Chapter 133 River Monsters



"I should've been an archer..."

Looking at the massive Lava Drake, gazing at me with its eerie eyes, I sighed. There was simply no way I could fight this monster with my sword.

I didn't want to be blasted away by its Fire Blast, so I couldn't get close enough to land any hits.

"..."

A thought of using Explosive pebbles crossed my mind but I quickly discarded the idea. I didn't have enough time to prepare them...

My eyes scanned the area, trying to find anything that could help me in this dire situation.

However, no matter how hard I looked, there was nothing but barren land and the looming presence of the Lava Drake.

I could feel the sweat trickling down my forehead, mingling with the dirt on my face. I somehow had to find a way to kill this creature.

Grrr...

As the Lava Drake let out a menacing growl, its hot breath causing the air to shimmer, I knew I had to act fast. Time was running out, and I couldn't afford any more hesitation.

"Fuck it..."

I clenched my Authority, taking a deep breath and calming my nerves.

If I was fast enough then maybe, just maybe, I could kill it before it unleashed its Fire Blast.

This was a gamble...

Summoning every ounce of courage, I dashed towards the Lava Drake with a single-minded focus. The ground beneath me trembled with each thunderous step of the beast, threatening to throw me off balance.

Swish...

Adrenaline surged through my veins, heightening my senses and sharpening my reflexes. The world around me seemed to blur as my training took over, instinct guiding my movements. I had to time this perfectly.

As the Lava Drake reared back, preparing to unleash its devastating Fire Blast, I lunged forward with all my might. My sword sliced through the air, a silver streak aimed at the creature's exposed underbelly.

However, the Lava Drake was no ordinary foe. With a swift motion of its claws, it deflected my strike, sending me crashing to the ground. Pain shot through my body as I tasted the bitterness of defeat.

The monster baited me into thinking that it was going to release its Fire Blast, but it was ready to counter my attack.

I got fooled by a fucking NPC.

I quickly scrambled to my feet, refusing to let discouragement consume me. The Lava Drake circled around, its eyes fixated on me with a mix of curiosity and aggression. It underestimated my determination.

I knew I couldn't rely on brute strength alone. I needed a plan, a strategy that would exploit the creature's weaknesses. My mind raced, desperately searching for a solution.

Then it hit me.

I could throw it off the island!

Although this wouldn't kill the monster, it would certainly allow the Void to close since the Lava Drake's presence would be no longer within the vicinity.

With renewed resolve, I surveyed the area once more. This time, my eyes fell upon a nearby ravine, its depths shrouded in shadows. It was probably a free-fall straight toward the Lava Ocean.

"..."

Slowly, I lured the Lava Drake towards the ravine, taunting it with swift movements and agile dodges. The beast roared in fury, its fiery breath searing the air. But I remained focused, leading it closer to the edge.

As the Lava Drake lunged at me, jaws wide open, I dodged at the last possible moment, narrowly avoiding its deadly bite. With a surge of strength, I unleashed a powerful strike, slashing at the creature's side.

Grrr...

The Lava Drake howled in pain as its molten blood spilled onto the ground. It thrashed and roared, its anger palpable.

With the Lava Drake reeling from my attack, I seized the opportunity. The beast staggered backward.

Swish...

I could feel the intense heat radiating from its body, a constant reminder of the danger I was facing.

Summoning every ounce of strength, I lunged forward once again, my sword gleaming in the fiery light. The Lava Drake attempted to counter, but I was prepared this time. I sidestepped its claws, narrowly avoiding the lethal swipe, and struck with precision.

Pluck...

My blade found its mark, slicing through the creature's scales and biting deep into its flesh. The Lava Drake let out a thunderous roar, a mixture of agony and fury reverberating through the air.

But the battle was far from over.

As the wounded monster recovered, its eyes blazed with renewed intensity. It drew in a deep breath, preparing to unleash its deadly Fire Blast upon me. Time seemed to slow as I stared into the maw of impending destruction.

At that moment, instinct took over. I knew I had only one chance to survive this onslaught and end this battle. I mustered every ounce of strength, channeling it into a single desperate act.

With a primal roar, I pushed against the Lava Drake with all my might, using every ounce of strength in my body.

In a display of sheer determination, I propelled myself forward, my boot connecting with the Lava Drake's midsection.

Thud...

My shoe hit its obsidian scales making some of them break, however, the monster barely moved.

"I have to use it now, don't I?"

I muttered to myself, sending Mana into my shoe and activating the explosive rune etched to its sole.

Thud...

Suddenly, a massive explosion erupted, throwing me back, almost into the Lava river and pushing the Lava Drake toward the ravine.

Time seemed to freeze as the Lava Drake fought against its impending fate. Its massive limbs moved in the air, attempting to regain stability, but it was too late. With one final look of resentment, the creature fell out of my view.

Roar...

A deafening roar echoed through the air as the Lava Drake disappeared from sight, swallowed by the depths of the ravine. I stood at the precipice, chest heaving, covered in sweat and grime, triumphant yet battered.

The silence that followed was eerie, the absence of Lava Drake's presence palpable. A sense of accomplishment washed over me, mingling with the lingering adrenaline. I had done it. I had survived.

"Fuck this monster..."

I cursed leaning against a nearby rock to catch my breath and assess the aftermath of the intense battle.

One of my shoes enchanted with explosive runes was completely destroyed in the process, its sole blown apart and remnants scattered across the battlefield.

My entire body was battered and covered in bruises and cuts. My skin was marred by the scorching heat of the Lava Drake's attacks and my clothes were slightly tattered and torn from the fierce battle.

All in all, I was relatively unharmed and could continue my journey without any issues.

"I hope I don't have to face this monster again..."

Glancing around the area, I tried to spot any more gills visible in the Lava rivers.

"One... Two... Five... Seven!"

I let out a heavy sigh as I counted the remaining Drakes lurking in the Lava.

I was not clearing this island easily, was I?

Well...

Time to make some enchantments~

***

"Ughh..."

A quiet moan escaped from Rose's mouth as she slowly channeled my Mana through her body, feeling the coldness seep into her skin and bring the usual coldness of the Ice Mana Art.

However, this didn't seem to be painful.

In fact, she seemed to be enjoying this sensation.

Well, that was understandable, since she spent most of today at the Arena's training grounds, sparring with Tess and Drake.

Kai was also there but he somehow managed to doze off waiting for his turn, so he wasn't really part of the action.

It turns out that Drake had broken through the D- Rank, being the strongest among them. Well Rose didn't quite pick up the Rank of Kai, but it couldn't be similar to Drake's, considering his inattentiveness during training.

Right?

"The world is unfair..."

Mumbling under her breath, Rose slowly got back onto her feet, tying her hair into a neat ponytail and heading toward the bathroom.

Her strength was also way above average but she couldn't help feeling a slight pang of frustration.

She always pushed herself to the limits, constantly striving to improve and surpass her own abilities.

However, some people are just naturally gifted or have advantages that others don't.

Of course, she didn't have any complaints since she herself was considered a genius but having someone above you can be a humbling reminder that there is always room for growth and improvement.

"I'm a princess, I should act like one..."

Standing in front of the mirror Rose poked her pouting cheeks and adjusted her posture.

"..."

However, within a few seconds, she quickly slumped down again, groaning as she realized that being a princess did not exempt her from the same frustrations and challenges that others faced.

Well, this could only be fixed with more training...

However, she couldn't quite move her muscles to their full potential. The training today had pushed her to her limits, and her body was in need of rest.

The same was true for her friends, but they probably needed it more than she did, considering how exhausted they looked after their intense sparring sessions.

She had nothing to do...

Well, there was one person that didn't tag along with them and could be considered her friend.

"I wonder what he's doing..."