Chapter 167: Is that a core?

The black, gray and white mist rolled towards the battlefield and Adrian's Nether Gauge was instantly full. Whenever Adrian summons the Nether Domain, he can empower his attacks using 100 nether energy for a duration of 20 seconds. He was basically empowered whenever he summons his Nether Domain.

[All your skills will deal 50% more damage for the duration of Nether Domain.]

[Your stats have been doubled for the duration of Nether Domain.]

[The Calcite Rock Dragon has been affected by Paranoia. All its skill shots have a 50% chance to miss.]

The raid party members could see inside the mist but they did not have the status boosting effects that Adrian is given. The Calcite Rock Dragon felt a weird sensation that it has not felt in all of its life being alive. The rock dragon felt like death was just beside it. It felt that death was claiming its soul to drag to the underworld.

Adrian's body looked like it was becoming part of the mist as it was becoming incorporeal. Adrian also felt like his body was rejuvenated whenever he summons the Nether Domain. His body feels like it is more comfortable whenever it bathes on the energy of the Nether Domain. His body looked like it was blurring in and out of existence.

Adrian also looked like the mist is attached to his body to complete his overall look. His giant gauntlets is also coated in a shadowy aura so he looked much more dangerous than before. Adrian immediately empowered all his attacks for the bashing of the rock dragon. He will really enjoy this.

Adrian immediately punched the rock dragon and unlike before, the rock dragon actually got knocked back by a meter. Although the force was great, the damage was not probably due to the increased stats. Adrian only decreased about 0.6% of the rock dragon's health.

With Adrian's doubled stats, he can now fight face to face or at least try to with the rock dragon. All Adrian needed to do was whittle down as much health as he can from the rock dragon. He only had twenty seconds for the buff so he did not waste anything and attacked the rock dragon.

Adrian made use of all the attacks that he could hit in the given amount of time. He made use of his Blink skills and Nether Soul Strike with 100 nether energy. He finally managed to bring the rock dragon down to four percent health. He wanted another get in another hit before the twenty second mark but the rock dragon shielded itself with its white rock dome once more out of instinct.

The rock dragon felt being oppressed the whole time it was inside the Nether Domain. When its defensive skill went off cooldown, the rock dragon immediately used its defensive skill. It wanted its preserve its life a little bit longer despite the poison and curse that was eating it away.

It was an organism's basic instinct to survive even if it is already dying. The rock dragon held onto its life despite fleeting away from its grip. The rock dragon knew this too but its instinct overrode it and its instinct wanted it to live longer. Alas, the white rock dome crumbled as even defensive skills must not be indefinite.

The only good news was that the Nether Domain receded and that Adrian no longer had stat boosts with unlimited nether energy. The dome shattered and the rock dragon wanted to get some distance but what greeted it was a face full of fire and frost.

The rock dragon did not expect it or rather it did not sense Kanlaon's presence. There is one simple explanation why the rock dragon did not sense Kanlaon's presence. Adrian immediately used Soul Form Transformation on Kanlaon to hide the latter's presence.

[Your soulbound Kanlaon has killed the Calcite Rock Dragon.]

[You will receive 100% experience due to being a top contributor to the raid.]

[You have leveled up.]

[Your soulbound Kanlaon has leveled up.]

[Your soulbound Saena has leveled up.]

[You have received 100% experience points.]

[Due to being the top contributor to the raid, you received an additional reward an Epic Weapon Treasure Chest and Epic Armor Treasure chest.]

[You have gained the skill Soul Recall.]

Adrian immediately sighed with relief when he read the notifications he received. Even the other party members looked extremely exhausted. They were mentally exhausted due to the immense fight that just transpired. All of them had to sit on the ground and gather their thoughts on the battle.

The rest of the group did not even bother picking up the loot because they were busy assessing their selves. The players who participated in this raid now discovered their lack of skills and their weaknesses. They were inadequate if they compared themselves with the guests that the guild advisor Cersei invited.

The Evergreen guild members now knew that without their guest then their chance of succeeding in the raid would have been 20% at best. Their chance for succeeding the raid skyrocketed due to the guest they invited. Even if they are silent, they are very grateful to Equinox who was now checking the drops with a red and blue haired kid.

They doubted their eyes because the dragon soulbound was nowhere to be found but their Vice Guild Leader was already flying towards Adrian.

"Little Equinox, why don't you pick an item or two from the loot pile. I am sure the other will not protest. You are the top contributor for this raid so please pick from the loot pile." Mariposa stated in a kind big sister voice. It was as if she threw away her fierce leadership side from a few moments ago.

"Okay then. I thank you for the grace that you have given to me. I will be shameless then." Adrian stated as he went towards the pile of loot that the rock dragon dropped.

"I thought he would reject but it seems something caught his fancy. That is good then at least it made my job easier." Mariposa thought.

Mariposa then shifted her look towards the little boy with red and blue hair. She was very sure this was the dragon soulbound that Equinox has. When she first saw this dragon, her skin tingled because of the aura Kanlaon carried. This red and blue haired kid gave her the same feeling so she was very sure of this fact.

Adrian already wanted something from the loot pile but did not know how to ask for it. Thankfully, Mariposa approached him and told him to pick one or two items from the pile. Adrian felt like a winner because not only did he get two epic treasure chests, he also gets to pick two items from the pile.

"I already know one of the items that I want. Luckily, the Calcite Rock Dragon dropped it." Adrian thought as he picked up the first item that he wanted.

Item: Calcite Rock Dragon Core

Tier: Legendary

Type: Material

Effect: Using this dragon core for crafting will imbue the item with powers and abilities that are the same to that of the Calcite Rock Dragon. Using this item on a soulbound will give it a chance to get earth dragon properties or skills. The effect increases when the soulbound is draconic in origin.

Description: A core that is the source of power for the Calcite Rock Dragon. The Calcite Rock Dragon boasted incredible defense and wide area earth elemental skills so any items that used this core will get similar properties. It is said to be difficult earth dragons because they blend well with their surroundings and rare even hunt other monsters.

"I pick this one." Adrian stated.

"Are you sure?" Mariposa asked.

"Yes. I am sure. Why are you asking?" Adrian replied.

"It's just that when I appraised the item, it just told me it was a rock. I do not want you to be on the losing end since you contributed greatly." Mariposa stated.

"Yup. I have a use for this stone so do not worry much." Adrian replied.

"If that is the case then I will not press you any further. Take another one just in case. The boss did drop lots of items." Mariposa stated giving Adrian more of an assurance that she could really not see the value in this stone.

"I am fine with just two items. The others also worked hard and need to be compensated so I cannot be too greedy." Adrian stated but what really was on his mind was, "This dragon core is the best item here anyway. All the others are just epic in rank."

Adrian searched for another item that tickled his fancy and he saw it. He almost exclaimed in pure joy but he composed himself so that he does not give away the importance of the item.

"It seems my luck stat played a part in dropping this item." Adrian thought.

Item: Gem of Earth

Tier: Rare

Type: Runestone Fragment

Effect: Imbues the socketed weapon or armor with properties related to earth. For weapons, it would imbue it with one passive skill and one active skill. For armor, it would imbue resistance and a passive skill.

Description: This Runestone is considered as a fragment of a runestone but it could be equipped due to its peculiar nature. This runestone is one part of a greater runestone which consists of six fragments. Gotta collect them all.