Facing the incoming molten lava blast, Chiying neither resisted directly nor dodged.
It simply turned slightly, and with a flick of its tail, a mass of purplish-black venom accurately shot towards the molten lava blast.
“Hiss—”
The venom and molten lava blast collided in mid-air, erupting with a piercing corrosive sound and a large amount of white steam.
After being contaminated by the venom, the surface of the molten lava blast quickly blackened and lost its luster, shattering into several charred remnants and falling helplessly downwards before it even reached Chiying.
Shui Heyu's expression remained unchanged.
The first attack was merely a probe; a hit would be ideal, but a miss was inconsequential.
The Molten Blast Lizard opened its mouth, and a dense, grayish-white mist surged out, rapidly spreading in all directions.
The mist carried a pungent sulfurous smell, dissipating rapidly in the high-altitude winds, enveloping the floating island it was on in the blink of an eye.
Within the mist, the Molten Blast Lizard's figure flickered in and out of view, becoming difficult to pinpoint.
This was a common interference tactic; the mist not only obscured vision but also disrupted an opponent's senses.
Chiying hovered high above, its crimson eyes fixed on the spreading mist.
It didn't rush in recklessly.
Liu Yi stood on her maglev skateboard, her gaze rapidly shifting between the mist and the surrounding floating islands.
The Molten Blast Lizard's tactic was clear: first, use mist to create a visual obstruction, then seek an opportunity for a surprise attack within the mist.
This approach was very effective for melee-type pets, especially in a complex floating island environment like this.
“Chiying, Dragon's Breath, sweep.”
Chiying opened its mouth, and dark golden energy condensed in its throat.
The next second, a purplish-golden aura surged from its mouth, tracing a fan-shaped trajectory in the air, sweeping across the mist-shrouded area!
Wherever the aura passed, the grayish-white mist was torn apart, revealing the surface of the floating island below.
The Molten Blast Lizard's figure flashed through the mist; it was no longer in its original position.
It had jumped to another floating island, one located slightly to the left of the center, and was now slowly ascending.
It crouched at the edge of the floating island, its amber vertical pupils fixed on Chiying in the sky, and its tail's volcanic structure opened again. This time, three molten lava blasts were continuously fired!
The three molten lava blasts soared towards Chiying, blocking its escape routes to the left and right.
Chiying didn't dodge left or right; it sharply ascended, and the three molten lava blasts whistled past beneath it, exploding into three bursts of orange-red sparks against the distant energy shield.
Shui Heyu finally spoke, his voice low but clear: “Molten Blast Lizard, Flame Fang.”
The Molten Blast Lizard leaped from the edge of the floating island. This time, it didn't use molten lava blasts for a ranged attack, but instead lunged directly at Chiying in the air!
It opened its mouth in mid-air, and orange-red flames condensed between its sharp teeth. The flames' temperature was extremely high, distorting the surrounding air.
Chiying didn't retreat; it swooped down to meet the Molten Blast Lizard, its body simultaneously glowing with golden and purplish-black light.
Dragon's Breath condensed once more.
The dark golden energy compressed in its throat.
“Boom!”
The purplish-golden aura and orange-red flames collided head-on in mid-air!
Light exploded, and shockwaves spread in all directions, causing the surrounding sea of clouds to churn.
The Molten Blast Lizard was sent flying by the shockwave, tumbling twice in the air before landing on the edge of a floating island, its four limbs leaving several charred marks on the surface.
Shui Heyu's gaze finally showed a hint of change. He stared at Chiying in the sky for two seconds, then withdrew his gaze to look at his Molten Blast Lizard.
The Molten Blast Lizard's breathing was a little more hurried than at the start, but its eyes remained fierce.
The volcanic structure at its tail opened wider, and the molten lava flowing within changed from orange-red to a deeper golden-red, with a noticeable increase in temperature.
Liu Yi also noticed this change.
The Molten Blast Lizard was charging up.
Its tail was its most powerful weapon; molten lava blasts were merely a long-range attrition method, but the true killing blow was a close-quarters lava burst.
If the Molten Blast Lizard found an opportunity to get close, while Chiying's defenses wouldn't be overcome in a single blow, it would still be very troublesome.
The Molten Blast Lizard rose from the edge of the floating island, the volcanic structure at its tail opening wider and wider, and the molten lava flowing within transformed from orange-red to a dazzling golden-red.
Its four limbs tensed, its amber vertical pupils fixed on Chiying in the sky, and a low rumble emanated from its throat.
Shui Heyu stood on his maglev skateboard, finally withdrawing his hands from his pockets. He raised his right hand, his index and middle fingers together, and gently swept them forward.
“Dance of Flames.”
The Molten Blast Lizard's body abruptly began to spin.
It wasn't a simple turn, but a rhythmic, dance-like rotation.
Its four limbs rhythmically stomped on the floating island's surface, sparks flying from its claw tips with each step. The volcanic structure at its tail opened and closed with the rhythm of the spin, spewing molten lava that traced golden-red arcs in the air.
Its speed began to increase.
It wasn't an explosive, instantaneous acceleration, but a gradual, rhythmic increase. With each rotation, its movements became faster, and the heatwaves radiating from its body grew stronger.
Chiying hovered in the air, its crimson eyes watching the "dancing" lizard below.
It didn't attack rashly, but subtly adjusted its hovering height, descending from above the highest plum blossom-shaped island to a slightly lower position.
Liu Yi watched the Molten Blast Lizard's movements, her brow slightly furrowed.
Dance of Flames, a B-rank Fire-type buff skill, increases its speed and special attack through spinning and leaping. The skill itself wasn't uncommon, but when Shui Heyu's Molten Blast Lizard used it, the effect was clearly stronger than described in the data.
The Molten Blast Lizard's speed had already increased by twenty percent and was still rising.
Its body became increasingly blurred with its rotations, and the flames around it changed from orange-red to golden-red, then from golden-red to a nearly white intensity.
“Chiying, Dragon Dance.”
Chiying began to spin in the air.
Its spin was completely different from the Molten Blast Lizard's; it wasn't a passionate, fiery dance, but a steady, anciently rhythmic movement.
Dragon-type energy circulated around its body, gradually strengthening with the rhythm of its spin, and golden and purplish-black light intertwined on its surface, like two rivers merging.
Speed increased.
Attack increased.
Chiying's eyes grew brighter, and the golden patterns on its scales seemed to come alive, flowing across its body.
Shui Heyu's gaze shifted from the Molten Blast Lizard to Chiying in the air, watching for two seconds before withdrawing his attention.
“Blazing Gaze.”
The Molten Blast Lizard stopped spinning.
It raised its head, its amber vertical pupils locking directly onto Chiying in the sky.
The light in its eyes was no longer ordinary luster, but a blazing gaze with scorching heat, almost igniting the air.
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