Epic of Caterpillar
chapter-282

Noticing a new and tentative prey ahead of it, the Basilisk ran towards us with all of its intent. I braced myself as I grabbed my blade. Leonia was at my side, as she quickly enhanced her physique with her skills.

"David sama, here it comes!"

"I'll receive it, catch it if it tries to evade, Leonia!"

"You got it!"

Using the new strength on my legs, I was launched like a bullet towards the red-colored Basilisk, who received me with its open jaws.

With a single slash, I released a powerful arc of flames towards the Basilisk, it did not evade but moved its head to the side, taking the flames with its powerful fire-proof scales. Even with my enhanced magic, Fire Attribute Magic won't work as well here. I need to develop new Non-Attribute abilities outside of my usual Fire Attribute Magic.

"Hisssss!"

The Basilisk quickly twisted its neck as it approached me with incredible speed. Infusing my blade with pure Mana, without any type of flames, a powerful transparent force appeared over the blade. Releasing another slash from it, a powerful shockwave hit the Basilisk's open mouth, throwing it away in a daze.

"Gyah!"

"Now, Leonia!"

Leonia received my message with a malicious grin as she pounced towards the Basilisk's back, with her gauntlets, she released a powerful punching technique, dealing heavy damage to the back of the monster head, blowing off thousands of small red scales, and leaving the exposed bloody flesh.

"Hiiisss!"

The Basilisk had greater Stamina and HP than all of us independently, but if it fought all of us together, it was quickly cornered. Enduring the blows from Leonia, it quickly tried to shamelessly run away.

"Kaze!" (David)

"Alright!"

Kaze heard my command as he manipulates his shadow, moving at incredible speeds and approaching the Basilisk when he enclosed into a nice distance, he threw one of his daggers towards the Basilisk's eyes, making it hiss in pain.

Kaze's dagger was deeply encrusted on the Basilisk's eyes, and even when it moved its head crazily, it didn't fall off. Kaze's daggers are coated in a paralyzing poison, and even a Basilisk couldn't be immune to it. Because the dagger was deeply encrusted on its eyes, the beast was affected by the paralyzing poison almost instantly, making its movements null and slow. Although it couldn't get completely paralyzed, it was nearing death's doors.

Trying to use once again the technique I used earlier, I infused pure Mana on my blade and released three shockwaves of pure energy towards the Basilisk's head, receiving deep wounds, being paralyzed and disoriented due to the numbness of the paralysis, the Basilisk was overwhelmed. Another slash from my blade reached its neck, and with Leonia's support, the beast's head rolled to the ground.

[David Armand] reached level 120!]

[The Skill [Inferno Sword Arts; Level 4] reached level 5!]

[The Skill [Enhanced Flame Senses; Level 3] reached level 4!]

[The Skill [Strengthen Subordinates; Level 4] reached level 5!]

[The Skill [Dragonoid Emperor Lineage; Level 1] reached level 2!]

[David Armand] learned the Skill [Mana Blade Techniques; Level 1]

[David Armand] learned the Skill [No-Attribute Magic; Level 1]

I was suddenly showered by System's notifications, I have leveled several of my Skills just by winning this fight, and also two new Skills. They were directly related to my use of Non-Attribute Mana on my blade.

[Mana Blade Techniques] seemed to be related to using pure Mana to enhance my sword and release new non-attribute techniques enhanced with magic. There was also the possibility of using other elements than fire through this Skill, but I needed to level it up for that.

[Non-Attribute Magic] was the same, new Spells that had no attribute could be used, like low-level Healing Magic, shields, and barriers, and even offensive Spells if leveled up enough.

Now I wasn't completely hopeless against Fire and Lava monsters, Blaire, Kaze, and Leonia also leveled up both their Levels and Skill Levels. Blaire helped us as she enhanced our strength with supporting techniques, so she gained EXP as well.

After butchering the beast, we realized it was a Mini-Boss, and that the Boss wasn't so far away. To satiate the lazy and gluttonous Dragon inside of me, we had to stop for a moment and hastily eat the Basilisk as a snack. I sliced it in big pieces and grilled them with Blaire's white flames, which can both grill and take out toxins from the meat, being ready to eat, we devoured almost half of the beast, and I could feel the hunger of the dragon being slowly satiated.

Hm? Is my stomach getting wider? I can feel like I can eat way more… This should be this dragon's doing… Well, I just need to exercise to burn any excess calories. The rest of the Basilisk was saved on the Item Box. Blaire had fallen in love with the meat, so she was looking forward to eating more afterward.

With the help of the Map, we easily skipped spawning points and ambushed other weaker monster groups, swiftly gaining EXP and dropped items. We came across another group of Lizardman, however this time they were being commanded by a Blaze Lizardman General, who was holding a long golden spear and a shield, he seemed more intelligent than the rest, and through his incredibly smell sense, he managed to detect our ambush, commanding its underlings, six Lizardman Soldiers to attack us.

Kaze quickly disposed of two on his own, by stabbing their necks with his deadly daggers, while Blaire was strong enough on her own to use her [Unarmed Fighting Techniques] and beat a Lizardman with her strong Salamander hands, with the help of her sturdy Staff, she hit its head until it cracked open, splatting blood and its brain. She may seem cute, but Blaire used to be a fighting slave, used in bets between nobles, so she had fought several other slaves for her life, naturally learning [Unarmed Fighting Techniques].

Leonia took care of the other three Lizardman with her powerful gauntlet blows, she had learned several techniques related to punches and martial arts, and could even enhance her gauntlets with Mana to create powerful shockwaves. She blasted a Lizardman's head with a single punch, while another one came from the side and was blown off with a punch on its chest, the one that tried to ambush her from the back received a powerful kick on its jaw.

Leaving the Lizardman General for me, I thanked my comrades as I swiftly rushed towards its position, by using [Fire Step], I was able to enhance my movement speed, and by enhancing my physique with [Dragonoid Emperor Lineage], my speed had almost doubled. The Lizardman couldn't stop me in time, as it bared its shield to receive me while hiding its spear behind it to stab me the moment I hit the shield with my blade.

However, I decided to use [Non-Attribute Magic] to create a big [Mana Sphere], that flew like a bullet towards the Lizardman's shield. With a loud sound, the Lizardman's shield shattered in pieces, while the sphere flew across the monster's shoulder, leaving a bloody hole that left him dazed in surprise and pain.

"Gyyaarrr!"

Trying to impale me while I was running at high speeds, it raised its spear and used a [Spear Technique], creating three phantoms of the same spear, which flew towards me with amusing speed.

By using my blade, I received the intense attacks while I evaded others with [Fire Step]. And then, with my enhanced physique, I jumped over the weakened Lizardman general, stabbing its head with my blade by using a [Mana Blade Technique] named [Hardened Mana Stab]. The blade went through the beast's head, splitting it in half and even reaching its chest, demolishing most of its internal organs. Once again, I was bathed in blood, but a victory was a victory.

[David Armand] reached level 121!]

[The Skill [Fire Step; Level 4] reached level 5!]

[The Skill [Mana Blade Techniques; Level 1] reached level 2!]

[The Skill [Non-Attribute Magic; Level 1] reached level 2!]

Having all of my muscles stiffened due to the fast movements that I had to do, breaking the limits of my human capabilities, I rested on the ground.

"Phew…"

Blaire, Kaze, and Leonia had already finished the Lizardmen Soldiers and came back while carrying their corpses. Funnily enough, Blaire was carrying three on her own, while Kaze would only carry one.

Leonia carried two, one on each of her shoulders. Due to Blaire's past, she had developed a greater muscle strength than even Leonia, Leonia was just recently developing her hidden potential. Although she is a priestess now, Blaire hasn't given up on physical training, and trains diligently every day, after the Athetosea war, she was determined in not being just the weak and frail healer.

"David sama! Did you see how I did? I cracked its head open!" (Blaire)

"Hm, Blaire is indeed very experienced in Unarmed Fighting Techniques, I have a lot to learn" (Kaze)

"I'm not losing to her! You will see, Blaire is only a Healer, I am the fighter here!" (Leonia)

"Hehehe! I'm not giving up, Leonia~"

"Alright, lets rest for a little bit, eat something, and then let's beat the Boss, is on the next door to the left," I said, calling my servants to relax for a bit.

"It will be done as you say, David sama" (Kaze)

"I want to cook these Lizardmen, they may be tasty" (Blaire)

"Yeah, I was wondering the same. My abilities use a lot of calories, so I got hungry again" (Leonia)

("H-Hey, kid…! C-Cook the Lizardmen General, he looks damns tasty!") (Vastrasz)

("Alright, calm down… You better help me out for the Boss fight though") (David)

("Sure, sure, now cook it! Add that tasty sweet sauce you got as well!") (Vastrasz)

"What a gluttonous dragon…"

After the small lunch we had, and after satiating this lazy and gluttonous dragon, we swiftly moved to the Boss's room. This is the first real challenge in this Dungeon, whenever that Dragonoid Great Sage is, I'm going to force him into helping me out…

Emma, Beatrice, Wallace… I have never forgotten about you three, you will always remain on my heart, and this is why, I must keep living, and this is why I must keep getting stronger… One day, I shall avenge your deaths… And all of my companions in Athetosea as well!

The massive red-colored door opened wide as a beast from within greeted us with a loud screech.

"Rrrrrrryyaaaahhh!!!"

Seven heads moved around wildly through the air, each head had long serpent-like necks, and each head resembled those of a small wyvern. The beast's body was bulky and incredibly large. A giant twenty meters tall behemoth overlooked us with its seven heads. It was clearly a Hydra type of monster.

"Kaze…!" (David)

"On it, David sama! Hm, it's a Blaze Hydra, its seven heads have regenerative capabilities, and each head can cast magic independently as well…! Its weak side it's his Resistance, it has four thousand Health Points as well, please, be careful, David sama!" (Kaze)

The Hydra did not waste any more time as it rushed towards us, with one of its, heads, it created countless Magic Circles, conjuring a rain of fireballs. However, just as they were immune to fire, I could resist Fire magic very well. I activated my Dragonoid Tattoo and coupled with [Fire Step], I flew through the air, bracing my blade with Mana, I released a powerful slash of pure Magic Energy, that destroyed most of the fireballs in one attack.

The rest of the fireballs were evaded or intercepted with techniques by my party. Blaire remained at the back while buffing our stats, while Kaze jumped around and began to inspect each weak point in the monster. Then, he conjured phantom daggers and sent them towards the Hydra's heads, two heads were attacked by Kaze's phantom daggers, one was instantly paralyzed while the other fell asleep all out of the sudden.

"It seems that his Boss is not immune to status ailments!"

"Well done, Kaze, keep attacking with phantom daggers, I will block most of its magic, you need to deal enough damage on its head, so we can destroy them all at the same time"

"I'm on it! Oooorraa!"

Leonia jumped with immense, almost titan-like strength, and with her powerful gauntlets, she punched one of the Hydra's giant heads as if it were nothing, blowing it away and leaving it unconscious.

"Heh!"

"Watch out, Leonia!"

"Eh?"

Suddenly another head came from Leonia's back, she managed to evade in time, but was scratched by the Hydra's poisonous fangs, leaving a deep venomous scar on her shoulder.

"Ggah! B-Blaire!"

"Alright! Antidote White Fire! White Flames of Recovery!"

Blaire conjured her spells with incredible speed thanks to [Chant Time Reduction] as two white flames converged together into a single heavenly white fire that covered Leonia's whole body, burning the poisonous toxin and slowly closing the wound.

"I was a little bit careless, my apologies, David sama…!"

"Attack the heads at the sides, the ones in the middle are being protected by their surrounding heads!" (David)

Leonia and Kaze jumped through the air as the two used different techniques, smashing and slashing the heads, making them fall into unconsciousness, paralyzed or poisoned states.

As I walked through the air with [Fire Step], I threw different Mana Spheres to the Hydra's main body, diminishing its Health Points. Thanks to Kaze's daggers, the beast was constantly bleeding from any of its wounds, and they recovered incredibly slowly due to this.

"Ryyeeeeehh!!!"

Only one head remained as the other ones were unconscious or in different states. The remaining head fought desperately, but it succumbed to our combined efforts. I finished it off with a powerful Mana Blade Technique, releasing a strong wave of pure Magic Energy, cutting down all of the heads in one attack, killing the monster instantly. I had already used such methods before when fighting against Hydra type monsters in my previous expeditions to other dungeons.

[David Armand] reached level 124!]

[The Skill [Fire Step; Level 5] reached level 6!]

[The Skill [Mana Blade Techniques; Level 2] reached level 3!]

[David Armand] completed a [Trial Scenario] and defeated the Boss [Blaze Hydra; Jan]!]

[David Armand] received the Item [Blaze Hydra's Prized Chest] x1

("Kid! Hurry up and let me eat it!") (Vastrasz)

("Can you calm down; we will eventually eat it…")

("While it's fresh, eat it, quick!") (Vastrasz)

("You mean raw…? Can't you calm down your hunger for a bit?")

("I won't! I can feel it, that delicious tender meat! It will make us stronger!") (Vastrasz)

("Stronger…? What do you mean…?")

("I mean what I said! Now, hurry!") (Vastrasz)

[NAME: David Armand

[CLASS: [Elemental Knight of Fire]

[RACE: Human (Dragonoid Bloodline)

[LEVEL: 124/999

[STATUS: Intrigued.

[HP: 362/362

[MP: 186/186

[STAMINA: 170/170

[STRENGTH: 425

[DEFENCE: 275

[MAGIC: 184

[RESISTANCE: 170

[SPEED: 322

[CHARISMA: 300

[LUCK: 30

[Skills]

[Epic of David Armand; The Elemental Knight of Fire (Unsealed)]

[Gift of Training; Level 7]

[Stamina Consumption Reduction; Level 6]

[Stamina Self-Recovery; Level 4]

[Farming; Level 4]

[Gathering; Level 3]

[Butcher; Level 2]

[Archery; Level 1]

[Spear Technique; Level 1]

[Chivalrous Heart; Level 8]

[Unbreakable Mind; Level 1] (Evolved from [Deviant Life Perception])

[Strengthened Muscular Strength; Level 4] (Evolved from [Increased Leg Strength], [Increased Arm Strength], [Increased Torso Strength])

[Iron Bones; Level 5] (Evolved from [Sturdy Bones])

[Increased Flexibility and Speed; Level 3]

[Unarmed Fighting Techniques; Level 2]

[Magic Affinity; Level 2]

[Fire Attribute Magic; Level 3]

[Inferno Sword Arts; Level 5] (Evolved from [Long Sword Techniques] and [Fire Sword Techniques])

[Enhanced Flame Senses; Level 4] (Evolved from [Augmented Five Senses])

[Strengthen Subordinates; Leve 5] (Evolved from [Strengthen Allies])

[Fire Step; Level 6] (Evolved from [Sprint])

[Dragonoid Emperor Lineage; Level 2 ([Draconic Five Senses], [Lesser Dragonoid Transformation])]

[Mana Blade Techniques; Level 3 ([Hardened Mana Stab], [Mana Slash], [Infuse Element])]

[No-Attribute Magic; Level 2 ([Mana Sphere], [Strengthen Body])]

[Titles]

[Farmer], [Awakened Hero], [Elemental Knight of Fire], [Benevolent Figure]

[Bestiary]

[Blaze Lizardman]

Humanoid Lizard Monsters that have adapted to hot temperatures. They resemble human-sized lizards that stand in two feet. Males have red scales while females have orange skin. Males usually have greater strength than females and are sent to hunt, while the females take care of the young lizardman and dedicate themselves to craft armor, weapons and cook basic preparations.

Blaze Lizardman is flexible and can learn a variety of techniques and Skills, alongside having high affinity with Fire Attribute Magic. Thanks to the system, they can acquire skills that they wouldn't normally be able to and acquire Classes.

Their intelligence is that of a five-year-old kid, but they can grow cunning and more intelligent after going through battles and gathering enough Experience Points to evolve.

Lizardman is considered monsters for most of the Demi-Humans and Human Nations. The origin of Lizardmen is ancient, they are a race that has existed even before Genesis split into Realms, they are vicious and multiply fast. Unlike common belief, Lizardmen and their subspecies are not related to Dragons, although some can manage to evolve into Lesser Dragon Subspecies like Wyvern and Hydra thanks to the System, however, this was not possible in the past.

Calling a Dragon Descendant Demi-Human race member, a "lizardman" is usually seen as a slur and an insult.

[Blaze Hydra]

A Hydra subspecies that have adapted to hot temperatures, they are usually born as lesser Fire Hydras and evolve after gathering enough Experience Points and leveling up.

Hydra is descendants of an Ancient Dragon, the One-Hundred Headed Dragon named Hydra, a unique Ancient Dragon that had one hundred heads. Tales say that this dragon reached godhood alongside others of its species, and created Hydra to fill the dying Realms after Genesis was split into pieces. The purpose of their creation was so they could serve as food, materials and challenges for the intelligent mortals like Humans and Demi-Humans.

Hydra come in all shapes and sizes, as there are some adapted to water, others to fire and others to dry places, they usually have two body types. Giant Lizard-like quadrupedal bodies, and snake-like bodies.

Blaze Hydra have quadrupedal bodies, and each head can think on its own, however, if one dies, it can easily regrow back. Hydra's "true brain" is located in the middle of their main bodies, but they can also be defeated by being constantly getting their heads cut, lowering their Health Points until they die through the System.

They possess strong yet slow bodies, deadly venom that can kill an elephant in minutes, and strong Fire-Attribute Magic. Although they possess low intelligence, they can grow wary and learn from their mistakes, Ancient Hydras are said to have high intelligence, with each head having its personality.