Then, in the next moment, its massive body shot toward her like a serpent gliding across water.
It moved so quickly she did not even have time to scream.
Hook-like claws caught her body.
The world dropped away beneath her.
Looking down at the rapidly shrinking ground, Talia's eyes darted wildly.
She could still see the soldiers running about in confusion.
Even they became tiny within seconds.
Overwhelmed by terror, she struggled desperately.
Her arms and legs flailed wildly.
But the pressure crushing her chest only tightened.
At any moment, she felt those claws would pierce her flesh and tear her body apart.
Staring up at the monster carrying her away, Talia finally cried out.
“H-Help me...! Someone... please...!”
But even to her own ears, her voice sounded pitifully faint.
Gasping for breath, she forced her mouth open again.
Then something flashed through the bluish darkness.
Like a burst of firelight.
A wave of scorching wind swept across her face.
Talia screamed.
The wyvern carrying her let out a shriek and began thrashing violently.
The crushing force around her waist tightened so hard it felt as though her spine would snap.
Her vision went white.
Strength vanished from her limbs.
Then her body suddenly floated free.
The next moment she was falling.
Falling into darkness.
Several seconds passed.
A tremendous impact struck her entire body.
Everything sank into blackness.
She could not tell whether she was conscious or unconscious.
Perhaps she was dead.
But that thought was immediately denied by the overwhelming agony that followed.
Talia groaned and gasped like livestock awaiting slaughter.
It hurt.
It hurt so much.
Yet she could not even tell exactly what part of her body hurt.
“Hngh... ah...”
Instinctively trying to escape whatever was pinning her down, she crawled weakly across the ground.
The pain only grew worse.
Unable to endure it any longer, she pressed her forehead against the cold earth.
Then she smelled smoke.
With great effort, she lifted her head.
As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she saw the collapsed body of a wyvern.
Talia blinked in confusion.
The creature was dead.
One wing had been burned black and shriveled, as though consumed by fire.
Red embers still crackled across one of its massive hind legs where the scales had been stripped away.
She stared blankly at the sight.
Then she braced a hand against the ground and struggled upright.
That was when she noticed the large boulder and pile of earth crushing one of her legs.