Chapter 19: Evolution Options!
The Middle Stratum environment was brutal. Lava flowed everywhere. In this world, falling into lava dealt massive damage, potentially hundreds of points per tick. Without strong heat resistance, even an Earth Dragon would be cooked alive if they fell in.
The ground here was scorching hot, and the further in they went, the higher the temperature climbed. Even Elliot, whose feet were covered in thick rock, could feel the heat radiating upwards.
Imagine poor Kumoko with no protection at all! Right now, she felt like she was standing barefoot on sunbaked asphalt in the middle of summer, hopping around in pain.
"Hot, hot, hot! How come the Earth Dragon doesn't seem bothered by the heat?"
"..." Probably because dragons don't have sweat glands, Elliot thought. Creatures born of the earth and elements, like Sun Wukong from Journey to the West... If even Lao Tzu's eight-trigram furnace couldn't melt the Monkey King, why would mere lava bother a dragon?
"My feet are getting blisters! It's so hot! Hey Earth Dragon, can I stand on your back?"
"..." Elliot gave Kumoko a weary look. Ever since they entered the Middle Stratum, her mouth hadn't stopped moving, firing off complaints like a Gatling gun.
The harsh environment was clearly making her anxious. Being constantly surrounded by fiery red, bubbling lava, breathing scorching air Elliotit would make anyone restless and irritable.
Just then, Elliot slowed his pace. Something was moving beneath the surface of the lava nearby. Some kind of monster! They could actually live in lava, unharmed by the extreme heat.
"Wait here a sec. I'll go get you a delicious meal."
Splash! After casting [Earth Core] to shield himself, Elliot jumped straight into the lava sea.