Chapter 224 The Masterpiece

Chapter 224 The Masterpiece

“–Let’s see if you like this, then!” Emilio shouted.

Tossing the gargantuan fireball forward, it melted the stone in its path before the Masterpiece shot three beams of hyper-condensed flames out, turning it into a laser-like beam that clashed against the empowered fireball.

The collision of both sources of flames caused a surgence of heat throughout the grimy chamber, lacing the air with embers and heat waves that melted the steel bars of the cages.

Controlling the fireball and pushing it forward with his will, he could feel the savage strength of the so-called Masterpiece through its mighty breath; it was as though he was trying to stop a bullet train from moving forward, having to strain himself, pushing his body further as he began to make progress.

“Nrgh...!”

The dragon blood in him boiled, thriving in the contest of strength and fire, causing his heart to pump with excitement, surging through his veins the blood empowering him.

BA-DUMP. BA-DUMP. BA-DUMP.

As he continued to slowly push forward, the heat became more and more apparent, feeling stratifications of wind that were purely flames grazing his body.

The towering, draconic chimera poured forth a further burst of flames, causing a ripple of heat throughout the room.

Push it...! He urged.

Even against the stream of feral power pushed against him, Emilio’s body pushed itself further—his muscles strained and his bones experienced a lofty pressure, though he proved his own might with another yell and one more push forward.

“Burn—!”

At last, through the clash of flames, he pressed the fireball through the bright heat, casting it against the scale-clad body of his foe with a roaring impact.

Azure fire spread in a flash, stretching through the somber depths of the chamber as it exploded against the body of the foul creation of the Collector.

“...Phew,” he breathed out, sweating.

The aftermath left the black chamber covered in blue flames with a swirling cloud of smoke waving through the area.

Just as he relinquished his Dragonheart state, feeling overwhelmed by the heat it produced in his body, he regretted it as the monstrous figure revealed itself from the smoke and flames.

“...That’s a problem,” he mumbled tiredly.

Stomping out, the Masterpiece was only partially burnt by the powerful flames; its onyx scales reflected off the heat, unscathed and almost seeming to thrive in the fire.

Knowing the fight wasn’t over, he rushed forward in an attempt to finish the chimera off, throwing his fist against its body with full-force, unleashing the inner strength within him into a picture-perfect Dragon Strike.

—No effect.

The beast didn’t budge or flinch, nor did its scales near any damage from the mighty blow.

It was a beast of man-made destruction and horror; an armor of scales that didn’t crack beneath draconic flames or powerful forces, and strength that overwhelmed in every capacity.

This was felt true more than ever as Emilio found the beast dashing straight towards him with the swiftness of a tiger, using its claws to slash across his chest in an instant.

The heat that burned within him completely sizzled out the foreign venom, eradicating its regretful nature and expelling it from his body.

“Graagh–?!” The Masterpiece let out at the incomprehensible situation.

Without a word, the young man it was once crushing now fought against its own strength–and was winning.

Now, get the hell off of me, he thought.

Pushing up with all of his strength, a burst of azure flames emitted from his draconic armor, finally repelling the weight of the Masterpiece as the scaled amalgamation stumbled backward.

Unrestrained, he rose to his feet as embers cascaded from his organic armor, clenching his fists as he felt the inexplicable power flowing through him.

I’ve never been this conscious while in stage three. It’s...amazing. This kind of power–I feel like I can do just about anything, he thought.

As he looked at his own fists, seeing through the helm of dragon hide that protected his head, the three-headed monstrosity appeared in front of him with a resounding roar, going for a large swipe against him.

Without seeming to budge an inch, he disappeared before the claws of the Masterpiece made contact, throwing the beast for a loop before reappearing behind it.

“Dragon Strike.”

It was through the third stage, completely enveloped in the magnificent power, that he was able to pull from deeper depths of the draconic force within, expelling it in much greater quantity as he slammed his fist against the creature’s back.

WHOOSH.

A shock wave emitted throughout the grimy chamber, ringing the bars of the black cages before cracking the sturdy, pitch-black scales of the Masterpiece, flinging the massive creature across the laboratory.

Witnessing the beast that effortlessly stomped through him previously now be manhandled by his power was satisfying beyond words for the Dragonheart.

It’s nothing now. I can do this, he thought, squeezing his fist.

As he relished in his newfound strength, unlocked by his own intent this time, the Masterpiece picked itself up, roaring out in a rage before rushing across the room.

It no longer ran like a bipedal creature; engulfed in rabid anger, it ran on all fours, eviscerating the stone tiles in its way as it salivated, lunging towards the Dragonheart who welcomed it.

Come on, he thought.

Though he was taken aback by an increase in speed from the Masterpiece, which bursted forward, tackling him across the room.

“–!”

It roared directly in his face with all three-heads, building up a new extreme of heat in its mouths as it intended to release its full-throttle flames point blank.

“–Off!” He yelled.

With a sharp kick to its body, he knocked it off of him before flipping to his feet, witnessing the creature change right before his eyes.

As it was knocked upward, the Masterpiece’s body reacted, as if evolving in real time in accordance to its current situation: hawk-like wings sprouted from its back after bones rippled beneath its scales.

...That’s disgusting, he thought.