Damien and his summons had found their rhythm, their attacks coordinated and focused on the vulnerable spot Luton had created on the Obsidian Drake’s neck.
Each strike from Cerbe burned deeper into the beast’s flesh, leaving its once-impenetrable scales scorched and disintegrated.
Still, Damien’s gut warned him that something was amiss. Despite their progress, an ominous feeling gnawed at the back of his mind, urging him to stay alert.
The Obsidian Drake’s patience snapped. Its molten veins pulsed brighter, and its aura surged to terrifying heights. Its scarlet eyes glowed with unrestrained fury, the last traces of rationality vanishing as it let out an earth-shaking roar.
Damien’s eyes widened in alarm. ‘It’s gone berserk.’
“Everyone, fall back!” he shouted, his voice echoing through the desolate battlefield.
The Drake reared up, its massive body towering above the charred ground. Its chest heaved as it inhaled deeply, the air around it growing unnaturally cold.
Damien’s instincts screamed at him, and without hesitation, he made a split-second decision. “Cancel all summons!” he commanded, the glowing forms of Fenrir, Cerbe, and Luton fading instantly. Only Aquila remained.
“Aquila, get the others out of here!” Damien yelled, pointing toward the unconscious forms of Keith and Narna lying some distance away.
The Griffin let out a piercing cry and swooped down, its powerful talons gently scooping up the two motionless figures. With a single, powerful beat of its wings, it ascended into the sky, carrying them far beyond the reach of the drake’s wrath.
Meanwhile, Damien slid beneath the drake’s massive frame, positioning himself under its underbelly. It was the only place untouched by the attack he knew was coming.
The drake roared again, unleashing an explosion of blackened lava that radiated outward in all directions.
Bwoooom!!
The molten torrent burned through everything it touched, reducing the once-lush forest to a barren wasteland. Trees disintegrated, rocks melted, and the ground itself was scorched black.
The sheer force of the attack sent shockwaves through the earth, and Damien could feel the heat searing his skin even from his sheltered position.
Damien gritted his teeth, sweat pouring down his face as he clung to the ground, praying his gamble would pay off.
When the attack finally subsided, Damien crawled out from under the drake, coughing as he breathed in the smoke-filled air. He stood, his legs trembling as he took in the devastation around him. For miles in every direction, the land was barren and lifeless.
Damien’s gaze shifted to the drake, which stood at the center of the destruction, its molten veins dimming slightly as it caught its breath. Despite the damage it had caused, the beast was still standing, its eyes glowing with relentless fury.
“Damn it,” Damien muttered, summoning his summons once more.
The shimmering blue portals reappeared, and Fenrir, Cerbe, and Luton emerged onto the battlefield. Their forms were battered and weary, but their resolve remained unshaken.
The moment Luton appeared, Damien received an unexpected notification.
Ding!
«Summon Request: Your summon, Luton requests permission to activate (True Devourer).»
Damien read through the skill description quickly, his eyes widening as he absorbed the details.
«Skill: (True Devourer) Allows the Stellar Slime to devour 10x more than normal.»
«Cost: 5,500 units of Magic Essence per second.»
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«Aftereffect: The slime will be rendered immobile for an extended period based on what it consumes.»
The cost was enormous, but Damien knew they had no other choice. The drake was preparing for another attack, and his summons wouldn’t survive if they faced it head-on.
“Permission granted,” Damien said firmly.
The moment Damien approved the request, Luton’s form began to expand, growing rapidly until it dwarfed its usual size.
The red slime positioned itself between the drake and the rest of the group, its body shimmering faintly as it activated its (True Devourer) skill.
The Obsidian Drake roared, rearing back as it prepared another blackened column of lava. The molten energy churned within its throat, building in intensity before erupting outward in a devastating stream.
But Luton was ready.
The Stellar Slime absorbed the attack in its entirety, its (Universal Space) skill swallowing the molten torrent without hesitation.
Swoooosh~
The air crackled with heat as the lava disappeared into the slime’s shimmering form, but Luton held firm, its body glowing faintly as it stored the energy.
Damien felt his magic essence reserves drain rapidly, the cost of the skill taking a heavy toll.
When the drake’s attack finally ceased, Luton released the stored energy in a massive surge, redirecting the molten torrent back at the beast.
Bwaaaam!!
The attack struck the drake with devastating force, slamming into its exposed wound and burning through its molten veins.
The sheer power of the attack sent the drake crashing to the ground, its massive form shaking the earth as it landed.
Damien watched as the drake struggled to rise, its movements sluggish and weak. Its once-imposing figure was now battered and charred, its molten veins dimming as its strength waned.
Before the beast could recover, Luton expanded once more, engulfing the drake’s entire body in its crimson form.
The slime’s (True Devourer) activated again, and within seconds, the drake’s colossal frame disappeared into the shimmering depths of the slime.
Silence fell over the battlefield.
Damien staggered backward, his knees buckling as exhaustion overtook him. His magic essence reserves were nearly depleted, and his body ached from the strain of the battle.
He turned to check on his summons. Fenrir was bleeding heavily from a deep gash on its side, but the wolf’s connection with Damien remained strong. Cerbe, though battered, stood firm, its three heads growling softly as it surveyed the area.
Luton, however, remained immobile. The slime’s bloated form refused to shrink, its once-bubbly movements replaced by stillness.
Damien nodded, understanding that the aftereffects of (True Devourer) had left the slime incapacitated.
A notification appeared in Damien’s vision.
Ding!
«Mission Complete: Hunt The Impossible.»
«Rewards: Grade Two Essence Core, Rank Four Essence Ore, Subskill (Transformation) unlocked, +2 points to all stats, +500 units of Magic Essence»
Damien let out a shaky sigh of relief. They had done it. Despite the overwhelming odds, they had brought down the Obsidian Drake.
“The fight is over,” Damien murmured, collapsing to his knees. He gazed out at the barren wasteland, the charred ground stretching endlessly before him.
As he glanced at his motionless summons with an aching body, Damien couldn’t help but ask himself. “How many more do I have to face?”