Arc 1: Wyvern Rebellion - Chapter 18

Viperion spun around quickly, swinging her fist at him. Echo teleported several times, her punches missing thin air. He reappeared a safe distance away, a smirk plastered across his face.

"You're fast, I'll give you that. But speed won't save you. Sound travels faster." He chuckled, raising his violin with a flourish.

With a single screeching note, he sent out a sonic wave, the force rippling through the air visibly. Viperion braced herself, but the impact still sent her tumbling. She rolled to her feet, the world swaying around her. Her ears rang painfully, her vision blurred.

"Just give up," Echo chided, his voice strangely distorted, vibrating in her skull. "I could shatter your bones, scramble your brain… this is pointless, little ant."

Viperion gritted her teeth, wiping away blood seeping from her ears. "Not…yet it's not!" She charged again, her exoskeleton gleaming dully in the sunlight.

Echo played a mocking melody, and the ground beneath Viperion erupted into jagged spikes. She leaped, narrowly avoiding impalement, but her landing was unstable. Another discordant blast knocked her off balance, and she crashed into a rocky outcrop, pain exploding in her side.

Despair threatened to swallow her. He was right; she was outmatched. But images of the Emerald Oasis flickered in her mind - Gideon's encouraging grin, Fiora's fiery spirit, and Luna's kindness. She couldn't fail them.

A stubborn defiance ignited within her. With a roar, she surged forward, faster than before. Echo, surprised, barely managed to teleport away from her onslaught.

"Impressive," he admitted, his smirk fading. "But how long can you keep this up?" His bow lashed out, not just playing, but weaving sonic currents into the air. The wind itself became his weapon, twisting and buffeting Viperion like a leaf in a hurricane.

She slammed into the mountainside with enough force to crack the stone. Yet, as she slumped, Viperion noticed that the wind wasn't chaotic. It moved in patterns, like an invisible song woven around her.

Instinct surged through her. If Echo could command sound, so could she. With trembling hands, she dug into the earth, feeling the minute vibrations, the echoes of the fight trembling beneath her. She focused, channeling her magic not into attack, but…listening.

Echo sneered, launching another sonic assault. But this time, Viperion was ready. In the split second before the impact, she burrowed, the blast harmlessly exploding above her. She emerged behind Echo, faster than he'd anticipated.

"Gotcha!" she cried, a flicker of triumph in her eyes.

Echo turned, his eyes wide with fear. But it suddenly shifted into mockery as her fist passed through him. His form gave way to her fist. Sounds waves separated into the air. The surrounding air shifted; the distant sound music heard as Viperion realized that she was fighting an illusion.

"Did you now? Oh, little ant. Did you really think you can beat a Wyvern? We crush uppity whelps like you." He said. His violin was heard once more. The melody resounded all around her. She turned about, trying to pinpoint the Wyvern before he was able to get the upper hand again. However, the air warped in front of her, the figure of Echo forming from thin air. Without a second thought, Viperion shot through the air, her fist reared and tried to hit him with all her might, only for it to be held back by an invisible wall. The Wyvern stood, continuing to play.

"I'm not too sure if I can waste any more time on you. See, I have mission to cause some mischief in this town. And I already know where I'm going. You just happen to be a roadblock. Nothing more, nothing less. So, you can either fall by my hands here, or live to see what happens next. Your choice, little ant." He said, smirking as his bow was poised and ready. He waited for the girl's answer.

Viperion clenched her teeth.

"I won't let you. I'll do everything in my power to stop you. I won't fail my guild."

The air hummed with tension; the two opponents locked in a stalemate. The girl's stance was firm, her eyes shining with determination. The Wyvern was cold, his gaze calculating, weighing his options. A wicked grin showed on his face.

"Fine. Have it your way. Have you ever danced the waltz?" He asked, his bow slowly playing on the violin. The sound of a waltz began to fill the air, the melody making Viperion sway and become dazed. Her eyes slowly closed, and she began to dance, her feet moving in time with the music. The Wyvern laughed with glee. "You can!"

Viperion's eyes snapped open. The dizzying sway of Echo's waltz vanished, replaced by the harshness of reality. She felt her body move on its own, her feet trapped in the rhythm of the Wyvern's cruel enchantment. Panic surged within her. This wasn't just a fight anymore, a wave of terror washed over her as the echo of an ancient memory flickered within her. Male Fenrir Ants, their forms sleek and chitinous, danced around a towering Queen, their movements not of courtship, but of desperation.

A tremor rippled through her, not from the earth, but from the depths of her being. It was a primal feeling, older than thought, older than language. The memory surged, a torrent of images, sensations, and a profound sense of purpose…

Earth-Land teems with nature of all kinds. From the verdant fields of grass to the majestic mountains, diverse species flourish within these environments. But even magical creatures are subject to the natural order – to be born and die. This cycle has shaped life for millions of years, forcing some animals to adapt, to evolve beyond their limitations. Among these are those who have harnessed the power of Ethernano, their histories as tangled and rich as the world itself.

Perhaps the most formidable of these creatures are the Fenrir Ants. Ranging from formidable dog-sized warriors to colossal guardians, these insects are masters of adaptation. Driven by necessity, they continuously modify their bodies to thrive in any surrounding. While their small-scale magic serves a variety of purposes, their true strength lies in numbers and unwavering determination.

Within the Fenrir Ant colonies, hierarchy is paramount. Males, often smaller and less magically adept, perform intricate mating dances – displays of agility and confidence to attract the far more dangerous females. Only the strongest females are worthy of leadership, proving their dominance through trials of strength and cunning.

Their most potent weapon is their venom, a naturally occurring toxin. However, the queen of each colony holds the key to both poison and cure. Her unique 'Royal Jelly' combined with the saliva of her warriors, transforms into a potent antidote that heals the wounded. This Royal Jelly, imbued with the queen's potent Ethernano, holds another remarkable property; it is the sustenance of the young and grants the rare ability to assume human form.

Long before the Age of Dragons, when humanity first grasped the power of magic, a different kind of civilization thrived in the hidden corners of Earth-Land - the Fenrir Ants. Unlike the sprawling human kingdoms or the sky-reigning dragons, the Fenrir Ants built their society on a foundation of resilience and unwavering purpose.

Their origins lie deep in the earth itself. Scholars speculate that the Fenrir Ants arose from a primordial race of subterranean insects. Evolving alongside the very geology of the world, they developed an unmatched ability to manipulate their bodies to suit their environment. Caves became training grounds, their exoskeletons hardening as tough as granite. Underground rivers honed their agility and senses, allowing them to navigate the darkness with an almost supernatural awareness.

Their first true test came not from another species, but from the earth itself. Cataclysmic tremors tore through their subterranean world, collapsing tunnels and threatening their very existence. Faced with extinction, the Fenrir Ants adapted. Their bodies grew stronger, able to withstand the tremors. They channeled the raw power of the shaking earth, integrating it into their own attacks and defenses. This period became known as the "Trial by Tremor," a time etched in their collective memory, a reminder of their unyielding spirit.

The rise of Queens emerged amidst this adversity. These uniquely gifted females developed a potent form of Ethernano, granting them the ability to manipulate the essence of their colony. They channeled tremors into a potent "Royal Jelly," a substance that nurtured the young and granted the remarkable ability to take human form – a necessary skill for venturing above ground to secure resources and establish alliances.

Becoming a Queen wasn't a right, but a brutal test of strength and leadership. Only female Fenrir Ants with exceptional potential were considered. Their bodies were larger, their mandibles more lethal. They underwent rigorous trials, their strength and cunning pushed to their limits. The burden of leadership wasn't just about survival; it was about ensuring the colony's future.

Viperion, despite her youth and gentle nature, possesses an indomitable spirit. Playful and kind, she might come across as naive, yet a fierce determination burns beneath her surface. Unlike generations past, Viperion yearns not just for survival, but for connection. Witnessing the camaraderie within her human guild has sparked a fire within her – a desire to bridge the gap between humans and Fenrir Ants. This hope, however, clashes brutally with the primal instincts surging through her.

The dance moved her about, forcing her to entertain the giddy Wyvern.

"Marvelous! You have the grace of a dancer and the beauty to match! May I have this dance?" He asked in a mocking tone. Viperion was trying to force her body to stop, using every bit of strength she had to be still. But her body wouldn't listen. Echo stepped into her movements and pulled her close, swaying around the battle-scarred surroundings in the middle of Margaret Town.

"It's just a dance, little ant. Don't get your antennae in a bunch." He said. He was enjoying her embarrassment, taking her around the ruined buildings and cracked streets. The self-proclaimed warrior, the strong powerful race of Fenrir Ants, reduced to nothing more than a puppet for Echo. She felt helpless, her body refusing to listen to her own commands.

"Please... stop." She begged. She had no way of knowing how long this dance would go on, or if she would ever be freed. He began to sing the tune he played that forced her start dancing.

"You dare to stand up to me, you give me a good hit across my face, and you believe your disgusting insect race has the worth to fight a Wyvern? But you want me to stop this dance? At this point you owe me. You owe me for wasting my time. And I won't stop until I feel like it. I'm having a great time!" He laughed. Viperion began to feel her energy being drained from her. She continued her fight, trying to hold in place. Suddenly, her body froze, heavy. Echo's laughter was interrupted by the abrupt movement and her limbs suddenly stopping, holding him in their dancer's hold. Echo raised an eyebrow at first, still trying to move his body. But her weight had changed dramatically out of nowhere. She wouldn't budge. He tried to remove himself, but her limbs held him firmly in place.

"Little ant, this isn't the time for jokes. I had decided to enjoy this dance before annihilating you. At this point you're just hastening your death." He threatened, his tone still light and playful. Viperion's eyes were wide, a feeling had shot through her. It was powerful. It wasn't pain she felt. It was a calling. Something from deep within her very blood roared. Something primal.

"I..." Viperion managed. "I have... the worth... I have the worth..." She began. Her voice was a whisper. Echo's eyebrow raised once more.

"The worth of what? I mean, I'm sure you're a decent warrior. But a dance? Don't tell me, is this something your kind does to court someone?" He mocked. He was still trying to force his body away, but she was like a statue. Viperion's eyes returned to meet Echo's. That's when she yelled a warrior's yell that would have made Gideon proud.

"I HAVE THE WORTH TO FIGHT YOU!" She yelled. Echo's eyes went wide, feeling this change in her. Viperion began to pull away from her exoskeleton, her nude form emerging from the now empty husk of armor that held Echo in place. Her heart began to beat heavily in her chest. Viperion clutched herself, the panging heart being felt. Her breathing became labored. It felt as if the world around her was moving. But she was still. Echo had stopped struggling at this point, his violin and bow on the ground. He looked at her.

"You're... you're... changing..." He muttered. As a creature of Earth-Land, he was toward the top if the food chain. But he knew what it was like to understand when something was the predator, and the other was the prey. The day Acnologia began to kill everyone in sight, everyone was prey to him. But here, in this very fight, the little ant was the predator, and he was the prey.

"You... you can't be... evolving... it's impossible."

Viperion didn't understand. She was seeing things, hearing things, feeling things, tasting things clearly. She could feel the magical aura in her body. It was building, surging, threatening to explode. Her heart felt like it was about to explode. She felt like she was going to explode. Echo had been trying to get out of her now empty armor, but the arms and legs were still holding him. His playful attitude had soon faded, replaced by anger and fear.

"I can't believe this. A Wyvern being defeated by an Ant. Impossible. I refuse to let this happen." He said, finally ripping himself free from her arms.

"What is happening to me?!" Viperion shouted. She felt her body erupt with Ethernano. Suddenly, armor began to drape around her. A new exoskeleton. It had a color of yellow and white. It surrounded her, but left her elbow and knees free. Her wings had revealed themselves, shedding layers. And finally, her exoskeleton formed around her head, creating a crown.

"My Ethernano. It's..." Viperion started.

"Your body is producing Ethernano. It's... it's becoming stronger. This isn't possible." Echo said. He moved to grab his violin and prepared himself. He had to kill this monster before it kill him. Before this sudden predator found its place. Viperion clutched her chest, feeling her heart beating rapidly. It hurt. But she was able to breathe. She looked at Echo, her eyes filled with anger.

"I have the worth... I am a powerful warrior. I am a Fenrir Ant, and we are survivors, fighters. I will survive, I will fight, and I will win." She said, her voice booming with a power she had never felt. Echo played his violin, sending out a powerful soundwave. Viperion raised a hand, her palm opened, and the shockwave dispersed when it hit it. Echo's eyes widened.

"This isn't possible. You... you're an insect. I am a Wyvern. You have no right to be doing this. No right!"

Viperion stepped forward, her eyes burning with a fury that only a true warrior would have. A fury a Queen would have. She breathed in deep, the cold air filling her lungs. When she exhaled, all the excess magical aura flowed away, her body stilling. Viperion closed her eyes, a calmness taking over her. She had stopped dancing. The music no longer played. Her body was still. Her heart had stopped beating wildly.

"Wyvern. You dared to look down on me and my people. But you looked down on my friends and my guild. I'm a Fenrir Ant. But before all of that, I am member of the Emerald Oasis. My family." Viperion said, opening her eyes and looking at Echo. "It's time you learn what it's like to be a pawn."

"You dare?" Echo said, his bow starting to play the violin. But nothing happened. Viperion, faster than the human eye could see, had grabbed the violin, and crushed it. Her claw pierced through the bottom and came out the top. Echo stumbled back. Viperion dropped the broken instrument and walked towards him.

"I was born in the darkness and dirt, Wyvern. But the Emerald Oasis has shown me the light. I may not understand, but this much is clear, 'You are evil, and I must stop you. I will not let you take over Earth-Land. My family and I will stop you!'" Viperion roared, and Echo, despite his better judgement, quaked in fear. Viperion jumped, her wings. Her nails began glowing as they started to reach Echo.

"Fenrir Magic: Queen's Wrath!" She yelled. She flitted her wings. They moved so fast anyone who saw them would think she was simply floating. She zoomed past Echo, cutting this his side, causing his to drop to one knee, trying to hold in the blood he was spilling. Viperion landed, and Echo glared at her, panting heavily.

"Damn you insect." He swore.

"Fenrir Magic: Fury Dance," Viperion muttered, the ground cracking underneath her. Her body leaned forward, ready to take off. In an instant, she face to face with Echo. Echo's eyes widened and he jumped back. Viperion wasted no time and continued her pursuit. The Wyvern raised his free hand and snapped. A barrier came up in front of him, with the Fenrir Ant coming into contact with it. She hit it with an earth-shattering bang, causing the ground beneath them to shake.

"Ha. That's right, bug. Hit the wall." Echo smirked. Viperion simply placed her hands on the barrier. It cracked. Echo's smug grin vanished, and he lowered his arm.

"You're joking... No... I refuse to believe an insignificant bug can't oppose me! A Wyvern! I refuse to believe that I would fail Lord Wyrnxoth because I allowed an ANT to defeat me!" Echo roared. Viperion's claw pierced through the barrier, grabbing Echo by his shirt. She yanked him forward.

"Your lord won't have to worry about failure." She said, and threw him over her head, slamming him into the ground. Echo coughed and wheezed, standing up.

"You piece of garbage. I'm not done."

"Fenrir Magic: Queen's Nest."

The exoskeleton on Viperion's crown shifted. It grew, and a massive thorny nest appeared around them, blocking Echo's view from the outside world.

"You're trapped, little ant." Echo said. He smiled. But he could feel something was wrong. He felt skittering all around him. The darkness gave way to small purples lights glowing all over. He looked around, but he saw nothing.

"You're the trapped one." Viperion said. She raised a hand, a glowing purple light showing what was surrounding them. Fenrir ants. Hundreds of them. In an instant, the ants swarmed Echo, their poisonous claws digging into him. The Wyvern yelled out in pain.

"I'll kill you, you pathetic insect. You're nothing! I'll show you what it means to fight a Wyvern!" He roared. His body quaked; the small ants being thrown off. The ground beneath him cracked and began to crumble. He flailed, his body shifting and growing. His breathing became erratic and labored. Laughter could be heard from under the Fenrir Ants. Viperion took the chance to attack. She dashed forward, her inhumane speed carrying her. Though she had gained a new power, it wasn't quick enough. An explosion of sound erupted from the pile of ants. From it emerged a great and powerful Wyvern. Scales black with hues of glowing blow throughout. His wings spread wide open, chimes and hums of music could be heard as they moved. The shift in power pulled squarely back in Echo's direction. Now, it had become a fight between to predators.

Viperion watched the Wyvern circle overhead, his bulk casting a shadow along the ground. The Queen's essence pulsed within her, demanding action. This waiting, planning - it went against her primal urge to conquer.

Yet she breathed deep, feeling the air swirl around her wings. The breeze was her ally now, not just something battering her from the outside. She attuned herself to each gust and eddy, letting the wind envelop her wings.

The Wyvern swooped, intent on seizing the Ant in his jaws. But Viperion was ready. With a subtle tilt, she caught an updraft, launching herself skyward. The Wyvern's snapping jaws clutched only empty air. Before he could react, Viperion spiraled above him in a corkscrew maneuver, each turn tightening the whirlwind forming around her.

With a final powerful flap, she directed the funnel of raging wind straight at the Wyvern. Buffeted by the unexpected tornado, he tumbled backward with an enraged roar. Viperion pressed her advantage, raining down a barrage of venomous spikes. The Wyvern bashed them away with his wings, scales flashing in the sunlight.

"Clever, Ant," the Wyvern rumbled. "But the sky is still mine." He inhaled deeply, then unleashed a deafening sonic scream. The visible soundwaves rippled through the air toward Viperion.

Sensing the disturbance, Viperion swerved sharply, letting the gusts guide her movements. The sonic blast shot past, the shockwave barely grazing her. Before the Wyvern could attack again, Viperion zipped behind a crumbling building. She kicked off the structure, launching herself skyward. As she breached the roofline, she flung out her wings forcefully. The resulting whirlwind tossed chunks of debris at the circling Wyvern like shrapnel.

The Wyvern bellowed as shattered concrete pelted his underside. But Viperion wasn't done. Moving with inhuman speed enhanced by the wind, she ricocheted between buildings, changing direction unpredictably. The Wyvern's head snapped back and forth, struggling to track her. His frustration mounted. This insect thought she could make a fool of him. He would remind her who ruled the sky!

Viperion sensed the shift in the Wyvern's demeanor. His next attack would be more vicious. She needed an advantage. Scanning the streets far below, she spotted her opportunity - a cloud of dust swirling amidst the rubble. Gathering the air currents along her wings, she dove, accelerating into a headlong plummet. The Wyvern dove after her, jaws extended to crush his prey. He would relish this victory over the presumptuous Ant.

Just before hitting the ground, Viperion unfurled her wings sharply. The resulting updraft caught the debris cloud, blasting it upward. Blinded by the choking particulate matter, the Wyvern spluttered and flailed. Viperion veered up behind the floundering beast and delivered a punishing blow to the back of his head with her armored fist. Echo tumbled through the air toward the ground. He sneered roared with anger. He wouldn't allow a nobody to take him down so easily. He swept his wings, a wave of sound erupting all around him. Snow and debris shifted. Viperion raised her arms, unable to move in time for the sound wave to pass her. It struck her, pushing her into snow in the distance. This town was becoming cramp now. He would lead her into the mountains and bury her.

Viperion burst from the snowbank, shaking ice from her wings.

The icy wind howled as Viperion entered the mountain pass. She attuned her senses, feeling the biting gusts swirl around her. Though the cold air chilled her exoskeleton, it also carried opportunities - eddies and drafts she could harness with her wings.

The Wyvern's rasping laughter echoed off the sheer cliff faces. "Let's see how long you last in my domain, insect!" His serpentine form wound between the peaks, his movements deceptively agile for his size. Viperion took to the air, using the strong mountain winds to propel herself upward. She needed the high ground.

Swooping over a snowy ridge, Viperion spotted a sheer-faced peak ahead. Perfect. With powerful flaps, she darted upward, each stroke guided by the thin air. The Wyvern followed, jaws snapping in anticipation. Viperion reached the pinnacle first, landing and folding her wings. The Wyvern circled the narrow summit. "Nowhere left to run," he sneered. "I'll bury you in an avalanche of music and ice!"

But as the Wyvern inhaled for a devastating sonic blast, Viperion struck first. With a roar, she unfurled her wings violently. The focused gale slammed into the peak's snowy face, dislodging a churning cloud of ice and snow. The Wyvern shrieked as the crushing avalanche engulfed him, sweeping him down the mountainside.

Viperion took to the wing, chasing the still-struggling Wyvern through the icy torrent. Rotating rapidly, she generated slicing whirlwinds from her wings that battered the Wyvern as he tumbled helplessly in the icy grip of the avalanche.

With a thunderous crash, the avalanche slammed into a granite cliff, pinning the beaten Wyvern against the unyielding rock. Viperion alighted on an outcrop above, eyes narrowed. The Wyvern's struggles grew feeble, but his baleful glare remained defiant.

"You...you cannot stop...Lord Wyrnxoth..." he rasped. Viperion gazed down impassively. "Perhaps not," she conceded. "But I can stop you."

She tensed, ready to deliver the final blow. But suddenly, the Wyvern surged upwards with shocking speed, his cry of rage echoing off the mountain walls. Viperion stumbled back, caught off guard. How could he have strength left?

"Foolish Ant!" the Wyvern thundered. "I am one of the Sky Dominion's mightiest!" His jaws clamped down on Viperion's wing as she tried to take flight. With a savage twist, he flung her from the outcrop. She tumbled down the steep slope, crashing through jags of ice.

Viperion dragged herself up, shaking off snow. The Queen seethed within her - she had been careless. The Wyvern towered above her on the ridge, his breath fogging the air.

"Now you face my full power!" His wings stretched wide, rippling with sonic energy. Viperion braced herself as visible sound waves billowed out. But she realized too late - this was no mere attack. The vibrations were merging, building. An avalanche of ice and stone broke free, barreling straight toward her with the force of a freight train.

Viperion's wings hummed as she tried to deflect the onslaught. But there was no deflecting this. The crushing wave of ice and stone slammed into her with the power of a meteor strike, driving her helplessly before it. She tumbled head over heels in the icy grip of the landslide, before finally slamming into an ice shelf. Jagged spears of stone had pierced her carapace in multiple places. She struggled to rise as the shelf groaned alarmingly above her.

The shadow of the Wyvern's wings fell over her. Viperion looked up to see utter contempt in his eyes.

"You never stood a chance," he growled. "Now, witness oblivion." He inhaled, ice crystals swirling as sonic energy built. Viperion tensed, awaiting the end.

But the Queen's voice rang out within her. Stand! Show your defiance, warrior!

Viperion roared back, the ice shards dancing violently with the force of it. The Wyvern hesitated, sensing the raw power still within this beaten foe.

Viperion surged to her feet, eyes blazing. She knew her family was fighting with all their might. She didn't have to see it. She could feel it. She wouldn't let them down. Her exoskeleton began to shift once more. Evolution was taking place.

Viperion's exoskeleton rippled as the transformation took hold. Spikes emerged along her limbs, and bony ridges lined her back. Her wings flexed as membranes stretched between new appendages.

The Wyvern recoiled instinctively. "More tricks, Ant? You only delay the inevitable!"

But his bravado faded as Viperion unfurled her modified wings. They were larger now, the edges serrated with sharp protrusions. With a single powerful stroke, she generated a vortex that hurled jagged ice shards at blistering speed.

The Wyvern summoned a sound barrier, but to his shock, the ice spikes pierced through in a hail of shrapnel. Viperion pressed the assault, peppering him with more debris. Her new physiology was enhancing her magic somehow.

The Wyvern tried taking flight, only for Viperion to rocket above him in a blur. She spiraled rapidly, whipping up a tightly spinning twister. The Wyvern bellowed as the tornado snatched him up, battering him relentlessly before ejecting him with bone-cracking force against the mountainside.

Before he could rise, Viperion seized him in her clawed grip. Her new spike-tipped limbs dug into his hide, eliciting cries of pain. With savage strength, she whirled the Wyvern round, releasing him to careen across the icy crags.

The wyvern crashed limply to a halt, gasping weakly. Viperion descended before him, the ice cracking under each thundering step. This battle was reaching its crescendo.

"What...what are you?" the Wyvern whimpered. Viperion grabbed his throat in one vicious claw. But she did the unexpected. She smiled at the Wyvern.

"I'm Vi." She answered with excitement in her voice.

The Wyvern froze, confusion mixing with his pain and fear.

"Vi?" he repeated hoarsely. He remembered her introduction. This creature was a monster compared to him, and yet there she stood with a smile on her face, his defeat within hand.

Viperion released her grip on his throat. Her wings relaxed from their aggressive posture.

"That's what my friends call me," she said simply. "Because before anything else, I'm Vi - a member of Emerald Oasis."

The Wyvern coughed, struggling to prop himself up on one forelimb. "Why...why tell me that? Why show mercy?"

Viperion's smile remained as she gazed at the surrounding mountains, taking in the stark beauty. "My warrior spirit drove me here, to defeat you. But now that is done," She turned back to the Wyvern. "I don't need to end your life too. You're beaten and no longer a threat to my family or Earth-Land. If you decided to cause more trouble, I simply have to beat you once more."

The Wyvern lowered his head, bitterness warring with wonder. This creature had bested him, evolved before his eyes...yet she stayed her vengeance at the precipice. He chuckled bitterly. He had used his power to get what he wanted. But everything he did was countered. She used her brute strength to break past him and anything he threw at her. He looked up and saw her point in a direction.

"There. Your master came through that ruin. I'd take you back down to Margaret Town, but you'd probably give Miss Yulia that pervert look again. You can take refuge there."

The Wyvern followed her pointed claw to the ruins carved into the mountainside. The ruins they had emerged from three months prior. Was it fate that their battled ended here? Echo didn't care. He changed into his human form and lifted himself.

"I'd say something clever about you being in over your head, ant. But, I don't have the need. Lord Wyrnxoth will prevail, one way or the other." With those words, the Wyvern headed towards shelter.

Viperion smiled and took off.

Echo watched as the Ant flew away, then headed toward the ruins. He sighed, but there was a new fire in his eyes. A fire of purpose. She may have let him go, but he would remain to see what kind of world his lord would make.