"Emperor-Level Fire Magic: Purgatory of Red Lotus!"
In the once spacious room, a massive red magic circle now covered the ground. The scope of this magic circle was vast, encompassing both Wood and the Nine-Headed Dragon within its radius.
Initially, the Nine-Headed Dragon, still furious and sensing the lingering life in the Demon Wolf King and Zenith, had intended to launch another volley of dragon breath to finish them off.
However, although the dragon breath had been unleashed, the powerful attack, equivalent to a top-tier Saint-level magic, was intercepted by a towering wall of flames that suddenly erupted from the ground.
The air temperature soared rapidly, transforming the surrounding area into a blazing purgatory of flames.
A wall of fire, towering over a hundred meters high, shot up from the edges of the red magic circle. The dragon breath that had been aimed at Zenith and the Demon Wolf King was swallowed up by this fiery barrier, disappearing without a trace as if it had never existed.
Not only that, but from within the red magic circle, massive pillars of flame sporadically erupted from the ground, creating an unpredictable pattern of attacks. For a creature as large as the Nine-Headed Dragon, it was essentially a sitting duck.
These relentless flame pillars soon engulfed the dragon's entire body. Although the Nine-Headed Dragon had high magic resistance, Wood's magic had now reached the Emperor-level, powered by the Heart of God.
Even with its formidable magic-resistant scales, the dragon's entire body was scorched black by the searing heat.
And yet, despite these severe burns, the Nine-Headed Dragon still refused to die. Its body continued to regenerate at an astonishing rate.
"Damned monster! You can't die from decapitation, you can't die from having your heart shredded, and now even Emperor-level magic can't kill you!" Wood's frustration was palpable.
The battle had reached a point of no return. Even if Wood wanted to retreat, he had no way of carrying both the unconscious Zenith and the injured Demon Wolf King to safety.
At this moment, there was no other option. It was do or die—either they managed to kill the Nine-Headed Dragon, or they would all perish together.
The rune marks belonging to the Heart of God on Wood's chest shone brightly, and in the blink of an eye, Wood vanished from where he had been standing.
"Hyakki Yagyō Sword Style: Ittōryū—Kamaitachi!"
"Hyakki Yagyō Sword Style: Nitōryū—Jorōgumo!"
"Hyakki Yagyō Sword Style: Iai—Higanbana!"
With the power of the Heart of God amplifying him, Wood's swordsmanship, already on par with that of a Sword King, now bordered on the level of a Sword Emperor.
At this point, wielding two swords, Wood had completely forsaken any thought of defense, unleashing a flurry of crazed, relentless attacks!
The Nine-Headed Dragon, with its nine heads and sharp claws, lunged at Wood with both bites and slashes.
But Wood's twin blades moved so fast that they formed a protective ring of flashing steel around him. Every time the dragon extended a head or a claw toward him, it was immediately met with a brutal counterattack, resulting in severed limbs or decapitated heads.
Wood's swordsmanship was already at the level of a Sword King, and with the power of the Heart of God backing him, his strikes were now nearing the realm of a Sword Emperor. However, the immense power behind his attacks was too much for his black swords to handle.
Each time he unleashed one of the Hyakki Yagyō techniques, the blades in his hands would break under the sheer force.
Yet Wood didn't seem to care at all. As soon as one sword shattered, he would reach back and pull out another replacement from his stockpile.
His body was drenched in blood, and the magical healing runes etched across his skin continued to glow, constantly working to mend his wounds. His eyes were bloodshot, and he was in a state of heightened, almost berserk excitement.
Wood's mind had been overtaken by a single thought: Kill this beast and get everyone out safely!
His terrifying speed and reckless attacks began to overwhelm even the seemingly unkillable Nine-Headed Dragon. Its once-efficient regenerative powers could no longer keep up with the damage Wood was inflicting.
The dragon's metallic, shimmering scales were scattered across the ground, and by now, more than half the blood on Wood's body belonged to the Nine-Headed Dragon!
It had turned into a gamble: Would Wood's Heart of God allow him to kill the dragon before his own life force and stamina were completely depleted? Or would the Nine-Headed Dragon's regeneration and endurance outlast Wood's relentless assault?
The red magic circle on the ground continued to operate, its Emperor-level magic still active. As long as Wood's magic hadn't run out, the spell would keep functioning, endlessly spawning the chaotic fire attacks.
Suddenly, the ground beneath Wood and the dragon began to swell—a sign that another burst of flame was about to erupt. Soon, both of them would be caught in the firestorm of Emperor-level magic.
Thanks to his Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki), Wood detected the impending danger well in advance. With his speed and reflexes, he could easily dodge the upcoming flames.
However, in his current berserker state, Wood had no intention of avoiding it.
If he dodged, his relentless offensive would be interrupted, even for a brief moment. And in that time, the Nine-Headed Dragon's regeneration would undoubtedly restore its strength.
So, Wood made his decision: even if it meant enduring the full force of his own magic, he would not stop attacking!
"Boom!"
The ground beneath them erupted, and a column of searing flame engulfed both Wood and the Nine-Headed Dragon.
Wood's coat, made from the fur of the red Demon Wolf, provided some resistance to fire, preventing the flames from inflicting too much damage at first.
But this was Emperor-level magic, and even the Demon Wolf's fire-resistant fur had its limits. The coat was soon consumed by the intense flames, slowly burning away.
As his body endured the burning, the healing runes etched into Wood's skin continued to glow, working furiously to repair the damage.
In many ways, the healing magic inscribed into Wood's body functioned similarly to the Nine-Headed Dragon's regeneration. The only difference was that the magic runes didn't cover all of Wood's body, focusing only on vital areas and his limbs.
Additionally, since these runes were etched onto his skin, they could be destroyed by repeated or severe attacks.
And unlike the Nine-Headed Dragon, which drew magic from the entire dungeon, Wood's healing abilities were limited by his own dwindling magic reserves.
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P/S: If you are interested, you can read up to chapter 380+ at p@treon.com/Betek and change @ to a