114 Spider vs. Fire Dragon ②
There is no choice now but to commit.
Maximize the synchronization level of parallel consciousness.
Then, activate the spell through the designated caster.
My concealed shadow shifts form, piercing the Fire Dragon’s body like a spear.
A combined technique: Shadow Magic Level 4, Change Form; Level 5, Solid Shadow; Level 6, Control Shadow—designated as Shadow Spear.
Change Form alters the shadow into a spear shape. Solid Shadow hardens it into a physical structure. Control Shadow manipulates its movement.
Surprisingly, Shadow Magic cannot deliver a proper attack unless combined up to Level 6. It is a difficult-to-use spell.
Inefficient in energy consumption. Low effectiveness.
A disappointing spell with limited application.
Yet now, it is precisely this spell that has saved me.
The Fire Dragon easily evades the incoming Shadow Spear.
In the opening, I escape from within the shadow.
Maintain distance from the Fire Dragon.
Face-to-face with the Fire Dragon and myself.
Honestly, I don’t believe I can win.
My stats are clearly inferior.
The elemental matchup is unfavorable.
Worst of all is the Fire Dragon’s resistance skill.
This skill, as its name implies, increases resistance to status-effect attacks.
When combined with already high resistance values, this skill makes the defense significantly stronger.
I specialize in status effects.
Thus, the matchup is poor in that regard.
Moreover, the skill set has no exploitable weaknesses.
I’ve fought monsters with higher stats before, but I’ve always outperformed them in skill.
Yet though I have more skills, the Fire Dragon’s skills match or exceed mine in performance.
Some are identical to mine, but at a higher level or evolved form.
Higher stats. Superior skills.
In addition, compatibility is poor.
No winning factors present.
Yet, it must be done.
Failure means death.
Resolve is set.
Not entirely without chance of victory.
Yet, likelihood of defeat remains higher.
Possibility of death.
Death is feared.
But no life exists without death.
Then, as previously stated, let one live fiercely and fall gloriously.
No intention of dying, but even if death comes, an ignoble end will not be accepted.
Fire Dragon—will you kill me?
Then come with proper resolve.
I shall not be killed unscathed.
As resolve is set, suppression previously disabled is reactivated.
Full activation of the Malevolent Eye.
Simultaneous activation of Martial Magic, Qi Combat, and Dragon Force.
Magic Construction Initiated.
The Fire Dragon wraps itself in flame, as if recognizing my resolve.
The 'Fire Dragon' skill appears to be an evolution of the 'Fire Serpent' skill.
Naturally, the effects of the 'Fire Serpent' skill remain accessible.
One such ability, Flame Wrapping, learned at Fire Serpent Level 8.
An upgrade to Heat Wrapping, acquired at Fire Serpent Level 2—literally enveloping the body in intense flame.
Additionally, the heat enhances physical mobility.
The Fire Dragon seems to regard me as a threat not to be underestimated.
No slack. No arrogance.
The battle begins in earnest.
The Fire Dragon吐s a fireball.
Not a true full-power strike—more a试探.
Yet, given my low fire resistance, a direct hit could still reduce me to ash.
After all, even this playful strike matches the power of the Fire Serpent’s full-force fireball from before.
Evade at maximum speed.
The命中 and probability bonus combo make even a light dodge impossible.
Even a playful strike, enhanced threefold and further augmented by evasion skill, reaches a level where only a勉强 dodge is possible.
Utilize thought acceleration and foresight.
The fire dragon expelled a fireball while simultaneously closing the distance.
The true attack would follow, masked by the fireball's glare.
It twisted its serpentine body, swinging its massive tail to strike.
A physical attack already powerful enough, now amplified by flame—a fatal effect against me.
I barely evaded.
The enveloping flames grazed my body.
HP decreased slightly.
Had I not perceived the fire dragon's approach through thought acceleration, nor predicted its motion through foresight, I would have been struck.
For now, my evasion combo slightly surpasses the fire dragon's命中 and probability bonus combo.
But the situation is unfavorable.
The fire dragon shows no sign of paralysis, even after prolonged duration.
The curse reduces HP slightly, but has negligible effect on status attributes.
Both are likely resisting through high resistance thresholds.
Eventually, the eye of malice should take effect with sufficient time, but the fire dragon will not wait that long.
I narrowly avoid the claw attack flowing from the fire dragon's charge.
The fire dragon, wary of my evasion, retreats momentarily.
The fire dragon roars.
Anxiety arises in my mind.
The fire dragon's skill is nearly a superior upgrade to the fire drake's.
Naturally, it can use the skills the fire drake possessed.
Specifically, the skill embodying numerical superiority that once cornered me.
Command.
The fire drake’s higher-tier skill of control.
A skill that enforces stronger subjugation over subordinates.
The forms of monsters gathering steadily within my detection range come into focus.
I felt no complacency.
I recognized the fire drake as a superior enemy and prepared myself for death.
Yet the fire drake felt no complacency either.
It had come at full strength, determined to defeat one it deemed inferior.
There was no such thing as cowardice here.
My chances of survival diminished further.