Reincarnated as a blue dragon, he collided head-on with a wizarding civilization.

The gap in strength is an objective fact.

As a peak intermediate wizard apprentice, Matthew had already accumulated considerable magical power and combat experience, in addition to the all-around physical enhancement brought about by the mutated bloodline of the Swamp Lizard.

Strength, speed, defense, and even resistance to pain and negative status effects have all reached a rather challenging level.

In terms of pure physical combat strength, he was even slightly better than the young Blue Dragon Frost Embryo, who had not yet completed his first deep transformation.

But Motu did not fall, nor did he show any obvious signs of defeat.

He was like the most resilient reef, enduring the onslaught of storms, calmly searching for every possible opportunity.

The dark red aura of the Bloodlight Technique condensed in the palm of his right claw!

This spell had repeatedly helped him gain the upper hand, and even in his previous battle against the Holy Knights of the Church of Final Vision, it had given him a slight advantage.

However, upon seeing this, Matthew scoffed, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes:

"A mere trick, yet you dare to show off your amateur skills before an expert!"

Before he finished speaking, he also raised his left hand.

In the palm of his hand, a larger, darker, and more intensely spiritually intimidating dark red sphere rapidly took shape!

Immediately, he shot towards Motu at an even faster speed and a more tricky angle!

Motu's pupils contracted slightly as he tried to dodge, but the opponent's ball of light was faster and had anticipated his movement!

"Buzz—!"

After silently devouring Motu's light sphere, the dark red light sphere suddenly exploded behind and to the side of it.

Although it failed to hit directly, the mental interference field it contained, which originated from the Blood Moon Meditation Method, still spread out like invisible ripples, forcibly invading Motu's perception!

The will is the final word!

A momentary sense of disorientation overwhelmed Motu's consciousness like a tidal wave.

The colors at the edge of my vision blurred, and my opponent’s movements seemed to be stretched and slowed down, but my thoughts were delayed for a mere fraction of a second.

That's the fatal lag!

"Pfft—!"

A searing pain shot through my chest!

Matthew's deformed claws seized the opportunity to tear open the scales on his chest, leaving another bloody wound!

Moreover, Motu could clearly sense that a cold, sticky, grayish-green energy was quietly spreading and permeating the edges of the torn wound.

Like ink dropped into clear water, it quickly contaminates the surrounding healthy tissue.

Each time he was injured, the swamp lizard's paralyzing toxins would seep into his bloodstream through its claws.

The swamp lizard toxin, which Green Tile once considered insignificant, proved to be exceptionally potent in the hands of the gray-robed wizard.

The wound's self-healing speed visibly slowed down, muscle contraction and exertion began to show a subtle sluggishness, and even the thought process seemed to be shrouded in a thin fog, becoming less clear and sharp.

Toxins are accumulating.

Motu's movements inevitably became increasingly sluggish, and his blocking became more and more difficult.

Matthew's attacks became increasingly ferocious and relentless. His deformed claws, gleaming with a dark, cold light in the sunlight, were like the scythe of death, each swing carrying a deadly threat.

"Bang!"

Another heavy slap, and Motu was unable to completely dissipate the force. His massive body was sent flying, his back slamming hard into the crooked tree behind him that had long since withered!

"Snap!"

The tree trunk, which had long been dried and brittle, cracked open with a huge fissure!

The blue dragon's body was deeply embedded in the crack in the tree trunk, and then it slid down due to gravity, crashing heavily onto the ground covered with gravel.

The deepest wound on his shoulder was torn open again by the violent impact, and blood had soaked through most of his left forearm. The dark red blood mixed with dust and wood chips made him look wretched.

He struggled, using his right arm to prop himself up, and slowly stood up from the ground.

His face was ashen, and his golden vertical pupils burned with a cold flame, but there was no fear or retreat, only an almost rock-solid, indomitable will.

Matthew licked the bloodstains from the corner of his mouth, his eyes filled with a cruel, cat-and-mouse-like pleasure.

"It's holding up a bit better than I expected," he chuckled. "But it's time to end this."

His gaze swept over Motu, who was barely standing, and then glanced to the side at the figure who had been huddled in the shadow of the withered tree roots the whole time.

Una kept her hands tightly wrapped around her head the whole time, curling up into a small ball, almost blending into the shadow beneath her.

The dark gray scales lost all their luster in the dim light, and her whole body was trembling uncontrollably. From her shoulders to her fingertips, every muscle was spasming, like a withered leaf about to fall in the cold wind.

Matthew suddenly laughed.

The smile wasn't big; it was just a very slight upward twitch at the corners of his mouth. But combined with his cold, cruel, and possessive eyes, it sent chills down one's spine.

"Originally, I was thinking that if something could be solved with money, why bother with physical violence?"

He slowed his speech, enunciating each word slowly and deliberately, as if cutting flesh with a dull knife.

"But now it seems—"

He moved his pair of hideous, deformed claws, the knuckles grinding together with a sickeningly sharp cracking sound.

"Not only will it not cost any money, but it might even bring in extra income."

His gaze darted back and forth between Motu and Una, as if assessing two pieces of merchandise up for sale.

"One dragon bloodline, one dragonman. Two complete corpses, sent to certain places, can be exchanged for a lot of hard currency."

His gaze finally settled on the trembling Una.

"And don't even think about running away."

He pronounced the verdict casually.

Una's already hunched body trembled even more violently.

She gripped the handle of the wicker basket tightly, her knuckles white, her sharp nails digging deep into the gaps in the wicker.

She buried her face deeply behind her knees, revealing only a small section of her forehead covered in fine gray scales. Her voice was tearful, broken, and fragmented.

"I...I was just buying things for someone...I didn't know anything...My mother is sick...My younger brother is still in college...He...he's waiting for me to send money home...Please...let me go..."

At this moment, the dragon girl's will was on the verge of collapse.

"Didn't you refuse so readily at the market just now?"

Matthew's voice was mocking as his gaze passed over the unsteady Motu and landed on Una.

"So you still have family ties."

He paused deliberately, as if savoring the despair in the other person's words.

"It's okay."

His voice suddenly became softer, yet even more chilling.

"It's alright. If I have the chance, I will personally take your head with me to visit them."

This is just a small token of my appreciation.

As he uttered these extremely cruel words, he strode slowly toward Motu, who seemed to have no chance of fighting back.

The deformed claws hung naturally at his sides, the five curved, hook-like nails reflecting a cold and deadly glint in the midday sun.

In a secluded corner where no one was watching, Una, who had been trembling violently as if she were about to collapse at any moment, suddenly stopped trembling after hearing these words.

But at this moment, the Blue Dragon had no time to spare; all his attention was focused on Matthew, who was closing in step by step and whose killing intent was boiling.

While adjusting his disordered breathing and suppressing the toxins spreading in his body, he quietly slipped his right paw behind his back, his fingertips groping for a hidden crevice beneath the scales.

There is a beacon stone there.

When he first arrived at the camp, Akino gave him three Beacon Stones, one of which he used when he encountered the Holy Knight of the Temple of Final Vision.

This is the second piece.

Once it is crushed, a specific magical energy fluctuation will spread out, and Rolin or Akino will definitely be able to sense it and arrive in the shortest possible time.

The only problem was that he had to hold out until reinforcements arrived.

Motu sighed inwardly, his golden vertical pupils fixed on Matthew's movements, his claws already touching the cold, hard beacon stone, preparing to crush it—

The change happened in that instant.

That figure, huddled in the shadow of the withered tree, which everyone had subconsciously overlooked—

Una stood up.