Chapter 66: Dragon!

It wasn't just the Cave Spiders and the little devil who were shocked.

The players who were fighting bloody battles with the Earth Dragon Clan warriors were also stunned by this sudden scene.

"Holy crap!?"

"This, this is—"

"Giant dragon?!"

Is this a monster that can be seen in a newbie village?! However—

It's actually quite handsome?

The towering giant beast just moved its shoulders simply, and the entire forest trembled as if there were an earthquake.

It raised its proud head, its mouth and nose spraying scorching white mist, its pupils like the blazing sun looking down at the surroundings, looking down at the creatures on the ground like looking at ants.

The overwhelming pressure made all the species in the entire forest dare not move.

In the face of that majesty standing at the top of the food chain, even the king of the jungle had to lower its head in fear.

The players' speed of loading bullets subconsciously slowed down, and many players even stopped their actions.

No one doubted—

In front of such a behemoth, the firearms and fire sticks in their hands were no different, at most scratching this guy's itch!

It wasn't just the players.

The Earth Dragon Clan warriors also stopped their actions, even throwing away their weapons, kneeling on the ground and praying devoutly.

"Praise the great dragon Gutav!"

Standing at the front of the sea of skeletons, Ye Zhiqiu looked up at the giant beast towering like a mountain, the soul fire burning in his skull flickering in astonishment.

Silver? Gold?

Or Platinum Diamond—

He had an inexplicable intuition in his heart that for such a monster that transcended common sense, it was impossible to measure its strength by pure level.

It was a species that only appeared in epics and even myths!

On the treetop.

Arakdo was trembling uncontrollably, and with a voice carrying a hint of pleading, said to Luo Yan who was riding on his back.

"De, Demon King Lord... a monster of this level is no longer something we can deal with... let's retreat!"

If he hadn't already set up spider webs on the pine tree branches in advance, he probably would have fallen to the ground with his belly up just now.

However, unlike Arakdo who was bluffed, Luo Yan, who was frowning, saw a hint of the unusual from the giant dragon.

That guy—

"You You, can you see the soul on it?"

"Let me take a look!"

You You tried her best to rise to a high place, finally stopping five meters above Luo Yan's head, looking toward the giant dragon.

As a divinity, she could see things that ordinary people couldn't.

Soon.

You You's scouting had results! "I see—eh?! Strange, Lord Demon King, there are actually two souls in its body?!"

"Are you sure?"

"Sure! One is Steel-tier, and the other is... Diamond?!" You You was obviously also startled, shrinking back to Luo Yan's side from the sky, saying tremblingly, "Lord Demon King, I think your servant is right, why don't we retreat first?"

Luo Yan glanced at the mirror in his hand.

"What are you afraid of, you can't die anyway."

You You said with a bitter smile.

"I'm worried about you! If you die, wouldn't I be gone too?!"

That was what was said, but Luo Yan wasn't worried about his own safety at all.

In fact, when he heard that the giant dragon's body was inhabited by a Diamond-tier soul in addition to a Steel-tier soul, he breathed a sigh of relief instead.

He had probably already guessed what the Earth Dragon Clan chieftain had done.

"The holy relic of the dragon hunter, the undead remains sealing the giant dragon's soul... I didn't expect this gecko to have such an incredible thing in his hands."

Giant dragons have no natural enemies and first appeared in the Aos Continent in the form of disasters. It wasn't until the early First Epoch, when the Dragon God's divinity condensed, that the dragon race moved from ignorance to civilization and ended the endless killing with other races.

No specific historical data can prove whether the birth of the Dragon God or the dragon race's move toward civilization happened first, and who was whose cause and effect.

But one thing is certain: before the birth of the Dragon God, there was a group of people on the Aos Continent who lived by dragon slaying.

Some were humans, some were dwarves, and there were even elves and halflings... most of them came from ruins destroyed by giant dragons.

They called themselves dragon hunters.

After killing a giant dragon, they would bind the giant dragon's soul in its remains, making it into a "holy relic," thereby preventing it from crossing the River Styx to be reincarnated.

Although later research results proved that doing so was meaningless, as the soul of a newborn doesn't necessarily have to come from an existing soul, but can also be generated out of thin air. But in the relatively backward First Epoch, the vast majority of people believed that this method could reduce the number of giant dragons.

In short, in the distant First Epoch, many giant dragons were made into equipment by dragon hunters in this way.

And later, some other races flowing with dragon blood also joined the dragon hunter organization and, under the will of the Dragon God, hunted "evil giant dragons" that were stubborn and unrepentant.

As followers of the Dragon God, they soon became interested in these holy relics sealing the souls of giant dragons.

Those were souls above Diamond-tier.

Some might even be demigods! It was a pity to just leave such awesome things lying around; why not make them into weapons? So as time passed, a certain experienced dragon hunter designed a set of ritual magic that differed from the necromancy system created by the God of Death but existed in similarity in results, referring to the necromancy system created by the God of Death.

The magic is named "Dragon-Riding Divine Art."

It is classified as a summoning ritual magic, effective only on holy relics made by dragon hunters, and only casters with dragon blood flowing in their veins can activate it.

And the price the caster needs to pay is also extremely heavy.

The vast majority of dragon hunters who have used this ability never changed back...

"... This guy is probably using the scales or teeth from a giant dragon as a medium, while the sacrifice is the blood in his own body and the bodies of the Lizardmen present... tsk tsk, I didn't expect that there would really be a few drops of dragon blood in the veins of this bunch of geckos."

That's not Dragon Language magic at all!

The giant dragon summoned in this way is not a true giant dragon at all, but a summon similar to an undead existence! How ridiculous.

Compared to himself who borrows the power of Dragon Language, this guy is the true blasphemer!

The giant dragon not far away has already begun to run wild.

A dragon breath sprayed out from that opened blood basin mouth, instantly turning the forest ten meters wide into ashes! Some players tried to fire at the giant dragon with the fire sticks in their hands, and some players swung daggers and spears to trim its toenails.

However, without exception, their attacks were futile; the giant dragon just lifted its foot lightly, sending large swaths of players back to the resurrection point.

Seeing that Luo Yan still had no intention of retreating, You You said tremblingly.

"Lord Demon King... are you really not considering avoiding it?"

"You You, do you remember what I said before? The 'puppet' of a necromancer is determined by the puppet's own strength and the necromancer's strength."

"So, so?"

"So," looking at the violent giant dragon in the distance, Luo Yan narrowed his eyes slightly, his voice calm, "what stands before us is just a guy borrowing a tiger's might."

Attempting to control a Diamond-tier giant dragon with Steel-tier strength! It's simply wishful thinking!

At this very moment, Luo Yan saw even more clearly than You You.

That Earth Dragon Clan chieftain Sanu had gradually lost his mind, even attacking his clansmen who were praying on the ground indiscriminately.

Sure enough—

That guy had already been backlashed by this power he couldn't control!

Seeing that the timing was about right, Luo Yan patted Arakdo's head lightly.

"Arakdo, can you use spider silk to move between pine trees?"

Arakdo was stunned.

"Ah?! This... I can try."

Luo Yan said calmly.

"If you haven't tried it before, it doesn't matter; in short, I need you to send me to the giant dragon's back... if you can ride on its back, that's best; if not, just do your best to send me nearby."

"Ride on the giant dragon's back?!"

Arakdo's legs went soft upon hearing this, stuttering even more than the little devil, "Lo, lo, lord, what are you going there for?!"

Luo Yan spoke nonsense with a straight face.

"An innocent soul is trapped in a decaying shell, and I intend to release it."

Honestly, of course he wanted to keep that Diamond-tier soul; that was a giant dragon's soul! However, with his current strength, he couldn't control that massive power at all; forcibly keeping it would only result in being led by the nose by the latter.

Better to let it return to the embrace of the Dragon God!

This guy, who has been sealed for who knows how many hundreds of years, should also rest in peace.

"Roar—!"

The roaring giant dragon was still venting its anger indiscriminately, scorching dragon breath raging in the forest, releasing a sea of fire like purgatory.

Under the Demon King's urging, Arakdo finally bit the bullet and launched a charge, using the cover of the terrain to try to circle behind the giant dragon.

However, this guy was too big! It was like a hill! Its tail could sweep away a patch of burning dead trees with a casual swing! And those sharp claws were even more fatal, leaving a hellish scene wherever they passed.

Fortunately, this guy had poor eyesight.

Plus, because Sanu himself couldn't control this power, currently this giant dragon was like a walking corpse, just venting its unreleased anger indiscriminately!

This power is not without limits—

Even for a giant dragon!

"Okdo! Attract its attention!"

"Hungry...!"

Okdo, swinging his scimitar, leaped into the air, and the whirlwind-like slash hit the giant dragon's shoulder fiercely.

Clang—! A crisp metallic sound rang out on the indestructible dragon scales!

Although it didn't hurt the giant dragon at all, it successfully attracted the attention of the big guy.

Only to see those pupils like a burning sun looking slowly toward its left, followed by the giant dragon opening its blood basin mouth.

"Roar—!"

A scorching dragon breath sprayed out!

Dozens of pine trees instantly turned into charcoal and were blown down by the wind! Although he barely dodged this fatal blow, Okdo paid a heavy price, almost half of his body evaporated by the scorching flames, leaving only white bones! This wasn't over!

For this reptile that dared to hurt it, the giant dragon, which was worried about having nowhere to vent its anger, didn't intend to let him go just like that.

Opportunity is fleeting! Too late to feel sorry for his puppet, Luo Yan seized the opportunity of the giant dragon's distraction and immediately urged Arakdo to run toward the giant dragon's right rear! That was its blind spot! "Now! Jump up!"

Looking at the tail touching the ground, Luo Yan shouted loudly.

"Ah ah ah ah!" Using the shouting to dispel the fear in his heart, Arakdo bit the bullet and leaped, simultaneously spitting a stream of white phlegm from his mouth!

That wasn't ordinary phlegm.

It was the kind he had chewed in his mouth for several minutes, and it was still stringy when he spat it out. The flying spider silk crossed a distance of over ten meters, sticking to the center of the giant dragon's back like a slapped candy.

The giant dragon, which was chasing Okdo, didn't notice the little mosquito biting behind it at all; the weak attack couldn't even make it itch.

This was exactly what Luo Yan wanted.

With the traction of the spider web, Arakdo, carrying Luo Yan, quickly climbed to the center of the giant dragon's spine in three or two steps.

Mi Ya, watching from afar, was completely stunned.

Those bright eyes were wide open, and the wide-open mouth had completely turned into the shape of an O.

Is that Lord Demon King?! What, what, what is he doing?!

Dragon slaying?!

"Damn it..."

This is no longer evil.

This is completely courting death, right?!

Just as she was thinking so pessimistically, Luo Yan, who was originally at the "halfway up the mountain," had already climbed to the back of the giant dragon's neck with Arakdo's help.

That is where the magic crystal is generated after the giant dragon dies! At the same time, it is also the place closest to the soul!

"De, Demon King Lord! Is this enough?! If we go any further, I'm afraid we'll be sent into its mouth!" Arakdo shouted in terror.

That he could overcome his fear and not fall off was already the limit of what he could do as a Black Iron-tier monster.

And the reason he could have such courage was purely because of his trust in the Demon King himself, and that this giant dragon hadn't set its sights on him, this little bug, for the time being.

"It's enough... just hold on tight and don't let go!"

Hearing Lord Demon King's order, Arakdo nodded nervously, lying dead on the giant dragon's neck, not daring to move.

Luo Yan took a deep breath, reached out to touch the scales on the giant dragon's neck, and the aura on his whole body changed, like a giant dragon transformed into a human—

This is the first step in casting Dragon Language magic.

He has to imagine that he is a giant dragon! "Great dragon Gutav, the omnipotent ancient spirit, the true god soaring in the starry sky... please open your eyes and look at your child, its wings have been broken, and it is trapped in prison..." (Dragon Language)

That is the spell recorded in ancient books along with the Dragon-Riding Divine Art, used to transcend dragon hunters who lost control due to using dragon riding, preventing them from becoming new evil dragons! Luo Yan was infinitely glad that he had once used this spell as material for learning Dragon Language, copying it into his notebook along with other spells.

Also, thanks to him reviewing these things a few days ago.

Otherwise, after such a long time, even if he racked his brains, he might not have been able to recite it—

"... May you lead it back to the sea of stars, let its soul soar freely, turn into starlight above the firmament, and shine again in the eternal night sky." (Dragon Language)

That low, hoarse roar was like a gradually urgent war drum.

Luo Yan recited every syllable wholeheartedly, not daring to have the slightest mistake.

Victory or defeat depends on this—

And at the moment the last syllable fell, an incredible miracle happened.

Only to see that the originally manic giant dragon, like a baby hearing a lullaby, suddenly stopped its baring of fangs and brandishing of claws.

Not just the giant dragon.

As the root of the chaos returned to tranquility, the entire Pine Song Forest became quiet in an instant, leaving only the rustling sound of the autumn wind passing through the forest.

Peaceful.

Serene.

The giant dragon's breathing gradually became even.

Not just breathing, the fire of hatred burning in the sun-like pupils also slowly extinguished at the same time.

Luo Yan, touching the scales with his right hand, felt its gradually calming heartbeat, and also felt the desperate wail issued by the other soul inhabiting its body.

"No—"

"You can't fall asleep yet! Move for me!"

"Ah ah ah ah!!!"

"Lord Dragon God... why did you abandon your child..."

Listening to Sanu's wail, Luo Yan suddenly felt a bit sorry for this guy.

But pity is pity, some things cannot be changed.

"Sleep peacefully." (Dragon Language)

It's over.

Circles of pale golden ripples spread to the surroundings, and that vast energy no longer stirred up trouble, but gradually began to smooth out the trauma left by the previous monstrous anger on this land.

Dead plants began to grow, and tender buds emerged from beneath the withered roots, climbing upward like vines, wrapping around one skeleton hand after another that had been raised.

Mi Ya was completely stunned, as if her brain had crashed, losing her speech for a while.

This is—

Won?! The Demon King... defeated the giant dragon?! The players who survived or rushed over after resurrection were also the same, all looking at the figure standing on the giant dragon with astonished eyes.

"... What did that guy do?" Hu Wan, who was thinking about countermeasures a second ago, muttered to himself.

Ye Zhiqiu shook his head slowly, just admiringly saying.

"Worthy of being the combat power ceiling of 'Calamity OL'."

Sure enough.

They still have to work harder.

Not just the citizens of the Great Graveyard, adventurers and traveling merchants passing by nearby were also stunned by this scene.

That is a true giant dragon!

Not some cow-hide balloon blown by adventurers! On a hill a kilometer away.

The man carrying a greatsword and looking at the giant dragon with binoculars was suddenly astonished, remembering the rumors he had heard in the Pine Song Town tavern earlier.

"This guy... could it be that person?!"

Hearing his companion's voice, the adventurer standing to the side cast a surprised look at him.

"Do you know that guy riding on the dragon's back?"

"I've heard of him..." the man with the greatsword swallowed his saliva and said slowly, "His name... should be Yan Wang."

"..."

On the edge of the river not far from the labyrinth entrance, several men and women in robes were also looking in the direction of the giant dragon.

They had slender ears and delicate bones, just like elves living under the Tree of Yggdrasil. But unlike those elves, their skin was not the holy, flawless white, but a brown like ripe wheat.

If Luo Yan saw them, he would definitely be able to recognize their identities at a glance.

These guys are Dark Elves! Banished from the Tree of Yggdrasil, they are rare beings who do not live in the Netherworld but are loyal to the Demon God Bayeli! By the way, they are also "protected animals" of the Netherworld, although the title of protected animal doesn't mean much outside the Demon Capital.

Withdrawing his gaze from the giant dragon's back, the Dark Elf holding a withered wooden staff cast his gaze on the "artificial canal" by the river.

Clearly, that was done by the idiots of the Earth Dragon Clan.

"Looks like we don't need to intervene."

Didn't expect Lord Demon King to care about this labyrinth more than they imagined; this was somewhat beyond their expectations.

But thinking about it, it's normal; after all, that is his territory, and they are just citizens living here by his grace.

The withered wooden staff made a creaking sound.

Look closely, that seemingly withered branch was actually alive!

"Don't we need to go up and say hello?"

The leading Dark Elf shook his head.

"... Not seeing it and seeing it but not helping are two different things; let's go back first."

Having said that, he turned and disappeared into the shadows of the forest, and the others hurriedly followed his footsteps, as if they had never come...

Such a huge commotion couldn't possibly not attract the attention of surrounding forces; the seemingly quiet forest was more lively than anyone imagined.

Only Sodo and the group of Merman warriors deep in the first level of the labyrinth were still quietly waiting for Lord Demon King's attention.

"Drip—"

A drop of rain fell on the back of Luo Yan's hand.

At some point, the sky had become overcast, and lightning seemed to pass through it faintly.

And the raindrops that fell in twos and threes gradually turned into a drizzling autumn rain, extinguishing the precarious mountain fire.

As if sensing the arrival of some great existence, the giant dragon, which had completely calmed down, raised its head and faced the sky devoutly.

Luo Yan withdrew his right hand that was pressing on the scales.

And at the same time, a hoarse whisper rang in his ear.

"Thank you."

That is the language of the giant dragon.

As if from a thousand years ago.

Luo Yan was stunned, then replied.

"You're welcome." (Dragon Language)

The giant dragon slowly lowered its head, seemingly saying something in Dragon Language.

Luo Yan couldn't understand what it was saying, only feeling a faint warmth suddenly surge in his originally exhausted body, and every cell in his whole body felt indescribably comfortable.

He looked at his hands, only to see that the skin, which had been pale from not seeing the sun for a long time, had been plated with a faint golden light at some point!

As the pale golden light dissipated, he only felt that his whole body was full of power.

Suddenly realizing something, Luo Yan immediately opened the attribute panel, only to see that there were indeed two different items in the talent column!

【Blessing of the Dragon God: Magic, physical, and mental resistance greatly increased!】

【Blood of the Giant Dragon: Recovery ability greatly increased!】

Lin Te·Aiwen's system didn't provide specific values; presumably, this transmigrator predecessor hadn't encountered a situation of being blessed by the Dragon God.

However, even if the status bar didn't show specific bonus values, he could still truly experience that surging power in his blood vessels! Compared to panel attributes, that was the most real thing! Luo Yan didn't know whether everyone who liberated a detained dragon soul would receive the Dragon God's blessing, or if some unintentional behavior of his had met the conditions to please the Dragon God.

For example—

Facing a giant dragon with a Steel body? In short, the situation of obtaining the Dragon God's blessing is indeed very rare.

At least as far as the examples Luo Yan knows, the recorded cases can be counted on one hand.

Completing the spell with the last bit of strength, the giant dragon lowered its body and crawled on the ground, putting down Luo Yan and Arakdo who were riding on its back.

"This is a gift I give to you." (Dragon Language)

"Goodbye." (Dragon Language)

Just at the same moment the low roar fell, that body as towering as a mountain, just like that, in front of everyone, turned into dust and dissipated with the wind... - (Ten thousand words again today, righteously asking for monthly tickets in a low voice, please!)

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 67 =====