"We can't go back to the city. Follow me!" Hunter made a split-second decision, grabbing Jasper's arm and ducking into a more concealed, ancient tunnel next to the market that led to the city's underbelly. It was one of his family's secret routes, and now, their only path to survival.
In the dark, damp, and foul-smelling sewers, the two of them ran frantically. Jasper's stamina was already depleted from nurturing Nidhogg, and he was now running on sheer willpower. Hunter supported him with one hand and held a curved blade in the other, warily guarding their rear.
"That bastard Ryan, he wouldn't dare to make a move in the city, but he'll definitely set up an ambush on our way back," Hunter explained, panting. "This waterway is dangerous, but at least it can help us evade 'Vulture's' tracking."
Jasper said nothing, only pointing the way according to the map provided by the system. He knew their destination was even more dangerous than the pursuit of "Vulture."
After running for an unknown amount of time, an unsettling sound of water came from ahead. They arrived at a wide underground cistern, the murky water filled with unidentifiable filth.
"Careful, there's something here," Hunter's 'Barbarian' instincts made his body tense instantly.
Before he could finish his sentence, the calm surface of the water exploded! A 'Rotten Corpse Crocodile,' the size of a calf and covered in decaying flesh, shot out. It opened its massive, tooth-filled maw and, with a thick, foul stench, lunged straight for Jasper, the weakest one in the group!
Jasper's body was already at its limit. It seemed he was about to be swallowed by the giant mouth!
At that critical moment, Hunter let out a roar, violently pushing Jasper aside and shielding him tightly with his own body!
Squish—!
The Rotten Corpse Crocodile's dagger-like claws dug viciously into Hunter's back! The tough leather armor tore apart, and three deep, bone-visible wounds appeared instantly, blood soaking the back of his clothes!
"Get off!" Hunter roared, enduring the intense pain. He unleashed the full fury of a Sequence 8 'Barbarian,' his curved blade striking the crocodile's head with the force of a thousand pounds!
The crocodile shrieked in pain and was smashed back into the water, stirring up a wave of murky filth.
"Are you okay?" Jasper struggled out of Hunter's arms and his heart clenched at the sight of the gruesome wounds on his back.
"Just a scratch," Hunter grinned, but his face had turned a shade paler. "A Barbarian's recovery is no joke."
Jasper said no more, but he deeply engraved this debt in his heart.
They had no time to linger and continued deeper into the waterway. Finally, they stopped before a massive iron door covered in rust and moss, engraved with the runes of an ancient church.
"This is... the 'Forgotten Waterway'?" Hunter sucked in a cold breath as he looked at the runes on the door. "A forbidden area sealed by the church! Legend says it holds high-level Extraordinary Ones who lost control!"
"Our hope is inside," Jasper placed his hand on the iron door.
[You have arrived at the mission location. Enter?]
"Yes!"
Hum—!
A faint light flashed, and the two of them instantly disappeared from behind the door.
Beyond the iron door was a massive, empty underground cavern. In the center, on a large stone platform, lay a petrified dragon egg, half the height of a man. Beneath its grayish-white, stony surface, a small, candle-like flame of gold was faintly flickering.
That was the "Life Source Fire."
And around the stone platform coiled a massive resentful spirit, an amalgamation of countless tormented, wailing souls. Its aura had shockingly reached the level of a Sequence 7 "Nightmare"!
"Dammit..." Hunter's face turned incredibly grim.
Just then, Nidhogg, in Jasper's coat, seemed to be drawn by the aura of the "Life Source Fire" and let out an extremely faint, longing cry.
This cry alerted the massive resentful spirit. Its head, composed of countless tormented faces, slowly turned toward them.
However, when its "gaze" fell upon the ash-white Nidhogg in Jasper's arms, an instinctive... fear flickered within its chaotic consciousness. From Nidhogg's dying body, it sensed a terrifying pressure that originated from the depths of its bloodline, a pressure that surpassed all others, the pressure of a mythological creature!
The resentful spirit let out a sharp shriek and didn't dare to advance!
"Now!" Jasper understood immediately. "Hunter, cover me!"
"Leave it to me!" Hunter roared, charging toward the resentful spirit and drawing most of its attention with his ferocious attacks.
Jasper seized the opportunity and rushed to the stone platform, cupping the golden "Life Source Fire" in his hands.
[Mission complete. Reward obtained: 『Blood of a Nascent Dragon』 x1.]
The moment he touched it, the flame transformed into a warm, golden liquid filled with an immense life force and slowly merged into Nidhogg's body in his arms.
BZZZZ—!
A blinding golden light erupted from Nidhogg's body!
Its ash-white scales, like burning paper, peeled off inch by inch, revealing new, hard scales underneath that gleamed like obsidian! Its small body expanded and elongated at a visible rate, becoming more agile and filled with a streamlined sense of power!
The most astonishing change occurred on its back!
Riiip—!
With a sickening sound of tearing flesh, two fearsome, bat-like wings, covered in viscous blood, violently burst forth from its shoulder blades!
ROAR—!
A sound that was no longer the hiss of a lizard, but the tender roar of a dragon, filled with ancient majesty, echoed throughout the underground cavern!
Nidhogg slowly opened its eyes. Its dark-gold vertical pupils now burned like two suns, filled with the power of new life and destruction. It stretched the still-bloody, slightly clumsy wings on its back and then affectionately nuzzled Jasper's cheek with its head.
[Companion 'Nidhogg' has awakened from hibernation.]
[Form evolved: Wyrmling → Fledgling Dragon.]
[New abilities unlocked: 『Flight』, 『Dragon's Might』.]
Jasper looked at his transformed companion, and the gloom in his heart was swept away.
He slowly turned his head to look at Hunter, who was still entangled with the resentful spirit.
Now, it was their turn to fight back.