The roar of the Giant Crystal Crab King stirred up towering waves, its overlord-level pressure like solid lead, weighing heavily on the hearts of everyone by the lakeside.
"Boom—!"
A water wall over ten meters high slammed fiercely onto the shore, sweeping away the students at the forefront and sending them tumbling far off with agonized screams.
"Defense! Form a defensive formation!"
Instructor Raymond, the leader, turned pale. He slammed his staff into the ground, conjuring a massive flame shield before him that barely withstood the impact of the second wave.
"Fireball! Aim for its eyes! The eyes are its weak spot!" Raymond shouted hoarsely.
Several Fire Mage Apprentices hastily chanted incantations, conjuring basketball-sized Fireballs and hurling them at the Giant Crystal Crab King.
However, the Fireballs merely exploded into insignificant sparks upon impact with its crystalline mountain-like shell, leaving not even a trace of scorch.
"It's useless! Instructor, our attacks can't penetrate its defense!"
Amidst the chaos, a student farthest from Instructor Raymond was targeted by a Crystalline Rock Shell Crab flanking from the side, its gleaming large claw descending upon their head.
"Watch out!"
Veronica reacted swiftly. Without even time to chant, she pointed her short staff, instantly deploying a fluorescent blue hemispherical magic barrier in front of the student, blocking the crab claw's fatal strike.
With a dull "thud," the barrier shattered, but it bought the terrified student enough time to escape. This [Basic Defense Magic] seemed like a well-honed instinct in her hands.
"Monster Tide! The Monster Tide is coming!"
Amidst the students' despairing screams, the sand and mud on the shore were pushed aside as hundreds of red-eyed Rock Shell Crabs and Crystalline Rock Shell Crabs surged from the water and underground, converging into a terrifying torrent of carapaces charging at the bewildered intruders.
"Damn it!" Instructor Raymond cursed, realizing he might not make it out alive today.
In the chaos, Veronica gritted her teeth, enduring the oppressive pressure from the higher-tier monster as she raised her ruby-encrusted short staff high.
"In my name, answer my summons!"
An intricate magic circle unfolded beneath her feet, and a Lindworm, seven to eight meters long, serpentine in shape with wings on its back, emerged from the circle, emitting a sharp hiss.
A Level 25 Lindworm was the strongest Magical Pet she could summon.
"Go! Hold it back!" Veronica pointed at the Giant Crystal Crab King in the lake, issuing a resolute command.
The surrounding students, seeing this majestic Lindworm, felt a flicker of hope ignite in their eyes.
The next second, that hope was utterly shattered.
The Giant Crystal Crab King seemed annoyed by this provocative little insect. It casually raised one of its massive claws, larger than a carriage.
"Crack!"
The giant claw moved as fast as lightning, snapping shut in mid-air.
The Lindworm didn't even have time to scream before it was cleaved in two at the waist, its dark green blood and innards raining down like a downpour.
Instant kill!
"Pfft—!"
As the summoner, Veronica was struck as if by a heavy blow, violently spitting out a mouthful of blood before collapsing limply, her Face instantly turning as pale as paper.
The Monster Tide was now right at their doorstep.
...
"Tsk, tsk, tsk."
Behind the roots of the giant tree, Kapu-Lias Caesar watched the human tragedy unfolding by the lakeside, making a sound of someone enjoying the spectacle without concern for the chaos.
Beside him, Cecilia had buried her head in the dirt in fright, leaving only her plump dragon rear trembling outside, her tail tip twitching unconsciously.
This Monster Tide was all because of her "Heavenly Flying Immortal" Move, tossing a crab shell.
"This has gone too far," Caesar thought to himself.
That big guy, a Level 40 overlord, with Bug and Steel attributes.
Quadruple weakness to Fire.
Unfortunately, Caesar currently had no Fire-type Moves. Cecilia's Ember probably couldn't even light a cigarette for that big guy.
Moreover, the opponent had home-field advantage in the lake, where the effects of [Heavy Stomp] and [Quicksand Abyss] would be greatly diminished.
A direct confrontation would be sheer suicide.
Although he could put up a fight once he learned Weather Ball... the problem was he didn't have Weather Ball now.
Caesar's gaze swept past the enraged crab king, focusing on the depths of the azure lake—
That guy's lair must have good stuff.
After all, crabs molt... judging by the mountain-like crystals on the Giant Crystal Crab King's back, its shed shell was worth anticipating!
Perhaps he could find high-quality energy storage crystals!
A plan instantly formed in his mind.
He turned his head, looking at Cecilia's guilty expression, and revealed a meaningful smile.
"Stupid dragon," Caesar spoke up.
"Wh-what?" Cecilia shrank her neck.
"Now is your chance to redeem yourself," Caesar nodded his chin toward the lake. "Go to the lake bottom and bring back all those shiny things."
"Huh?!" Cecilia's eyes widened. "Down there... that's the big guy's lair! I'm not going!"
"Young Miss Silver Dragon, you wouldn't want these people to die in vain, would you?"
Caesar's voice was devoid of emotion. "After all, all this happened because a certain dragon littered. If they all die, their corpses will pollute this beautiful lake. They should at least die with some value, right?"
Cecilia's dragon body stiffened, her little Face filled with conflict.
Caesar pressed his advantage, dangling a carrot: "Don't worry, I'll distract that big crab for you. After it's done, I'll give you half of the prettiest crystals."
At the mention of "pretty crystals," Cecilia's eyes instantly lit up.
Fear, guilt, and greed battled fiercely in the Little Silver Dragon's small head, with greed ultimately winning out.
"Fine, This Miss will give you this Face!" She puffed out her chest, feigning composure.
With a soft "poof," Cecilia activated her [Transformation] magic again, turning into an abstractly shaped, short-limbed little Rock Shell Crab with a silver shell on its back.
She shuffled clumsily on her six short legs, sneaking furtively and inch by inch toward the chaotic lakeside.
Caesar watched her A comical appearance, confirming she had begun her mission, his gaze instantly sharpening—
The human Adventurers were on the verge of collapse and likely couldn't buy Cecilia much time.
It was time for him to make his entrance.
Caesar burst out from behind the tree roots like a deep-blue lightning bolt!
"Roar!"
He opened his Dragons Kiss, spewing a scorching [Dragon Breath] that instantly baked the lakeside mud dry and cracked, sending up vast plumes of white steam like a sauna.
Immediately after, his two front claws slammed onto the ground!
[Quicksand Abyss]! [Sand Attack]!
The ground instantly transformed into a vortex of quicksand, with swirling sand and dust mixing with the scorching steam to form a sandstorm with near-zero visibility, instantly enveloping the humans and the front lines of the crab tide!