"Whoa, whoa, what a joke! An LV8+ Red-eyed Dragon can be born on the eleventh floor of the dungeon?"
"Any adventurer who encounters this would surely die!"
Win Ping was truly shocked.
"Master, be careful!"
Kokkoro quickly raised her staff-spear, and a verdant magic circle unfolded beneath her feet—
"Holy Light Barrier!"
"Boom!"
The dragon breath struck the light screen, erupting in blinding flames!
The barrier trembled violently, but it ultimately blocked the scorching dragon breath!
"Well done, Kokkoro!"
Win Ping's figure flickered in the smoke and dust, his dark Hestia's Sword wrapped in violent lightning, "Now it's our turn to counterattack!"
"Quick, buff me!"
"Please leave it to me!"
"Song of Courage! Aurora Bloom! Holy Light's Blessing!"
Kokkoro's staff-spear glowed brightly, and three buff spells simultaneously empowered Win Ping!
Win Ping instantly felt his strength surge. He leaped up, directly reaching the same height as the dragon's head!
"Chidori Blade!"
"Sizzle sizzle sizzle—!"
The lightning longsword sliced through the air, striking directly at the dragon's eye!
However, the dragon reacted extremely quickly, whipping its head around and blocking the attack with its hard horns!
"Clang!"
Sparks flew, and Ying Ping was flung back by the recoil. After several flips in the air, he landed steadily.
"Tsk, it's two levels below me, but its horns are harder than I expected..."
The dragon was clearly enraged. It opened its gaping maw, and a dangerous red glow illuminated the depths of its throat—
A second dragon's breath was brewing!
"Don't let it breathe fire!"
"Keep it distracted with magic!"
Ying Ping shouted.
"Understood!"
Kokkoro gripped her staff-spear tightly, closed her eyes, and began to chant, "Spirits of nature, hear my call—"
"Nature's Fury!"
The ground suddenly shook violently, and countless thick thorny vines burst forth, coiling around the dragon's body like giant serpents!
"Roar!"
The dragon struggled frantically, but the sharp thorns on the vines dug deep into the gaps in its scales, refusing to let go, causing it immense pain!
"Now!"
A cold glint flashed in Ying Ping's eyes, and his entire body erupted with power!
"Shadow Step!"
His figure vanished instantly, reappearing directly above the dragon's head the next second!
"Crippling Strike, Charged Attack!"
The longsword plunged fiercely into the dragon's left eye, and blood gushed out like a fountain!
"Aow!"
The dragon let out a mournful wail, shaking its head wildly!
Ying Ping clung desperately to the hilt, his body swaying from side to side as he was flung around, but he gritted his teeth and forcefully slashed the blade downwards—
"Pfft!"
The dragon's eyeball was completely sliced open!
"It's not over yet!"
Ying Ping used the momentum to leap again, gripping the sword with both hands above his head!
"Charged Attack!"
The dark sword light fell like a meteor, heavily striking the dragon's nasal bridge!
"Crack!"
The sound of scales shattering was clearly audible; the dragon's nasal bone was cleanly severed by that single strike!
"Roar..."
The dragon's aura noticeably weakened, and the intensity of its struggles began to diminish.
After landing, Ying Ping didn't stop for a moment, fiercely activating the true name release of Hestia's Sword!
"Please, Hestia!"
A quiet blue light shot into the sky, and all the divine characters on the sword glowed!
"Clang—Clang—"
The sound of the death knell echoed once more.
"Shadow Step!"
Ying Ping instantly appeared behind the dragon, "Crippling Strike!"
The blade plunged deep into the dragon's back, and blood gushed out like a fountain!
The dragon thrashed in pain, its tail sweeping towards Ying Ping.
Ying Ping didn't dodge, his hands still gripping the sword—
"Again—Charged Attack!"
"Pfft!"
The massive dragon's tail was forcefully severed!
"Blade Storm!"
Ying Ping spun his body, the longsword creating a violent whirlwind, and the power of lightning was drawn into it, transforming into a destructive lightning storm!
"Rumble—!"
The storm completely engulfed the dragon, its scales peeled off one by one, and its flesh charred in the lightning!
When the storm dissipated, the dragon lay on the ground, barely clinging to life, its body charred black, with only faint gasps remaining.
Ying Ping dragged his longsword, walking step by step towards the dragon's throat.
"Fall."
A scarlet sword light imbued with lightning flashed, and the dragon's head separated from its body, instantly raining blood.
"Bang!"
Finally, the dragon also turned into black dust and dissipated.
[Killed Red-Eyed Dragon]
[Obtained: Dragon Scale x10]
[Obtained: Dragon Blood x5]
[Obtained: Dragon Heart x1]
[Obtained 2000 Experience Points]
[Quest Completed]
[Reward: Follower Summoning Card x1]
"Quite a lot of good stuff, and I'm just a bit short on experience to level up."
Ying Ping let out a long breath and turned to Kokkoro: "We won."
Kokkoro scurried over and pounced into Ying Ping's arms: "Master is amazing! This is all your credit!"
Ying Ping smiled and ruffled her hair: "That's not it at all. If it weren't for your cooperation, I couldn't have done it."
"Those vines bound it just in time, too."
Kokkoro smiled happily, but then quickly looked at the wounds on Ying Ping's body with concern: "Master is injured... I'll heal you right away!"
"Mm."
Ying Ping nodded, and after receiving Kokkoro's healing, he was back to full health.
The two collected their spoils and continued to the next floor... Stepping into the twelfth floor, the environment here was very similar to the previous one.
Only the mist in the air had become much thinner, and visibility had improved considerably.
Traces left by various monsters were scattered on the ground, some still with fresh bloodstains, indicating that adventurers had recently fought here.
[Twelfth Floor Quest Triggered]
[Kill Heavy Armadillo (0 / 400)]
[Kill Silverback Ape (0 / 400)]
[Kill Juvenile Great Dragon (0 / 400)]
[Reward: Attendant Summoning Card x1]
"The kill count has doubled, and it's another Attendant Summoning Card as a reward?"
Ying Ping raised an eyebrow, "Does the system know my Familia is short-staffed?"
Kokkoro gripped her staff-spear, cautiously looking around: "Master, the number of monsters on this floor seems to be even greater than before..."
"Perfect."
Ying Ping drew 'Hestia's Sword', a battle-hungry smirk playing on his lips, "Today, I'll kill to my heart's content in one go."
The slaughter began!
The first wave of monsters appeared quickly.
They were five heavy armadillos, each as large as a calf, covered in hard carapaces, charging like moving fortresses!
[Encountered Heavy Armadillo, Level LV2+]
[Abilities: Super Defense, Charge]
Ying Ping didn't dodge, charging straight at them!
"Crippling Strike!"
"Pfft!"
The longsword pierced accurately, and green blood gushed out!
[Killed Heavy Armadillo (5 / 400)]
At the same time, several silver-gray figures suddenly leaped down from the rock wall.
They were also five silverback apes, their muscles bulging, fangs exposed, and their crimson eyes glinting with ferocity!
[Encountered Silverback Ape, Level LV3+]
[Abilities: Climbing, Throwing]
"Master!"
Kokkoro immediately cast a Holy Light Barrier, blocking the rocks thrown by the silverback apes.
Ying Ping sneered: "I love killing big monsters like you the most!"
He fiercely activated the lightning enchantment, and the longsword transformed into a bolt of lightning!
"Chidori Blade!"
"Zzzzt—!"
The five silverback apes were instantly paralyzed by the lightning and had their bodies severed!
[Killed Silverback Ape (5 / 400)]
The battle intensified, and the number of monsters grew larger.
But Ying Ping and Kokkoro worked in perfect sync, one attacking, one supporting, with astonishing killing efficiency.
[Killed Heavy Armadillo (127 / 400)]
[Killed Silverback Ape (156 / 400)]
Suddenly, the ground began to shake!
"Roar—!"
Five juvenile great dragons burst out of the cave. Although their size was much smaller than the previous red-eyed dragon, they were still incredibly fierce!
[Encountered Juvenile Great Dragon, Level LV3+]
[Abilities: Dragon's Breath, Scale Defense]
"Hmph, one after another."
"Kokkoro, bind them with magic!"
"Yes! Nature's Wrath!"
Thick vines burst from the ground, instantly entangling three young dragons!
Ying Ping seized the opportunity, leaping up—
"Blade Storm!"
"Boom!"
A violent tornado swept up the two unbound young dragons, their scales peeling off one by one!
[Killed Young Dragon (2/400)]
The battle lasted a full two hours.
As the last young dragon fell, Ying Ping's system panel also gave a timely notification.
[Experience full, level increased to LV11]
[Quest completed]
[Reward: Follower Summoning Card x1]
"Finally leveled up again."
Ying Ping immediately finished allocating his ability points.
[Shadow Monarch Upgrade System]
[Level]: LV11
[Strength]: 141 → 151
[Agility]: 122 → 132
[Stamina]: 65 → 75+50 (Gargoyle Plate Armor)
[Intelligence]: 50 → 55
[Magic Power]: 46 → 51
[Health]: 160 / 160
[Mana]: 46 / 51
[Magic]: Lightning Enchantment
[Skills]: Shadow Step, Crippling Strike, Charged Strike, Eagle Eye, Blade Storm
[Titles]: Goblin Slayer, Goddess's Guardian
[Free Attribute Points]: 0
Kokkoro wiped the sweat from her forehead, her small face flushed from continuous casting: "Master... are we going to the next floor?"
Ying Ping affectionately ruffled her hair: "No, let's stop here for today. Mainly, we're out of time."
...