novelraw Chapter 217: BOSS Battle! Final Showdown with the Black Lantern Dragon!
Chapter 217: BOSS Battle! Final Showdown with the Black Lantern Dragon!
Bang! Bang!
The "lantern" in the sky trembled, flickering continuously. Coupled with its heavy breaths, it sounded like thunder weighing thousands of pounds, roaring endlessly across this vast sea.
The scene before them resembled a brewing storm about to descend.
"Something bad is coming!"
"It's coming! It's coming!"
The crew aboard the Dagger couldn't help but shout in alarm.
Fenrir silently drew his greatsword:
"Activate the highest-level shield! All crew, prepare..."
Whoosh!
Before Fenrir could finish his words, the enormous lantern surged forward. The monster lurking in the fog began to reveal its bloodthirsty aura and fearsome fangs."This is..."
Everyone instinctively looked up to the colossal creature in the sky.
First, their eyes caught the slightly open maw, filled with three rows of blade-like teeth holding countless corpses, including torn flags and pieces of steel.
Moving upward, a pair of bright red dragon eyes glared fiercely. Beneath the dragon head's lantern radiated scorching light, burning the skin and spirit of all who gazed upon it, harboring the terrifying power of the lamp affinity.
Beneath that, the massive dragon’s body was covered in countless scales that opened and closed incessantly. Each scale was as sharp as a blade, as if absorbing the endless darkness and unknown forces of the ocean floor. These tightly arranged scales rose and fell with its breath, forming an indestructible armor.
"Sea Dragon..."
Mad Wolf Fenrir instinctively said.
Though the Dagger was an exploration ship, it was sizable enough to easily hold a hundred people.
Yet, before this sea dragon, it still looked minuscule.
If the Dagger lacked its shield and was made of wood, it would be crushed to dust in an instant!
That familiar feeling... Chen Qi looked up and estimated.
The visible size of the sea dragon above the water already exceeded fifty meters. Its true size was conservatively estimated to be at least one hundred meters.
But...
Wow! It really looked like it!
Wasn't this just a super deluxe version of the Coastal Apex Predator, the loyal husky guardian of his base?
Of course, though similar in appearance, its aura was on an entirely different level.
Remember, the Coastal Apex Predator was just over twenty meters long, but this sea dragon before them was at least a hundred meters—a full five times larger!
It was like the difference between a strong man and a stray dog!
What exactly was this... Chen Qi momentarily did not know how to address the enormous beast before him.
"Why? Why?"
The Flower Witch Fen's pupils shrank sharply as she gripped the ship’s railing.
"Blackship Sea Dragon? No, this size should be called Black Lantern Dragon—a dragon king-level monster!"
Fen's eyes were filled with disbelief. They were actually facing a dragon king-level dragon on the open sea!
This was an incredibly rare and special event!
Could it be because of me? My teacher once said that once you become a witch, you become a symbol of calamity, and calamity attracts calamity... Flower Witch Fen bit her lip hard.
Dragon king-level...
Chen Qi’s gaze involuntarily shifted to the Black Lantern Dragon before him.
Generally, dragons are simply divided into juvenile, adult, and the higher tier known as dragon king.
The gap between juvenile and adult dragons was already enormous.
Beyond that, dragons surpassing normal individual power were called dragon kings, often requiring special opportunities or the help of beast tamers to evolve into such extraordinary individuals.
Once evolved, they were often given a new title.
Chen Qi seemed to remember that this creature was called the Black Lantern Dragon.
However, he never expected it to be such a colossal existence.
"Black Lantern Dragon! That's a pretty fitting name. Speaking of which, what's its relation to the little Coastal Apex Predator..."
Chen Qi stroked his chin and looked up, pondering for a moment.
But in the next instant, a sudden roar of terror drowned out his thoughts and snapped him back.
"Helmsman! Adjust to port side!"
"Fight with all your might! Everyone, use our blood! Use our blades! Engage!"
After a brief silence, a massive explosion erupted. The instinct to survive transformed into passion, echoing through every inch of the Dagger.
The engine power was pushed to the max!
The pilot, priest, sailors, and first mate—everyone on board screamed hysterically in that moment.
This was a primal shout from their very souls!
The moment they encountered the Black Lantern Dragon, their life and death hung by a thread!
Smack!
A bright orange flower appeared above Fen’s head as she suddenly pinched Chen Qi’s armpit:
"Qi! Don't fall into illusions!"
Ouch. Fen, if you pinch my armpit again, believe me, I'll pinch your little face... Chen Qi felt the pain in his armpit and looked at Fen’s expression.
At this moment, Fen’s eyes beneath the flower were bloodshot and deadly serious.
She also sensed the aura of death.
When facing danger, Fen preferred to speak little.
Chen Qi turned his head sideways; giant waves were rapidly approaching from afar.
A dragon king-level sea dragon’s arrival meant a death crisis for the Dagger.
A 99% death crisis!
The countless shipwrecks on the Black Lantern Dragon’s body proved that numerous ships had already become its food.
The lantern hanging high above emitted a certain supernatural lamp affinity power that caused disorientation.
Moreover, the creature itself was the undisputed apex predator in these waters.
The Black Lantern Dragon was the embodiment of calamity in this sea!
The Black Lantern Dragon slowly lowered its head, stirring up enormous waves as its massive skull relentlessly advanced toward Chen Qi.
"We absolutely cannot let it get close to our ship!"
Mad Wolf Fenrir roared angrily:
"Fire the cannons! Fire the cannons! Fire with full force!"
Cannons roared from the deck; blinding beams pierced the sky, targeting the sea dragon’s position.
The air thickened with gunpowder and tension, as if even the sea breeze trembled.
Though the cannonball trajectories were precise, they exploded beside the massive Black Lantern Dragon, sending up towering water columns and billowing smoke.
However, these scorching shells hitting the dragon’s body were like tiny firecrackers.
"Stop attacking it!!"
Chen Qi ordered, a cold sweat trickling down.
Though he had Deep Sea Affinity, he couldn’t guarantee whether the Black Lantern Dragon would launch an attack after such fierce assault.
Just as humans fight back when attacked, once battle ignited, the Black Lantern Dragon might unleash a real ferocious onslaught! A brutal rampage!
Yet, amidst the roar of cannon fire, his voice barely caused a ripple in the water!
"Ah! Ah! Ah!"
The Black Lantern Dragon kept exhaling bloodthirsty breaths and emitting indescribable low roars, pushing through the cannonballs as it slowly moved toward Chen Qi.
Flower Witch Fen suddenly pulled a bloodied flower from her face, gently holding a blood-streaked blossom in her hand:
"Qi... sorry, Mad Wolf Fenrir, is there hope for our lifeboats to escape?"
Mad Wolf Fenrir drew his greatsword, accumulating spiritual energy:
"Miss Witch, I don’t believe any lifeboat can survive leaving this sea area. Besides, I don’t want to run. I won’t abandon our brothers!
But we’ll buy time for you and Hunter Sir to escape!"
Fen gently plucked a flower and glanced at the moon in the sky. She then turned to Chen Qi:
"Qi, next, only my flower’s release can stop it. If possible, please take my flower..."
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Cannon fire continued pounding the Black Lantern Dragon’s body.
Did these two not hear me...? Chen Qi raised his voice, almost shouting:
"Both of you, I’ll say it again, stop attacking! I’ll handle this!"
Amidst the cannon fire, Fen gave Chen Qi a slight smile and then placed her hand on her chest, attempting to pull off the flower there:
"Qi, you’re hallucinating. Too bad—I still have so many questions for you..."
Boom! Boom!
The Black Lantern Dragon finally grew impatient with the bombardment. Its sharp fangs glinted coldly, eyes shining with desire and fury for its prey. In a flash, it lunged fiercely at the ship’s hull.
With a deafening crash, the Black Lantern Dragon’s impenetrable head slammed hard against the Dagger’s shield on the side.
The massive impact violently shook the entire ship, as if it might disintegrate at any moment.
Objects on the deck scattered wildly. The crew was thrown about, staggering and shouting in terror, creating a heart-stopping scene of chaos!
Mad Wolf Fenrir struggled to stay steady and shouted loudly:
"Damn it! Damn it! Why the hell doesn’t this guy retreat from our attacks? Does it just want to eat us alive?
Is this damn thing really a dragon king?!"
Chen Qi’s brows twitched as he clenched his fists.
These two absolutely, absolutely weren’t listening to him!
Absolutely not!
"Hoo..."
Chen Qi exhaled a breath of blood, quietly stepped forward, then slowly spread his arms.
Bang!
"Can you two listen to me for once!"
Chen Qi grabbed Fen by the neck with his right hand and Fenrir by the neck with his left, then forcefully slammed their heads against the side of the ship.
Slam again!
Slam hard once more!
A scarlet gleam flashed in Chen Qi’s eyes as he said firmly:
"I told you to stop attacking!!!"
"Huh?"
Fen slowly lifted her head from Chen Qi’s grip, pouting in disbelief as she looked at him.
This was the first time Chen Qi had shown such ferocity since they’d known each other!
Though Flower Witch Fen didn’t dislike it, given the situation, she wondered if Chen Qi had gone mad.
"Qi, you..."
Before she could react, Chen Qi pinched her cheek:
"Fen, calm down. I’m not crazy. You don’t need to unleash your release! Just stop attacking, and I have a way to resolve this crisis."
Mad Wolf Fenrir looked utterly incredulous, recalling the terrifying legends from the newspaper.
What was going on?
Could the Black Hunter actually want to stop attacking?
Could it be like the White Pigeon Times said—that the sea’s calamities and the Black Lantern Dragon were allies trying to bury them all?
Chen Qi turned his head, eyes sharp as a giant python:
"Fenrir, tell your men to cease fire for half a minute. These cannonballs are blocking my sight."
Mad Wolf Fenrir raised his head, eyes like a hungry wolf:
"Hunter Sir, remember! Though you are our benefactor, if you go crazy, I won’t hesitate to stop you!"
Facing such a giant beast, even a second of delay could doom the entire ship!
Chen Qi lowered his head, voice cold as a serpent:
"I’m not crazy! I’ll say it one last time: tell your men to stop attacking! Give me thirty seconds—I’ll handle this Black Lantern Dragon!"
"You can’t suppress this Black Lantern Dragon..."
Bang!
Chen Qi forcefully pressed Fenrir’s head down and looked down at him from above:
"Can you do it? This Dagger ship can only take two hits at most. I can survive on the sea, but you can’t."
"One last time, stop!"
Chen Qi said expressionlessly.
Fenrir gritted his teeth, glanced at Flower Witch Fen, and recalled Chen Qi defeating the Black Pig Shark.
Now, perhaps they had no choice but to listen to the Black Hunter!
He struggled to raise his head and howled like a wolf:
"Everyone! Stop! Cease fire!"
As the captain of this ship, Mad Wolf Fenrir’s shout finally silenced the relentless cannon fire.
Under absolute authority, the crew all turned to look at Chen Qi on the deck.
They, like Fenrir, did not understand why they abandoned their attacks in such a dire situation.
At this moment, Chen Qi finally had the chance to meet the Black Lantern Dragon’s blood-red eyes again.
Roar—
The Black Lantern Dragon slowly moved forward, its massive head once again drawing near to Chen Qi.
Step back... Chen Qi glanced at the Black Lantern Dragon.
However, instead of retreating, the huge Black Lantern Dragon exhaled blood mist, wagged its massive tail, stirring towering waves as it charged toward Chen Qi.
"Can we really not shoot?"
"No, mom! Day God! I want to jump into the sea!"
"No! Don’t trust that hunter! It’s a captive of the dragon! It’s been tricked by the lantern in the sky!"
Onboard, amidst the bloody atmosphere, even more terrified and resentful voices arose on the Dagger.
Why wouldn’t the Black Lantern Dragon leave? Chen Qi thought.
Like the Coastal Apex Predator, it belonged to a very difficult-to-communicate type.
Is there a way to make it leave?
Since it’s the same species as the Coastal Apex Predator... Chen Qi pondered and pulled out a fishing rod unused for a long time, spending a large amount of bait to craft a delicate piece of Supernatural Bait.
Chen Qi looked at the bait in his hand.
This amount probably wasn’t enough to fill the Black Lantern Dragon’s teeth, was it?
Does the Black Lantern Dragon really eat this?
No matter, let’s try first.
Chen Qi exerted great strength and hurled the Supernatural Bait far out into the sea.
Go! Supernatural Bait!
What’s happening? Everyone’s gaze followed the bait’s trajectory far into the distance.
What’s the Black Hunter doing? Does this really work?
Why does this look a bit like playing with a big dog?
Everyone was momentarily stunned.
Splash!
A very light splash sound.
Under Chen Qi’s massive force, the Supernatural Bait landed on the sea surface two thousand meters away.
The enormous Black Lantern Dragon opened its huge mouth again, exhaling blood mist.
Will it work...? Chen Qi doubted, staring at the Black Lantern Dragon.
"..."
Like a starving dog, Fenrir’s expression turned fearful.
That blood mist!
Could it be!
Dragon Cannon! A dragon king-level dragon cannon, world-destroying dragon cannon!
But in the next second, something unexpected happened.
The Black Lantern Dragon suddenly turned sideways, wagging its tail, and fiercely swam toward the bait.
Huge waves slammed against the shield.
"!?"
Everyone was shocked—the Black Lantern Dragon ignored their delicious flesh for a mere bait!
Could it be... Mad Wolf Fenrir’s lips moved slightly, reminded of a long-lost skill by the scene before him.
Blushing Flower Witch Fen slowly lifted her head, even more bewildered.
What’s going on!
Why do I feel like the Black Lantern Dragon is a husky looking for a bone...
I must be hallucinating. No wonder Chen Qi pinched me earlier—to snap me awake... Fen said to Chen Qi:
"Qi, can you pinch my cheek again?"
"???"
Chen Qi looked completely puzzled.