Great Blood

Accompanying the gnome's frantic cries, all the mouths on the tumorous monster roared simultaneously, their piercing screeches seemingly capable of shattering eardrums. Under the influence of this sound, the entire sea of blood, along with countless corpses, surged towards the monster.

At the same time, the monster's sixteen gaping maws continuously opened and closed, devouring anything that flowed into them, be it rubble, corpses, or blood. In mere moments, the entire blood sea was reduced to less than two-thirds of its original volume.

"Stop it quickly!"

At this critical juncture, Li Wen couldn't help but speak up to remind them.

Moria's actions were actually faster than her warning. He tentatively unleashed a Divine Art towards the Flesh-and-Blood Creation. However, a light hotter than fire landed on the creature, yet the monster showed no reaction whatsoever, not even its outer scales were penetrated.

This was by no means a creation within any normal parameters, nor was the flesh and blood that formed its body that of any ordinary life form.

The "Great Blood" mentioned by the gnome Zotes was likely what the nameless, mysterious Alchemy Master had obtained from a black dragon; and this bizarre monster might be one of the results of that master's research into the Great Blood.

However... an Alchemy Master? It was clearly a master of the Blood Lust Lineage, skilled in flesh and blood shaping.

Li Wen, having deduced most of the truth, realized the dire consequences if the Flesh-and-Blood Creation were allowed to continue its consumption.

But at this moment, all she could do was grip the Eye of the Transcendent tightly, ready to flee the moment Moria fell.

As for Moria, he was watching the monster enjoy its gluttonous feast, seemingly unmoved... perhaps that wasn't entirely accurate, as he had already tried. Ordinary Divine Arts were simply unable to inflict effective damage on the monster.

Priests of the Sacrifice Path, in addition to consuming Magic Power with every casting, also had to expend their own life force. Moria had used Divine Arts too many times now, and a clear sign of weakness was visible on his expression.

Zotes also realized this. He urged the monster to speed up, to complete its final transformation as quickly as possible, and then crush this damnable knight.

After the monster chewed and swallowed the last piece of limb, its body had already swollen into a colossal mountain of flesh. Despite this, its sixteen mouths still let out hungry wails. It needed to devour, it needed more flesh and blood, more intense satisfaction, in order to ascend to a higher level!

Cracks began to appear on its bloated body, and sharp spikes, resembling white bone or rock, protruded from them. This was followed by huge, deformed claws, wet, blood-soaked fleshy wings, and finally, a head with six mouths.

As if shedding its skin, the monster shed a layer of shriveled, flesh-colored outer shell, abandoning its original form. In its place, it transformed into a deformed, grotesque dragon.

Every piece of its flesh seemed alive, writhing and shifting on its body. It was covered in wounds, from which crimson liquid constantly dripped. Upon hitting the ground, this liquid seemed to gain life, transforming into various deformed Flesh-and-Blood Creations.

Zotes, cheering, walked up to the Flesh-and-Blood Dragon and shouted, gesticulating wildly, "Good! Very good! Excellent! Quickly kill them! Quickly kill everyone!"

The Flesh-and-Blood Dragon had no eyes; it only felt infinite hunger and pain. Driven by this intense desire, the Flesh-and-Blood Dragon swallowed the gnome in one gulp, without even chewing, and directly swallowed him, leaving only a pool of blood behind.

But this was not enough, far from it.

The Great Blood flowing within and controlling everything required more nourishment. It roared hysterically, it bellowed in rage.

More blood, more flesh!

The Flesh-and-Blood Dragon flapped its blood-soaked wings and lunged at the others.

Moria had been waiting for this moment. He raised his longsword, the candlelight in his eyes growing brighter.

"We venerate those who offered themselves to the fire, for their souls shall endure with the light!"

Then, a bright white flame ignited from his body, spreading across every inch of his skin. The Holy Temple knight calmly raised his longsword and leaped onto the dragon's body.

The longsword was entwined with both bright white and crimson flames, merging into one, becoming a radiance like the sun. The knight thrust the longsword into the dragon's body. The Flesh-and-Blood monster roared, wanting to move, to resist. However, the flames were already burning within it. Every piece of its flesh, every drop of its blood, would become fuel, like a candle.

The Flesh-and-Blood Dragon's body melted rapidly like a burning candle, and in an instant, only a ball of flame remained burning in its place.

Is this the Firstborn of the Holy Temple? Li Wen found it hard to believe. This Flesh-and-Blood Creation, crafted by an Alchemy Master of the Blood Lust Lineage, though it seemed to have only just undergone its juvenile transformation, was at least a Stage Three monster. Yet, it couldn't withstand even one move from Moria.

Regarding this future legendary figure, her impression of Moria was still from when he was chasing her. Back then, he had been incredibly oppressive and had repeatedly pushed her to the brink of death... but now, it seemed Moria had been holding back considerably then?

Moria emerged from the flames, his expression unchanged, as if the previous blow had been less effort than a single Divine Art.

The Wild Mage Halik immediately knelt down.

"Radiance! Such beautiful light! From now on, Radiance shall be my only faith!"

In reality, he was covering his face and weeping inwardly. Why did I have to run into such a formidable person and get caught red-handed? I wonder if repenting now is still too late.

Moria ignored him, quietly waiting for something.

As the flames slowly died down, in the center of the fire, where the Flesh-and-Blood Dragon had been, a figure was still clinging to life within the flames.

It was the gnome Zotes.

Although he had been swallowed by the dragon, he had coincidentally avoided Moria's powerful Divine Art, thus saving his life.

"I... I haven't lost yet..."

Zotes now had his entire lower body and right arm gone. He struggled, his only remaining left hand clutching a peculiar object. It looked like solidified blood, or perhaps a crimson gem, but whatever it was, people's first reaction upon seeing it was: it was alive.

"Great Blood, Great Blood! You will all die!"

Zotes used all his strength, trying to stab the object into his body, but some invisible force instantly snatched it away. He didn't even have a chance to resist.

"Is this that so-called Great Blood?"

The object that Zotes had been holding was now floating in front of the Wild Mage Nasha. She stared at the gem, utterly bewildered. She reached out to touch it, but hesitated.

"No! My Great Blood!"

His last hope was so easily taken away, and by a mere Wild Mage whom he utterly disdained. The gnome Zotes completely broke down.

"Do you have anything else to say?"

Moria walked up to him.