136 Chapter136-Consort Dragon
Howard, not one for comforting others, was struck by curiosity at the sight of Shelley Chan's somber expression. "If the guardian of your family is a Divine Dragon, why are your abilities related to the phoenix?" he asked.
Shelley cast a glance at Howard and replied, "In the Chan family, the men's innate talents awaken in connection with dragons, while the women's relate to phoenixes. The gift that has awakened within me is that of the Phoenix Rebirth."
Howard was profoundly startled by her words.
Before or after the cataclysm, dragons and phoenixes were counted among the most formidable beings in the world.
The talents of the Chan family were frighteningly formidable.
Fortunately, their awakened talents were only associated with dragons and phoenixes, with varying degrees of strength and weakness.
Otherwise, how many would envy their lineage!
The specifics of the pill Shelley had consumed remained a mystery, yet within merely half an hour, she seemed as though unscathed.
Although still frail and unable to harness her internal energy, she appeared nearly as a common person would.
Unwilling to remain idle any longer, Shelley promptly led Howard forward, following the subterranean river's course.
Since Shelley could not exert any power for the time being, Howard became her protector.
His Soul Nurturer flickered softly, his eyes sharp as an eagle's, constantly ready for combat.
Thanks to the teachings of Wales, although Howard could not discern the optimal path, he had no trouble navigating the map.
Along their way, they found a measure of safety.
Uncertain of how long they had been walking, a sudden glimmer of light appeared ahead, prompting Howard and Shelley Chan to reveal expressions of delight.
They advanced quickly, and in a short while, they found themselves before a mountain wall, marking the end of the subterranean river.
Looking up, they discovered a crevice above through which the scorching sun hung, spilling beams of sunlight downward.
Despite their extraordinary constitutions, the abrupt exposure to sunlight after prolonged darkness was painful to their eyes, forcing them both to turn away hastily.
Tears inevitably trickled down.
Once accustomed to the light, Howard opened his eyes and surveyed the mountain wall, suggesting, "These cliffs seem rather rugged; we should be able to climb up, or, once you've recovered enough to use your strength, perhaps even fly straight up."
"Then we wait," Shelley nodded. "The Nirvana State is twofold: the first phase, revitalizing vitality, takes about two to three days, and the second phase, regaining strength, another three to five. My fear is that time is not on our side. If we miss the rendezvous with my kin and have to navigate back to Crimson Dragon City amidst the ambushes of our pursuers..."
Her voice trailed off into a sigh.
After all, she faced adversaries from across the entire Alliance!
No matter her strength, she could not stand alone against them all.
Fortunately, the Alliance would not dare to openly target the major cities.
As long as she could make it back to Crimson Dragon City, safety was assured.
"Let's settle down here for meditation and rest. This spot has a light source, so it's unlikely any monsters are present," Shelley selected a spot and motioned for Howard to sit nearby.
Unbeknownst to Shelley Chan, beneath the murky waters beside them, a sinister, purple, six-pointed star formation was etched into the darkness.
As Shelley and Howard rested, an ethereal figure lurked in the river's depths, casting surreptitious glances at the pair.
"Cackle cackle cackle," it hissed. "Another pair has arrived! Three more couples and I shall have gleaned enough power of desire to break my seal!"
"So be it, let me play the gracious host!"
With that utterance, the currents in the river stirred, and a massive creature slowly approached from the distance.
Howard, now possessing attributes of great heights and a spirit of keen sensitivity, instantly sensed the disturbance.
He sprang to his feet, his gaze sharp and penetrating as he stared at the water's surface, and declared in a low voice, "Be cautious, there's something in the water."
Shelley Chan, despite her current inability to wield her power, remained composed.
The water rippled and roared, and soon, under the watchful eyes of Howard and Shelley, a creature with an inky black body emerged from the depths.
Its head resembled that of a snake or lizard, devoid of scales. The black skin shimmered with moisture, casting a strange and eerie presence.
At first, Howard detected no immediate threat, but as he watched the black monster stretch out three, four fathoms in length without end in sight, his expression darkened.
"Hiss... What kind of monster is this? Just by its size, it must be at least fifteen fathoms long, right?"
Quick on his feet, Howard stepped forward, positioning his body protectively in front of Shelley Chan as he cast a Divination spell.
Hum—
In the next moment, the attributes of the black monster were revealed as if displayed on a panel before Howard and Shelley Chan.
[Consort Dragon] (BOSS)
[Level: 100]
[Tier: Epic]
[Description: A being of legend, this serpent dragon possesses special abilities. However, it appears to be under some sort of control.]
[HP: 24500000/24500000]
[Attack Power: 0]
[Defense Value: 500000]
[Skills: ???]
"!!!"
"An Epic-tier BOSS at level 100?"
Howard's pupils constricted sharply, and he couldn't help but exclaim.
Had it not been for the creature's zero Attack Power, Howard would have surely grabbed Shelley Chan and fled without a second thought—even with a path of escape at hand.
What sort of jest is this?
A level 100 BOSS, not of a lowly tier either.
It would take a prime level 90 or so expert, clad in Supreme Artifacts or Epic-grade equipment, and fully awakened, to have a chance at slaying such a beast, wouldn't it?
"This monster seems to have no killing power," Howard remarked, letting out a sigh of relief. "It looks like we don't need to be afraid?"
"…" Shelley Chan shook her head and explained, "Let me teach you another thing. When a monster's size reaches a certain magnitude, even without lethality, it does not imply that you are safe!"
"If it steps on you or swallows you whole, do you think you'd live?"
Hearing Shelley Chan's words, a sense of crisis ignited within Howard, his eyes gleaming with heightened alertness.
Indeed, this isn't merely a virtual game world where everything is determined by attributes!
Given the Consort Dragon's terrifying size, should they be stepped on or entangled, death was certain.
Ironically, one of the serpent dragon's most adept methods of attack was constriction!
"Let's leave this place; it might be its lair," Shelley Chan suggested with a sigh, her face etching a portrait of helplessness.
If this were her heyday, the Consort Dragon would be minced into oblivion under her blade within a few strokes.
It was lamentable that an encounter now meant avoiding its sharp edge rather than confronting it.
Howard trusted Shelley Chan's judgment implicitly. Taking her jade-like hand, they slowly descended from the stone platform, intending to temporarily withdraw.
However, the Consort Dragon, which had been moving leisurely, roared defiantly upon noticing their attempt to leave.
Its actions became suddenly frenetic, its massive tail lashing, sending up a spray of water.
Within a mere few breaths, it had clambered entirely onto the shore.
It was then that Howard truly perceived the enormity of the Consort Dragon's stature.
A strange array of scales adorned the protruding nape of its neck, and beyond that, it closely resembled a serpent—only much more robust, nearly as thick as a water barrel!
"Damn it! We are its target!"
"Its attack power is zero, yet it's aggressive? That's bloody preposterous!"
Howard cursed under his breath at the scene unfolding before him but quickly responded.
The Soul Nurturer in his grip whirled, gathering the cold chill of the air into a series of ice spires.
Accompanied by gusts of frigid wind, they shot violently towards the Consort Dragon.
However, what could mundane cold do against such a formidable creature?
The icy winds were futile against its hide, and the ice spires shattered upon contact with its skin as if they were nothing.
With a furrowed brow, Howard continued to shield Shelley Chan as they retreated, simultaneously unleashing an SS-level skill—Wrath of the Earth.
In an instant, formidable strength erupted from the ground, but the Consort Dragon remained unscathed, not even budging from its spot.
Howard's expression turned gravely serious.
The gulf between their levels and attributes was too vast; even an SS-level skill had no effect.
Could it be time to resort to an SSS-level skill?
As Howard hesitated, the Consort Dragon whipped its tail, swiftly coiling its massive body around Howard and Shelley Chan.
The dragon didn't open its jaws. Instead, it twisted in a rapid motion, ensnaring Howard and Shelley Chan in its constrictive embrace.
With the dragon exerting force, Howard and Shelley Chan immediately felt an overwhelming strength crushing their flesh and bones.
"Damn it!"
"We're going all out!"
Under such dire straits, Howard couldn't muster the space to cast any skills.
His eyes darted; reaching into his Storage Bag, he pulled out a dagger and, with a surge of determination, plunged it into the flesh of the Consort Dragon.
With a sickening squelch, the dagger pierced the dragon's skin, and a mist of pinkish blood sprayed forth, enveloping both Howard and Shelley Chan in its gory mist.
With a roar of pain, the Consort Dragon seemed to react to the agony.
It released Howard and Shelley Chan, hastily retreating back into the waters.
Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!
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