Chapter 327
Chapter 327
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 327
Chapter Title: What the Earth Dragon Guards (2)
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Thud, thud, thud, thud!
Like playing whack-a-mole.
The earth dragon's claws slammed down irritably.
- Kraaarrrgh!
“Ugh!”
For claws, they were enormous and heavy. Each strike felt like my bones were shattering and blood vessels bursting.
Even with my indestructible diamond body, the pain was real.
My skin wouldn't pierce, but the ache in my bones and organs was unavoidable.
Clang! Clang!
“Damn it.”
I was truly grateful for the weapon in my hand.
If the shield I held wasn't god-slaying grade, I'd already be a pulp smeared across the floor.
- Get lost! I said get lost!
Hey.
Sorry, but even if I wanted to leave, I can't.
I'm already inside the dungeon, and there's no exit in sight.
We're destined to fight anyway!
Scraaaape!
My shield scraped continuously against its scales.
‘Anyway.’
While fighting and pondering nonstop, I'd pulled back all the spiritists except the spirits themselves.
No good ideas, just blocking and dodging on repeat—what good would huddling together do?
‘Besides.’
Spiritists had no power on their own.
It was just the spirits they commanded.
Keeping them safe from as far back as possible was best.
- You puny fly! Vanish!
Its aggro was fixed solely on me.
Instinct, probably.
Knowing I was the biggest threat.
“You okay?!”
Ling-Ling's shout came from behind.
I silently raised the okay sign.
She wasn't from Earth, but...
She'd get the gesture, right?
Boom! Booooom!
The ground flipped, rocks flew up.
Feeling the fierce pressure across my body, I dodged its tail once more.
- There is a way to pierce that aura.
That was when the wind's top-grade spirit, Sylestin, finally spoke.
“What? What is it?”
I whipped my head around.
“Why didn't you say so sooner?”
This bastard.
Didn't you see me suffering all this time? Huh?
Whoosh!
Maybe I should throttle that sylph.
As I glared daggers,
- No need to say. It's impossible anyway.
Sylestin shook his head.
Impossible?
“Bullshit.”
I gritted my teeth and grinned.
Boooom!
Its claw smashed into my shield again.
“Cough!”
The limit was approaching.
Even with diamond indestructibility, my organs kept shaking—unavoidable.
If these impacts continued, my life could really be in danger.
“Just tell me!”
Whoosh!
I stepped on the shadow to dodge the tail and barked.
“I'll decide if it's possible or not!”
- Overwhelming power.
“What?”
- With overwhelming power that can chew through intangible aura, you can inflict damage. I heard even the Spirit King used his full true power back then to wound the earth dragon's body.
Is that so?
Overwhelming power, huh.
So, in the end, my ultimate move.
Pouring all my energy into Mujin and Poison Flash?
- No offense, but even with all your power, it won't work.
“If it doesn't after I try, then say so!”
Irritation crept into my voice without me realizing.
As I said before, hearing negatives before even trying makes me jinx myself.
[The Water Essence cheers fervently!]
[Beat the earth dragon! Earth dragon fighting!]
Oh?
I lightly shoved aside the status window blocking my view and kicked off the ground, leaping into the air.
Fwoosh!
At the same time, I shifted my shield into a spear.
No more blocking.
Only dodging or attacking.
I targeted the deep wound on its back.
Stick the essence of Mujin and Poison Flash right there.
‘If I'm doing it, do it right.’
The longer this dragged, the worse for me.
Time to end it quick.
Hummm!
I began drawing up all the energy inside me.
“Spirits!”
I shouted.
- Speak!
- We're ready!
- You're really going to...?
- Grooooar!
The four top-grade elemental spirits responded in unison.
I'd already ordered the spiritists to obey me.
“Simple! When I attack, pour everything you've got!”
The dragon would hear too, but whatever.
Overwhelming might couldn't be blocked even if known.
Ruuuumble...!
Like a dragon charging its breath.
Immense energy compressed and surged.
[The Fire Essence watches with a worried expression.]
[It warns to be careful. The earth trial is no joke.]
[The Water Essence says it's noisy. What, backseat driving?]
[The Fire Essence glares.]
[The Metal Essence says water's right this time. No interfering.]
[The Fire Essence concedes. Closes its eyes quietly.]
I'd ignored the water guy, but now fire too—something felt off.
‘Come to think of it.’
My heart wasn't cheering me on like before.
What to call it.
A nagging, uneasy feeling?
- You worm! No tricks—get lost!
The earth dragon roared.
But the words in that roar bugged me oddly.
‘Get lost?’
Weird.
Dragons I'd faced before treated foes like bugs to squash, never saying "get lost."
“What is it?”
I froze mid-thrust, spear pulled back.
And closed my eyes.
Hummm!
Pure Heaven Heart Method flowed smoothly.
To land this one shot perfectly, I needed to sense its energy and find the gap.
Surely.
That's why I'd scanned with Pure Heaven Heart Method.
‘What?’
I furrowed my brow.
Something caught.
Not the earth dragon—something else.
Something under that massive lifeform.
Thump thump!
My heart started pounding.
Gulp.
I swallowed dryly.
“No way...”
I pressed my hand to my forehead.
Fuck.
“No way that's it?”
- What are you doing, human!
- Strike before the dragon reacts! Or it'll read you!
“Damn it, wait a sec!”
This was a gamble.
Had to decide now.
[The Water Essence asks what you're doing.]
[Why hesitate right before attacking? Braindead?]
Damn water bastard.
Not falling for it.
“Under the dragon!”
I pointed at the earth dragon.
All the spirits' gazes turned there.
“Feel those squirming things under the dragon?”
Yes.
Two wriggling things hiding under the dragon.
Probably hatchlings fresh from eggs.
No idea why a guarding mother had kids.
But the reason the wounded dragon kept repeating [get lost].
Wasn't it protecting its own young, not some abyssal core?
‘And.’
Yui-sa Stormtree.
Yeah, that Yui-sa who summoned the Spirit King and scarred this damn tough earth dragon's back.
Died to it? Why?
- Back then, against that monster... if she hadn't pushed too hard...!
- In the end, the earth dragon's claw crushed Yui-sa's gut, and those sharp fangs pierced her throat...
Words from my first meeting with Sylph.
But why did I keep thinking.
Yui-sa just let it happen?
You know those types.
Beings with maternal love, cherishing others—maybe more than their own life—tender hearts.
‘Not that I get it.’
Plus.
As if waiting for my dilemma.
The earth dragon had stopped attacking, watching me warily.
And even water shut up, fearing exposure.
‘This is.’
A gamble worth taking.
“Kerin.”
I muttered, and she looked up from behind.
“Could you heal the dragon with spirit power?”
- ...?!
The water top-grade spirit, Elestra, stared at me like I was insane.
But.
Worst case, break even... no, minor loss.
The dragon had stopped attacking anyway, and I hadn't spent energy.
Not only that?
That damn tough intangible aura blocked attacks, and no guarantee my strike would land.
I said,
“What if... Yui-sa's grudge... that overly kind woman's grudge... was over the wound on this dragon's back?”
- That's just speculation!
Elestra shouted.
“Look at this earth dragon.”
But I gripped tighter, pointing at the dragon.
“It's just sitting there.”
Whoosh!
I stepped on the shadow, approaching the dragon.
Killing intent and battle aura completely suppressed.
At that moment.
The wary earth dragon's maw opened.
- You... know Yui-sa?
Huh?
Looks like my guess was spot on?
Really?
* * *
Earth Dragon Cassias.
Cassias was an ancient dragon who'd lived countless ages.
Of the primordial dragonkin, from the same era as the Creation Dragons.
His mission was singular.
Old God.
Serving the Earth, guarding that sacred being's traces.
Before the Spirit Realm even existed.
Cassias protected the Earth's fragment there.
Even after it was engulfed entirely, wrapped in a new world.
The loyal earth dragon servant steadfastly remained.
He drove off any who approached, hid from gods' apostles.
Earth's traces must not be found by them.
Thus.
A century passed, a millennium, ten millennia.
Hundred thousand years, million, ten million flowed.
No matter the unimaginable time, his draconic will held firm.
Then one moment.
‘...Tiring.’
In endless silence.
In a forgotten space none visited.
The dragon felt loneliness for the first time.
That instant.
Twinkle!
The glowing Earth fragment.
[So lonely?]
“...!”
Cassias startled.
First time in eons hearing Earth's voice.
Hearing his ancient master's sound, Cassias welled up unbidden.
“Earth...!”
[So much to say to you, grateful and admirable. Can't speak long. But with power accumulated, this much is possible.]
Earth's business was simple.
[Earth attribute hatchling created.]
[Earth attribute hatchling created.]
Two wriggling existences born.
“Ahh, my lord...! What is this!”
Cassias was moved.
Not by the two young, but by hearing Earth's voice.
And receiving a gift from Earth itself.
You know that feeling.
Your spent time.
Your sacrifices and pains.
Just someone acknowledging it wasn't wasted—pure elation.
[Spend lonely times raising these.]
[Don't lose hope. Your loyalty will be rewarded someday.]
Afterward, the fragment fell silent.
Cassias named the hatchlings.
The first with one horn: Toil.
The second without: Toi.
Terrible naming sense, but Cassias loved it.
Precious gift from Earth.
Cassias raised them with all his heart.
About a century passed.
- Who are you!
Then one appeared before him.
A nature-attuned being with multiple elements coexisting.
“I heard the abyssal core is here.”
That was.
The earth dragon and Yui-sa Stormtree's encounter.