CHAPTER 1009: CHAPTER 154 - SHREDICA’S WINTER AND THE FINAL PIECE (5)

The wyvern’s roar ripped through the cavern like a thunderclap.

"Graaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh!"

The sound was so loud that it felt like the air itself was shaking apart. Dust fell from the ceiling in streams, scattering through the faint orange glow of the torches. My ears rang, and for a moment, I couldn’t even hear my own heartbeat, though I could feel it pounding in my chest, fast, hard, and panicked.

Then came the gust... its massive wings flaring wide, stirring up a violent rush of wind that nearly blew the torch flame out of my hand. The air stank of sulfur and burnt stone.

"Kh...!" I gritted my teeth, lowering my stance. My boots slid backward from the force of the gust as the wyvern took a step forward, its claws scraping against the floor, sparks flying with each heavy movement.

The beast let out another guttural growl, deep and rumbling, grrrraaaaahhhrrrhhhhh, the kind that vibrated straight through my ribs.

I lunged forward, swinging my sword at its neck... or at least, I tried to. The blade made contact, but the moment the steel struck its scales, there was only a sharp metallic clang.

Clang!

The blade skidded uselessly across the wyvern’s armor-like hide, leaving behind nothing but a faint silver streak.

"Tch...!"

Before I could retreat, the wyvern’s tail whipped around like a hammer. I barely saw it coming. There was only the rush of wind and the blur of movement.

BOOM!

The impact slammed into my side, sending me crashing against the wall. My back hit hard.

I felt the air shoot out of my lungs and the sword nearly slip from my hand. For a second, the world spun, my vision blurring into streaks of red and gray.

"Gah—!" I gasped, clutching my ribs. It felt like something cracked.

The wyvern let out a snarl, dragging its claws along the ground as it turned to face me again. Each step it took made the ground tremble. It was massive with it towering over me like a mountain that had decided to walk.

But I wasn’t going to give up that easily.

I forced myself to stand, biting down the pain, and charged again. My blade gleamed faintly under the flickering torchlight. I swung upward, aiming for its face this time. The wyvern jerked its head to the side, my sword missing by an inch. I followed up with another strike, slashing horizontally, but it blocked the attack with its wing.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

My sword rebounded off its scales again and again. They were useless and powerless, like I was hitting steel with a stick. The wyvern’s growl deepened, echoing through the cavern.

Then it lunged.

Its jaws opened wide, and for a brief second, I saw the fiery glow forming deep within its throat. It was a swirling red-orange light building in intensity.

"Shit—!"

I jumped backward just as it unleashed a torrent of fire.

FWOOSH!

The flames roared past me, a wall of heat and light that swallowed everything in its path. I dove to the side, rolling across the stone floor. The heat licked at my skin and even though I avoided the direct blast, I could feel my face burning. The fire hit the ground and erupted upward, washing the entire area in a blinding orange.

When the flames faded, the air was thick with smoke. My lungs screamed for air as I coughed, waving a hand in front of my face.

"Ghh—!"

I could barely see, but the wyvern was already moving again. The sound of claws grinding stone echoed from somewhere within the smoke. Then came a thud, followed by another low growl.

"Grrrrrrrhhhhhh..."

It was stalking me.

I tightened my grip on the sword, squinting through the haze. My heartbeat thudded in my ears, and sweat trickled down my temple.

The smoke shifted suddenly, and before I could even react, the wyvern’s tail burst through it, slamming straight down toward me.

CRAAASH!

I threw myself forward, the tail smashing the ground behind me, breaking it apart like brittle rock. Shards of stone scattered through the air, slicing into my arms and cheek.

I rolled over my shoulder, coming up to one knee, and swung my blade again. This time, I aimed for its eyes.

CLANG!

I managed to land a hit, a glancing one, that made it flinch slightly, the tip of my sword scraping against its golden iris.

It wasn’t deep. But it hurt it enough to make it mad.

"Graaaaahhhhrrrhhhhhh!!!"

The wyvern roared in pain, its voice shaking the ground. It snapped its head forward and slammed its jaws toward me.

BANG!

I barely dodged with its teeth biting into the stone where I was just standing, crushing it into powder. I felt the shockwave hit me as I tumbled back, landing on my side. My arm screamed in pain, my shoulder throbbing like it had been wrenched out of place.

The wyvern turned its head, molten drool dripping from its fangs, sizzling against the ground. It exhaled, and small embers spilled from its mouth like burning snow.

I forced myself to my feet again. My body was shaking, not from fear anymore but from exhaustion. Every breath burned in my chest. Every muscle felt heavy.

But I raised the sword again anyway.

"Come on... you bastard..." I muttered under my breath, steadying my stance.

The wyvern spread its wings wide again, stretching them to their full span... They nearly reached both sides of the chamber. The sound they made when they moved was deafening, a low and heavy whooooom that sent waves of wind through the room.

Then it took to the air.

BOOM!

The force of its takeoff knocked me backward. Pebbles and dust flew everywhere as the creature soared upward, circling me like a vulture. I tried to keep track of it, but it moved too fast for something its size, gliding through the air effortlessly, shadows sweeping across the floor.

Then, with another shriek, it dove.

"Shit—!"

I tried to dodge, but its claw grazed me as it passed, the edge cutting through my shoulder armor like paper. Blood splattered across the ground. I stumbled, gripping my arm, the pain sharp and hot.

The wyvern swooped back up, then slammed down hard in front of me.

THUD!

The ground shook violently. Cracks splintered outward from its claws. It spread its wings again and roared straight at me. A furious, guttural GRAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!! that nearly deafened me.

I felt my knees buckle.