Chen Tian faced the Sky Valley Ice Killing Dragon, unleashing his full aura. They locked eyes, Chen Tian’s nine-colored Ancestral Dragon and Phoenix Ancestor entwining and spinning behind him, while a massive ice-blue dragon phantom loomed behind the Sky Valley Ice Killing Dragon.
With a step forward, a thunderous roar echoed, as if the void itself was torn asunder. Chen Tian’s nine-colored dragon claw lashed out, colliding with the Sky Valley Ice Killing Dragon’s claw. Waves of energy surged, and both combatants were drenched in sweat.
They pushed their limits, a tremendous explosion erupting. Both figures recoiled, their clash of powers proving evenly matched. Chen Tian unfurled nine-colored wings, transforming into a streak of nine-colored light as he lunged towards the Sky Valley Ice Killing Dragon. The latter, anticipating Chen Tian’s intent, spread its ice-blue crystal dragon wings, their crystalline surfaces flapping gently.
Instantly, two streaks of light flashed across the void for a second before reappearing elsewhere. Their speed had reached the level of teleportation, covering a hundred miles with each movement.
Chen Tian clenched his claws and struck. The Sky Valley Ice Killing Dragon extended its claw, grasped, and with a gentle sweep, Chen Tian’s arm was thrown aside. However, Chen Tian swept his left leg towards the Sky Valley Ice Killing Dragon’s face.
Seeing this, the Sky Valley Ice Killing Dragon tilted its head back, the light streaking past its eyes. Then, with a reverse crescent kick, its legs arced towards Chen Tian’s chin. Chen Tian clenched his fists, crossing them and then swinging outwards. His fists met the incoming legs, and waves of energy continuously spread outwards.
Both combatants retreated simultaneously, reappearing elsewhere to clash once more. Chen Tian’s dragon claws attacked ferociously, as if disregarding defense in their relentless assault.
The Sky Valley Ice Killing Dragon, like Tai Chi, harmonized yin and yang, blending hardness with softness. Chen Tian’s attacks were continuously neutralized, while opportune moments were seized for counter-offensives.
Suddenly, Chen Tian’s dragon claws erupted with a nine-colored radiance, engulfing both claws. With a swing, nine-colored claw marks shot forth. The Sky Valley Ice Killing Dragon swept its arms, manifesting a lotus shield before itself, which began to spin.
The nine-colored claw marks struck the lotus shield, causing a massive explosion. Simultaneously, the Sky Valley Ice Killing Dragon’s eyes narrowed. The spinning lotus shield transformed into a lotus wheel of light, hurtling towards Chen Tian.
Chen Tian extended his dragon claws, grasping the light wheel. He retreated several dozen meters, the light wheel shattering into countless pieces with a crunch in his grip.
Chen Tian reacted swiftly, extending a finger towards his back. A nine-colored beam of light shot out, and the Sky Valley Ice Killing Dragon, which had suddenly appeared behind Chen Tian, rolled to dodge.
Chen Tian had anticipated a sneak attack and was unconcerned. The Sky Valley Ice Killing Dragon spread its dragon wings, causing the void to tremble as if something was about to emerge.
Chen Tian acted decisively, interrupting the casting. He knew this move could not be allowed to manifest, or he would be defeated.
Nine-colored vortexes gathered on his claws. Above Chen Tian’s head, with the aid of the Ancestral Dragon and Phoenix Ancestor phantoms, a nine-colored longbow materialized. Chen Tian, his hands swirling with nine-colored energy, drew the bowstring, and the dragon and phoenix phantoms slowly entered the bow.
Without hesitation, Chen Tian released the bowstring, unleashing the attack. The Sky Valley Ice Killing Dragon, seeing the incoming assault, decisively canceled its spell.
The Sky Valley Ice Killing Dragon’s dragon wings converged, and its entire body became encased in ice, forming an ice sculpture before Chen Tian. The arrow fired by Chen Tian transformed into the entwined Ancestral Dragon and Phoenix Ancestor phantoms, radiating nine-colored light as it struck the Sky Valley Ice Killing Dragon’s form.
The ice sculpture then shattered, and the Sky Valley Ice Killing Dragon appeared before Chen Tian, its aura seemingly stronger. Chen Tian did not understand why, but he knew his interruption had been successful.
The Sky Valley Ice Killing Dragon looked at the youth before it, questioning itself repeatedly but still hesitant to make a decision.
Suddenly, the Sky Valley Ice Killing Dragon let out a roar, and waves of sonic energy spread outwards. Chen Tian stood in the void, unaffected by the sonic waves.
The Ancestral Dragon bloodline rendered Chen Tian immune to such dragon-kin skills. Dragon Roar, a low-level skill, caused him no harm, though other abilities might, due to their significant level difference.
Chen Tian’s divine eye could not discern the Sky Valley Ice Killing Dragon’s attributes, implying it possessed several times his own realm and strength.
Its level had been restricted to seventy-five by the world map, with other stats remaining unknown.
The Sky Valley Ice Killing Dragon closed its mouth and then spoke, "You are strong, but this time, I will get serious!"
"Likewise!"
"Mystic Ice, Cover!"
Instantly, cyan-blue crystal fragments appeared on the Sky Valley Ice Killing Dragon’s body, covering its entire form like an armor. Chen Tian’s expression was one of shock.
Mystic Ice was an evolved form of Divine Ice, a one-in-a-million treasure, and Chen Tian couldn't believe it existed on a hypothetical NPC boss.
The game "Epoch of Time" had many settings Chen Tian was unaware of, but it was precisely these unknown elements that made playing it so engaging.
Chen Tian looked at the Sky Valley Ice Killing Dragon, now covered in Mystic Ice, and said calmly, "It seems I need to get serious too."
Chen Tian’s entire body erupted in nine-colored light. He activated the fusion system, and his body was enveloped in a grayish-white hue as grayish-white armor materialized.
The grayish-white armor appeared like a dusty treasure, devoid of luster. The breastplate bore the pattern of an Ancestral Dragon, while the armguards, shoulder pads, and leg guards featured nine-colored patterns and lines. Upon closer inspection, these lines and patterns connected to form a phoenix motif.
Above Chen Tian's head, four different colored headpieces appeared, and his dragon horns curved upwards, extending behind his hair.
The headpieces were white, cyan, blue, and red, representing the four elements: Light, Wind, Ice, and Fire.
Chen Tian had used the fusion function to merge his Dragon-Phoenix state with his entire being and elements. This new form came at the cost of his elemental mastery dropping to 0% for three months, but for Chen Tian, it was a reasonable price.
Chen Tian looked at the Sky Valley Ice Killing Dragon, and they both turned to face each other, clad in armor like generals on a battlefield, yielding not an inch. Then, their figures flickered, and the sound of impacts echoed.
Chen Tian’s dragon claws extended, but they were different this time. Each claw was covered in a single color, imbued with elemental energy and empowered by Dragon-Phoenix forces, making his claws even more fearsome.
Instantly, the Mystic Ice Dragon Claw collided with Chen Tian’s elemental dragon claw. A black hole then appeared, and both were sucked into it.
The current void was no longer suitable for their battle; they needed to move to a higher void space. Void spaces had layers to prevent boss battles from shattering the world barrier.
Outside the void lay the world barrier, and if it were breached, the game world would be destroyed.
It was akin to the outside of the void being the program; attacking the program would cause the entire computer to cease operation.
The world barrier was similar, and the void acted as a protective film.
In an unknown void, Chen Tian and the Sky Valley Ice Killing Dragon slowly materialized. An explosion occurred, and they both retreated. This clash was, on the surface, evenly matched, but that was only apparent.
On Chen Tian’s dragon claws, scales peeled off and then radiated light, healing the wounds. The Sky Valley Ice Killing Dragon’s claws, however, seemed to be burned, but Mystic Ice currents quickly washed it away.
That was Chen Tian’s nine-colored power, infused with the burning ability of fire. Chen Tian's claws, in turn, had their scales chipped by the immense hardness of the Mystic Ice.
Chen Tian looked at the Sky Valley Ice Killing Dragon, contemplating, 'This guy's Mystic Ice is primarily defensive. Its hardness is so great that even my claws can't break through, and my armor-piercing effects are useless.'
Chen Tian fell into thought, how could he penetrate a body covered entirely in Mystic Ice?
The Sky Valley Ice Killing Dragon seized the opportunity while Chen Tian was contemplating and attacked. Unlike Chen Tian, it didn't need to think; now that it was serious, victory was assured.
Chen Tian reacted, activating an extreme dodge, and instantly evaded the dragon claw attack. His figure flickered, and he appeared above the Sky Valley Ice Killing Dragon. His dragon claws, now enveloped in nine-colored elemental light, thrust downwards like a descending dragon, aiming for the Sky Valley Ice Killing Dragon.
Seeing this, the Sky Valley Ice Killing Dragon's eyes narrowed. A massive Mystic Ice shield appeared before it. The colossal dragon claws struck the ice shield with no effect, not even a crack appearing.
Chen Tian was stunned. Then, his figure flickered and vanished from his position as Mystic Ice cones materialized all around him. Chen Tian’s swift reaction saved him.
In Chen Tian's previous location, the surrounding Mystic Ice cones converged at the center, creating an explosion upon impact.
Chen Tian stood to the side, watching. If he had been hit by that attack, he would have been severely injured, if not worse.
The Sky Valley Ice Killing Dragon looked at Chen Tian, then vanished. Chen Tian also disappeared instantly.
Suddenly, in the side void, Chen Tian and the Sky Valley Ice Killing Dragon appeared and their claws collided. The moment they clashed, they were once again in different locations.
A battle of teleportation-level speed, accompanied by white voids, caused both to halt their attacks.
Chen Tian and the Sky Valley Ice Killing Dragon decided to cease their unarmed combat, as both now understood each other’s fighting styles and were ready for the next round.