novelraw Chapter 30: Loot Time
Chapter 30: Loot Time
"This young dragon's combat experience is far inferior to mine."
Garoth judged from the Brass Dragon's initial pursuit speed that it wasn't particularly strong. Even with its alchemical speed-enhancing tools, it remained slightly slower than him.
After further testing moments ago,
He confirmed its reaction speed was lacking, its practical experience limited, and now understood the effects of its golden chain alchemical tool.
This was a naive Brass Dragon fresh out of its nest, arrogant due to possessing some alchemical tools but lacking real combat experience—Garoth made his assessment.
"Those alchemical tools on its body will be mine. Let it experience the cruelty of the wilderness."
A glint flashed in Garoth's eyes as he changed his mind.
Originally uninterested in engaging the Brass Dragon, his probing revealed it far weaker than anticipated—and loaded with treasures. The situation had completely changed.
The Brass Dragon continued its relentless pursuit.
Garoth deliberately slowed slightly to keep it engaged, ensuring it wouldn't lose track.After some time, the red iron young dragon folded its wings, tore through thick clouds in a steep dive, and abruptly vanished from the Brass Dragon's sight.
"Running out of energy?"
The Brass Dragon perked up.
In its view, Garoth's heavy, muscular body must consume tremendous magical energy during flight. Now exhausted while it remained fresh with alchemical enhancements—the perfect opportunity.
Changing course, the Brass Dragon dove downward, neck scales fluttering in the wind.
Moments later, it landed.
"Where did it hide?"
Scanning the surroundings, the Brass Dragon noticed an abandoned mine ahead.
Approaching cautiously, it peered down and spotted several scattered dragon scales at the rugged mine bottom—as if accidentally scraped off.
"Hiding in such a place—typical of a vulgar evil dragon's taste."
The Watcher's Necklace—the thick golden chain around its neck—activated, emitting protective light that covered its entire body.
Folding its wings, the Brass Dragon spiraled down to the mine bottom, squinting while scanning the dark mine shafts for any sign of Garoth.
Within seconds,
The black rocks beneath its feet suddenly trembled.
A foul wind howled from the largest mine shaft.
"Evil hybrid dragon! Come face me!"
The wary Brass Dragon's eyes gleamed.
But soon, it realized something was wrong—the tremors were too violent, and the shaft's commotion suggested something massive approaching.
Simultaneously,
An enormous dark shape burst from the shaft into sunlight.
An exceptionally large Rockgrub worm emerged, its meat-grinder maw filled with interlocking fangs lunging at the Brass Dragon.
The Worm King itself.
Having been hunted by Garoth multiple times here, the Worm King now reacted aggressively to any disturbance—a fact Garoth knew well and exploited.
"Ah! Treacherous dragon!"
The Brass Dragon panicked, realizing it had been tricked.
This was a trap.
It never expected the red iron young dragon—looking even brawnier than a red dragon—to possess something other than muscle between its ears.
The Brass Dragon immediately opened its maw.
Its tongue curled, revealing an exquisite silver ring.
Taking half a step back, the Frost Silver Ring on its tongue tip suddenly glowed.
Freeze!
A thick icy current erupted from the Brass Dragon's mouth—more accurately from the ring—resembling a silver dragon's breath, directly striking the charging Worm King.
Instantly coated in frost,
Followed by ear-grinding cracking sounds as the ice layer on its carapace shattered.
The Worm King continued its assault.
Seizing this slowed moment, the Brass Dragon flamed wings beat furiously as it desperately ascended, narrowly avoiding follow-up attacks.
But before it could relax,
A black-red dragon shape suddenly erupted from the ground nearby, wings spread like giant guillotine blades shrieking through air.
The Brass Dragon's heart lurched.
It spat orange-red gel-like acid that expanded midair into a spiderweb pattern descending upon Garoth.
Fiery Breath surged from Garoth's jaws, igniting and neutralizing the acid's corrosive viscosity.
Whoosh!
Wing gusts fanned the flames into a billowing cape-like trail.
Garoth advanced with unstoppable momentum toward the Brass Dragon.
Breath hitching, facing Garoth directly, the Brass Dragon finally realized its mistake—this evil dragon was far stronger than imagined, and worse, cunning and treacherous—destined to become a supreme villain.
Before it, the Watcher's Necklace conjured thicker light barriers.
The Brass Dragon braced for impact.
Garoth's right wing tilted, veering sharply sideways.
Magical energy channeled into his wings triggered a speed burst.
—Normally, Garoth relied purely on his well-trained wings for flight, unlike other dragons requiring magical enhancement.
Arcing through air,
Garoth nearly instantly flanked the Brass Dragon.
Tail muscles tensed like steel cables, the hidden Lightning Tail Ring between his scales activated, coating his tail in crackling serpentine arcs while electrically stimulating muscles for explosive power.
Unlike the Brass Dragon's openly displayed gear,
Garoth kept his tail ring concealed between scales when unused—never showing off.
Executing a forward flip-like maneuver,
The red iron young dragon's electrified tail traced a full-moon arc before crashing onto the Brass Dragon's back.
Crack!
The light barrier shattered instantly.
The Watcher's Necklace's glow extinguished, depleted of stored energy.
The weakened tail strike still tore through brass scales, leaving a gruesome, bloody gash across its back.
The Brass Dragon screeched, whirling around.
It opened its maw, the Frost Silver Ring on its tongue glowing again as chill rapidly gathered.
Against a red-iron hybrid,
Frost attacks from this ring dealt double damage—the Brass Dragon's trump card.
However,
Exposed tricks lose their surprise.
Anticipating this, Garoth headbutted the Brass Dragon's jaw with a dull thud before it could release the frost.
Forced mouth shut, the Brass Dragon couldn't counter immediately.
Whoosh!
Garoth exhaled thick white gas point-blank, enveloping the Brass Dragon.
His iron dragon heritage's alternate breath—Hypnotic Breath.
Creatures failing willpower checks against it enter sleepwalking states, answering any questions honestly.
Elder iron dragons could even puppet enemies directly.
Fiery Breath, Electric Fire Breath, Hypnotic Breath—
Garoth's three breath weapons.
Dosed with hypnotic gas, the Brass Dragon's vision blurred drowsily, but its older, resilient mind resisted immediate control.
Garoth swiped at its neck.
Clink-clatter!
Sparkling objects flew out.
—Gems and coins dragons often stash beneath neck scales.
Garoth's wings scooped them up midair, then struck repeatedly to dislodge more treasures.
Before the Brass Dragon recovered,
Garoth yanked off its golden necklace, snatched wing rings with lightning speed, pried open its jaws, straightened its tongue, and plucked the ring away.