Chapter 26: Pursuit and Spells
The se before him was entirely different from before; pared to the previous heat, it was darker here and much colder.
The space was vast, almost like a small world, with rugged, steep terrain, and various us growing on the rocks.
Cassius reized some of them: spore mushrooms, green dust algae, and the horn of the mad toadman—all pnts that only grew in the deepest parts of the underground.
Glowing rocks, lumi crystals, and phosphorest moss, lis, and fungi faintly illuminated parts of the area.
Unknown clusters of crystals grew along the cliffs, casting a ghostly blue glow that tihe nearby rocks a dark navy color.
"Is this… the Underdark?"
"No."
The depth here clearly exceeded the cave’s range, reag a deeper and darker domain.
This was the hidden world beh the surfaonly known as the Underdark.
Yet, this region of the Bottomless Cavern seemed closed off, isoted from the outside, more like an unnaturally formed subterranean world.
Cassius extended his forked tongue, using his extraordinarily keen sense of smell to analyze the various pheromones in the air until he found the familiar st—the blood of the Bluefoot Drakesnake.
He looked toward a er of the cliff; uhe glow of the lumi crystal, the area’s color was noticeably different, with traces of blue-green blood marking the path he could follow to track his esg prey.
"Found you."
"Bluefoot Drakesnake."
He wasn’t going to let this enemy escape again; he would ensure a decisive kill.
Cassius had just experienced an exhirating fight, depleting his spells, so he tapped into his Font of Magic to restore his spell slots.
A surge of magical energy poured into his body.
"Invisibility."
He muttered the intation silently.
Instantly, his seveer-long form merged with the darkness once more.
In a distant er, the Bluefoot Drakesnake was weakly lig its wounds.
Its once-massive seventeeer body was now less than teers, its bad a gruesome, raw stump rather than a tail.
Torn muscles, damaged ans, and a stant trickle of blue-green blood showed the severity of its injuries.
The sight alone revealed the grave extent of the Bluefoot Drakesnake’s wounds.
It was likely that its lower body might never fully recover, leaving it as a "crippled" Drakeshough it still had seven pairs of legs.
"Damn dragon," it muttered.
Remembering the dragon sorcerer responsible for its suffering, hatred fred in its eerie blue eyes, a deep-seated loathing drawn from both bloodline and the wounds inflicted.
Bluefoot Drakesnakes never ed near dragons.
If a dragon attempted to within dozens of miles of a Drakeserritory, it would have to kill or drive it away.
Only if the dragon was too powerful would the Drakesnake abandon its and seek a new one elsewhere.
Its st departure had been for that very reason.
A strange gust blew along the shadowy rock wall, causing the Drakeso shiver.
"This feeling…"
For some reason, an intense dread emerged from deep within its bloodline. Alerted, it rose, pressing its seven pairs of legs against the rock wall.
But it was already too te.
"Got you."
The red dragon materialized from above, seizing the Bluefoot Drakesh powerful cws.
This time, he grabbed not its body but its neck.
Cassius, learning from his previous enter, didn’t believe the Drakesnake could sever its head to escape.
"Aaargh—"
The Drakesnake looked at the red dragon in disbelief.
Its massive body writhed in desperation, its seven pairs of legs g and scraping at the rock wall, thrashing as it tried to break free from the dragon’s chokehold.
"Crash!"
Its body smashed against the rock wall, sending ks of stone crashing down.
Yet the red dragon’s cws held firm, biting into the Drakesnake’s neck with sharp teeth that sank deep into its flesh.
His long, muscur tail also struck repeatedly at the Drakesnake’s wounds, spttering its blood everywhere.
The Drakes out pitiful whimpers.
Its struggles grew weaker with each passing moment.
Cassius didn’t release his grip, applying even more fortil he was nearly exhausted.
At st, he heard a sharp "crack" as the Drakesnake’s bones broke.
Cassius let go in relief, watg as the Drakesnake’s massive body fell from the cliff and crashed heavily to the ground.
"Roar—"
Standing atop the cliff, the red dragon spread his wings, releasing a long, triumphant roar.
[Defeated 【Bluefoot Drakesnake - Man’a】, gained 7200 XP]
[Your css level has increased to 5]
A dense spell list appeared before him, filling Cassius with joy.
Receiving rewards after an intetle—nothing could feel better.
Upon reag level five, a saiwo additional level-three spells.
Wheing his spells, Cassius avoided the famed Fireball, fav supportive spells instead.
His dragon ability 【Empowered Breath on】 already provided ample damage, making Fireball unnecessary.
After some thought, Cassius made his choice.
[You have gaihe level-three spells 【Blink】 and 【Prote from Energy】]
【Blink】
Level 3 Transmutation Spell
For the duration, there is a 50% ce you disappear from your current pne aer the Ethereal Pne. While ihereal Pne, you see ahe Material Pne, but everything is in bd white. Other creatures only i with you if they are also ohereal Pne.
【Prote from Energy】
Level 3 Abjuration Spell
For up to one hour, a willing creature you touch gaiao oype of energy damage of your choice: acid, cold, fire, lightning, or thunder.
With these two spells, Cassius wouldn’t have been so wary of the Drakesnake’s lightning breath, and wouldn’t have o engage in close bat.
These spells materialized in Cassius’s mind.
They were far more intricate aile than his previous spells—so much so that he struggled to fully uand them at first.
Standing in pce, he spent a long time pting, gradually grasping the basic use of each spell.
Each yer of the Weave’s magic grew expoially more plex and difficult to uand.
Fortunately, Cassius was a "sorcerer of artistry."
He only o grasp the basi, bendiy to his will without needing to calcute every detail or stru intricate model.
Regardless, Cassius had finally taken a signifit step forward, reag the third yer of the Weave.
