On the surface of his body, it continued to spread and intertwine, surpassing the previous reach at his chin, climbing up to his cheeks, ultimately forming a complex and exquisite phantom of energy Scale Armor in an ethereal blue that covered his entire body.
A cold aura of ancient majesty, not inferior to that of an aerial Dragon Beast, erupted boomingly from Gauss’s not-so-large frame.
The sky and earth, the collision and intertwining of two momentum forces.
The nearby Kobolds seemed to have been pressed the pause button, unable to move.
Their eyes repeatedly twitched and contracted violently.
The Red Dragon Beast finally clearly sensed the aura within Gauss’s body.
Previously veiled momentum was completely unveiled.
Its pair of golden vertical pupils instantly contracted to the extreme.
It’s a dragon!
The human it regarded as a mere worm actually released the aura of its kin!
"Roar!!!!"
Gauss glanced at the Dragon Beast and roared.
Though he didn’t understand why the opponent hadn’t attacked after ending its breath, he could sense its battle desire.
At this moment, Gauss, in a special state, his blood boiling.
For unknown reasons, he too instinctively yearned to duel with that Dragon Beast.
Upon hearing Gauss’s seemingly provocative roar.
The Dragon Beast’s body stiffened.
Immediately, uncontrollable anger erupted from within its body, finally overcoming its unease and hesitation.
Then battle it is!
Its scales radiated a brilliant red light, and its entire body seemed to be burning.
Bulky muscles like stones swelled and filled with blood!
Making its frame even bulkier.
"Boom!!"
It suddenly flapped its wings.
The strong recoil caused by violently compressed air made its body plunge like a meteor!
It no longer had any other thoughts, choosing the most direct, most brutal, and strongest combat method.
The pride in its bloodline demanded a response!
It wanted to crush the ground-bound "kin" that emitted provocative energy with its massive body covered in fiery Scale Armor!
Even though the opponent exuded dragon majesty not inferior to its own, the opponent was still just a humble worm!
And worms are supposed to be crushed to death at birth.
"Boom!!"
In its raging fury, the Dragon Beast dove down, the air solidified.
Faced with this overwhelming assault.
Gauss felt no fear.
His eyes, like burning golden vertical pupils, erupted with intense battle fervor.
[Monster Strength Transformation][Enhanced Jump]
His legs suddenly grew robust.
After mastering the [Sword Soul] subclass, his physical condition became more coordinated than before.
This allowed the simultaneous use of these two abilities, coupled with strong physical traits and the state of [Sturdy Scale Bloodline], twisting into a powerful explosive force.
Gauss captured the moment when the Dragon Beast dived downward.
His knees slightly sank, the magic dragon scales entwining his feet emitted a dazzling brilliance.
"Boom!!!"
A seismic rumble burst out, the heavy body of the Dragon Beast smashed fiercely at the spot where Gauss originally stood.
Furious energy shock waves spread in circular form wildly in all directions, the ground appearing as if plowed, layers turning over.
However!
Gauss’s figure was no longer at the original place.
Just as the Dragon Beast’s two feet were about to touch ground in a flash, Gauss relied on the incredible explosive power from [Enhanced Jump] and [Monster Strength Transformation], instead of fleeing far away, he made an extremely bold and precise sideways leap, narrowly surpassing the edge of the Dragon Beast’s thick hind limb scales!
The scorching air flow nearly burned his skin, but the gleaming aura of his blue Scale Armor isolated most of the heat outside.
Perfect timing capture!
Gauss instantly cut into the Dragon Beast’s attack blind spot — its rear side, where its vision and attack couldn’t directly cover.
The Dragon Beast felt its attack missed.
Immediately it wanted to use its flying ability to soar back into the air.
But with Gauss close, how could he let it leave easily?
Despite his blood-boiling battle maniac demeanor, he’s actually quite calm inside.
Even before the fight began.
He had prepared everything.
Compared to the Dragon Beast, he had many disadvantages.
The highest-level attack Magic [Fireball Technique] he mastered currently had little room for use.
Moreover, even though his physical fitness and condition were far above normal humans, compared to the true Giant Dragon’s body, he’s still far inferior.
So he couldn’t leverage his proudly boasting physical fitness and recovery ability for a prolonged battle.
The longer the stalemate, the greater the Dragon Beast’s advantage.
Not to mention the Dragon Beast’s superior flying ability, the initiative of the battle lay in its hands; though Gauss mastered the Flying Technique, he’s surely unable to catch up with the Dragon Beast’s flying speed.
He must swiftly conclude the battle!
And he must complete the close-quarters upon initial approach, for a more cautious Dragon Beast later would not give him a second chance.
Amidst the swirling dust, Gauss’s figure suddenly soared.
Utilizing the grip granted by the Scale Armor, his hands clenched like dragon claws, gripping the crevice between Dragon Beast’s back scales!
His body was firmly anchored atop the dragon’s back.
The Dragon Beast immediately detected the anomaly on its back, emitting a furious roar!
It frantically flapped its wings, and in an extremely short time reached hundreds of meters above ground.
It swiftly flew, trying to use aerial turbulence to throw off this audacious "worm".
Upon the violently shaking dragon back, Gauss was like a leaf boat in a storm; he was firmly fixed onto the Dragon Beast’s body, his whole blue Scale Armor glowing brightly, resisting the terrifying centrifugal force and impact from its tail’s strike.
His cheeks were scrapped by razor-sharp wind, the burning energy transmitted by the dragon scales on his hands also scorched his skin.
Yet his gaze became even sharper.
"Ghost Form! Activate!"
Taking a deep breath.
Gauss steeled his heart.
At the moment his thought emerged, his body began to undergo a fierce transformation!
Black short hair crazily grew longer, while losing its color, becoming as frosty white as snow.
On his forehead, the sharp little horn formed by condensed energy was no longer pure white, but released a dazzling golden light connected with dragon blood.
The original force of the Ghost Form came from the meager ancient bloodline of the labyrinth demon [Spider Ghost].
This is a nearly extinct ancient creature on the main world plane.
And now, this primordial bloodline from countless years ago descended upon the world once again.
The Ghost Form and Sturdy Scale Bloodline, two entirely different forces recklessly intertwined within Gauss’s body, converging into a entirely new strength!
"Crack!"
A pair of energy wing sprouts emerged from Gauss’s back! Instantly pierced the robe!
The dragon majesty exuding from him almost solidified into tangible pressure, intensifying the Dragon Beast’s struggling movement underneath!
Gauss opened his eyes, exceptionally bright!
Feeling the unprecedented powerful energy surging within, his lips subtly curled.
"Now, let me teach you how to wield this true dragon’s strength."