Blood War

Chapter 30: 29 War

As Mordas roared, the Fleshfang Hunters, who had been poised for battle, let out suppressed war cries--

Having traveled from the borderlands of Shurima, crossing mountains and valleys to the forests of Ixialia, these young hunters from the tribe had long since become familiar friends.

Even if there were conflicts between them, they would set aside their grievances for their common ideals and common oppression, marching forward shoulder to shoulder.

It could be said that having come this far, under Mordas's leadership, every Fleshfang Hunter believed in their companions and, more importantly, believed that everything they did was not in vain.

And now, seeing five companions incinerated by dragon breath while luring the Dragon, their suppressed emotions were released along with their roars!

Wielding sharp knives and axes, the Fleshfang Hunters, like agile leopards on the plain, charged towards the Flame Drake from all directions.

"Fire!!!"

After reloading, another volley of Heavy Crossbows was unleashed. Their own strength suppressed by Heavenly Power, the Flame Drake, lying prone on the ground, had nowhere to dodge. Huge bolts embedded themselves into its scorching Hard Scales, and lava-like blood instantly surged out.

"Roar!!!"

Letting out an enraged roar, though lacking in intelligence, the Dragon's beastly instincts were enough for it to realize it was a trap set against it.

The sky had been sealed. Although it couldn't fly, even the Gravity Spell maintained with all of Lupe's might seemed inadequate against the Dragon's almost unreasonable magic resistance.

Already in a fierce mating season, its temper was volatile. Now, with its wounds exposed, a suppressed surge of magic began to churn around the Dragon--

Even suppressed by Heavenly Power, a Dragon was still a Dragon!

The Gravity Spell that had almost pinned it to the ground was greatly alleviated. If it had been unable to move before, now the Dragon unhesitatingly raised its broad forelimbs!

It slammed its forelimbs into the ground before it, sending intense tremors spreading outwards. Cracks like spiderwebs appeared where its arms struck. The heavy shockwave sent several Fleshfang Hunters flying instantly.

Covered in dust and dirt, they tumbled into a heap. Before the Fleshfang Hunters could continue their attack, the Dragon abruptly raised its neck.

In an instant, a fierce red glow surged in its chest cavity. The magic in the air was rapidly drawn in. Within its throat, its flame sac began to brew, and moments later--RUMBLE!!!

Its massive head swept horizontally in front of it, and the scorching flames instantly melted rock.

Seeing this, Lupe raised her palm without hesitation. A faint magical light emanated from her ancient eyes. The solidified magic on her Vydalian Robe reactivated into surging mana. She clapped her hands together forcefully, and the Skarner's Wheel, located at the six Mana Nodes of the magic circle, transformed into flowing light and instantly formed a barrier as thick as a mountain!

"What are you waiting for?! Fire resistance!"

Yuan Chen berated the young mage apprentices beside him, who were stunned by the sight. He then spread his arms, and the water barrels prepared behind him exploded, transforming into water columns that shot into the sky.

Carrying a large number of Sharp Blades, Yuan Chen waved his arms. The Spiritwood Bracer emitted a fierce sound, not of harmony, but like rolling waves, strengthening Yuan Chen's connection with the natural elements.

With a wave of his hands, the next moment the water columns, like commanded giant pythons, surged towards the Elemental Drake's head as it spewed dragon breath!

BOOM!!!

The solidified water column struck the dragon's head head-on. The sharp nails and axes within only left mottled scratches on its hard scales. Although no obvious damage was inflicted, the dragon's head was still forcibly knocked aside by the impact of the water column.

But before Yuan Chen and the others could breathe a sigh of relief, the dragon let out a fierce roar. Its anti-jointed limbs, like those of a feline, suddenly sprang loose like a tightly wound spring. The explosive power propelled its massive body forward at extreme speed.

The illusory mountain wall, already fragile and weakened from withstanding the scorching dragon's breath, was instantly shattered. Under the immense force, the six Skarner's Wheels were directly sent flying!

Fortunately, Lupe was an Elementalist herself. The moment she was sent flying, she used her powerful magic to forcibly reconnect with the out-of-control flying wheels. Otherwise, anyone else would have had to cast spells with their bare hands!

As the illusory mountain wall shattered, the dragon's body, like a heavy siege chariot, crushed two hunters into a bloody pulp on the spot!

His eyes bulging with rage, Mordas had no other choice. He roared at Yuan Chen behind him, "Fire resistance! Activate fire resistance!"

"It's useless!" Before Yuan Chen could speak, Lupe, standing nearby, exclaimed loudly.

"The elements here have already been disrupted by the dragon's fury! These elemental apprentices can't possibly complete extensive fire resistance enhancements!"

Hearing that there was no elemental fire resistance, a grim look flashed in Mordas's eyes.

With its rage amplified, even with suppression, the dragon's power was maximized. Its hard dragon scales were like red-hot steel.

Indeed, this made the scales themselves a bit more brittle. But this wasn't a game. As the temperature rose, Mordas himself felt his throat become dry and itchy just by standing near the dragon!

If it weren't for the suppression of the Heavenly Power, even if this Flame Drake were to lie still, it could have steamed all the Fleshfang Hunters present into dried corpses in a short period!

But it was at this moment that streams of cold water rained down from the sky, drenching Mordas.

His Void Heavy Blade was summoned into the air, and with the War Dance Plume draped over his shoulder, Yuan Chen sped towards the dragon's location, controlling the flowing water to drench all the hunters.

"Make do with this!"

Hearing Yuan Chen's words, Mordas spat out a small fish and gritted his teeth, "Where's your Lion Woman? Isn't she very powerful?"

"Five minutes!!"

From the dirt slope not far away, Nedeli's pained voice reached everyone's ears. "Hold on! I'll be done soon!!"

Her graceful body was half-kneeling on the ground, the jar containing the Azure Starfire overturned beside her. But Nedeli had no intention of tidying it up at the moment.

The Heavenly Power healed Nedeli's injuries almost instantly. However, unlike Mordas's use, which was merely a temporary enhancement, as an Apt Candidate, Nedeli's body was undergoing a transformation from the inside out by the Heavenly Power!

Unless it was a blessing through a medium or possession, the bodies of creatures in Runeterra could not withstand the power from the Immortal Heaven, because this power belonged to life itself, not to living beings.

Even if a mortal absorbed the Heavenly Power, its supreme might would instantly incinerate their blood vessels and bodies!

After confirming Nedeli's current state with Scout Skill, Yuan Chen's expression turned incredibly grim.

All their combat arrangements were centered around Nedeli as the main damage dealer. To put it bluntly, in a game, it was a pure four-support-one Jungle Core Big Daddy situation. And now, this Big Daddy, who had taken all the team's resources and kills, was AFK!

This couldn't be blamed on anyone--

In the backstory, when the Star Child Soraka descended from the Immortal Heaven in her True Form to the Runeterra to shape her body, her immense magical power would constantly burn. And now, if Nedeli wanted to master Heavenly Power, she would inevitably have to undergo an Ascension from creature to life!

This was no pre-programmed game, and the inheritance of a Profession was by no means just a click of a button on a computer. The Cultivation of any Profession required enduring hardships and Tribulations, let alone a Legendary Profession like the Dawn Bringer?

Realizing this, Yuan Chen cursed his carelessness, but he had no other choice. He let out a low growl, "Then let's continue!!"

As he spoke, Yuan Chen moved past Mordas. Seeing this, the hunters let out a battle cry, then gripped their hunting knives and charged forward.

Staring at the insects before him, the Flame Drake let out an annoyed roar. It raised its head once more. Just as everyone thought it was going to repeat its previous move and spew hot breath, it abruptly stopped its charge-up. It lifted its massive dragon head and spat out fireball after fireball, each nearly half a meter in diameter, like a rain of fire, crashing down all around.

Seeing this, Yuan Chen formed his fingers into a sword. His dancing, flawless Heavy Blade sliced several of the falling fireballs into pieces. His agile body then leaped forward, his War Dance Plume, wrapped in Flowing Water, unfurled like a peacock's tail in an instant, repelling all the shattered, flowing fire!

With Water Element Mastery, Yuan Chen didn't need much effort to deal with this large-scale fire AOE. However, the same couldn't be said for others!

Facing the overwhelming, sky-covering rain of fire, even the quick-reacting Fleshfang Hunters immediately dodged, but a few still suffered burns on their arms and bodies! And now, there was no time, nor anyone to tend to them.

Even they themselves, after dodging the fire rain, simply doused themselves with a bucket of cold water and continued their charge!

As he landed and charged forward, Yuan Chen looked at the Flame Drake, which was now within striking distance, and swung his palm down from afar!

Instantly, twelve flawless Heavy Blades arranged themselves in a line. Accompanied by the sound of wind breaking through the air, the heavy blades continuously struck the scorching Hard Scales.

Under the Master-level skill, the twelve flawless Heavy Blades were perfect in terms of force, angle, and speed.

Striking the same area repeatedly, the first blow left a shallow mark, and then, under the subsequent continuous slashes, a massive Gash nearly thirty centimeters long was forcefully cut open!

Along with the bursting flesh, hot blood sprayed out. Under the dense magical energy, this blood churned like lava, leaving mark after mark on the ground.

The pain enraged the Dragon. Looking at Yuan Chen before him, the Dragon reared its upper body, its thick right arm raised high. But before it could swat at Yuan Chen like a fly.

Immediately after, more than a dozen thick, solid grappling hooks were thrown out. The rough Steel Structures couldn't pierce the Dragon's flesh, but thanks to the Fleshfang Hunters' targeted forging, these steel hooks easily lodged themselves in the gaps between the Dragon's scales and flesh!

"Pull hard!!!"

The Fleshfang Hunters, their faces red, strained with all their might, pulling the Steel Cables towards the other side.

Caught off guard, the Dragon's body was forcibly pulled several meters to the side. Unable to launch its attack, Yuan Chen seized the opportunity. More than a dozen Sharp Blades turned into streaks of light, instantly making three passes, tearing open the original thirty-centimeter Gash!

But before Yuan Chen could inflict deeper damage, the enraged Dragon turned and slammed its body towards the hunters beside it with Heavy Pressure.

"Retreat!!"

Mordas roared, but in the heat of battle, the sound came too late.

Even though a few of them realized the gravity of the situation and unhesitatingly dodged to the side, the hunters within the Dragon's range of Heavy Pressure had nowhere to escape!

Opening her hands, a dense yellow light formed in Lupe's hands. The next moment, the ground around the hunters churned violently, and three thick Stone Pillars rose from beneath the earth.

Facing the Dragon's heavy blow, these Stone Pillars seemed incredibly fragile. They could only resist for a few seconds before collapsing under the impact and high temperature.

But in those few seconds, three Fleshfang Hunters at the center of the attack, who were originally doomed, successfully escaped. Although one of them, due to going too deep, still had a leg crushed, it was already incredibly fortunate compared to dying on the spot!

Then, Lupe suddenly waved her hand, and six Skarner's Wheels merged into the earth without obstruction.

Clenching her fist and raising it high, embedded with Skarner's Wheels, six rock arms, two meters thick, emerged from the depths of the earth. Following Lupe's movements, four arms, left and right, seized the Dragon as it tried to crush the Fleshfang Hunters with its sweeping motion and pinned it down!

Already weakened, and with its center of gravity disrupted by the earth's tremors, the Elemental Drake was actually unable to move for a time!

Next, the remaining two giant rock arms, under Lupe's control, smashed down like a heavy hammer!

BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG!!

Heavy fists rained down. At the points of impact, even the Dragon's Hard Scales were smashed, revealing countless cracks!

Simultaneously, the Skarner's Wheel skill activated. Under the continuous hammer blows, the earth's heavy pressure quickly caused it to become Dizzy, Shocked, and Heavy Pressure!

Scalding blood flowed along the cracks in its scales. Seeing this, Yuan Chen and the others didn't hesitate. While the Flame Drake was unable to break free from its restraints, they picked up their knives and prepared to attack again!

But before they could even get close to the Dragon, Lupe suddenly let out a Pfft!

She spat out a mouthful of blood. First, the large-scale Gravity Spell, and then multiple enhanced attacks. Lupe, who was already buried up to her neck in yellow earth, had finally exhausted her energy—

No, it should be said that her energy had been exhausted long ago, and she was merely using her remaining life force to forcefully cast spells!

"Quick, retreat!" Ignoring the dark red blood flowing from her mouth and nostrils, Lupe shouted, "Its resistance is recovering!!"

As she spoke, the recovering resistance allowed the Dragon to forcefully resist the negative effects of the invading magic on its body!

Dragon Might spread, and the oppressive aura of this high-level elemental bloodline tangibly affected everyone present. Even Lupe felt her magic circulation becoming sluggish!

Immediately after, the rock arms pinning the Dragon to the ground instantly developed several thick cracks—

By means of magical confrontation, it had violently shattered the magical connection between Skarner's Wheel and the Ley Line Arms in a very crude manner!