Chapter 130 – Battle with the Rock Worm

The Icefield Rock Worm is a magical insect species, a type of rock-dwelling creature that primarily inhabits frigid glacial regions. These beings live solitary lives upon reaching adulthood, sustain themselves by consuming minerals, and possess a gentle temperament, typically striving to avoid conflicts whenever possible.

However, this does not mean they lack power. In fact, these creatures can exceed ten meters in length at birth and possess Apprentice Rank strength. Upon maturity, they solidly become Apprentice-Level beings. Some exceptionally gifted rock worms (such as Ekrezeth-Feared Scale) can even cultivate their abilities to reach Formal-Level or even Legendary tiers. Their epithet “Underground Dragons” speaks volumes about the terror these colossal beings can inspire.

The Icefield Rock Worm now charging rapidly toward Punk and his two companions was precisely such a Formal-Level monster. Moreover, corrupted by Legendary energy, it had descended into complete frenzy. The maddened rock worm emitted deafening roars, gaping its massive maw in an attempt to swallow all three “little ones” in one gulp.

“BOOM!!”

Living up to its “Underground Dragon” reputation, the rock worm’s gaping mouth scraped away an entire layer of cliffside rock. The entire mountain face trembled violently from the impact, while the terrifying roar nearly shook loose all the sparse accumulated snow from the precipice.

Yet its attack failed to strike any targets.

Facing the shadow-enveloping maw, both cautious Punk and the boisterous dwarf chose to evade immediately.

Against such creatures, one should never entertain thoughts like those in knightly tales of diving into their stomachs. The gastric acids of Icefield Rock Worms can digest even magical ores like Mithril and Craig Copper. Even the immensely durable Bahanger would have little chance of emerging if swallowed.

Fortunately, the creature’s attacks lacked sufficient speed, making simple evasion relatively straightforward. However, the enraged dwarf clearly harbored deep resentment toward large creatures.

“Damnation! I hate big ‘uns most of all! Watch me hammer ye down to me size!”

Having dodged the rock worm’s initial assault, Bahanger was the first to charge forward while half the creature’s body remained extruded from the cliff face. Kangkai and Punk’s Golem Number One followed closely behind, with Kangkai moving with wind-blending swiftness to flank the worm’s back.

Unlike the three melee combatants, Punk had immediately activated his Swiftness Spell to retreat rapidly when the rock worm first erupted. He had already ascended dozens of meters up the cliff face, completely clear of the creature’s attack range.

Though the cooperation among the three Formal-Level experts couldn’t be called seamless, all were seasoned combatants who instinctively formed a standard engagement formation upon encountering the enemy.

As the swiftest ranger, Kangkai maneuvered around the rock worm’s head area, drawing its attention while targeting vulnerable points like eyes and respiratory orifices.

Golem Number One and Bahanger served as frontline warriors, confronting the rock worm directly to create openings for Kangkai and Punk.

Meanwhile, Punk as the mage provided safe ranged support (the leisurely arcane master)!

Bahanger initiated the first attack.

The furious dwarf channeled Massive Battle Qi into his hammer, then leaped high before bringing it crashing down upon the rock worm’s head.

“Taste Bahanger’s Great Hammer, ye damned bug!”

“BAM!!!”The heavy hammer, infused with Battle Aura, unleashed terrifying force comparable to a siege cannon. The rockworm’s head carapace shattered instantly upon impact, splattering viscous, dark green blood everywhere like spilled coins.

Kangkai’s attack followed immediately.

A high-frequency vibrating shortsword appeared beside the rockworm’s eye, its intense hum scattering snowflakes in all directions as it sliced through the air. Kangkai’s precise, razor-sharp strike aimed directly at the creature’s massive red eye.

“Formal Rank Art – Oscillation Blade”!

Powered by Wind-Type Battle Aura, the rapidly vibrating shortsword possessed cutting power no less formidable than a high-frequency molecular oscillation blade from Earth. If struck, the enemy’s eye—protected only by a thin layer of carapace—would never withstand the blow.

The enraged rockworm sensed the impending danger and jerked its head upward, attempting to evade Kangkai’s assault. But…

“Dream on”!

Punk, who had been preparing a spell from a distance, would never allow such an efficient strike to be dodged. He immediately commanded Golem Number One to activate “Iron Shackles,” restraining the rockworm’s movements.

As an intricate magic circle glowed on the golem’s hand, hundreds of metallic filaments coiled around every joint of the rockworm. Though the rockworm’s brute strength allowed it to break free from all the iron bindings within two seconds, that momentary pause cost it dearly—it failed to evade Kangkai’s fully charged slash!

“ROAR!!!”

The rockworm, now with one eye split in half, let out an even more horrifying screech. Its left vision plunged into darkness as excruciating, bone-deep pain surged through it like tidal waves. Frenzied, it thrashed its head violently, its densely spiked bone armor gouging deep scars into the snow-covered cliff face.

Its agonized convulsions created a pseudo “small-area AoE” effect, forcing Bahanger and Kangkai to temporarily retreat from the maddened creature.

The injured rockworm had now fully emerged from the ground, supporting itself on the cliff with hundreds of sharp, segmented limbs.

No longer underestimating the three smaller foes, the instinctively aware rockworm foresaw that continued coordinated assaults would inevitably tear it apart. As the unchallenged overlord of the icy plains, it refused to accept such an outcome—it would fight with everything to defend both its dominance and its life.

“ROAR”!

With a low, rumbling growl, the rockworm seized the moment while Kangkai, Bahanger, and Golem Number One kept their distance. Enduring the searing pain in its left eye, it opened its gaping maw toward Bahanger and Kangkai. A sphere of pure white energy rapidly condensed within, swelling, compressing, and then… erupting into a blinding flash of light!

This was one of the rockworm’s proudest trump cards—a move that had “instantly killed” every previous opponent. Deep in its instinct-driven mind, it believed this time would be no exception.

Just as the rockworm prepared to launch the football-sized white energy sphere at Kangkai, a faintly glowing, translucent purple orb shot in from the left. The Legendary energy’s sensory-blocking effect worked both ways, and with its left eye already destroyed, the rockworm remained oblivious to the orb’s approach until it was right at its mouth.

But… it was too late! The purple orb struck the white energy sphere squarely just as it was about to be fired.There was no doubt this spell was the “Kinetic Stasis” cast by Punk!

A faint purple spherical field enveloped the rockworm’s head along with the entire energy sphere. The white energy that was about to erupt suddenly stagnated above the rockworm’s head.

Now, here’s the question: what happens when a pile of explosives is ignited and about to combust, only to be suddenly confined in a small box?

Anyone who has studied physics can give the answer—it will explode.

Unsurprisingly, the white energy sphere at the rockworm’s mouth detonated.

Perhaps this highly compressed white energy sphere was originally meant to be a beam-type attack, but the moment it was released, it was hit by Punk’s “Kinetic Stasis.” With nowhere to vent, the massive energy…

A muffled blast, like that of a stun grenade, erupted. A miniature sun seemed to ignite at the rockworm’s mouth, but this “miniature sun” emitted not light and heat, but an endless, bone-chilling cold.

The concentrated explosion of white energy seemed to transform into a liquid fluid. Every part of the rockworm’s head touched by the white energy froze into brittle ice within mere seconds. Due to the sudden extreme cold, the originally sturdy scales instantly cracked with countless fissures, and large drops of green blood seeped out from the cracks.

In agony, the rockworm let out piercing, mournful shrieks while desperately trying to shake off the white energy on its head. Yet, this energy, originating from its own mouth, clung to its scales like maggots burrowed deep into bone, refusing to dissipate.

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Military training is so exhausting. I’ve even developed blisters on my feet, and the instructor actually said standing a bit longer would make it better—as if he’s joking with me. Why does university military training have to last fifteen days, and run from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.? I’m going insane, ahhhh!

But even if I have to stay up late, I’ll still update.

(End of Chapter)