Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“Quick, run!” Seeing the flash of red, Lin Li knew it was something ominous. He let out a Delaying Spell without further ado, hoping that the low-grade magic could slow down that menacing monster.
“Freak…” Argus gasped under Sean’s arm. At the instant when the red figure flashed past, he was so dazed that his face ashened.
He could not understand why his luck was so bad. Why must the earthquake come at such a timing to cripple me? After much struggling, he barely held onto his dear life. Now, he had to meet an Ore Devouring Beast…
Oh God, that’s a magical beast of at least level-15!
Even in top form, he would never dare to provoke it. Now that he could not raise an arm, he was no different from a cripple…
I’m doomed…
I’m really doomed…
Although he’d already fallen to the stage of being carried under someone’s arm, Argus was extremely clear about the ability of both men—one was a level-13 Magic Shooter, while the other a warrior who had just achieved level-10. No matter how fierce they were, they were no match for that Ore Devouring Beast that was at least level-15. The gap was clear—no amount of aggressiveness could cover up for their differences.
Argus felt that he had been wrongfully treated…
Lin Li felt even more so!
Why did that Ore Devouring Beast appear with such an untimely manner? The cave was already shaking due to the tremors… How could he deal with the monster when he did not even have the time to escape from the collapsing cave?
After letting out the Delaying Spell, the two of them scurried away.
“GRRR!” The beast growled, shaking off the lava from its body, causing hot sparks to rain from the sky.
Since Lin Li and Sean were wearing armors made from fire salamandrids’ skin, they had enough protection. Unlike them, Argus had to suffer excruciating pain under Sean’s arm. He was covered with wounds, and was wearing nothing protective. The sparks that landed on him were like searing iron…
“Let me down, you damn sh*t! Quick! I don’t want to die!” Argus’ shrieks were ear-piercing all throughout the journey. Yet, how would Lin Li care about him in such a critical situation? If he did not see value in Argus’ life, he would tell Sean to dump him already.
After shaking off the lava on its body, the Ore Devouring Beast’s hideous head appeared.
Lin Li stole a glance behind him, and became more certain about his suspicion. It was definite that there was an Infernal Magic Iron mine below this stream of lava! On top of that, it was most likely a rich mine! Only Ore Devouring Beasts born on rich mines would have such an ominous metallic glow all over them.
The beast was like a lizard in the chase. It was very agile due to its slender and long body. When it passed by, it was like a streak of red flittering light, covering big distances almost immediately. The Delaying Spell had no effect on it. What followed the faint yellow flash was leaping flames.
“Grrr…” There was a series of growls. Rocks that fell from the air were not a threat to it at all. Its slender body was like a fish in water, swimming at fast speed. Its two front legs’ sharp claws were like steel knives slicing through tofu, transforming the falling rocks into powder instantaneously.
Knowing that the Ore Devouring Beast was closing up on him, Lin Li did not dare to look back. He just grabbed onto his life, and continued to escape from it.
His only chance to cast his spells was to escape from that cave.
With the help of the Hastening Spell, the speed of both of them was already very fast. However, the Ore Devouring Beast was speedier than them. When they dashed into a narrow pathway, they were less than 10 metres apart from the beast.
The road in front got more and more narrow, while the beast got closer and closer. Lin Li could feel the heat from the beast behind him and hear its heavy breath…
Yet, Lin Li dared not look back. He knew his only chance to survive was in escaping the cave.
The Ore Devouring Beast was so fast that it was able to pounce onto Lin Li before he could even pass through that narrow passageway. His armor was torn instantly, like a sheet of paper under its sharp claws.
As Lin Li sensed pain on his back, he felt warm blood gushing out from it.
“Sh*t…” Lin Li panicked amidst the agonizing pain. He had no chance to escape in such a narrow pathway.
It was too late to distance himself from the Ore Devouring Beast.
“PAT!”
The thin and long tail of the beast landed harshly on Lin Li’s back like a whip. To him, it felt a bomb. As he flew off due to the impact, a mouthful of fresh blood surged out before he crashed against the firm and hard crag…
“Mr. Felic, you go first!” At the same time, Sean stopped in his tracks. He threw a rock at the beast with one hand while lugging Argus with the other.
When the Ore Devouring Beast was about to pounce onto Lin Li, the fist-sized fragment smashed onto its head. “Grr…!” It cried out in pain.
“…” Argus had never felt so helpless in any situation before. He could not understand why Sean was so foolish to lure the attention of the beast onto himself just to protect Felic. Did he eat the wrong medicine?
At this moment, Argus really hoped to scream: “F*ck you, that’s a level-15 magical beast! If you want to die, can you not drag me along?”
Yet, why would Sean have the time to be considerate about the feelings of such a passer-by? His left hand was like a pair of metal pincers that clamped tightly onto Argus’ neck. He did not even have the time to lift his head to scold him, not to mention that he would loosen his grasp.
Sean was like a bastion of iron—an impregnable fortress in the middle of the road.
The Ore Devouring Beast was a little injured by the rock. After shaking its giddy head, its small triangular eyes gave Sean a deadly stare. The hatred and anger within it were like a poisonous snake that was determined to attack. Argus could not help but feel goosebumps on his scalp just by looking at it.
Under the blazing fire, it emitted extremely hot magical waves, an energy special to the fire-attributed Ore Devouring Beasts. Especially for those that had their powers from the Infernal mineral veins, their fire element magic was comparable to that of Archmages of the same level.
On its long and thin tail that was covered with scales, there was a tiny and flittering flame. It was like a small candlelight that could be extinguished at any time. However, it was not comforting to Lin Li at all. He knew that it spelled danger—the Ore Devouring Beast was going to rage. When that flame lit up, what waited for Sean would be a terrifying fire element magic.
“SEAN, RUN!”
At this life and death juncture, the injuries on Lin Li did not matter to him anymore. It was as though he saw the massive flames breathed out by the Ore Devouring Beast turning Sean into ashes instantaneously. He had no choice but to get himself up despite the falling rocks. While struggling to control his mental strength, he unleashed his weakest Mana Retroaction ever…
“Boom!”
As soon as the Mana Retroaction was unleashed, another sound blasted from the top of the cave.
As compared to the first two times, it was like the sound of heaven splitting with the earth. At that instant, it pushed the disaster to the climax. Huge boulders tumbled from the top of the cave noisily. Although Lin Li’s two feet were on the ground, he felt that the earth was shaking as though he was standing on a ship.
That did not exclude the beast that had its deadly stare fixed on Sean. It, too, was stunned by the disastrous situation. Its long and thin tail was still swiping left and right, while that small spark was still flickering. Yet, it did not breath out any fire at all…
“AROOO…” Amidst the continuous falling boulders, there were ear-piercing growls. It was like a bomb that exploded right beside human ears, which left Lin Li with nothing but the sound of buzzing in his ears.
What followed was a moment of silence…
Underlying the thunderous shriek was an authoritative command that silenced the entire world.
The earth stopped shaking; the boulders stopped tumbling inside the cave; even the flame on the tail of the Ore Devouring Beast went out immediately.
What they were replaced with was a ray of colourful light.
The gorgeous beam drew a perfect curve across the narrow pathway to the three men and the beast. On the other end was a majestic palace surrounded by wild fire. The light was like a huge door which separated two worlds to each end.
“F*ck…” Lin Li was utterly flabbergasted by the multicolored light. He stood rooted to the ground like a puppet and stared blankly. To ascertain that he was not dreaming, he did something very cliche, which was to pinch his thigh.
“Argh…” Lin Li drew a mouthful of cold breath due to the pain on his thigh.
A-are all these real…?
Lin Li suddenly felt so confused. Why did the earthquake stop out of a sudden? Is there a different world behind that blazing fire? Since I’m in a cave, it can’t be a mirage, right…?
“GRRR!” The Ore Devouring Beast finally lost its patience in the standstill. It dug the soil with its sharp claws, while the series of anxious growls continued.
The hoarse voice drew Lin Li back to the present. The gorgeous sight actually caused him to forgot the existence of the beast…
“RUN!” Lin Li shouted at Sean. Seeing that the Ore Devouring Beast was about to pounce on them, Lin Li had no time to care about anything else. He sped off like an arrow released from a bow towards the light.
When the first beam of light shone onto him, Lin Li felt a tinge of warmness. It rose from his right ring finger and spread throughout his body. The warmness was completely different from the suffocating heat in the cave. Although hot, it was not uncomfortable. He felt as though he was hugging a small stove in his arms in the cold winter.
“What’s the situation now?” Stunned, Lin Li could not help but look back. Then, he suddenly realized that the ring finger on his right hand was emitting a blinding beam of red.
“Torrent of Elements Ring!”
The blinding red glow was as concentrated as fresh blood. Lin Li could even see that the red was spreading with amazing speed.
At the same time, the Ore Devouring Beast behind him moved. When it pounced towards him, it was like a streak of red light. While Lin Li made his first move, it had already covered an unimaginable distance. Then, as it lifted its hideous head, a ball of fire appeared from its mouth…
“Sh*t!” Lin Li exclaimed as he jumped up into the air. It was too late for him to bring out his Elemental Shield. He could only watch that ball of fire grow brighter in the paws of the beast…
“Boom!”
The gigantic fireball exploded.
Lin Li felt as though every piece of his bone shattered when the bomb hit him.
“Damn it, I’m really doomed…”
Even fools knew the consequences of being hit by an Archmage-level fireball under zero protection. Lin Li closed his eyes in resignation as the pain from his body soared. However, he forced his eyes open immediately again.
No, I can’t die now!
Lin Li was not far away from Sean and Argus, who had fainted on the same lush green grass. The light ahead of him was still in a myriad of colors. Through that, Lin Li could see clearly the menacing Ore Devouring Beast leaping towards him at a freakish speed…
“F*ck!” Lin Li raised his arms subconsciously over his face. Then, he saw that the beast was lifted by something when it passed through the color spectrum. What followed was an ear-splitting cry from it as it turned into a ball of ashes…
