NOVEL NEXT Chapter 75: Fire Wrymling FIGHT!
The Fire Wrymling stepped forward, its tail lashing like an angry whip. Sparks showered from its spine as it tilted its head at the Draconic Rat Boss monster, a silent declaration that it had already decided how this was going to end.
Seemed the wrymling knew what it was to do coming here. It already knew its aim was to defeat the Boss Monster.
The Boss monster didn't flinch, perhaps it was amazed with what it was seeing. Its molten eyes narrowed, its shoulders lowering in preparation to strike. It let out a hiss, a sharp, drawn-out venom mist spraying into the air. The vapor curled toward the wrymling like it was testing the small dragon's defenses.
The wrymling didn't step back.
Instead—
CRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRR!!!
The roar was nothing like its size suggested. It was raw, primal, and ferocious. A sound that made the stone walls shiver and the air feel thick, pressured with heat.
The roar hit like an explosion, rippling through the dungeon. Torches flared, their flames bending toward the sound before snapping back.
The shockwave slammed into the Boss monster, driving it back a full meter before it dug its claws into the floor with a screech of stone. Its saliva sizzled where it landed, burning holes into the rock.
Drahon and the others stared at the scene, surprised.
Thank goodness for the wrymling or they would be dead. How was its saliva this deadly?
The CRAZY ROAR's Burn Overload ignited the green mist instantly, the air itself becoming a firestorm between the two creatures. The heat was so intense that Devon had to shield his face with his arm, and Ayvira staggered back, coughing in the smoke.
Drahon didn't move.
He was watching.
Watching the wrymling, this tiny mythic-class dragon, push back something that had been hunting them like toys only moments ago.
He honestly expected the wrymling to just burn the Draconic Rat Boss monster to ashes with a roar, but as it seemed, the creature was very strong.
The Boss monster snarled and tried to leap forward through the fire, but the Meltdown effect was already kicking in, the hardened chitin plating along its legs blistered and dripped like tar.
The wrymling lowered its body, its claws digging in, tail curling for balance. Its wings snapped open in a sudden motion, glowing like molten metal, and it lunged.
It pounced, slamming into the Boss monster's chest with a claw swipe so fast Drahon barely saw it. The Infernal Rend combo began, first strike to the face, searing one eye shut. Second slash across the ribs, glowing embers following the wound like a fuse being lit.
The Boss monster howled, staggering, trying to crush the wrymling under its weight. But the small dragon darted aside, its claws scratching along its flank and leaving fiery streaks that flared a second later.
Then came the final strike.
The wrymling reared back and slammed its claws into the earlier slash mark, detonating the flame mark in a concussive blast.
BOOOOM!
A shockwave of heat and fire burst outward, knocking Devon and Ayvira off their feet. The Boss monster's scream was cut short as its body ignited, not like normal flames, but like its very insides were set alight, which was the case here.
Its legs buckled and its claws scraped uselessly at the floor. Then its molten-red eyes dimmed.
The Fire Wrymling stood over the collapsing body, its chest heaving, smoke curling from between its teeth.
[Boss Monster Defeated!]
[EXP Gained!]
[Fire Wrymling's Loyalty Increased!]
Drahon finally exhaled, only now realizing his hands were clenched into fists. He looked at the wrymling, still glowing faintly from the fight, and couldn't help but grin.
"Yeah…" he muttered, then in a louder voice: "Hell yeah!"
Words in glowing runes appeared in the air so they all could see:
[CRITICAL DAMAGE LOG]
[Eyes melted!]
[Teeth melted!]
[Jaw fractured!]
[Neck vertebrae shattered!]
[Front claws incinerated!]
[Left ear burned off!]
[Spinal plates cracked!]
[Right hind leg muscle torn!]
[Internal organs scorched!]
[Venom sacs ruptured!]
[Lung tissue evaporated!]
[Heart cavity burned through!]
[Bone marrow boiled!]
[HP reduced to 0!]
[Target eliminated!]
They all stared at the words blankly, a bit amused that the system had to take its time and list all the body parts annihilated.
But this wasn't the first time. It was common; any time they defeated a monster, its damages would be shown to them.
His stats showed in front of him now:
• Level: 3
• Class: Golden Dragon
• Race: Half-Dragon
• EXP: 1127 / 2000 [+101]
• HP: 160 / 170 [+40]
• Dragon Bond Slots: 2 / 5
• Summons: None
• Draconic Essence: 575 / 1000
---
Stats
• Strength: 109 [+11]
• Agility: 87 [+6]
• Endurance: 78 [+6]
• Intelligence: 82 [+6]
• Willpower: 95 [+6]
• Charisma: 74 [+6]
• Luck: 22
---
Dragon Codex
• Status: Active
• Progress: 2 / ???
• Bonded Dragons:
– SSS: Fire Dragon
– SSS: Barbarian Dragon
---
Skills
• Draconic Blade – Active – Tier: A
• Scaled Guard – Passive – Tier: A
• Draconic Leap – Active – Tier: A
• Draconic Sense – Passive – Tier: A
---
Abilities
• Half Dragon Form
---
Inventory
• Golden Iron Sword (SSS)
• Draconic Shield (S)
• Draconic Potion
Drahon wondered why he didn't gain any essence.
Or rather, he hadn't tried to do so. Normally, his system did it for him.
He decided to try something. He walked up to the dead corpses, now partially ashes, and scanned:
[Can I absorb essence from Draconic Rats?]
The system replied:
[Essence Absorption is not possible]
[Reason: Target's essence contains a venom-based core structure. This is not a normal poison—it's a living compound woven into the creature's blood, muscles, and bone marrow. If absorbed, it would bond with the host's cells, causing instant cellular breakdown, nerve paralysis, and catastrophic organ failure. The venom's corrosive byproducts would eat through vital tissues, destroying the body's ability to circulate and store life energy. All Draconic Rat variants, including the Boss monster, share this same venom-coded physiology. Without a compatible resistance trait or advanced purification ability, absorption would result in the host's death within minutes.]
A shiver rippled down Drahon's spine. The image of his own body rotting from the inside out flashed in his mind.
"Yeah… I'll pass on turning into mush," he muttered, stepping back from the corpses as if they could bite even in death.
The wyrmling now paused,its talons scraping against the stone. Slowly, it turned its head, its molten eyes on the players who were sort of nervous.
Drahon watched it and so did Devon and Ayvira, surprised.
A low rumble built in the wrymling's throat, not quite a growl, but enough to almost sound like one.
Its tail swayed lazily, yet every movement carried a predator's precision. The stench of scorched fur and ash clung to its scales, drifting toward them. For a moment, it simply studied them, as of getting to know them. Then, its pupils narrowed to slits, lips peeling back to reveal glistening fangs….
Drahon was sort of anxious now, what was the Wrymling trying to do?
Slowly, the wrymling smiled, like a puppy then slowly dissolved to glowing crystals.
They froze, watching the wyrmling's body crumble into glowing ashes, each ember swirling upward before vanishing.
Drahon's gaze darted between the others, confusion mirrored in their eyes. Then, without warning, a sharp chime echoed, and a system notification blinked into existence...