Banished from the herd, I was actually a member of a very rare species. ~With the unique skills that only I can use, I can grow and evolve quickly. I will become an unrivaled monster~ - Episode 133: Earth Dragon 3

Episode 133: Earth Dragon 3

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~Skill Details~

[Shoot] 

• • • • • • • • Allows for powerful ranged attacks. 

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Up until now, I had only used the [Shoot] skill with a bow and arrow. However, nowhere in the [Skill Details] did it say that the weapon had to be limited to a bow. Therefore, as long as it’s a ranged attack, it doesn’t have to be a bow.

“[Sparkle Pluto] + [Heavy Shoot], Sixfold!”

|Mana| surged into the six crimson wings, flooding in like a torrent and illuminating the surroundings in a brilliant red glow. What I unleashed was a countless barrage of crimson magical bullets. To prevent them from colliding with each other, I slightly angled each shot outward, creating a wide spread. From afar, it might look like a giant red flower blooming in the sky. The swarm of crimson magic bullets, enough to blanket the heavens, honed in on the Earth Dragon, guided by [Lock-On Aim].

“”GIGIGIGI-SHUAA!””

The Earth Dragon, flung above me, wasn’t going to just sit still. In a show of desperation, it consumed an enormous amount of |Mana|, conjuring and firing its largest-ever boulders continuously. On top of that, it wrapped itself in a steel-like outer shell created through a [Skill], effectively creating a makeshift armor. It seemed like an improvised defense. The armor and the main body are counted separately in the [Storm Strike]. So it is effective in a way.

Then, the first of my crimson bullets collided with the boulders. Though the boulders were larger than the basketball-sized bullets, there wasn’t even a moment of resistance—the bullets pierced through effortlessly.

—Fwoosh!

Only red-hot holes remained as the crimson streaks of light soared through the sky. The massive boulders standing in their path were either melted through or shattered under the pressure, sometimes even exploding outright. After passing through five boulders, the bullets began to weaken. And by the third additional boulder, they finally lost their strength and vanished. But the next wave of magic bullets quickly followed, piercing through the remaining obstacles.

In both quantity and quality, my magic bullets far outclassed the Earth Dragon’s defenses.

“(Well, after stacking so many [Skills], the power gap is obvious.)”

The artifact I had created, the crimson wings, was based on the Mecha God’s Burning Wing and crafted from the highest-grade |Mana| crystals combined with rare, magical minerals, specializing in powerful heat-based magic bullets. The [Sparkle Pluto] skill dramatically increased their output, allowing me to generate and launch highly concentrated |Mana|. [Heavy Shoot] enabled me to release charged-up shots with immense force. And with [Lock-On Aim], I had optimized my ability to fire in parallel, enhancing precision.

The boulders may have been sturdy enough to match the standard magic bullets of the Mecha Gods. But this time, they didn’t stand a chance. My crimson barrage broke through their defense, closing in on the Earth Dragon.

“”GYASHII…!””

The creature coiled itself tightly, trying to shield its vital areas, but red-hot spots appeared on its body as the bullets melted its steel armor. The red spots multiplied. And when the second crimson bullet hit the same spot, the Earth Dragon let out a piercing scream. The bullets had finally broken through its rock-hard scales, reaching its vulnerable flesh. Judging by the flow of |Mana|, the Earth Dragon was desperately trying to repair its armor. But it couldn’t keep up with the relentless assault. The moment it patched up one area, it would be melted away again, burning its body beneath.

The once-formidable steel armor had only a few unscorched patches left. And with every hit, molten metal sprayed out like bl00d.

“(…It survived, huh? Tough bastard.)”

After all the crimson bullets hit, what remained was the Earth Dragon, half of its body charred and blackened. The scorched areas would heal much more slowly, meaning it wouldn’t recover before the battle ended. But even so, it had managed to protect both of its heads. However, it seemed like that effort had drained the last of its strength. The creature’s limp body fell through the air, seemingly powerless. Now would be the perfect time to unleash my final trump card as it descended.

“SHURROO!”

“SHAAA!”

“(Tch, a feint!)”

Right at the perfect moment to counter my plan, the Earth Dragon suddenly accelerated. It must have realized I was preparing to strike it upon landing, so it sped up, aiming for a surprise attack in a desperate bid for a reversal. It used its eight legs to kick off from the boulders it created midair, propelling itself like it was running through the sky.

“(And that’s not all… this speed… it’s using its [Heavy Stone Serpent’s Evil Eye] on itself!)”

One of its heads was facing the other, increasing its own gravitational pull, boosting not just its acceleration but also its attack power. Just like when I crushed its head earlier, it seemed determined to land a massive, weight-based strike to turn the tide of battle.

Whether its actual plan was something else, I couldn’t be sure. I had just been tricked moments ago, so I had to be prepared for the possibility of it phasing through the ground and fleeing, or pulling some other unexpected trick.

“(Well, either way, it’s too late now.)”

The fatal flaw in the Earth Dragon’s surprise attack was that it waited until it had finished enduring the crimson bullets before making its move. Had it charged forward while enduring the barrage, things might have been more dangerous for me. But now, the preparations for my second trump card were complete.

“(Activate, Magic Eyes Heat Ray!)”

A weapon resembling a combination of a sphere and a pyramid appeared on the surface of my body, forming an emitter. After completing the |Mana| charge internally, a blinding white beam of light shot out. The white beam, too intense to look at directly, sped toward the Earth Dragon at an unreactable speed. And in the next moment, it pierced through one of its heads. This artifact, known as Magic-Eyes Heat Ray or Eyeball Heat Ray, is crafted from the third eye of the “Sea of Flames”.

I had originally started modifying this weapon as a counter to regeneration abilities. The Magic-Eyes Heat Ray, which converted |Mana| into thermal energy, had an extremely good—no, too good of a synergy with Mana Crystals that controlled |Mana|. The heat generated by the ray was so excessive that it took on the color of sunlight, and the firing mechanism couldn’t withstand the extreme heat, breaking down after just one use.

“(Damn… It really hurts every time I use it.)”

But the damage I took was nothing compared to what the Earth Dragon suffered. The head using [Heavy Stone Serpent’s Evil Eye] was severed, and the remaining head was covered in severe burns.

“([Replicant Form], Genji Shield, activate.)”

Even though I had landed a solid blow and disrupted its attack, the Earth Dragon was still falling toward me. To prevent it from escaping, I mimicked another artifact—this time, the grayish shell shield that’s based on the armor of the Mecha God. Just like that armor, it deployed a field of phosphorescent light in front of the shield, reducing the momentum of anything within its range. By removing its transformation mechanism and focusing entirely on the phosphorescence, I had dramatically improved both its range and deceleration rate. While I couldn’t stop the Earth Dragon entirely, I had slowed it down enough.

“([Replicant Form], [Strangle].)”

I mimicked several chains—forest chains and corpse ropes—made from the bones of cursed beasts used by the Demon Cult. With them, I captured the charging Earth Dragon. These chains should prevent it from phasing through.

“Gii… SHUAaa…”

The Earth Dragon struggled in pain. Its wounds were charred, so there wasn’t much bleeding, but its stamina must have been severely depleted. Being restrained in such a state spelled the end for it. It tried to strike me with its tail blade, but it merely slid off my surface without penetrating.

“(…I see now.)”

The moment the Earth Dragon’s tail made contact, I knew. Like a bolt of lightning flashing through my mind, I was certain: “Now’s the time!”.

“(Rest in peace, and become my sustenance. [Thunderstorm Rich Harvest – Minori no Jingi].)”

As the Earth Dragon prepared to unleash a breath attack, I gently placed my hand on its forehead. A bolt of lightning shot deep into its body. This was a life-harvesting lightning attack, a [Unique Skill] I had learned to wield after its upgrade. Normally, a Calamity Beast’s |Resist| would protect it from instant death. But with its near-fatal injuries, the situation was different.

The Earth Dragon’s body convulsed like a patient struck by an electric shock, its movements fading as it thrashed within the bindings. I felt the moment its life force was reaped. Its frantic struggle to escape the chains stopped, and the light in its eyes vanished.

In this way, I defeated the “Devouring Horizon”, the creature that had once wiped out an ancient civilization a thousand years ago.

―――Non-Notification Information Recording Zone―――――――――――――

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>> The Far-Off Radiance of the Luminous Sapphire Ring (?), Fuwa Katsu’s Soul Accumulation Level has increased to 337

>> The Far-Off Radiance of the Luminous Sapphire Ring (?), Fuwa Katsu has acquired the [Skill: Cursed Bindings]. [Strangle] has been integrated.

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