Vol. 4 Chapter 32: Inferior

Chapter 32: Inferior

The scene suddenly fell into an eerie calm. The yellow pus-like blood oozing from the dragon covered its body, forming a layer of slimy armor. Meanwhile, Zhou Chu panted heavily, trying to recover his strength. Lu Li opened a vent in the shadow surrounding him, releasing the stale air and drawing in fresh air, all while standing within the shadows to recover his shadow magic. After the recent ordeal, his magic was nearly depleted.

"Make a potion to suppress the snake eggs," Lu Li instructed the serpent woman who had swum up from the side. Lilith nodded, gathering magic in her hand to produce a syringe. Lu Li took it and threw it to Zhou Chu, saying, "It's a witch medicine. Inject it into your arm and push the plunger to administer it."

Without hesitation, Zhou Chu followed Lu Li's instructions, injecting the potion. He immediately felt a surge of vitality rapidly repairing his damaged body, including the injuries from the dragon's tail. Given the situation, he couldn't afford to worry about other potential effects.

Lu Li eyed the broken spear embedded in the dragon's eye, considering activating the thorns within it. However, the broken spear was beyond his control. The dragon's transparent, mucus-like tongue extended to its injured eye, forcefully digging out the damaged eyeball. The tongue then wrapped around the eye and swallowed it, leaving the remaining eye to glare coldly at Zhou Chu and the others.

"Die, human!" The dragon lunged at Zhou Chu, who had now replaced Lu Li as the object of its hatred.

Zhou Chu snorted, deftly dodging to the side and thrusting the broken dragon horn at the beast. Yet, the dragon's slimy, tough armor made it nearly impossible to penetrate. Realizing the futility, Zhou Chu quickly retreated, engaging the dragon in a stalemate.

As their battle dragged on, Zhou Chu noticed the dragon's defense had become almost impenetrable, yet its agility had decreased significantly. Its straight-line speed was still formidable, but its turning and maneuvering had slowed.

Once again, the battle reached a deadlock. Zhou Chu couldn't harm the dragon, and the dragon couldn't catch Zhou Chu. Meanwhile, the shadow giant formed by Lu Li once more conjured a massive shadow spear, charging swiftly at the dragon. The wind through the hollow parts of his form created a mournful wail, spreading fear throughout the surroundings.

Zhou Chu heard the sound, frowning, but his fearless spirit pushed away the fear. The dragon, growing agitated by the approaching shadow giant, felt the wail stirring its fear. The creature was reminded of a terrifying memory from decades ago, causing its movements to falter. Zhou Chu seized the moment, using all his strength to drive the broken dragon horn deep into the dragon's body.

Lu Li released the shadow spear, sending it hurtling towards the dragon's remaining eye. The dragon jerked its head, and the spear grazed its skin, embedding itself in the distant riverbank.

The dragon moved again, its tail whipping at the shadow giant, sending it flying. Lu Li dodged the tail, using its momentum to propel himself towards the shadow spear embedded in the riverbank.

Rising to his feet, Lu Li realized the gap between himself and Zhou Chu. Despite his training and combat experience, Zhou Chu's martial prowess far exceeded his own. Shedding his shadow form, he revealed his true self and gazed at Zhou Chu lifting the giant spear. A decision formed in his mind.

His shadow moved swiftly, enveloping Zhou Chu and transforming him into a shadow giant. Unlike Lu Li, Zhou Chu couldn't connect with the shadow to share its vision, so Lu Li left his head exposed.

Feeling the empowerment from the shadow, Zhou Chu nodded at Lu Li, clutching the giant shadow spear as he charged at the dragon.

Watching Zhou Chu advance, Lu Li squinted, reflecting on his role. Though his mission was to assist Zhou Chu in slaying the dragon, he had always seen himself as a key player. Now, he realized most of the damage to the dragon had come from Zhou Chu. Reluctantly, Lu Li admitted his inferiority, thus entrusting his shadow to Zhou Chu for support.

Encased in the shadow, Zhou Chu lunged at the dragon, wielding the spear. When the dragon's tail lashed out, he deftly deflected it with the spear, then hurled the weapon at the dragon's head.

Yellow pus-like blood spattered as the spear pierced the dragon's remaining eye. From a distance, Lu Li triggered the spear's explosion, unleashing countless thorns that burrowed into the dragon's brain.

The dragon's agonized howls filled the air as its body convulsed violently. It bellowed in fury, but finally, it collapsed, twitching feebly. Zhou Chu approached, watching the dying beast. Clenching his shadow-encased fists, he relentlessly pummeled the dragon's head until it was a bloody mess. Exhausted, Zhou Chu collapsed beside it, laughing wildly.

As the dragon died, Lu Li felt a new aura envelop him, radiating a powerful intimidation that made animals instinctively fear and avoid him. He fell back, half-submerged in the overflowing river.

Lilith hurried over, placing Lu Li on her serpentine tail. In the distance, something drifted towards them on the water's surface—a paper umbrella.

Perhaps the dragon's death had nullified the saliva's effect, freeing the umbrella. It floated towards them, slightly corroded but intact. Lu Li propped himself up with Lilith's help, retrieved the umbrella, and examined it.

"Seems like I won't need a new umbrella after all," Lu Li murmured, lifting the paper umbrella as he approached Zhou Chu. With the dragon beneath Yixing River slain, it was time to address the third threat: Zhou Chu.

"Are you here to kill me?" Zhou Chu asked, standing to face Lu Li.

"Perhaps," Lu Li responded, signaling the shadow around Zhou Chu to shift.