Chapter 478

Chapter 478: Dakhni

Midi didn’t know the exact location of the underground Dragon Tower.

No one could pinpoint where it lay.

Every time people entered the Crystal Dragon Fortress, they scrambled for resources and heritage—who’d waste precious time mapping the terrain for others?

Yet the Death Scorpion family, a major clan with millennia of history, had accumulated some methods for tracking the Dragon Tower over the centuries.

Earlier, during casual chats with the three fighters from the small family, Midi had learned much about their movements.

Though that intel was initially shared to lull him into complacency, it now guided his accelerated advance.

With the Heavenly Dragon Strike, his movements were swifter and subtler than the flashy Sky Sword Dance. His teleportation left no trace, and within a day, he found faint clues.

Following them, Midi pressed forward, uncovering more traces of fighters’ passage.

By the third day, he’d covered over a thousand kilometers but still saw no end to the small realm.

A mere "dragon fortress" held such vastness—the Sea of Trees stretched endlessly. What wonders would the Dark Dragon City hold?

Midi marveled.

As he pondered, a glint in the monotonous crystal forest caught his eye: a shimmering azure lake.

The entrance to the underground Dragon Tower.

After three days of relentless travel, Midi felt no rush. Instead, he masked his aura, hid nearby, and observed.

Such an entrance would draw crowds, especially core disciples. It likely held traps or secrets.

A seasoned adventurer even after his Rebirth Through Fire, Midi had no urge to charge in recklessly.

Soon, though, he spotted two groups arguing by the shore—Zaknavan, Risen, and Mason faced off against the Flame Serpent family’s core disciples!

Risen, a Black Dragonkin of the Flame Serpent family, had failed to become a core disciple after losing at the bonfire gathering. Yet thanks to Midi’s Calming Potion, he’d pushed through his internal injuries, clawing into the top thirty-six to enter the Crystal Dragon Fortress.

Why quarrel with his own clan now? What tied this to Zaknavan and Mason?

Midi frowned.

“Risen, surrender the Black Crystal Flower. You know what’s at stake,” Dakhni, the Flame Serpent’s Chief disciple, stated coldly. Her tone brooked no argument.

Behind her stood two core disciples and two selected fighters—five in total. Every combat-ready member of the Flame Serpent family, save Risen, was present.

Risen’s face darkened. He stayed silent, but retreat already simmered in his mind.

Dakhni, a Level 65 master Fighter, bore a purer Dragon bloodline than his.

Of her four companions: one core disciple reached Level 65 small success, another Level 64 peak—each hiding trump cards. The two fighters also stood at Level 64 peak.

Risen was only at Level 63 peak.

Though he’d regained his strength through Midi’s Calming Potion, the month between the bonfire gathering and Fighter Selection offered no chance for improvement. A stagnant month meant falling behind.

Zaknavan and Mason barely reached Level 64. Their levels came from Midi’s potions, but as fighters from small families, they lacked the heritage and resources of Flame Serpent’s core members.

Three against five meant no chance of winning. Lives mattered more than opportunities, making even the fearless Risen hesitate. They only had one Black Crystal Flower left, though their Black Dragon Remnant Tokens could last half a day. Finding shared Black Crystal Grass in that time might let them survive – but that was wishful thinking. Near the underground Dragon Tower’s entrance swarming with experts, opportunities vanished quickly.

"Entering Crystal Dragon Fortress shows skill," Dakhni drawled, "but you’ll go no further. That flower’s wasted on you. Hand it over, Risen. This counts as serving Flame Serpent. I’ll explain to the family’s higher-ups."

"We’re not Flame Serpent," Mason retorted coldly.

Dakhni smiled. "Your families will be compensated. But don’t refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit." Four Flame Serpent fighters encircled them.

Time deepened Dakhni’s impatience. The first-ranked Death Scorpion, second-ranked Crimson Blood Bat, and fourth-ranked Two-Headed Warwolf teams had already entered the tower. Third-ranked Flame Serpent lagged behind. Yet the tower’s traps and mechanisms required either great strength or survival skills. She needed Black Crystal reserves before advancing, but magical beasts delayed her arrival. Other families had cleared the area, forcing her to steal from fighters.

Risen’s plump Black Crystal Flower tempted her. Normally she’d have attacked immediately, but these low-level fighters radiated dangerous killing intent. As Chief disciple, eliminating ordinary warriors meant nothing – necessary sacrifices.

"Time’s up," Dakhni declared, icy gaze advancing.

A calm voice interrupted: "Bandits know loyalty, yet Flame Serpent bullies its own?"

A black-haired human youth approached – Midi.

Risen’s group brightened; Dakhni darkened. She hadn’t sensed his approach.

"Midi Asreks of Death Scorpion?" Dakhni glared. She recognized him from intelligence reports, though they wrongly listed him as Level 63. Reaching Level 64 in a week seemed impossible – must be faulty intel. Not that it mattered against her Level 65 strength.

"This is Flame Serpent business," she snapped. "Thor’s team descended deeper. No one will save you here."

"Risen’s tied to me," Midi answered. "But even without ties, I oppose banditry."

"Perfect!" Killing intent erupted as Dakhni’s aura swirled violently.