Chapter 1030 - 504: Within the Secret Realm (3)

This also meant that the entire island mass was already the Wyrm Dragons' Domain; they were lying in wait, ready to strike at any moment.

Not far ahead, there was another Flying Airship that looked decently armed, preparing to pierce the blood-red Cloud Mist. A Flame Shield rose around its hull, constantly burning away the Dragon Qi that tried to invade.

Feeling the intrusion, the Dragon Qi began to counterattack as if it possessed will, surging in from all directions, wrapping that ship in thick coils. A few twisted Magic Power shockwaves later, a pitch-black Wyrm Dragon of the Excellence Realm coiled around the hull, gradually turning from phantasmal to solid.

Alarms immediately blared aboard the vessel, and all the Sky Knights went on full alert. Yet the Wyrm Dragon needed no charging time; it simply opened its maw and sprayed venom, a rain of black covering the entire Deck.

"Defense! Full defense!" someone on the ship shouted, voice tight with tension.

The Shielder Guards and Casters with Defense Spells struck together, but within just a few breaths the venom dissolved the Magic Shield, then the physical Shields. The first wave of Poison Rain smashed straight through the party's entire Defense.

They were a group of Adventurers around Tier Six. United, they could stand against foes of the Excellence Realm—but the Dragon Race was troublesome by nature, and a Wyrm Dragon was the kind of enemy whose savagery broke all charts.

They hadn't expected this Demon to be so terrifying, but it was already too late to retreat; they could only fight to the death.

The Wyrm Dragon gave two low snarls, then snapped the cables connecting the Hovercraft to the hull in a single bite, chewing up the cable material like snacks and swallowing it down. This alone left a portion of the crew stunned.

The Poison Dragon turned its slender neck and once again spewed a rain of poison over the entire ship. It meant to dissolve the vessel completely, making it easy to devour.

A streak of thunder tore through the sky, jolting the dazed Sky Knights awake. Pure Demon-driven lightning exploded into a vast net of thunder, the arcs linking Deck and hull, burning the Poison Rain away in an instant.

Before the pitch-black Wyrm Dragon, a Thrusting Sword whose blade was wreathed in unceasing arcs of electricity hung suspended. After burning the Poison Rain away, it paused for only a heartbeat before the sword became a bolt of thunder itself, darting and rebounding through the air at blinding speed.

By the time the thunderclaps reached the ears, the pitch-black Wyrm Dragon had already been hacked apart into countless segments by the lightning. Its mangled body fell into the lush vegetation below, while its poisonous blood streamed across the hull, corroding Deck and Chains.

The Sky Knights had no time to feel any gratitude for their narrow escape; they had to rush to clear the poison.

"Advance." Blondie Douding said to her helmsman, voice devoid of emotion.

Diao turned back, secretly clicking her tongue.

She had seen Lily and Inanna unleash overwhelming Power before, but she hadn't expected this tiny blond captain to be every bit their equal.

The Shocking Divine Soul Light flew back to Elaphia's side and slipped into its scabbard. In her hands, this sword was exactly as its name proclaimed—once drawn, it dazzled the eyes and shook the soul.

As an Order Knight, it was only natural for Elaphia to draw her blade in aid; but out of pride, she had absolutely no intention of worrying about how clumsy those people were at cleaning up the battlefield afterwards.

Perhaps sensing the Power aboard the Weapon God, no Wyrm Dragon showed itself to attack Li Ang's party.

Flying further inward, the hue of "Gold" grew ever more pronounced.

"No wonder it's called the Golden Kingdom." Lily sighed.

Amid the verdant mountains ahead, one majestic golden structure after another thrust skyward. Even the thousand-year vines twining around them couldn't fully cover their scale, which in turn left the surrounding roads clearly visible.

No matter how strong the Life Force of the vegetation, it could not take root on the tightly fitted, seamless Golden Road. The broad avenue extended all the way to a building shaped like an altar, where several Flying Airships were berthed.

"This is…"

Seeing all that golden gleam, Li Ang's heartbeat quickened slightly.

For one reason only: every block of gold shone with a faint crimson tint. Though reason insisted it was impossible, the sight really did look like this entire place had been built from Divine Crimson Gold.

"Doesn't it feel a bit like the Garden of Creation?" Diao remarked as well.

"The Dwarves are, after all, a race very close to the ancient ancestors. It wouldn't be strange for them to preserve some ancient traditions." Li Ang nodded.

He explained to the others what Divine Crimson Gold was as a material, and the myriad ways the Primordial Beings had wielded that substance.

The best proof of Divine Crimson Gold's Power needed no lengthy explanation: the Eternal Rebirth Scythe spoke for itself.

Elaphia commented, "If there's a way, we should try to secure as much of this material as possible. However, the Dwarves are likely just making an association here. Their so-called true Secret Treasure might be the only thing that comes close to Divine Crimson Gold in level."

Drawing nearer, Li Ang checked the System Panel and saw that these golden blocks were merely an alloy. Certainly sturdy, but suitable only as construction material. Clearly, the Dwarves had deliberately dyed it to the same color.

As the Weapon God approached, a figure flew over from the platform.

Even at a distance, Li Ang and Aifei recognized him at once: it was A Xiang.

"Ah-ya-ya, honored guests indeed—Captain Alma, Captain Li Ang."

The black-haired youth, whose features had a somewhat Eastern cast, landed on the Deck and looked at them with a smile. Bone-Deep Passion and Scorn still hung at his waist.

"Well, it's not really unexpected. I was just wondering earlier, if it's all for the Divine Artisan's Five Swords, how come I hadn't seen you around? Didn't the War in the Ignis Sky Realm already come to an end?"

The youth came over to shake hands with the two. Li Ang said, "We each had matters to attend to, so we're only just arriving now."

"Perfect timing. With you here, things will be much more secure. As for the division of spoils, we'll follow the usual practice later."

A Xiang was very straightforward, no nonsense at all. Once the Weapon God drew near the altar, he led several people from the ship toward the other Sky Knights gathered here.