Dungeon Overlord: Monster Girl Harem!-Chapter 52: Drakefang Salamander - II (Awakened)

The moment it appeared, the forest was consumed by a whirlwind of fire and smoke.

The towering three-metre-tall salamander-like beast lifted its head. Its obsidian scales now cracked with veins of molten fire that pulsed like liquid magma beneath the surface. Jagged spines grew along its back, glowing like heated rocks with trailing embers.

"Shit."

Its golden eyes, once that of a beast.

Became those that burned with the pride and malice of dragons, calculating, vengeful and seething with rage.

"Asuka, can you still fight?" Leon forced a hoarse voice through his cracked lips.

Leonhardt's eyes narrowed, gazing at the swirling coils of flame that wrapped the beast's limbs tightly, neither consuming nor fading but responding to its will. Where it trampled, the earth blackened, and the lake churned with steam and a boiling surface.

"Ugh… my body hurts…"

Shudder

The moment the beast stepped forward, it lifted its long neck with pride, flames dancing as it desired, and the sac beneath its throat swelled.

'Ifrit, can you stop ignoring me and help me with my current DP!'

He staggered to his feet, dragging the heavy greatsword, swinging it in an arc and resting the blade on his shoulder, lethargically lugging forward.

[You are in great danger. The beast has evolved because of the situation.]

'I can see that! Ifrit, help me, no please guide me.'

Leonhardt's eyes narrowed with a sense of danger.

His mana regenerated quite fast since he stood in a forest. The pulsating mana of fire and wind flowed into him while he observed the salamander.

He grasped his sword, sucking in a deep breath of cool air tainted with the taste of ash.

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[Searching for solutions: 5%… 9%… 12%…]

Time didn't seem to be his ally this time. He twisted his foot in the dirt and let out a long sigh before a loud thud sounded beside him. Asuka stood there holding her axe with a tense expression, her eyes narrowed, and lips pressed together.

"It seems done with the warm-up." Asuka's sexy yet charming grunt sounded as the dragon lifted its head and released a deafening roar.

"Looks like we're going to have a good workout—you ready, Asuka?"

"Anytime, Leo."

'Leo?'

The nickname brought a smile to his lips as he and Asuka dashed forward. The next instant, they fanned out to opposite sides, rushing at the drake. It squeezed its flame sac tight, emitting a ferocious flame that devoured the air in a cone.

VWOOM

"Asuka!"

"Got it Leo."

Their voices echoed; one flickered with fire to resist the flames, the other's scales and tanned skin dashing through the aura of fire without issue.

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"Take this."

Shling

"Hah."

Woosh

Leonhardt's blade cut through the air, his body rotating in the air before it collided with the dragon's reinforced hide.

Clang

A second later, Asuka drove her heavy axe into the dragon's side with a brutal chop.

Crack

Her axe tore the hard, obsidian scales, cutting into the drake's body, but the damage was only minimal, while Leonhardt's attack shattered the scales completely.

"Roar!"

With a sudden vengeful scream, the drake's body swiped at the pair with its long, curved claws. Its strength was enough to tear apart the air. The claws collided with their weapons, causing a deep vibration of steel and bone and sending them floating back several steps.

"Damn beast."

Asuka grunted and charged forward—a weak aura wrapped around her body as she assaulted the drake with a series of heavy, violent blows.

The first sliced and cracked a scale before her second and third strikes cut into the dragon's flesh, causing its body to glow with flames, the blood sizzling before it evaporated.

Asuka spat on the ground because the flames cauterised the wound!

[Searching for solutions: 31%… 38%… 41%…]

Leon's eyes flicked to the progress panel before he dashed towards the dragon's rear. He ducked under its tail before swinging his blade upward. But the dragon spun around, almost striking him instantly and forced him to defend himself.

Screech

The dragon's hard scales struck against his sword, creating an unbearable screeching sound. Leon grunted as he put all his strength into his muscles to thrust the creature away.

A tremor ran through his arm, making him wonder just how powerful this creature had become.

'If I wasn't so strong now, I might be dead,' He thought as the drake rushed toward him.

Once again, lifting his blade, he prepared to face the beast.

"Fall, you damn overgrown lizard."

"Grrr!"

An earth-shattering rumble echoed through the forest as a storm of debris uprooted trees, and scorched wood flew around them like a mini tornado. With a leap, he barely dodged the Drakefang's second whip-like tail strike.

With each move, the dragon's rage seemed to grow.

Fire and steam surged forth, fuelled by a fury born from its primal instincts.

Thump

With its four massive feet planted firmly on the ground, the drake kicked out at Leonhardt, forcing him backwards with its forelimb, then lunging forward.

However, Leonhardt refused to retreat, standing his ground, blocking and deflecting its claws and snapping maw until he noticed the scales growing hot on its belly where the flame sac shook, swelling once again.

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He'd rather not have a repeat of what happened last time.

Without hesitation, Leonhardt plunged his blade into its softer stomach hide. The metallic clash and his cry resounded as he slashed across the air in a flaming arc that sliced at the beast's belly once more. It responded with a roar and another swat with its forelimb.

Slash!

He sidestepped, then swiftly ducked before an axe descended upon the beast, its sharp edge cutting deeply into one of its legs.

"GRROOOOOAR?"

Stunned from the blow, the drake flinched, allowing Leon and Asuka to strike harder with successive hits, aiming for its flanks and soft belly.

Their weapons cut, sliced and carved the beast's flesh, blood oozing from the bloody scales, a searing heat sizzling from the ground as the drake snarled, staggering to its feet as it cauterised the wound on its leg.

However, despite their efforts, their attacks failed to inflict fatal damage—the drake was simply too resilient.

"Haa… Leon, I'm at my limits here… my axe is melting, too."

"Haha, don't you like it steaming hot and rough, Asuka?"

Leonhardt's lips curled into a smirk.

He noticed the progress from the corner of his eyes and waited for the panel to fill with methods. Meanwhile, enjoying his time flirting with Asuka, who looked sensual and covered in a shiny sweat from the heat and battle.

[Searching for solutions: 99%…]

'Here it comes!'

"Asuka, buy me some time."

"Are you kidding me?!"

The drake's mouth suddenly curved into a bizarre and eerie smile—the drake contracted its body, pulling all its legs together and wrapping its chin under its chest.

"Wait, Asuka!"

"Huh?"

Asuka rushed forward and struck down with a brutal chop, cutting the air as the drake huddled its body in a defensive position. The flames around its body sucked tightly around its stomach and neck.

Thunk

Ba-Dump!

Leonhardt's chest throbbed, a sense of danger that came from his spider senses.

He didn't know what might happen, but before he realised.

Before he knew it, he rushed towards Asuka, who chopped and carved the drake like a crazed lunatic, deep bloody gashes forming on its flank.

"Asuka! Get down."

He lunged towards her—the air became silent as the countless razor-sharp spines of the dragon shot from its back like a porcupine.

Hundreds of sharp obsidian spikes tore through the air in all directions.

Da-Da-Da-Da-Da!

Asuka didn't understand what happened.

Suddenly, the world started spinning as a pair of arms wrapped around her body and sent her flying into the hot pool of water with a splash.

In Leonhardt's embrace, she instinctively wrapped her arms around his shoulders. But then her eyes widened as his body jerked in midair, his face twitching in pain, a small grunt leaving his mouth.

The world turned red as blood flowed into the water and poured down her face.

'E-Eh?'

Unable to speak as he pushed her under the water, she saw dozens of spikes sticking from his back and limbs.

'Leo?! No!'

Yet, oblivious to her mental plea, his blood continued seeping into the water.

However, as she trembled, worried about him, his eyes narrowed with a playful glint—something glistened red in his lips, a small bead, maybe a marble.

'What is that?'