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The scene before him was entirely different from before; compared to the previous heat, it was darker here and much colder.

The space was vast, almost like a small world, with rugged, steep terrain, and various unique plants growing on the rocks.

Cassius recognized some of them: spore mushrooms, green dust algae, and the horn of the mad toadman—all plants that only grew in the deepest parts of the underground.

Glowing rocks, luminescent crystals, and phosphorescent moss, lichens, and fungi faintly illuminated parts of the area.

Unknown clusters of crystals grew along the cliffs, casting a ghostly blue glow that tinted the nearby rocks a dark navy color.

“Is this… the Underdark?”

“No.”

The depth here clearly exceeded the cave’s range, reaching a deeper and darker domain.

This was the hidden world beneath the surface—commonly known as the Underdark.

Yet, this region of the Bottomless Cavern seemed closed off, isolated from the outside, more like an unnaturally formed subterranean world.

Cassius extended his forked tongue, using his extraordinarily keen sense of smell to analyze the various pheromones in the air until he found the familiar scent—the blood of the Bluefoot Drakesnake.

He looked toward a corner of the cliff; under the glow of the luminescent crystal, the area’s color was noticeably different, with traces of blue-green blood marking the path he could follow to track his escaping prey.

“Found you.”

“Bluefoot Drakesnake.”

He wasn’t going to let this enemy escape again; he would ensure a decisive kill.

Cassius had just experienced an exhilarating fight, depleting his spells, so he tapped into his Font of Magic to restore his spell slots.

A surge of magical energy poured into his body.

“Invisibility.”

He muttered the incantation silently.

Instantly, his seven-meter-long form merged with the darkness once more.

In a distant corner, the Bluefoot Drakesnake was weakly licking its wounds.

Its once-massive seventeen-meter body was now less than ten meters, its back end a gruesome, raw stump rather than a tail.

Torn muscles, damaged organs, and a constant trickle of blue-green blood showed the severity of its injuries.

The sight alone revealed the grave extent of the Bluefoot Drakesnake’s wounds.

It was likely that its lower body might never fully recover, leaving it as a “crippled” Drakesnake, though it still had seven pairs of legs.

“Damn dragon,” it muttered.

Remembering the dragon sorcerer responsible for its suffering, hatred flared in its eerie blue eyes, a deep-seated loathing drawn from both bloodline and the wounds inflicted.

Bluefoot Drakesnakes never nested near dragons.

If a dragon attempted to nest within dozens of miles of a Drakesnake’s territory, it would have to kill or drive it away.

Only if the dragon was too powerful would the Drakesnake abandon its nest and seek a new one elsewhere.

Its last departure had been for that very reason.

A strange gust blew along the shadowy rock wall, causing the Drakesnake to shiver.

“This feeling…”

For some reason, an intense dread emerged from deep within its bloodline. Alerted, it rose, pressing its seven pairs of legs against the rock wall.

But it was already too late.

“Got you.”

The red dragon materialized from above, seizing the Bluefoot Drakesnake with powerful claws.

This time, he grabbed not its body but its neck.

Cassius, learning from his previous encounter, didn’t believe the Drakesnake could sever its head to escape.

“Aaargh—”

The Drakesnake looked at the red dragon in disbelief.

Its massive body writhed in desperation, its seven pairs of legs clawing and scraping at the rock wall, thrashing as it tried to break free from the dragon’s chokehold.

“Crash!”

Its body smashed against the rock wall, sending chunks of stone crashing down.

Yet the red dragon’s claws held firm, biting into the Drakesnake’s neck with sharp teeth that sank deep into its flesh.

His long, muscular tail also struck repeatedly at the Drakesnake’s wounds, splattering its blood everywhere.

The Drakesnake let out pitiful whimpers.

Its struggles grew weaker with each passing moment.

Cassius didn’t release his grip, applying even more force until he was nearly exhausted.

At last, he heard a sharp “crack” as the Drakesnake’s bones broke.

Cassius let go in relief, watching as the Drakesnake’s massive body fell from the cliff and crashed heavily to the ground.

“Roar—”

Standing atop the cliff, the red dragon spread his wings, releasing a long, triumphant roar.

[Defeated 【Bluefoot Drakesnake - Man’a】, gained 7200 XP]

[Your class level has increased to 5]

A dense spell list appeared before him, filling Cassius with joy.

Receiving rewards after an intense battle—nothing could feel better.

Upon reaching level five, a sorcerer gained two additional level-three spells.

When selecting his spells, Cassius avoided the famed Fireball, favoring supportive spells instead.

His dragon ability 【Empowered Breath Weapon】 already provided ample damage, making Fireball unnecessary.

After some thought, Cassius made his choice.

[You have gained the level-three spells 【Blink】 and 【Protection from Energy】]

【Blink】

Level 3 Transmutation Spell

For the duration, there is a 50% chance you disappear from your current plane and enter the Ethereal Plane. While in the Ethereal Plane, you can see and hear the Material Plane, but everything is in black and white. Other creatures can only interact with you if they are also on the Ethereal Plane.

【Protection from Energy】

Level 3 Abjuration Spell

For up to one hour, a willing creature you touch gains resistance to one type of energy damage of your choice: acid, cold, fire, lightning, or thunder.

With these two spells, Cassius wouldn’t have been so wary of the Drakesnake’s lightning breath, and wouldn’t have needed to engage in close combat.

These spells materialized in Cassius’s mind.

They were far more intricate and versatile than his previous spells—so much so that he struggled to fully understand them at first.

Standing in place, he spent a long time contemplating, gradually grasping the basic use of each spell.

Each layer of the Weave’s magic grew exponentially more complex and difficult to understand.

Fortunately, Cassius was a “sorcerer of artistry.”

He only needed to grasp the basic function, bending reality to his will without needing to calculate every detail or construct an intricate model.

Regardless, Cassius had finally taken a significant step forward, reaching the third layer of the Weave.