Chapter 116: Chapter 116: Activating Dragon Form
Combining this with the extra hint the panel had given him earlier, Lance quickly pieced together the sequence of events.
If he hadn’t taken the [Earth Dragon Marrow Gel] today to supplement his nutrition, accidentally ingesting some extremely pure Dragon Vein Material, the Specialty he would have normally obtained from his breakthrough would have been completely different.
The system was blatantly telling him that this Breathing Combat Technique was the original version created by the first Hunter King.
That Combat Technique’s ultimate goal was to hunt Giant Dragons, so the Specialty derived from it would most likely have been an ability that maximized one’s lethality against them.
But now that the technique was in his hands, it had completely mutated because of a single bottle of supplement.
Lance stroked his chin, his expression turning a little strange.
’If I manage to earn the title of Hunter King in the future, and then activate my Dragon Form in front of everyone...’
’...would the other Hunters think this new-generation Hunter King had completely defected to the enemy?’
’But isn’t the best way to defeat the enemy to join them, Command them, and finally, mold them into your own image?’
"What a pity."
Lance muttered softly.
The description of the Dragon Form state clearly said that it would automatically deactivate when his Life Value dropped below 1%.
’He had originally wanted to exploit a loophole in the Specialty.’
’Because of the Heroic Achievement Effect he had obtained earlier, he had a three-minute Combat Continuation state of death immunity when hit by a fatal blow.’
’If he could use that three-minute window to maintain his Dragon Form indefinitely, the ability alone would definitely be of Legendary Quality.’
’Unfortunately, the system had closed that loophole.’
Even so, Lance quickly ran through the combinations of the cards he currently held.
[Ouroboros Ring] + [I successfully resisted death] + [Dragon Form]
’Stacked together, these three Divine Skills could form an insanely powerful, all-or-nothing fighting style.’
’Picture this.’
’When I activate Dragon Form and start burning through my life, the enemy will think I’m making a last, desperate struggle.’
’When my Life Value hits zero and triggers the three-minute continuation state, they’ll think I’m really about to breathe my last.’
’And just when I collapse after using my last breath, I’ll revive at full health the very next second and activate Dragon Form again!’
’A truly powerful final boss needs to have multiple combat phases.’
Lance felt that if his build were put into a Soul-like Game from his past life, countless players would curse him out for being a "shit-tier" boss that ruined the entire experience.
Just as Lance was still excitedly planning his future combat strategies, an extremely strange sensation suddenly washed over him.
It was a peculiar feeling that came from the depths of his soul, as if somewhere in the great unseen, someone was frantically calling out to him, searching for him.
Lance snapped his head around.
There, on the brick wall of his courtyard, a strange figure had appeared at some unknown point.
By the faint light of the streetlamp outside the wall, Lance got a clear look at the person.
It was a young man with a sinister face, but his current state could only be described as miserable.
His clothes were in tatters, and a large patch of muscle on his chest was a grayish-black, clearly rotting.
Lance recognized the face instantly.
Buck!
The mastermind behind the Ghoul Dog gang.
And at this moment, Buck was perched on top of the wall.
He was clutching a strange, worn-out Compass in one hand.
The man’s face was a mixture of utter disbelief as he stared intently at Lance, who was standing in the middle of the courtyard.
"How is that possible!"
He fixed his gaze on the young man in the courtyard.
’If the Fire-Stealing Marvel wasn’t deceiving him, then the cruel truth was right before his eyes.’
’This completely unremarkable guy was the one who killed so many of my men!’
’He took half a month’s worth of my payments!’
’He even viciously framed Blood Copper Coin, forcing me to bankrupt myself buying Alchemy Explosives and poison, only to end up in this disastrous state of mutual destruction.’
’I’ve been going after the wrong enemy from the very beginning!’
The veins on Buck’s forehead bulged and throbbed, looking as if they were about to burst.
"How dare you! You’re not even a Professional!"
he roared, grinding his teeth.
’A low-level Adventurer, not even a Professional, dared to play him for a fool.’
’Right now, Buck wanted nothing more than to eat Lance’s flesh and drink the bastard’s blood.’
’I’ve been found?’
Lance, standing in the middle of the courtyard, was slightly surprised.
His gaze naturally fell on the Compass the man was clutching.
’Is that the Fire-Stealing Marvel mentioned in the Illustrated Guide’s secrets?’
’It seems to have some kind of compulsory tracking function. No wonder he was able to find me so precisely.’
While Lance was lost in thought, Buck, still on the wall, quickly stuffed the Compass into his pocket.
With a reverse grip, he drew two sharp daggers and held them tightly.
A grayish-green light, visible to the naked eye, quickly coated the surface of the daggers.
Lance’s eyes narrowed.
His newly-upgraded Level 4 Dragon Hunting Breathing Combat Technique instantly activated at full, violent capacity.
A scalding torrent of air exploded in his chest.
SWOOSH!
Buck left an afterimage in his spot.
His burst of speed was a cut above Lance’s.
Immediately after, a sharp gust of wind came from his left blind spot as a cold blade swiped mercilessly toward Lance’s carotid artery.
’His opponent was too fast. It was too late to defend; he could only try to counter-attack.’
[Flame-Splitting Claw]
Lance gritted his teeth.
Twisting at the waist, he unleashed immense power to dodge the blade. Then, spreading the five fingers of his right hand, he clawed viciously at Buck’s face, his fingertips trailing scorching air.
It was an all-or-nothing, life-on-the-line move.
’As long as it hit, even if he took a slash in return, trading an injury for an injury was a worthy exchange.’
Lance keenly judged that Buck’s Power wasn’t much greater than his own.
After all, his opponent was an agility-focused Thief. Even having crossed the threshold of a Profession, his absolute strength wouldn’t be that much higher.
However, Lance had still underestimated the combat sense of a Professional.
Buck’s combat skills and reaction speed were on a completely different level from a Low Level Demon like a Big Goblin.
Facing the claws aimed at his face, Buck reacted with incredible speed.
His knees bent sharply as he decisively abandoned his intended killing blow, his entire body leaning back at an extremely awkward angle.
Lance’s Demon Body Techniques missed, his fingers only managing to claw a few crimson afterimages in the air.
Their bodies crossed paths in a hair-raising moment.
In the instant they passed each other, the leaning Buck flicked his wrist, and the sharp tip of his blade mercilessly slashed across the outside of Lance’s thigh.
Lance felt a sharp, intense pain shoot from his thigh through his entire body.
He reacted instantly, stomping his right foot hard on the ground and using the brief moment of separation to quickly pull back a safe distance.
In the exchange that lasted only a few seconds, Lance hadn’t managed to leave a single scratch on his opponent, while he himself had been wounded.
He looked down at his thigh.
The flesh around the wound had curled back, revealing a strange grayish-green color.
Even the blood dripping from the cut had turned a disgusting dark green.
Lance could even feel the muscles in his leg rapidly stiffening, his flexibility plummeting.
’What kind of nerve agent was mixed into that grayish-green glow? For the Effect to be this potent...’
Little did he know, Buck was even more shocked.
Buck stared intently at Lance.
’This young man clearly hadn’t even chosen a Profession yet. From his Combat Stance just now, he was obviously a Power-based, unarmed melee fighter.’
’But under the enhancement of that strange Breathing Combat Technique, the Power he’d unleashed was actually a notch stronger than his, a Professional.’
’As for agility, while he was a little slower, it was only by a small margin.’
’This is impossible!’
Buck had been around Gray Rock Town for many years and had seen countless so-called geniuses, but he had never seen an Ordinary person who hadn’t taken a Profession yet be able to contend with a Professional to this extent in a direct confrontation.
But after the shock, Buck quickly breathed a sigh of relief.
’A Thief’s fighting style rarely requires a foolish head-on clash.’
’Their greatest strengths lie in using poison, traps, and kiting.’
He glanced at the wound on Lance’s thigh.
’His Source Melting Furnace could imbue his blades with Energy and enhance the toxicity of his Poisoned Weapons. On top of that, his Profession bonus enhanced poison penetration.’
’Even if his opponent’s Attributes were the same as a Professional’s, he was still no match for a true Professional.’
’He was certain his opponent would soon lose all ability to fight.’
’Although he himself was currently afflicted with the Blood Boiling state, killing the poisoned young man before him would be a simple matter.’
Buck observed Lance’s expression carefully.
He knew full well that when the poison took effect, it would continuously assault the enemy’s nerves, bringing a torment worse than death.
But not only did his opponent not scream in agony, he stood his ground calmly.
’No wonder this young man was so formidable before even choosing a Profession. That iron will was truly a cause for Fear.’
Still, the thought of personally snuffing out a peerless, budding genius filled Buck with a morbid sense of joy.
Of course, it was mostly the supreme thrill of impending revenge.
Lance took a deep breath of the cold night air.
The numbness in his leg was getting worse. He knew he had to end this fight quickly.
’I can’t hold back anymore.’
[Dragon Form]!
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