Free Web NovelTalia stared with panic-stricken eyes at the dark shape revealed beneath the fading sunlight.
The massive body wrapped in scales contracted tightly, like a volcano on the verge of eruption, before surging high into the air. At its peak sat a gigantic reptilian head. Its crimson eyes flashed as it looked down upon them.
The strength left Talia’s legs, and she collapsed onto the ground.
When the monster exhaled a blast of hot breath and spread its wings, cloaked in a black membrane, it felt as though the entire world had been swallowed by darkness.
Varkas drew his sword and shouted sharply.
“Prepare the extermination equipment immediately!”
No sooner had the order left his lips than knights burst through the crowd that had been scattering in confusion.
They surrounded the monster and drove stake-like iron pylons into the ground before fastening thick chains to them. Moments later, dozens of steel harpoons shot toward the creature’s enormous body like arrows.
Talia clapped her hands over her ears.
A thunderous roar exploded from the monster’s raised head.
Each time the massive body twisted against the dozens °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° of chains binding it, the earth trembled. Several stakes were ripped from the ground and launched into the air, unable to withstand the force.
“Everyone, get back!”
At the same moment someone's shout rang out across the camp, the monster tore free of its restraints and violently swept one wing through the air.
Talia screamed.
Two or three tents were swept away by the force of the wingbeat, and five or six servants who had been unable to react in time were hurled away like scraps of paper.
One of them rolled to a stop near her, his body twisted at an unnatural angle.
It felt like a nightmare.
“Bring more equipment!”
Varkas’s rough voice barely managed to anchor her fading consciousness.
Forcing strength into her trembling legs, Talia somehow staggered to her feet.
Then she watched, her face drained of all color, as Varkas shot toward the rampaging monster like a flash of light. fɾēewebnσveℓ.com
He was charging directly at the maw of a creature whose body alone looked well over thirty crebets long—more than nine meters.
“Varkas!”
His name burst from her lips like a scream.
At that exact moment, one of the monster’s wings lashed toward him like a whip.
Talia watched in horror.
The enormous black wing, vast enough to blot out the sky, engulfed Varkas’s figure in an instant.
Her world turned black as well.
Then, in the next moment, the pale blade in Varkas’s hand sliced through the thick membrane as easily as paper.
In the blink of an eye, he severed the wing cleanly across its span and cut through the thick bundles of muscle connecting it to the creature’s body.
The monster lost one wing and immediately lurched violently, its balance destroyed.
Varkas seized the opportunity.
Pulling a chain-sickle from his waist, he hurled the hooked blade into the hideous maw lined with rows of needle-like teeth.
Then he slipped sideways in a smooth motion, attached the chain to a stake fixed in the ground, and yanked it with brutal force.
The monster, its lower jaw pierced by the chain-sickle, collapsed helplessly like a fish caught on a hook.
Talia stared with her mouth hanging open.
It was impossible to believe such monstrous strength had come from a body so slender and graceful it resembled a dancer’s.
Gripping the chain with both hands, Varkas shouted toward his subordinates.
“Finish it!” freewebnσvel.cøm
Dozens of harpoons immediately slammed into the creature’s body.
The beast, covered in black scales, writhed desperately and struggled with all its might, but it was powerless against the relentless barrage.
Within moments it resembled a giant hedgehog.
The monster's tongue lolled from its mouth before its enormous body finally collapsed onto the ground.
Only then was Talia able to release the breath she had been holding.
“Are you alright, Your Highness?”
An Imperial Guard knight came rushing over from somewhere nearby and looked down at her with concern.
Judging by his appearance, he had been searching for her before hurrying to the battlefield. A sword was still clutched in one hand.
The man quickly shoved it back into its sheath and offered her his hand.
Talia slapped it away.
She walked straight toward Varkas, who was recovering equipment from the monster’s corpse.
Wrapping a loosened chain around one hand, Varkas glanced at her, his eyes moving over her from head to toe.
The look was dry and detached, as though he were inspecting the condition of an item entrusted to him.
Yet for once, anger did not rise within her.
Without realizing it, she asked in an anxious voice,
“A-Are you alright? You’re not hurt anywhere, are you?”
Her trembling eyes searched him carefully.
A dark red smear of blood stained the side of his neck.
Talia reached out and touched it.
Fortunately, it did not seem to be his blood.
She released a sigh of relief.
Then a prickling sensation suddenly ran across her scalp.
Looking up, Talia found Varkas staring down at her with eyes that had widened ever so slightly.
She hurriedly lowered her hand.
His silence made cold sweat seep from every pore.
Was it absurd to him?
A woman who spent her days slapping him and throwing things at him was suddenly pretending to be concerned.
Flustered, Talia fumbled for words before muttering defensively,
“I-I’ve known you for nearly ten years. If something happened to you right in front of me, it would leave a bad omen hanging over my dreams. I don’t want nightmares because of you.”
“...Since I have no intention of appearing in Your Highness’s dreams, I suppose that is fortunate.”
His irritating reply was exactly the same as always.
For some reason, relief washed over her.
Talia let her shoulders sag. They had been so tense they were beginning to ache.
Varkas looked down at her silently, as though about to say something.
Then screams rang out again from somewhere in the distance.
Talia turned her head and sucked in a sharp breath.
The sky was filled with black monsters.
An Imperial Guard knight murmured blankly,
“Why would a wyvern flock appear at this time of year...?”
“Instead of wondering about that, bring out the extermination equipment! Your Highness, this way.”
Recovering his composure instantly, Varkas issued orders in a sharp voice, seized her wrist, and strode across the camp.
Talia hurried after him, nearly glued to his back.
The smell of blood and fire filled the air from every direction.
Chaos.
The very chaos she had waited for and wished for countless times had finally arrived.
Yet she felt no joy.
Only freezing terror coursed through her blood.
“Lord Siorcan! We’ve established a defensive barrier over there!”
Someone shouted loudly as Talia stared in horror at the monsters smashing wagons, tents, and anything else in their path.
Varkas immediately changed direction.
“You are not to leave this area under any circumstances.”
After leading the half-dazed Talia toward the center of the camp, he spoke in a firm tone.
She turned and looked around.
A group of people had gathered in front of dozens of supply wagons arranged in a long line like a wall.
“Defensive magical devices have been installed on the wagons. You will be safe if you remain here.”
“W-What about you?”
Varkas ignored the question completely and turned away.
Talia grabbed him in panic.
“Have you lost your mind? Where do you think you’re going?”
“The defensive magic will not last long. We need to eliminate the monsters before it expires.”
Varkas firmly removed her hand from his arm.
Then he ran toward the heart of the battle.
Talia stared after his retreating figure in stunned disbelief.
A moment later, she rushed after him.
“No! Don’t go! Varkas! Varkas!”
