Drakoterral

 The creature known as Drakoterral is one of the most special monsters in this game. A subspecies of dragon with high attack power, who is extremely sought after for the item sets it can drop. It's one of the most beautiful dragon species in the game, with a black and white pattern, similar to that of orcas and devastating attack power. It belongs to a special class of creatures, and its stats and attributes don't scale with its level in the same way as normal creatures. But there was something else that was different about this creature. A kind of marking around its neck that wasn't typical of the species. Something that resembled a collar mark. More specifically, a skill from a tamer class. The problem is that Drakoterrals aren't creatures meant to be tamed in this game. Which leads me to question why anyone would try to tame one.

As soon as the Drakoterral appeared before me, I received a durability warning. The initial dagger was already nearing its limit and, unfortunately for me, I had no way of getting a new one to get out of that situation.

– You don't look like someone who's really keen on resolving this through a conversation, do you? – I asked.

The Drakoterral simply responded with a roar that could easily be mistaken for thunder.

– I think that's a no…

Without waiting long, the Drakoterrail launched an attack against me.

– You're very impatient! It's clear that young dragons are indeed reckless. You didn't choose a good opponent!║| Through steps ! |║

I launched myself at full speed, dodging the dragon's claws and landing an upward strike to its belly. In the same movement, I used the momentum to jump higher, onto the dragon's back.

– ║| Critical drilling ! |║

In a descending motion, I used the skill to attack the dragon at a point outside the reach of its defense.

Notification: || Critical damage inflicted. || -110 HP

– One hundred and ten?! Only that? This creature's stats are way too high. I barely do any damage. Not even with a critical hit damage.

Drakoterral's response was instantaneous, as if he barely noticed my previous attack. He launched his signature move, Earth Breath. A special ability that allows him to spit lava towards his opponents direction. I only could answer that in one way. I used all my muscle memory to perform a maneuver using one of the trees as support to dodge.

– Well, I guess that's one less tree in the forest… My situation isn't ideal. As a higher-level creature, its level sixty is way stronger than a normal creature's at level sixty. Not only that, but I have less than thirty percent durability left on one of my daggers. The other is even worse. And to top it all off, I can't damage it. Not to mention that if this thing hits me, it's game over…

The Drakoterrial suddenly decided to change his strategy. He started melting the surrounding trees so that I couldn't use them against him or use them to even try to dodge any attacks.

– Of course, besides being stronger, he also has to be smarter… Great game balancing… But I accept your challenge!

I decided to combine the skills to try and increase the damage in a single hit. Despite the high defense and absurd attack, my agility and short-range movement were still superior to the Drakoterrial's, thanks to the arboreal rabbits.

– ║| Through steps ! |║ + ║| Arboreal jump ! |║ + ║| Critical drilling ! |║

I advanced in the hope that at least one combination might be effective against him. But my expectations of inflicting damage were shattered in a single movement, just as my dagger was by the dragon's jaw.

Notification: || Perfect Block || +0 damage

– It's impossible… – I said as I fell. – None of my attacks can do anything against him. They have no effectiveness whatsoever... And now I only have a dagger with no durability to defeat him... Wait, that's it! An effective attack that exploits a Drakoterrial's weakness: water!

Since I had zero magical ability at the moment, attacking him with an aqua strike was impossible. But I can use the water in the terrain to lower his stats. And the place with the most water nearby wasn't too far from there.

– These frogs are so annoying! – Sol was complaining. – They become invisible, come in swarms, and on top of all that, they have the ability to jump high and cause damage with the impact of the fall!!! All of this while you're stuck in this swamp, unable to even move properly. The more I defeat each one of them, the more of them appear!"

While Sol was complaining about the frogs, a rain of lava began to spread across the swamp as he tried to dodge it to avoid taking damage. Looking towards the source of the attack, he saw a shadow emerging from within the trees and leaping over him.

– What are you doing here? – I asked Sol.

– What are you doing here?! – He retorted.

– Well, things got a little more complicated during the farm when this cutie black and white ball decided to show up unexpectedly…

– And you decide to bring him here?! Now we're stuck in a swamp that causes slowdowns and surrounded by an army of toads and a dragon!

– They're not toads, they're frogs. – I retorted. – And I had no other choice, he's too strong. I need to use an element that has an advantage against him to try and win.

– I don't care what the taxonomic name of these things is!

As we prepared to face a horde of monsters plus an uninvited boss, they decided to attack first. But, to our surprise, the frogs ignored us and attacked the Dragon-Earthling first, who then fought back.

– What are they doing? – Sol asked. – Why are they fighting each other?

By observing the situation, I was able to understand what was causing it.

– They are not. They are not allies. Every species of creature in this world acts like animals in the real world. Which means that, for the frogs, they are only defending their territory from the Drakoterrial, which is a threat to them. And to them, the bigger threat here. The same goes for him attacking me. He must have seen me as a competitor for his prey, the arboreal rabbits.

– Were we saved by the good programming of this game?

– That's what it looks like… – I answered.

– Now is our chance!

– Yes, it's turned into a free-for-all!

With the help of the frogs, defeating the Dracoterral became a much simpler task. And with the Dracoterral's help in reducing the frogs' numbers, it became much easier to defeat them too. After the young dragon launched his signature attack, sweeping away the frogs attacking him, the perfect opportunity arose for a combined attack between Sol and me.

– ║| Rapid ascent ! |║ + ║| Light Cut ! |║ + ║| Defense breaker ! |║

– ║| Through steps ! |║ + ║| Arboreal jump ! |║ + ║| Critical drilling ! |║

The impact of our blows on the dragon was remarkable, as it staggered after the impact.

Notification: || Critical damage inflicted. || -6089 HP

The Drakoterral responded with a swift tail swipe, which, had it not been absorbed by the surrounding frogs, would have eliminated us in one fell swoop. Then it braced itself on the ground and lowered its head. The temperature of the area began to rise, and the swamp water began to boil. Then, a lightning bolt heralded the start of the Drakoterral's ultimate technique: vertical lightning. A burst of lightning charged within itself and released with tremendous force in a flash, formed by a single beam of plasma, that disintegrated everything in its path.

– ║| Through steps ! |║ – I used the ability as soon as I noticed what he was planning. Than I ran towards Sol, who was slower than me, and grabbed him. –║| Arboreal jump ! |║

Even though I was out of the direct impact circle, having to carry Sol while dodging the blow, plus the slowing effect of the swamp, made me think I wouldn't be able to escape the explosion of the attack. Fortunately, teamwork saved us.

– ║| Amphibious propulsion ! |║Thanks to the skill Sol had just learned by defeating a large number of heavy frogs, we were able to jump much higher than necessary to dodge the collateral damage of the blow.

From up there we could see the extent of the damage that little dragon had caused. All the water in the impact area evaporated instantly. Which meant it would rid itself of the negative state effect of the water element. Before it could do that, we gathered to end that fight as quickly as possible.

– NOW, SOL!!! HE'LL NEED TO RECOVER FROM HIS OWN ATTACK BEFORE HE CAN GET UP!

– LEAVE IT TO ME!!!

At the highest point that Sol's ability launched us, in mid-air, we switched positions. And Sol, who was now holding me, launched me with the same ability, but this time towards the ground where the Drakoterrail was standing.

– ║| Amphibious propulsion ! |║

As I descended, I activated my ability to add damage, in addition to fall damage, plus the propulsion.

– ║| Critical drilling ! |║

As I descended like a flaming meteor, the surrounding air incinerated. Upon hitting the ground, the blow extended the impact zone of the previous attack, causing considerable destruction to the area. But that wasn't all. There was still the Sun's blow which, even possessing less potential energy, still had the initial propulsion and descended like a second hammer blow, finishing the nail in the marked spot.

– ║| Light Cut ! |║

The second explosion after my impact stirred up what remained of the water in that part of the swamp, dragging with it the muddy terrain below.

Notification: || Drakoterrail defeated || + 8400 experience

Notification: || Horde of Heavy Frogs defeated || + 2820 experience

New active skill: || Drakoterrain ||

Drop notification: || Earth Short Sword Set || +40 attack points - Extra skill > Earth Breath. Part of the rare Drakoterrial set.

– Wow… – I commented, relieved.

– Now that was what I can call a battle!

– Well, I guess it was. – I said.

– Exactly what I was expecting!

– It seems the drop isn't compatible with your class. – I said. – Can I keep it?

– All this just so you can get the reward!? Argh!!! The next one will definitely be mine!

– That's only fair. – I agreed.

While we were gathering spoils from the battle, a group of adventurers approached. And they didn't seem very friendly. The problem was that Sol and I didn't have much energy left.

– Sol, get up. It seems it's not over yet… – I said.