Ashen Dragon

Chapter 203: Chapter 128: Five-headed dragon monster
 

Singo took out the flashlight and kept moving forward. Cold iron doors appeared in front of him. From behind some of them came eerie roars, painful howls, and even the sound of claws scraping against steel.

“There must be quite a few monsters here, let’s pick a quieter one and go in to take a look.”

“Alright.”

The Natural War Maniac found the door with the least movement and cautiously unlocked it before pushing it open.

Mantou followed closely behind, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.

This laboratory felt like a forsaken corner of the world, filled with the scent of blood and death. There was hardly any light, only the weak candle flame on Mantou flickering, illuminating the small area around them. The cold gleam of the experimental instruments made everyone shudder.

Mantou raised the torch and whispered,

“I think I heard… breathing.”

The Natural War Maniac gripped the battle axe tighter and stepped forward, listening closely. Sure enough, he heard faint airflow.

He looked into the depths of the dark laboratory, as if something there was rising and falling.

“Get ready for battle.”

But it seemed something here had detected their presence. A row of dragon-head torches suddenly ignited, casting a haunting blue light that illuminated the entire laboratory. A colossal figure in the shadows revealed its true form.

—A nearly six-meter-long body, with five lizard-like grotesque heads stitched onto a body that seemed to be pieced together from different creatures, with even the stitches visible.

That skeletal, almost skin-and-bone body was covered with sparse white scales, revealing large patches of wrinkled skin.

In front of it were shattered bones and chunks of flesh, blood-stained surgical knives, silver needles, and saws, emitting a foul odor.

The monster’s limbs were tightly bound to a metal platform, rusted iron shackles making it unable to move or break free. Each of its heads had its eyes closed, and its enormous body rose and fell, clearly in a state of deep sleep.

“Wha… What the hell is this?”@@novelbin@@

Mantou was pale with fright, the physiological disgust brought on by the monster was one thing, but the white scales evoked some unpleasant memories for him.

“Look at this.”

Singo stepped forward and discovered a small plaque with inscriptions in front of the metal bed.

“Number 66: [Five-Headed Dragon Monster]”

“This work is dedicated to the great Five-Colored Dragon Queen.”

“Indeed, this is a failed creation. The filthy bloodline has not been purified by the noble Dragon Blood. It lacks intelligence and doesn’t even deserve to be called a Dragon species. Tiamat, forgive my blasphemy for creating this wretched imitation—Vagnard, December 1, Third Era 1387”

Mantou patted his chest, still feeling frightened: “It’s another one of that old man’s monsters. Luckily, it’s still bound up, doesn’t seem to have any… illusion techniques or anything like that.”

Singo sneered, “Ha ha.”

The Natural War Maniac was puzzled, rubbing his bald head: “Did you guys encounter any illusory realm before? Why don’t I know about it?”

“Uh—”

Before Singo could speak, Mantou dashed forward, covering his mouth with his hand, and forced out a smile,

“No, no, nothing happened at all.”

However, he was too anxious and stepped on a scattered surgical knife, making a crisp clanging sound.

“Ugh… Roar…”

A low, raspy growl rose, not loud but extremely grating, as if resonating with the air.

Mantou turned pale at once, cold sweat dripping down his face as he turned around.

He saw the monster’s ten eyes open simultaneously, the elongated necks writhing uneasily. The skull-like gaunt heads were full of greed, with thick saliva dripping from their mouths.

Since its creation, it had been abandoned by Vagnard, and had not eaten for who knows how many years. The “humans” before it were undoubtedly a feast, making it drool with anticipation.

Mantou stammered, “It’s okay, it’s trapped here. There’s no way it can get out.”

But before he finished speaking, the shackles began to make creaking noises, with the metal platform shaking violently along with the monster’s body.

“Crack!”

A crisp sound rang out.

The five-headed dragon monster’s desire to eat had become uncontrollable. It struggled continuously, its skeletal frame bursting with unimaginable strength, actually breaking those rusty metal shackles.

“Roar——”

The five heads shook themselves, and the monster raised its heads, letting out an angry roar.

Immediately, five greedy, fiery gazes turned to Mantou and the others, with corrosive spittle dripping to the ground, creating holes in the surface.

Singo glared at the monster, gritting his teeth, “Mantou, I should have let War Maniac beat you to death earlier!”

Mantou, crying without tears, retreated: “How was I supposed to know it would wake up so easily? This thing has terrible sleep quality!”

“Get out of the way, let me handle it!”

The Natural War Maniac unhesitatingly stood in front, gripping his battle axe and confronting the monster head-on. But without Summer Night Autumn Rain and lacking spells to boost them, even he could not single-handedly take on such a terrifying creature.

[Five-Headed Dragon Monster]

Challenge Level: 8 (3600 XP)

“Damn, this is tricky.”

Singo spat, quickly took off the hunting longbow from his back, drew it, and aimed at the five-headed dragon monster. A purple Hunter’s Mark appeared on the monster.

“Hrah——”

The Natural War Maniac let out a war cry, stomping the ground.

His eyes turned red, steam rose from his body, and he entered a frenzied state, charging at the five-headed dragon monster with his battle axe.

“Roar——”

The dragon monster roared hoarsely, its eyes gleaming with joy at the food delivered to its doorstep. It didn’t expect these “small fry” to rush forward unafraid of death.

“Frenzied Strike!”

The Natural War Maniac leaped high with his battle axe, aiming for one of the dragon monster’s necks.

“Clang!”

Sparks flew as the axe struck the scales exactly.

The Berserker’s strength, even through the scales, made the dragon monster feel intense pain, its flesh battered.

The five-headed dragon monster roared, twisting its massive body. Two of its heads on the side extended, occupying the warrior’s view, launching a bite attack from above.

If those sharp fangs pierced flesh, even the tough-skinned, thick-skinned Natural War Maniac would be impaled and killed instantly.

Singo, observing from afar, shouted,

“Mantou!”

“I’m coming, War Maniac Bro!”

Mantou seized the moment, charging from the side, stabbing his sword into the exposed skin of the five-headed dragon monster.

“Actions Like Tides!”

He activated the warrior’s ability, moving with incredible speed, making his arm nearly a blur as he slashed multiple times, carving bloody wounds on the monster.

“Roar——”

It howled in pain, raising its heads to the sky.

But the dragon monster had five heads, and soon three heads targeted Mantou, sending giant claws stomping repeatedly.

Despite using Actions Like Tides, Mantou struggled to avoid the relentless attacks, dodging and weaving like a grasshopper, utterly unable to retaliate.

“Bang!”

And the Natural War Maniac received special attention, taking a direct hit from the mighty tail, sent flying several meters. He rolled over a dozen times on the ground before crashing heavily into the wall.