Grifinel desperately twisted his body, feeling the terrifying energy manifesting on his back.
Because of the massive creature’s agile movement, Lutal fell from his back.
“Die!”
Grifinel exhaled poison from his entire body.
All sorts of toxins gathered from minerals and venomous substances spread out, glowing in a variety of colors.
It was a lethal poisonous mist that would kill an ordinary person with just a single breath. Grifinel, hiding within that mist, hoped that the poison would enter the protrusions on the other’s back and end this horrific situation.
Lutal’s response was simple.
He blocked the protrusions.
As for the poison that had already entered his body, Rapid Regeneration handled it. Death Resistance didn’t even activate.
“Hellfire!”
Blue flames erupted from the poisonous mist. It was the highest-tier magic of the fire attribute. Even Lutal would not emerge unscathed if he took a direct hit.
*Slash!*
Lutal split the Hellfire apart with his Death Blade. The power of the Death Mana within the blade caused even the magical structure to collapse, turning the Hellfire into nothing more than a somewhat hotly burning fire.
*Whoosh!*
Lutal charged through the divided Hellfire. The blue flames swirled around Lutal before stretching out long like a tail.
Grifinel opened his mouth and fired his Breath. Lutal flew in a spiral. Grifinel turned his head, adjusting the direction of the Breath, desperately trying to hit Lutal.
However, Lutal wasn’t even grazed as he clung back onto Grifinel’s back.
*Slash, slash.*
Grifinel’s wings were sliced off by the elongated Death Blade. The light, broad wings quickly lost speed and were left behind.
“A mere insect took my wing!”
Even if it could use the Death Blade, to the arrogant dragon, it was nothing more than a lowly creature. Grifinel spoke those words while struggling to increase his speed by shaking his entire body. Although flight was possible without wings, his speed would decrease, so he had to compensate somehow.
*Slash, slash.*
To Lutal, Grifinel was far too slow.
The Death Blade slashed across Grifinel’s neck. Although his head and body weren’t separated because his neck was so thick, it was enough. Grifinel’s pride, his scales, were cut effortlessly, and even his arteries were severed.
The blood flow within Grifinel’s body decreased rapidly. Normally, his muscles and hide would tighten to stop the bleeding, but they failed to function properly because of the Death Mana.
“Kwoooooar!”
Grifinel writhed in pain, a sensation he was experiencing for the first time in his life. His survival instinct also kicked in powerfully. He spewed out all the poison and Acid Fluid he had stored in his body.
Lutal moved away from Grifinel’s vicinity. There was no need to get caught in his death throes. If he sustained even a single wound, it would be a waste of nutrients.
“Kwoarr…”
Like a dragon, Grifinel regained his composure even in this desperate situation and cast recovery magic. His blood vessels healed, and the bleeding stopped.
However, even for a dragon, using recovery magic inevitably created an opening. The price for spending time and Mana on something other than attack and defense during combat was high.
Grifinel’s field of vision, which could see in almost every direction, did not show Lutal. That could only mean one thing. He was right behind his back, the only place a dragon could not see.
*Slash, slash.*
“Kuaaaaaah!”
The back of his neck was deeply sliced by the Death Blade. Even his spine was split, severing his nerves. Since he was a magical creature, he might have been able to move if it were a simple physical amputation, but the Death Blade cleanly cut off all signals traveling down from the brain.
Even so, Grifinel’s struggle did not end. As long as he had his brain and Dragon Heart, he could survive, so he just needed to escape for now. Grifinel squeezed out his last remaining strength and cast recovery magic once more.
His nerves and blood vessels healed, allowing him to move his body again. Immediately after, Grifinel came face-to-face with emotionless black eyes at very close range. The window reflecting the hunger from the other side was right before Grifinel’s eyes.
The Death Blade approached.
*Stab.*
The elongated Death Blade pierced through his eye and scrambled his brain. The signals generated by this caused Grifinel’s body to convulse bizarrely.
Lutal, without any emotion, pushed Grifinel’s corpse toward Kuongi. Kuongi opened his mouth wide and swallowed the massive dragon whole.
**[Dragon Evolution Code Decryption Rate: 1%]**
The Dragon Evolution Code belonged to a Mana-based creature. In the Dimension War, it was the only Evolution Code that could strengthen an Apocalid with Mana. Obtaining it almost guaranteed a win in the game.
It was good just to have it, but like the Demon of Chaos Evolution Code’s Law Distortion, the possibilities for synthesis were endless.
Synthesizing it with Mineral Accumulation resulted in Magic Stone Accumulation, and synthesizing it with Monster Regeneration resulted in Time Regeneration. Mana Stones were minerals combined with Mana, so they could become as hard as a dragon’s scales. Time Regeneration was an ability that allowed regeneration as if literally rewinding time.
‘Since I have Psionic Specialization and Mana Development, it would be better to synthesize them.’
Choi Kangjoong’s mood improved as he began to acquire top-tier Evolution Codes.
“The dragon is dead, so let’s go straight to that Dimension.”
*Grrr.*
*Ku-uong.*
Choi Kangjoong first sent a Skyeye Giant carrying a Central Stealth Scout and some Stealth Scouts.
The Dimension Grifinel had occupied was full of plants, just as he had seen on the Black Market Map. Choi Kangjoong was as pleased by the massive amount of organic matter that would serve as nutrients as he was when he ate the Anti-Magic Shell.
“Is there no defense system?”
The Central Stealth Scout, having disembarked from the Fighter Giant, cautiously entered the Dimension. Grifinel had covered the Dimension with a Shield, but he hadn’t blocked the Dimensional Boundary.
Leaves covered the sky, making the ground as dark as night. However, this was no obstacle for the Apocalids, who possessed various types of vision. The Central Stealth Scout and the Stealth Scouts spread out in all directions to transmit information.
“There are Hydras here. Only six of them.”
The variety of Monsters wasn’t very diverse. This was due to Grifinel’s preferences.
“There are Elves, too.”
In one part of the forest, Elves were living together. They were completely different from the Elves of Marsala. They were half-naked and lacked the firearms seen among those Elves.
‘Is their evolution lagging? I don’t think that’s it.’
Choi Kangjoong took out Iselin’s Necklace and contacted her.
“You’re saying you found Elves in a Dimension ruled by a Green Dragon?”
“Yeah. But they look different from the Elves of Marsala.”
“He probably destroyed part of their brains right after they were born.”
“Why?”
“Because they’re easier to manage that way. Dragons often treat species like Elves and Humans as livestock.”
“Can’t they be healed?”
“Even an Elf born without an arm or one whose arm was severed long ago is difficult to heal with Life Essence. Since the dragon tampered with their brains, it’s virtually impossible for those Elves.”
“I see.”
The Stealth Scouts discovered more Elves. Some were gathered in slaughterhouses, and others had multiple arms or were merged with plants and animals because Grifinel had toyed with them as he pleased.
Choi Kangjoong didn’t feel any particular emotion. Just as Humans acted to eat meat, to an Outer Mind, dragons, Elves, and Monsters were merely prey.
“The Anti-Magic Shell was delicious.”
“I’ll get you more if you need it.”
“I can’t put you to such trouble, my Lord. I can just send Elves.”
“Then it might become hard to find them again. By the way, Ladespina is planning an invasion of Marsala.”
“As I suspected.”
“You knew?”
“A dragon who demanded tribute 100 years ago settled not far from Marsala. I couldn’t help but monitor him.”
Iselin added that the number of Elven informants who had died in Ladespina’s Dimension was significant.
“Is there anything I can help with?”
“I’ll call you later when more dragons come flocking.”
“Dragon hunting. I’m looking forward to that. I’ll be waiting.”
Choi Kangjoong tucked the necklace securely between his Chitin Gauntlets.
“I should leave a Central Unit here if I want to travel back and forth from home comfortably.”
How many times had he opened a Gate just to bring a single necklace?
“No, it would have been better to just go to Iselin’s house since it’s closer.”
The scouting of Grifinel’s Dimension was finished. A few Guardians, including the Hydras, were all that stood in the Apocalids’ way. Grifinel had deemed a Shield sufficient to block anything coming from the Dimensional Sea.
There was no need for all the Apocalids to go.
“Let’s eat.”
Kuongi and the Super Titan lined up above the Dimension and fired their Breaths. Six beams of light struck down, shattering the Shield in an instant.
*Grrr.*
Lutal flew in first and hunted the Hydras. They hadn’t been a match for him before, but now that he was equipped with boosters, a single one was sliced apart in 10 seconds.
The Central Command Giant and Central Cannon Giant also descended to hunt the Hydras. Ferocious sounds echoed as trees as large as buildings toppled and burned. The forest Grifinel had cultivated was ruined in an instant.
After the Guardians were cleared, 210,000 Walkers entered the Dimension. They created Soil Pits in several locations and converted the forest into nutrients. Because of the large number of Walkers, it took less than 12 hours to flatten the Dimension.
**[Dimensional Devouring begins.]**
The Apocalids, having devoured Grifinel’s main base, clustered around the Central Unit and scattered in various directions. Before long, nutrients and Evolution Points began to pour in.
**[Dimensional Devouring begins.]**
**[Dimensional Devouring begins.]**
**[Dimensional Devouring begins.]**
“How sweet.”
Choi Kangjoong, having devoured every bit of the territory Grifinel had occupied, flew toward the place where he was scheduled to meet Alsdine’s Guardians.
Ladespina’s lair.
Deep in the center of a Dimension, covered in gold, silver, and gems, stood a magnificent lair where Ladespina was lost in thought.
‘Why has all connection with Grifinel been severed?’
The Gate to Grifinel’s Dimension would not open, and even Dimensional Communication was impossible.
‘A betrayal?’
However, if it were Grifinel, a cunning Green Dragon, he wouldn’t have made it so obvious even if he did betray them. If he were going to leave the clan, he would have quietly taken his Dimension and fled. Furthermore, Grifinel didn’t have the ability to block off such a vast territory. That was something Ladespina himself would find difficult without the help of several other dragons.
Concluding that it was due to an external factor, Ladespina summoned Alsdine. His territory bordered Grifinel’s, and as a calm Gold Dragon, he was perfect for the investigation.
“My Lord.”
Alsdine connected the Dimensional Communication magic with Ladespina as if he had been waiting.
“Something has happened in Grifinel’s territory. Investigate.”
“As you command.”
Ladespina put it out of his mind after that. There was no being in the vicinity that could do anything to Grifinel. The troublesome Island Whales weren’t nearby, and there were no traces of the Marsala Elves moving in large numbers. Even the demons were only observing Ladespina’s clan from afar.
Ladespina looked at the Black Market Map he had drawn on one of the walls. All the forces around the territory occupied by his clan were recorded.
Marsala, Humans, and M2721, as well as the massive IANT swarm, ancient ruins, and the primary routes of the Island Whales.
Ladespina, intending to swallow them all, licked his fangs with his tongue.