Chapter 183: Despicable Inferior Creature, Falling into the Magma Sea
A heatwave rolled forth!
The ancient red dragon's enormous body loomed over Tang Zheng, bringing with it a heavy, oppressive feeling. Its body was covered in crimson, basin-sized scales.
Illuminated by the red glow of the Magma Sea behind it, the ancient red dragon looked like a red sun, its entire body shimmering with a metallic luster.
Its terrifying aura made the very air feel solid.
A precious magic item?
What was that?
Tang Zheng's expression was grave and grim as he subconsciously took a step back with his left foot.
This area was near the Magma Sea, the territory of the Sun Anglerfish. The sudden appearance of an ancient red dragon was completely outside his expectations. What on earth was going on?
Could it be that his continuous casting of fifth-tier magic had attracted it?
Tang Zheng could only curse his rotten luck inwardly. He had no clue about the precious magic item the dragon mentioned, and now was not the time to worry about it.
He quickly scanned his surroundings.
The terrain in this area wasn't complex, but a quick escape was next to impossible.
The one blocking his path was a dragon!
Tang Zheng had considered that he would eventually meet a True Dragon of this world, but that was supposed to happen when his own strength was sufficient. He never expected it to be so soon.
The Sun Anglerfish was around Level 47. The ancient red dragon before him could only be a higher level, never lower. Furthermore, it belonged to the Dragon race, the strongest of races.
Even at the same level, they possessed the highest base stats!
"What a headache!"
Tang Zheng's body tensed, and he cursed silently.
His magic power was completely depleted, rendering him unable to use any significant magic. Even if he used the [Flight] spell to ascend quickly, doing so in front of a dragon, which was equally adept at flying, was simply asking for trouble.
"Hmph—"
The ancient red dragon snorted a blast of hot air from its nostrils. It looked at the figure standing motionless, seemingly scared stiff, and raised its head, gazing down upon the lowly creature below.
"Lowly inferior species, it is your honor to witness my magnificent form. I do not like to repeat myself."
"On account of your ignorance as an inferior species, you may leave this place alive if you offer me the magic item you possess."
Its arrogant, deep voice was filled with an intangible majesty, echoing off the surrounding mountain walls.
After saying these two sentences, a trace of impatience had already appeared in the depths of the ancient red dragon's fierce, crimson eyes.
A mere human of an inferior species was not even worthy of its words. At any other time, it would have long since taken what it wanted by force.
However!
The faint magic power emanating from this human was indeed somewhat surprising.
If it weren't for its innate, keen sensitivity to magic power, it probably wouldn't have even detected the faint fluctuations from him.
Among the lesser races, this human's aura would classify him as powerful, but before a great True Dragon, he was but a minor character who could be dealt with at will.
Although that faint fluctuation of magic power didn't feel dangerous to its senses, out of the caution that came with a long life, it had chosen to converse with this inferior creature.
Hearing the ancient red dragon's words, Tang Zheng's eyelids lowered slightly. He knew that a peaceful withdrawal was now impossible.
As an arrogant member of the Dragon race, how could it possibly let an ant-like existence like him go so easily?
If he was an ant… then he had no choice but to fight!
Several thoughts flashed through Tang Zheng's mind.
The two negative effects from [Dark Wave] would likely have no effect on a member of the Dragon race, which possessed naturally high resistance. This meant the damage effect wouldn't trigger.
In that case!
*Swish.*
With almost no hesitation, Tang Zheng bent his knees sharply, and the magic Greatsword appeared in his hand.
The very moment the weapon appeared in Tang Zheng's hand, the ancient red dragon's arrogant and impatient fiery-red pupils contracted abruptly. In that instant, it actually felt a trace of the aura of death from the inferior creature before it.
It was as if a chill had suddenly shot up its spine.
*Bang!*
Tang Zheng's figure moved at that moment. With a hard stomp, he vanished from his spot, transforming into a black afterimage and charging toward the ancient red dragon.
"Despicable human, you dare to defy a great True Dragon!"
The ancient red dragon was both shocked and enraged. Its long neck recoiled, and then, as if realizing something, a shamed fury filled its heart, and it let out a roar.
It had actually felt a moment of fear!
*How could I possibly fear an inferior creature— Impossible!*
The ancient red dragon's savage, fiery-red eyes widened in disbelief that it could experience fear.
But the dense sense of threat that had appeared out of thin air from this inferior human forced it to react immediately.
This human's speed wasn't particularly fast.
So, the ancient red dragon opened its maw, and a violent, crimson light gathered within before transforming into a sea of fire that spewed from its mouth.
"[Flame Breath]!"
*Boom!*
The smell of sulfur and pumice instantly filled the area. The scorching flames released an astonishingly high temperature, surging toward Tang Zheng like a tidal wave.
Faced with such a wide, fan-shaped dragon breath attack!
Tang Zheng, who was just about to reach the ancient red dragon, knew he couldn't possibly dodge it.
With his current defense, Tang Zheng couldn't block an attack of this level, not to mention he had no resistance to the fire attribute.
But that didn't mean he couldn't stop it!
"[Impure Impact Shield]!" Tang Zheng's eyes widened as he let out a furious shout.
*Boom!*
Crimson-black energy erupted from Tang Zheng, forming an unstoppable shockwave that spread out in all directions, instantly colliding with the Flame Breath.
The moment the two forces made contact, there was no imagined energy collision or intense explosion!
Like snowflakes melting away, the astonishingly powerful Flame Breath was rapidly annihilated and dissipated!
"What is this—"
The ancient red dragon watched this scene in disbelief.
*Swoosh!*
By this time, Tang Zheng had already rushed before the ancient red dragon. He bent his legs and leaped forcefully, reaching a height of seven or eight meters in front of the dragon's chest.
*Flap!!*
A trace of panic appeared on the ancient red dragon's face as it beat its wings, trying to rise.
A gale swept through.
Seeing that his powerful leap would only bring him to the rising dragon's chest, a flash of regret appeared in Tang Zheng's eyes, quickly replaced by a cold glint.
"Die!"
"[Fast Slash]!"
Tang Zheng gripped the magic Greatsword with both hands. A black curse power coated the sword blade as he brought it down with all his might.
In this situation, it was no time to worry about the magic Greatsword being destroyed by the curse power.
The sword blade erupted with terrifying force, shredding the air before it as it slammed heavily into the metal-hard, thick red scales on the ancient red dragon's chest.
[Aura of Courage] triggered—On melee contact, the first instance of damage is a guaranteed Critical Hit!
[Weapon Extra Specialization] triggered—Slashing Damage +110%, Area Damage +50%.
[Fast Slash] Skill Damage +10%
The stacking of these three effects caused Tang Zheng's damage to momentarily burst to over three times his base attack power—a level of force beyond ordinary comprehension.
*Puchi!*
The hard, fiery-red scales on the ancient red dragon's chest were like fragile paper, easily shredded by the magic Greatsword as it cut deep into its body.
Gripping the sword hilt, Tang Zheng tried to slice the ancient dragon's chest wide open as he fell from the air, as if disemboweling it.
"Roar! Get off, human!"
The ancient dragon let out a pained howl. Its huge, fiery-red wings beat rapidly, and as it took to the air, its strong and powerful fiery-red dragon claw came crashing down.
The sound of air being torn apart came from above!
Tang Zheng's expression changed. He had no choice but to quickly pull the magic Greatsword from the ancient red dragon's chest and block above his head.
Compared to his instantaneous attack power, his own defensive capabilities were far weaker.
A heavy force traveled down his arms.
*Bang!*
Tang Zheng felt his arms go numb. Like a shooting star, his body was uncontrollably smashed into the ground.
The scorching mountain wall trembled, and a human-shaped pit appeared on the surface.
Tang Zheng crawled out of the pit in a sorry state, spitting out a mouthful of blood that splattered on the ground and was quickly evaporated by the high temperature.
His trembling, numb arms could barely hold the magic Greatsword steady.
*Crack!*
A faint cracking sound came from the magic Greatsword, and a conspicuous crack appeared on it.
"It's not just the influence of the curse power. I'm afraid the instantaneous power that erupted just now was also more than this magic Greatsword could handle."
Tang Zheng coughed, raised his arm to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth, and looked up into the air with an icy gaze.
"Roar!!"
In mid-air, the ancient red dragon's pained roars could be heard. Blood gushed from the enormous, several-meter-long wound like a fountain.
"You vile, inferior creature!"
"Damned ant!!"
The ancient red dragon's furious roar echoed through the sky, yet its voice carried an unconcealable weakness. Even its flying posture was clearly unstable.
It had obviously suffered a heavy blow!
"Cough, cough."
Tang Zheng finally steadied himself, unable to stop himself from spitting out another mouthful of blood. He grimaced. "As expected of the Dragon race, to withstand an attack with more than triple the damage."
"Roar…"
The ancient red dragon, which had been barely holding on in mid-air, suddenly let out a wail, and its body fell uncontrollably toward the ground.
Tang Zheng's gaze focused. The "Instant Death" effect contained within the curse power must have activated.
However, with the Dragon race's excellent innate resistance, it could probably endure it, but forcing its body into a state of weakness was no problem.
Tang Zheng endured the painful numbness in his arms, once again gripping the cracked magic Greatsword, wanting to deliver the final blow after the ancient red dragon crashed to the ground.
However!
As the ancient red dragon fell, it still weakly flapped its wings, causing its trajectory to tilt and head toward the Magma Sea.
As the red stream of light fell, a towering wave of magma surged up from the Magma Sea!
Tang Zheng's motion to deliver the final blow paused. He looked at the astonishingly hot Magma Sea in the distance, and his eyelid twitched.
"This damned red dragon. It won't even die in front of me. No, for a red dragon, the high heat of the magma is likely nothing."
"But shouldn't that be the Sun Anglerfish's territory?"
Tang Zheng's eyes flickered for a moment. Finally, no longer hesitating, he clutched his chest and quickly turned to leave.
He couldn't get near the Magma Sea, so there was no longer a chance to land the finishing blow. He would have to wait for the next time!
Tang Zheng hadn't forgotten the threat of the Slane Theocracy. No one could be sure when they might arrive here.
Right now, his magic power was empty and he was heavily injured. He had to leave this dangerous zone as soon as possible.
*Boom!*
Suddenly, a violent suction force appeared above the Magma Sea. Immediately after, a dragon's roar filled with resentment came from within the sea.
"Go to hell, human!"
Before Tang Zheng could even react, he was uncontrollably pulled from the ground by this powerful suction force, flying in the direction of the Magma Sea.
Before he even got close to the center, the scorching heat began to burn his body, and large-scale burns started to appear on his skin.
"Courting death!!"
A pained look appeared on Tang Zheng's face as he roared:
"[Impure Impact Shield]!"
The crimson-black shockwave spread out, forcefully canceling out the terrifying suction.
"[Pure Throwing Spear]!"
But by now, Tang Zheng had been forcibly pulled close to the Magma Sea. His entire body was scalded blood-red by the scorching steam. Enduring the intense pain, he waved his hand and threw a Pure Throwing Spear.
Tang Zheng then turned and quickly retreated toward the outer edge.
The giant figure of the Sun Anglerfish leaped out of the Magma Sea. Its eyes, which seemed to be flowing with some kind of red liquid, stared in Tang Zheng's direction as its huge tentacles, which looked like both hands and lanterns, shot out.
The scalding air was blasted apart!
Hearing the commotion behind him, Tang Zheng looked back, and his face changed drastically.
If he were facing either the ancient red dragon or the Sun Anglerfish alone, Tang Zheng wouldn't actually be afraid. But the environment of the lava zone truly had too great an effect on him.
"Damn it, I'm out of [Impure Impact Shield] uses!"
He had just used up both charges. He could no longer use it to dodge the Sun Anglerfish's attack.
"[Soul of Heroic Spirits]!" Tang Zheng roared.
*Swish!*
A milky-white figure emerged from Tang Zheng's body and blocked his path.
The next moment!
It was grabbed by the Sun Anglerfish's tentacle and dragged into the magma. Amidst the splashing, magma-like water, a small, red, fish-like monster the size of a fist, resembling a Sun Anglerfish, appeared.
This small fish-like monster must have been brought out from the magma by the Sun Anglerfish's tentacle.
*There are other fish-like monsters in the magma?*
The thought flashed through Tang Zheng's mind as he quickly retreated.
*Boom!*
"Die! Die for me!" The ancient red dragon's weak, miserable cry came from the depths of the magma.
The powerful suction force appeared again.
This time, Tang Zheng could no longer resist it. Feeling his body being pulled from the ground once more, a ruthless glint flashed in his eyes.
He reached out and grabbed the small Sun Anglerfish that was emitting an ultra-high temperature.
(end of chapter)