Chapter 17: Bonus Round: Ardorath igris named monster
Lucian blinked as the system's voice faded out. He was no longer standing in the throne room of the Undead Orc King but now found himself deep within a cave, the air thick with the smell of sulfur and heat. The stone beneath his feet felt uncomfortably warm, and the temperature only seemed to rise as he ventured further into the cave.
DING…
Host, welcome to the bonus round. Your challenge is in the cave dungeon..
Lucian couldn't help but mutter to himself. "Seriously, this again?" He looked around, frowning at the walls of the cave that stretched ominously into darkness. He walked for a long while, his boots making soft echoes against the stone floor. The heat was intensifying as he moved deeper into the cave, his skin beginning to stick to his clothing. Something felt… wrong.
And then—
DING…
Host, welcome to Lava Drake Hall.
Lucian's jaw dropped, a chill creeping up his spine despite the searing heat. "Wait… did you just say Lava Drake Hall? Like, lava drake? What kind of sadistic hellhole have I stepped into?"
Before the system could respond, the air in front of him shimmered with a scorching heat. Lucian barely had time to react before two fiery yellow irises, glowing like molten gold, opened before him. The heat became unbearable, the temperature rising to levels that made him feel like he was about to burst into flames.
With a deafening roar, the ground shook beneath him.
"Who dares to disturb Baron Ardorath Igris' slumber?" The voice was thunderous, reverberating through the cave, shaking Lucian's bones.
Lucian staggered back, trying to steady himself, but his eyes were wide with shock and awe. "What… the hell?" he stammered.
The roar continued, "You shall pay with your bones!"
DING…
You have come across a lesser royal dragon, a drake both in rank and hierarchy.
It has threatened to end you.
Objective: Tread with caution.
Survive the first part of the bonus round.
Lucian's mind raced as the system's notification echoed in his ears. The ground beneath him trembled as the beast before him revealed itself. A massive, armored dragon-like creature, its scales burning like molten lava, stepped into view. This was no mere dragon—it was a drake, the beast of legends, and it was a named monster. Its body was covered in scales that shimmered with fiery brilliance, and a trail of heat and smoke wafted off it, making the cave air shimmer.
Name: Baron Ardorath Igris
Rank: AAA
Description: Born in a hot environment, the lava drake is a being with immense power and control over fire and lava. A literal beast. Territorial creature.
Lucian's heart sank. Great. Just great.
The Baron of Lava Drake Hall—the beast's strength was monstrous. Lucian could already feel the immense pressure in the air, but he couldn't back down now. He gritted his teeth, quickly switching to his elemental affinity skills, calling upon both his lightning and water powers, hoping they would help him stand a chance against such a fiery monstrosity.
Before he could act, the drake inhaled deeply, its chest expanding as it prepared to unleash its signature move. Lucian's eyes widened in realization.
Lava Fire Breath.
With a terrifying roar, the beast released an explosive torrent of molten fire directly at Lucian. The heat alone was enough to send waves of agony through his body as he jumped out of the way. His body was scorched by the intense waves of flame, and he barely avoided the full brunt of the attack.
"Shit! This is bad!" Lucian cursed under his breath, already feeling his energy reserves slipping.
Baron Ardorath Igris chuckled darkly, its massive form looming over Lucian as it adjusted itself to prepare for another strike.
"You dare challenge me, little one? I'll enjoy watching you burn." The drake's voice was low and mocking, dripping with arrogance.
Lucian grit his teeth. "I'm not going down that easily, you oversized lizard!" He clenched his fists, drawing upon the full extent of his lightning and water powers, channeling the destructive forces together in a massive surge.
Suddenly, the cave shook as the very earth began to tremble. Lightning crackled around Lucian's body, and a torrent of water exploded from his hands, aiming straight for the drake.
The drake responded by flapping its massive wings, creating a scorching gust of wind that whipped up flames and molten lava, pushing back the torrent of water with incredible force.
"You think water can stop me?" Baron Ardorath Igris scoffed. "Lava will swallow it whole!"
Lucian's heart raced, but he refused to back down. He had no choice but to keep fighting, despite his body burning from the heat and the damage he'd taken.
His lightning crackled with even greater intensity, now mixing with his divinity-infused wrath, as he prepared for a counterattack. It was the only way he could survive this insane battle.
"Alright, then. If I can't drown you in water, I'll fry you with lightning." Lucian snarled, his resolve hardening. He channeled his Wrath of God, pouring everything he had into his final strike.
With a massive, earth-shaking roar, the sky above Lucian seemed to split as lightning crackled through the cave, striking down on the massive drake. The beast let out a furious roar of pain as it was overwhelmed by the divine energy coursing through the strike.
But even as the drake staggered back, it was far from defeated. The molten creature's flames began to burn even hotter, and its rage only grew stronger.
Lucian had struck a blow, but the battle was far from over. With his energy reserves depleted and his body struggling to heal from the wounds, Lucian knew that the true test had only just begun. He would have to survive this brutal fight with every ounce of willpower he had left.
The bonus round was about to get even worse, and Lucian could only pray that his skills—and his stubbornness—would see him through.
Lucian's chest heaved as the Wrath of God crackled across the cave, the ground beneath his feet shaking with the immense force of the divine lightning. But even as his strike struck true, the drake staggered back, only slightly injured, as its molten scales shimmered with an angry glow. The lava on its body began to bubble and hiss, the heat intensifying around it.
Baron Ardorath Igris roared, its massive head snapping toward Lucian with an intense, fiery glare. "Foolish mortal! You dare to strike me with your puny lightning?! You are nothing but an ant!"
Lucian winced from the power of the attack, his body still burning from the drake's earlier fire breath. But he stood tall, breathing through the pain. His mind raced—he had to find a way to counter this beast's power, or he was as good as cooked.
The system chimed In, its voice oddly calm despite the chaos.
DING…
Host, you have inflicted moderate damage on Baron Ardorath Igris. The drake's fire resistance is formidable, but not impenetrable. Focus on exploiting its weaknesses.
Lucian blinked. Weaknesses? He glanced at the beast, realizing something—its molten scales, despite being fiery and molten, were still a living, physical body. If he could target the joints or areas where the drake's body wasn't fully covered in lava, he might be able to do more damage.
But before Lucian could gather his thoughts, Baron Ardorath Igris lunged forward with terrifying speed, its massive claws aimed to crush him. Lucian barely had time to dodge, rolling out of the way just in time. The cave floor cracked where the drake's claws slammed into it, sending up sparks and smoke.
"You're quick for a human, but not quick enough!" The drake bellowed, its voice laced with mocking amusement.
Lucian gritted his teeth, pushing himself back up. He wasn't going to let this thing turn him into a pile of ash. He called upon his water and lightning affinities once more, attempting to blend the elements into something more powerful.
The cave echoed with the sound of crackling lightning as Lucian summoned a massive surge of water to flood the drake's space, combined with a barrage of electric bolts. The water hit the drake's molten scales with a hiss, sending steam into the air, but the creature remained relatively unharmed.
"Is that the best you've got, ant?" Baron Ardorath taunted, flapping its wings and sending a wave of fire crashing toward Lucian.
Lucian's heart skipped a beat. He barely had time to react before the wave of lava and fire barreled toward him. With a swift motion, he summoned a shield of water and lightning to protect himself, but the heat was unbearable. The water evaporated almost immediately, leaving only the searing force of the flames to scorch his skin.
The shield held for a moment before breaking under the pressure. Lucian was thrown back, landing hard on the ground as the flames licked at his body.
"I told you, mortal!" The drake's voice was thick with amusement, though Lucian could hear the faintest edge of anger creeping into it now. "You cannot defeat me. You are already a pile of ash in my mind."