Chapter 78: Elusive Dragon (1/2)

To say Arthur felt no hatred would be a lie. If anyone was put through such a nightmare, they would resent whoever did to death. Arthur was no exception, and he was certainly more head-strong when it came back to paying his debts due.

Instinctively, he used the Release rune making his body disappear from Dimon's view. When the mage saw this, he almost pissed his pants but Arthur has already appeared in front of him.

”Damn you, begone! I summon thee, Elusive Dragon!” Dimon shouted through gritted teeth as madness overtook his eyes. It was then that Arthur felt the egg, with an unstable lifeforce until now, suddenly move behind his back.

The reason Arthur didn't give regard to it because he could feel how weak its lifeforce was. The mana that has been in the cave and the dungeon was the result of so many people dying here as they suffered. However, Arthur also took notice that the egg was hungrily absorbing the mana.

'Dragon?' Arthur's head blanked for a second but soon awakened when he felt a pair of terrifying eyes on his back. Like a sequence of a natural reaction, his back was covered in sweat and his danger alarms were going crazy. This fear was primordial, rooted in his very being. The aura he felt was of a higher being of existence.

As Arthur turned around and sneaked a peak, he could see the shadow of a dangerous being behind that egg. He could feel his very soul shake with terror as shadows started creeping out from behind the eggs.

Dispel.

Arthur used his rune and his mind cleared again. It seems just like Dimon, this dragon was also specialized in illusions. However, as this creature seemed to be in its infancy, it couldn't create a high-level illusion.

His body reignited with renowned power as Arthur burned his mana. Before it could bottom out, Arthur used his Restore rune to refill his mana. This rune would last thirty minutes before it disappears and leaves him unable to use any mana, but Arthur had no choice if he wanted to kill Dimon.

It seems his injuries have healed to a certain extent as Dimon clawed toward Arthur who was already in front of him. The mage was cursing his bad luck that he met an opponent that illusions didn't work against. The goblins and Arthur started to push Dimon back as his body started to sustain more and more injuries.

”Spare me! I had no choice!”

Dimon started begging for mercy again but Arthur wouldn't have it. Even if Dimon didn't kill those people, the illusion that Arthur saw was enough for Arthur to resent Dimon enough to kill him.

'This can't go on.' Arthur realized as he felt his body more fatigued as the fight went one. With this in mind, he used his skill Shadow Swap to appear behind Dimon and used his legacy rune to slash the right side of his neck.

The mage on the ground without any signs of movement as Arthur stopped his attacks, huffing like a raging bull. His eyes were bloodshot as he saw the mage bleed to death as a pool gathered under him.

[You have leveled up.]

[New rune has been acquired: Fire.]

Arthur read those messages as his heart started to slow down. The backlash from using the rune arrived as it started eating away at his damaged body. It seemed that the limits of the human body were there to protect us against self-harm, but the Release rune undid them and burned mana to fuel instantaneous bursts of mana.

Arthur raised his finger as a golden rune appeared on his fingertip. He pointed the rune at Dimon's body and absorbed his essence.

[Mana stat increased by 1.]

[Mana stat increased by 1.]

[Mana stat increased by 1.]

[Mana stat increased by 1.]

[Mana stat increased by 1.]

[Elusive essence has been absorbed.]

[A skill has been absorbed: Monster Claws (D)]