Chapter 85 Getting Serious

The flames that came out of Erend's mouth burned the magic circle along with the black hands that came out of it.

Now Erend's hands and feet are free from those hands. Erend charged toward the Dark Mage.

The Dark Mage himself still looked calm. He watched Erend again as if he was observing something strange and unique. Something that could fit into his collection if he tried just a little longer.

Erend started to approach the Dark Mage. With [Dragon Scale] still active, Erend wasn't afraid to take any attack that the Dark Mage might throw.

The Dark Mage spread his arms to the sides. Then behind him appeared ten magic circles that looked like Portals.

The green and black magic circles were spinning faster and faster. Then from within it shot out black chains that aimed straight at Erend.

The ends of the chains were pointed and gave off a greenish glow.

Erend knew that with [Dragon Scale] he wouldn't be affected by the attack. But he could still be entangled by those chains.

So Erend jumped to the side to avoid the chains that were aiming at his feet. It was clear that the chains were meant to ensnare him and deprive Erend of his ability to move. Not to attack him directly.

Erend managed to dodge the chains that were aiming at his feet. But then another chain shot toward him.

The chains move on their own with the sole purpose of trapping Erend. They look like serpents snaking through the air trying to reach their prey.

Erend hit the chains that were pointing at him so that the chains would instantly shatter or be thrown away.

Then Erend ran towards the Dark Mage with all his strength. Erend was in front of the Dark Mage before long. He threw his fist at the Dark Mage.

But the Dark Mage didn't seem bothered by Erend's attack. He just stood still and stared at the fist coming into his face.

Turns out, the Dark Mage's composure was reasonable. Erend's fist just hit something hard but invisible in front of the Dark Mage's face. As soon as his fist landed on the invisible shield, green and black sparks were created and spread out.

"Hmm, not bad," Erend said.

"You're not bad either," the Dark Mage replied. "My offer is still valid. Won't you accept it?"

Erend snorted. "No. I think you should die here for the world to be safe."

"Why do you bother defending this world?" the Dark Mage asked. "Don't you see that this world is hopeless?"

The question hit a spot that Erend hadn't thought of before. Why did he bother fighting to defend this world? This is not his world.

But then Erend remembered the simple reason that made him keep fighting. This was a Daily Quest that gave him the experience to level up.

However, the series of Daily Quests he received seemed to make him look like a hero.

Erend went from place to place to solve problems that arose. When he thought like that, Erend felt that the Daily Quest he did must have more reasons than just the daily tasks he had to do.

"You don't even have an obvious reason!" The Dark Mage pointed his palm at Erend's face.

A moment later Erend felt an incredibly strong force pushing him back several meters.

Erend fell and rolled on the ground before finally stopping. He immediately stood up and stared at the Dark Mage from a distance.

"I don't think I need much of a reason to stop you from hurting people. I've seen enough people get hurt before my eyes," Erend said. "The family and loved ones left behind are in immense pain. I don't want to see them feel that again."

The Dark Mage snorted. "Are you some kind of hero from another world or something?"

Erend smirked at his words. "Maybe."

"Then it will only make me want you more in my collection," the Dark Mage said.

The Dark Mage then spread his right hand to the side. Then a magic circle appeared under his hand.

A moment later from within the magic circle came out a staff. The Dark Mage pulled the staff into his hands.

The staff is like made of tree roots that are cut and used immediately without undergoing any process first.

The staff was black. At its tip was an orb that gave off a dull green glow.

"Tell me about yourself, hero," the Dark Mage said.

Erend stared at the Dark Mage. His gestures and manner of speaking were too calm for a person who was in a battle. It was as if he knew he was in control of the situation.

It gave Erend a bad feeling. So far the enemies he had fought were just monsters without the awareness and thoughts as intelligent as this Dark Mage in front of him.

But the Dark Mage was different. He was a human who seemed intelligent enough to think a few steps forward. And he mastered the ability of Dark Magic which was quite troublesome.

If only Saeldir was here, Erend would definitely not feel anxious. Maybe Saeldir could fight on a par with the Dark Mage.

But now there was no point in thinking about Saeldir since he wasn't here. What Erend had to do now was try with all his might to defeat that Dark Mage.

"You don't want to talk? Well, alright." The Dark Mage turned his staff.

Then the orb at the top of the staff emitted green and black electric spark that looked dangerous.

The Dark Mage pointed his staff towards Erend then a thunderbolt immediately strikes at Erend.

The booming sound and the bright flash dazzled Erend's eyes for a moment. But it was a precious moment because Erend couldn't dodge the green-black thunderbolt that was aimed at him.

As a result, Erend was thrown several meters into the forest. His body shot like a bullet that had just come out of a rifle and hit several large trees.

Erend stopped sliding when he fell into a lake in the forest and sank slowly.

'Bastard!' Erend cursed inside his head.

Erend didn't feel too much pain. He felt the lightning strike all over his body. But only like a small electric shock crawling through his skin.

What annoyed Erend was the thrust of the force behind the thunderbolt. The power is so great that it can throw Erend here.

It was quite strange according to Erend. He could be affected by the thunderbolt force but felt no pain. Erend didn't know if that was a good thing or not.

But now he knew one thing for sure. He had to quickly get out of this lake and counter the attack he had received from the Dark Mage.

'I've had enough!'

[ Skill activated: Fire Dragon Transformation (Lv.1) ]

The water on the surface of the lake sizzled with bubbles and white steam.

Soon the white steam spread over the entire surface of the lake. Then a great turmoil appeared on the surface of the lake.

A moment later from within the lake water the figure of a red Dragon with both shoulders scorched by flames appeared.

The lake water was thrown in all directions creating temporary rain.

"GRRRRRRAAAAAHHHHH!!!"

Dragon-Erend roared so loudly. His roar brought down the trees that had previously stood firmly around the lake. Then he flapped his wings and began to fly.

Dragon-Erend flew towards the Dark Mage to seek his revenge for being thrown into the lake.

The Dark Mage of course noticed the roar he had just heard. In fact, he felt it on a spiritual level.

The Dark Mage felt an enormous power rise from the direction he threw the strange white-clothed human who claimed to be the hero. An ancient power that he had never felt before.

"Who exactly is that man?" The Dark Mage was curious.

He who previously only intended to play games immediately changed his attitude. He can't play anymore now. Because what he was facing was a great power that he had never faced before.

"To think that I would find this kind of power here."

The Dark Mage then spawned a magic circle with a green and black vortex behind him.

Not long after that, from the vortex came out a black robe which he immediately put on.

There was also a black necklace, a dagger with a thirty-inch-long snaking blade, and a black leather-bound book with an eye on it floating next to him.

These were all the pieces of equipment the Dark Mage wore when he was about to fight seriously.

Then in the Dark Mage floated. The magic circle and vortex just disappeared.

The Dark Mage could finally see what exactly he was up against. But before he could see it long enough, the creature was already flying toward him

with his mouth open.

Inside the mouth was already a clump of red and orange flames that coalesced and got bigger. The Dark Mage felt heat reach his body. A moment later the fireball shot at him.

~~~