Chapter 131: Departure, the Timeless King!
“Is it over?”
The team leader inquired of the sword master who stood with hands on hips, exuding an air of bravado.
“Hoohaa!”
The sword master relaxed his posture with a stretch and a crack of joints, sounding every bit the burly warrior.
“It’s over.”
He glanced around. The investigators had already retreated, safely under the protection of the hunters.
Among the combatants, only the gunner was severely injured, but meeting the master’s gaze, he slapped his blood-soaked chest to indicate it wasn’t life-threatening.
The sword master turned, gazing in the direction the Slaying Dragon had departed, lightly stroking his chin.
“Still, we must investigate. A Slaying Dragon capable of storm breath might be one of a kind.”
It was unfortunate they hadn’t managed to secure the beast’s sword tail.
“Hmm. Later, I’ll take charge personally. Let’s examine this fellow first.”
The team leader gestured toward the fallen beast dragon. Nearby, the greedy compiler had already squatted down beside it, starting to record observations.
Watching him poke and prod the creature, one couldn’t help but suspect he was evaluating its meat quality.
Behind them, two elderly Dragon People, their curiosity insatiable, were also conducting field research alongside the team.
They’d seen ancient dragon people before, confirming their kinship, and allowed themselves to be observed by others.
Meanwhile, the scholar arrived at the side of the dead beast dragon, beginning comprehensive studies.
By analyzing the monster’s body evolution, they hoped to uncover secrets of the New Continent.
Once external observations were complete, the hunters who had slain it dissected the carcass, dividing and categorizing materials.
“This structure resembles a Fire Dragon’s flame bag. So, its fire-spitting ability likely originates here.”
“Looks like this monster produces some fine meat. Despite being dead for so long, its body is still warm.”
The compiler assisted with records while scrutinizing the meat, occasionally touching it like a pervert.
Ignoring his eccentric assistant, the scholar moved behind the Savage Jaw Dragon, studying the removed back membrane.
“This layer appears to dissipate heat.”
Piecing together experience, the scholar quickly reached conclusions.
“And this skin with pores gives me an idea.”
“The young of this monster, or perhaps its ancestors, were likely covered in feathers… truly strange.”
Under the erudition of scholar and compiler, all mysteries of the beast dragon were unveiled inside and out.
With everything proceeding smoothly, the team leader left, following the Slaying Dragon’s tracks for further investigation.
At that moment, their quarry was greedily swallowing gold it had previously left uneaten.
After the last battle, it hadn’t lost its tail, merely stumbled and rolled before regaining its footing.
Exhausted, drool dribbled from its mouth.
Though still capable of fighting, seeing the red-rayed slender blade brought hesitation.
Despite having the advantage in size and wind pressure surrounding its body, something from the brief clash with the swordsman had transferred into its spirit—into its sword tail.
After capturing two Ailu Cats from the expedition, Jié Jié chose retreat, rekindling the desire for strength dulled by a life of leisure.
To grow stronger, collect more dragon jewels from monsters, or even become seasoned enough to defeat the sword master as a Slaying Dragon!
A flying bird passed overhead as the dirty Smoky Snow Weasel waved goodbye to the chef lady Ailu Cat waiting at the base.
Passing up her proffered earthenware jar, he turned and left the cave entrance.
The bird merged into the ranks of the Flying Pterosaurs. The experienced Fire Dragon swallowed food and flew toward the Grand Canyon beyond the Ancient Tree.
He would definitely return!
“Strange. The tracks just abruptly end here.”
The team leader searched meticulously, but the fresh trail of the Slaying Dragon vanished right here.
As shadows fell across the ground, he looked up to see a massive Fire Dragon soar past with terrifying wingspan.
Connecting the sudden disappearance of the Slaying Dragon’s trail, an absurd thought crossed his mind.
Could it be—
The Slaying Dragon was snatched away by the Fire Dragon?
Considering the Slaying Dragon’s size…
This theory seemed unreliable, yet he expanded his search range just in case.
Perhaps after some maneuvering, the Fire Dragon really did snatch the Slaying Dragon.
It was laughable, like how Flame King Dragons sneak into fortresses to eat gunpowder without anyone noticing.
…
The Original Field Master, having narrowly avoided an unknown Fang Dragon Type monster, looked up and saw the massive flying dragon heading toward the distance.
On the balcony of the Ancient Tree, she strained her eyes to watch the direction the Fire Dragon flew.
How envious! To see endless vistas from the sky.
But the joy of climbing peaks on foot is something those creatures born for the skies will never understand.
Wiping sweat from her brow, the original field master reapplied insect-repellent grass juice.
She flipped open her compiler’s book, leaning against the wooden wall to write and sketch the surroundings, marking page numbers and connecting them to her travel map.
…
After flying ceaselessly through two days and nights in the sky, Jié Jié ascended higher, gliding near the mountain peaks of the Grand Canyon.
The Coral Land Plateau was within sight, and the rising air currents of the Valley of Miasma lifted him higher.
Jié Jié paused. The Fire Dragon didn’t look forward but flapped its wings, lowering its head to peer deeply into the canyon below.
“Abyss.”
Glancing at the Coral Land Plateau once more, the Fire Dragon folded its wings, diving straight down against the ascending air current.
Why not choose the Coral Land Plateau?
Because the Valley of Miasma clearly appeared closer to the earth veins!
Adjusting his wings during descent, he brushed past layers of dead land coral until reaching the bottom.
These land corals growing on the remains of their predecessors formed the plateau above, climbing from the depleted seabed all the way to the heavens.
As he descended deeper, decayed flesh began stacking on the dead land corals, visible fossils of monsters.
The darker depths revealed skeletal remains of colossal snakes coiled in the deep valley, their bones forming basins, their sinews bridging gaps.
In death, they became the supporting skeleton of this ecosystem, transforming into timeless kings.
Compared to the mad derivative forms resulting from shedding, this Snake King Dragon deserved the title “King of Snakes” more.
Afterward, younger generations of Snake King Dragons visited here, dying quietly in this place.
Here lay the Bone Tomb of Snake King Dragons, the final resting place for dying Ancient Dragons, and also mysteriously pulling ordinary creatures to join in death.
Perhaps this was the world’s greatest bone tomb.
But Jié Jié wasn’t here to die. The vibrant, living Flying Dragon arrived here, its dark shell contrasting vividly against the decaying blackened flesh piles.
Without roaring or making noise to announce his presence, Jié Jié used wind pressure to repel the miasma, resisting the pull toward death.
He flew toward the immense head of the timeless king.
