Chapter 385 - 384: Symmetry

Chapter 385: Chapter 384: Symmetry

After much thought, Seraphina Sinclair decided to go in and take a look.

After all, speculation was one thing, but she had to see for herself to confirm anything.

This meant that if she wanted the red rune box, she would have to re-enter the core of the Wind-carved Fissure and face the silver Great Dragon head-on.

That being the case, she might as well go in and improvise based on the situation.

She hadn’t used Insight on the Great Dragon yet. If the result was just a series of question marks, Seraphina knew better than to overestimate herself. She would immediately retreat from the Wind-carved Fissure and return to her mobile cabin!

No matter how good the reward from the rune box was, it wasn’t worth her life.

But if she could see the dragon’s class, or if Insight revealed a clear weakness...

Seraphina Sinclair was definitely going to give it a try.

Ultimately, it all came down to one thing: she didn’t want to miss out on the red rune box right before her eyes.

Standing before the wall of wind, Seraphina Sinclair took a deep breath but didn’t enter immediately.

Once bitten, twice shy. The moment she had entered before, the Silver Dragon’s eyes had locked onto her. This meant it either had some kind of perception-based Skill or its Perception was simply extremely sharp.

This time, Seraphina planned to activate Basic Concealment before entering the wall of wind.

If the Silver Dragon detected her, she would use Insight and then immediately leave the area.

’But if the Silver Dragon doesn’t notice,’ she thought, ’does that mean I can stay concealed and sneak all the way to the red rune box?’

The more she thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. Gritting her teeth, Seraphina held her breath, pushed her Basic Concealment to its absolute limit, put on her Single Lens, and stepped through.

Perhaps it was her own anxiety, or perhaps Basic Concealment was simply never enough to fool the Silver Dragon. Just like last time, the instant Seraphina’s body materialized behind the wall of wind, the Silver Dragon’s golden eye swiveled and locked onto her.

Seraphina’s body went rigid for a second before she immediately stared at the Silver Dragon and used Insight!

[Storm Dragon (S-Class)]

[Description: A creature of Legend, once a sovereign of sky and storm. It suffered a grievous wound from an unknown cause and now clings to life in seclusion. It currently possesses power only comparable to a C-level monster. Its body is intertwined with the primal Wind Element of its surroundings, creating this ceaseless, destructive tempest. Even severely wounded, its ambient power and draconic aura are enough to shred most intruders.]

The instant the Insight panel appeared, Seraphina retreated.

She had stayed longer this time, and the experience was far more intense.

The moment the Storm Dragon’s gaze fell upon her, an invisible pressure crushed down like a mountain, making Seraphina’s limbs go rigid and her blood run cold.

The Dark Gold draconic eye held no emotion, only pure indifference and judgment, as if she were merely an ant that had stumbled into its lair—an insect it could crush with a casual flick of its claw.

S-Class!

’That’s an S-Class monster!’

Even though the Description clearly stated it "possesses power only comparable to a C-level monster," Seraphina understood that this was absolutely not a being she could afford to provoke right now.

’Comparable to a C-level monster means it’s at the very peak of C-level, possibly even touching the threshold of B-level!’

’And with the Silver Dragon’s enormous size, if I faced it head-on, it could crush me with a single blow.’

’What’s more, it controls the core Wind Element of the Wind-carved Fissure. The environment itself is its greatest weapon.’

’In a direct confrontation, I have no chance of winning.’

Seraphina stood outside the wall of wind, gasping for breath, cold sweat soaking her back.

’I can’t be reckless...’

’No matter how much I want that red rune box, I absolutely cannot be reckless.’

’Auric Young is gone. There’s nothing left that will trade its life for mine.’

’The risk is too great. The best option is to leave for now.’

Seraphina slowly exhaled. As she looked up at the wall formed by countless white gusts of wind, a strange sense of gratitude welled up inside her.

’If it weren’t for this barrier, I’d probably be dead already.’

Wasting no more time, Seraphina glanced at the wall of wind and turned to leave.

The instant she turned, a powerful sense of crisis flared, like a cold, hard needle of ice stabbing into her spine.

The intuition was so intense that Seraphina didn’t even have time to think; her body’s instincts reacted before her mind could catch up.

She dove forward, throwing herself into a desperate roll to the side!

FZZT!

An extremely condensed, almost transparent Wind Blade silently sliced through the air where she had just been standing. It flashed past at the height of her neck and struck a distant rock wall, leaving behind an impossibly deep, fine gash.

It was followed immediately by a second, and then a third!

The Wind Blades came from treacherous angles, their speed incredible, as if they had predicted her every move.

These Wind Blades weren’t coming from the outer area, but from the core region she had just turned her back on.

From behind the wall of wind. From—

The Storm Dragon!

’It’s attacking me through the wall of wind?!’

Her heart pounded in her chest as she scrambled and rolled across the slippery stone floor, desperately dodging not only the attacks but also the deadly, pale-green currents of pure wind.

To say she was simply rolling around on the ground would be no exaggeration.

She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been in such a sorry state. But right now, Seraphina knew with absolute certainty that her current pathetic scrambling was all thanks to the Storm Dragon behind the wall of wind!

’What is this?’

’All I did was take a couple of looks at it! Does this dragon really need to be so bent on killing me?’

Seraphina wanted to scream out a curse, but what came instead was a cold realization.

’I underestimated the pride and vigilance of an S-Class creature. Or rather, I misunderstood what it means to be an intruder.’

’In the Storm Dragon’s eyes, perhaps stepping into the core area isn’t the only thing that counts as intrusion.’

’Any creature that dares to spy on or even approach its domain might be considered a threat—especially after I’ve already provoked it twice.’

’Using Insight on it... that must have triggered its killing intent.’

This wasn’t some game monster following a fixed aggro mechanic; this was a legendary creature that had once ruled the storms. Though severely wounded, it remained intensely proud!

Its pedigree might be impressive, but Seraphina Sinclair was no ant to be crushed so easily!

Water Dragon Roar was already in her hand. In the next instant, its cerulean blade became a blur of light, parrying the deadly attacks that were nearly invisible to the naked eye.

CLANG! CLANG! SHINK!

Sparks flew with every impact. Each parry sent a numbing shock up Seraphina’s arm, splitting open the skin between her thumb and forefinger.

A Wind Blade grazed her ribs, instantly slicing through her clothes and drawing a spray of blood.

A searing pain flared across her side, but Seraphina had no time to dwell on it.

The next second, another Wind Blade skimmed her other side, giving her a matching wound.

’Two wounds... and they’re symmetrical...’