In this world, dragons and wyverns are both renowned existences.
True dragons are found only in small numbers within the Chaos Zone of South America and the inland regions of the Dark Continent. Some even believe they are already extinct. Their intelligence surpasses that of humans, standing at the boundary between Demons and magical beasts, and their combat prowess is known to exceed even that of the ancient vampires, making them an incredibly powerful race.
Wyverns, on the other hand, are a lower-tier species of the dragonkin—a type of magical beast resembling true dragons. They possess combat strength that ranks among the highest of all races and are infamous for their ferocity. During the Middle Ages, they rampaged across the world, but due to habitat destruction and excessive human hunting, their numbers have dwindled to the brink of extinction in recent years. Normally, they would never survive near human settlements.
Historically, they were even used as weapons of war. Among flying magical beasts, their combat prowess is indisputably the strongest. Even if their power doesn't match that of true dragons, their status is still distinct from other magical beasts. Even a highly skilled Attack Mage would struggle to defeat one in a one-on-one battle.
For example, a Sword Shaman like Yukina would stand no chance against a wyvern without the Mechanical Demon-Purging Assault Spear Mark Seven in hand.
Thus, when Rozen first summoned a wyvern, Yukina had been utterly astonished. Though she had seen him summon a wyvern-shaped Beast Vassal aboard Vatler's luxury cruise ship, this time, Rozen had not transformed it into a Beast Vassal but summoned it directly as a living familiar—naturally leaving Yukina stunned.
Yet now, not only had Rozen summoned one wyvern, but another had appeared here as well—despite wyverns being creatures that were once feared as weapons of war, the undisputed strongest among flying magical beasts, and whose numbers had dwindled so drastically that they should never appear so close to human cities.
However, unlike the emerald-green wyvern Rozen had summoned, the one now before them was pitch-black, exuding an ominous aura.
"ROOOAR!"
"ROOOAR!"
The two wyverns faced off in midair, roaring at each other as if in a battle of intimidation, their magical energies clashing.
It couldn't be helped.
Regardless of Rozen's wyvern, the black wyvern's eyes held no trace of reason—only savage bloodlust. It was clear that it intended to devour Rozen and Yukina without hesitation.
"Ugh...!"
Stimulated by the black wyvern's hostility, Yukina instinctively reached for her guitar case.
However, Rozen stopped her.
"Wait, Yukina." Rozen stared directly at the black wyvern and said, "That wyvern is strange. Don't act yet."
"Strange?" Yukina didn't seem to understand.
But the next moment, she did.
"ROOOAR!"
Their wyvern mount, thoroughly provoked by the black wyvern's aggression, let out a furious roar before spewing a searing fireball straight at its opponent.
The attack was powerful enough to shatter castle walls. Unless the target was a true dragon, even another wyvern would have its scales burned away if hit.
Yet, the black wyvern ignored the attack entirely and charged forward recklessly.
"Clang!"
A dark aurora suddenly shimmered around the black wyvern, forming a protective barrier that completely enveloped it.
The blazing fireball collided head-on with the barrier—but instead of exploding, it dissipated as if erased, scattering into harmless sparks.
"What!?"
Yukina gasped in shock.
She had never heard of wyverns possessing such an ability.
"As I thought, something's off."
Rozen, however, seemed to have expected this. He patted the wyvern beneath him, prompting it to flap its wings violently, summoning a gale that propelled them higher into the sky.
"ROOOAR!"
The black wyvern let out a savage cry and gave chase without hesitation.
The two wyverns engaged in a high-speed pursuit, weaving through the mountain peaks—one fleeing, the other chasing.
Rozen's wyvern darted forward, climbed, dove, and twisted with incredible agility, attempting to shake off its pursuer.
Unfortunately, the black wyvern's flight capabilities were no less impressive. Though not as nimble, its speed was equal, and it clung stubbornly to their tail, refusing to fall behind.
In response, Rozen's wyvern spat several more fireballs, trying to blast the black wyvern out of the sky—but each time, the dark aurora flickered into existence, nullifying the attacks without leaving a scratch.
Had Rozen not been personally controlling his wyvern, it likely would have already been defeated.
This was no ordinary wyvern—it was something far more unusual.
"Senpai!"
Yukina had already drawn Sekkaro, unfolding it into combat mode. Her expression was uncharacteristically stern and focused, with no trace of her earlier fear of heights.
It seemed her claim of having "full marks in aerial combat" wasn't just empty boasting.
Once battle was at hand, this Sword Shaman girl could cast aside her fears and enter combat mode, unaffected by her acrophobia.
However, Yukina was still on the wyvern's back and, more importantly, couldn't fly. There was no way for her to engage the black wyvern directly.
Rozen, meanwhile, wanted to observe a little longer.
Through the combined use of his Wise Eye and Mind's Eye, he had detected numerous abnormalities in the black wyvern.
Its vital signs, its biological structure—
And most notably, the bizarre phenomenon caused by that dark aurora.
All of it suggested that something unknown and sinister was at work here.
Still...
"We're pressed for time. There's no room for delay."
With that thought, Rozen made a swift decision.
"Leave this to me."
He placed a hand on Yukina's shoulder and stood up on the wyvern's back.
An overwhelming surge of magical energy erupted from his body.
———
"BOOM!"
A thunderous explosion echoed across the clear sky, reverberating through the mountains.
"ROOOAR—!"
The black wyvern, now wreathed in dark auroras, let out a howl of pain as it plummeted from the sky, crashing violently onto a road below. The asphalt cracked under the impact, forming a crater as dust billowed into the air.
Inside the pit, the black wyvern writhed, struggling to rise.
"ROOOAR!"
At that moment, Rozen's wyvern swooped down from above, slamming its claws onto the black wyvern and pinning it into the dirt, eliciting furious roars.
Rozen, still holding Yukina, descended from the sky as well.
His gaze never left the black wyvern.