Chapter 127: Egg

"Good hunting," Nina chimed as Warden's figure flashed towards the largest and lonesome peak in the dungeon that dwarfed all the others in its singularity.

Even a child could guess that this was probably the lair of the final boss of the dungeon. The others probably had the same thought, though none had voiced it or offered ideas. Honestly, Warden wanted just to take a glimpse of the final boss first. The iron rank matriarch was already huge, but the silver should dwarf all the others like the mountain did.

It's not like he was a maniac who only knew how to fight. He would simply take a look and come back.

Five minutes into his scouting, Warden activated the void shroud with limited efficiency, which barely provided a thin layer of obstruction around his form. This would help him move unobstructed through the volcanic terrain, and save him from all the corrosive ash that was flying around. It was like a minefield, as any missteps or wrong placements could cause magma to spurt out and engulf him whole.

The path to the highest peak was more treacherous than he had believed. Thankfully, his prior mistakes hadn't cost him much, as with quick reaction, he managed to pull up the legendary cloak of void resistance to obstruct the spurts of liquid fire.

Not that he thought he would die. With high attributes and his new physique, he could withstand the fire with some burns that would need serious healing. But with his regenerative ability, it would be a minor problem. Not that he was sadistic enough to test that.

Weirdly, he found no drakes in the vicinity. There were other lesser creatures around, but those were weak opponents at the copper rank and only a few at iron. Hunting copper and early iron creatures at his level would be a waste of his time. Even the others didn't dirty their hands with their taint.

After moving around and searching for half an hour, he found an opening to the terrible volcanic peak. It wasn't the opening of a blackened crater; instead, he could feel the aura of terrible heat emanating from within.

Warden changed his approach and channelled more energy into the cloak to solidify the shroud. He moved in more stealthily, sword in hand, ready for anything to jump at him.

After walking for a few minutes in the fiery heart of the terrain, the temperature seemed to only rise as he pressed onward. He finally found what he was looking for, though it surprised him greatly.

Inside, it was a stream of lava where dozens of huge boulder-like drakes lay dormant. From the aura they were radiating, Warden could easily guess none of them were below in power compared to those peak elite drakes. And there were—Warden counted them roughly—twenty-two of them. Their scales were so tough that the temperature of the molten lava had barely any effect on their bodies.

Moreover, from the look of it, they seemed to be thriving in it, somehow managing to absorb the elemental power sported within the lava to increase their prowess. But where was the final boss?

Warden searched every nook and cranny of the lava stream and couldn't find the matriarch. Then his eyes wandered into the center of the stream, which was empty with all the rest of the elite drakes dozing around.

Could it be? He wondered. Was it deep within the lava?

Then suddenly he had an urge to check it out. But to swim in the stream of molten flame?

Why not? He thought. After all, his Void Vanquishing Physique could survive the space, and this was merely lava where creatures he could easily kill were napping.

Though they all agreed, most of them stayed with him after they finished their meal.

***

"Are you looking for something?" Jason asked after Warden came back from his third round of scouting.

Warden had been vigilant for any incoming attacks throughout the night, sadly the slothful drakes failed to deliver any righteous rage from missing their matriarch.

"I thought there would be an attack, but it looks like without their matriarch, the Drakes are rather foolish and dull."

He had been prepared to fight the elite drakes on his own if they woke up from their slumber, even if they didn't contribute much to improving his attributes unlike the drake matriarchs. But so far, he had been disappointed.

"Maybe I should go back and wake them up from their sleep," Warden said.

Jason frowned. "What are you talking about?"

Warden turned to face him again. "I'll tell you later after I deal with this."

With that, Warden left again on his way to the lava stream.

***

There was a huge volcanic eruption from the lonesome peak a few minutes after Warden's departure. The sheer disturbance of it woke up the two helpers from their sleep. They lurched to their feet ready for a battle, but that didn't happen. Well, not immediately.

A couple of minutes later, Warden came in running at his top speed. "You need to get out of here..."

"What, what happened?" Nina asked flabbergasted.

"No questions," Warden said. "Run back to the gate... or you might not get the chance for it."

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