Chapter 624: Absolute Physical Strength!
[...For anyone to obtain what they wish for, the unchanging rule is that they have to go through me, the Great Abyssal Dragon!]
Announcing his role as the master of the 100th Level, the stationary Dragon finally breathed life into its body.
Woosh!
The arms that he had put over one another like a resting lion were now pressed into the ground, propping up his giant body as his two large wings brought over a gust of strong wind.
This was no longer a brilliantly sculpted statue, but a terrifying apex predator. The verse that it came from definitely wasn’t an easy one to live in.
[In simple words, it’s like an ongoing game of chess that isn’t meant to end. Pieces that are broken are already in the process of being replaced. Each of these pieces has a story and a goal of their own, but in the end, they are still pieces that serve the Multiversal Arena’s interests.]
"Are you also one of these pieces?"
[How bold! No matter... You can say so. Unlike you lot, I receive my precious reward for every challenger I stop from clearing the Multiversal Arena, and I don’t have to be here all the time. Considering the frequency of someone ascending to the 100th Level, I would say it’s a pretty lucrative job.]
Leo wasn’t exactly scared of the so-called Great Abyssal Dragon, but he was expecting some kind of adverse reaction to his direct question. Yet, from the looks of it, its easy-goingness was on another level.
"Can I ask about the reward you receive for doing so?"
[That’s none of your business, is it? It’s not something that you would understand anyway. I can give you an example, though.]
His words carried an air of arrogance, but the Dragon still had no problem continuing the conversation that Leo started purely to satisfy his own curiosity.
[Those guys like the one you met on the 91st Level? The only reward they receive for acting as the master of their Level is the ability to take away any challenger that they defeat using their mental domination. They don’t need to actually kill their opponent like you need to, only make it so their prey possesses no chance for escape.]
Originally, upon hearing the Dragon’s earlier words, Leo thought that he meant they would study their opponent’s abilities and their behavioural patterns, but...
’Killing them in that way was certainly fitting.’
Only now did Leo understand that the challengers themselves were the research materials that the Dragon spoke of.
[Does that sound wrong to you? This is just how the Multiversal Arena works, as efficiently as possible. As long as it satisfies their employers and consumes the least resources, nothing is beyond the managers of the Arena.]
Leo didn’t feel particularly offended, but he questioned the viability of this trial. With the way it worked, the winner would get just what he needed while the loser’s fate would be undetermined.
The end result appeared the same, but the nature of this Arena didn’t exactly align with the impartial values that the so-called arbiters were supposed to impose.
[Well then, I would like to say that it was fun chatting with you, but your silent reactions are really boring. I was really hoping to see some fiery anger or something similar. So...]
Leo stopped his pondering session, staring into the Abyssal Dragon’s eyes. It looked like recess was over.
[Die.]
Woosh!
With one wing flap, the sharp black claws were already in front of Leo’s eyes!
[Not bad.]
Naturally, before they could come into contact with Leo’s body, the Shadow Tendrils had already enveloped the Abyssal Dragon’s paw, preventing it from advancing. However...
’It’s not the best match.’
From the looks of it, while it wasn’t really that large compared to the Dragons that appeared in High Fantasy novels, the Abyssal Dragon still shared the most basic attribute they possessed, Absolute Physical Strength!
The level of gravity pushing down on the Shadow Tendrils was insane!
Thud!
[Forget not bad, you are pretty good!]
However, once the 5th refinement Enigma was injected into the Tendrils, that pressure completely disappeared as the Abyssal Dragon ended up being pushed back tens of meters.
The only thing holding him back from being sent flying was his back claws, which were firmly planted into the stage!
’I was really hoping for pure melee combat.’
Naturally, Leo only lamented the fact that Cassian’s sole weakness was his moderately weak physical body.
Had it been Baek-Ho in the same position, Leo could have demolished the Abyssal Dragon with his Sword and Spear combination. Unfortunately...
’I will have to make do with what I have.’
"Hugh..."
One couldn’t really have everything they wish for. With a reluctant sigh, Leo could only choose to unleash his full force.
Since fighting as a Martial Artist wasn’t going to work, he was going to fight as a Shadow Lord!
[I wonder how long you can hold that for, though?]
Once again, the Abyssal Dragon’s wings brought him in front of Leo in an instant as he slashed both front claws at him.
Roar!
This time, however, what met his claws was the very reflection of his own face. Although much smaller in size, serpentine creatures with heads like the Abyssal Dragon’s had sprouted from the ground, biting away at him in full force.
[What kind of ability is this?]
Feeling the sting of the serpentine creatures’ fangs, the Abyssal Dragon retreated on his own, showing slight apprehension.
’Is this going to be a problem?’
Before he knew it, the Abyssal Dragon was already questioning the possibility of the victory that he had deemed a done deal.
After all, he had met many Master Swordsmen even back in his world, and the results were all the same.
No matter how skilled any weapon holder was, if they didn’t have the physical strength or the agility to back it up, a single claw of his was enough to slice them in half.
Unfortunately, rather than the simple yet refined Swordsman that Leo gave him an impression of at the beginning, this strange human’s actual ability was far too bizarre.