Thanks to the System’s information, Ethan Carter quickly gained a basic understanding of the terrifying creature.
[Dread Lizard (Tier 3)]
[Possesses enough strength to tear through steel plates with ease. Its iron-hard scales and claws allow it to climb sheer cliffs as if walking on level ground.]
[Its powerful muscles let it sprint as fast as a speeding car. Even underwater, its muscular tail propels it forward like a torpedo.]
[Talent: Venomous Bite — Countless victims have perished in its jaws. Their lingering resentment has become a deadly pathogen. Anyone bitten who does not receive prompt treatment will almost certainly die.]
After reading the description, Ethan immediately understood why Brutus had become so tense.
Facing something like this head-on...
Escaping would be incredibly difficult.
It could run.
Climb walls.
Swim.
Its physical strength and defense were already monstrous...
And it also possessed lethal venom.
Unless someone could instantly take to the skies, escaping its pursuit would be nearly impossible.
Yet despite such a terrifying monster...
Someone had actually chosen to attack it.
And not just one person.
A massive man clad in heavy steel armor charged toward the Dread Lizard like a raging rhinoceros.
Although the man stood over two meters tall...
Compared to the towering monster, he looked like a child.
Apparently not expecting prey to attack first, the Dread Lizard hesitated for the briefest moment.
That single moment was enough.
The armored man slammed into it, sending both crashing through the wall of a nearby building.
The reinforced concrete shattered like rotten wood.
A huge hole exploded through the wall as dust billowed into the air.
At almost the same instant...
A nimble figure darted into the building after them.
Inside, furious roars from the Dread Lizard echoed without pause.
The entire structure shook violently from the battle.
It looked as though it might collapse at any moment.
Watching the destruction, Ethan winced.
"Easy, guys..."
"I haven’t looted that building yet."
"There might’ve been good stuff inside."
While he muttered to himself, Natasha walked over carrying the binoculars she had found during an earlier expedition.
She silently watched the fierce battle.
BOOM!
Another wall exploded outward.
The armored man flew out of the building.
Or more accurately...
He had been thrown.
His armor was covered with cracks.
Fresh blood stained his face.
ROOOAAAR!
The Dread Lizard burst out after him.
Clinging to its back was a woman.
She had buried two short swords deep into the monster’s flesh to keep from being thrown off.
The creature clearly had experience dealing with riders.
Its enormous tail whipped toward her head with terrifying speed.
Fortunately, she reacted instantly.
Abandoning both swords, she leaped away.
Had the tail connected...
She would have been reduced to a cloud of blood.
After creating some distance, neither the man nor the woman attacked again.
Instead, they each drew out a strange item and waited.
Ethan frowned.
"What are they doing?"
The answer came moments later.
Two beams of light descended from the sky.
One landed on the armored man.
The other enveloped the woman.
Immediately afterward...
Both looked dramatically refreshed.
Even the man’s battered injuries began healing at a visible rate.
"A healer?"
Ethan’s eyes lit up.
He immediately switched the Silent Hunter’s scope into thermal vision.
Sure enough...
Hidden among a pile of inconspicuous rubble was a much smaller figure.
Natasha lowered the binoculars.
"Darling..."
"Don’t you think those two are unbelievably strong?"
"They are."
"Even after all my genetic enhancements..."
"I couldn’t guarantee victory against either of them."
"And abilities like healing magic definitely aren’t something ordinary humans possess."
Natasha suddenly frowned.
"Could they be natives of this world?"
"It’s possible."
"We players have only been here for a few days."
"Even with all my advantages, I couldn’t become that strong so quickly."
"But the natives may have survived here for years."
"The System said this world suffered heavy radiation."
"If they weren’t killed..."
"And didn’t mutate into monsters..."
"Then maybe they adapted."
"Perhaps the radiation even caused them to evolve."
"If they’ve become some kind of new humanity..."
"Their strength and supernatural abilities would make perfect sense."
Natasha nodded thoughtfully.
"Then we’ve gained another dangerous enemy."
"Maybe."
"But if the opportunity presents itself..."
"They could also become valuable allies."
Ethan’s thoughts naturally turned toward the Supreme Leader System.
The more followers he recruited...
The stronger he became.
And perhaps...
The stronger the subordinate...
The greater the rewards.
Until now, his only summoned companion had been Natasha.
Every encounter afterward had involved monsters.
He hadn’t even met another player.
Now that actual natives had appeared...
He finally had a chance to test one of his theories.
Before Ethan could think further...
The battle suddenly shifted again.
The woman failed to dodge in time.
The Dread Lizard’s tail slammed into her waist.
A blue barrier briefly appeared around her body just before impact.
Even so...
The overwhelming force sent her crashing straight through another building.
The entire structure shook violently.
Dust poured from every window.
Judging from the damage...
Her chances of surviving looked grim.
Seeing his companion seriously injured, the armored man roared in fury.
He pulled out a crimson potion and swallowed it in one gulp.
At the same time...
Another beam of light from the hidden healer landed upon him, seemingly amplifying the potion’s effects.
The man let out a thunderous roar.
His battered armor exploded apart.
Fragments flew in every direction.
His body rapidly expanded.
Within moments...
He stood over three meters tall like a giant.
His skin turned crimson.
Steam continuously poured from his body.
Any anime fan witnessing the scene would probably shout...
"Second Gear!"
What followed was a brutal exchange of fists.
To Ethan’s surprise...
The giant’s enormous fists actually shattered the Dread Lizard’s supposedly impenetrable scales.
Chunks of armor-like scales flew apart, exposing flesh beneath.
But the giant wasn’t faring much better.
His body was covered in horrific claw wounds.
Blood soaked every inch of him.
The Dread Lizard’s bite was venomous.
Even through the scope, Ethan could see veins as thick as fingers slowly turning black.
If not for the berserk potion...
The healer’s support...
And a massive surge of adrenaline...
The giant would never have been able to continue trading blows with such a monster.
Just as Ethan began wondering who would ultimately win...
And when he should step in to play the fisherman waiting for both sides to exhaust themselves...
A deep rumble rolled across the heavens once again.
This time...
The flashes within the storm clouds were no longer white.
They had turned brilliant gold.
Through the Silent Hunter’s powerful scope...
Ethan suddenly noticed something.
The two short swords still embedded in the Dread Lizard’s back...
Were crackling with arcs of electricity.
"...Please don’t tell me those are acting like lightning rods..."
No sooner had the words left his mouth...
Than a colossal bolt of golden lightning descended from the black storm clouds—
Engulfing both the Dread Lizard...
And the giant warrior...
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