Rise of the Devourer

Book 3: Chapter 37 — Wyvern Cliffs Pt. 7

Noah and Aurelia sat behind Vion atop the wyvern’s back, who’d grunted in annoyance but had allowed them to climb on. Though to allow it, Aurelia had to give it a D grade mana stone as an apology first. Which was first, if someone had just tried to kill Noah, he’d be at least a little mad too.

As they moved through the hive, Noah simply watched in awe at the many wyverns flying around in the giant hollow caverns. Many looked in their direction, many more coming closer to eye them or sniff around, but then they’d return to whatever they had been doing. He wasn’t sure how they were communicating with one another, but for the time being, it seemed they were safe here.

Still, despite knowing that, Noah couldn’t help but feel his hear thundering. Not quite in fear, no, it was a mix of both excitement and anticipation. This place felt dreamlike, as he watched an untold number of fantastical creatures flying all around him.

The wyvern continued to move up towards the top of the mountain, flying deftly, though Noah had to grab tightly to stay on as the wyvern twisted and turned around through the skies. Vion on the other hand, rode comfortably, belying experience and skill at having done so before.

It didn’t take them long, before they near the top of the mountain, moving through a gap in what was effectively the roof, the group emerged in a large central chamber formed close to the very peak. The first thing Noah saw was a giant wyvern, one close to size with Zax instead of a typical wyvern looking down at them, sniffing questioningly. He felt himself stiffen up under the wyvern’s gaze, as it looked at the three of them, and let out a bone rattling growl.

Then, the wyvern turned away, grunting and Noah felt like he could collapse. It was only then did he finally use Analyze.

[Elder Sky Wyvern (Mythical) - ????]

Elder sky wyverns. Known for their agility and flight, these creatures are so fast that when they fly at full speed they create a sonic burst despite their large sizes, and leave flaming trails behind them. An elder wyvern is said to be one of the few creatures that can take on juvenile dragons as well, and it is said they would often keep the rumbustious dragons under control, making sure they did not burn the whole world down.

Because honestly, if you let those guys free that would be the first thing they would do. The next they would do is fly off to find another world to burn, because they’re just psychopaths.

Anyway, because of this, they’re the most suited to taking care of their own young as well, and are often assigned as the queen of any wyvern hive, and tend to raise their young and teach them some manners.

Side note, if you see one of these and they are not a matriarch in the hive. It is because something bigger and scarier is.

Good luck!

Noah tried not to let the description worry him too much, but he had to admit, it was a little concern. Thankfully, there was so much happening that it was easy to not linger on the topic. Their wyvern stopped as they entered what looked like a nursery, but for baby dragons instead. Tiny little wyverns flopped and jumped around, wrestling and playing with one another and yapping and growling.

As Noah stepped down, a nearby wyvern bit at his shoes, trying to tear a chunk out till one of the elders growled, and the little wyvern whimpered, before running off.

Noah used Analyze on the little creature.

[Baby Sky Wyvern (Legendary) - level 32]

A baby sky wyvern. Adorable small little creatures, almost like how a baby lion is adorable. But don’t be fooled by the guy’s beady eyes or little baby teeth. He’s gonna grow up and tear your face out and claw your eyes, before making a meal of you. All while making happy chirping noises.

Did you know that wyverns could chirp? It’s really cute.

These descriptions are just getting weirder and weirder. At this point it’s straight up talking with me.

Noah couldn’t deny being at least a little amused though. It was weird, but it made him snort in amusement. The system seemed to play at almost being a little malicious in its descriptions. Other wyvern babies started to look at them, staring at the new comers. The brave ones tried to come closer, till the elders snapped them back in place, while others stayed afar, watching with a mix of fear and curiosity.

The wyvern the group had ridden, walked through the chamber, the ceiling not high enough in here to fly freely, and they walked behind the creature, heading deeper in the creatures, passing through the crowds of many wyverns.

Noah almost wanted to wave back at more than one baby wyvern that looked up at him with beady eyes. He wished Snow was here, her new baby sky serpent would surely love it here. She herself would also likely love it. And maybe she’d get to keep one of them as well.

He should see if he could ask Zax to make that happen.

With dozens of gazes in their direction, the group made their way closer and closer, and Noah began to feel a heavy presence starting to weight down on him, like the mountain itself was starting to take note of his presence. It was an odd sensation, similar to what he’d felt when training his fear resistance against Zax, but not quite the same either.

Abruptly they came to a stop against a wall in the chamber. Noah wondered what was going on, when he noted that the wall here looked a bit peculiar. Before he could take note, the world rumbled all around them, and the wall raised itself up in the air, revealing a larger section of the chamber.

No… not a wall, Noah realized belatedly. It was a wing. A wing so big that it covered the entire section.

A giant hole that seemed to go down all the way to the bottom of the mountain right at the centre peered from beyond the area, and from the terrible depths stirred what he could only describe as a literal mountain moving in front of him.

The ground continued to shake as a giant scaled face that looked like it was a part of the mountain itself turned to look at them. The entire hive shifted, a buzz going around them as the creature regarded them, and Noah stood frozen where he stood, watching in awe.

He used Analyze, and even the words appearing in front of him seemed to have a nearly reverential undertone to them.

[Ancient Sky Wyvern Queen (???) - ?????]

[Name: Quazithril]

Quazithril, the ancient sky wyvern queen. A wyvern from an era before the current one, older than the mountain you currently stand upon, which was found as a result of her hive. An Ascendant wyvern has the ability to level mountains, and might that even dragons would respect. It is not extremely well known, but unlike dragons, wyverns never stop growing. Creatures who are always considered inferior to the magically and physically superior dragons who are born with an innate bloodline that can only be described as mythical, they have always been the superior tower that casts a shadow upon the wyverns.

Well, not anymore. An ancient wyvern is a creature even dragons would respect, and fear. They may not have the same kind of myth around them, but they are no less fearsome, and part of the myth around dragons, amusingly enough, has actually been ancient wyverns wrecking up cities in their rampage and then being mistaken by people who don’t know any better.

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

Quazithril is an ancient sky wyvern, one of the oldest who have existed on this island before people ever called this place home. There have been many people and creatures who have tried to claim the title of the monarch of the skies, but none would have a claim larger than Quazithril in the modern day and age. She lives a quiet and content life within her hive, conserving her mana and sleeping most of the time, but if she were ever to take flight again, it would have ripples across the entire world.

So, yeah, be respectful.

Noah didn’t have to be told, to know that. The creature’s body was a dark grey, scales like rock itself. He could spot the azure and blue shimmer of the sky wyverns present underneath the rocky exterior, but it was as if her body itself had began to become fossilized over time, rocky minerals depositing onto her, giving her a particularly menacing look.

The giant wyvern looked down at them, sniffing at the three of them, eyes taking in their presence. Then, a second later, she opened her mouth and spoke.

The world shook, the deep voice rumbling the entire mountain.

“Vion… it has… been a while…” the wyvern said, and Noah only understood the words due to his translation ability kicking in and making the words more understandable to him.

“Sorry about not visiting more often, Quazithril. They’re keeping more tabs on me now, and it’s getting harder to sneak out. You know stubborn Draxias can be,” Vion said, pressing her hand against the giant wyvern’s snout, as the massive creature let out a snort, that nearly blew Noah back.

A moment later, the giant wyvern turned to look at Noah and Aurelia.

“Friends…?” The queen asked, the words shaking the world around them.

Vion looked back at Noah and Aurelia, as if thinking about that question. “Something like that,” she replied, turning back to look at the Wyvern.

Quazithril closed her eyes, and a long moment passed in silence. Then, Noah felt a presence brush against his mind, and a much more feminine voice spoke to him.

“We had been wondering why you were sneaking around the hive. We had expected you. And your friends. The dragon had come to meet us, and informed us that you would likely come here.”

“You knew we were here all along?” Noah asked, surprised.

“Of course we did. You think you could walk into our home and not be found out? The scouts had found you when you first caused a giant fire in the forest and began heading this way. None of you are particularly stealthy,” the wyvern queen said, and Noah scratched his cheek in embarrassment.

“Umm, your majesty…? If Zax has talked to you. Do you… know what task he has for us?”Aurelia asked.

“We are aware. He told us you younglings need training, to learn how to hunt, and to learn our ways. We complied, though only because we think it is what Vion needs. She has spent long enough learning the ways of her mother’s kin,” Quazithril said.

“How did he sense you?” Vion asked. “I thought you said you were hiding.”

“Do not look at us like that, child. If you have met the dragon, you should be well aware that there is no hiding from him. He is not like the others of his kin, he does not have their arrogance, or their rashness. Despite being on the cusp, he has chosen not to ascend, and we believe it is only because should he do so, there is a chance he would succeed, and attain godhood, and he does not wish to have to deal with those responsibilities.”

Vion frowned, a complex expression on her face. “Is he really that strong?”

“Not as he currently is. Something, or someone, has put him in shackles. But his weapon is not power, but knowledge. There is a reason dragons do not live terribly long, despite their power. They are rash, brutish, and most of all, they are arrogant, and underestimate their enemies. A dragon that has lived for such long… and with the wisdom to look past such things? Child, we do not know how powerful he is, but we would not like to find out. Listen to him, he is your kin, more than we are. If he has sent you here, then he has some purpose in mind that is to your benefit.”

Vion looked at the giant wyvern, her expression thoughtful. A moment later, she gave a nod.

Noah kept his thoughts to himself, but he had to wonder just what Zax’s backstory was. He knew the dragon was powerful, but the wyvern, the giant wyvern with five question marks who could likely breathe too hard and wipe them out, seemed to hold him in respect. That… did not seem normal. But then, almost nothing was normal about Zax.

He remembered how the man who he had accompanied, Ryugan, had been an Ascendant as well. Same as the wyvern here.

It made Noah’s heart race with excitement. Just how far could he go, with Zax by his side? He did not know how long the dragon intended to accompany him, but he had to make use to the opportunities he availed to them.

And this was clearly one.

“Vion, child. There are some things you must know. The thunder wyvern hive, that old terrible fool will likely be waking up soon, after six centuries. The last time he woke, we lost most our children to him. This time, we intend to be more prepared.”

“Wait… he is waking up? When?? We need to tell the kingdom, it’s going to be chaos!” Vion shouted, all of a sudden in a panic.

“There is time. A few years at least, perhaps a decade. Not long, but enough. And there will surely be war. But that is not a concern for children such as you.”

“No way it is not, the entire kingdom will be in threat, you know how male hives are! Don’t pretend like this isn’t my problem,” Vion said.

“Male hives?” Noah asked, unable to hold himself back.

The giant wyvern glanced in his direction. “There are some that exist, male centered hives. Not true hives. They exist with a male at the top of the pecking order, one who uses his authority and command to control the wyverns under him. It is an ability certain wyverns are born with, the ability to command their lessers. It borders on mind control, but the wyvern uses his spawn to gather feed for itself, and generally causes a lot of destruction. Our last battle put him to sleep, and that hive took on some semblance of normality, but he will be waking up again soon, and he will be hungry,” the wyvern explained, before turning back to Vion.

“You must already have seen that the forest is turning bare. The wyverns have been gathering food, leaving nearly nothing behind. At this rate, the forest will begin to collapse. We have been sending our children to take care of them, but some extra claws can always be good in such a task,” the wyvern said.

“But… these guys do not have a pair,” Vion said, glancing back at the two of them.

“I’m sure you can find some suitable matches for them. Spar against our children. The young ones have begun to grow too lazy. Their pride will be hurt, if they lose. But they will obey.”

“Wait, what’s going on? Who’re we sparring? I thought we needed to… take the heart of an adult wyvern,” Noah said, before pausing as he realized who he was talking to.

The ground shook, and it took Noah a moment to realize the ancient wyvern had just laughed.

“You will spar with a child of ours, to form a bond. A rider’s bond. It is an ancient rite. Though one we no longe observe in this kingdom. Afterwards, you and your mount will be together for your stay here, and you will accompany them on hunts and spar against them. Feel free to rip the hearts out of some of the thunder wyverns you find, if you so wish,” the wyvern said.

Noah clenched his fist, unable to supressed his excitement at the idea. He’d been day dreaming about riding a wyvern for a while now.

“Thank you, Quazithril,” Vion said, stepping back from the ancient wyvern.

“It is a mother’s job to look after her children,” the wyvern said, pushing her head further into the princess, who hugged her back.

It was a strange sight, to watch the small girl hugging a literal mountain. He didn’t know what their relationship was either, but he could feel the strong bond the two shared.

A moment later, the two parted, and the wyvern looked at the two of them.

“You two are welcome here for the time. But our courtesy does not extend too far, if you decide to harm our children,” the wyvern said, looking at Noah specifically at the end.

Noah nodded, sweating.

“Accompany her to the chambers. She will show you the children who are ready. We will rest now,” the wyvern said, turning around, as she turned around, and the entire hive shook. They stepped back as she rested her wing back in place, sealing the entire area off like a wall had appeared there.

Noah stood, watching the wall, still reeling from the experience, when Vion turned around and led the group.

“Here, they’re a bit lower. You’ll need to beat one of them if you want to earn their respect. Skivi let you ride her on my word, but the others are not going to, so be prepared,” Vion said.

“I can’t believe this is happening,” Aurelia said.

Noah looked at her, and a moment later he patted her back. “Look on the bright side. We get to have our own wyvern mounts!” Noah said, grinning.

Aurelia just shook her head as the group walked out.

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