Chapter 129: The Fisherman’s Gambit

“HSSSSSS!”

Marcus was just about to urge his Violet Thunderwing Steed toward the Blue Lotus when the Nightmare King, still locked in combat with the White Dragon Steed, noticed the movement. With a furious shriek, it abruptly abandoned its opponent. Its jaws opened wide as it spat a sphere of black flame toward Marcus, while at the same time its horn flared with light. In a single breath, a bolt of Dark Sky Thunder tore through the air, both attacks converging on him at once.

If Marcus had been on his own, there would have been no chance of escaping such a coordinated assault. But beneath him was the Violet Thunderwing Steed, a Mythic Mount and a Level 45 creature whose strength was only a step below that of a Divine Beast.

The steed beat its wings powerfully and shot upward, narrowly avoiding the black flame as it scorched the air below. As for the Dark Sky Thunder, lightning was the Violet Thunderwing Steed’s domain. It sensed the trajectory almost instinctively and veered aside with ease, letting the crackling bolt tear harmlessly past.

Having forced Marcus to retreat, the Nightmare King no longer spared him a glance. It also ignored the White Dragon Steed, instead lowering its head and galloping straight toward the Blue Lotus at the center of the lake. To Marcus’s astonishment, the Nightmare King ran across the water as if it were solid ground. Its hooves, wreathed in hellfire, skimmed the surface without resistance, leaving behind the image of a blazing crimson streak sliding across the lake.

’Damn, that thing is something else’

Marcus could not hide his awe. No wonder the Demon Lord had chosen such a creature as a mount. Power, elegance, and ferocity were perfectly fused into one terrifying being.

’I want one.’

At the same time, the Blue Lotus began to glow even more intensely. Its light pulsed in steady waves, spreading outward until the entire lake was bathed in blue. The water shimmered like a colossal gemstone, reflecting the glow and casting an otherworldly sheen across everything nearby.

“Wow…”

Marcus stared, momentarily forgetting the danger. Whatever this Blue Lotus was, the energy it contained was astonishing. A treasure capable of illuminating an entire lake could not possibly be ordinary. The frustration gnawed at him, though, knowing the Nightmare King had its sights on the lotus as well. This was no prize he could simply snatch and flee with.

“HSSSSSS!”

As the Nightmare King closed in, the battered White Dragon Steed released a long, defiant roar. The golden light surrounding its body suddenly exploded outward, expanding into a brilliant sphere nearly ten meters wide. The radiance grew so intense it was painful to look at directly, a dazzling golden sun standing in contrast to the deep blue glow of the lake.

“HSSSSSS!”

“HSSSSSS!”

Sensing the surge of power, both the Violet Thunderwing Steed and the Nightmare King shrieked almost simultaneously. Marcus’s mount instinctively beat its wings and climbed higher, momentarily slipping beyond his control. The Nightmare King skidded to a halt on the water, twisting its head toward the golden light and letting out several sharp cries, hesitation flickering in its eyes.

Unease crept into the Nightmare King’s movements. It stopped charging altogether and unleashed a furious barrage of Dark Sky Thunder and hellfire, striking the golden sphere again and again in an attempt to crush whatever was happening inside.

CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!

Dark explosions detonated against the radiant shell, sending sparks and shockwaves across the lake. The power behind the attacks was terrifying, yet the Dark attribute was steadily purified by the golden light, unable to pierce it or harm the White Dragon Steed within.

The Nightmare King seethed. The realization hit it too late. The White Dragon Steed was evolving. If it had continued its relentless assault earlier, never allowing a moment of reprieve, the White Dragon Steed would have fallen within half an hour. That brief lapse had been all it needed.

CLATTER, CLATTER, CLATTER…

With its Dark magic rendered useless, the Nightmare King finally abandoned the attempt. The golden light showed no sign of fading, and its attacks were only being erased. Grinding its hooves against the water, it turned back toward the Blue Lotus and resumed its charge.

Its objective had never changed. The Three-Star Sacred Lotus, nurtured by Star Lake for three thousand years, was on the verge of ripening. Once the blue light faded completely, the lotus would reach full maturity. The battle with the White Dragon Steed had always been secondary. Now that the crucial moment had arrived, the Nightmare King needed to secure the lotus above all else.

Even if the White Dragon Steed completed its evolution, it would still fall short of the Nightmare King, whose strength rivaled that of a Super Divine Beast. If the Nightmare King could reach the lotus first and guard it, victory would be assured.

“ROAR!”

The golden light suddenly shattered as a thunderous dragon’s roar echoed across the lake. From within emerged a massive white dragon, its body stretching over five meters long. Eighty-one pristine white scales covered its form, each one gleaming with restrained power. Four enormous claws flexed as though they could rend mountains apart, while its horns stood tall and majestic. Long whiskers flowed gently as it hovered in the air.

The White Dragon Steed had finally revealed its true form: the legendary Five-Element White Dragon.

Earlier, the Nightmare King’s relentless pressure had prevented this transformation. Now, having seized a fleeting opportunity, the White Dragon Steed had returned to its true body. It drifted forward with regal ease, claws stepping through the air as if treading invisible clouds, and fixed its gaze on the Nightmare King. The counterattack had begun.

Only in this form could it fully unleash its strength.

The Nightmare King, however, showed no interest in the transformation. It simply accelerated, pushing toward the Three-Star Sacred Lotus with single-minded focus. In terms of speed, the Five-Element White Dragon could barely keep pace. If the Nightmare King reached the lotus first and entrenched itself there, the dragon would have no choice but to watch helplessly.

The plan was sound, but the Five-Element White Dragon excelled at elemental control and long-range combat. With Star Lake beneath them, it was standing on its home ground.

The water beneath the Nightmare King suddenly surged. Thick columns of water erupted upward, striking toward its belly, while the lake ahead rose in a towering wave. In an instant, the wave froze solid, forming a massive wall of ice that blocked its path.

As the ruler of Star Lake, the Five-Element White Dragon could not allow an outsider to steal its treasure. Such a theft would be an unforgivable insult, not only to itself but to the entire Dragon Clan.

The Nightmare King proved worthy of its reputation. Its movements were swift and precise as it dodged the rising water columns. When it reached the ice wall, its horn flashed, slicing cleanly through it. The frozen barrier melted and collapsed as though it were nothing more than thin glass.

“Dragon Flame Tongue!”

The attack succeeded in slowing the Nightmare King, if only slightly. The Five-Element White Dragon surged forward through the air, closing the distance as it unleashed a searing stream of flame. If it could stall the Nightmare King just once more, it would be within reach.

In dragon form, the Five-Element White Dragon’s mastery over the elements was sharper than ever, and its physical strength now rivaled that of the Nightmare King. It no longer feared a direct clash. While it might not be able to defeat the Nightmare King outright, neither could the Nightmare King easily overcome it.

“Demon Horn Flare!”

In a sudden reversal, the Nightmare King twisted mid-run, kicked off the water, and launched itself into the air. Its horn, coated in a sinister dark sheen, thrust forward like a spear, striking while the Five-Element White Dragon was fully committed to its attack.

The timing was flawless. The horn tore into the dragon’s side, carving a deep wound and sending fresh blood spraying into the air.

’You cunning son of a—’ Marcus’s thought was cut short by admiration. ’It doesn’t know how to back down.’

Retreat simply was not in its nature.

“ROAR!”

SMACK!

The Five-Element White Dragon roared in pain and fury, but it retaliated instantly. As the Nightmare King fell away, the dragon swung its long tail with crushing force. The impact rang out like steel striking steel, slamming into the Nightmare King’s body and sending black blood scattering across the lake.

’Incredible,’ Marcus breathed, his heart hammering against his ribs. ’Just… bloody incredible.’

Once again, the two Divine Beasts clashed on equal footing.

Neither was willing to back down. Rage burned in both of them as they hurled themselves back into the fray, intent on tearing the other apart, even if it meant fighting to the death.

’What should I do?’

’What’s my move?’

’Do I take the risk?’

The answer came quickly.

’Of course I do.’

An opportunity like this would never come again. If he hesitated, he would leave with nothing. If he acted, there was at least a chance.

’Go big or go home. I’m all in.’

As the two Divine Beasts battled below, Marcus made his decision. He could not wait for a perfect moment. There was no guarantee one would ever come. Time did not rewind for anyone.

Neither the Five-Element White Dragon nor the Nightmare King was at death’s door, but both were grievously wounded. Deep gashes marred their bodies, blood pouring freely into the lake, turning the once-blue water a murky red. Exhaustion weighed heavily on their movements.

Riding the Violet Thunderwing Steed, Marcus circled high above them, carefully concealing his presence. His gaze dropped to the Fusion Stone clenched in his hand.

Fusion Stone: A magical gem accidentally created by the Goddess of Dreams. It can fuse two different pets into a new type of pet. Extremely rare and valuable. The success rate is very low. Use with caution.

If it had been created by the Goddess of Dreams herself, then its effects had to be extraordinary. Marcus was prepared to gamble everything on this single stone.

He could not predict how the battle would end.

They might kill each other, leaving him empty-handed.

One might win, but if he could not defeat the survivor, the result would be the same.

The odds of both being wounded enough for him to easily subdue them were vanishingly small.

Life was not about waiting for luck. It was about seizing the moment when it appeared.

“The Ascendant’s Domain!”

Marcus activated his newest skill. A surge of power washed over him as The Ascendant’s Domain increased the success rate of auxiliary skills by ten percent. He stacked every buff and enhancement he had, steadying his breath and sharpening his focus.

“Abracadabra, you beautiful bastards.”

“C’mon, lady luck. Don’t fail me now.”

“DESPERATE STRIKE!”

The two Divine Beasts were fully absorbed in their battle, unaware of his presence. Marcus saw them preparing for another devastating collision, the Nightmare King’s horn lining up to pierce the Five-Element White Dragon’s body.

That was the moment.

Drawing on his self-taught super skill, Desperate Strike, Marcus hurled the Fusion Stone with all his strength, sending it flying straight toward the point where the two Divine Beasts were about to collide.

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