Dragon breath poured down continuously, each wave hotter than the last, turning half of the sky a fiery red.

However, each dragon breath was neutralized by the incredible resilience of the fungus castle’s defensive system.

Every time it resisted, the layers of defensive light curtain dimmed somewhat, consuming immense energy.

But what irritated the Red Dragon was that the recharging speed of the fungus castle’s overall defense system was actually shorter than the interval between its preparation for the next dragon breath!

The shield that had just been weakened visibly regained its strength and luster before the next dragon breath descended.

The defensive system overseen by Huang Pi in its construction turned out to be unexpectedly sturdy!

Of course, this might also be related to the initial concept of the fungus castle’s construction.

Traditional cities, when designing city defense magic arrays, must calculate carefully, considering the sustainability of the magic pool, and how to stretch limited magic power over a prolonged siege.

But fungus castle was different, with magic power directly supplied by the fungal mat. Lin Jun had instructed Huang Pi to prioritize high defense, and now it seems...the effect isn’t bad?

Seven or eight consecutive dragon breaths that could melt through hills returned without results, not only failing to shake the core of the fungus castle but greatly boosting the morale of the defenders.

Red Dragon Tarlgala finally ceased this futile aerial bombardment, clearly realizing the problem.

Those golden vertical pupils chillingly surveyed the city, under the "Magic Perception" view, finally locking onto numerous key nodes where the defense magic array merged with the physical city walls.

It intended to destroy the foundation first by demolishing these crucial nodes where physical and magic combined, crippling the entire shell!

However, commander Little Pig of the fungus castle would hardly sit by idly allowing it to wreak havoc.

The counterattack commenced!

The initial counterattack was like a torrential downpour, yet it seemed more like a scratch.

On the city wall, a thousand Puki Mushroom Cannons fired first, but these magic cannons were entirely blocked by dragon scales.

Following closely were the heavy bed crossbows set up on various parts of the city wall, steel bolts as thick as arms, entwined with acceleration and armor-piercing runes at the tail, shooting straight at the Red Dragon in the booming sound of the winch release!

This time, the attack finally had some effect, the bolts, though still unable to penetrate the thick, shield-like dragon scales, firmly transferred their impact.

A dull pain transmitted beneath the Red Dragon Tarlgala’s hide, it let out a roar mixed with pain and even greater fury, suddenly turning its head to stare at those tiny crossbows.

Dragon Mighty mingled with substantial heat waves swept across that section of wall, instantly blanching the faces of the soldiers operating the bed crossbows.

Yet the bed crossbows were only a distraction, the true attack of the fungus castle came from those magic towers.

Unlike in other cities where magic towers were used to amplify individual mage casting, the fungus castle’s magic towers were used to amplify the resonance cannon!

[Resonance Level 7]

Just as the Red Dragon’s attention was slightly diverted by the crossbows and countless mushroom cannons, enormous magic power quietly gathered on several magic towers.

Noticed only after forcefully damaging a section of the outer wall, the Red Dragon had no time to retreat.

The gigantic explosion stirred up snowflakes all over the sky, dragon scales shattered, and dark red dragon blood squirted out for the first time, staining a line of blood on the fungus castle wall.

"Aaargh—!" This time the agonized roar was filled with shock and disbelief.

Tarlgala obviously hadn’t expected to be injured so quickly.

It mobilized magic power, igniting flames at its injury, slowly recovering its wounds.

In the ensuing battle, it could no longer fully focus on destroying the wall nodes, having to be distracted by observing whether the incoming attacks posed a threat to itself.

After destroying two more nodes, seeing the fungus castle still smoothly operating its magic array, Tarlgala considered temporarily retreating.

And then, the massive No. 4 appeared in the distance.

On No. 4’s mushroom cap stood a Sword Saint Puki, the outlines of four longswords faintly visible in the wind and snow.

No hiding in the shell of the fungus castle!

This discovery instantly ignited the smoldering frustration and anger within Tarlgala’s heart.

Unable to crack that damn magic array, could it not at least crush these two bugs outside?

Although No. 4 was nearly as large as it, it saw through No. 4’s external might but internal frailty, lacking significant power, and didn’t pose much threat compared to the resonance cannons within the fungus castle.

Admittedly, this judgment was quite accurate.

Facing the dragon shadow descending like a cover over the sky, the enormous No. 4, though full of fighting spirit, was nimble and soft, collapsing with a single pounce.

The counterattack of mycelium tendrils was overwhelming for ordinary people but insufficient against Tarlgala.

However, No. 4 was meaty!

The giant Puki’s body was repeatedly torn but healed quickly.

Impatiently, Tarlgala’s eyes gleamed with cruelty, opening its massive mouth and biting down on No. 4’s mushroom cap!

Then——

"Woo woo—Aow woo—!"

A totally off-key, bizarre whimper mixed with some uncontrolled exhilaration leaked uncontrollably from deep within the Red Dragon’s throat!

[Delicious Level 10]

An indescribable ultimate taste accompanied by the mushroom cap shattering, rudely surged into the deepest part of its brain along its taste buds, mouth, and nerves!

Its massive body, able to withstand bed crossbow impacts without flinching, at this moment shook violently as if it had been electrocuted!

The dragon claw gripping No. 4 loosened in exhaustion, countered by No. 4 using tendrils to entangle it.

Just as the Red Dragon fell into chaos, Sword Saint Puki descended from the sky!

Two short legs powerfully kicked in mid-air, shattering moonlight, the descending speed increased explosively, transforming into four silvery thin lines barely detectable to the naked eye, instantly sweeping past the Red Dragon’s fierce head dropped in ecstasy.

As the silver lines vanished, Sword Saint Fourteen’s figure had already landed underneath the Red Dragon’s head.

The next moment, two intersecting cross-shaped cracks appeared simultaneously on the surface of Tarlgala’s two majestic dragon eyes!

"Roar!!"

This roar was heart-wrenching!

And in the distant distance, behind a hill veiled partially by swirling snow, Ji Divine Soldier, long merged with the pale background, finally revealed its ferocious fangs, launching the pre-prepared attack.

Ji Divine Soldier’s left arm held a giant cannon formed by countless resonance cannons in combination, along the cannon’s body were embedded numerous A Level Demon Crystals resonating in synchronization, inciting a magic power fluctuation that would make anyone dread.

A vast amount of magic power was frantically extracted, compressed, stacked, forming a massive energy ball over thirty meters in diameter before the cannon’s mouth, its core showing a dark purple that devours all, while the edges erupted with brilliant white magic power glow.

Just when this world-devastating strike was about to fire, Tarlgala sensed the dreadful magic power.

It desperately struggled, attempting to break free and rise into the air.

Yet having suddenly lost its vision, it couldn’t even escape No. 4’s entanglement for a moment.

As for flying together with No. 4, that posed some difficulty for the dragon.

"No! No! I am Tarlgala! The great being destined to ascend to the status of Ancient Dragon! How could I...perish in such a place?!"

Desperation and fury gave rise to final madness, squeezing out the remaining power in its chest along with its life force, manifesting as an ultimate dragon breath more scorching than any before, like the final roar of a dying titan, blasting fiercely in the direction of the approaching terrifying energy.

However, when this city-incinerating blaze struck the energy ball, it was like a drop of ink falling into a lake, merely rippling a negligible circle on the ball’s surface, soon disappearing without trace.

Subsequently, at the center where the magic cannon struck, came a massive explosion.

A gigantic mushroom cloud soared skyward, engulfing the Red Dragon, No. 4, and the Sword Saint Puki attempting to "Stepping on the Moon" escape from danger.

Even though far separated, the enormous shock wave still swept through the fungus castle, blasting several unlucky souls not standing firm off the city walls.

...

...

...

Half a day later, when Inanna and Eleanor rushed into the fungus castle with bodies clad in frost and anxiety, the imagined tragic battlefield and soaring flames didn’t appear.

The city walls remained bustling, soldiers were repairing damages.

And in the far distance on the icy plain, there was a gigantic crater like struck by a meteor.

Clad in silver scales, Norris leaned beside a half-repaired crenellation, grasping a steaming hot bowl, slurping down something.

Seeing the two, he grinned:

"You finally arrived just in time, any later and the dragon meat stew with mushrooms would have been gone."