Seeing the souls in Riveria's hands, everyone became intrigued. This area was undoubtedly high-level, as it was unlocked only after defeating the final bosses in the game.
Many would come here after dealing with the Prince of Lothric, as the creatures here were exceptionally powerful, making the souls they left behind even more potent. But this wasn't a game, and here, it was enough just to know the right techniques.
One unique aspect of this place is that certain poses or actions can unlock special equipment and materials at specific locations.
Without further delay, everyone activated their hunting mode, beginning their pursuit of serpent-men and rock tortoises lurking in the area.
The serpent-men here came in two types: small ones and larger ones. The larger ones boasted strength at Level 6, making them quite difficult to handle. And, to make matters worse, wyvern soared above them.
When the wyvern spotted the group, they immediately swooped down. This wyvern were far stronger than those they had encountered before. Taking them down one-on-one would be tough, as back in the game, it was easy to kill them by targeting their heads, but that was no longer possible.
"This wyvern is way stronger than the ones we've faced before, and they can still fly!"
The wyvern had everyone fired up, challenging their patience and resolve.
"Don't get discouraged, lure that thing over here. Riveria, you and Lefiya find a way to bring it down with magic. Leave the rest to us, especially when it comes to handling that black dragon!" Gareth said with conviction!
When it came to the black dragon, every high-level adventurer felt a crushing weight. After all, the Zeus and Hera Familias had been wiped out far too quickly.
As a result, high-level adventurers had been instilled with a sense of caution. The black dragon was like a constant reminder, pushing them to grow stronger.
After all, no one knew if they would encounter the black dragon in the future, or face some powerful being emerging from the dungeon. The Zeus and Hera Familias had grown without ever anticipating such threats, but the threats had come nonetheless, forcing them to constantly improve their strength. Gareth's words reignited their fighting spirit.
"You're a barbarian, Gareth! I don't need your instructions here. Lefiya, let's start chanting together!"
Riveria shot an annoyed look at Gareth. Although they were old friends, they often exchanged sarcastic remarks, particularly since only Finn was immune from the teasing.
This was just how they bonded, and over the years, they had become accustomed to this banter. In reality, they were the best of comrades, having faced life-and-death battles together for decades.
"Tsk, arrogant elf. With Finn absent, it's naturally my role to give orders!" Gareth, with his greater age and experience, naturally took a leadership role, though, in terms of age, Riveria was quite remarkable herself. Despite her qualifications, Riveria preferred not to lead, though she was arguably the best-suited for it!"
Amidst the escalating magic, the wyvern grew uneasy, sensing the concentration of mana accumulating below. It retaliated with waves of fire and dragon breath aimed directly at the ground.
Gareth and the others, however, raised their large shields, which is crafted by Yhorm himself, blocking the flames with ease. The wyvern, already having learned its lesson from a close call earlier, hesitated to approach further.
But even at a distance, the wyvern wasn't entirely safe, as the group was equipped with dragon-hunting bows and arrows. Although the range made it difficult to land a hit, and the wyvern was agile, it became bolder after being struck at a distance, choosing to maintain its distance to disrupt their plans from afar.
As soon as Gareth planted his Yhorm-forged shield firmly in place, it became a game-changer. Built with the soul of a Lord of Cinder, this shield was Gareth's most prized possession, a perfect complement to his preference for heavy weaponry and unmatched defense.
With the shield providing secure coverage, Riveria and Lefiya finally completed their chants. A massive wave of fire surged across the sky, engulfing the wyvern before it had any chance to dodge, reducing it to ashes.
Dazed by the sudden attack, the wyvern hesitated, which was all the time Tione and her sister needed. With great dragon-hunting bows in hand, they unleashed arrows that struck the wyvern directly in both eyes, blinding it completely.
The wyvern, mortally wounded, plummeted to the ground. Ais, seeing her chance, activated her own magic and charged in. Her speed was unparalleled, and even though the others tried to keep up, Ais's spell-enhanced agility left them behind as she struck the fallen creature's head in one powerful blow, finishing it instantly.
The wyvern never stood a chance, being caught off guard by the relentless attacks, it couldn't muster a single counterattack and met its end swiftly.
"Finally, it's dealt with," Someone muttered in relief. "That flying ability was the biggest problem. We don't have any fliers here, but the Hermes Familia does!"
There was a hint of resignation; few among them had mastered flying spells, and while some tools allowed brief flight, like the Hermes Boots, they offered only limited use in aerial combat.
In the sky, wyvern reigned supreme, forcing their opponents to defend from below.
Ultimately, the best approach remained to strike with overwhelming magic, which could bring down the creature from afar.
The group quickly gathered the spoils, a valuable wyvern soul and a collection of prized materials. For the members of the Loki Familia, this haul was a significant gain. Exposed to these resources, they could now openly sell their finds.
But in this world, valuable assets like wyvern materials would inevitably attract attention, and even those lacking the power to hunt would be drawn in by greed, setting aside caution for the chance to claim a piece of the profit.