Maledictus Incendio. (40)

I had absolutely no idea what would unfold in the next few moments, as a colossal figure with majestic wings materialized on the battlefield.

"Will it be death or complete mastery over victory? What awaits us this time? Presenting Achias versus Maledictus Incendio, the Infernal Emberlord!" The announcer's voice reverberated, followed by a thunderous applause. However, when he finished the full introduction, a wave of frenzied screams erupted from all sides. The audience rose from their seats, desperately trying to witness the spectacle unfolding before me.

What on earth?

Its silvery scales shimmered, its size surpassing that of any monster I had ever encountered.

Transfixed, I watched as the silhouette, as if rousing from slumber, stretched its massive forelimbs. Its paws, adorned with claws the length of my entire torso, dug into the ground, shredding the metal beneath it. With a flex of its joints, it thumped its colossal tail against the empty space.

Its dark eyelids peeled back, revealing an intense crimson glare brimming with raw power.

The creature's piercing eyes diminished my self-preservation instincts to naught but silent prayers.

Instinctively, I took a step backward.

Its wide maw parted, its neck muscles contracting like mighty tree trunks as the air ignited from the incandescent blue tongue.

"Such grace! Such power!" the announcer exclaimed, his words drowned out by the audience's clamor. Shouts and whistles interrupted his unfinished phrases.

A wave of fire surged across the entire field, hurtling towards me.

"WHOOOO..." The crowd erupted, their fervent cries adding to the crazy atmosphere of the unfolding spectacle.

Retreating, I cast a wary glance at the mere twenty or so meters that separated me from the precipice. Swiftly, I enshrouded my body with my wings, seeking shelter from the imminent onslaught.

The flames seared through the delicate layers of my wings skin.

[Participant 137 is attacked by an enemy, the damage is 69 points out of 650.]

Not good.

"Achias lacks the strength to defend against the scorching fire of Maledictus. Ladies and gentlemen, it is crucial to understand that the fire of dragons engulfs everything in its path, be it magic or artifacts. Its intense heat defies any form of protection. The inferno rages unchecked, leaving nothing but ashes in its wake." the announcer explained.

[Why is this Boss so overwhelmingly powerful?]

Desperately, I tried to launch needle-bones, but they vaporized like ice, disintegrating even before reaching a distance of two meters.

[As the Caretaker had previously mentioned, you have become a rare spectacle, capturing the attention of onlookers. They now perceive you as a seasoned warrior, perhaps even hailing from a lineage of renowned fighters. The stakes have been raised to their utmost limit, and your chances of emerging victorious now stand at a mere 1 point out of 10.]

[And the other 9?]

My wings proved futile in the face of the relentless fire. It continued to scorch, driving me to seek refuge in another zone.

[Speaking of odds, even when employing a rare skill, they are significantly diminished. As you have likely deduced, the Dragon possesses innate mastery over the destructive power of fire. Though tempered within the confines of the Arena, He remains unrivaled in wielding the flames on the First Level.]

Fire.

The dragon momentarily paused, arching its back before soaring across the arena, leaving me in an incredibly disadvantageous position.

Its silvery body floated without the slightest breeze or the sound of wings. Its neck muscles tensed once again, as a fiery orb ignited within the deep azure of its maw.

Extending my claws, I anchored them into the ground, diligently working my way downward.

The intense heat seared my tail.

[Participant 137 is attacked by an enemy, sustaining 20 points of damage.]

Metal liquefied, engulfing me. I nurtured an exoskeleton, allowing the needles to elongate by centimeters, enabling them to carve their way through the molten rock on their own.

The thunderous roar reverberated through the surroundings.

The very environment trembled under its might.

Is it hovering above me?

I gritted my teeth against the searing heat, even the once vibrant needles now paled, their color fading back to a whitish hue.

The obsidian-tipped claws of the dragon materialized mere centimeters away, rendering my chosen spot unsafe.

Summoning the Dark Threads, I grasped onto the Boss's paw, but they splintered under the force and threatened to release the Dragon's digit.

In a desperate maneuver, I darted towards the exit, locking eyes with the resplendent crimson eyes. Summoning the Dark Threads, I began ascending its formidable scales.

The dragon growled, the sound stretching in slow motion, as I witnessed an impending strike from its knobby-palmed paw. Swiftly extracting the Sickle-shaped Tail, I drove the blade deep into the center of its massive palm.

The tail bent under the weight, and my heart sank with the subsequent blow from its second paw.

[Participant 137 is attacked by an enemy, the damage is 59 points.]

Spitting out blood, , I almost reached the cliff. Summoning the Dark Threads, I hovered before the Dragon's onslaught.

The inferno blazed with renewed ferocity. The metal structure strained to contain the surging flames, causing the creature to sink into the ground as if caught in quicksand.

Ah, so that's why it took flight!

Maledictus surged upward, but the partially molten field clung to its wounded palm, causing him to hiss in closer proximity to me.

Its maw yawned wide, revealing a fearsome array of hundreds of razor-sharp fangs, only to snap shut as I yanked on the threads, finding solid footing on the gelatinous terrain.

Agonizing pain shredded my ligaments down to the bone, and the damage window materialized before my eyes.

[Continuous Boss Attack, Iron Lava. Health points are deducted every 3 seconds, totaling 5 points.]

Wow, and here I was worried about some diminutive adversaries.

Sigh.

My health dwindled to 40 points as I moved towards the unscathed section of the field.

The dragon relentlessly unleashed fiery charges from its gaping maw, and I assumed the stance of a hunter, hurling needle-bones in response.

Brief flashes of maroon illuminated the creature's eyes, allowing me to vanish once again beneath the metallic surface.

Taking a moment to catch my breath, I surveyed the remnants of my endurance.

No chance. My strength is insufficient to even scratch it.

A crash reverberated, signaling the dragon's decision to abandon aerial pursuits and charge at me once more.

The system's words echoed in my mind, reminding me that the fields had no bottom.

But after three minutes of respite, the suffocating heat closed in around my neck.

It draws near.

My wings had recovered, yet the damage remained the same—188 points since the start of the battle.

Though a decent amount of health pacified my paranoia, the looming catastrophe eroded my resolve.

Closing my eyelids, I pondered every conceivable escape route from this dire situation.

[System, can I access the Store?]

[No. During battle, you are not authorized to use the System Store. That privilege is only granted prior to engaging in combat.

The Arena is a realm where you must rely on experience and survive under any circumstances.]

My sole glimmer of hope plunged into the abyss, denied the opportunity to turn a new page on earth.

Damn it.

[Participant 137 is attacked by an enemy, the damage is 2 points.]

The scorching lava lightly grazed my wing, and I clenched my eyes shut as I struggled to ascend to the surface. The exoskeleton melted, but I managed to break through the surface and feel the touch of air before the last vestiges of needles vanished from my skin.

Feeling exposed amidst the crowd, I huddled my wings tightly against my body and made a dash for the dragon's back. It crouched on the ground, tunneling in search of me.

Taking advantage of the bestowed luck, I stealthily ascended the creature's back with the aid of the Dark Threads.

Every being has its vulnerabilities.

The previous beast doesn't count. There was a timer that prevented me from finding any weak spots for a fatal blow...

Bones were interwoven across the entirety of its scales, responding to the whims of its owner.

Here, its hand waved, and a bone, almost piercing the skin, emerged from the depths of its muscles. There, its claws dug into the metal, tearing off large chunks as the bone sank into the pliable flesh.

No. His weakness definitely isn't on his back.

[Do you have any knowledge regarding a dragon's vulnerabilities?]

[Dragons are highly reclusive beings, a branch of Beasts that have chosen a remote enclave on the fringes of the Empire. There is scarce information about them.]

So, he's not just some ordinary critter?

As if sensing a presence, the dragon turned around, but I had already ensnared myself in the appendages on its back, evading its gaze.

Maledictus inhaled deeply through his blue nostrils and let out a roar that caused fragments of the field to bounce off its gleaming surface and scatter into the abyss.

A sense of unease washed over me when I observed a blazing star within his throat. Prior to that, my attention had been diverted by the entirety of the colossal monstrosity, overlooking the faint glow.

With an air of superiority, the Dragon descended onto its front paws, striding across the metal expanse, before ascending and soaring towards the ceiling with commanding grace.

This marked the first time I witnessed such an extensive aerial journey, revealing something previously concealed from my sight.

The Crossroads of Levels stood as a self-contained tower, with its floors detached from any external structure. Each floor floated above another, gradually increasing in size. What seemed like an abyss held an unconventional descent system, where other creatures fought, either slaying Bosses or meeting own demise.

This eerie yet captivating spectacle etched itself into my mind.

Taking a deep breath, I turned my gaze towards the spectators.

The spectators, seemingly closest to the action, were shielded by an invisible white barrier that kept them completely safe, separated from us combatants. Only the Dragon could perceive this sight in its entirety.

hesitated for a moment, lightly brushing my fingertips against the dragon's silver scales.

"Creto, I can kill you, but I shall grant you a single chance," a voice suddenly reverberated within my head, and I realized the tone emanated from Maledictus.

[The Dragon Maledictus employed telepathy. Participant 137, are you prepared to utilize the system's services for inter-species telepathic communication?

Yes. No.

For today, and only now, a single word costs 200 points!]

Initially, I was pleasantly surprised to hear the gruff voice, then the mini-manager mentioned new services.

[Isn't that too costly?]

[What are you insinuating? With your points, you can easily devour three pages of poetry!]

With a furrowed brow, I selected Yes.

"What... do you desire in return?" I comprehended two things:

1. I couldn't bring about his demise.

2. He wouldn't simply let me go without any conditions.

"I sense remnants of my race's power within you. Yet, this fraction is too insignificant for me to offer assistance without a price. I yearn for freedom from enslavement," the dragon revealed.

I am a humanoid race, so I hardly belong to Dragons. There is only one explanation for his relationship. A rare skill is Ignition.

But what kind of slavery is he referring to?

Just as I was about to inquire further, a reminder in red letters appeared:

[No further information available.]

Narrowing my lips into a thin line, I ventured to ask,

"How?"

"If you manage to conquer all the floors, then you will attain it," came his response.

"And what guarantees my success?"

"The promise from your heart suffices for me."

[What does the promise entail?]

[Hmm. It appears he is referring to a blood oath from the heart. The one making the promise must fulfill the specified conditions, or else a painful death awaits them.]

Quite encouraging, indeed.

That was certainly encouraging.

Letting out a chuckle, I gazed at the dark abyss beneath the floors, where carnivorous plants swarmed at the very bottom.

---

"Oh my goodness, Dragon Maledictus is descending! I can't believe it! What has our glorious Achias done this time?"

Applause thundered like an unexpected storm.

I landed on the floor and observed the smoldering silhouette.

The dragon combusted in its own fire, leaving behind a single bag of silver pollen. It was the item that dropped upon Maledictus' death.

[Congratulations, Participant 137, you have made a huge profit this time.]

Something warm prickled in my chest.

Instead of being transported back to my confinement, I found myself in a realm beyond my imagination.

The lighting here was no brighter than on the battlefield. I instinctively assumed an attack position when I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder. Startled, I turned towards the source of the unexpected touch and stood there, stunned, with my mouth agape.

"Hey there, buddy, no need to be alarmed. You've reached the second level," a beetle-like creature with human-like lips grinned from ear to ear.

"Bart, we've got a newcomer. Prepare the chamber," shouted another creature into a tunnel that had been meticulously carved into the rocky terrain.

The hall was teeming with hundreds, no, thousands of creatures moving about under the soft white light. Some crawled, others soared through the air.

It was like an otherworldly metropolis.

"I'm on it," replied a portly figure with a lion's mane as he emerged from the dark tunnel. He settled beside the beetle creature.

"Please," he said, presenting me with a tin number bearing the digits 10297. "Your quarters await beyond the Forest of Fear. Allow me to accompany you and acquaint you with the surroundings."