Chapter 610 - The Dragon's Wrath
Immobilized. I can't move my legs of my own volition, but my upper body is free, and I can still use skills and what-not. A very game-like, limited form of paralysis.
Having been spammed with it over and over in just five short minutes, I've managed to grasp the general timing of the ability's activation. I have a window of about eight seconds of free movement after the effect wears off.
And, of course, the monster meticulously fills that gap with a spread laser that leaves almost no room to move—but after seeing it so many times, I can at least find a safe spot.
"[Rocket]."
I summon not my shield, but a long, crimson spear. I don't retreat; I charge forward, not into the obvious cover behind the monster's massive body…
but right above the mouth spewing heat rays, to one of the eyes buried among the tentacles.
The moment I landed on one of the dozens of eyes, I activated [Water Enchant]. Lux said it was “almost totally ineffective,” but that wasn't about its overall resistance; it was because there were almost no effective parts to hit.
In other words, it works on any part not protected by its magic-negating shell. I've already tested that on the trash mobs along the way. Furthermore, following the common rule that an enemy heavily fortified against a specific attack type is actually extremely weak to it on the inside—
"No matter how much you rampage, you can't spit on your own head, can you?!"
Leaving the tentacles that came to intercept me to my right arm, [Helia], I slammed the butt of my mana-infused spear into the eye with all my momentum.
A clear shriek, mixed with rage, echoed through the cavern. A critical hit, just as I predicted.
On top of the monster as it thrashed about and spat heat rays, I had finally landed a counterattack… But there was no time to catch my breath. Plunging into an eye buried in tentacles meant I, too, was now submerged in a sea of red-hot tendrils.
My star-sword, in its scythe-like [Helia] form, was mowing them down, but it couldn't keep up while I was in the thick of it. Before the virtual sensation of searing heat could burn through my avatar's defenses and scorch my HP, I made my next move.
Time to cool your head, you moron.
"[Flood]."
One eye slammed shut with a massive damage effect. Using the spear, now held in place by the eyelid, as an anchor, I maintained my mount and called forth water.
Now then. In this virtual world, where the laws of physics are slightly exaggerated compared to reality, what happens when you douse a massive number of red-hot metal tentacles with a cold waterfall?
That's right. A steam explosion. BOOM.
SCREEEEECH…
I wasn't expecting any damage from that, but the sudden explosion that rattled its entire head must have startled even a dragon.
A confused cry rang out, and from within the steam that had swallowed the giant's silhouette… I looked down, having ridden the blast wave to land on the cavern ceiling far above, and at the same time,
recalled the twin shields that had absorbed the impact damage.
Dispersed the [Helia] on my star-sword, which had successfully supported my attack.
Simultaneously triggered [Rocket], [Ignition], and [Matoi].
Activated [An=Ru Galta, the Wedge-Armor that Sings of the Royal Road].
Fully loaded [Frezon Revolver] six times.
And pushed my External Output, Kai, to its upper limit ignition.
Witness this, you monster. This is my everything-but-the-kitchen-sink, no-holds-barred attack.
"Get… BLOWN AWAAAAAY!"
I kicked off, landed, and unleashed destruction and a deafening roar.
The moment my left fist, loaded with every unconditional power boost I had, connected, a dozen eyes around the impact point burst, and the mole-dragon's massive body crumbled, sending a tremor through the entire chamber.
It was a clean hit, as perfect as they come. A blow that I was confident would mercilessly tear through the HP of any half-decent half-raid boss.
And yet, the result of my efforts was…
"Heh, I knew it."
It didn't even deplete one of its twenty-five health bars.
Well, can't be helped. Just like the [White Throne], this is what an Over-Raid Boss is like—
"Guh—g'bah…"
Just as I let out a wry smile at its absurd toughness, the dragon's “arm” caught my body, which was frozen in mid-air from the full-force recoil.
Like a great tree trunk, it swung with a roar and snatched my tiny form. The intense impact of the collision instantly shattered the death-nullification effect of my [Aquamarine Rabbit Heart].
And my destination was the ground.
Perhaps I had landed a painful blow and touched a raw nerve, because with even more violent action than before, the dragon's massive arm slammed my avatar between itself and the earth, showing no mercy whatsoever.
Another deafening roar, even louder than the last. The ground shook so violently I thought the whole cavern might collapse. All I could feel was awe for this Dragon.
I hadn't been arrogant enough to challenge it thinking I could win alone from the start, but faced with such overwhelming power, I had no choice but to admit defeat.
So, well, this time, I guess that's it—
Well, that's that.
But I made a promise. I'm going to pay you back at least ten times over, you hear?
SCREEEEEEEEECH…
My avatar wasn't obliterated. It was simply sandwiched between an overwhelming mass and the earth.
The dragon moved its foreleg, seemingly curious about the insect-like creature beneath it, yet diligently trying to grind it to dust, all without taking a single scratch or losing a sliver of HP.
The immense sense of confinement and pressure, the vortex of frankly ridiculous impact. To put it mildly, this was trauma-inducing, but in a virtual world, I'm used to horrible death experiences.
So, for me, pinned beneath it, its playful actions were just an advantage… Now, it's time. Are you ready, you mole-bastard? Three… two… one!
"—Spiral… Brilliance Spear… [Caladbolg]…!"
Still crushed, I forced the keywords through my lips, which could barely open a millimeter.
The spear wasn't in my hand; it was in the dragon's eye, left behind.
Now, taste my grinding reversal.
SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEECH?!?
Remote activation of the [Demon Horn Spear: Crimson Valor]. The spinning spear, fueled by the life it had taken and spewing magical energy, gouged the inside of the eyelid with gusto before launching itself out of the eye socket.
Regardless of the damage amount, the great thing about Arcadia is that even monsters like this react properly when you hit a weak spot. The earth-dragon let out a pure shriek of pain and recoiled—its arm lifted, the restraints were broken, and…
exactly twelve seconds after the damage began, the frozen time started to move.
I forced my body, still reeling from the impact, into a kick. The moment my outstretched fingertips touched the [Feidran Tyrantinus],
the crimson rabbit's eyes flashed as if they were exploding,
"Here you go. It's a trade…!"
A third great roar, far surpassing the previous two.
An impact faster than sound erupted—and the dragon's colossal body was sent flying through the air.