CHAPTER 52: THE WYVERN’S

Nolan walked out of the inn, and Lyra met him at the entrance. Together, they headed toward the edge of the village. As they reached the forest, Lyra led the way, guiding him to a specific clearing.

"Why are you taking me here?" Nolan asked.

"This is where you’re going to train," Lyra explained. "Far away from people, so you can go all out without worrying about anyone getting hurt."

That’s when Nolan saw them—about fourteen Wyverns circling above the treetops.

"Wow... Wyverns. They’re incredible," Nolan said, awe in his voice.

"You’re going to train with them," Lyra said. "You’ll need to catch them, and also defeat them at the same time."

"Wait... do I need to use any powers, or anything like that?" Nolan asked.

"No. Just your brute strength. Jump, punch, that’s all," Lyra said.

"Alright. If that’s going to make me stronger, I’ll do it," Nolan replied. He bent low, gauging his approach, and then ran toward the nearest Wyvern. Before it could react, he punched it square on the head. The Wyvern’s head jerked back, and its body fell to the ground.

The other Wyverns swooped closer, watching him carefully. They began screeching and breathing fire. Nolan dodged, weaving from one side to the other.

"Hey, you didn’t tell me Wyverns can spit fire! Are they dragons or something?" Nolan exclaimed.

"They’re not dragons," Lyra said calmly. "They can fly and breathe fire, but their fire is weak. They’re not very strong overall."

Nolan crouched low and then launched himself into the air. He caught one Wyvern mid-flight, planted his leg on its head, and gripped it tightly with his hands. Using his strength, he restrained its body while it struggled violently. The Wyvern screamed and twisted, trying to throw him off.

It finally broke free, slamming into a tree and knocking Nolan to the ground. Nolan quickly recovered, brushing dust off himself. He readied himself, eyes narrowing at the Wyverns circling above, preparing to take on the next one.

The Wyvern kept circling, its wings beating the air in wide loops, refusing to come down.

"What the hell?" Nolan shouted, holding on tight as it banked sharply.

The other Wyverns hovered nearby, watching. They did not want to attack, not while Nolan was on top of one of their own.

"Hey!" Nolan yelled, his voice rising above the rush of the wind. "Are you sure I am only supposed to use brute strength? No powers at all?"

"Yes!" Lyra called back from below. "You do not need to rely on your power. You have to improvise. Think before you act. Do not just throw yourself in without knowing what you are doing. If you cannot end it, there is always another solution."

Nolan narrowed his eyes. "What are you trying to say?"

Lyra’s voice lowered, almost carried away by the wind. "If you can do what I think you should do, you will pass this test."

"I did not hear you. Say it again!" Nolan shouted, frustration mixing with adrenaline.

But the Wyvern screeched and dived, its sudden motion drowning out Lyra’s words. The others moved closer, claws raking at the air around him, beaks snapping in an attempt to bite. Nolan swung his fists, punching one square in the mouth, then another, scattering them with bone crunching strikes.

"I could just finish this with a single punch," he muttered, feeling the tension in his arm. "That would end it right now. But for some reason, I do not want to."

He remembered Lyra’s words. Improvise. Think.

"What could this Behemoth of a test be trying to tell me?" Nolan said through clenched teeth. Then it hit him. His grip tightened on the Wyvern’s neck.

"Oh wait." He drew in a sharp breath, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "I am sorry. I get it now."

Nolan sat up straight, tightening his legs around the Wyvern’s body to keep steady. He wrapped one hand firmly around its neck, his eyes narrowing with determination.

"It’s time to see what I can really do. Beast Tame... it’s time to tame you," he whispered.

A golden light flared suddenly, glowing bright and warm from his hand. It spread across his arm and into the Wyvern’s body, its blue scales shimmering as streaks of yellow light danced along them.

"I just have to tame it no matter what," Nolan muttered. His voice grew stronger as he pressed his will into the beast. "Make me your master. Make me your master. No one else can do this—only me."

The Wyvern thrashed, its wings beating wildly against the air. It wasn’t ready to submit, wasn’t ready to bow to anyone. But as Nolan’s grip held firm, the creature’s resistance wavered. For just a moment, the thought of fighting him seemed to vanish from the Wyvern’s mind—and in that instant, the light surged.

The beast gave one final cry, and then it was done. Nolan’s Beast Taming skill locked into place.

"You’re mine," Nolan said, a wide smile spreading across his face.

The Wyvern’s body began to glow. Its wings stretched wider, its muscles tightened, and its scales shone brighter than before. It was evolving before his very eyes, transformed by the bond. Now it stood beneath him not just as a wild beast, but as one of Nolan’s own.

It lifted into the sky, carrying him high above the forest. The wind whipped across his face, and Nolan laughed out loud.

"This is actually fun! I can’t believe it—I’m flying! Over the world, across the sky!" He leaned forward and patted the Wyvern’s head. "Alright, let’s go down."

Obeying the touch of its new master, the Wyvern descended. Nolan slid off its back, landing lightly on the ground.

Lyra was waiting with a satisfied smile. "You actually did it. You tamed it."

Nolan nodded, though confusion lingered on his face. "But... it didn’t accept me as its master, not at first. And yet I still tamed it. How?"

That’s because your skill is different," Lyra explained. "Yours isn’t like an average beast tamer’s ability.