Chapter 276: Armored Dragon.
Amidst the embrace of the mountains, several volcanoes with red-capped peaks stood out prominently. Rolling smoke spread across the sky like a heavy curtain from afar.
But as flying altitude increased, the floating smoke was merely a light gray veil in the sky.
Volcanic ash accumulated between steep mountain ranges, and fresh greenery covered the ashes of dead trees.
Though rivers of magma flowed down the volcanoes, it wasn’t a desolate scene of destruction like Dragon Crystal Land.
Near the Naguli Village’s mountains, there were signs of human construction, resembling an outpost that could overlook monster activities nearby to protect the village.
Jie Jie had a premonition that as they approached Dongduoluma at the world’s center, such observation posts would become more numerous.
Looking down, the foot of the mountains showed signs of fragmentation, revealing deep, pitch-black chasms with traces of interconnected caves below.
These underground caverns formed beneath the volcano due to frequent crustal movements.
He landed above the underground caverns, avoiding the outpost’s line of sight, transformed into a Fire Dragon, then climbed back up, distancing himself from the outpost’s view.
The enhancements granted by the Dragon Gem couldn’t be reversed, making most of his current forms easily recognizable as abnormal to hunters.
The density of Large Monsters in volcanic zones was significant. These geologically active areas often had abundant minerals and energy, while the surviving greenery provided space for Herbivore Dragons and other producers to thrive, increasing predator numbers and species diversity compared to Dragon Crystal Land.
Many Red Speed Dragons filled the role of small predators, looking up to catch the wind sounds of Flying Dragons passing overhead but were knocked over by Jie Jie’s low-altitude flight Wind Pressure.
With each descent, larger monsters either provoked or became cautious; only those not feeding would make him pause briefly.
Below, a Consort Spider tried to hide itself.
As fellow pincer-horned monsters, Consort Spiders shared similarities with Shadow Spiders—both were aggressive and intelligent, with habits of “dressing” themselves.
Shadow Spider attire consisted mostly of skins peeled from Poisonous Birds and Ghost Frogs, while Consort Spider clothing was woven silk covering their limbs, showing hollow patterns.
Torn white stockings, quite eye-catching.
Unlike Shadow Spiders, its abdomen carried many smaller male Servant Spiders—a sight that seemed… morally questionable.
A dive pressed Consort Spider’s silk threads wildly fluttering, suppressing its dodge attempts, allowing Jie Jie to grab it directly.
It violently shook its body in struggle, trying to pull itself back to the ground using silk lines connected to its legs, while attacking the Fire Dragon’s claws with its forelimbs and head.
Servant Spiders also broke free, clinging tightly to the ground with their legs, attempting to drag their queen back through connected silk lines.
Their resistance didn’t hinder Jie Jie at all. The Consort Spider failed to return to the ground via silk threads and instead got dragged out a long thread like a kite.
Without mercy, when the Consort Spider hit the ground, multiple layers of its shell shattered under stomping, leaving only its limbs twitching reflexively before being devoured by Jie Jie along with its silk.
Searching around, he spotted a Rock Dragon moving near the volcano.
This Flying Dragon monster, entirely covered in rock, looked like part of the environment. Seeing a large Fire Dragon approach, it buried half its body in the soil, blending seamlessly with its surroundings, appearing just like any ordinary large stone in the volcanic area.
Jie Jie prodded the rocky hill with his claw, but the Rock Dragon, known as a Stone Dragon, remained motionless, determined to maintain its disguise.
Exerting slight force caused the rock shell to tremble, shedding some lime dust—it was indistinguishable from real stone.
Since there was a Rock Dragon, there must be an Armored Dragon in this region!
This highly defensive monster was the juvenile form of an Armored Dragon. Even as a juvenile, the Rock Dragon possessed considerable size and defense, hinting at the might of an adult Armored Dragon.
Reluctantly letting go, he decided not to bully this baby dragon, which was over ten meters long and weighed several tons.
Let me find your dad!
The Armored Dragon was the dominant monster in volcanic regions, so finding its activity trail shouldn’t be difficult.
Jie Jie began circling the volcanic zone, focusing on searching various volcanic craters. Armored Dragons have a habit of soaking in lava, so their core territory should be around these volcanic craters.
The volcanic cluster formed a peninsula extending southward on the continent, with Naguli Village located at the northern edge.
The further south he went, the more intense volcanic activity became, replacing green plants with red and black lava.
Meanwhile, as Jie Jie moved south, the Armored Dragon he sought was migrating north.
As the second strongest volcanic ruler after the Black God, the Armored Dragon now lacked its usual composure, abandoning its southern expansion territory as if fleeing something.
In the airspace ahead, a red figure descended joyfully roaring, blocking its path.
The thirty-meter-long, bulky Armored Dragon continued its usual pace, slightly accelerating to charge past.
As the two dragons neared each other, the well-proportioned Fire Dragon showed no intention of dodging the charging clumsy monster. But just as the Armored Dragon thought it would crush the Fire Dragon outright, the latter transformed.
The Extinction Dragon stood upright on its hind legs, ready to intercept the charging Armored Dragon.
Its upper body strength was enough, but its lower body lacked stability. Upon collision, Jie Jie twisted his tail and feet, flipping backward.
The Armored Dragon’s charge abruptly stopped. It shook its head, looking at the opponent blocking its path, then arched its neck upward.
From its chest to throat, visible red light flashed. In the next moment, a scorching beam erupted from its mouth.
Just as Jie Jie’s injured hind leg touched the ground and rebounded, combining with his wings to launch sideways, the Stone Dragon turned its body, continuously chasing the Extinction Dragon with the beam.
After the jump, which was his limit with his injured leg, he couldn’t evade the sweeping beam. Sideways, Jie Jie raised his shield-like wings for defense.
The beam’s impact pushed him backward. Thorns on his wings exploded, and his scales began melting under the intense heat. If it lasted a few more seconds, there was a possibility of being penetrated by thermal fusion.
But that was something even the Glittering Dragon couldn’t achieve, let alone the Armored Dragon.
