Alex’s dagger and staff moved like an extension of his own body, parrying Nivran’s relentless tail swipes and claws.
Alice darted around the cavern, loosing arrow after arrow in a desperate bid to pierce the dragon’s armor-like scales.
Each strike chipped away at the beast’s massive health pool, their coordinated efforts showing glimmers of hope.
But Nivran was no ordinary foe.
The dragon let out a thunderous roar, the vibrations so intense that stalactites fell from the cavern ceiling.
His molten eyes locked onto Alex, radiating malice.
“Little mortal,” Nivran growled, his voice deep and resonant, “your bravery borders on stupidity. Let us see how long you can survive my fury.”
Alex didn’t respond.
Words wouldn’t save him here, and he knew it.
His body tensed as the dragon lunged forward, claws tearing into the ground with a deafening screech.
Alex barely had time to dodge, rolling to the side as the dragon’s strike shattered the floor where he had stood.
“Stay on him!” Alex yelled, his voice barely audible over the sound of battle.
Alice nodded, loosing an arrow aimed at Nivran’s head.
The projectile struck, lodging itself between the dragon’s scaled plates. Nivran hissed in irritation, thrashing his head to dislodge it.
[Weakness hit, dealing 1000% of damage!]
-23,381,172!
“Nice!” Alex grinned, he knew he couldn’t underestimate the archer girl after all, even though many opponents did.
“You think yourselves clever? Your tactics are as feeble as your weapons!”
But the dragon was learning.
He pivoted suddenly, his tail whipping around in a wide arc. Alice, mid-dodge, wasn’t fast enough.
The tail struck her side, sending her crashing into a nearby wall.
“Alice!” Alex shouted, lunging forward to intercept Nivran’s follow-up attack.
He swung his dagger upward to block the tail, the weapon glowing with crimson energy, then he immediately unleashed a [Giant Blood Blade] as a projectile.
The attack struck Nivran’s chest, cutting deep and forcing the dragon to recoil.
-12,374,959!
Nivran howled in pain, his massive body recoiling.
“You will pay for that!” he roared, his claws lashing out blindly.
Alice barely managed to dodge, rolling behind a jagged crystal formation for cover.
The fight raged on, both sides trading blows.
Alex fought with calculated ferocity, weaving in and out of the dragon’s reach while using every skill in his arsenal.
He conjured blazing meteors and crimson spikes, each attack chipping away at the dragon’s health.
Both sides were using everything they had, the dragon his [Solar Flames] or even [Cataclysmic Swipe].
Alice provided cover, her arrows keeping Nivran distracted and forcing him to divide his attention.
It was working, slowly but surely, they were gaining the upper hand.
Nivran’s movements grew sluggish, his roars tinged with frustration as his health dropped below 70,000,000.
But then, something changed.
The light in the cavern dimmed as a dark aura began to emanate from Nivran.
The dragon’s scales began to glow with a dark, pulsating energy, and his body seemed to grow larger, more menacing.
A notification appeared before Alex’s eyes soon after.
[Warning: Nivran has activated Sunless Rage!]
[All stats increased.]
Alex froze for a moment as the notification flashed before his eyes.
“Alice, get ready. He’s about to go all out.”
Nivran’s lips curled into a sinister grin.
“You’ve pushed me far enough, mortals. Now, let me show you the true power of the Sunless Dragon.”
Alice, still recovering, tried to steady her aim, but Nivran was faster.
With a deafening roar, Nivran lunged at Alice, his claws tearing through the ground as he closed the distance in an instant.
Alex’s eyes widened as he realized the dragon’s true intent, not a physical attack, but something far worse.
Nivran’s molten eyes glowed with an eerie light as he unleashed a [Soul Strike], an ethereal force that bypassed physical defenses entirely.
Alice screamed as the attack struck her, the sheer force sending her crashing into the wall.
She crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
“No…” he whispered, dread washing over him.
As said before, these [Soul Attacks] if they hit a normal player will not kill their character, instead placing them on 1 HP.
And if they receive too many of those while their soul is weak, they will die not only in the game, but in real life too.
A notification appeared in front of Alex.
[Warning: Party member’s soul has been weakened. One more hit and it will shatter.]
“Alice!” Alex shouted, his voice raw with panic.
He rushed to her side, but the sight of her motionless body only fueled his growing rage.
Nivran laughed, the sound echoing cruelly.
“Foolish mortals. You should have known better than to challenge me. Her soul will soon be mine, and you will follow shortly.”
Alex’s vision blurred with fury.
He turned to face the dragon, his grip on his staff tightening, “You’re going to regret that.”
He charged forward, unleashing a flurry of devastating attacks.
Fire and blood surged in tandem, his strikes relentless and precise.
Nivran snarled as Alex’s weapons found their mark, each blow driving the dragon closer to the edge of defeat.
“You’re strong, mortal,” Nivran admitted, his voice tinged with irritation. “But strength alone won’t save you.”
The dragon raised his claws again, summoning another [Soul Attack].
Alex braced himself, but the ethereal energy struck him with full force, sending him sprawling across the ground.
His health was already at 1 HP since earlier, meaning that usually, a direct soul attack of that level should have killed him.
But then, another notification appeared before him.
[Soul has been strengthened by the Heart of Calamity.]
[Attack cannot harm you.]
Alex straightened, the ethereal energy dissipating harmlessly around him.
Nivran’s eyes narrowed in confusion and frustration as he struck again, and again, each attack failing to find purchase.
“What… What is this?” the dragon growled, his voice tinged with disbelief. “Why won’t you break?”
Alex’s expression was cold and unyielding, recovering from the initial surprise and fear.
“You can’t hurt me that way. You’ll have to try something else.”
The dragon roared in fury, abandoning his [Soul Attacks] in favor of raw physical strength.
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His claws slashed at Alex with brutal force, each strike shaking the cavern.
Alex dodged and countered, his [Blood Arts] creating weapons and clones to block and retaliate.
But the relentless assault was wearing him down.
Alex’s movements grew slower, his attacks less precise.
He could feel the weight of the battle pressing down on him, and Nivran knew it.
“It doesn’t matter! You’re still weak, and I will tear you apart with my own hands!”
The dragon’s chest swelled as he inhaled deeply, flames gathering in his maw.
Alex braced himself, knowing he wouldn’t survive the next attack. He glanced at Alice’s motionless form, a pang of despair threatening to overwhelm him.
But then, just as the torrent of flames was about to consume him, a massive shadow descended between them.
A familiar figure landed between Alex and the dragon, wings outstretched in a protective shield.
A wing.
A torn, battered wing, but one large enough to shield Alex from the flames.
“Not today, Nivran,” came a familiar voice, low and strained but unyielding.
Alex’s eyes widened as Alphox stood before him, his body battered but defiant.
The hole in his wing was still visible, but his remaining strength was undeniable.
“Alphox…” Alex whispered, his voice filled with disbelief.
Nivran recoiled, his flames dissipating as his gaze locked onto Alphox.
For a moment, there was silence, the tension in the cavern suffocating.
“You,” Nivran spat, his voice dripping with hatred. “You dare show your face here? After everything you’ve done?”
Alphox folded his good wing, stepping forward with deliberate slowness.
“I don’t need my wings to kill you, Nivran. You and the others have been asking for this for a long time.”
The molten glow of Nivran’s eyes intensified, his rage boiling over.
He let out a deafening roar, the cavern trembling under the force of his fury. “You will die, Alphox!”
The tension in the cavern reached its breaking point as the two dragons faced off.
Alphox, weakened but resolute, stood between Alex and certain death.
Alex, still clutching his weapons, steadied himself. He wasn’t done fighting yet.