New quest received: Survive.
'Survive? The system had never given me such a blunt quest before. Telling me to survive and not to defeat the Wyvern, does that mean it thinks we can't defeat it? That would make sense... '
Additional quest: Save the rest members of your team.
Team members saved: 0/5
'What? Save them? Doesn't that mean we stand no match whatsoever for this Wyvern?'
During my thoughts, another booming, hoarse voice was transmitted to my ears.
Give up humans, and I will make your deaths painless. Struggle, and I will cause you the worst pain you have ever felt that you will regret ever being born. Be grateful, for today ye shall serve as nourishment for a higher power.
"What kind of big shot does this Wyvern think he is?" Koval said.
"Don't anger him." Father said. "The main aim is to make sure we are a good distraction as the others escape. The next... is for us to survive. Angering him would void all our efforts."
We were at a distance from the Wyvern, say, about a hundred metres. Father walked forward a little and shouted at the top of his lungs: "O Great Wyvern! Please spare us today! We are but lowly creatures who do not deserve your attention." after which he fell to his knees and bent his head to touch the floor. He was bowing to the Wyvern.
My father, who I had never seen bend his head to a single man in his life, that mighty man was bowing to a Wyvern. I sucked in a breath of air as it dawned on me.
This was a mistake. I should never have thought that we could take on a Wyvern, not anytime soon at the very least. This could probably mean my death.
Hmmm. You seem to be a wise human: you know when you are defeated. However, I never included in the options your lot being spared. All I said was surrender and due peacefully, no?
I gnashed my teeth at this. The Wyvern was just abusing his power, just using it to bully us. I sighed in my heart; this was the result of not having enough power in this world. I had once again seen with my eyes how much power was worth in this world.
This world that was a world wherr the strong trampled the weak. A world where survival of the fittest was the rule. It was just dumb luck that made us encounter this Wyvern today, nothing else.
'But this dumb luck will not determine my fate, where I end up will be determined by me. I have the system now, so I know when I am outmatched. It is time to run.'
"Don't be foolish, kid." Appearing to have seen through the look on my face, Julee cautioned me. "There is no one in this world who can outrun a Wyvern. No one. You'll just be leading him back to where the rest are, wasting our efforts to protect them."
"Haaa... " I sighed after hearing this. "If that is the case, then I guess we can only take a stand. Or is that pointless too?"
She looked at my face and smiled as she answered. "It is, but at the very least we would go down fighting, no?"
"So this is the end, huh?" I dipped my hand into a spatial fold as I said this. As my hand came out of thin air, a dark black blade followed it.
I looked at Julee and the other two and was about to say something when I saw the terrified looks on their faces.
"What... is something the matter?" I asked. By now, Father was slowly making his way back to us under the intense scrutiny of the Wyvern, so I was sure he couldn't have died. Then, what could get these people to reveal such faces?
"That... How did you do that?" Koval asked. Hearing this reminded me that I had to be more cautious of revealing too many secrets in front of others.
"Doesn't matter. We have a bigger threat in front of us." I said. "Come on."
We walked up to the spot where Father stood, just right in front of us, and stood on both his side's facing that gargantuan figure.
Foolish humans, you have no idea what I can do. With a whim I can... What?!
Human baby! Where did you get that sword?!
"Huh?" The sudden change of tone of the Wyvern startled the lot of us. Its voice now seemed as though no longer an almighty entity, but someone submitting to superiors.
And was he referring to me? I may be small, and young, but I was certainly no baby!
"Oh, this? I just happened upon it. I mean, can you believe two people were arguing about throwing away the sword, they really thought it was worthless."
My words startled Father and the others. I was speaking so casually to a Wyvern that could end my life in less than a beat. But they did not utter any words and just decided to see how the events unfolded.
And you know what this sword is?
"Oh, but of course. This is a mythical sword. The Sword of The Nether to be precise." I answered.
Good, good. You have a good head on your shoulders human, and you may have very well just saved your lot.
"Really? Just cause I know what the sword is?" I certainly knew that wasn't even a price to pay for being let to live by a Wyvern, so I wanted to find out what the actual price was, just to be safe.
Ha ha. You are truly smart. But, no. That is not the price for your lives. My demand is the sword. Give me The Sword of The Nether and I will let your whole lot go alive.
"I think I'll pass." I said, rather abruptly.
"What?!" Father screamed. "You have no chance against him! Are you really willing to let us all die for a simple sword?"
"A simple sword, Father? There is no way a Wyvern would want a simple sword. Plus, he is a Wyvern. He is almighty compared to us, right? So, why didn't he just take the sword from me?" My questions seemed to concern my father.
"You don't know that. It's just a theory." He said.
"Perhaps, but I'll take my chances. Plus, I can just hide the sword where this Wyvern can never find it." I said, and immediately after, I stuck the sword in thin air along with a portion of my hand before bringing out my hand without the sword in it.
I felt like I could see the Wyvern's eyes widen as this happened.
Human, what is your name?
"Jason." I answered. "Jason Xilmoa."
No. What is your real name?
"That is my real name." I said, with a confused face. "This right here is my father, you can ask him."
The Wyvern stared at my father intently and I felt like I could see beads of sweat dropping from his body.