Velren barely felt his knees hit the dirt. His limbs screamed in protest, and his muscles were trembling from the sheer strain of the battle. His breath was ragged, each inhale dragging through his throat like sandpaper. His body swayed, exhaustion weighing down on him like a collapsing mountain.
The fight was over. The wyvern was dead. And yet, he couldn't rest.
"Job's not done..."
Nico was still ahead, and he had wasted enough time already.
With a sharp inhale, Velren forced himself to move. His hand tightened around the hilt of his katana, using the weapon as a crutch to push himself upright. His legs wobbled, threatening to give out again, but he gritted his teeth and locked his stance. He was not going to collapse here like some half-dead fool.
He turned, ready to press forward—
Then, his gaze flickered back to the wyvern's lifeless form.
'Just maybe...'
