Chương 686: Ekaruun, Mountainheart Dragon.

After getting acquainted with Aionthra, Liu Shu was delighted. She, like with all her children, left behind part of her consciousness so that she could answer immediately if Aionthra needed her for anything. She didn't leave behind just her consciousness; she even kept her roots there, hugging the woman. Aionthra seemed to have become extremely comfortable in their presence, so she half-closed her eyes like a satisfied cat as she gently caressed the roots around her body.

Moreover, after her talks with the system, Aionthra would be allowed to look around everywhere Liu Shu's roots extended. So, the woman had more than enough entertainment to keep herself busy. While Liu Shu would love to continue chatting with her new big baby, she needed to do other things.

"Checking on Aionthra reminded me of the others that I need to visit." So, she shifted her main consciousness and dove into the <Earth Rumbling Dungeon>. Her senses spread out as she moved quickly toward the Earth Dragon.

"Let's check the <Adventurer Log> in the meantime." [Adventurer <Luke> was defeated.] [Adventurer <Rose> completed a <Secondary Quest> and gained <Earth Dragon Claw (A Tier)>] … [Adventurer Group <Knights of Hua> have managed to earn the <First Kill> on <Boss Monster Level 149 Young Earth Dragon (Mythical)>. They've been rewarded with <Young Earth Dragon Heart (S- Rank)>, <Young Earth Dragon Horns (A+ Rank)> x2, <Young Earth Dragon Claws (A Rank)> x16,...] …

While Liu Shu was scrolling, she encountered that bright, highlighted message. Her eyes widened.

"What? Someone managed to defeat him?" She was honestly startled. The Young Earth Dragon, while he was Level 149, had enough strength to stomp Star Lords in a one-on-one inside the <Dungeon>. His titles as a Mythical Monster also made him stronger per challenger that grouped up, so his already ridiculous defense and stats would multiply further. Liu Shu didn't think that there was a group that could defeat him unless they had Cinderielle and the others in their midst.

Clearly, this group had none of the top elites, which was why she found it the most surprising. After shifting through the dungeon quickly, she arrived at the very center of the <Earth Rumbling Dungeon>. There, like an additional mountain that was part of the landscape, the dragon lay calmly and relaxed.

"Hm?" The giant creature stirred, feeling people around him, and glanced around curiously. His movements were land-changing. His massive dragon head scattered rocks as he glanced at his surroundings with puzzled eyes.

"I could swear that there was someone…" Liu Shu, glancing at him, couldn't help but feel a bit guilty. While they had this conversation before, and the Earth Dragon had reassured her that he was perfectly fine acting as a Dungeon Boss, she was unsure if his feelings would remain after, well, being killed.

"Um… Hello." The Earth Dragon blinked, and then his maw arched into a smile.

"So, it was my tree friend. No wonder I couldn't pinpoint you. Your Level has caught up to me."

"Well, yeah… I've reached Level 150 recently…"

"Congratulations, Liu Shu." The Earth Dragon spoke lightly, his tone sincere. Then, he smirked and teased lightly.

"What, feeling guilty?"

"Ugghh…" Being stripped of her privacy so ruthlessly was not something Liu Shu liked! Still, she was obedient and acknowledged it.

"Yes. Sorry. How are you feeling?"

"Refreshed." An answer that Liu Shu had not expected in the slightest reached her, stumping her. She glanced at the Earth Dragon's relaxed appearance and asked, confused.

"Refreshed? Um… How?"

"Hahaha." The Earth Dragon laughed, his voice rumbling.

"I had not noticed before being killed that I was actually quite stressed from all the challenges that almost got me killed. However, after being actually killed and resurrected, I noticed that there was no need to fear death. So… I feel refreshed, liberated. So what if I die? I'll come back either way." Liu Shu showed a bewildered look even with her real face. Those glancing at her were also curious as to why the Heavenly Willow would look so utterly baffled by something.

Of course, she quickly fixed her expression, even if the feelings remained.

"That's… Good?" She didn't know if that was the correct word to describe the current situation. Nevertheless, this was miles better than the Earth Dragon being angry.

"By the way." The Earth Dragon started, his tone curious.

"What is the reward for the <First Kill>? In my inherited memories, there should be a reward for killing a <Boss Monster> for the first time. It should drop all the loot with 100% chance, right?" Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

"Yeah." Since the Earth Dragon was okay with it, then why would Liu Shu linger on it? If her friend was happy, then she was happy as well. She picked up her mood and answered with a cheerful tone.

"Your drops are quite impressive! There is a Dragon Heart…" She stated all 104 loot drops one by one, making the Earth Dragon puff out his chest with pride.

"As expected of me. I drop quite good rewards. As the <Dungeon> grows, these will become the core materials for the Explorers in your city! Especially that Dragon Heart. They will be able to create permanent buff potions with it."

"Wow!" Liu Shu was quite surprised.

"That's possible?"

"Yes, but sadly they don't work on World Trees." The Dragon sighed.

"W-Why not? This is discrimination!" Liu Shu puffed her cheeks. The Dragon laughed and gently poked some of the roots around him.

"It's simple, really. Do you think that a human-sized potion bottle can affect a creature spanning several worlds?"

"..." The World Tree was immediately silenced. After a moment, though, she frowned.

"But my berries work on me, and they are smaller than a human's palm!"

"Your berries are different. A World Tree's fruits carry the essence of the universe. Hence, they can affect all creatures, regardless of size, as long as they meet the conditions." Liu Shu was baffled.

"Essence of the Universe? What is that?"

"Nothing you can use as you are now. Wait until you're at least double your level. Perhaps you might earn the right to learn about it then."

"D-Double…" Our World Tree deflated like a wilted eggplant. Then, she sighed and complained to the Earth Dragon.

"All of you who know how the high-level stuff works are always so mysterious. Why be like that? Tell me now, so I can prepare for the future! Perhaps I can control whatever that universal thingy is before then!"

"You can't, sadly." The Earth Dragon chuckled.

"It is limited by <Energy Cycle>, so you can't."

"You are so annoying!"

"Hahaha!" Her root lashed at the dragon, slapping his rock-like body like a child throwing a tantrum. After teasing the World Tree for a while, he smiled.

"Now that I've been defeated…" He grinned somewhat evilly.

"It is time for you to give me a name." The World Tree paused, and then she also grinned with the same evil expression.

"Hehehe. Right, right. You told me not to name you because you'd become too strong, but… it seems my little citizens have become… strong enough."

"Exactly~." Both laughed like evil villains. Outside, the groups that were preparing to defeat the Earth Dragon felt a bad omen, as if Little Fatebrushing was warning them of her mother's evil antics.

"Alright, alright! I'll give you a name then. Hmhmhm…" Liu Shu squinted, observing the dragon closely. The Dragon posed for her, showing his terrifying muscles and sturdy body.

"Very handsome, very handsome… You'll be called, The Handsome Mountain!" The dragon almost choked to death.

"Don't you dare! A Boss Name is permanent!"

"Pfft, hahaha!" Liu Shu laughed, pleased that her tease worked.

"Alright, alright. I won't tease you anymore! I was thinking about the following: <Rakhthar, Mountain Collapsing Dragon>. How is it?"

"Oho~?" The dragon's tense expression relaxed, showing a trace of interest.

"It's not bad, but that name is a bit… warlike? I want something more solid."

"Solid…?" Liu Shu deadpanned.

"If you are more solid, you'll become stiff and immobile for good!" The dragon chuckled, and Liu Shu hummed in thought.

"Alright, how about <Ekaruun, Mountainheart Dragon>?"

"Oh. I like that one." The Earth Dragon nodded.

"Solid, sounds powerful, and it has a nice open pronunciation. Yeah, that one is good." [Dungeon System: You've named <Boss Monster: Young Earth Dragon>. Unlocking hidden potential.] Ekaruun's aura changed and shifted. It didn't explode, but it suddenly became profound and incredibly connected to the earth below him. For a second, Liiu Shu had the feeling that Ekaruun had become part of the world itself. The dragon closed his eyes for a moment, and then he opened them. Once he did, he chuckled.

"Now, this is what I call a dragon System Page." Liu Shu checked what was new, and one title stood out. <Title: Mountainheart>: As long as you are connected to the earth, you'll recover 1% of your Max Phoer per second. Liu Shu's mouth opened widely, her eyes widening.

'W-What!? T-That's ridiculous!" Ekaruun chuckled.

"Did you think killing a dragon in their element was easy? Hehe. Those little Explorers just got lucky. I was slightly weakened."

"Slightly… You even have the gall to call that slightly." Ekaruun laughed again, and then he commented.

"Have you seen my new <Talent>?" Liu Shu glanced down, and she almost spasmed. <Talent: Sky Mountain (S+ Tier Level MAX)>: You can call a mountain from the sky and throw it at your enemies. Liu Shu read that simple sentence a few times, and then, she lit up a candle in her heart for the new challengers.

'I hope you have something that can stop a literal mountain from squashing you into paste.' Ekaruun grinned.

"You should be able to shatter something like this, right?"

"I am a World Tree, Ekaruun! Of course I can deal with it! You are fighting little humans, Sylvans, and other little things! What can they do when you throw a literal mountain at them! Even at Level 140, they will get squashed!" Ekaruun shrugged.

"I am a <Boss Monster>, it's their problem dealing with me. But… Yeah, sparing those geniuses will be a bit troublesome with these new skills. I just hope they have some survival techniques."

"Right…" Liu Shu muttered. Then, she shrugged.

"Well, not my problem. By the way, Ekaruun, now that you are a 'new' <Boss Monster>, will they also get another <First kill>?"

"Yes. The change in strength from when I was a generic Earth Dragon to now is too large for the <Dungeon> to take me as the same boss. My rewards will be even better than before, though. So it will be worth it as long as they can kill me."

"As long as they can kill you…" Liu Shu glanced at the passive skill again, and she felt that Ekaruun was cheating.

"If I had a similar <Title>, I would probably walk across the solar system sideways."

"<Boss Monsters> are not called unjust or walking disasters as a joke, Liu Shu, hahaha." Liu Shu sighed, wishing one more time good luck to all future challengers.