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After coming down from the bell tower, the party returned to the front gate again to head to the Wyvern Tower.
“Wait.”
Just as they were about to pass the gate, Milena stopped in place. The others had no choice but to halt as well.
“I can feel dense deathly energy.”
Milena turned her gaze toward the open gate. That meant the source of the energy was inside the castle.
“Come to think of it….”
“So it wasn’t just my imagination.”
Everyone’s eyes turned toward the castle interior.
‘Now that she mentions it, it did feel unusually cold compared to earlier—so it wasn’t just because it got cloudy.’
Ye Hyeonseong’s aura-sense was still on the dull side. Her stats had crept up little by little from running dungeons, but even so, she still hadn’t escaped the D-rank range.
‘Feels like I’ve made it to upper D-rank, at least….’
Either way, Ye Hyeonseong didn’t have the knack to clearly distinguish between simple chill and the specific deathly energy unique to undead monsters.
“It must have woken up after we rang that bell.”
“Then….”
“That means if we go in there from now on, odds are high we’ll end up fighting.”
Everyone’s gaze shifted to the Wyvern Tower.
“Yeah. We should check over there first.”
Their halted steps moved again. The party hurried toward the Wyvern Tower.
When they arrived, Pablo opened the locked entrance. A staircase appeared, similar in structure to the one inside the bell tower.
They climbed the stairs to the top where the nest was. On the way up, they checked for anything else hidden. This time, they truly found nothing.
‘Yeah, this probably isn’t the point where they’re still hiding little things.’
Ye Hyeonseong figured they’d already found almost all the clues available above ground. Any new clue would be in the basement.
“Stop.”
Ivan, who was in front, halted at the edge of the stairs. At his low-voiced warning, the people behind him froze too.
“How is it?”
“It’s looking around. Like it’s searching for something.”
“Did it notice us coming up?”
“Of course.”
Ivan answered someone’s worried question curtly.
“What about the child’s remains?”
“I don’t see them up here. Looks like it’s under that thing’s belly.”
“Th-then… it didn’t get broken, right?”
“Do you think we can take it if we ambush it now?”
“Based on level, yes, but….”
Ivan trailed off at the continued questions.
‘He probably thinks the environment isn’t good.’
Ye Hyeonseong pictured what the top of the tower looked like. It should be similar to the bell tower.
‘An open structure on all sides. As for the floor… the bell tower had an opening in the center because of the bell, but this one should be fully sealed.’
The important part was that it had no walls—open on all sides. Since the Bone Wyvern could fly, the moment it felt even a little disadvantaged, it would definitely try to take off and disengage.
‘Meanwhile, we don’t have that kind of mobility. If it escapes once, it’ll be a nightmare to deal with.’
Meaning they had to do one of two things:
Either jump in and climb onto its body immediately, or block its flight ability—or at least its timing.
“…The moment we go up, get on top of it no matter what. If it leaves the nest, it’s obviously going to be a headache.”
Ivan’s choice was shown to be the first option. It was simpler than the second.
‘To stop it from flying, we’d need to analyze its patterns. Or we’d need expensive items that seal flight or lock down space.’
“Alright. Move.”
At Ivan’s words, people drew their weapons. Kwon Seojin also moved up with the front line and pulled out a weapon from his bag—this time, a mace.
A person in priestly robes gave everyone a physical enhancement buff. It seemed chosen with the plan to mount the Bone Wyvern in mind.
‘Me… should I at least take something out?’
Ye Hyeonseong pulled a pickaxe from the Infinite Corridor and gripped it. Jumping in barehanded wouldn’t look good.
Some of the Otherworlders looked dumbfounded, but Ye Hyeonseong didn’t care.
“Three, two… now!”
Ivan gave the signal and leapt into the nest first. The others followed right after.
“Stick to it!”
“Grab on!”
Kiiii—!
The Bone Wyvern shrieked as it noticed them closing in. It wasn’t just a simple cry—status ailment triggered the instant they heard it.
Fortunately, it wore off instantly. The cold that had washed over them vanished right away.
“Head! Break the head first!”
“We’ll grab the tail!”
The moment they mounted its body, everyone split to their own target points. Ye Hyeonseong ran along the spine toward the Bone Wyvern’s head.
‘Where I can contribute is the head.’
Kyaaa———!
As Ye Hyeonseong climbed, the Bone Wyvern howled and thrashed violently. It was trying to shake off the enemies clinging to it.
“Careful!”
“Ah—!”
“Grab my hand!”
People hurriedly grabbed the monster’s bones. Those who failed to latch on in time were saved by others grabbing their hands.
Ye Hyeonseong clung to its ribs. Once she secured her grip, she kept crawling toward the head.
To the side, Kwon Seojin was climbing in a similar way—only much more steadily.
‘A blunt weapon really is better for cracking skull bones.’
After grabbing a few ribs and moving up, the thrashing eased a little. It seemed to realize shaking alone wouldn’t do much.
Taking advantage of that opening, Ye Hyeonseong moved quickly toward the head. Before long, she managed to position herself atop its skull.
‘What about the others?’
Ye Hyeonseong’s gaze flicked back.
Kkaang—
“Shoot!”
“Go!”
Ivan and a few others were dealing with the tail whipping in like a lash.
When Ivan knocked aside the tail tip with his sword, dozens of arrows coated in pale frost targeted the joints between the tail bones.
Puh-bung!
Kkwajik!
Meanwhile, some others were targeting one of the Bone Wyvern’s wings.
Flames and white radiance burst at the wing’s root. Bladed weapons punched holes into the bone.
‘I need to strike quickly over here too.’
Ye Hyeonseong pulled out the “Mad Gatherer’s Eye” card from the Infinite Corridor and activated it.
“Where is it?”
As Ye Hyeonseong was putting the card away, Kwon Seojin came up and asked.
“Here.”
Answering shortly, Ye Hyeonseong raised the pickaxe. She swung it toward the distinct golden dot that had appeared on the skull.
Kkwajik!
Kiiiiii——!
The moment the pickaxe tip punched into the golden dot, the Bone Wyvern thrashed violently again.
“Ugh!”
Ye Hyeonseong’s body slid. Her grip tightened reflexively around the pickaxe handle.
Luckily, the pickaxe tip was embedded in the skull. She hung from it, clinging on, and the tip dug even deeper.
Kyaaaahhhk!
The Bone Wyvern roared even louder. This time, the status ailment was stronger than when they first jumped in.
‘Colder than before.’
Still, it wasn’t cold enough to make her whole body tremble.
“Mr. Hyeonseong! Are you okay?”
Kwon Seojin urgently called from atop the monster’s skull.
“I’m fine!”
Ye Hyeonseong answered, tensing her body. She needed to climb back up first.
Kkadeudeuk
As she forced strength into her body, she felt the bone cracking around where the pickaxe was lodged. The effect of driving it into the weak point seemed excellent.
Puh-beo-beong!
Kkwadeudeuk!
“Above! Watch out!”
Hwoong—
“Tch!”
Even as Ye Hyeonseong struggled to climb back up, the battle continued.
‘Looks like they can tear off a wing bone.’
Judging so, Ye Hyeonseong tried to pull herself up. But it didn’t go as planned.
‘Damn it. I can’t even let go.’
If she took one hand off the pickaxe, she’d probably fall. And even if she freed a hand, there wasn’t anywhere to grab.
‘…No. I can just drop.’
She remembered they had an air mat. Falling wouldn’t matter much.
“Kwon Seojin! Just hit it!”
Ye Hyeonseong shouted to Kwon Seojin, who was looking down at her.
“Will you be okay?”
“Yes! Hit it while you can!”
Kkwadeudeuk
Maybe because she tensed up while shouting, another cracking sound came from the skull. Kwon Seojin nodded, then disappeared from view.
Kkwajik!
Kyaaaahhhk——!
Right after, a crisp shattering sound rang out. The Bone Wyvern screamed again.
Kkwajik! Kkwajiik!
Cracking continued as the fractures spread. As the skull fissures widened, Ye Hyeonseong’s body slowly slid downward.
‘Time to prepare.’
Calmly, Ye Hyeonseong searched the Infinite Corridor for the air mat.
Kkwadeuk
Another split sounded. Ye Hyeonseong slid further down.
Soon, skull fragments rained down. At the same time, Ye Hyeonseong eased the pickaxe back slightly—then her body began to fall.
In perfect timing, she pulled the air mat from the Infinite Corridor. Her body landed neatly atop it.
‘Status?’
After stowing the air mat—once again completing its mission—back into the Infinite Corridor, she looked up at the Bone Wyvern’s head.
A huge hole had been punched clean through one side of the skull, and it was still widening.
‘That’s going to collapse on its own now. But….’
Kiiiiiiiiiiiiii—!
Even with its skull smashed, the Bone Wyvern kept shrieking. It seemed breaking the skull alone wasn’t enough to finish it.
“Haa—!”
Ttuduk
“Burn it a bit more!”
The people who were attacking one wing shouted busily. The wing drooped noticeably; it looked like they’d soon tear off a wing bone there as well.
“Are you okay?”
Kwon Seojin, who’d jumped down from the monster’s head, ran over and asked.
“Yes, I’m fine. But….”
Ye Hyeonseong answered while watching the Bone Wyvern. Even without its skull, it was still lively.
“We need to go help, right?”
“Yes. I’ll go to the tail. Mr. Hyeonseong, you….”
“Wings.”
Perfect timing—the chill from the Bone Wyvern’s fear effect also vanished. Ye Hyeonseong and Kwon Seojin sprinted back toward the monster’s torso.
Ttududuk
At that moment, one of the Bone Wyvern’s wing bones tore free completely. The detached bone collapsed to the floor in a clattering heap.
Kiii! Kiiiiik!
The Bone Wyvern screamed with its mind and stamped its feet. The floor shook with heavy thuds as it went into a frenzy.
‘Damn it. I can’t not climb up.’
Dodging the falling wing bones, Ye Hyeonseong grabbed onto the monster’s frame. If they were going to dismantle the rest, they had to climb again.
“Ugh!”
“Damn, it’s going wild!”
The people who’d torn off the wing hurriedly clung to the torso bones.
“Hold out just a bit!”
“Over there!”
Someone shouted loudly—at the tail bones whipping around wildly.
“Tch!”
A few people let go and jumped down to the floor. Aura, arrows, and a few spells struck the tail tip. The tail that had flown in targeting the Bone Wyvern’s back changed direction under the concentrated attack.
Kwaaang!
The tail smashed down a pillar that had been holding up part of the roof. Right after, the Bone Wyvern’s momentum dulled a little.
As its frenzy eased, the party moved again. Those targeting the remaining wing took position on its back. The people who’d dropped to the floor climbed back onto the torso as well.
They repeated the same work as before—tearing at wings and tail. They dodged tail strikes as needed, and endured the thrashing by hanging on.
The fear effect was the same. Even when its head had been intact, the Bone Wyvern’s fear skill hadn’t been that strong. With its skull blown out now, it was even less of an issue.
‘A little cold isn’t exactly unbearable.’
So they kept hanging on, enduring, and attacking in cycles. Before long, results showed.
“Hah—!”
Someone shouted and threw a punch. At the same time, multiple spears of flame shot out. They burned through the joint between the wing bone and the torso.
Then another person delivered a full-force kick to the wing bone.
Kkwadeuk!
With a ripping sound, the remaining wing separated from the torso and dropped.
‘Now the only major part left is the tail, right?’
Ignoring the Bone Wyvern’s screams, Ye Hyeonseong turned her gaze.
‘…That side’s ending soon too.’
The tail joints were being targeted relentlessly. At this rate, the tail would separate from the torso soon as well.
‘If it still doesn’t die after that, do we have to tear off the limbs too?’
Her grip tightened unconsciously around the pickaxe.
But fortunately, the worry didn’t come true.
Kwaaang!
Kieeeeeee——!
A moment later, Kwon Seojin’s mace shattered one of the Bone Wyvern’s bones into pieces. The Bone Wyvern let out a huge scream.
That was its last scream.
“Done!”
“It’s over!”
Perhaps they saw the same message—without hesitation, the Otherworlders jumped down from the Bone Wyvern’s body.
“Just going by rank, it felt similar to us, but it took longer than I expected.”
“That thing was tougher than it looked.”
“Yeah. Its movement and thinking seemed simple, but the bones themselves were hard.”
The Otherworlders each commented as they looked at the corpse.
“But earlier, didn’t the skull get… punched through in one hit?”
Someone’s gaze went to Ye Hyeonseong’s pickaxe. Ye Hyeonseong also looked at it.
“Ah… this? It’s sturdier than it looks. And I also struck a specially weak point.”
Ye Hyeonseong shrugged. The pickaxe was A-rank reinforced, and she’d hit a weak point revealed by “Mad Gatherer’s Eye,” so the result made sense.
“Anyway, we killed it, so let’s see if there’s anything worth finding here.”
Ye Hyeonseong said, putting the pickaxe and the skill card back into the Infinite Corridor.
At her words, everyone started inspecting the Bone Wyvern’s corpse and the inside of the nest tower.
‘Come to think of it, the remains it brought earlier….’
Plenty of people were already examining the monster’s corpse. Ye Hyeonseong decided to look for the remains it had been carrying first.
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