The ground rumbled as the drake’s powerful form sprinted toward him. Its clawed legs sent large chunks of soil behind as it huffed. Its throat began glowing as it closed in on Ethan, but he didn’t move.

  He waited.

  The drake jumped, forelimbs stretched forward, black claws gleaming in the blue-lit clearing, and its outline was backlit by the fires it had set behind it. It was an impressive sight, but Ethan couldn’t admire it as he’d already jumped to the side.

  The monster rushed past him and Ethan felt like he just dodge a speeding car, but that had always been the goal. As the monster moved past him, Ethan drove the Harvester’s Dagger in its thigh, hoping the blade wouldn’t break from the impact, and managed to barely tag the monster as it went past him, skidding against the soft ground.

  When Ethan saw the blue glow where the dagger had barely cut through the tough scales, he threw the dagger close to a fallen mushroom-tree and raised a hand to counter the ball of flames coming at him with a gout of his own.

  The drake’s attack hit Ethan’s flame and expanded, spreading its reddish flames wide and when it saw its attack countered, the drake growled, and a second set of horns appeared above its head.

  Oh?

  They were larger. They curled forward, as if they’d been made to gore the monster’s opponents. But Ethan couldn’t stare at them for long as the next attack was coming.

  A deep glow quickly built up in the monster’s throat, and another ball of concentrated fire shot out. This one was significantly brighter, and it slowly grew in size as it approached. Ethan wasn’t sure if the regular gout of flame would stop it, but he had no access to fireball in this form, so he dropped the horns and summoned the lance, primed an explosive charge, and threw at the ever-growing ball right as the drake lunged forward once more.

  Smart.

  The drake crossed the distance fast, intent on capitalizing on its empowered attack, and it was halfway to Ethan when the lance impacted the drake’s own flame orb.

  There was a crack as the lance’s explosion went off, and Ethan grit his teeth as something burned deep within his chest. The strange heat turned to a flash of pain that pulsed through his chest, and Ethan knew the lance had been destroyed by the flames, but thankfully, it was enough to destabilize the fire orb. The drake’s attack erupted in a wave of fire that got to the man in a second, like a tsunami of dangerously red and yellow fire.

  Ethan summoned his horns back–wincing at the discomfort he felt–then coated his own body with his own flames to meet the drake’s. The red fire ate into his own, but Ethan grit his teeth and pushed more mana into [Scorching Enhancement] flaring his flames stronger until finally, the wave of fire was expended.

  The drake was visible once more, unhurt by the flames.

  Ethan lowered his arms, a bead of sweat trailing down his brow as he grinned. “Come on, big guy. Is that all you got?”

  The drake growled at him and began circling while Ethan watched. He had an idea, but he had to get the timing right, so for now, he dismissed his horns and stole a glance behind him. The others were finishing up the lizardlings and, as far as he could see, things seemed to be under control.

  Aside from the growing wildfire, that is.

  Ethan faced the drake once more and took a step back, hoping that’d trigger some hunting instinct in the giant lizard. “Come on, you coward.”

  The drake huffed, slowed, then broke out into a sprint once more.

  Ethan stood still as a predator as tall as he was and many times as heavy sprinted toward him.

  It’s about to jump.

  Ethan swallowed. His muscles were tense and his eyes unblinking. He couldn’t make his move until it did or it might stop, so he waited, teeth bared, and held his breath.

  Then it jumped.

  Ethan summoned his lance and held it with both arms with a shout, going down to one knee and propping the butt of the lance against the ground as the monster flew at him. The drake flailed its limb and tail gracelessly, but its momentum was dictated by its powerful jump. He enlarged the weapon as much as he could in the short time he had, arming an explosive charge as he did and when the drake made contact, it was easily eight-feet tall.

  Ethan shook when the point of the lance impaled the falling monster. It sunk into the tough defenses and detonated, shoving Ethan and the butt of his weapon further back and into the ground.

  The drake fell on top of him, screeching, while Ethan erupted his scales with fire and created a defensive barrier around himself as he kicked and pushed to get himself out from under the beast.

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  He didn’t want to attack the drake with fire. He worried that could heal it or empower it, somehow, considering the term “fire” was in the creature’s name.

  This is where a thunder or water spell could have been useful.

  The monster roared, clawing at the lance impaling it as Ethan got up to his feet. It glared at him, throat glowing, then screeched once more as its movement pushed the lance deeper in its chest.

  Ethan decided it was time to make one more switch.

  Quickly, he dismissed the scales and slotted [Claws] and [Extended Enhancement] back in, only to realize a couple of seconds later that he was buck naked.

  Goddammit.

  He had been wearing his clothes when he’d gone to sleep. He forgot to take them off when he got up to fight. But it was too late to do anything about it.

  Ethan summoned his claws and rushed up onto the back of the drake.

  I have to kill the damn thing fast. Before the others could pay attention to what’s happening here.

  Ethan drove his extended claws into the back of the monster’s neck and it roared, bucking and trashing to get him off of its back, but there were enough ridges for him to get a good hold.

  With the claws, he had a better feel for the drake’s toughness, and it was definitely up there, but he could cut into it.

  Ethan began slicing and tearing with his claws, triggering the extending modifier over and over again until finally, once nearly only the bones were left intact, he got the death notification.

  He didn’t look just yet. Instead, he dismissed the wand, jumped down from the creature and put [Reptilian Scales] back in, and covered himself.

  Ethan panted as the drake finally died. At some point, the lance had disappeared, which was something he had to test soon. He didn’t know how long a weapon could stay summoned once he stopped making contact with it, but he should test that soon.

  Before he could check his notification, Ethan called out to the others. “Are you guys okay?”

  Liz waved back. “We’re okay!”

  Ethan exhaled. Good.

  You have defeated [Fire drake (I) - Level 43]

  Lesser Wand of the Fire Elemental: 52 fragments collected.

  Lesser Wand of the Fire Elemental: 39 fragments collected.

  Still panting, Ethan stepped around the dead creature and found what he was looking for. The dagger wound pulsing with magic, and Ethan giddily opened and closed his hand. “Come on. Give me something good!”

  He waited, hoping and after a few too-long seconds, a thin, red filament began floating out of the light.

  “Yes!”

  A few more moments later, Ethan picked up a small red gem from the churned soil.

  Assimilate [Primagem of Fire (low-grade)]

  Ethan grinned. “Don’t mind if I do.”

  He was sure Ember would have loved this, but that little rascal didn’t miss an opportunity to sass him, so he was keeping the primagem to himself. After all, he needed the power-ups as much as her.

  She is telling us a lot, though. And protecting the others.

  Ethan hummed. Maybe he could give her the fifth primagem he’d get. Or the tenth. Depending on if she’s got a way to get them herself, that is. Because if she does, she can get them for her own damn self.

  With his loot collected, Ethan eyes the drake for a moment, considering cutting off its tail, then realized he had nothing to cut with.

  Then again, they won’t have the time for any cooking, considering the state of this cave.

  Shit.

  The fires were spreading fast. This area—at least this sub-cave—was probably done for. Ethan hoped the small natural barrier between caves would be enough to prevent the fire from filling the whole first layer, but it might be time to head down or find another spot.

  Ethan went and picked up his dagger from the crackling dead mushroom-tree, then looked up to find the others approaching. Amelie looked pale, while Audrey was limping. Some of her hair had been burnt away as well.

  They looked around as they closed in toward him, eyes lingering on the dead drake. Ember was ahead of them, and Ethan noticed some blood on her fur. Near the back. “Your blood?” he asked.

  “[No,]” she answered before letting herself fall on her side in a typical cat fashion.

  Ethan eyed the four quiet companions. Amelie was approaching Audrey to heal her leg, but the taller woman gently but firmly pushed her sister’s arm down. Liz looked worried at the fire all around them, while Gerald just sat down on the floor, still panting as he stared around.

  They looked exhausted.

  “We should move to another cave, just in case of the smoke,” said Ethan, and he saw a few nods at that. “Then one or two hours of rest, and after that, we head down to the cave below.”

  More nods. Then it was quiet. While Amelie blinked, and Gerald asked, eye wide. “We?”

  Audrey raised an eyebrow, and a tired smile stretched across Amelie’s lips while Liz stopped stressfully looking at the burning trees nearby, eyes surprised and intent as she waited for his response.

  Ethan nodded. “We. If you’ll have me.”

  It was both gratifying and uncomfortable seeing their expressions, and Ethan didn’t think he deserved it. Thankfully, it stopped once Liz asked a question. “Where are your clothes? Did you leave them back there?”

  Ethan grimaced. “Forgot I was wearing them when I woke up. Not much of them left.”

  Slowly, every head turned to Amelie, who seemed to be about to say something, but when every gaze fell on her, she faltered.

  Ethan hadn’t been the only one expecting a mildly inappropriate comment out of the girl.

  Amelie’s ears reddened, eyes narrowing for a second before her features relaxed. She gave Ethan an innocent smile and tilted her head back. “Well. I hope you’ll find something soon. Shall we go?”

  She gave the other a pointedly triumphant look and walked away.

  Audrey shook her head while Liz and Ethan chuckled quietly, and they all soon followed.

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