Chapter 221: Naming the Solar Wyrm and its Child
Night had finally descended upon Senkeht. For the first time in days, no roars were echoing through the desert, no trembling ground, no pressure hanging over the town like a death sentence. The tension that had gripped everyone since the beginning of the attacks had loosened, replaced by something almost unfamiliar.
Relief. The town was alive again. Large bonfires burned across the streets and plazas, their flames dancing against the sandstone walls and ruined buildings. Warriors sat together around the fires with cups in hand, laughing loudly despite their injuries. Some had bandages wrapped around their arms and torsos, others limped slightly, but none of it mattered tonight. They had survived.
Children ran through the streets again. Music echoed from somewhere deeper in town, rough drums and string instruments blending with cheers and chatter. Huge slabs of roasted beast meat were being cooked over open flames while barrels of drinks were rolled out into the streets. It was a celebration born from exhaustion and victory.
On one of the rooftops overlooking the town, Bahamut and the others rested quietly away from most of the noise. Ren lay flat on his back dramatically, one arm over his face.
"I almost died today."
"You say that every day," Sel replied while sitting cross-legged nearby.
"Because every day, I almost die."
"That sounds like a skill issue."
"Shut up, elf."
Sel smirked faintly while Exildra quietly handed Bahamut a drink. He accepted it with a small nod before leaning back against the rooftop railing. His blindfold had returned, though slightly loose after everything that had happened earlier. Below them, cheers suddenly erupted again.
"TO SENKEHT!"
"TO THE WARRIORS!"
"TO THE STRANGERS!"
Bahamut blinked. "Did they just include us?"
"You fought in the war," Gabi muttered quietly while staring down at the celebration.
"You literally tamed the beast leading the horde," Alana added.
"You also threatened their sentinel with psychological torture," Ren said proudly.
"That too."
Bahamut ignored him. Lily sat quietly beside Bahamut, her tails swaying lazily behind her while resting her head against his shoulder. Exildra sat on his other side while Alana rested nearby with her head in his lap as if she owned the place... which she probably believed she did. That was always where she chose to be.
Sel stared at them for a few seconds before sighing deeply.
"I suddenly feel very single."
"You are single," Ren answered immediately.
"Thank you for clarifying."
"You’re welcome."
"Actually," Ren continued while sitting up slightly, "I think the bigger issue is that Bahamut somehow keeps collecting women like rare artifacts."
"That sounds like jealousy," Bahamut replied calmly.
"That sounds like facts."
Gabi snorted softly for the first time that night, immediately making everyone stare at him.
"You laughed?" Sel asked dramatically.
"No way."
"The lizard laughed."
Gabi’s expression instantly returned to normal.
"I regret everything."
Laughter erupted around the rooftop immediately. The cool night wind blew gently across the rooftops, carrying warmth from the fires below and the distant sounds of celebration. Above them, the stars stretched endlessly across the dark sky.
Bahamut quietly stared upward. His thoughts drifted back toward the strange beast from earlier.
Young Master.
Even now, remembering it made his chest feel strange. Ren glanced at him briefly.
"You’re thinking too loudly again."
Bahamut snorted softly.
"You can hear thoughts now?"
"No. Your face just looks stupid when you think too hard."
"You really ruin moments naturally."
"I was born talented."
Another cheer erupted below as warriors dragged Forta into one of the celebrations despite his protests. Hakim had been cornered by elderly women trying to feed him. Risa stood nearby, laughing softly while healing injured people who were still stubbornly trying to drink. The atmosphere was warm and peaceful.
...
The celebration died instantly.
One second, laughter and music filled Senkeht. Warriors sat around fires, children ran through the streets again, and relief finally loosened the fear gripping everyone’s hearts. Meat roasted over flames while exhausted fighters recounted the battle with exaggerated gestures and loud voices. The ground suddenly trembled. At first, it was faint, barely noticeable. But then the cups on the tables began to shake, and the fires flickered violently. The laughter stopped.
RUMBLE...
A deep vibration spread beneath the town as if something massive was moving underground. The smiles vanished from everyone’s faces almost instantly. Warriors stood up so quickly their chairs crashed backward.
"No way..."
"Again?!"
Forta was already on his feet, spear in hand. Hakim’s flames ignited around his arms instinctively, while Risa’s vines erupted beneath the streets defensively. The ground at the center of the courtyard exploded upward. Sand, stone, and debris blasted into the sky as something enormous burst from beneath the earth. People screamed and stumbled backward. Warriors instantly formed ranks despite the fear flooding their faces.
Out of the crater rose the solar wyrm. Its gigantic body emerged slowly, scales gleaming beneath the moonlight like molten gold and obsidian. But it was different now. It had become smaller. Its previous wounds had healed, but its aura had changed completely. It no longer felt unstable or enraged. Instead, it radiated terrifying pressure. The atmosphere around it distorted faintly from heat alone.
Even Hakim’s face darkened.
"It’s close."
Forta nodded grimly.
"Very close to Tier 3."
That realization sent chills through everyone present. A solar wyrm already this monstrous at Tier 2, becoming a Demigod... It would become a calamity. Weapons were raised instantly despite trembling hands, but the wyrm ignored all of them. Its massive golden eyes swept across the crowd before locking onto one person. Bahamut.
And only then did everyone notice something else. On top of the Solar Wyrm’s head sat a smaller creature, a tiny wyrmling. It was barely the size of a large dog, its scales brighter and smoother than its parent’s. Tiny horns curled from its head, and it wiggled its tail excitedly as it stared around curiously with glowing golden eyes.
The egg had hatched. A collective silence fell. The little wyrm suddenly chirped loudly.
"KRRR!" Then it jumped. Several warriors panicked instantly.
"IT’S ATTACKING!"
"STOP IT!"
A spear flew.
BOOM!
It shattered midair from pure pressure before it could even approach the wyrmling. The solar wyrm growled deeply, and the entire town froze under its killing intent. Hakim immediately stepped forward.
"STOP!" His roar echoed across the courtyard. "No one attacks!"
The warriors hesitated reluctantly, drenched in sweat. Even Forta looked tense. One wrong move now could restart the war instantly. Meanwhile, the little wyrm landed directly in front of Bahamut. Everyone held their breath as the tiny creature sniffed him and rubbed its head against his leg affectionately.
Bahamut stared downward blankly, while the place descended into silence.
"..."
The wyrmling chirped happily again and wrapped its tiny body around his leg possessively.
"Krrr."
Ren lost it first.
"PFFT—HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
The humanoid rabbit collapsed backward, laughing.
"It’s your kid now!"
"Shut up!" Bahamut snapped instantly, though even he looked stunned.
The solar wyrm slowly lowered its gigantic head toward Bahamut afterward. The movement alone made the entire town tense up again. Its glowing eyes remained fixed on him silently for several long seconds. Then it did something no one expected: It bowed its head slightly.
Respect and acknowledgment. Even Hakim looked shocked by that. The Tier 2 calamity beast... was acknowledging Bahamut openly before the entire town. The little wyrm chirped proudly as if showing off.
Bahamut stared at the tiny creature clinging to his leg before slowly crouching down. The wyrmling immediately climbed onto his shoulder without hesitation and curled around his neck comfortably.
The solar syrm growled lowly toward its child, but the little wyrm ignored it completely. Everyone watching looked utterly speechless.
Ren spoke again.
"Congratulations."
Bahamut narrowed his eyes.
"For what?"
Ren pointed dramatically.
"You are officially a mother."
"Piss off!"
"Hahaha!"
Bahamut walked towards the wyrm, crouched down, and touched its head.
"Do you want a name?" He asked the beast, causing it to growl.
"Hmm..."
"Don’t give it some stupid name!" Ren commented from behind him, making his eyes twitch in annoyance. He completely ignored him.
"Let’s see... What about Nagini?"
The beast went silent for a while, turning its head as if it was considering. Then it nodded in acceptance. Bahamut smiled and then patted the little wyrm’s head.
"You will also be called Syrith. Hope you like it," Bahamut said.
The little wyrm, now called Syrith, chirped happily, accepting its name without hesitation. The people of Senkeht just watched it happen, and unknowingly, they were all smiling.
It had started from an expedition, and ended with taming. This was something they would speak of for ages and ages to come.
