Flames and grey energy flew everywhere after the impact.

The top part of the ED was covered by the debris. It took a few seconds for everything to clear up.

Muku had already called back the Mithril. After all, if the beast had been hit effectively on the head, it would have died already, just like how it was killed last time by the ogre.

"Well... That's something at least" Muku spoke softly while looking at a certain part of the ED's body...

It seemed that the beast had blocked his attack at the very last moment. It had covered its head with one of its large front legs.

While the defence saved its head from destruction, it wasn't without a price. This was because its leg was blown up in the head's place.

You'd think it would roar in pain but it didn't. It just gave Muku a deathly glare and stood in place. Smoke came out of the wound as it burned it shut with its fire energy.

"Why is your gaze getting fiercer and fiercer? We're already mortal enemies seeking each other's death. So you shouldn't get angry with me making a move when you're incapacitated right? Besides, you successfully blocked it... Sure, it was because that unreliable mother of mine got involved and saved you by talking to me. She probably thought I was fooled by how she pretended to help me at the end when she was delaying time and preventing me from discovering that something was wrong. But whatever, it doesn't matter. And I guess she's really my mother because... Die!" Muku spoke just when the ED was about to make its move, whatever it was...

He was actually delaying the beast like Mrs C delayed him. Then...

Whoosh! Stab! Boom!

Out of nowhere a large metal spear emerged from the ground aiming for the ED's leg stump.

The move was so unexpected that it successfully stabbed the closed-off wound a re-injured it. The thing was that it had weakened the DA defence in that area as it wouldn't be good to expose the wound to too much heat.

It was something Muku who was always searching for openings instantly noticed and made his move. He attacked with his normal metal which was completely unexpected by the ED which thought it had successfully taken his normal attacks out of the picture.

Unfortunately, the heat around the wound had been lowered enough to the point that the metal could break through without being melted down.

It was a big mistake, which cost it greatly. But then again, it had just taken a soul attack and had its leg blown off. So, its brain, being a bit slow was understandable...

Fortunately for the ED, it reacted quickly enough before the metal got in too deep. Flames exploded out of its body and burned away the metal. They were so strong that it was thrown into the sky by the force.

Muku was forced to fly a distance back by the heat. He knew just how hot the fire was from the "execution ground" and he didn't want to taste any more of it. He was full from that encounter.

The beast looked at him from above as it fell. Then...

"Domain: Crimson Purgatory"

The beast spoke for the second time. And again, the words weren't ones Muku liked hearing. After all, it meant that he was in for more suffering. Even worse was how he couldn't even run away. After all the pocket dimension they were in was only ten kilometres big. And a rank four domain can cover that easily.

Mrs C had really gone out in making the fight as fun for her and horrible for him as possible. That didn't matter at the moment, he'll first deal with the ED and then make her pay!

The world around him turned red and the temperature rose to levels normal humans or even R3s can't handle. So yeah, he could only survive inside it due to his DA.

It was one of the reasons, R4s usually didn't bother with their domains when fighting those of the same Rank. This was because, unlike when they were R3s were a domain can completely suppress the enemy, it can't do the same with R4s. This was because Domain Armour was a level higher than a normal domain. For that reason, it couldn't be suppressed by a normal domain.

Only if the level difference is significant can one suppress domain armour with a normal domain. The difference would have to be at least, a LR4 against a PR4.

A MR4 can't suppress a LR4 and a PR4 can't suppress a MR4. So yeah, in most cases, domains are useless after R3 due to Domain Armour.

However, it would make it slightly harder for the lower rank to maintain their Domain Armour. And the domain can still pose a significant threat if the one it's being used on is low on energy. Which was the very situation Muku was in.

Despite the anger which made it want to explode. The Earth Dragon was still very rational in its decisions.

This was shown by its first big move which almost ended the fight.

Anyway, it didn't take long for the domain to cover the pocket dimension completely. All the plants got burnt and turned to ash as it expanded past them.

In less than ten seconds. The significantly vegetated area was completely turned into a desolate wasteland.

Muku gulped down as he saw this. He no longer had anywhere to hide even if the trees were useless as a defence anyway.

BOOM!

The beast finally landed back on the ground with authority. Despite missing a leg, it still looked quite cool actually. Hell, it looked even cooler without it.

"Well done human. Despite everything, including your hateful nature. You have earned a little of my respect. For that reason, I am letting you hear my voice before I end your worthless existence. So, rejoice, not only have you heard my voice, but you have also managed to wound me significantly. Which none have been able to do at the same level before..." The Earth Dragon finally spoke while addressing Muku.

For whatever reason he felt slightly happy that it acknowledged him. Even if it was mostly just expressing its disdain for him.

"I... (BOOM!)... You bastard!" Muku screamed in anger as he avoided a large fireball which had appeared above him.

He cursed at the beast for using much using his move of talking then sneak attacking when the opponent's guard goes down. He finally understood why it was so pissed off at him before. Such an honourless move was really angering.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!...

The ED didn't reply, it just sent one attack after the other at him from every direction. But he could swear he saw a gloating look appear in its eyes before going away... The bastard was really enjoying it!

Anyway, he didn't have time to worry about that. After all, all kinds of attacks were coming at him from every direction. This was the advantage of a domain over a Domain Armour. The attacks were instantaneous. Just think it and it would appear as long as you have the mana.

Of course, at the moment Muku really hated that quality. He was burning because of it. He even wondered if he was getting a free tutorial before he burns in hell.

But that shouldn't be, right? Tye Earth Dragon was definitely not a saint. So who gave it the right to try and purify others?!

Fortunately, the flames in the domain were only half as hot as the flames created under a domain armour. So, his Mithril which could resist even that fire could easily resist normal domain flames.

Unfortunately, that didn't mean he wasn't suffering. After all, he was in a metal armour in a place hotter than a furnace. So yeah, his life wasn't too good at the moment.

His skin was blistered all over under the armour. He might have shrugged it off easily if he had his built-up physic Mrs C had stripped away. Unfortunately, that was off the table until after the battle.

What was even worse was how he was practically stripped of all resistance. While he attacks he created with his metal could survive for a bit now. They could only go a few metres in front of him before melting away.

And he could get closer to the Earth Dragon which would intensely bombard him whenever he tried to get too close. It would get so strong that he had to retreat.

It made him wonder why it wasn't completely bombarding him from start to finish but he couldn't possibly ask it now could he?

The internal question did make him feel a bit uneasy but there was nothing he could do. He could only keep his guard up as he tried to figure something out.

And it wasn't like he didn't have a plan. Just like the last time, he was cooking something up. Fortunately, it doesn't get ruined like that time or he would really have to give up. The Earth Dragon would be too much for him to handle.

Anyway, the bombardments suddenly stopped. Muku looked at the creature in the distance in confusion. That's when he saw something in its eyes.

His eyes widened in surprise and fear. A familiar pillar has appeared behind him! The moment he saw the reflection. The flames around him cleared up. Then he saw everything.

The damned beast had recreated the Execution Ground!...