Chapter 144- The Earth Dragon

Normally, the formidable breath of a dragon would barely leave a scratch upon my divine form. However, even in my current state, I possessed enough humility to not test my diminished capabilities against such a potent force. A dragon's breath stood as one of the most formidable weapons in its vast arsenal, capable of reducing entire landscapes to a viscous, melted mess, its destructive potential varied according to the dragon's elemental affinity.

Mindful of the grave consequences that would follow should I be caught in the path of the dragon's breath attack, I swiftly took evasive action. With agility honed by countless battles, I deftly rolled away, my body a mere blur in motion. The ground trembled beneath me as I distanced myself from the imminent danger, seeking refuge beyond the reach of the dragon's devastating breath.

In a surprising deviation from its expected fiery assault, the earth dragon unleashed a ferocious barrage of dirt and rocks, propelled with a velocity beyond the perceptible limits of the human eye. The air crackled with the sheer force behind each projectile as they hurtled through the Wandering Woodlands. The once tranquil forest became a chaotic battleground, with tree bark exploding into shrapnel, splintering and scattering in all directions.

The unfortunate avian inhabitants of the woodlands were not spared from the wrath of the earth dragon's devastating breath attack. Birds that had sought refuge within their nests became unwitting victims of the onslaught. With a deafening cacophony, their fragile forms were violently torn asunder, transforming into a grotesque mixture of shattered bones, entrails, and feathers.

The relentless assault continued, relentlessly pummeling the surroundings with a deluge of earth and stone. However, as suddenly as it had begun, the elemental breath attack abruptly ceased. The dragon, perhaps having exhausted its immediate reserves of elemental power, momentarily suspended its assault. The aftermath of its onslaught was now starkly clear - a ravaged landscape strewn with the remnants of destruction, a testament to the devastating power the earth dragon possessed.

"I am offering you one final opportunity to depart, deity. If you refuse, I will riddle your body with holes."

Undeterred by the dragon's futile plea, I steadfastly disregarded its entreaty and focused on assessing the creature for any vulnerabilities. The massive beast remained evasive, continually repositioning its formidable form whenever I attempted to gain a strategic advantage. Its sideward orientation kept its more vulnerable areas concealed from my probing gaze. Determined to overcome this challenge, I resolved to circle the creature, determined to unveil its weak spots.

With a calculated determination, I completed a full revolution around the dragon, my eyes scrutinizing its massive frame for any potential openings or areas of weakness. However, before I could discern any significant vulnerabilities, the dragon's jaws unhinged once more, unleashing another tempest of forest debris in my direction. Reacting swiftly, I leaped over the airborne onslaught, evading the assault.

As the dragon's attack rained down upon the surrounding area, the onslaught pummeled the already lifeless carcasses strewn nearby. The impact of the debris caused a macabre spectacle, eliciting a spray of blood akin to an unexpected afternoon shower. Observing the display before me, an idea took shape in my mind. The imagery of blood-soaked corpses mingling with the dragon's assault offered a potential advantage to be seized. A plan formed, an audacious scheme that hinged upon leveraging the circumstances presented by this grisly scene.

Raising my palm upward, I activated [Blood Manipulation] and ushered forth a wave of fresh blood from the carcasses. Like a tidal wave, I commanded the liquid to cover the dragon as I stood up from the makeshift wall and ran.

A resounding howl pierced through the air, reverberating with a mixture of anger and disbelief. Moments later, the very ground beneath us trembled and quaked, responding to the dragon's fury. A colossal rift tore open the earth's surface, as if nature itself had bowed to the dragon's might. From the depths of the fractured ground, a towering wall of stone arose, forming a formidable barrier before the dragon.

The wave of blood, akin to a relentless torrent, collided with the imposing stone barricade, its force akin to water crashing upon an unyielding dam. The dragon's initial grin of triumph quickly transformed into a grimace of frustration, as its perceived advantage was thwarted when I was nowhere in sight. Seizing the opportune moment, I capitalized on the dragon's temporary distraction. Swift as a shadow, I maneuvered myself behind the mighty creature, closing the distance with utmost precision. With unwavering resolve, I clenched my hand into a tight fist, channeling my gathered power.

A surge of power coursed through me as the dragon's realization dawned upon its massive form. Its head whipped around, eyes widening in alarm as it discovered my presence mere meters away. Its face contorted into a mask of disbelief and apprehension as it comprehended the dire turn of events.

"You…"

With an exasperated growl escaping its throat, the earth dragon found itself confronted by an unsettling phenomenon. The blood wave, in all its menacing glory, emitted a series of bubbling and hissing sounds that reverberated through the air. Intrigued, the dragon swiftly pivoted on its powerful legs, fixing its reptilian gaze upon the undulating liquid. Its eyes widened in awe as the once placid fluids began to writhe and squirm with a purpose. Like a meticulously orchestrated ballet, an intricate arrangement of elongated spikes emerged from the heart of the crimson tide, forcefully penetrating the dragon's well-built defenses.

Caught off guard and sensing the imminent threat, the majestic creature unleashed a flurry of wing flaps, creating artificial gusts of wind that rustled the foliage in the vicinity. The dragon, backpedaling hastily, momentarily took to the skies, its massive form casting a daunting shadow over the landscape. However, its respite aloft was short-lived, and a raspy growl of frustration resonated from the depths of its throat as it touched down, rather unsteadily, upon the churning stream beneath its talons.

"A deity that controls blood to this extent? Just who are you, specifically?"

"You earth dragons are quite nimble. It's especially appalling how you're able to move with severe injuries."

The once serene and crystalline stream, which had sparkled in a pure hue of blue mere moments ago, now bore an unsettling crimson tinge, as if tainted by the ominous touch of impending danger. Its once gentle flow was interrupted by a steady trickle of dark, viscous blood that dripped intermittently from a wound inflicted upon the creature's right-side belly.

Upon closer inspection, a section of its magnificent earth-toned scales, which typically formed an impenetrable shield, had been mercilessly punctured by a sharp and unforgiving force. It was a testament to the sheer power of the assailant, for only a formidable creature could have breached the formidable defense of an earth dragon. It's possible that another dragon had engaged in a fierce confrontation, each unleashing their immense might upon the other. Alternatively, it was conceivable that fate had conspired against the earth dragon, granting an opportunistic adversary a rare moment of vulnerability to strike an unexpected and fortunate blow.

The creature glance down at its wound, clutching it with a talon. "I see you have noticed my affliction. It is hard to avoid such an issue against a deity's sharp eyes and intuition."

The peculiar behavior displayed by the creature left no room for ambiguity, as any astute observer would effortlessly connect the dots. An earth dragon, typically known for being herbivores, had just been devouring copious piles of meat, an anomalous departure from its usual diet. Moreover, the cautious creature appeared to deliberately expose only half of its formidable body, asking of me to leave its territory. Only fools could fathom any alternative explanation in the face of such conspicuous actions.

Compelled by a mix of curiosity and vigilance, I diligently kept watch over the dragon's every move, meticulously noting any subtle shifts in its position or the slight shuffling of its massive feet. It was during one of these instances, as the creature gracefully shifted its weight, that my heightened senses detected a minuscule but unmistakable surge of pure mana resonating within the surrounding foliage and delicate flower petals. A clandestine revelation awaited me, concealed within the pristine allure of the marble-like petals, as a solitary droplet of crimson liquid stained their pristine surface. The sight before me left no room for doubt or ambiguity, leading to a single conclusion.

[You have one minute left on the strength increase!]

[You have one minute left on the agility increase!]

"Time sure does fly in the heat of battle," I mumbled, staring at the dragon.

The creature took one step forward. "Your stare conveys that you have no plans to withdraw. Very well then. Only one of us will remain. O Divine Being of Blood, be aware that those who slay a dragon will be marked. Dragons who sense this mark will target you till the ends of the Earthiens until you are nothing more than a dead man. If you persist on fighting knowing full well of the dangers, then come!"

With a mighty roar that shook even the heavens, it released an army of tendrils that cracked through the soil. Thick roots sprang forth and hastened toward me, stirring up a dust cloud. Clenching the blood blade tightly, I sprinted forward and slashed through the dragon's earth magic with ease. The blade hummed with vigor and power as I stepped on one of the thick tendrils and catapulted myself forward at the dragon. The creature took to the skies once more and conjured a wall of stone, intent on blocking my advances.

"You are at a severe disadvantage," the dragon sneered. "You have no hope of reaching me. My only requirement is to steer clear of blood…"

Using my left arm, I smacked my palm downward, as if I was squashing an ant beneath my boot. Simultaneously, a foreboding cloud materialized overhead, but it was no ordinary cloud. It obeyed my every command, and on my instruction, a deluge of crimson rain cascaded down, the source coming from the corpses. The dragon's vexation resonated in another resounding growl as it swiftly descended to the ground, seeking refuge under a hastily erected dome. Without delay, the blood storm transformed into a barrage of lethal spears, relentlessly bombarding the impromptu shelter. The crimson projectiles grazed the dragon's scales with a mere whisper of contact.

[You have 30 seconds left on the strength increase!]

[You have 30 seconds left on the agility increase!]

Disregarding the intrusive messages clamoring for attention, I leaped over the obstruction of the preceding wall with unwavering determination. In a fluid motion, the blood sword morphed effortlessly back to a formidable blood scythe. With deft agility, I spun the weapon through the air, unleashing a flurry of arc-shaped blood attacks that sliced through the atmosphere with remarkable swiftness, hurtling towards the imposing figure of the dragon. Anticipating its instinct to fortify itself with another defensive barrier, I watched as the creature made an unexpected maneuver, leaping over the blood projectiles while clutching its belly in clear pain. In a synchronized display of timing, I closed the distance between us swiftly, capitalizing on its momentary descent from the agile leap.

"…!"

A profound sense of horror etched itself across the dragon's visage as a vivid crimson spear hurtled toward its eyes with alarming velocity. Time seemed to conspire against the creature, leaving it bereft of the opportunity to react swiftly enough to avert potential harm. Employing its mighty wings to swiftly veer away proved impractical, for the act would consume precious seconds that it simply did not possess.

In a moment of desperation, the dragon made a split-second decision, contorting its head to the side with a desperate gambit. Just as the spear made contact with its scaly cheek, a remarkable turn of fate materialized. Rather than penetrating its flesh, the spear inexplicably rebounded harmlessly, leaving the dragon awestruck and bewildered in equal measure. Its perplexed gaze fixated upon the melting weapon, grappling with the inexplicable turn of events.

"…What?!"

"Too late."

Time moved at a crawl as I stopped right in front of the gigantic creature. As the seconds ticked by, I raised both my arms, a trickle of sweat dripping down my cheek. A sharp tug filled my brain, and a sound I hadn't heard in a millennium escaped from my lips. Grunting with the effort, the very soil beneath us responded to my command. With an earth-shaking upheaval, a spear of extraordinary proportions emerged from the ground, matching the dragon's colossal stature.

Sensing the imminent threat, the dragon's instincts compelled it to flee, desperately flapping its massive wings in a desperate bid for escape. But fate had already sealed its destiny. The blood spear, propelled by an irresistible force, surged skyward with unyielding determination. With unerring precision, it pierced through the dragon's flesh, breaching its already wounded form. The very fabric of the Wandering Woodlands recoiled in response to the dragon's bloodcurdling howl, a spine-chilling cry that echoed through the ancient trees, startling even my battle-hardened self.

Terrified bird creatures scattered from their nests, seeking refuge from the unfolding spectacle, obscuring the clearing beneath a canopy of feathered wings, blocking the moon's gentle rays. An endless deluge of rose-red poured from the dragon's gaping maw and the fresh wound, dropping onto the scarlet-stained stream below. The once-mighty beast now found itself impaled upon the blood-soaked spear, immobilized and helpless as its life essence ebbed away, draining into the voracious embrace of the stream.

[The duration of the strength increase has ended!]

[The duration of the agility increase has ended!]

"H-How did you-"

"You were so preoccupied evading my moves that you failed to recognize my actual intentions, dragon. At this moment, my strength is not as great as it usually is, and I am in a weakened state. Regretfully, my success in this battle was due to your unawareness of my predicament. You were conscious of my divinity, and endeavored to escape my onslaughts, only to discover too late that my onslaughts could not pierce your armor."

The utilization of the dragon's blood proved to be an indispensable aspect in my quest to overcome such a formidable opponent. In my current state, engaging in direct combat with dragons would have been a futile endeavor, acknowledging the vast gap in power. However, my proficiency in [Blood Manipulation], coupled with my resourcefulness and adaptability, provided a unique avenue for triumph.

Aware of the vital prerequisite for the dragon's blood to exist outside its own body, I meticulously orchestrated my attacks with precise intention. Each maneuver aimed to goad the dragon into evasive actions, evoking swift movements that inadvertently caused the creature to shed copious amounts of its lifeblood. The purpose behind this strategy was to amplify the pool of dragon's blood, a wellspring of potent mana that could be harnessed for my advantage.

Carefully orchestrating the battlefield, I combined the blood spilled by the dragon with the collection of lifeless corpses bundled together. These remnants served as conduits for my augmented assault, channeling their latent energy to empower the blood spear. The fusion of both blood types led to an attack teeming with raw power. To further tip the scales in my favor, I seized upon the opportune wound inflicted upon the dragon, leveraging it to my advantage.

The impaled dragon chuckled as its eyelids grew heavy. "I see… it is all coming together. I have lost this battle, oh mighty deity of blood…"

As the dragon's final breath escaped its mighty form, the life force within it extinguished, marking its undeniable demise. An overwhelming wave of exhaustion swept over me, forcefully bringing me to my knees. An intense pounding reverberated through my head, as if my skull was being crushed by the weight of my endeavors. With a grimace of pain, I instinctively clutched at my throbbing temples, acutely aware of the toll that had been exacted upon my being. The expenditure of both energy and blood had pushed me to the limits of my endurance.

In a moment of self-reflection, a touch of irony colored my thoughts. As a deity of considerable stature, it was almost comical to witness the spectacle of my current state, reduced to a frail and depleted figure. Yet, dwelling on such trivial matters served no purpose, for the Wandering Woodlands were replete with sources of energy waiting to be tapped into.

The dragon's lifeless corpse lay before me, a veritable reservoir of precious mana slowly seeping away with each passing moment. Time was of the essence, and I could not afford to delay. The ambient energy, intertwined with the remnants of the fallen beast, beckoned to me, urging me to partake in its abundance. With a renewed sense of purpose, I extended my senses, perceiving the latent power that pulsed within the dragon's remains. Determined, I raised my arms toward the skewered dragon corpse and its victims, mouthing a single phrase.

"[Blood Absorption]."