Aether walked out of the guild’s main entrance and headed south along the streets of Magnolia.
He didn’t go directly to the train station.
An A-rank mission was no joke.
The Rock-Armored Earth Dragon was thick-skinned and immune to low-level magic.
Eula’s constitution and swordsmanship were indeed strong, but if he relied solely on himself to hack away at it, he might not necessarily break through that turtle shell before his stamina ran out.
He needed a high-burst artillery piece.
An abandoned riverbank on the south side of town.
Bursts of blinding golden light exploded continuously along with the sound of thunder.
The stones on the riverbank were crushed to pieces, charred black.
Laxus was shirtless, gasping for air, the lightning on his fists not yet dissipated.
He stared intently at the water’s surface, his mind filled with the image of Aether’s frost-covered iron sword and that eerie sensation of bones shattering.
“Not finished venting yet?” Aether’s voice came from behind.
Laxus whipped his head around, the lightning in his hands instantly surging: “Are you looking for death?” Aether stopped ten paces away, pulled a red parchment out of his pocket, and gave it a shake.
“A-rank request.
Valgon Canyon, Rock-Armored Earth Dragon.
Are you in?” Laxus froze for a moment, then let out a cold laugh: “Are you crazy?
That’s a task even those old guys in the guild don’t dare take lightly.
You’re a newcomer; did you think winning against me once meant you could reach the heavens?” “That’s why I came to find you.” Aether put away the request form.
“The Rock-Armored Earth Dragon’s physical defense is extremely high.
My ice-attribute magic, combined with your lightning-attribute magic, can trigger a special reaction.
You experienced it yesterday.” Laxus subconsciously touched his left arm.
The pain of his defense being instantly dismantled was still clear.
“That reaction can significantly reduce the target’s physical resistance.” Aether looked at him.
“As long as its defense is broken, your lightning can deal a fatal blow directly.
We team up and split the Reward.” “Why should I listen to you?” Laxus raised his chin.
“You can refuse.” Aether turned to leave.
“I just think that instead of venting your anger on stones here, it would be more beneficial for you to figure out exactly how my power works in actual combat.
Of course, if you’re afraid of being stepped on by a giant lizard, then pretend I never said anything.” “Stop right there!” Laxus gritted his teeth.
He hated this newcomer.
Hated him very much.
But Aether’s words had hit his weak spot.
He yearned to become stronger, and even more, he yearned to understand exactly what that power that could Crash him was.
“I want sixty percent of the Reward.” Laxus strode over.
“Also, you are not allowed to give me orders during battle.” “Deal.” Aether walked toward the train station without looking back.
In mid-air, Paimon covered her mouth and giggled: “This brat is so easy to trick.
Traveler, you’re becoming more and more devious.” Aether ignored Paimon.
Valgon Canyon.
Wild winds whipped yellow sand through the canyon.
On both sides were steep rock walls, devoid of life.
Aether and Laxus moved along the bottom of the canyon.
Huge footprints and crushed boulders were everywhere on the ground.
“There isn’t even a ghost in this place.” Laxus had his hands in his pockets, his tone impatient.
—Rumble— The ground ahead suddenly shook violently.
A large amount of rubble rolled down from the rock walls.
Deep in the canyon, a massive creature slowly straightened its body.
It was a giant beast nearly three stories tall.
Its entire body was covered in thick, gray-brown rock armor, its limbs were sturdy, and its long tail dragged on the ground, each movement accompanied by the earth shaking.
The Rock-Armored Earth Dragon.
“Its size is even larger than what the records said.” Aether drew his Dull Blade.
“What’s the use of being big?
It’s just a sitting duck.” Laxus snorted coldly, his legs suddenly exerting force as his whole body transformed into a bolt of golden lightning, soaring into the sky.
“Raging Volt!” Laxus brought his hands together in mid-air, and a thick pillar of lightning crashed down, accurately striking the Earth Dragon’s back.
BANG!
Lightning splashed everywhere.
The Earth Dragon let out a low roar and shook its body.
Aside from a small charred mark, there wasn’t even a crack on the rock armor on its back.
Laxus landed on the ground, his expression grim.
“I told you, its defense is very high.” Aether stepped forward with his sword.
“Follow the plan.” Enraged by Laxus’s attack, the Earth Dragon’s massive tail suddenly swept across, bringing a gust of wild wind.
“Get out of the way!” Laxus shouted.
Aether didn’t retreat; he advanced.
Eula’s combat memories were instantly activated.
Aether bent his knees slightly, sliding forward along the ground, narrowly avoiding the sweeping giant tail.
He gripped the hilt with both hands as bone-chilling cold air frantically condensed on the blade.
“Glacial Illumination!” Using the momentum from his slide, Aether exerted force with his waist, and the heavy sword slashed upward from below, striking the Earth Dragon’s right front leg.
Frost instantly began to spread across the rock armor.
“Now!
Hit that spot!” Aether shouted.
Laxus did not hesitate.
Though he was arrogant in speech, his combat instincts were excellent.
“Thunder Pressure Surge!” Laxus thrust out both fists, and the violent lightning transformed into two roaring lightning beasts, slamming hard into the frost-covered rock armor.
Ice and lightning met.
The Superconduct reaction triggered.
Purple-red currents exploded violently on the surface of the rock armor.
An eerie vibration spread from the Earth Dragon’s leg throughout its entire body.
—CRACK— A crisp shattering sound echoed through the canyon.
On the Earth Dragon’s right front leg, that layer of indestructible rock armor actually developed a network of spiderweb-like cracks.
“Its defense really broke!” Laxus’s eyes widened.
He knew the power of his lightning strikes; that hit just now definitely wouldn’t have been enough to shatter the rock armor.
It was that strange reaction!
“Don’t daze out!
Keep going!” Aether leapt up, his heavy sword bringing a whistling wind as it smashed into the cracks.
With the physical DMG bonus combined with the defense reduction from Superconduct, this sword strike directly shattered a large patch of rock armor, revealing the dark red flesh beneath.
The Earth Dragon let out a pained roar, and its massive front claw slammed down toward Aether.
Aether had no leverage in the air.
A flash of golden light passed by.
Laxus appeared at Aether’s side, grabbed Aether’s shoulder with one hand, and yanked him backward.
The giant claw slammed into the ground right next to them, crushing out a large crater.
“Thanks.” Aether regained his footing.
“Cut the crap.” Laxus shook his hand.
“What do we do next?” “It’s about to go berserk.” Aether stared at the Earth Dragon.
An earthy-yellow light glowed from the gaps in the Earth Dragon’s rock armor.
The surrounding gravity suddenly increased, and the rubble on the ground floated up, spinning at high speed around the Earth Dragon to form a massive rock storm.
“Gravity magic and rock manipulation.” Aether quickly assessed the situation.
“We can’t let it release this move.” Aether gripped his sword with both hands, the magic power within his body rapidly switching.
The frost receded.
Crimson flames rose up from the blade.
“Laxus, prepare the most powerful lightning you can use.” Aether took a deep breath, his gaze locking onto a piece of cracked rock armor on the Earth Dragon’s chest.
“What are you planning?” Laxus began to condense lightning in both hands.
“Give it something big.” Aether’s legs suddenly exerted force, and his whole body charged toward the rock storm like a cannonball.
Bennett, Passion Overload.
Aether concentrated all the fire element onto the sword blade, the scorching flames causing the surrounding air to distort.
He forced his way into the center of the storm, facing the high-speed rotating rubble.
Rubble cut his arms and cheeks, and blood seeped out.
But he did not stop.
“Slash!” Aether leapt up, his flaming heavy sword stabbing deep into the crack on the Earth Dragon’s chest.
Violent fire elements instantly poured into the Earth Dragon’s body.
“Laxus!” Aether roared.
“Lightning Dragon’s…
Roar!” Laxus took a deep breath, his chest swelling high, and then he violently spat out an extremely thick pillar of golden-yellow lightning.
The lightning pillar pierced through the storm, accurately striking the spot where Aether had stabbed.
Lightning and fire collided.
The Overloaded reaction triggered.
This wasn’t the small-scale explosion from yesterday.
This was an Overloaded reaction fueled by the full magical power of both individuals.
—BOOM— A deafening explosion resounded through the entire Valgon Canyon.
Blinding red and golden light intertwined, forming a massive energy sphere that suddenly expanded.
The violent shockwave sent both Aether and Laxus flying.
Aether tumbled several times in the air before slamming heavily onto the ground, his Dull Blade flying out of his hand.
He felt as if every bone in his body was about to fall apart.
Laxus also fell not far away, spitting out mouthfuls of sand.
The dust in the center of the canyon gradually cleared.
The massive body of the Rock-Armored Earth Dragon lay in a pool of blood.
A huge bloody hole had been blown into its chest, and even its heart inside had been completely destroyed.
It was dead.
An A-rank magical beast had been killed by the joint efforts of two teenagers.
“Huff…
huff…” Laxus lay on the ground, looking at the sky, and suddenly burst into laughter, “Hahahaha!
Did you see that!
This is my power!” Aether propped himself up from the ground and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
Paimon floated out from the Akasha, circling around Aether: “That was amazing!
Successfully taking down a monster way above your level!
Traveler, you’re so cool!”