The moment Leon set off, the Black Dragon also lunged forward. The two were incredibly fast, moving with the same blinding speed they had demonstrated previously on the 59th floor.
In a brief, violent moment, the man and the dragon clashed. Leon's fist collided with the Black Dragon's head, and terrifying shockwaves spread out in massive concentric circles.
The powerful impact of their meeting was so intense it affected Finn and the others.
While the battle between Leon and the Hydra had caused a similarly terrifying impact, Finn and his men had been far away and stationary at that time. This time, however, they were caught in the middle of a charge.
The violent shockwave caused their advance to pause and eventually come to a total halt.
"What a powerful impact!" Allen shouted, his body sliding across the ground.
He took several steps back before stopping, baring his teeth with a ferocious expression. This was the first time he had been physically knocked back by a mere shockwave, an experience that made him extremely angry and resentful of his own perceived weakness.
The others were also knocked back several steps by the force. Anyone whose strength had not yet reached Level 7 felt the brunt of it. Only Riveria, positioned safely with Ais and the other two, remained steady.
"Don't waste time! Those monsters are already charging over—go!" Finn called out, ignoring the display of power.
He turned to the others who had been staggered and urged them to continue the rush forward.
Upon hearing his command, the crowd did not hesitate and charged once more.
The shockwaves continued to ripple through the air, but this time everyone was mentally prepared. When the pressure swept over them again, they were not knocked back. Instead, they stared down the force and continued to rush toward their own targets.
Meanwhile, the epicenter of the destruction remained the battlefield between Leon and the Black Dragon.
It was clear that the Black Dragon's power was no match for Leon's. As the man and the dragon collided, the dragon's enormous body was repeatedly sent flying. However, every second, the beast returned with lightning speed, and the two engaged in a relentless head-on battle.
"This power has reached the limit of an ordinary Level 9." Leon mused.
After clashing with the dragon more than a dozen times, he had a much better understanding of its strength.
Leon's current power, even in his normal state, was in the transitional stage between Level 9 and Level 10, making him significantly stronger than the black dragon. Even under normal circumstances, he could have killed the Black Dragon within a hundred moves.
However, Leon would never do something so short-sighted as to "drain the pond to catch all the fish." Although the Black Dragon was not as strong as he was, it served as a tool to improve his attributes. He had no intention of killing it yet, he had to squeeze every last drop of value out of the encounter.
The fight between the two was extremely intense. In just a few minutes, they had already clashed more than a hundred times.
Nearby, Finn and his companions were engaged in their own fierce struggle against the giant Fomoires and giant Minotaurs that had been subdued by the black dragon.
Haruhime went all out during this engagement, unleashing Hero's Power to cover everyone below Level 7. It was a necessary move, as the monsters were both numerous and powerful.
Both the giant Fomoires and the giant Minotaurs were top-tier Level 7 creatures. Even with Ottar, Finn, and Gareth—along with the combined combat strength of Ryuu, Alise, Alicia, Ais, Tione, Tiona, and Riveria—the group was struggling to keep up.
If didn't have the support of the enhanced Allen and the others, they would have been in a very passive position. Even with Leon's Gate of Heaven active, there would have been a lingering risk of death.
This situation, however, only served to excite Allen and the rest. They were highly motivated, their fighting spirit reaching a fever pitch.
Haruhime was unable to use Uchide no Kozuchi during this time, primarily because maintaining the Hero's Power consumed a great deal of her mental and magical energy, leaving her unable to concentrate on Uchide no Kozuchi's requirements.
Leon, however, had no time to pay attention to Finn's side of the field. He fought the black dragon using only his physical strength, focusing his magical efforts entirely on maintaining the Gate of Heaven.
The battle between the man and the dragon reached a fever pitch, creating a zone so dangerous that no one else could get close.
In every collision, the Black Dragon was at a disadvantage, frequently being blasted away by Leon every ten exchanges. It was persistent, possessing of a strong will that drove it back as fast as it was thrown.
However, after being blasted away more than a hundred times in a row, the Black Dragon finally lost its temper. The special power it had previously used to expel intruders from the 59th floor was released once again, covering an enormous range.
Finn and the others were immediately affected in the middle of their own battle. Fortunately, the impact was not as devastating as before. Although they felt a surge of intense fear, they were able to control themselves thanks to the magical artifacts and did not lose their desire to fight, though their combat effectiveness was slightly reduced by the emotional strain.
"Looks like it worked." Finn said, patting his chest with lingering fear after killing a giant Fomoire with a single shot. He immediately charged back into the fray.
Three hours passed in the blink of an eye.
The battle for the rest of the group continued as monsters kept spawning from the dungeon's depths.
Meanwhile, the battle on Leon's side was nearing its conclusion. Leon had already felt his attributes being pushed toward an upgrade.
Although the Level 9 Black Dragon was powerful, it could no longer provide the same level of value as the Hydra.
The black dragon was now seriously injured, and its powerful regenerative abilities were finally failing.
"Your value is gone." Leon murmured softly, sensing that the warmth of the World's Grace on his back had faded. He prepared to kill the black dragon.
The Black Dragon seemed to sense the shift in intent and attempted to use the same trick as before to escape.
After being blasted away once more, it did not rush back. Instead, it opened its mouth wide, gathering an incredibly terrifying amount of energy in a single second.
Boom!!!
A blue beam of light shot out from its mouth, slamming into the ground and creating a massive explosion of energy.
***
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