The Crystalline Rock Shell Crab tilted its head, seemingly pondering this profound philosophical question.
Just as Cecilia was about to lose her patience and retaliate, a hurried ripple of water vibrated from above. It seemed the leader in front was urging them on.
Only then did the Crystalline Rock Shell Crab give up on its study of this'strange rock,' flicking its swimming leg and rejoining the main group, swimming towards the shore.
Phew... Cecilia let out a long breath, feeling as if she had almost gasped in fright.
If she had been discovered and ganged up on underwater, even if she revealed her true form, this Dragon, who could only spray small flames, would end up as sashimi.
After the group of crabs had gone far away, she poked her head out again and continued deeper into the heart of the lake.
According to Caesar, since that big guy was an Overlord, its lair must be in the most magical and secluded spot in the lake.
Private matters like a crab shedding its shell would definitely happen in its lair.
Although Cecilia only possessed a little 'world-shocking wisdom,' when it came to finding treasures, the Dragon Clan's intuition was terrifyingly accurate.
She followed the faint energy fluctuations in the current, groping her way forward.
The further she swam, the more crystalline minerals there were around her.
Clusters of glowing crystals began to grow on the rocks at the bottom of the lake, emitting a faint blue light that illuminated this underwater world in a bizarre and dazzling way.
Finally, after about ten minutes of swimming, Cecilia stopped.
Before her, a gigantic underground fissure appeared.
The fissure was like a giant abyss mouth, stretching across the lakebed. Countless streams of water continuously poured into it, emitting a low rumble.
And at the edge of the fissure, a huge, translucent object was wedged.
It was a fragment of a carapace, as large as a carriage!
Even in the dim underwater, this carapace still emitted a dazzling glow. It was a dreamy deep purple all over, with countless tiny crystal clusters growing on its surface, like stars in the night sky.
This luster, this energy fluctuation... it definitely came from the shell shed by that Overlord-level big guy! And judging by its freshness, it must have happened within the last few months!
I'm rich!
In Cecilia's small, pea-sized crab eyes, a greedy light, comparable to a searchlight, instantly erupted.
Such a large piece of high-quality crystal shell, if brought back... how many delicious things could she exchange for with the Earth Dragons? How many shiny ornaments could she make?
She was even imagining herself rolling around in a pile of crystals.
Fear? What fear?
In the face of immense wealth, Dragons do not experience fear!
Cecilia excitedly waved her small pincers, about to rush forward and carry away that treasure.
However, just as she approached the edge of the fissure, a chill suddenly shot up from her tailbone to the top of her head.
Something's not right.
Below this fissure... there seems to be something.
That's not the sound of flowing water.
It's a deeper, more rhythmic pulsation.
It's like... the breathing of Azeria's Earth Veins.
Inhale—Exhale—
Inhale—Exhale—
With each pulsation, the surrounding lake water trembled slightly.
Cecilia froze.
Her Dragon Clan intuition was screaming: Danger! Extreme danger! Don't go down!
But... that crystal shell was right in front of her, within reach.
Moreover, deep within that fissure, an even stronger light seemed to be flashing. Brighter than this shell, and even more alluring to a Dragon.
Dazzling, eye-catching—
Is that... the aura of a top-grade treasure?
Cecilia swallowed (if a crab could swallow).
Her six short legs restlessly scraped at the sand and mud, deep in an internal struggle.
Should she grab this shell and run? Or... seek riches in danger and go down to investigate?
...On the shore.
Caesar's situation was rapidly deteriorating.
"The leppa berry is gone too..."
Caesar ran his hand over his empty System space, his heart sinking.
The high-intensity maneuvering in the past few minutes had depleted his meager stock of berries. His MP was almost empty, and Protect could no longer be used.
Meanwhile, the Giant Crystal Crab King opposite him also seemed to finally realize that simple physical attacks and single-target magic couldn't hit this slippery loach.
This Overlord-level monster stopped roaring.
Its massive body crouched slightly, and the crystal jungle on its back began to flash wildly, the blinding blue light dyeing the surrounding sand and dust a strange color.
Buzz—
The moisture in the air began to condense rapidly.
A moist scent suddenly appeared in the previously dry and violent Sandstorm.
Not good!
Caesar's pupils contracted.
This guy is about to unleash an area-of-effect ultimate!
"Rumble!"
There were no dark clouds in the sky, but countless water droplets appeared out of thin air. Immediately after, these droplets converged into a torrential downpour—no, it was a waterfall!
Water-type Fifth-Ring Magic: Rain Dance!
Whoosh—
The torrential rain poured down, instantly suppressing the sky-high yellow sand Caesar had painstakingly raised.
The dry sand turned into heavy mud upon contact with water, and the air became clear.
Sand Veil ability, nullified.
Without the cover of the Sandstorm, Caesar's dark blue figure was completely exposed in the Giant Crystal Crab King's vision.
Even worse, the quicksand on the ground was also washed away and solidified by the rain, turning into a muddy swamp, greatly restricting Caesar's movement speed.
"Hiss!!!"
The Giant Crystal Crab King let out a hiss filled with glee.
Finally caught you, little mouse!
On its two massive pincers, blue water elements frantically gathered. This time, it wasn't scattered Water Cannons, but a gigantic water sphere with a diameter exceeding three meters!
Hydro Cannon!
If that were to strike, Caesar, without the MP to use Protect, would at least lose a layer of skin if not die.
"Did that stupid Dragon die in the water? Why is there still no movement!"
Caesar gritted his teeth, looking at the growing water sphere, his muscles tensed to the extreme.
Can't escape.
Can only take it head-on.
Or... his gaze swept over the group of humans nearby who were already terrified.
Should I lead the disaster their way?
If he ran in that direction, this Hydro Cannon would definitely affect those squishy mages first. While the Crab King was slaughtering humans, he might have a chance to escape.
This was the most rational choice.
And the choice most befitting an 'evil Dragon' persona.
Caesar's feet slightly changed direction in the mud, his center of gravity lowered, preparing to sprint.
However, at this critical moment.
On the lake surface, a towering water pillar suddenly erupted!
"Yaho—!!!"
A sharp, childish, yet arrogant voice, accompanied by the water pillar, echoed through the sky.
Everyone was stunned.
Even the Giant Crystal Crab King, preparing to unleash its ultimate move, paused, its pair of strange eyes instinctively turning towards the lake surface.
At the top of the water pillar, a plump, sparkling little Dragon was seen, wearing a crown-like red crystal, its body surface also shimmering like a cut gem.
In its two chubby paws, it held a fiery red crystal block larger than its head, being propelled into mid-air by the gushing water like a surfer.
"Caesar! Look what I found!!"
Cecilia clutched the crystal block tightly, shouting urgently towards the shore, completely oblivious that she was at the center of all the firepower.
Behind her, at the center of the lake's vortex, from the bottomless fissure, something terrifying seemed to have been awakened, letting out an angry roar.
The Giant Crystal Crab King froze.
That was... its'secret treasure' that it originally guarded?
The Earth Vein Crystal, largely sealed and destroyed by the Dragon Clan ancestors, capable of creating infinite possibilities?!
This damned crawler!
It actually snuck into its home and stole from its bedside?!
"Roar—!!!"
At this moment, the Giant Crystal Crab King's hatred for Caesar instantly reset to zero.
In its place was an endless killing intent towards that silver little thief!
It abruptly turned its body, and that giant, long-charged water sphere directly smashed towards Cecilia in mid-air!
However, Cecilia's Crystal Light Dragon Wings had already spread, and she flew up, not only dodging the attack by a hair's breadth but also forcefully throwing the crystal block towards Caesar —
The dazzling crystal block arced through the air in a graceful parabola. The Giant Crystal Crab King tried to intercept it with its pincers, but Caesar swiftly dashed and jumped to snatch it!
"Well done!" Caesar's Dragon kiss spread into a grin, looking at the dazzling crystal block in his Shadow Claw.
The fiery red crystal block emitted an unparalleled glow, shimmering in the torrential rain—
In the original game, this type of crystal required a special item to activate its power, and after use, the special item had to be recharged at a Pokémon Center!
However, the System's prompt had already sounded:
[⊹Detected key item "elemental resonance crystal"!]
[Attribute Resonance: Fire]
[✣Terastalization System... activating!!!]