[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-ember-dragon":3,"chapter-ember-dragon-ember-dragon-chapter-24":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Ember Dragon",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},1161840,1504,"Chapter 24: The Fleeing Enemy","ember-dragon-chapter-24",24,"\u003Cp>“Cat’s Grace!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grease on my feet!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the Bluefoot Drakesnake was preparing another lightning breath, Cassius cast several speed-enhancing spells on himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His body became exceptionally agile, leaping lightly through the cave, closing in on the Drakesnake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the red dragon’s strength was far less than the Drakesnake’s, and their sizes were vastly different, that wasn’t the only factor in close combat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was confident he could prevail in a melee fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Drakesnake spat out several bolts of lightning, but the red dragon, having anticipated this, dodged easily, shifting left and right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Drakesnake, noticing Cassius’s intent for close combat, let out a raspy laugh, “Foolish dragon, you dare to challenge me in this cave?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Without the advantage of flight—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you even worth?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its twelve pairs of legs scuttled rapidly across the rock walls, moving faster than the spell-enhanced red dragon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It charged toward the red dragon like a streak of green lightning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bull’s Strength!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Drakesnake’s advance was exactly what the red dragon wanted; he instantly cast a strength-boosting spell, causing his muscles to swell with power, steam rising from his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Forewarned Strike!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius’s golden, slit-pupil eyes glowed with purple magical light, locking onto the Drakesnake, attempting to predict its next move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ridiculous dragon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re as feeble as those cowardly human mages!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Cassius covered in enchantments, the Drakesnake was unfazed, lunging forward with its gaping maw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The red dragon, anticipating this, sidestepped and prepared to counterattack with his claws.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet he didn’t expect the Drakesnake’s bite to be a feint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Cassius dodged, it suddenly shifted, springing forward and coiling its massive body around him like a lasso.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was constricting him!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Drakesnake slowly tightened its muscles, compressing the space around Cassius, trying to crush him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its body was more than twice the length of the red dragon’s and far stronger, and once it had constricted, the outcome was decided.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his predicament, the red dragon used his sharp claws to continuously tear at the Drakesnake’s scorched, exposed flesh, causing blood to splatter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Drakesnake let out a pained hiss but did not release its hold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It knew that loosening its grip would mean defeat, and if the constriction succeeded, even a red dragon would lose its strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Cassius’s attacks were far fiercer than the barbarian’s; his claws dug several feet into its flesh, ripping the Drakesnake apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re merely my prey!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Furious, the Drakesnake let out a long howl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even while covered in wounds, its body continued to coil tightly around the red dragon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re in your death throes!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had succeeded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The red dragon was bound by its massive, elongated body, trapped like a beast in a snare, with no escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t move his claws, helplessly struggling, his sharp teeth delivering weaker and weaker retaliations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>About to kill a red dragon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This made the Drakesnake’s blood surge with excitement, almost forgetting its own pain as it tightened its muscles with all its might.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the dreadful power of an ancient biological weapon, its hatred for dragons carved into its very blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, in the next moment, the situation took a drastic turn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mist Step!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The red dragon, firmly constricted, uttered a spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a skilled battle caster, he could still cast spells effortlessly, even in such a restrained state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, the Drakesnake felt the coils around its body go slack, with only a silver mist left where its prey had been.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius had teleported ten meters away to the top of the cliff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It shouted in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Drakesnake, having exerted too much force, was twisted into an awkward position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius could have escaped as soon as the Drakesnake began constricting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he chose to play along, letting it think he was trapped, thus further exhausting his opponent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The red dragon let out a victorious roar, leaping from the cliff, diving straight toward the Drakesnake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now, tell me—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who’s the prey?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Drakesnake, still tangled and unable to dodge, had no choice but to face him in desperation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It barely managed to lift its head to bite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Cassius’s agility now far surpassed that of the Drakesnake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The red dragon effortlessly sidestepped to the left, dodging the attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking advantage of the opening, he pounced behind the Drakesnake, biting into its exposed, bloodied torso.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flesh and blood splattered!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Warm blood sprayed into his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His teeth sank deep, tearing through muscle fibers, sinking even deeper. The sensation filled the red dragon with exhilaration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Roar—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Drakesnake let out an ear-splitting screech, thrashing wildly in an attempt to break free.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the red dragon’s mouth held firm, his claws digging deep into the Drakesnake’s body, tearing recklessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Drakesnake thrashed desperately, but Cassius refused to let go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boom...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two giant beasts engaged in a brutal, primal struggle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rocks in the cave rumbled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was as if the entire cave was shaking, with fragments of stone continuously falling from the ceiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wuu...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, the Drakesnake seemed to falter, letting out a weakened whimper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Cassius refused to relax; he was nearing exhaustion himself, and if his foe had any tricks left, he’d be helpless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it finally over?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius felt the Drakesnake’s body growing weaker, its thrashing subsiding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A burst of blue-green blood mist suddenly erupted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bang!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It escaped!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Drakesnake had severed part of its body to break free.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The remaining seven pairs of legs crawled rapidly along the rock wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although gravely wounded, the Drakesnake moved even faster without the burden of its severed half.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It managed to escape after all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius released his bite, struggling to pull his claws from the remaining half of the Drakesnake’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He watched as it fled into the darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was nothing he could do; he was nearly at his limit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, this cave was the Drakesnake’s domain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without the ability to fly, it was difficult for the red dragon, relying on his four legs, to catch up with the Drakesnake, even in its diminished state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His light spell had expired, but the torches provided faint illumination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius simply watched the deep, dark path where the Drakesnake had escaped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The unique tapetum in the red dragon’s eyes allowed him to see in the dark, giving his gaze a ghostly glow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, his vision now was only in black and white.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That direction leads to the Embers Nest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius’s sense of direction was sharp; even in a dark cave, he could pick up on environmental cues to determine his bearings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Bottomless Pit?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius suddenly recalled something.\u003C\u002Fp>",1089,"2026-06-03T12:47:02.671Z","2026-06-03T12:47:06.781Z",1,"novelbin.me","c9e530b27e5c6d1b32390f53bd47cc014e5a94b275bec6e9af3b60a683e130ec","ember-dragon-chapter-25","ember-dragon-chapter-23",603,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fember-dragon-cover.jpg"]