The southern islands have very different topography from the western ones. They have less vegetation and more craggy regions. Nearly all of the islands have some significant rock structure in its center. The area almost seems as though it was made for them.

“Nyxina, are you sure you know where we’re going?” I ask, eyeing the islands passing below. As we cruise above the archipelago, I get a chance to examine the earth wyverns. They are gray and brown with thick scales and a bulky body. The few I saw flying were flapping hard and moving slowly. They did notice us as we flew by, but they only gave us a cursory glance before returning to whatever they were doing.

“Yes, the matriarch is on one of the larger islands. She is the one we should ask for assistance.”

I grunt, keeping my eyes focused downwards. The lack of aggression from the earth wyverns is rather anomalous. To me, they look lazy and boring. Half of them we fly over are leisurely relaxing on the rocks, sunbathing or napping. Some of them are even gnawing on rocks. I’m not sure why they’re doing it, but I guess it strengthens them in some way .

It's only once we near a large mountain isle that something goes wrong. Suddenly, Nyxinia swerves and speeds up. I see stones the size of my head hurtle through the airspace we would have occupied at speeds that would have pulverized me.

“What the hell is happening!?” I shout while tightly gripping the saddle as her evasive movements threaten to toss me from her back. If I was a normal human without system increased endurance, I would probably be unconscious right now.

“A test,” She states nonchalantly as she creates strong winds to deflect the bullets she can’t quite dodge.

I look more carefully at the island, finally noticing the dozens of [Stone Wyverns] lined up and spitting rocks out of their mouths at us.

“Who the fuck makes a test like this!?”

My question goes unanswered as Nyxina skillfully twists and dodges the projectiles. Eventually, we land roughly on the island and the attacks stop. The [Stone Wyverns] look at us for a moment before losing interest and laying down, as though the last minute of struggle had been nothing but inconsequential practice.

“We are here,” Nyxina says, putting a halt to any plans I might have had to convey my annoyance.

I look at her and follow her gaze as she stares into a cave leading inside the mountain. A huge opening that several Anemones could fit through at once.

“Right. Why do I have a feeling like I should be hearing boss music?” I say as I carefully look over the large rents in the ground and walls of the entrance. Oh wait, those are claw marks. Shit. Whatever is in there can probably kill the two of us. That's what my thousands of years of life experience is saying.

“You know, maybe we should return later… with my undead… and Mule. Especially Mule.”

“ENTER MY DOMAIN.”

A roar in the draconic language comes from within the mountain, deep and rumbling. It’s laced with some form of energy, similar to aura but definitely different somehow.

“Ahhh, good. She is awake. Let us go make our request,” Nyxina says while confidently strolling into the abode.

I throw up my hands in the air in exasperation, “Fine. If we die, I’m blaming you.”

“That would be difficult if we are both dead,” she chuckles.

“Don't throw your logic at me. I don't need it right now.”

She chuckles harder but doesn’t say anything.

After making our way deep into the center of the mountain, we are greeted with the scariest and most badass-looking dragon I have ever seen. Its body is the size of an airliner, every inch of it covered in thick and shiny black metallic scales. The dragon has sharp spikes coming out throughout its body as well as a long tail with a spike at the end.

Imagine a dragon, then imagine throwing futuristic plated armor all over it, and then color it midnight black. Throw in slitted emerald eyes that stare into your soul, and you can partially imagine the awesomeness that is before me.

After staring at it for a long moment, I finally cast [Advanced Analyze].

[Adamantine Wyvern] Lvl 478

Adamantine Wyverns are the fourth evolution of a [Dirt Wyvern]. Few wyverns ever reach the fourth rank, but when they do, they obtain a small portion of their ancestors’ true strength. Adamantine Wyverns are known for being nearly indestructible. Their scales are as hard as pure Adamantine metal while having access to a plethora of earth-based magic.

“Shit,” I say in common.

The wyvern shifts its attention onto me. Then, the ground trembles.

“Hmmm. Interesting. I have never seen your species before, but I sense a connection between you and Nyxina. Unfortunate, really. I would have loved to taste you.”

The words and sounds come from everywhere around me. They rumble out from the rocks and glowing crystals, from the tunnels behind and to the side, everywhere but from the wyvern.

It takes me a moment to realize that the words spoken were not in draconic, but in common.

“Zemyna, please stop with your games. We come asking for your assistance.”

For a moment, I watch with stunned amusement as the huge wyvern known as Zemyna rolls her eyes, shuffles her body into a standing position, and then stretches. Her wings extend and rip a bit of earth from the sides of her abode. When she retracts them, the damaged stone morphs back into its undamaged state.

“Bah. You haven't visited me for so long and now you are asking for a request?” she says, this time in draconic, though the sound still comes also from around me. However, I was focusing this time and figured out the trick to it.

“Nice. You’re causing the ground to vibrate at a specific frequency that you can create sound waves in the air,” I say in perfect draconic.

My words are met with no small amount of surprise from Zemyna. Draconic language is not one that can be learned in any normal sense. It is only given thanks to the system and my class.

“Impossible. Our tongue cannot be copied. It is unique to us. How? How have you learned it and how can you speak it?”

“My master is highly adept,” Nyxina exclaims with pride.

I sigh aloud, failing to keep a smile from forming on my face. I then unstrap myself from my saddle and take a stand on Nyxinas back. I then take a bow.

“A pleasure, [Adamantine Wyvern] Zemyna. I am Quasi Eludo and I have come to bargain for your freedom.”

Zemyna looks at me with a great deal of confusion. She then looks at Nyxina who waits quietly, keeping her emotions hidden.

“Uhu. My freedom, you say? Your threats are not amusing.”

I shrug my shoulders. “They aren't threats. Merely facts,” I begin, waving my arms all around me, “You are trapped here, not in this mountain, but on this floor. You are underground and living in a dungeon, chained here until you die.”

I take a step forward and hop off of Nyxina.

“But, I plan to conquer and leave this dungeon. I plan to take those loyal to me out and into the world outside. And, I am offering a deal with you. Help me push back the fire wyverns, get me to the next floor, and I will offer you true freedom.”

Zemyna frowns as she slowly shakes her head.

“I have lived a very long life, far longer than that of any wyvern of this floor. I have heard many of such requests. The Garuda had asked the same, and I had complied. They then traveled to the next floor as I distracted Bahamut, but they never returned. Dozens have gone and all have failed to return. What makes you different? What reason do I have to put my life on the line for your request?”

I lick my lips as my mind races. To my annoyance, no concrete reason comes to thought. She is old, no doubt about that. She is probably older than me by quite a significant margin. I can feel it. Her soul is well developed and holds a great deal of knowledge. Easily over fifty thousand years in age.

“Hmmm… Yeah, I guess I have nothing new. Unless…”

I stare curiously at the wyvern, noting her great age and power. Maybe she might have run into them.

“The Kitsune calls me the Patriarch. I don’t suppose that means anything to you?”

The wyvern freezes up. Her eyes lock onto mine as she begins to growl. I sense a great deal of anger, but that anger is nothing compared to the intense fear. Her mana expands from her body, causing the environment to rumble at her call.

“Them.”

She says the word this time. Not through magic, but with her true voice.

She bares her teeth at me and takes a step backward.

“You are one of those monsters! I have given her what information I am able. Leave… or, or… please just leave.”

I raise an eyebrow, surprised at her sudden reaction. After thinking it over for a moment, I can only hypothesize that she had an encounter with a kitsune, a very special kitsune with the power to make even a pseudo-dragon like her shake with fear.

“It seems you met Volpe. Strong, isn't she?” I say, casually moving my hand away from my body and casting [Corrosive Annihilation] with more than 90% of my mana. The spell takes form above my palm. The sheer destructive power radiates, so much so that both Nyxina and Zemyna take a step back.

A bluff. Though my skill has incredible destructive potential, I have a feeling that Zemyrna would survive, but she would still be wounded. As long as she doesn’t know that I’ve just used up nearly all my mana, then a threat should be worth it.

“But, I’m no pushover either,” I say casually as I cancel the spell and let the mana harmlessly disperse. “All I ask is for assistance in a small matter and nothing else.”

Zemyna swallows and then slowly nods. “I will assist you,” she says fearfully.

Nyxina looks at me with what I at first expected to be disgust and fear, but instead, I see loyalty. Her tail is wagging and her mouth is open.

I just threatened her friend with violence…

“Good. Your assistance will be welcome,” I say, scratching the side of my head.

I take a few steps towards Nyxina and then fold my arms as I lean into her.

Zemyna sighs and lays down on the floor but continues to glare at me, “I hope you understand that my assistance is limited, especially now with how large their numbers are.”

“How so?” I ask.

Zemyna grumbles, the ground shaking at her reaction.

“My kind is weak in the air. We are clumsy and inelegant. It is only on the ground where we best battle. I’m sure you noticed on your way here how dangerous we can be in a static position.”

I nod, remembering the bullets flying past my head.

“Why the heck were they attacking us?”

“Because the males of my kind are obsessed with mating. Dealing with them is tiresome. It is far easier to allow my children to keep them at bay.”

My mouth goes slack before I start laughing and shaking my head.

“Of course. Mating. Just shoot the males out of the… sky…”

I stop, slowly realizing a plan coming together that could effectively incorporate the earth wyverns into a very effective attack.

“Yes… Yes! That could work!” I yell before beginning to laugh hysterically. The two wyverns look at me with worry, but I ignore them as I do calculations in my head. Numbers come and go. My laughter continues as the insane plan is pieced together.

____________________________________________________________________

Peter glances over, taking a quick look at the fearful gazes in the distance as he kneels and takes a bite out of a [Perma-Frost Wyvern]. He chews slowly, enjoying the icy meat as it drips from his mouth.

In the distance, two more [Perma-Frost Wyverns] watch with increasing dread as Peter continues to consume his prey. The two [Perma-Frost Wyverns] attempt to struggle, but the webbing holding them is thick, powerful, and resilient even at low temperatures. They are webbed, as are another dozen [Tundra Wyverns]. All they can do is wait until their time comes. Until their death.

Peter ignores them. Instead, he focuses on his lunch. The cold does not bother the weaver. His fur keeps him adequately warm and his body can easily burn calories to heat himself. And he has a lot of mass to burn now… but still, he needs more. Another evolution is near, another new ability. But, he needs better prey. Stronger prey. Something near his level or stronger.

Then he hears it. A roar.

Peter looks up, his crimson eyes turn towards the sound. A new contender has shown up. A monster.

New prey.

Peter opens his mouth and releases a violent roar towards the [Blizzard Wyvern] flying towards him.