BOOM BOOM BOOM!
The front door to the guest house rattled under the rapid barrage of panicked fists.
"Please! Wake up! It's urgent!" A woman's voice called, strained with panic.
Inside, groggy groans echoed from every corner. Blankets rustled. Someone cursed softly.
Then—click.
The door creaked open to reveal Karasuba, standing barefoot, wild hair draped over one shoulder, eyes half-lidded and glowing with irritation.
Her voice was low, dangerous. "You better have a damn good reason for waking me up. Or I'm going to cut you down where you stand."
Behind her, Uzume let out a sleepy yawn, rubbing her eyes with the heel of her palm. "Whuzzit now…?"
Yashima sat up slowly, reaching for her hammer on instinct while Matsu grumbled into a pillow, "Is it time already…?"
Issei, still half-dreaming, muttered, "Five more minures… then I'll get up…"
But the two women on the doorstep didn't flinch at Karasuba's threat. In fact, they looked more terrified of what was happening outside.
"A wyvern!" One of them blurted out, her face pale. "A black wyvern is flying over the village! The animals are panicking, we need help please!"
The other added in a rush, "It's huge! We've never seen anything like it and it's getting lower! Mitch said to wake you, he said you're the only ones who can fight something like this."
The air in the room shifted instantly.
Matsu blinked sleepily, then wide-eyed. "S-ranked wyvern? Oh no. Oh no no no! I've read about them in the library. They are quite dangerous and can destroy an entire town if angered. Only S-ranked Mages are sent to hunt them down."
Issei shot up, wide awake. "Wait, what?! A wyvern? Are you serious?"
"Dead serious," One woman cried. "We'll all be killed if it starts attacking!"
In an instant, Issei was off the tangled bodies of his Sekirei, slipping on his shoes and summoned the Boosted Gear, which shimmered into form with a crimson pulse. "Everyone up! Now!"
"Now this is a good reason to wake me up." Karasuba said, voice brimming with bloodthirsty glee. She didn't bother changing, she simply put on her boots, grabbed her sword and vanished outside like a predator on the hunt.
"Wait! Don't run off alone!" Issei shouted, now throwing on his jacket.
Only for the echo of her laughter at the newest threat could be heard.
Uzume wrestled with her leggings. "Ugh, why do emergencies always happen when you least expect it?!"
Yashima grabbed her hammer, lips tight but determined. "If it's really dangerous, we'll need all of us."
Akitsu, calm as ever, was already dressed in her white kimono.
Issei, already halfway to the door, called over his shoulder, "If this thing is anything like a dragon, we're going to need everything we've got."
Outside, the sound of villagers screaming and livestock panicking was growing louder.
Above them, the shadow of leathery wings passed once again, the air trembling from the pressure of the monster's descent.
—--------------------------
The air warped with pressure as the great black wyvern descended from the skies like a storm given flesh.
Wings like arms beat against the air with deafening force, causing dust to scatter in a whirlwind. The villagers who hadn't already taken cover scrambled now, diving into homes and barns as the enormous beast landed in the center of the pasture with a seismic thud.
Its massive talons dug into the earth. With leathery wings like arms folding inward and eyes glowing like molten gold, the monstrous beast lowered its head and inhaled sharply through its snout.
The scent was clear now. There. That same scent that dared to wake it.
The hatchling. The one that fired the blinding lance of energy into the sky, waking it from its slumber. Its nostrils flared again. It wasn't just the hatchling—it was surrounded by other creatures. Insects. Crawling around, shouting, running… blocking its path.
With a deep, guttural growl, the wyvern opened its maw.
The inside of its throat began to glow—a hellish blue light that pulsed like a beating heart. The air around it warped from the heat, crackling with deadly electricity as it prepared to unleash a devastating breath.
The villagers screamed.
But before the wyvern could unleash devastation.
A flash of silver.
CLANG!
A burst of force rang out like a thunderclap. The wyvern's head jerked to the side, its jaws snapping shut with a snarl of surprise. Its breath fizzled out before it could erupt.
The wyvern jerked its head back, briefly staggered—not from pain, but from the sheer audacity of being struck. Its golden eyes narrowed as it turned its attention to the insect that dared interrupt it.
And then it saw her.
Standing amidst the grass, her silver hair billowing from the shockwave of her own strike, was Karasuba, her silver blade still humming from the force. She stood defiantly in its path. Her eyes were alight with savage thrill, but a faint glimmer of surprise danced in them.
Her blade, the very sword that cleaved through reinforced steel, had left not even a scratch.
She grinned. "So…" She whispered to herself, licking a cut on her lip from the blowback, "You're not just a big lizard after all. Not even a scratch…" She muttered, but instead of dismay, her voice was practically dripping with anticipation. "Finally. A real challenge."
The wyvern bellowed in fury, rising to its full height. Its wings cracked like thunder as it leapt forward, The claws of its legs poised to strike down the impudent warrior.
Karasuba met its charge head-on.
Their clash was a storm of movement—her blade flashing, the wyvern's tail smashing craters into the earth. Dust exploded around them as villagers fled further into the village, screaming.
Karasuba barely ducked a wing that sliced through the air like a guillotine. She rolled, kicked off the dirt, and slashed at its underbelly again—nothing. Its scales deflected her blade.
She landed, panting but grinning wider now.
"I've waited so long…" She whispered, shoulders trembling not from fear but anticipation. "For something like you."
Karasuba moved like wind, pivoting low beneath a massive swipe, her blade glinting as she countered with a rising slash to its wing joint—again, no damage. But she didn't stop. She danced around it, fast and fearless, laughing in pure joy.
"Try harder, lizard!" She yelled, her blood singing in her veins. "Let's see which of us can tear the other apart first!"
The wyvern snarled and whipped its tail, carving a trench into the earth as Karasuba leapt skyward to meet its gaze, blade raised, eyes alight with fury and thrill.
The wyvern lunged again, and their battle resumed—a deadly dance of steel, fangs and claws.
Dust rose like smoke from the cratered ground, swirling around the two combatants.
Karasuba darted forward again, boots skimming the earth as she narrowly avoided the wyvern's sweeping tail. The sheer force of the swing tore through a fence and shattered a stone outcrop where a barn once stood. Shards of debris exploded outward, and yet Karasuba moved with precision—like a shadow cutting through the storm.
She spun under the creature's hind legs, black sword flashing like a fang in the dark. Her blade struck the joint at the beast's knee, aiming for a tendon.
CLANG!
Sparks burst from the impact, and Karasuba's arms rattled from the recoil. She skidded back, digging her heels into the dirt to stop her momentum, her teeth clenched tight.
"Tch… nothing," she hissed, shaking out the sting in her wrist. "Its hide… is like living armor."
Above her, the wyvern snarled, yellow eyes narrowing with the first hints of irritation. It had faced mages and soldiers in its lifetime—but this woman moved like none of them. Fast. Sharp. Persistent.
She was like a mosquito buzzing around its snout.
With a guttural rumble, the wyvern reared back and launched its clawed foreleg downward like a falling tower. Karasuba leapt sideways, twisting in the air, and flipped over the strike with effortless grace. She landed behind its head, crouched low, and thrust her blade at the soft spot beneath its jaw.
Another clang—another failed strike that caused no damage.
"Still nothing?!" She barked in frustration, though her smirk betrayed her thrill.
The wyvern snapped its head backward, its horns nearly catching her. She was already in motion, dashing up its flank, blade dancing with flurries of strikes—each one masterfully aimed at joints and eyes but each blow bounced, grazed, or outright failed to pierce its black, obsidian-like scales.
It was like fighting a moving fortress.
"Come on, there must be one weak spot." She muttered, sliding beneath its arched wing as it slammed into the ground again, cracking open a trench with the sheer weight of its limbs.
The wyvern shrieked, now fully annoyed. It inhaled sharply, and this time Karasuba recognized the glow returning to its throat.
"Nope." She dashed again, this time straight up the creature's back, sprinting between its spines. "Not letting you barbecue the town."
The beast's head turned, eyes locking onto her with searing hatred as its breath began to build again in its gullet.
Her legs lifted and kicked herself off as the strength of her legs carried her skyward, flipping over the wyvern's head just as the breath detonated from its mouth.
FWOOSH!
A cone of white-hot electricity obliterated the empty pasture behind her, vaporizing earth, grass, and stone in a single roaring blast. The resulting shockwave knocked Karasuba out of her flight path midair. She grunted as she twisted to land on her feet—only to roll hard across the dirt, coughing, and singed at the edges of her clothes.
She sat up, eyes wide, heart hammering. "Hah… That would have killed me."
The wyvern stepped forward, its scales shimmering in the sun, steam rising from its mouth. One of its eyes bled slightly—not from a strike, but from the sheer strain of its breath.
Karasuba stood, spat blood from a bitten lip, and raised her sword again.
Karasuba's boots kicked the ground as the wyvern and her lunged at each other again. She dodged the wyvern's bite by inches, her blade glancing off its shoulder in a desperate counter. The strike forced the beast back—but just a step. Her breathing grew heavier, her coat was tattered and scorched at the edges, and small cuts dotted her limbs where debris had grazed her.
She wasn't tired. She was thrilled. But her body was reaching its limit.
She ducked under another swipe of its tail—only for the wyvern to suddenly spin faster than expected. Its massive claw caught her in the ribs and sent her flying like a ragdoll.
CRASH!
She slammed into a half-crumbled stone wall, the impact kicking up dust and knocking the breath from her lungs. For a brief second, the world blurred. Her limbs trembled. Her sword was still clutched tightly in her hand, but she couldn't move fast enough.
The wyvern reared up, towering above her, maw glowing once more with the telltale heat of its breath.
Karasuba snarled and tried to rise—but she knew she wouldn't make it in time.
A beam of crimson light exploded from the side. A Dragon Shot.
The wyvern reared back, roaring in actual pain as it was hit, stumbling back several steps as its breath fired harmlessly into the sky.
Karasuba glanced over her shoulder, and there stood Issei, clad in his Boosted Gear, arm raised as steam hissed from his armored gauntlet. His body glowed faintly from a recent attack, and a determined fire lit his eyes.
He looked pissed. "I said don't run off alone." He muttered, stepping forward.
Karasuba only laughed. "Took you long enough."
"Well sorry I'm late," He said, glancing back at her with worry. "Someone started without me."
Karasuba coughed, smirking as she slowly pushed herself up. "Tch. I had it handled."
He chuckled at her tough act. "Yeah. Sure you did."
More footsteps approached rapidly.
Yashima, Akitsu, Uzume and Matsu arrived wide-eyed.
"That thing's huge!" Uzume gawked.
Matsu blinked rapidly, analysing the beast. "So this is what a wyvern looks like."
"It's big." Issei said grimly, eyes locked onto the beast as it hissed in fury, shaking off the hit and locking onto its new, true target. "Ddraig! Any ideas on how I can beat it."
The dragon's deep voice echoed through the gauntlet. (That thing is a wyvern, partner. A lesser cousin of us dragons. Powerful and durable. But not very intelligent. They fight mostly on animalistic instinct. You can exploit that. But do not be careless.)
"So they're just angry animals?" Yashima asked.
(Correct. Stronger than most beasts, but not nearly at the level of a sentient dragon. Hit it hard, hit it fast, and avoid letting it charge a breath attack.)
But then, everything changed.
The wyvern's wings snapped open with a thunderclap. The air grew heavy—oppressively charged. The beast raised its head and released a deafening roar, and this time, a magic circle was summoned below it.
Issei's eyes widened as sparks of lightning arced along its horns and wings. "Wait—what the hell?"
Suddenly, a bolt of blue-white lightning came from the wyvern's body, lashing directly toward Issei and the rest.
CRACK-BOOM!
"MOVE!" Matsu shouted.
Issei crossed his arms in defense tanking the attack, as he didn't want the girls to be hit by it. The bolt slamming into his gauntlet and launching him across the field like a missile. He tumbled, skidding to a halt on his knees, steam rising from his scorched sleeves.
"Lightning?!" Uzume shrieked. "It can use magic?!"
Yashima's eyes widened. "I thought Ddraig said it wasn't intelligent!"
(Impossible.) Ddraig's voice rumbled low. (That's… not normal. Wyverns shouldn't be able to use magic of that level.)
Karasuba rose, ears ringing from the attack. "Guess it's stronger than we thought."
Issei slowly got to his feet, lips pressed in a hard line as it saw the beast look straight at him. "I wonder what pissed it off?"
The wyvern snarled, lightning coursing along its back like living veins.
Boost!
"Everyone ready?" Issei called the Boosted Gear on his left arm glowing faintly red. A pulse vibrated from it as Ddraig's voice echoed in his mind.
(You'll need every boost you can get, Partner.)
Uzume cracked her knuckles and gave Issei a cheeky grin. "We ready? Let's show this overgrown bat what a real performance looks like."
Akitsu, quiet as ever, raised one hand to the sky. Cold winds swept across the battlefield. Frost formed beneath her feet as her expressionless gaze locked onto the wyvern.
"It's moving again!" Yashima shouted.
The wyvern roared and lunged forward—only to have ice rise up from the ground. Akitsu's ice encased one of its legs, and at the same time, Uzume spun forward, her veil swirling and tightening around the creature's massive torso and slowing its momentum.
"Now!" Uzume cried out.
Yashima's war hammer struck first, slamming into the creature's joint. Karasuba's blade aimed for the neck she carved down with a powerful strike. The wyvern buckled, growling in pain. But Issei followed up with a punch. He hit the wyvern's wing shoulder causing a shockwave that forced the beast to stumble. But the damage was minimal and with a roar and the beat of its wings, the wyvern pushed its attackers away.
Boost! The Gear echoed, his power climbing higher.
The wyvern's yellow eyes snapped straight to him, ignoring the rest.
With a violent twist, it tore free from the bindings—ice and veil shattering and ripping in an instant—and blasted forward, the wings again sending a shockwave of wind that threw dust into the air. It didn't care about the others. It only wanted to kill the hatchling.
Issei quickly reinforced his legs and leapt backward as lightning licked the earth where he'd just been standing.
"Dammit!" He cursed, skidding back beside Akitsu. "It's targeting me—Ddraig, why?!"
(You are my host.) Ddraig answered grimly. (To it, you're a challenge. A rival. The rest are just… background.)
Issei could barely catch his breath between boosts. He needed more time—just a little more.
But the wyvern had other plans.
With a screech, it took to the skies, wings snapping open and flapping powerfully, lifting its massive body high above them. Dust and debris scattered like a storm beneath its ascent. It spiraled into the air with unnatural speed for its size, ascending high above the battlefield.
"Crap!" Uzume shouted, shielding her eyes from the sun.
Akitsu stared upward, her expression still unreadable. "It's taking to the air."
From the air, it dived and struck like a missile—blazing breath arcing toward the group, wings slicing the air with lethal force. The wyvern roared again, its yellow eyes locked not on the group—but on Issei.
"It's targeting me!" Issei yelled, dodging backward just as a blast of concentrated lightning rain down from the wyvern's wings cracked the ground where he stood.
Karasuba dodged, a stray bolt that came close to her. "We can't attack it like this." She growled in frustration, backing up beside Issei.
Uzume looked up at the beast circling above. "Too fast. It has too much an advantage. We need to ground it."
"But how?!" Yashima shouted, shielding her face from a sudden blast of wind.
Karasuba turned to Issei and gave a sharp grin. "Guess it's time for a powerup."
Before Issei could even ask, she grabbed him by the collar and pulled him into a deep, forceful kiss. Her body erupted with light, and her black wings were brought out. Her aura flared in a storm of black, the pressure of her power surging.
"This is the pledge of my blade, exterminate the sworn enemy of my Ashikabi!" Karasuba said in bless.
"Karasuba!" Uzume shouted, eyes gleaming. "Don't hog the fun!"
She darted to Issei's other side and kissed him as well, her body glowing with warmth and energy. As her cloth-like wings bursted out. "By the veil of my contract, my Ashikabi's nightmares will be dispelled!"
One by one, they followed-
Yashima kissed shyly but gently and firmly. Her blue wings shining brightly. "The hammer of my pledge! Shatter the enemy of my Ashikabi!"
Akitsu, her lips were cool like ice, her gaze with deep affection. Her ice like wings freezing the air. "This is the ice of my pledge. Shatter the misfortunes of my Ashikabi!"
The Sekirei Norito—the sacred bond between Ashikabi and Sekirei—awakened in each girl.
From where Matsu was hiding, she could only pout in dissatisfaction as her Norito wouldn't help the situation.
Issei, panting as he could feel his energy was drained, looked at them all, stunned. "You girls okay?"
Uzume gave a wink. "We're better than okay."
"Let's drag this lizard down," Karasuba growled.
Boost!
This time, when the wyvern dove again, they were ready.
Akitsu reacted first as the battlefield was encased, trapping the beast from moving.
The wyvern, seeing it could not break free, was about to release its breath to break free but Uzume's reinforced veil wrapped around the beast's mouth just long enough for Karasuba to leap upward with a slash and Yashima swung her hammer in full force. Each attacking its sides.
Blood.
Its scales were cracked by the force of Yashima's hammer. In its other side a massive cut was formed causing blood to gush out from the wound.
The wyvern shrieked in pain and rage, spiraling off balance, and the group backed away as Issei charged forward.
BOOST!
Issei's gauntlet pulsed like a heartbeat as he charged his next Dragon Shot. Thanks to Akitsu's ice the wyvern was still trapped and he aimed the gauntlet straight to its head at a super close range.
EXPLOSION!
Issei released all his boost in a final Dragon Shot. A massive beam of energy hit the wyvern at point blank. The wyvern released a shriek of pain as it felt a scorching heat that burned everything around it, the beam encasing its entire body in the attack. Ironically it was the same blast that awoke it from its slumber.
The blinding crimson light of the Dragon Shot finally faded, leaving behind only the charred remnants of its path. Smoke curled in the air, tinged with ozone and scorched earth. The black wyvern lay sprawled in a crater of ash and dirt, its wings tattered and bent at impossible angles. Patches of its shimmering scales were missing—burned away—and dark blood pooled around a deep gash that ran down its side, the result of Karasuba's blade, now blackened at the edge from the intense heat of the beam.
Issei dropped to his knees, gasping for air, his Boosted Gear hissing with fading energy. Sweat poured down his brow, and his limbs trembled from exhaustion.
"Issei!" Uzume and Yashima rushed to him first, dropping beside him with wide eyes and trembling hands.
"You're burned!" Yashima said, brushing gently against his arm, where a singed line across his jacket revealed raw skin underneath.
"Guess I was too close but I'm fine…" Issei muttered. "Just… drained…"
Akitsu knelt silently at his side, cooling his arm with a light frost. The soothing chill helped.
Karasuba didn't speak, but stood nearby, blade held loosely at her side, breathing heavily through parted lips. Her eyes stayed locked on the wyvern, watching for the slightest twitch.
The rest of the group gathered close, Matsu watching the body of the wyvern and picking up various scales that had fallen off. The moment the villagers heard the sound of the fight fading, they began to emerge from their hiding spots. Gasps of awe spread across the crowd as they approached the battlefield cautiously.
"Th-They did it…"
"They killed the monster…"
Mitch, the elder farmer, stepped forward, his face lined with both relief and uncertainty.
"You saved us," he said to Issei and the girls. "You all… are heroes."
That word echoed through the villagers.
"Heroes…"
"They did it. They protected us."
A few even began to cheer—quietly at first, but soon more joined in, applauding the team with admiration and respect. Some had tears in their eyes.
But the moment was cut short as a pained whine from the wyvern turned everyone's attention back to the monster.
Heads turned.
The wyvern let out a low, pitiful whimper. The sound was pained, heavy with fatigue. It twitched, barely managing to lift its massive head off the scorched ground. Its once-fiery golden eyes were dimmed, hazy with pain.
It was alive. Barely.
Issei stood slowly, gritting his teeth as he forced his body upright. The girls followed, circling the beast again. Its sides heaved, smoke rising from the wounds. It couldn't even move its wings.
"I don't think it can fight anymore," Uzume said softly, her voice conflicted.
Karasuba clicked her tongue. "Then let's finish it off. It's too dangerous to leave alive."
"That's cruel, we've already defeated it." Yashima muttered, stepping protectively in front of the beast.
"It tried to kill us, remember?" Matsu chimed in, eyes sharp. "There's no telling what it'll do if it gets healed and escapes. It could burn half a town."
"Still…" Issei said, looking down at the wyvern. "It's not attacking anymore. It's not even trying. Killing it now feels… wrong."
"It wouldn't hesitate to kill us," Karasuba replied flatly.
"It's not about what it would do," Yashima said gently, "It's about what we do."
The debate continued, tense and uncertain—until a soft ding echoed from Issei's wrist.
"May I offer a suggestion?" Sherri's voice chimed through the Dimensional Watch's speaker, drawing everyone's attention.
"Sherri?" Issei blinked. "What is it?"
"Given the creature's current state and the knowledge I absorbed from the Akashic Records it is possible to bind it as a familiar."
Everyone looked confused.
"A what?" Uzume asked, frowning.
"A familiar," Sherri explained calmly. "A creature bound to a mage or user through a spiritual contract. They act as protectors, guardians, partners, and sometimes mounts. If the creature is weakened, has low intelligence or willingly submits, a binding can be performed manually."
"You're saying we can… tame it?" Issei asked slowly.
"In essence, yes." Sherri confirmed. "You would need its consent since this beast has proven to be smarter than predicted. But given its condition, it may prefer survival over pride."
Karasuba raised a brow, surprisingly intrigued. "So we can keep it… and ride it?"
Yashima paled. "That's… not the first thing that came to mind."
Matsu's eyes lit up behind her glasses. "A magical wyvern under our command? That's a walking nuclear weapon! Think of the type of research we could perform with it!"
Akitsu merely looked at Issei. "Do you wish to bind it?"
Issei stepped forward slowly, gazing down at the barely conscious wyvern. He reached out—not with arrogance, but with calm intention.
"I don't want to kill you," he said softly. "But if you try to hurt anyone again, I won't hesitate."
The wyvern's eye flicked open. It looked at Issei—through him. And, as if sensing his sincerity… the creature lowered its head, a soft growl rumbling through its throat. Submission.
A pulse ran through the watch as Sherri confirmed.
"Consent acknowledged. Beginning familiar binding process."
A crimson light extended from the Dimensional Watch, wrapping around Issei's arm and reaching toward the wyvern. Runes etched themselves in the air swirling magic coalescing.
The villagers gasped.
And as the light faded… a faint sigil glowed on the wyvern's chest.
The Bounding was a success.
—--------------------------------
The once-pristine pastures were now littered with craters, shattered fence posts, and large patches of frozen earth. Akitsu's ice still clung stubbornly to parts of the field, glistening under the sun like shards of crystal. Fences were splintered, carts overturned, and the pastures had become a patchwork of damage.
But despite the destruction, no one was injured, no homes had been leveled, and the livestock had survived—shaken, but unharmed.
For Fairy Tail-level destruction, it was almost a miracle.
Villagers worked with steady hands, patching fences, sweeping rubble, and reinforcing their barns. Some even laughed lightly among themselves, still caught in disbelief that their humble farming village had faced down a wyvern and survived.
"Honestly," one old man grunted, hammering a beam into place, "I thought this place was going to end up like one of those towns in the capital's stories."
Another nodded. "Compared to that, this is practically tame."
Just then, the faint sound of galloping hooves echoed down the road into town. The villagers paused in their work, heads turning toward the growing noise.
A dust cloud rolled in behind a dozen armored riders—knights of the Fiore Kingdom, clad in silver-and-blue, each bearing the kingdom's crest. They rode in formation, lances upright, expressions tense and alert.
At their head, a stern-faced woman with a red plume in her helmet raised a hand and signaled for the group to halt. The knights quickly dismounted and began surveying the area, eyes wide at the extent of the damage.
"By the spirits…" One whispered, gazing at the gouged earth and shattered posts. "Was this… a battlefield?"
A few of them immediately moved toward the nearest cluster of villagers.
"What happened here?" The captain asked, voice laced with concern. "Were you attacked? Are there casualties?"
Mitch, dirty, sweaty, but calm—stepped forward, wiping his hands on a cloth as he approached the knights. "No need to worry, Captain. We're all alive and mostly well. The damage you see was from a wyvern."
The knights paled instantly.
"A wyvern?!"
Another muttered in disbelief, "There hasn't been one near this region in decades."
"And yet one showed up breathing lightning." Mitch said, his tone casual, like describing a bad storm. "But it was dealt with."
The captain stared at him. "Dealt with…? You mean it left?"
"No," Mitch corrected, "I mean it was defeated. By a group of mages."
The knights gawked, stunned into silence.
"You're saying a group of mages captured an entire criminal group and slew a wyvern?"
Mitch nodded, gesturing toward the largest crater near the edge of the field. "The group was from Fairy Tail mages who came to fulfill my request. They saved the whole village. Not only by capturing the criminals who were stealing our cattle—but also by taking down that monster."
One of the knights turned pale. "I've heard towns flattened by a wyvern's rampage... and this one's still standing?"
"They were no ordinary mages," Mitch said, chuckling. "One of 'em fought that beast blade-to-scale like a demon and the other fired a blast so strong, I'm surprised we still have a sky. You should've seen it. Turned the night into morning for a few seconds."
The knights looked at one another, a mixture of awe and disbelief crossing their faces.
"Where are these mages now?" The captain asked, more reverently now.
"Resting," Mitch said simply. "They fought all night. Let them sleep. They've earned it."
Reluctantly, the commander nodded. "Of course. We'll see to the prisoners."
Mitch led them around the side of the barn to a small storage building, where a line of captured mages sat bound, bruised, and notably quiet. They kept their eyes down as the knights approached—a stark contrast to how rowdy and arrogant captured mages usually were.
"What happened to them?" one knight muttered.
Mitch smirked. "They met the boy with the red gauntlet."
As the knights began to transfer the prisoners into magical restraints, the villagers continued their repairs—whispering stories, spreading the tale of the wyvern-slaying warriors.
—------------------------------------
The scent of hay and old wood clung to the air inside the village's largest barn, where filtered sunlight slipped through cracks in the high rafters.
There, lying on a bed of straw and thick blankets, the massive black wyvern rested—its once-proud wings now bound carefully in makeshift bandages. Uzume's handiwork was evident in the neat wrappings crisscrossing its limbs and chest. Though the beast still radiated raw, intimidating power, there was a noticeable gentleness in its movements. A flick of its tail, a slow rise and fall of its chest… the tension of earlier battles was gone.
Seated beside the wyvern, Issei gently ran a hand along the coarse, warm scales of its neck. His fingers traced over the jagged line of a sealed wound, feeling the thrum of energy that pulsed just beneath.
"Sherri," He asked, eyes still on the beast. "You said it'll heal faster now?"
Sherri's voice, calm and informative, came through the Dimensional Watch. "Correct, Master. As a familiar, it draws energy from your magical core. Physical proximity accelerates the process."
"That's kinda cool," Issei muttered, continuing his slow strokes along the wyvern's neck. The beast responded with a soft, rumbling exhale, like a great cat purring in its sleep.
Next to him, Yashima knelt quietly, her hand also resting gently against the wyvern's snout. Her presence was calm, soothing. "I think it likes the attention," She said softly. "It's kind of cute, in its own way."
Issei chuckled. "Just glad it's not attacking anyone."
A sudden click-hiss broke the moment.
"Hold still—this is for science!" Came Matsu's voice, as she snapped a thin measuring tape around the base of the wyvern's wing. She adjusted her thick glasses with one hand while scribbling measurements into her notepad with the other.
The wyvern's eye opened slowly, narrowed… and then it let out a low, displeased growl. Its tail gave a threatening twitch.
"That was a warning growl," Yashima said, backing up slightly. "Maybe you should—"
"It's fine, it's fine!" Matsu waved a hand. "I'm just collecting vital data. Scale density, joint flexibility, wing span. This is a chance of a lifetime to investigate the unknown!"
The wyvern's lips curled back in a subtle snarl. Its eyes flashed with heat.
Issei finally stood and stepped between them, brow furrowed. He gave the wyvern a single, firm glare.
"That's enough," He said calmly, but with weight behind the words. "She's not trying to hurt you. She's mine. That means you protect her. Got it?"
The wyvern stilled.
For a moment, it merely stared at him. Then, slowly, it dipped its massive head—an acknowledgment, a sign of submission. A quiet hum vibrated from its throat, not in anger, but in understanding.
Matsu peeked from behind Issei, wide-eyed. "...Did it just listen to you like a scolded dog?"
Yashima smiled softly. "I think it's learning."
Issei rubbed the back of his neck. "I guess being bonded like this goes deeper than just commands…"
"Indeed," Sherri confirmed. "A familiar's instincts will naturally align with its master's priorities—including those they hold dear. It now recognizes your mates as part of its 'hoard,' so to speak."
"Great," Matsu said dryly. "I've been upgraded from pest to family."
"You're welcome." Issei replied with a teasing grin.
The wyvern let out a final huff, closed its eyes again, and settled its head back into the hay.
As quiet fell once more over the barn, Issei sat back down beside the beast. Yashima resumed her silent comfort, while Matsu adjusted her approach—still taking notes, with a delicate touch this time.
—---------------------------------
The warm afternoon sun filtered through the forest canopy, casting long shadows as Uzume, Akitsu, and Karasuba led a group of sturdy villagers down a narrow dirt path. Horses pulled a couple of makeshift carts behind them, rattling over roots and loose stones. At their sides, a few villagers carried ropes, tools, and bundles of hay.
Uzume glanced up at the jagged cliffside that loomed ahead. "This must be the canyon those criminals talked about." she said, adjusting her gloves. "I still can't believe they managed to hide this many cows in a place like this…"
"They were quite subtle in taking them in the dead of night." Karasuba replied, sword lazily resting against her shoulder. "Plus this place is remote, hard to reach, easy to guard. Shame they weren't smart enough to stop us."
"I suppose it shows they weren't completely unskilled," Akitsu added in her usual calm, monotone voice, her pale blue eyes scanning the rocky cliffs. "They simply underestimated who they were up against."
They followed the twisting path until they reached the mouth of a wide, dark cave tucked behind a thicket of overgrown brush and a half-collapsed wooden gate. It was large enough to fit several wagons—and judging by the hoofprints and droppings scattered at the entrance, they had found the right place.
"Alright," Uzume said, signaling the group to pause. "Everyone stay behind us while we check the interior. If anyone's still inside… we don't want them getting the drop on you."
Karasuba gave a smirk, already drawing her sword. "I hope someone's here. I've been getting twitchy again."
But as the three Sekirei stepped inside, their footsteps echoing off the cool stone walls, it quickly became clear that the cave was empty, aside from the low groaning moo sounds coming from deeper within.
There they were. A dozen of massive, horned, and muscular cows stood packed tightly inside a series of rusted metal cages. The poor creatures shifted nervously, some pawing at the stone floor, others staring with wide, frightened eyes.
Uzume gasped. "They're alive. All of them."
Akitsu moved toward the nearest cage and examined the locking mechanism. "Where will we find the keys?"
Karasuba rolled her eyes. "You're overthinking it."
With a swift, fluid motion, she sliced cleanly through the bars of the nearest cage. The metallic clang echoed loudly as the pieces fell.
Karasuba turned and pointed her sword at the remaining cages. "Get the villagers and start herding. I'll handle the doors."
And one by one, she cut through each lock, each gate, freeing the cattle while Uzume and Akitsu coordinated with the villagers to calm the animals and lead them out.
"Easy there, girl—yeah, I know you're scared," Uzume said, petting a trembling brown cow gently between the eyes. "But you're going home now, okay?"
Akitsu stood quietly at the exit, gently forming ice along the edge of the pathway to keep the cows from slipping on loose gravel.
The villagers worked quickly, some tying rope leads to the stronger bulls, others feeding bits of hay to get the more hesitant ones moving.
One young man wiped sweat from his brow. "I can't believe they took them all the way out here without anyone noticing…"
"They were organized," Uzume admitted. "But cruel. No food. No proper air circulation. They would've died if we hadn't found them soon."
Once the last cow exited the cave, the group turned back to watch them be led up the canyon trail, the massive beasts mooing contentedly as if already sensing their return to familiar fields.
Karasuba, resting against a boulder with her sword over her shoulder, gave a small, satisfied grin. "Well… that was boring," She muttered. "But satisfying."
Uzume nudged her with an elbow. "Not everything has to be a bloodbath."
"I didn't say it had to be," Karasuba replied. "But it's more fun when it is."
Akitsu, standing just behind them, watched the herd disappear over the ridge. "Let's go back and see Ashikabi-sama."
Uzume smiled softly. "And tonight, we'll finally get to relax."
The trio turned and followed the last of the villagers out of the canyon.
—-----------------------------------
As the sun dipped lower, the rumble of hooves and the soft mooing of cattle signaled the return of a long-awaited part of the community.
Children and elders alike rushed toward the eastern road, eyes wide and sparkling with joy as they caught sight of their prized cattle being led back into the village. Villagers who had remained behind immediately hurried to greet them—brushing fur, offering buckets of water, and checking every animal with the care one would give family.
"We really got them all back…" One older woman whispered, tears in her eyes as she embraced one of the cows. "I thought we'd lost them for good."
But away from the joyful clamor, Uzume, Karasuba, and Akitsu quietly slipped past the crowd, their steps turning toward the large barn where they knew Issei would be.
The moment they stepped inside, their eyes locked on an almost surreal sight.
The massive black wyvern, the same creature that had tried to burn them alive and shred them with its claws, was now… softly nuzzling its head against Yashima's lap like an oversized reptilian dog.
Yashima, ever the gentle soul, sat cross-legged on the hay, humming quietly as she ran her fingers across its massive snout. The wyvern's tail flicked contentedly, wings folded tight around its battered sides, now bandaged and gently treated.
Uzume blinked. "Okay, not what I expected."
Karasuba narrowed her eyes. "Is it… purring?"
Akitsu tilted her head. "I think so."
From the other side of the barn, Issei turned from where he was speaking with Matsu, who held a notepad and a slightly smug expression. He gave the approaching trio a bright smile.
"Hey! You're back!" He called. "How'd it go?"
Uzume walked up with her usual hop in her step, tossing her long hair over her shoulder. "All cows accounted for and back home safe."
"The village practically exploded with joy when they saw the herd." Karasuba added, though her tone was nonchalant.
Akitsu gave a small nod. "Mission complete."
Issei laughed, scratching the back of his head. "Glad to hear it."
The trio's attention returned to the wyvern. The creature had now shifted, curling its huge tail around itself, eyes closed as Yashima whispered something soothing.
"...And that thing," Uzume said, pointing. "Is this seriously the same monster that tried to barbeque us?"
"Yup," Issei said, stepping beside her. "But I wouldn't call him a monster."
Matsu pushed her glasses up. "He's a familiar now. His connection to Issei's magical core has accelerated his healing. I'd estimate he's recovering at four times the natural rate."
"And he's been behaving," Yashima added softly. "He's… kind of sweet. In a terrifying sort of way."
Karasuba folded her arms. "So, what are we calling the overgrown lizard? Or are we just gonna keep calling him 'the wyvern'?"
"I was wondering the same." Uzume said, nudging Issei. "You're his master, after all. Gotta name your pet."
"I've been thinking about it," Issei admitted. "He deserves a name. Something with powerful."
They all stood in quiet thought for a moment.
Akitsu, voice even as always, offered, "Midnight. For his scales."
Matsu tapped her tablet. "How about Sector-X-93?"
Everyone gave her a look.
"…I'm still working on my naming conventions," She muttered.
Yashima, still petting the wyvern, murmured, "He feels like a Kuromaru…"
Issei blinked. "Kuromaru?"
She nodded. "Dark, noble. And it fits the way he's been acting."
The barn was silent for a moment. Then Issei smiled and knelt next to the wyvern, placing a hand gently on its massive head.
"Kuromaru, huh?" he repeated softly. "You like that, boy?"
The wyvern stirred, lifted its head slightly… and gave a quiet, approving rumble.
Uzume grinned. "Guess that settles it."
"Welcome to the family, Kuromaru," Issei said.
And in the stillness of the barn, surrounded by companions and the scent of hay and healing, the once-feared wyvern twitched his tail in silent acknowledgment, as though accepting the name—and the new life that came with it.