novelraw Chapter 36: The World-Destroying Dragon Breath
Chapter 36: The World-Destroying Dragon Breath
The next day.
After a full night’s sleep, Lin Xun felt completely refreshed and full of energy.
That black-silk beauty of a superior would likely be running around like a headless chicken today, but he didn’t have to clock in for work—so he happily stayed in bed playing his game.
The Book of Salvation, activate!
Soul Strength had recovered to 2/2, and the Yellow-Robed Bishop Shell was still intact—no need to reshape it. That meant he effectively had two lives to burn.
The entire Castle Region in the game had already been fully explored, with no areas left unchecked.
Lin Xun, controlling the Yellow-Robed Bishop, made his way back to where his journey had begun—the White Moon Church.
At the church’s crossroads, the familiar options reappeared.
He’d already explored the tower to the east and the castle to the north. To the west, to the right of the church, was a dead-end filled with ruins. And straight ahead to the south…
[South of the Church: In the distance lies a barren road, where a ‘Corrupted Subspecies Sea Dragon’ blocks the path. A glimpse of its exposed scales and limbs outside the ruin’s shadows reveals its massive size. With every movement, the ground quakes and crimson shockwaves ripple through the air.]Lin Xun pondered. He had just obtained a Level 32 Shell the previous night. Wouldn’t fighting the Sea Dragon Boss with that Shell be practically guaranteed?
Sure, the bloodied Engineer had been one-shot by the Yellow-Robed Bishop’s skill last night—but in full health, the Engineer would’ve annihilated the Bishop. The level gap was just too big.
But on second thought, the Engineer’s Shell had way less potential compared to the Bishop.
Giving the enormous experience reward from the Boss to the Engineer would mean the Yellow-Robed Bishop wouldn’t get to level up—a tough sacrifice to make.
He needed to think long-term. He couldn’t sacrifice growth just for temporary convenience.
Besides, it was daytime right now. Don’t forget—Shells not aligned with the Blood Sun faction would go insane and die if exposed to sunlight.
Lin Xun made up his mind. He blew the horn to summon his warhorse and selected the southbound option!
[You begin your journey to the south.]
[You arrive at the end of the road. A colossal figure blocks your way…]
[Its body is mountainous in size. Patches of decaying flesh show through its shedding, mottled scales. Hooked fangs line its gaping maw. Its fin-shaped limbs are thick and muscular. Its enormous tail smashes craters into the ground with each swing.]
[The ‘Corrupted Subspecies Sea Dragon’ has noticed your presence. Crimson eyes lock onto you…]
[What will you do?]
[1. Shout “What are you looking at?!” then charge in on your warhorse and stab its rear with your dragon-slaying staff-spear.]
[2. Kneel and beg, “Great Dragon King, I’ve brought you a sacrifice,” and smile slyly as you offer your Turkoman Bloodhorse as a snack.]
[3. Raise your staff-spear, cast “Corrupt Sunlight,” then flee while shouting, “Hahaha~ can’t catch me!”]
“…Can I just choose none of these?”
Lin Xun stared at the three options, squinting at the text—realizing that every line practically screamed “DEATH.”
With a sigh, he resorted to the process of elimination.
Option 2 was out immediately. In a game this hellishly dark, begging would probably make him the snack.
Option 1 wasn’t viable either. Setting aside how suicidal it was for a mage to go melee—even if he switched to the Paladin of Discipline for a charge attack, if the Boss didn’t die in one hit, he’d just be delivering himself on a platter.
Anyway, with the Yellow-Robed Bishop, he had two lives. If it really couldn’t be beaten, he could always wait until night and switch to the Engineer.
And besides, he had the Thunder Dragon Staff-Spear, a weapon specifically made for slaying dragons. What was there to fear?!
Resolved, Lin Xun selected the third option.
[Brave Apostle, you raise your staff-spear and begin chanting a spell…]
[The ‘Corrupted Subspecies Sea Dragon’ watches you with puzzlement, not understanding what the little creature is doing.]
[A flash of red light…]
[Corrupt Sunlight strikes the Sea Dragon’s massive head—blood sprays!]
[It roars in fury, opening its foul, gaping maw, where a dangerous red glow gathers…]
[Knowing you’re outmatched, you decide to flee. Where to?]
[1. The White Moon Church behind you.]
[2. The bloodstained tower to the east.]
[3. The ruins of the Clocktower to the west.]
The screen turned blood red and began to shake violently—the choice was clearly timed.
Lin Xun had no time to think and reflexively picked the safest option—the White Moon Church.
[You flee on horseback toward the White Moon Church, not daring to look back.]
[After a mad dash, you arrive at the church door. You stumble off your horse and even slam the doors shut behind you.]
Lin Xun let out a long breath.
He’d just go out again, toss another skill at the Sea Dragon, and keep running.
Repeat the process—wouldn’t that be a no-damage kill?
Thinking this, he couldn’t help but grin.
[As the Apostle smirks with glee, convinced he’s safe…]
[You see a blinding red Dragon Breath engulf your entire vision.]
[You died!]
???
“I really underestimated just how cursed this game is…”
Lin Xun clutched his forehead—his blood pressure spiking.
[The feeble wandering soul revives in the familiar little chapel…]
Even the safe zone isn’t safe?!
What about the Thunder Dragon Staff-Spear—wasn’t it supposed to be imbued with real dragon-slaying power after reforging, even if it was made from imitation parts?
And he had reforged it by fusing it with the White Moon Silver Scepter—it had to be better than a normal version!
“Cheap knock-offs can’t be trusted!” Lin Xun cursed bitterly.
So what now? Was this a dead end? Did he have to use the Engineer Shell—an “out-of-bounds” method—to win?
If he hadn’t joined the organization, hadn’t killed the Engineer last night and taken his Shell… would this part of the game just be a hard stop?
Lin Xun didn’t believe the game would leave him no options. There had to be a solution.
He could operate the Shell Reshape function with his eyes closed by now.
Spending 1 Soul Strength, he revived the Yellow-Robed Bishop at the White Moon Church.
But the text that appeared next left him utterly stunned.
[The central structure of Saint Rance—White Moon Church—has been leveled by a world-destroying force. Only broken walls and ruins remain.]
“What the hell?! The Boss can vaporize even the safe zone with a single breath?!”
Lin Xun stared in disbelief.
Now he didn’t need to worry about whether to give the EXP to the Engineer.
With this level of destructive power, even the Engineer would get roasted instantly.
“What’s the point of even playing now?!”
Lin Xun wracked his brain but couldn’t figure out a solution.
Reading over the Boss fight text again, every option felt like a guaranteed death.
You couldn’t even survive in the safe house. And the White Moon Church was gone. What hope did the other locations have?
What kind of sick game lets a Boss flatten your safe zone with one move?
If he hadn’t set his respawn point to the chapel inside the castle, he couldn’t even imagine what the next screen would look like.
He thought hard for a while—and suddenly noticed something was off.
Hmm? Leveled to the ground?
That’s it! Leveled to the ground!
A flash of insight jolted his brain—suddenly everything clicked into place!
Back at the White Moon Church’s crossroads, the western option had said.
[To the west: Saint Rance’s tallest landmark—the Artemis Clocktower—has collapsed. A small mountain of bricks and rubble blocks your path.]
So if the Sea Dragon Boss’s Dragon Breath could flatten even the safe zone, then maybe… it could also flatten the rubble of the collapsed Clocktower—clearing the way!
A hidden map!
Those three words exploded in Lin Xun’s mind!