Chapter 121: I Owe You Big Time

’Damn...’

Zishan had already seen Elinox fight before, but watching several of the stronger Wyverns react to her before she had even attacked was something else. One of them stopped descending and began moving away, while another kept its distance as Mana continued gathering around her.

Then, he looked toward the Wyverns heading for him.

They did not react like that at all.

One of them even released another roar in his direction as it continued descending.

Zishan’s eyebrow twitched. ’Of course. I’m Level 99.’

Compared to Elinox and Ernest, why would these creatures even be cautious around him?

Earlier, when Ernest warned him that something powerful might come for Silvy, Zishan answered without thinking too much about it. "Fight them."

Then, Ernest told him the obvious. "You’re Level 99."

"That’s temporary."

And he still stood by that.

After all, he was not going to stay at Level 99 forever. With how fast he had been growing since arriving in Cyrune, he might not even remain at this Level for much longer. However, seeing the Level 698 Wyvern Lord heading toward Ernest made the problem with that answer much easier to understand.

’What if Crown Marshal Ernest and Elinox weren’t here? What would he do?’

Zishan looked at the Wyvern Lord again.

’Fight it?’

He would probably die.

’Take Silvy and run with Rift Steps?’

Maybe.

But if something at that Level seriously wanted to chase him, he did not know how far Rift Steps could actually get him.

His gaze went toward the Beast Nurturing Space.

Silvy was safe inside for now.

He had always treated her like a normal baby despite knowing there was almost nothing normal about her. She sat on his head whenever she wanted, pulled his hair, called Elinox Mama, demanded attention, and looked at everything around her as though the entire world existed for her to explore.

Zishan liked that.

He did not want to start hiding her every time they left somewhere just because something might notice her.

But Silvy was also born at Level 400.

Even the System would not tell him what kind of Primordial Dragon she truly was, and now Wyverns had already come after her twice.

’This is becoming a problem...’

The first attack could have been a coincidence, and he could not tell himself the same thing anymore. This group had followed them all the way outside the capital after Ernest carried Silvy away.

Someone, or something, wanted her. And there was no guarantee the next creatures that came looking would only be Wyverns.

Zishan glanced toward Ollie.

The boy was sleeping inside the barrier Elinox had made for him, completely unaware of everything happening outside.

His gaze stayed there for a few seconds. Ollie called him Big Brother. Silvy called him Papa. Now, he was also a Captain.

’Damn it...’

When had he collected this many responsibilities?

Back when he first woke up on the battlefield, most of the things he did only affected him. If he made a stupid decision and got himself killed, that was his problem. Even the way he used the System followed the same logic.

Take the reward first. Deal with the Quest after.

If somebody stronger appeared, then he would become stronger eventually. If another problem came, he would find some way to deal with it. It had worked pretty well so far.

Now, though, Zishan could not really think the same way.

Silvy could not exactly wait for him to become strong enough if somebody came to take her. Ollie could not wait either if something happened to him.

Zishan scratched the side of his neck. ’I’ve been too relaxed about this...’

Another roar pulled his attention upward.

The Wyvern Lord and Ernest were already close to each other.

Then, they collided.

A powerful wave of Mana spread from the sky, forcing the grass around Zishan to flatten while his clothes moved violently from the pressure.

"Damn."

He raised one arm slightly while looking upward.

Ernest barely moved from the impact, but the Wyvern Lord did. Its enormous body was pushed backward several meters through the air before its wings spread wide enough to stop itself.

Zishan stared at the sight.

’Crown Marshal...’

He knew Ernest was strong. There was a big difference between knowing that and watching him fight something almost Level 700.

The same could be said for Elinox.

Several Wyverns had surrounded her farther away, yet none seemed eager to close the distance first. Mana continued gathering around her while the air surrounding one of the creatures suddenly bent downward.

The Wyvern dropped several meters before catching itself.

Zishan watched for another moment. He was currently standing there because those two were dealing with the enemies he could not handle.

He did not like that thought as much as he expected. Not because he thought receiving help was embarrassing. Because that would be stupid.

If someone much stronger wanted to help him fight a Level 698 Wyvern, Zishan was not going to complain or deny the help.

What bothered him was having no other choice.

’I need to get stronger.’

That was already something he wanted before. Now, he had a much better reason for it. There were too many unreasonable people in Cyrune who could do whatever they wanted simply because everyone around them was too weak to stop them.

House Walker was already one example.

These Wyverns were another.

And if Ernest’s warning about stronger species sensing Silvy was true, this probably would not be the last time.

’Fine.’ Zishan looked toward the lower-Level Wyverns coming for him. ’I’ll just make sure I’m not this weak the next time around.’

A Level 224 Wyvern descended lower, its wings beating hard enough to send dust and grass scattering around the area. Mana had already begun gathering inside its mouth.

The Level 273 Wyvern was moving toward his left side, while two more approached from behind them. Zishan’s attention moved between the four.

Those were his, and the others could wait.

Before dealing with them, however, his eyes moved toward Elinox again.

She had already started fighting.

One Wyvern tried attacking her from above while another approached from her side, yet she moved between them without much difficulty.

A burst of Mana forced one creature away before Gravity caught the other and dragged it downward.

Zishan watched her for several seconds. Elinox had been helping him a lot lately. Probably more than he had properly thought about.

She helped him back on the battlefield. She brought him to the capital. She helped Ollie. She accepted Silvy calling her Mama despite how awkward the whole thing had been. She even helped with his Captain promotion. And now she was fighting a group of Wyverns because they were trying to take his daughter.

’I don’t know if I’ve ever said this properly...’

His gaze remained on her.

’But thank you for everything you’ve done for me so far, High General.’

Zishan paused.

’High General.’

For some reason, calling her that inside his head felt weird now.

He had called her Elinox plenty of times already, so why was he suddenly thinking of her by her title?

’No... Elinox.’ He paused again. ’I owe you big time.’

The Level 224 Wyvern roared again.

"Yeah, yeah. I know you’re there." Zishan finally looked away from Elinox.

The Wyvern had opened its mouth wider, and the Mana gathering inside was already becoming visible.

At the same time, the familiar green prompt that had remained near the edge of Zishan’s vision moved back into his attention.

[PRECEDENCE AVAILABLE]

[Claim Quest Rewards Before Completion?]

[YES / NO]

Zishan looked at the choices.

Earlier, he had decided not to choose yet because Silvy was still in his arms and he had no idea what was actually chasing them.

Now, he knew. Silvy was inside the Beast Nurturing Space, and Ollie was protected. Meanwhile, Ernest and Elinox were dealing with the stronger Wyverns.

And the ones in front of him were all within the range he had already decided to handle himself.

There was not much else to think about.

The Level 224 Wyvern released its attack.

Mana surged around Zishan, as he looked at the green panel.

"Yes."