Before pressing forward, the group readied themselves and strategized for the impending battle with the Frostfang Wyvern. With the Wyvern still in its adolescent stage, grounded and unable to take flight, Lyra proposed a tactical approach. Aurelius and Gareth, the group's close-combat warriors, would lead the charge, acting as the tank to absorb the Wyvern's onslaught. Meanwhile, Lyra and Elysia, a mage and an archer, would rain down long-range attacks, exploiting their advantage. Theron, the agile rogue, would also exploit any opportunity to stealthily inflict precise strikes.
While the group talked, Aurelius mentally prepared himself for the upcoming fight, taking into account a couple of personal key objectives. Firstly, he needed to conceal his full power, he couldn’t show his true abilities as a Chosen. This meant refraining from using teleportation during the battle and being cautious not to appear overly skilled with a sword Secondly, Aurelius needed to deliver the final blow to the Frostfang Wyvern. Aurelius was uncertain about how experience gained through his Chosen System worked, but thus far, he had only acquired experience from personally killing creatures. He was determined not to let the Frostfang Wyvern and its potentially valuable experience go to waste.
The group's plan finalized, they advanced cautiously towards the cliff face. The sound of their footsteps echoed in the clearing, contrasting with the roar of the waterfall. As they approached the base of the cliff, the ground trembled beneath their feet, and a deafening screech pierced the air.
With a sudden gust of wind, the Frostfang Wyvern emerged from the shadows, its icy blue scales shimmering in the pale sunlight. The wyvern's wings were small compared to its body, a testament to its adolescent stage. Nevertheless, its menacing presence sent a chill down the spines of the group.
Aurelius felt a surge of adrenaline coursing through his veins as the battle began. On Lyra’s command he charged forward, sword raised high, while Gareth followed closely behind, his shield at the ready. While Aurelius was charging, the wyvern bared its razor-sharp teeth and lunged towards him with astonishing speed.
Aurelius' entire upper torso tingled with warning sensations, his Blade Dancer's intuition screaming at him to evade. Ducking beneath the creature's lunge, Aurelius swung his sword in a wide arc, aiming for the wyvern's exposed underbelly. But to his surprise, his blade met resistance as the wyvern's icy scales proved tougher than anticipated. Reacting quickly, the wyvern counterattacked with a powerful swipe of its claws, catching Aurelius off guard and throwing him off balance.
Lyra in the meantime, struggled to conjure fire in the frigid atmosphere. She focused her mana and summoned. Adding to their predicament, the group's attacks seemed to have little effect on the wyvern, its icy scales providing formidable protection.
Gareth, undeterred by the challenge, stepped forward and took a defensive stance, doing his best to shield his companions from most of the wyvern's onslaught. With his sword and shield, he skillfully blocked the wyvern's attacks, protecting his allies while buying them time to regroup.
Aurelius regained his footing and glanced at Lyra, who wore a frustrated expression. Realizing the group's predicament, Aurelius called out to her, his voice laced with urgency.
"Lyra, we need your fire! Find a way to break through its icy defenses!"
"No shit, I'm trying!"
Lyra's determination surged, fueling every action she took. She focused her mana once more, carefully pouring it into her flames with heightened intensity. With impressive control, she unleashed a barrage of fireballs, each one steadily growing larger and more potent.
The flames licked at the wyvern's icy scales, causing them to crack and melt under the intense heat. Lyra's fire began to have a noticeable effect, searing through the icy armor and exposing the vulnerable flesh beneath. The wyvern howled in pain, its movements momentarily slowed.
Elysia, keenly observing the unfolding battle, saw an opportunity to contribute. With her bow in hand, she swiftly nocked an arrow and took aim at the wyvern's wings.
The arrow was released, slicing through the air with a piercing whistle. The Frostfang Wyvern, perceiving the imminent threat, swiftly beat its wings, conjuring a powerful gust that deflected the arrow off course.
However, Theron seized the opportunity presented by the Wyvern's momentary distraction. He swiftly closed in, delivering a devastating slash to the creature's underbelly and one of its wings. Piercing the wyvern's flesh, the blade evoked a screech of agony as the creature's wing was maimed, further impairing its agility.
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
Aurelius, seeing an opening, launched himself towards the Wyvern with renewed determination. With each swing of his sword, he aimed for the weakened spots where Lyra's flames had done their work. His strikes found their mark, slicing through flesh and sinew, causing the wyvern to stagger and bleed.
Gareth continued to hold his ground, using his shield to fend off the wyvern's relentless attacks. His defensive maneuvers allowed the rest of the group to focus on exploiting the creature's vulnerabilities. The combined efforts of Aurelius, Lyra, Elysia, and Theron began to take their toll on the wyvern, wearing it down bit by bit.
Elysia shifted her position to gain a better vantage point. She moved with stealth and agility, always mindful of the Wyvern's movements. As the battle raged on, she released arrow after arrow, targeting the Wyvern's eyes with unerring accuracy.
One of Elysia's well-placed arrows struck true, hitting the Wyvern's eye with a sickening thud. The creature let out a bone-chilling shriek, momentarily blinded and writhing in pain. This gave the group a brief respite and a chance to regroup.
Seizing the opportunity, Lyra intensified her flames, using most of her remaining mana to conjure a blazing inferno in her hands. The heat radiating from her fire intensified, causing the wyvern to recoil in fear and agony. The flames engulfed the creature, searing its scales and flesh.
As the wyvern writhed in the fiery inferno, Aurelius, driven by a surge of determination, saw a slim opening amidst the chaos. With unwavering resolve, he propelled himself forward, his sword gleaming in the scorching light.
Aurelius swung his blade with all his might, aiming for a vulnerable spot on the wyvern's neck. As his sword connected, time seemed to stand still for a fraction of a second. The strike felt powerful and well-executed and to everyone's surprise, including Aurelius himself, the blow landed with an unexpected force.
The force from the strike surged through the wyvern's body, causing it to convulse and stumble backward. The wyvern let out a thunderous roar, its icy blue scales cracking and splintering under the immense pressure.
With a final shudder, the Frostfang Wyvern collapsed to the ground, lifeless and defeated. Aurelius stood there, his chest heaving, unsure of what had just transpired. The power behind his strike had been undeniable, and a lingering question gnawed at his mind—could this be the critical strike he had been pondering?
Aurelius thought about checking his settings to get more info, but he wasn't sure if the notification screen would only pop up for him or if everyone else could see it too. He hadn't tested it in public before, and he didn't think it was the right time to start experimenting.
Gareth approached Aurelius with newfound respect in his eyes, glancing at both Aurelius and the defeated Frostfang Wyvern.
"I'll take care of the horns," Gareth offered. "We need them as proof that we completed the mission."
The rest of the group gathered together, helping each other recover from the intense battle. Lyra had nearly used up her mana to its limits and felt grateful that they had narrowly managed to defeat the Frostfang Wyvern.
By the time the group had finished regaining their strength and were ready to move on, the sun had started its descent, casting a warm, golden glow over their surroundings. They decided it was best not to venture through the mountain range at night and opted to find a spot to camp until morning.
It didn't take long for them to discover a small clearing nestled between two large boulders. It seemed like the perfect spot to set up camp and rest for the night. With Lyra's guidance, they quickly established a simple campsite. Aurelius couldn't help but admire how skillfully she utilized her fire magic to start a controlled campfire, a task that had always proved challenging for him. The crackling flames danced and cast elongated shadows on the trees around them.
The entire group was exhausted from the long journey and the battle with the Frostfang Wyvern. Theron volunteered for the first watch, and luckily for Aurelius, he was assigned to the last watch. Sleep enveloped him swiftly, and within minutes, Aurelius was sound asleep.
----------------------------------------
When Aurelius awoke, he was met with an unexpected sight. Instead of the rugged, brush-covered landscape of the mountain ranges, he found himself surrounded by... clouds?
Overhead, the sky constantly shifted from darkness to light. Aurelius watched in awe as the sun and stars streaked across the sky, as if he were witnessing a time-lapse of an entire day cycle.
Rising to his feet, Aurelius cautiously surveyed his ethereal surroundings. In the distance to his left, he could just make out the faint silhouette of a peculiar structure. With no other landmarks in sight, Aurelius set his sights on reaching that mysterious object.
As Aurelius approached the structure, he could discern its form: a throne, its back turned towards him. As far as he could see, no one was sitting on the throne. Keeping a cautious distance, Aurelius circled around the throne, his eyes scanning the surroundings. When he reached the front, another surprising sight awaited him. Perched lazily on the throne, the crow cast Aurelius a judgmental glance, as if to say, "Yeah, I own this place."
In a sudden burst of movement, the crow took flight, transforming mid-air into an elf holding a beer bottle in his hand. Descending swiftly, the elf landed gracefully before Aurelius, sporting a cocky smirk. Despite Aurelius' height, he couldn't help but take a step back and look up at the figure standing before him. A single thought echoed in his mind.
"Augustus?"