Chris had never seen a city so massive. Even the grandest cities in Amerosia, like Pinkshire, paled in comparison.
He couldn’t help but murmur to himself, “What could the origins of this ancient city be?”
Suddenly, a passage from the book Overview of Aethelgard surfaced in his memory. According to legend, the Silent Dunes were not always a desert.
In ancient times, the Silent Dunes were a vibrant and thriving land. At its heart stood a magnificent city called Fort Dragon. This city was considered sacred ground for Aetherbinding practitioners throughout Aethelgard. Each year, countless practitioners would journey to Fort Dragon on a pilgrimage.
But an ancient war broke out in the Silent Dunes, with Fort Dragon as its epicenter. The battle was so catastrophic that it not only shattered Fort Dragon but turned the surrounding area for thousands of miles into a barren desert.
From that time on, Fort Dragon gradually faded into the annals of myth. The war claimed the lives of countless powerful beings, and Aethelgard’s spiritual energy grew thin. Practicing Aetherbinding became increasingly difficult.
In ancient times, there were those who surpassed even the Elysium realm. But now, in modern Aethelgard, such figures were unheard of.
Chris stared in astonishment, muttering to himself, “Could this really be the legendary Fort Dragon?”
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Sudden, thunderous noises broke the silence. Chris’s face turned vigilant. He knew this was Fort Dragon, a place steeped in legend, and who could predict the dangers lurking within the desert?
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The sounds grew louder and more frequent. Chris instinctively gripped the hilt of his Dragon Slayer tightly.
The ground trembled violently. Raising his head, Chris saw it-a colossal Titan Beast towering before him.
Titan Beasts were mythical creatures from the ancient world, their power rivaling those of the Solstice realm. Their vitality was legendary; they could live for thousands, even tens of thousands of years.
Chris was stunned. He had never expected to encounter a Titan Beast here.
The beast charged at him, its massive frame barreling forward like a storm.
Against an ordinary Solstice-level beast, Chris might have stood a chance. But against a Titan Beast, he had no hope. Without hesitation, he turned and ran.
Stripes, his loyal companion, followed close behind. The ruins of Fort Dragon stretched endlessly before them, with crumbling buildings scattered in every direction.
Suddenly, Chris and Stripes were blocked by a towering city wall. Despair flashed across Chris’s face as he heard the heavy, relentless steps of the Titan Beast closing in.
“Stripes,” Chris gritted his teeth, “we have no choice but to fight!”
Although Titan Beasts were incredibly powerful, they had one critical weakness: their massive size made them slow.
Stripes let out a furious roar and charged at the Titan Beast.
What happened next stunned Chris. Stripes’ razor-sharp claws slashed at the Titan Beast’s hide, but they barely left a mark.
Chris stood frozen in disbelief. The Titan Beast’s defense was beyond anything he had ever seen.
With a deafening crash, the Titan Beast swatted Stripes away with a single blow. Stripes was sent flying, colliding with a dilapidated building that crumbled under the impact.
Seeing his companion in danger, Chris didn’t hesitate. Gripping the Dragon Slayer with all his strength, he charged at the Titan Beast.
His blade struck with full force, only to clang against its hide as though hitting solid steel.
Chris’s heart sank. Now he understood why the Titan Beast was hailed as the most fearsome creature of the ancient world.
Enraged, the Titan Beast swung a massive fist at him. Chris took a deep breath and braced himself, launching into a fierce battle.
The fight was brutal. Time and time again, Chris was sent flying by the Titan Beast’s powerful blows. But with each exchange, he began to discern its weaknesses.
Though battered and bruised, Chris pressed on. His strength came from his Aragosti, a rare ability that granted him exceptional regenerative powers. Wounds that would have been fatal to others healed quickly, allowing him to continue fighting.
“Kill!” Chris roared, slashing his blade down with all his might. This time, the attack struck true. The Titan Beast howled in pain as one of its massive arms was severed.
Seizing the opportunity, Stripes leaped back into the fray, joining Chris in an all-out assault.
Finally, after a relentless struggle, the Titan Beast collapsed with a thunderous crash, lifeless.
Chris burst into laughter, exhilarated by his victory. He had slain a Titan Beast-an achievement he could hardly believe himself.
As the adrenaline subsided, Chris began searching the Titan Beast’s body. Within moments, he unearthed a shimmering, crystalline Heartstone.
“This is…” Chris’s eyes widened in shock. He could feel the immense spiritual energy radiating from the Heartstone.
“Could this be a Monster Stone?” he murmured.
Ordinary beasts only carried Heartstones, but Solstice-level creatures like the Titan Beast produced something far more valuable-a Monster Stone.
Monster Stones were rare treasures, capable of storing immense amounts of pure spiritual energy. Just one could fetch at least 200, 000 Essence Stones if sold.
Realizing its worth, Chris let out a triumphant laugh. “I’m rich!” Without delay, he stashed the Monster Stone in his storage ring.
With this treasure, Chris wouldn’t have to worry about resources for a long time. He also knew that such a stone would cause an uproar if revealed to others.
In the following days, Chris encountered several more Titan Beasts. Armed with his knowledge of their weaknesses, and with Stripes by his side, he managed to slay them all.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Suddenly, the ground quaked violently once more. Chris looked up, his expression shifting to one of alarm.
In the distance, dozens of Titan Beasts were approaching. Behind them, an uncountable horde of beasts stretched into the horizon.
Panic gripped Chris. Even with their weaknesses exposed, he could barely handle a single Titan Beast. With so many advancing, escape seemed impossible.