This will be the final upload of the year. To end 2025, I'll take you back to Shangrila so we can see a terrestrial wyvern that has become an apex predator.

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The Death-Striker is a massive carnivorous wyvern that convergently evolved to resemble a theropod dinosaur. It stalks sparsely forested areas, which normally provide cover for the local herbivores (cover from large flying wyverns specifically). While predators such as the Novavern or Grand Tempest Wyvern have trouble maneuvering through the wooded areas (due to their massive wingspans), the Death-Striker circumvented this problem by giving up flight entirely. Much like its closest relative, the Mocking Reaper, it stalks the thicket in search of suitable prey (such as Lumberers and Batter-Horns).

When the Death-Striker spots a prey animal, it will use the cover of trees and bushes to get close enough to use its most devastating weapon: its huge, axe-like beak. While Earth's paleontologists once theorized that Allosaurus could use its head like a battle axe, this wyvern is actually capable of doing so. The razor-sharp outer edge of the beak can be used to deliver devastating slashing damage, while the pointed, hook-like tip can perforate even the toughest hides. The latter method of attack causes both piercing damage and crushing damage from the sheer force of each strike.
For smaller prey, the Death-Striker can also just bite the unfortunate victim. Its toothy maw can slice and cut anything it can clamp onto. A typical bite to the back or the neck is usually enough to instant-kill a juvenile Batterhorn or Juggernaut.

Outside of its hunting prowess, little is known about this ferocious beast. It's surprisingly elusive. Scholars can, however, surmise that individuals with red horns are males and that the vibrance of the horns plays an important role in courship.

Whether these wyverns raise their young as bonded pairs or alone is yet to be determined, along with how long the young remain with their parent or parents.

Closer studies of this species are difficult due to the highly aggressive nature of the Death-Striker.