Once we got the quest, we didn’t had time to waste, we rushed to the Dragon Nest’s, passing through the heavily guarded entrance and into its depths. What we needed to primarily hunt were Lesser Blue Dragons, Cave Drakes, Little Red Dragons, and Poisonous Viper Drakes. According to the map’s information, these four Dragon-type monsters were all Level 90+ and lived within the first of the three layers that made up the Dragon Nest.

“Here we are, and it is just as empty as I imagined!” Rita said, looking around the beautiful caves, beautifully decorated with colorful crystals that illuminated the surroundings.

“It is quite a pretty sight, it reminds me of the mines of the Forest of Beginnings.” Said Lily. “Drakons used to live in there I remember… Well, it is mostly still filled with high level monsters down to the deepest parts, but mostly there’s no issues anymore.”

“Yep, well, there’s still some strong monsters in there, sometimes they go hunt for them.” Said Nieve. “They offer good materials and their meat is often edible as well.”

“More importantly though, aren’t we surrounded?” Jenny wondered.

“Ah… Right.” I realized.

Just a few hundreds of meters inside the Dragon Nest’s labyrinthian caves was enough for us to all be surrounded by a colorful cast of lizard monsters- I mean, dragons.

“GRRRRRHHHH…!”

“SHAAAAAH!!!”

And it just happened to be two types of the dragons we’ve been looking for. One was a group of around six large Cave Drakes, giant quadruped lesser dragons without wings, covered on rocky scales and holding enormous, turtle-like heads. Bulky and slow, yet fierce, they were around 5 meters each.

And then their much different cousins, resembling purple colored snakes as long as seven meters, covered on sleek, metallic scales, and whose limbs have become much smaller, Poisonous Viper Drakes, they gathered by the dozens, and were the most populous around here. Most likely, there was a nest of them around.

“GRUOOOHHHHH!!!” The six bulky and powerful Cave Drakes stepped forward, charging like a group of ferocious rhinoceros against us. They seemed in good terms with the Viper Drakes, so they worked alongside them to fend off intruders.

TRUM! TRUM! TRUM! TRUM!

They moved their enormous bodies and made the entire caves tremble with each of their steps. However, our tanks quickly stepped forwards. Because I wasn’t in my forest anymore, I wasn’t as overpowered, so I preferred to leave tanking to those better suited to it.

“I guess it is finally my time to step in!” Roared Mark, stepping forwards, his bulky body suddenly started growing larger. “[Overgrowth]!”

FLUOOOSH!

Absorbing the energy of the caves themselves, Mark placed his roots deeply into the underground and began growing larger and larger, resembling a giant made of spirit wood and blazing flames.

“[Provoking Flames]!”

FLAAASH!

Dark red flames surged around his body, glowing so red and brightly that the Cave Drakes were instantly drawn towards him, beginning to attack him with their giant horns.

CRAAASH! CRAAASH! CRAAASH!

“Heh, I got you right where I wanted!” Mark roared, his entire body engulfing itself on deadly, spiritual flames as he rose his gigantic Berserk Blade, something we acquired as a drop from Gaston, a very strong Berserker Player. “[Blazing Spirit Blade Arts]: [Infernal Slash]!”

FLUOOOSH!

Unleashing a brand-new Skill technique, Mark released a barrage of overwhelmingly powerful blazing slashes using the gigantic Berserk Blade, slashing through the body of three of the Cave Drakes at once and managing to easily pierce through their scales!

SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLAAASH! CRAAAASH!

“GRUUUOORRRGH!”

The Cave Drakes groaned in pain, being pushed away, but not quite dead yet… They were an extremely bulky type of lesser dragons, and their auras exuded the power of earth itself, the caves surrounding them strengthened their stats.

“Let me step in as well.” Lily smiled, quickly swinging her gigantic hammer, hitting the Drakes in front of her. “[One With The Earth]!” She roared.

FLUOOSH!

Roots of spiritual energy flowed out of her legs and reached the ground below, which instantly spread everywhere, surging new power into her body, her muscles quickly grew bigger and an aura of pure power surged from within her.

“[Crystal Hammer Barrage]!!!”

CRAAAAAASSSHHH!!!

A single powerful hit blew away two Cave Drakes off the vicinity, the two behemoths landed several meters away into the floor, their scales and bodies covered in cracks, yet still alive, though heavily wounded.

“Good! Looks like you guys can handle the bulky ones for now.” I said with a smile. “Alright! Belle! Mimy! It’s your turn to fight too!” I quickly summoned Belle and Mimy to fight this time, realizing that bringing a few summons per battles would be much better for their growth.

“MEEEHEEEE!”

A giant and fluffy white goat emerged, with long and golden spiraling horns, and a majestic appearance. Her entire body exuding an aura of divine lightning.

“Guuu! Guguuu!”

A dark knight emerged, shapeshifting around into different shapes, but retaining its humanoid-like shape. Mimy’s rusty black armor, which was actually her shell, had now become like new, and was exuding a powerful cursed dark aura.

“Belle! [Lightning Horn]! Mimy [Cursed Blade Slash]!” I ordered both to attack, as Belle swiftly rushed with all her furious nature against the Viper Drakes, her holden horns unleashing a storm of lightning strikes.

“MEEEHHEEEE!”

CRAAAASH! CRAAAASH! CRAAAASH!

Her deadly blows hit three Viper Drakes at once, electrifying them at the same time as piercing their scales, one of them ended dying on the spot after being pierced on the stomach, while the other two jumped away in fear, attempting to fire Poison Arrows at her.

“Guguguuuh!”

SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLAAASH!

However, Mimy appeared right behind them, swiftly moving despite holding a very heavy armor-like shell, the dexterous mimic swiftly slashed the backs of the two Viper Drakes and covered their wounds with deadly curses, weakening them severely and finishing them off!

BAAM! BAAM!

Their huge bodies fell into the floor, the other Viper Drakes furiously roared at us for having felled their members so easily, immediately attacking with even more anger.

“SHAAAAH!!!”

RUMBLE!

However, something even larger and intimidating suddenly started approaching, brought here by the commotion…