84 Spider vs. Fire Dragon ⑤

Escaping to the ceiling was effective, but the situation remained unfavorable.

Sticking to the ceiling inevitably slowed movement compared to ground level.

Even on the ground, barely managing had been pushing limits—avoiding eel attacks while on the ceiling was impossible.

Returning to the ground soon was necessary. Otherwise, it would end with a direct hit.

Yet the eel was not in a comfortable position either.

The eel’s MP had significantly decreased.

Estimated remaining: three fire breaths, or sixteen fireballs.

A substantial reduction compared to the initial state.

But enough remaining power to knock me from the ceiling.

Whether I return to the ground first, or the eel strikes me down first.

Begin movement immediately.

Target: the nearest wall.

Yet the eel anticipated this.

Precisely counteracting the motion, it fires a fireball.

Sticking to the ceiling makes evasion difficult.

There is no room to worry about the yellow gauge here.

Evade the incoming fireball at maximum possible speed.

Only option: push through relying on SP consumption reduction and SP recovery rate.

Must retreat to the wall before the yellow gauge depletes.

Evasion continues, fireball after fireball.

Yet the wall remains out of reach.

As time passes, the yellow gauge diminishes.

Problem.

Once the yellow gauge is gone, clinging to the ceiling becomes difficult.

That outcome must be avoided at all costs.

But the precise targeting of fireballs prevents forward progress.

Finally, the yellow gauge reaches zero.

Instant fatigue overwhelms the body.

The fireball advances without mercy.

Damn it!

I judged evasion impossible and launched myself from the ceiling into open space.

A fireball detonated nearby, its shockwave brushing against my body.

I barely controlled my trembling frame and launched a thread.

I immediately retracted the thread attached to the wall.

The space where I had stood moments ago was now traversed by the fireball.

My body swung like a pendulum, barely avoiding falling into the magma and successfully landing on the ground.

The fireball descended without mercy.

I rolled forward, maintaining momentum from the landing, to evade.

It was agonizing.

Even after the yellow gauge reached zero, continuing movement carried a price: severe breathlessness, exhaustion, and pain throughout my body.

I forcibly ignored it using Pain Nullification and Pain Reduction.

Because a second flame breath was being prepared from the eel’s mouth.

Forcing my trembling body forward, I sprint at maximum speed.

The edges of my vision turn red with flame.

Heat presses from behind.

I run to escape it.

And I evade the flame breath.

[Proficiency has reached threshold. Skill 'Dodge LV6' upgraded to 'Dodge LV7'.]

Having evaded the flame breath, I exhale the breath I had been holding.

The yellow gauge begins to replenish.

The fireball no longer comes.

Finally, the eel’s MP has depleted.

The eel, having lost its long-range attack, emerges onto land with a sliding motion.

Only its face is visible.

There, a dragon stands—tall, elongated, reminiscent of Eastern dragons.

Even with MP depleted, its eyes still lock onto me.

It seems, regardless, I have been fully classified as an enemy.

At first, it may have been merely a matter of annoyance—something to crush before it became a problem. But somewhere along the way, the intensity of the fireball attacks began to shift.

By the time it unleashed a flame breath, it was fully committed.

Apparently, my continued evasion had displeased it.

Running away now will not result in leniency.

Even though MP is depleted, SP remains substantial.

My SP, however, has taken significant damage.

The cost of continuing to act after the yellow gauge ran dry has reduced the red stamina gauge to a noticeable degree.

There is still Gluttony’s bonus, so immediate incapacitation is not imminent. But in a test of endurance, the outcome is certain: I will lose.

There is no escape.

There is only one option.

I must fight and win.

Numerical status values alone indicate no chance of victory for me.

Yet values alone do not define all.

Fight long enough, and one learns unavoidably: in this world, skills are the most critical factor.

The fact that I still survive despite this disparity in stats is a miracle.

That miracle stems solely from the benefits of skill.

By maximizing skill efficacy, I bridged the gap in status values, allowing me to rise to the same level as the eel.

The status gap is significant, but not absolute.

Skill alone can fully overcome it.

I have already analyzed all of the eel’s skills.

With MP depleted, the only remaining threat is the combo of accuracy and evasion, with probability correction.

And defense granted by Dragon Scale.

The final level-three technique of the Fire Dragon.

The simple physical power emanating from that massive frame.

Even at a glance, a formidable opponent.

But I still have one final card.

My strongest offensive technique—venomous attack.

Against this, the opponent’s defense is negligible.

A poison that erodes even scale armor, consuming the body from within.

In the end, the only thing I can rely on is my skill.

No other attribute surpasses skill.

But that also means there is potential to surpass.

Defense is meaningless on both sides.

Victory is decided by a single decisive strike.

Then, the deciding factor in this battle...

Thus, the second round on the ground began without warning.