Chapter 30: The Legendary Species in the Cave
He could tell that these mercenaries were battle-hardened, and they outnumbered his group by several times.
If a fight really broke out, they stood little chance of winning.
"Looks like we're going to have to split this young dragon's corpse!" the lionfolk suddenly said with a wide grin.
"We can split the young dragon, no problem, but what if there's a third party involved..."
The young man suddenly turned his head, looking in the direction of Leo and Elena.
Feeling the young man's gaze, Elena, already a bit nervous, instinctively raised her hand to grasp Leo's clothes.
Leo turned his head to look at Elena, smiled faintly, signaling her not to be nervous.
Elena's emotions slightly calmed under Leo's gaze.
"It's okay. Whatever happens, just stay behind me and cast healing magic," Leo said with a smile.
"Okay," Elena nodded instinctively.
With a smile on his face, Leo stepped out of the woods, revealing himself to the mercenaries and beastfolk.
"Just two people?" the young man raised an eyebrow in surprise.
He didn't seem to expect that only two people would dare to venture here.
"Humans, if we kill these two, the claws of the young dragon are ours. How about it?" the lionfolk roared loudly.
Elena, startled by the lionfolk's roar, shrank behind Leo.
Leo's brow furrowed slightly, thinking to himself that beastfolk are indeed crude.
However, he didn't immediately respond.
"This isn't a good deal, you beastfolk can't be too greedy!" the young man immediately said with a laugh, shaking his head.
The proposal seemed rather greedy, considering that it appeared a single mercenary could take down the two humans, a man and a woman.
"So, who's going to kill them? When we're hunting that injured young dragon, I don't want any third party around!" the lionfolk stated.
The young man narrowed his eyes, thinking for a moment before turning to a mercenary behind him.
Understanding his intent, the mercenary nodded and, with a wave of his hand, led two others towards Leo and Lilith.
To them, this seemed like an easily resolved battle.
"Roar—!!"
Just then, a deep roar erupted from the cave.
The massive roar startled everyone.
The roar, filled with endless rage and the oppressive might of a legendary species, instilled a primal fear in everyone, causing the beastfolk to instinctively start backing away!
Even the lionfolk leader's expression changed slightly, though he tried to maintain his composure.
"Damn! It seems the young dragon's injuries aren't as severe as we thought?" the young man looked towards the cave, somewhat frustrated.
"There's no time left. If we keep delaying, more people will come here. We need to act fast!" the lionfolk said through gritted teeth, loudly.
The young man's gaze flickered, and after a moment, he firmed his resolve.
The beastfolk were right; they were able to arrive quickly because they were close enough to the location.
If they continued to delay, attracting other stronger fighters, they would not only lose the chance at the young dragon but might even be killed!
"Attack!" the young man gritted his teeth and waved his hand, then he took the lead towards the cave, sword in hand.
"Charge!" the lionfolk also gestured.
Soon, both parties reached the front of the cave, ready to hunt the injured young dragon.
Meanwhile, three mercenaries approached Leo and Lilith.
Without hesitation, they lunged at them, intending to kill.
Leo looked at the three men emotionlessly.
These guys weren't even apprentice knights, just ordinary people with some combat experience.
With a wave of his hand, Leo cast a spell called "Scorching Mark."
This spell, often used by basic magi against stronger opponents, wasn't very powerful.
But because of the continuous pain it inflicted, it could weaken the enemy's combat ability.
"Whoosh!" Rings of fiery flames lashed out towards the three mercenaries!
"Magus!" "A magus?!" "…"
The moment they saw the flames, the mercenaries' faces twisted in terror, fear instantly seizing them!
If they were knights, they might have stood a chance, but an ordinary person facing a magus was nothing but despair!
Even a basic magus, to an ordinary person, seemed godlike!
Thus, they had no intention of fighting, only thoughts of fleeing.
The ring of fire gave them no chance to escape, ensnaring them in an instant.
Although it was a spell of minor continuous damage, it was terrifying against ordinary people.
"Boom!"
The three men were almost simultaneously engulfed in flames.
There wasn't even a struggle; in a matter of breaths, their figures stiffened.
As the flames receded, three charred corpses appeared in Leo's view.
Leo, expressionless, took Elena's hand and walked forward.
Elena, witnessing the corpses, trembled slightly in her gaze.
This was the first time she had seen someone die right before her eyes, and she couldn't help but feel nervous, even afraid.
Instinctively, she followed Leo to the edge of the valley.
By this time, the mercenaries and beastfolk had joined forces, attacking the young dragon in the cave!
The mercenaries wielded crossbows, continuously firing into the cave.
The beastfolk threw spears tied with ropes, trying to pierce the young dragon and drag it out.
"Roar... Roar..."
The young dragon in the cave let out continuous roars.
After a while, the roars of the young dragon grew fainter, even sounding desperate.
"Why are they doing this?"
Elena's brow furrowed slightly, suddenly asking with a hint of anger.
Leo turned to look at Elena, somewhat puzzled.
Why?
Of course, it was to kill the young dragon!
You see, dragons, as legendary creatures, have every part of them considered a treasure.
Dragon teeth and claws can be made into the sharpest weapons, dragon scales can resist most magic, dragon meat is highly nourishing, containing pure energy that can directly enhance one's realm!
Even dragon eyes and internal organs have their uses, being invaluable treasures!
"I'm more curious about who seriously injured this young dragon and why it ended up here," Leo shrugged, somewhat puzzled.
Elena shook her head, not responding to Leo.
She gazed at the cave, her eyes filling with increasing anger.
She couldn't understand why these people would kill the young dragon.
It hadn't offended them, and, like them, it was a sentient being.
"Quick! It's almost out of strength!" the young man yelled with a laugh.
At his words, his men fired their arrows with renewed vigor.
Nearby beastfolk also tugged at the spears already embedded in the young dragon's body.
"Roar—!!"
Suddenly, another roar erupted.
This roar was not just one of despair but also of determination.
Following that, a massive figure burst out of the cave!
It was a white dragon, its scales shimmering as if emitting light.
The dragon's form was slender, its pupils a deep purple, and its horns had an amber-like transparency.
Under the sunlight, it appeared so dreamlike and mystical, it was hard to believe in its real existence.
However, the beautiful creature's body was pierced with numerous arrows, and several spears had penetrated its flesh.
The red dragon blood flowing out was striking and heart-wrenching.
The white dragon spread its massive wings, flapping and creating a gust of wind, causing the mercenaries and beastfolk to instinctively squint and step back.
"Huff! Huff!" It vigorously beat its wings, trying to take flight.
"No! The beast is trying to escape! Hold it down!" the young man roared in fury.
Hearing this, all the beastfolk and mercenaries redoubled their efforts.
They picked up spears and crossbows again, continuing to launch them at the white dragon.
"Roar~!"
The white dragon, already exhausted, was unable to break free from the spears embedded in its body.
Its roar was filled with powerlessness and despair.
Suddenly, it lowered its head, opened its mouth, and then a beam of white light shot out!
"Zzzap~~!"
The intense beam swept across the bodies of the beastfolk and mercenaries.
In an instant, dozens of mercenaries and beastfolk were reduced to ashes by the white light!
The young man and the lionfolk, upon seeing the white light, changed color dramatically and retreated frantically!
A few breaths later, the white light vanished, and the white dragon's body heavily crashed to the ground.
"Thud!"
As the body hit the ground, the light in the white dragon's eyes slowly faded away.
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