The carriage rattled through the dark streets of the city, the rhythmic clatter of wheels over cobblestones barely masking the tense silence inside. Tyler sat across from Livia, Elric, Marcus, and Darius, each of them lost in their thoughts. The glow of distant lanterns painted fleeting patterns on their faces as they passed through the bustling market square, now eerily quiet under the moonlit sky.
Tyler stared out the small window, his eyes catching a glimpse of the tower far away. Its ominous silhouette loomed against the night sky, a dark needle piercing the heavens. He had a bad feeling about the tower—like it was watching them, waiting.
Suddenly, a flash of white burst from the tower, and Tyler's heart skipped a beat. He watched in horror as a massive creature detached itself from the spire, its wings unfurling like a dark promise. Following the giant wyvern were hundreds of smaller creatures, scattering into the city like a plague of locusts. The city's defences sprang to life as the creatures began their assault, and distant screams and sounds of battle reached their ears.
"Everyone, get ready to jump!" Tyler shouted, rallying his team. The urgency in his voice snapped them out of their reverie.
"What is it?" Marcus asked, peering out the window.
"Trouble. Big, flying, and heading right for us," Tyler replied, his eyes fixed on the approaching wyvern. "Think of it as an uninvited guest at a wedding. Only the guest is a semi-truck."
The team barely had time to brace themselves before the wyvern, three stories tall with a bony head resembling a bird's skull and a sharp, sword-like beak, descended upon the carriage. Its body was entirely white, covered in spikes and fins along its back, and its tail was reminiscent of a stegosaurus, swinging menacingly. Its bat-like wings flared as it swooped down, talons ready to strike.
"Jump!" Tyler ordered. They leaped from the carriage just as the creature's talons smashed into it, splintering wood and sending the carriage careening off the road.
The soldiers escorting them drew their swords and formed a defensive line, shouting orders and bracing for the attack. They fought valiantly, their blades clashing against the creature's scales, but the wyvern was relentless. It tore through them with savage efficiency, its beak and talons slicing through armour and flesh alike. Blood sprayed and screams echoed as the soldiers fell one by one, their efforts proving futile against the beast.
As the creature turned its attention to the team, Tyler felt a surge of determination. He'd been holding back, but now was the time to let loose. Drawing mana into his core, he felt the ambient energy flow into him. His muscles tensed, and his eyes began to glow, casting an eerie light in the darkness. The energy he draw in exerted a pressure on everyone around him, making the air around him heavy as his friends drop to their knees from the weight.
The wyvern hesitated, recognizing the threat. It screeched and lunged at Tyler, its beak aimed to impale him.
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Tyler activated a rune, and a ball of lightning formed in his hand. He launched it at the creature, hitting it square in the chest and sending it reeling back.
The wyvern quickly recovered; its scales barely scorched. Tyler gritted his teeth, realizing that his spells alone wouldn't be enough. "Well, I guess were both shocked that didn’t do any damage."
The Wyvern was incredibly fast even to Tylers enhanced senses. He dodged a swipe from the wyvern's tail, rolling to his feet and summoning a blast of fire. The flames engulfed the creature, but it shook them off, its scales glowing red-hot but intact. "Great, it’s also fireproof”
Tyler's mind raced as he cast a series of elemental spells—ice shards, wind blades, and more lightning—but none penetrated the wyvern's tough hide. "Elric, got any ideas on how to hurt this thing?"
Elric shouted back, "Just keep hitting it! Something's gotta give!"
"Great," Tyler muttered, ducking under another swipe of the creature's talons. "Our strategy is 'hit it harder.' Why didn't I think of that?"
The only think keeping Tyler alive at this point was his incredible speed. He glanced around, spotting a narrow alleyway nearby. "This way!" he shouted to his team, leading them into the alley. The wyvern tried to follow, but its massive size made it difficult to manoeuvre. It screeched in frustration, trying to reach them with its long neck.
Tyler activated a flash spell, a bright light exploding in front of the wyvern's eyes, momentarily blinding it. "Consider that your free laser eye surgery."
He used the opportunity to regroup with his team, panting from the exertion. "We need to find a way to pierce its scales," Tyler said, catching his breath. "Our attacks aren't doing enough damage. Retreat down the road to that building, I’m going to draw in as much mana as I can and hit it with everything I have."
Elric, Livia, Marcus, and Darius nodded, their faces grim but determined as they headed away from the thrashing creature.
Tyler took a deep breath, drawing even more mana into his core. His eyes glowed brighter, and the pressure around him intensified. His friends already a hundred yard away felt like there body’s had turned to lead. He activated another rune, now drawing as much power from his core as he possibly could, summoning a massive, crackling sphere of lightning above his head. With a fierce shout, he hurled it at the wyvern's exposed underbelly, the lightning exploding on impact and causing the creature to roar in pain.
Seeing an opportunity, Tyler drew his sword and charged. He slashed at the wyvern's legs and tail, trying to find a weak spot. His blade clanged off the tough scales, sending vibrations up his arm. “Well I guess that’s why they have magic swords” Frustrated but undeterred, he kept attacking, using every bit of his strength and speed.
Finally, he managed to cut through the tip of the wyvern's tail, severing it in a spray of blood. The creature roared, thrashing in agony. Tyler knew he had to try something else, without a better sword he was never killing this thing. ”It’s like trying to cut a tough steak with a butter knife while the steak is trying to kill you.” He felt the strain on his core, but he pushed himself further, tapping into the last reserves of his power.
With a final, desperate effort, Tyler attempted something he'd never done before. He aimed to put the creature into his spatial inventory. His core strained as he poured mana into the attempt. The creature's body began to shimmer, half of it disappearing into the inventory only to realise he had reached his limit, his core was depleted. Unable to keep powering the rune his core closed the inventory, transporting two thirds of the creature, leaving the other third to drop in a massive, grotesque mess.
Blood and gore splattered everywhere, the carcass of the beast lying in a heap. Tyler staggered, his vision blurring. The strain of using his core so intensely took its toll. His glowing eyes dimmed, and he collapsed to the ground, unconscious. "Well, that's one way to split the bill."
Livia and the others rushed to his side, their expressions a mix of awe and concern. They had survived the ambush, but Tyler's display of power had left them shaken.