The Sorrow of the Young Dragon

Hiss...

The Earth Python Lord flicked its tongue, letting out hisses as it slithered through the swamp, charging towards Kuriboh. Its speed in the mud was surprisingly fast.

Kuriboh retreated to the firmer ground behind it.

The Earth Python Lord charged forward without hesitation, emerging from the swamp. However, as its body, as thick as a bucket and about five meters long, surged from the mud, its speed dropped by a third.

"Its speed in the swamp reaches 36 meters per second, but only about 25 meters per second on land. It seems the swamp area provides a speed boost."

Xiao Wen muttered to himself. After calculating the Earth Python Lord's speed, he felt less worried about Kuriboh's situation.

As a wind-attribute Dragon race monster, speed was Kuriboh's strong suit. Even with its defense significantly lowered by the Gust Fan, as long as it wanted to, it could still rely on its speed to evade the opponent's attacks.

After all, what use is immense strength if your fist can't land a hit?

Seeing the Earth Python Lord charge onto the land fearlessly, Kuriboh no longer retreated. With a low growl, it flapped the two wings on its back, aiding its charge as it dashed towards the Earth Python Lord.

The Earth Python Lord reared its head and opened its massive maw, lunging to bite Kuriboh.

Kuriboh, unafraid, flapped its wings sharply when it was still more than a meter away from the Earth Python Lord's head. Its straight charge suddenly angled upwards, flying past the Earth Python Lord's head.

At the very moment it flew over its head, Kuriboh threw a punch, striking the Earth Python Lord's head.

HP -300.

Whoosh!

A sound of wind cutting through the air echoed. Just as Kuriboh landed its punch on the Earth Python Lord's head, its vision suddenly darkened. It was the Earth Python Lord's tail swinging like a whip, lashing out at Kuriboh.

The opponent had chosen its timing perfectly, striking precisely when Kuriboh was in a brief moment of stiffness after its attack.

At this point, even though Kuriboh was a wind-attribute Dragon race monster with astonishing speed, it was absolutely impossible to dodge.

The two golden wings on its back moved forward, crossing in front of it.

Thump!

Blocked!

HP -1100.

A damage number appeared. By blocking with its wings, the damage dealt by the Earth Python Lord was halved.

Kuriboh was sent flying, sliding more than ten meters through the air before it managed to steady itself.

"Roar!"

With a low growl, Kuriboh charged again, its dragon claws forming fists. This time, it used the Martial Skill Xiao Wen had taught it, striking the empty space and creating a suction force that pulled the Earth Python Lord's body closer. With its other fist, it landed a blow on the soft cartilage at its "seven-inch" mark.

Armor Broken!

HP -4800.

With a successful armor break, the Earth Python Lord cried out in pain, its movements becoming even more frenzied.

The two monsters exchanged blows, fist after fist, flesh against flesh, wrestling in a primal, almost frenzied, battle.

Seeing this scene, Xiao Wen's expression gradually turned grim.

"Kuriboh has lost."

Xiao Wen shook his head and sighed.

Although the battle appeared to be evenly matched, Xiao Wen noticed that within the nearly "frenzied" battlefield, Kuriboh was mostly on the offensive, while the Earth Python Lord's occasional counter-attacks, which landed on Kuriboh, were all blocked by Kuriboh's wings and claws in advance.

This scene seemed to suggest Kuriboh had the advantage, but Xiao Wen had noticed a crucial detail.

The battlefield was constantly shifting towards the swamp!

The swamp was the Earth Python Lord's home ground. It was impossible to believe this was happening without a plan.

Furthermore, the monster information provided by the game system described the Earth Python Lord's personality with the word "cunning," which further solidified Xiao Wen's suspicions.

However, Xiao Wen had no intention of intervening.

He had promised Kuriboh that this was its battle, and he would not interfere.

Even if he had to intervene, it would only be after Kuriboh was defeated.

Before that, what was more important to Xiao Wen was to gather information, to collect all possible information about the Earth Python Lord for future use.

With one punch after another, as Kuriboh continued to throw its punches, their battlefield finally moved to the edge of the swamp.

Hiss!

The Earth Python Lord, which had been on the defensive, let out a low growl and flicked its tongue. It suddenly switched from defense to offense, twisting its body to withstand Kuriboh's punch. Simultaneously, its tail swept towards Kuriboh.

Kuriboh was prepared. It flapped its wings and took to the air. As its wings flapped, they crossed, and two wind blades shot out, striking the Earth Python Lord while evading its attack.

"The counter-attack has begun."

Xiao Wen shook his head, as if he could already foresee Kuriboh's defeat.

The Earth Python Lord looked back and spat black mist from its mouth. As the black mist drifted out, it touched the lush grass, causing it to instantly wither and turn yellow, devoid of life.

Skill! Poison Barrier!

Seeing this, Kuriboh flapped its wings, using them to create a gust of wind, attempting to blow the Poison Barrier away.

However, these miasmas seemed alive, writhing yet maintaining their shape. Under the influence of the strong winds, their spread only slowed slightly; they weren't blown away.

For Kuriboh, though, any delay in their spread was enough.

Its wings beat as it retreated, trying to increase the distance between itself and the Earth Python Lord.

But the moment it flew backward, the Earth Python Lord flicked its tongue, a human-like sneer on its face. Its tail tapped the ground, and a thick earthen wall erupted from the flat surface. Simultaneously, the gravity on the ground suddenly tripled, causing Kuriboh's altitude to drop significantly.

Skill! Earth Element Control!

With its escape route blocked and unable to fly high, this move had effectively cut off all of Kuriboh's options. It could only watch as the poisonous mist drifted closer, enveloping its body.

The frequency of its wingbeats slowed, and the light in its eyes gradually faded, leaving them hollow and vacant.

Its HP was continuously being depleted.

Poisoned state...

HP -68.

HP -68.

HP -68.

As Kuriboh fell powerlessly to the ground, the Earth Python Lord retracted its continuously spewing serpentine tendrils. It opened its maw, its sharp fangs glinting coldly in the sunlight. Its tail swayed as it swiftly approached its prey, coiling around Kuriboh and constricting it, clearly preparing for the finishing blow.

Constriction!

Kuriboh flapped its wings desperately, trying to break free. But the more it struggled, the worse it felt, the more it sensed its life force draining away.

"Sigh..." Xiao Wen sighed, placing his hand on his Duel Disk. Beams of light emanated from Kuriboh, transforming into a cluster of light points. Before its death, it was converted into a card and collected into Xiao Wen's deck.

"That's enough for now. You've done well. I'll handle the rest."

"Roar!"

A dragon's roar, filled with unwillingness, echoed in Xiao Wen's ears.

"Don't worry, I'll avenge you. I've already figured out its weakness completely."

"A Lord-class BOSS is nothing to be afraid of!"