Chapter 13: | Dominator
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Squelch!
My form blurred, into a searing streak of crimson light, as time seemed to slow for but a moment.
I flickered inches above the 'Magma Tyrant', the currents around it shimmering with oppressive heat, thanks to 'Quaking Pounce'.
My muscles burned, taut and screaming from that singular leap, as my throat pulsed with an infernal glow, charged with magma ready to breathe again.
Sizzle!
Sear!
The dark water around me boiled and churned, trembling from the sheer intensity of the blinding heat erupting from my maw.
Scalding, molten debris spewed out, hissing as it melted their exoskeletons with grotesque ease.
Now all that remained were the two 'Volcanic Sentinels' and one 'Jungle Stalker', its body leaner and more agile, a sleek contrast to the bulk of the others.
Probably a '3★' variant, but it didn't matter now.
All of them, even the 'Magma Tyrant', were visibly faltering, their forms marred by deep, glowing wounds.
They staggered, as clots of molten magma still clinging and sizzling on their exoskeletons, burning and burrowing into their raw flesh.
A thick, corrosive saliva dripped from my maw as 'Thorn Spittle' activated, a foul, metallic tang filling the water.
Their injured flesh writhed and smoked, seared by the acidic content of my saliva now diffused into the surrounding water.
Their eyes glowing with desperate, bloodshot rage, the 'Jungle Stalker' was the first to lunge, but it was futile.
Crash!
With a swift sweep of my tail, its form was sent crashing downward, pulverizing the seabed and kicking up a cloud of debris.
Blood, dark and thick, gushed from its wounds, staining the water around it.
Then its vital spark guttered and died in a matter of seconds, it was dead.
Howl!
The dim abyss flashed for but a moment as incandescent flames and chunks of blazing magma spewed right at me.
But it was futile.
My armor, 'Adamantine Carapace' and 'Oblivion Shroud', absorbed the barrage without a tremor, blocking their attacks with no problem.
Sizzle!
While the Hellfire itself seemed to melt the very water around me, my armor took the brunt without any problem, its surface glowing red but holding firm.
And before the molten debris could solidify and scald my flesh, I shrugged, then shook my body violently.
The magma flew, scattering like hot, heavy rain through the water.
The two 'Volcanic Sentinels' bore quite the interesting expression, a flicker of terror in their eyes as the injured one tried to flee.
Squelch!
But it was futile.
My form blurred into an untraceable streak, reappearing inches away thanks to 'Quaking Pounce'.
Then I flickered again and again, in a destructive whirlpool, as its body was torn apart with 'Sunder Maw' and 'Shatter-Rip Maw', it's flesh ripping with wet, tearing sounds.
The remaining 'Volcanic Sentinel' opened its maw, a searing, orange glow spreading from within its throat as the water sizzled, but it was too late.
Howl!
Molten debris latched into its maw and incinerated it from within as 'Infernal Breath' was unleashed again.
It howled in raw pain, its eyes bulging before bursting, exploding into a sickening spray of gore.
Boom!
Its throat exploded in a terrific, concussive blast, sending its flesh and bones shredded and smoking floating on the currents.
The magma debris I'd sent into its throat had devoured it from the inside out.
The 'Magma Tyrant' was the only one remaining now.
A light chuckle, dry and triumphant, escaped my lips.
Now, let's have our rematch!
But perhaps not a rematch, since I'd already exhausted my mana unleashing four 'Infernal Breaths'.
My core was already violently trembling, on the verge of exploding, from the continuous usage that pushed far beyond my mana capacity.
And I wouldn't want to die by the sheer, annihilating force of my monster core's explosion.
So I didn't press forward, instead I flickered in and out of existence, into a ghostly, fleeting shadow against the murky depths.
Howl!
As I dodged its 'Infernal Breath', the molten torrent searing past where I'd been only a moment before, I struck at its left fin.
I reeled my body down, using my weight to maneuver and slam it into the seabed.
Crash!
A massive crater formed, a deep gouge in the ocean floor.
Its body was covered in glowing magma debris and bubbling, boiling magma, its left fin torn and hanging precariously, about to rip off.
It looked extremely pitiful.
A once magnificent lord, lording over an army of two 'Volcanic Sentinels' and twenty 'Obsidian Hulks', was now reduced to this broken, pathetic state.
A pitiful fool trying to get back up, its movements sluggish and clumsy.
But it couldn't, its gaping wounds oozing and steaming, too much for its body to bear.
Despair flooded its face, I could see its will breaking apart as it let out a low whimper, a mournful, rattling sound, gazing at me.
Truly a pitiful creature, but sadly, you met me.
And it was now time for me to finish this anticlimactic fight and gain my bountiful, hard-earned loot.
Rip!
'Sunder Maw' and 'Shatter-Rip Maw' tore its throat apart, the final, wet rending sound echoing in the depths.
I began to devour the carcasses all around me, a grotesque feast in the dim light.
Minutes turned into hours as my gaze was locked on the hologram before me, its luminous display casting shifting patterns across the water.
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[You have slain.]
• S: 1 | T: 4 | Level 14 | Umbral Hunter Whark [4★]
• S: 1 | T: 3 | Level 9 | Magma Tyrant Whark [4★]
• S: 1 | T: 2 | Volcanic Sentinel Whark [4★]x2
• S: 1 | T: 2 | Volcano Hulk Whark [2★] x18
• S: 1 | T: 2 | Jungle Stalker Whark [2★] x14
[You have gained.]
[1,525,000 - EXP.]
[You have gained a level.] x20
[You have reached your maximum level]
[Would you like to ascend?]
[Yes] / [No]
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[You have devoured.]
• S: 1 | T: 4 | Level 14 | Umbral Hunter Whark [4★]
• S: 1 | T: 3 | Level 9 | Magma Tyrant Whark [4★]
• S: 1 | T: 2 | Volcanic Sentinel Whark [4★]x2
• S: 1 | T: 2 | Volcano Hulk Whark [2★] x18
• S: 1 | T: 2 | Jungle Stalker Whark [2★] x14
[You have gained.]
[+ 108 - Health.]
[+ 104 - Stamina.]
[+ 159 - Mana.]
[+ 2.34 - Physique.]
[+ 2.22 Mystique.]
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[Skills Devoured.]
• Dimensional Flicker [Tier 4]
• Hunter's Absolute Senses [Tier 3]
• Immovable Fortress [Tier 6]
• Infernal Maw [Tier 3]
• Molten Geyser Breath [Tier 9]
• Toxic Spittle Barrage [Tier 7]
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[Grotesque Physique would like to devour this skills.]
• Dimensional Flicker [Tier 4]
• Hunter's Absolute Senses [Tier 3]
• Immovable Fortress [Tier 6]
• Infernal Maw [Tier 3]
• Molten Geyser Breath [Tier 9]
• Toxic Spittle Barrage [Tier 7]
[Yes] / [No]
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Dimensional Flicker [Active | 20 - Stamina | ▪︎]
The Whark can execute short-range, instantaneous bursts of movement, appearing to vanish and reappear within the blink of an eye. This allows it to rapidly close distances, evade attacks with impossible speed, or reposition for a devastating ambush.
Hunter's Absolute Senses [Passive | ▪︎]
Its sensory organs are hyper-tuned, granting unparalleled perception. It can detect the faintest vibrations, minute shifts in air currents, and the subtle heat signatures of living beings, allowing it to precisely track prey even through solid obstacles or in absolute darkness.
Immovable Fortress [Passive | ▪︎]
The Whark can deep-root itself into the bedrock beneath it, becoming an unmovable fixture. Once anchored, it is utterly immune to any form of displacement, including powerful magical pushes, seismic shifts, or the full force of a charging titan.
Infernal Maw [Passive | ▪︎]
The Magma Tyrant's teeth and entire maw are perpetually infused with extreme heat. Every bite inflicts not only immense crushing damage but also causes searing, deep-tissue burns that continue to smolder and inflict pain after the initial attack.
Molten Geyser Breath [Active | 30 - Mana | ▪︎]
From its cavernous maw, the Whark unleashes a torrent of superheated, corrosive molten rock and toxic gases. This devastating eruption incinerates flesh, melts armor, and leaves behind pools of searing slag that continue to burn and restrict movement for a short duration.
Toxic Spittle Barrage [Active | 40 - Stamina | ▪︎]
From its maw, the Whark can expel a highly concentrated volley of corrosive, neurotoxic saliva. This projectile barrage causes rapid tissue necrosis, intense burning, and paralytic effects upon contact with exposed flesh or vulnerable surfaces.
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