CHAPTER 73: CHAPTER 54: THE ASCENDED VOLCANO DRAGON

Just as the main character had nothing to do, the alt character took action.

Chun instructed Aileen: "I... have some matters to attend to and need to leave. Please watch over things."

Aileen chuckled, "I’ll go practice sailing technique in the Contract Space. I’ll watch over things in the meantime."

Chun felt a bit helpless. What makes a woman so obsessed with sailing? A huge greed for treasure, that’s what! Rather than saying he is led by the Great Evil Spirit, it’s more like she’s the one strongly urging him on...

"...Alright then."

So Chun returned to the dock to fish and idle on the small boat.

Then switched over to the alt account’s clone.

Checked the system message prompts:

——System prompt: You have acquired the skill "Weakness Strike" through Soul Link.

——System prompt: Your Flame Demon’s Body modification progress is 15% complete, granting you the passive ability to recover life in flames.

——System prompt: You are automatically consuming Illusion Mushrooms while idling, Illusion Value +1, Life +1, Physical Strength recovered.

——System prompt: You have acquired Expert Level Module Combination Level 1 through Soul Link special skill...

——System prompt: You have acquired Expert Level Sailing Technique Level 1 through Soul Link special skill...

...

Soul Link is really amazing!

But the progress on the Flame Demon’s Body is rather unsatisfactory. It has been 24 straight hours since yesterday, and the major consortia have already fully embarked towards Hell. Moreover, after idling for a whole day, Master Level mining hasn’t increased at all, indicating that the quality of the ores here is lacking.

Even Intermediate Level Dual-Wielding Pickaxes Level 10 hasn’t budged after idling for a day. This re-invigorates Chun’s respect for advanced levels, which shows that without the right opportunity, idling more is futile. And isn’t the opportunity about intercepting the plans of consortium moguls? Otherwise, where do ordinary players get opportunities?

Fortunately, over the day, dozens of mushrooms were consumed automatically, increasing Life Value and Illusion Value by several points each. These mushrooms are truly hard currency!

Entering the Teleportation Array, in a change of scene, Chun appears in a clanging and explosive lava pit.

——System prompt: You have entered the Volcano Forge.

The facilities here are indeed complete. Then the seductive "Angel" Supervisor in long black leather boots was seen standing by a magma pool surrounded by giant rocks.

Chun approached respectfully and greeted, "Supervisor, I am here to revive two servants."

The Supervisor said nothing more and simply waved a hand, causing the two red light orbs floating around Chun to fly into the magma pool.

In the frothing bubbles, two small, flame-red 10-level "Little Angels" crawled out.

The two immediately knelt, "Greetings, Supervisor! Greetings, Boss!"

Being a Master Level miner working all day, one can only revive two level 10? Really?

But Chun could only feign excitement, "Level 10 already!"

The Supervisor spoke blandly, "This level of strength can only be used for mining in the volcano area. Now, you can command them to mine on your behalf, and all their gains belong to you, leaving you free to do other things."

Does this count as getting two additional idling robots? This harsh Hell system... is actually quite satisfying!

Chun sensed that the Supervisor wanted to talk business and immediately commanded the two to leave, "Go mine!"

The two obeyed swiftly, "Yes, Boss!"

Chun, in a good mood, gave them two mushrooms as a welcoming gift, "This is your reward."

The two gratefully gobbled them up, "Thank you, Boss! We will work hard at mining!"

With that, they quickly rushed towards the Teleportation Array and disappeared.

Chun waited silently for the Supervisor to speak, "Do you have any instructions, Sir?"

The Supervisor smiled, "Aren’t you eager to learn how to pass the second layer of the trial? Now you can start searching for clues. And with a speed challenge, the faster you complete it, the better the rewards."

——System prompt: You have started the second layer trial clearance timer, in progress: 00 hours: 00 minutes: 01 second.

Holy Shit, she smiled!

Despite not giving any clearance clues, Chun knew it must involve taking down the fourth giant lizard that gorged itself yesterday and sank into the Magma Lake. Presumably, it can’t even move now. But this timing challenge is for professional players; what is a casual player like him messing around for? It would be better to take advantage of her good mood to ask about her and learn more.

Chun asked, "Are you interested in receiving a gift, Sir?"

The Supervisor’s face darkened, "Your trial performance is the gift."

Chun cautiously inquired, "Good performance or bad performance?"

The Supervisor sternly replied, "Don’t you know you are wasting the timer?"

Alright then. Chun wisely returned to the Teleportation Array. The scene shifted, and this time it wasn’t the Volcano Mine but the cave he had previously entered from the volcano’s mid-slope.

Chun, dual-wielding iron mining pickaxes, cautiously stepped out of the cave, and suddenly saw a mountain full of Earth Elemental creatures, which are Stone Monsters.

These are the numerous creatures that crawled out of the ground after the volcano subsided yesterday.

Fortunately, with my expert-level running skills, breaking through is probably not a problem, so let’s charge forward.

Chun dashed down from the mountain, and sure enough, the surrounding stone monsters began to intercept and chase, but the speed difference was apparent. Very soon, Chun was dragging a large group of monsters, running to the magma lake where the fourth giant lizard had sunk, activating the fireproof barrier of the magma crystal core, and jumped in.

Then, with a red haze in his eyes, he had no idea where to swim. This made Chun, who had gotten accustomed to Aileen’s radar, feel extremely uncomfortable.

Fortunately, with fire resistance and flame demon’s body, he’s not losing life value. Then it’s time for expert-level swimming and diving mastery. He’ll slowly find his way with reduced resistance.

——System prompt: You are swimming in viscous magma, your swimming skill has increased in proficiency!

There’s proficiency! Just practice the skill, not bad! If you can reach master level before 0 o’clock—

Chun immediately felt the urgency, diving deeper and deeper! The deeper he dives, the faster the proficiency increases!

At the same time, he took out his phone to record the swimming trail on the game screen, to avoid getting lost in this world of magma. A supplement for not having radar.

Finally, Chun discovered a lava pit at the bottom of the lake.

Is this where it’s hiding?

Chun nervously swam into the pit, adhering closely to the cave wall, and heard a fan-like breathing sound causing magma ripples! Is it sleeping? The success rate just got higher!

Chun bumped into something very elastic—system prompt: Warning! You have entered the domain of a newly ascended magma dragon.

Just one day of absence and it ascended to a volcano dragon?

The next moment, Chun broke through the elasticity and entered an air bubble isolated from the magma. In the middle of the bubble lay that giant lizard, belly up, asleep! In just one day, its belly had become bigger and thinner! Its head also sprouted two short horns, it’s a dragon now! Looks like the plan of fattening it up for a better crystal core worked just as imagined!

At this moment, a rumbling from behind the dragon startled Chun. The large air bubble also trembled along.

Holy shit! Turns out the bubble was formed by its gas, and it’s sleeping belly-up, indicating that its belly defense is at its lowest——I can win!

Excited, Chun raised his dual pickaxes, activated the magical pet’s invisibility skill, turned his body transparent, and quietly approached its bulging belly.

But the dragon still sensed something and opened its eyelids. Chun felt a chill down his spine, no choice but to charge in!

The dragon let out a long, tremulous hum!

——System prompt: Your outstanding wisdom seems to understand the pleading of the volcano dragon!

Hmm?

Chun, having frequently "understood" the cries of the Old Whale, Crystal Bat, and Demon Dolphin, was a bit too fond of this talent! He immediately stopped and asked, "Are you afraid?"

The dragon was also astonished and hummed something in "angel language" that Chun could directly understand: "Master!"

The red name instantly turned yellow!

Holy shit! As a player, who can resist this "Master!" Even Sariel got hit by this, and it was called master too!

Chun confirmed in shock, "You called me master!?"

The dragon’s voice was extremely sincere: "Yes, master!"

Stay calm! After all, it’s a hell creature, such simplicity and honesty from AI isn’t realistic, and it’s impossible for a strong dragon to bow to a mere player. Most likely a deception, seize the opportunity to blow it up!

The dragon spoke again: "Master, I need 100 Earth Element Crystal Cores to help me digest."

Bullshit! I was still hesitating whether to kill you, and now you’re making demands!

But Chun decided to take a gamble, betting on the supervisor’s tendencies! Does she want me to quickly eliminate this dragon for some undeserving high score, or does she want a bit of surprise? A strong dragon wouldn’t recognize me, a player, as its master but could recognize her and become a mount! So, this is a great gift for her!

Even if I get deceived, if she’s happy, everything is negotiable, so the perspective must be broadened.

After thinking it through, Chun started to comfort it: "Your master is not me, but someone more powerful—"

What’s her name again?

"—Maria’s clone! So, I will help you digest, and you must prepare to follow a powerful master."

The dragon cooperatively replied, "I understand."

Anyway, let’s get up there and defeat some Earth Elements.

Surfacing, a large bunch of Earth Elements appeared, ranging from level 10 to 30.

Honestly, although Chun had defeated a hundred miners alone at the volcano mine, that was with the huge advantage of magma swimming. If fighting on flat ground, without a combat profession, he could only rely on dual-wielding pickaxes and the newly learned weakness strike, would it work?

Let’s start with a level 10 solo Earth Element for practice.

Then found a fairly suitable target, but not entirely solitary. Chun stood by the lake, ready to jump in if things went south, then threw a fairly big rock with all his might to lure it over.

Hit! But damage was immune! Chun estimated its defense was too high, and his own attack power could be a bit lacking.

It’s charging over, in front of this "little angel," its bulk was like a giant. But this giant’s stacked legs didn’t look very stable, must be a weak point!

The stone monster clumsily raised its hand to attack, and at that moment Chun struck its leg with a pickaxe——Weakness Strike -74! Shattering Strike!

With a crash, a section of rocks collapsed like a landslide! The stone monster lost its balance, falling over, naturally neutralizing the attack.

Holy shit, got it! I’m using a mining pickaxe, facing a stone monster, and it’s like mining it as a resource! That means defeating it isn’t much about my attack power, but my master-level mining skill!