Sapphire returned to the poison woods, fairly well prepared now according to her. Taking out a leaf from her coat pocket she placed it in her mouth. Tucking the leaf behind her teeth she walked into the Poison Woods, not being affected the poisonous environment in the slightest.
Seems like it is working, Sapphire smiled to herself. From what Kurai taught me, leaves of some plants can work as antidotes. This one is a lesser antidote and can only protect from poisonous air, I just need to keep it in my mouth. At first it tastes sweet, but the taste gets bitter as it absorbs more poisonous air. When it gets very bitter I have to spit it out and replace it with a new one.
Sapphire walked through the poison woods, keeping an eye out for any movement. She had already activated her 'sneak' skill when she entered the woods, still keeping herself prepared to use Shadow Movement to dodge any surprise attacks. The dense poisonous air blocked sunlight from entering the woods, allowing her to use Shadow Movement anywhere and anytime easily, but it also greatly reduced her visibility.
"Requirements have been met, acquired skill
Well, that is just better, Sapphire thought as she walked deeper into the Poison Woods.
Sapphire remained on high alert to notice any signs of a dragon. Large tracks, its scent, any loud sounds, any large shadows, or anything that could be the doing of a dragon. While her attention drifted to a deformed tree, Sapphire fell as her leg slipped on the ground. She fell on her back, quickly jumping back onto her feet to not be caught in a defenseless position. The ground seemed wet and slippery, but the liquid didn't seem like water at all. It appeared to be much denser than water and purplish in color.
Now that I think about it, I haven't used Appraisal on any object, will it even work? Might as well try it. Appraise. Sapphire wondered as she inspected the puddle of liquid.
"Puddle of weak draconic venom."
Wait, draconic venom? Well it does make sense I will find a poison dragon in the poison woods, Sapphire sighed. I wonder how I will fare against one, guessing from the size of this puddle of venom it can spew a large amount of it onto me. I wonder if it has acidic properties.
The sound of a branch cracking caught her attention and she snapped her head in that direction on impulse. As she turned her eyes widened, a shadow blocking the slight amount of light which fell on her face.
Just one of its talons seemed large enough to permanently squash the beast that Sapphire had fought before she got her bracelet with Appraisal. Its wings were gigantic and its entire body covered in blackish-purple scales, shiny purple eyes glimmering in its head. Its tail swept the area behind it, flattening the ground it passed over, covering the tracks left by its four giant talons.
Sapphire wondered how she was supposed to even get near a colossal beast like this without dying, but if she won she was sure to receive a great level boost.
Wait, no need to jump to conclusions, Appraisal?
"Ancient Poison Dragon (male), name: Toxic, level 27, HP: 43780/47800, MP: 50000/50000, Stamina: 53000/53000, Strength: 13683, Defense: 22740, Speed: 231."
H-how am I supposed to win against something like that? All of its stats are more than fifty times mine, I can only beat it in speed, Sapphire stepped backwards as she realised, stopping herself after a few steps. No, I am not giving up, this is a high risk high reward situation, and since my speed is higher I can get away from its attacks with ease, or so I hope.
Sapphire charged through the withered flora straight towards the massive tail of the dragon, jumping onto it and climbing higher onto the dragon's massive body. As she reached its back unsheathing her katana she unleashed a dark slash right on its body.
How much did that do? Sapphire questioned.
"HP: 43675/47800."
I am going to be here all night at this rate, Sapphire complained. Well, I will be here all night, if I survive that is.
Unsheathing her other katana she swung both her blades and attacked the dragon at the same spot. There was a short cooldown on using the dark slash, so she simply attacked with both her katana in that cooldown, slashing the dragon continuously.
The upper layer of the dragon's scales were torn away by a dark slash after a short while, but they simply revealed even more, even tougher scales. Sapphire gritted her teeth in annoyance as she continued to attack.
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"Skill:
Appraise.
"HP: 42700/47800."
Yes, I am making progress, and my attacks are also getting stronger.
Sapphire continued her attack as the dragon didn't even notice that it was being attacked. Sapphire wondered if it possessed some sort of pain nullification skill or it would notice once she got past the scales.
"Skill proficiency reached, acquired the skill:
Spitting out the leaf in her mouth, the leaf having turned blackish-purple, she replaced it with another one as she continued to attack the dragon with both her katana and dark slashes. While there was no way to tell, she figured she kept attacking the dragon for about an hour, to barely damage it.
"Skill:
Appraise.
"HP: 35820/47800."
Just a matter of time now. What about my stamina?
"Stamina: 480/1150, HP: 762/790."
Seems like I wasn't fast enough in replacing the leaf.
Sapphire continued her barrage of attacks but the dragon didn't even pay her any mind, even though she made it lose nearly one-fourth of its HP. Either it simply didn't think of her as a threat or just let her do her thing before it kills her in one attack, which it very easily could if it wished to.
There still seemed to be some time before dusk and Sapphire felt completely worn out from continuously attacking it. She sat on the dragon's back and ate a sandwich and rested a moment to recover her stamina to be able to resume her attack.
Appraise, Sapphire commanded while her mouth was filled with her sandwich, with a leaf still tucked in a corner of her mouth.
"HP: 7800/47800."
Just how in the world has he not noticed that? Is he deliberately ignoring it? Does he actually want to die? I can't rely on that small possibility, I need to stay on my guard in case it changes its mind, Sapphire warned herself. Well, time to get back to work. Sapphire sighed as she pushed herself to her feet.
She continued with her attacks, the dragon still paying her no attention. From the light in the sky it didn't seem like much time remained till dusk.
"Skill:
Appraise.
"HP: 685/47800."
Not too far now. Sapphire thought with a smirk as she raised both her katana to the sky for a strong attack.
The dragon shook its body before she could land the hit, knocking Sapphire off towards one its wings. It flapped that wing and tossed Sapphire through the air towards the other wing, smashing it into her to send her flying through multiple trees as she crashed on the ground.
"W-what?" Sapphire coughed weakly after she crashed, attempting to get back up.
A stream of blood flowed down her head, her arms and legs were scraped from the barren landscape and dry withered trees, and she could taste blood in her mouth as some trickled down from her split lips and tongue which she bit at some point. She looked towards the Poison Dragon that slowly turned around towards her, opening its gigantic mouth to douse her in venom.
Neither am I going down this easily, nor are you making it out of this place. Sapphire snarled as she pushed herself back to her feet with all her strength.
The dragon unleashed a flood of venom from its mouth that washing away several thin trees in its path and melting them to the ground, many of the thicker trees surviving the attack.
It is acidic, Sapphire realized, scanning the area to find a safe spot.
She quickly jumped onto a tall tree, both her katana still in her hands, barely hanging from her bleeding palms. She quickly scanned the entire area for things to jump on to reach the dragon, not wanting to allow the dragon time to unleash another flood of venom.
"Skill:
I guess that is helpful, Sapphire panted as she searched the surrounding area.
The entire area around was flooded with the venom, falling in it would be an instant death, even with that level of resistance she stood no chance of surviving a dip. There were some trees poking out of the venom lake, which would be risky to jump to.
I have failed once doing this, but I won't fail again. Sapphire gritted her teeth as she steeled her resolve.
Sapphire leaped from her spot to the nearest tree, landing perfectly. If she wanted to make it she needed to do this just fourteen more times. She sped up as she went ahead, her entire focus on it, not letting her guard down like last time. The venom also slowly receded as it flowed to other areas and was absorbed by the earth.
Sapphire glimpsed the dragon open its jaws from the corner of her eye, just three trees away. She quickened her pace knowing it was no use to try dodge, also knowing its attack would only hit her more accurately the closer she got.
There is nothing I can do here, it's over for me. Wait no, there is one thing I can do, I don't know if it will work or not, but this is do or die right now, though I might die either ways. Sheathing her older katana which she held in her left hand, she retrieved a small black colored spherical ball from one of her pockets. "Please work." She prayed as she threw it right into the dragon's jaws.
As the dragon prepared to let loose its breath attack an explosion occurred inside of its mouth, interrupting its attack and causing it to cough out the remaining venom along with blood. The dragon spewed a large amount of venom around itself, none reaching Sapphire luckily.
While the dragon attempted to recover from the explosion Sapphire reached the final tree and jumped onto its leg. Unsheathing her older katana as well she stabbed both into its leg and used them to climb higher onto it.
Just a little more, appraise.
"HP: 478/47800."
The dragon violently shook its leg and knocked Sapphire off it and into the venom lake formed by its breath attacks. Sapphire stared in horror as both her katana slipped out from the dragon's flesh and she fell downwards.
This is suicide, but if I am going to die, I am not kind enough to let you live, Sapphire growled as she sheathed both her katana.
Taking out another explosive ball from her pocket she threw it downwards with all her strength so it reaches there before she does. There was a smash splash as it hit the venom pool, a bright light shining from the lake just a second later. The dragon glanced between her and the light in confusion as Sapphire simply gave a wry smile.
A moment later the entire venom lake exploded, forming a giant crater in the ground and completely obliterating everything in the vicinity.