The scene before him was completely different from before; compared to the scorching heat, it was darker and colder here.
Inside, it was as vast as a small world, with rugged and steep terrain, and various unique plants growing on the rocks.
Ke Xiu Si could recognize several of them: spore mushrooms, algal green dust, and Bullywug horns, all plants that only grew in the deepest parts of the ground.
Glowstone, phosphorescent crystals, and luminescent moss, lichens, and fungi dimly illuminated some areas.
Unknown crystalline formations grew in heaps on the cliff faces, shimmering with a faint blue glow, casting a deep blue hue on the surrounding rocks.
“This is… the Underdark?”
“No, that’s not right.”
The depth here clearly exceeded the scope of a cave, reaching into a more profound realm.
This was the dark, unknown world beneath the feet of surface dwellers—commonly known as the Underdark.
However, this particular area of the Bottomless Pit seemed to be sealed off and unconnected to the outside, more like a non-naturally formed underground world.
The Red Dragon extended his forked tongue, using his incredibly keen sense of smell to sample the various pheromones in the air, finally finding a familiar scent—the blood of that Green-Footed Dragon Snake.
He looked towards a corner of the rock wall; under the glow of the phosphorescent crystals, the color there was distinctly different from its surroundings, with bluish-green bloodstains scattered about. By following these bloodstains, he could easily locate the escaped creature.
“I’ve found you…”
“Green-Footed Dragon Snake.”
He wouldn’t let this enemy escape again, so he needed to ensure a single, fatal blow.
Ke Xiu Si had just finished an exhilarating battle, and his spells were depleted, so he used the power of his Surge of Spells to restore his spell slots.
A massive surge of magical power flowed into his body.
“Invisibility.”
He silently chanted the incantation.
Immediately, his seven-meter-long body once again merged into the darkness.
In a certain corner, the Green-Footed Dragon Snake was weakly licking its wounds.
Its originally massive seventeen-meter-long body was now less than ten meters, and its rear end was not a tail but a large, terrifying severed stump.
Torn muscles, shattered organs, and bluish-green blood oozing out.
It was clear how severe the Green-Footed Dragon Snake’s injuries were.
If nothing unexpected happened, its lower half might never fully recover, only slowly healing into a “crippled” Green-Footed Dragon Snake, despite still possessing a full seven pairs of legs.
“Damn dragon,” it muttered.
Thinking of the culprit who caused all this—that peculiar Dragon Warlock—uncontrollable hatred gleamed in the Green-Footed Dragon Snake’s small, bluish eyes. The hatred from its bloodline combined with the hatred caused by its injuries.
Green-Footed Dragon Snakes never nested in areas where dragons resided.
If a dragon attempted to nest within a few dozen miles of a Green-Footed Dragon Snake’s lair, it would be compelled to go and kill or drive it away.
Only when the dragon was too powerful to contend with would the Green-Footed Dragon Snake give up and travel far away to find a new nesting site.
Its last departure from its lair was for this very reason.
A strange gust of wind blew across the dark rock wall, making the Green-Footed Dragon Snake shiver slightly.
“This feeling…”
For some reason, the Green-Footed Dragon Snake suddenly felt a pang of trepidation originating from deep within its bloodline. It immediately became alert, instinctively straightening up and clinging to the rock wall with its seven pairs of legs.
But it was too late.
“Got you.”
The Red Dragon descended from the sky, appearing out of thin air, and powerfully seized the Green-Footed Dragon Snake with his claws.
This time, he grabbed not the torso, but the neck.
Ke Xiu Si had learned from his previous experience; he didn’t believe the Green-Footed Dragon Snake could escape by severing its head.
“Awooo—”
The Green-Footed Dragon Snake looked at the Red Dragon in disbelief.
Its massive body struggled wildly, its seven pairs of legs frantically scraping against the rock wall, and its body slammed violently, trying to break free from the Red Dragon’s chokehold.
“Crash!”
The rock wall was shattered by its body, and gravel fell to the ground.
But the Red Dragon did not loosen his claws in the slightest, instead opening his mouth to bite its neck, his sharp teeth sinking deep into the flesh.
His long and powerful thick tail also continuously lashed at the Green-Footed Dragon Snake’s wound, causing its blood to splatter out.
The Green-Footed Dragon Snake let out a series of weakening whimpers.
The struggles became fewer and fewer.
The Red Dragon still didn’t let go, even further increasing his strength, almost to the point of exhaustion.
Until he heard a crisp “snap,” and the Green-Footed Dragon Snake’s hard bones broke.
Ke Xiu Si released his bite with a sigh of relief, and the Green-Footed Dragon Snake’s massive body fell from the rock wall, crashing to the ground.
“Roar—”
The Red Dragon stood on the cliff top, spreading his wings, and let out a long, satisfying roar.
【Killed 【Green-Footed Dragon Snake - Mannar】, gained 7200xp】
【Your class level has risen to Level 5】
The dense list of spells appeared again, filling Ke Xiu Si with immense joy.
There was nothing more satisfying than receiving a reward after an exhilarating battle.
Upon reaching Level 5, the Warlock class gained two additional 3rd-level spells.
Regarding spell selection, Ke Xiu Si did not choose the famous Fireball, but rather opted for more supportive spells.
His Draconic Feature, Maximize Breath Weapon, already provided sufficient damage, so Fireball was not his first choice.
After a moment of thought, Ke Xiu Si made his selection.
【You gained additional 3rd-level spells 【Blink】 【Protection from Energy Damage】】
【Blink】
3rd-level Transmutation spell
For the duration of the spell, you have a 50% chance to vanish from your current plane and appear on the Ether Plane. While on the Ether Plane, you can hear and see the original plane, but everything appears in black and white. Other creatures can only affect or be affected by you if they are also on the Ether Plane.
【Protection from Energy Damage】
3rd-level Abjuration spell
For up to 1 hour, one willing creature you touch gains resistance to one of the following damage types you choose for the duration of the spell: acid, cold, fire, lightning, or thunder.
If the Red Dragon had these two spells when fighting the Green-Footed Dragon Snake, he wouldn’t have been so wary of its lightning breath, to the point of having to engage in close-quarters combat.
These two spells appeared in Ke Xiu Si’s mind out of nowhere.
They were far more intricate and complex than his previous spells—so much so that for a moment, when these two spells appeared in his mind, he couldn’t quite grasp them.
He stood in place, contemplating for a long time, before he began to understand these two spells and could clumsily cast them.
The complexity and difficulty of understanding each layer of the Weave were several times greater than before.
Fortunately, Ke Xiu Si was a “spontaneous” Warlock.
He only needed to grasp their basic operational logic and twist reality with his own will, without needing to meticulously calculate and construct models.
Regardless, Ke Xiu Si had finally taken another step forward, reaching the third layer of the Weave.
