by the Wyvern’s swinging neck.
“AAARGH!!”
Fire erupted from the Wyvern’s mouth, illuminating the frozen ground in red. Its frozen wings melted, and the tree roots it had been pinned by were easily torn away. But if I stay here, I’ll get caught in the flames. The safest place is… oh, whatever!
I leaped onto the back of the raging dragon. The Wyvern then flapped its wings and took off. In an instant, the ground was far below.
I’m falling, falling; if I fall now, I’ll die. I desperately clung to the back of its neck. The sky spun around me. Glancing down, I saw Nigpyura shooting ice shards towards me.
“We’re going to crash! Look, look, down there!”
There’s no way it can understand those words. Damn it, then this is it! I detached myself from its neck and leaped onto the Wyvern’s wing. My center of gravity shifted, and I narrowly dodged the ice shards.
Before I could breathe a sigh of relief, my field of vision swayed violently. The moment my brain registered a bad premonition, it began to dive. My stomach felt like it was about to come out of my mouth, left behind by my internal organs.
“Calm down a little—!!!”
I thrust the dagger I was holding between its armored plates. I dug my claws in, desperately clinging on. Suddenly, I met eyes with a girl beside me.
“Oh my, it’s been a while since someone rode this one.”
“Eh?! H-help, up…”
Words failed me out of surprise and fear. It’s acting so casually?!
“Grab onto this fur.”
Even if you tell me to, I can’t even open my eyes due to the wind pressure. Naturally, I couldn’t breathe either. Despite this, the Wyvern began to spin wildly to avoid the enemy’s attacks. Somehow, I managed to use the dagger as a makeshift pickaxe and returned to its neck.
Through half-closed eyes, I saw it heading towards the ground from high above. All the while, ice shards were constantly flying.
