Assassin at Range: The Sniper’s Lethal Power

Shadow Dragon, as a special mount, not only participated in combat but also gained experience to level up, a rare ability compared to regular mounts, which could only serve as means of transportation.

As Tristan continued to ponder, more fire creatures appeared, and he began to feel the pressure mounting. The initial wave of fodder had been cleared, leaving only the more formidable opponents.

In particular, the Dark Gold Grade Lava Lords hidden within the magma had proven troublesome, occasionally launching surprise attacks that made even Shadow Dragon suffer some hits.

Despite its powerful retaliations, which caused the magma to surge and splatter, Shadow Dragon couldn't inflict any substantial damage. It was fortunate that Shadow Dragon had extremely high magic resistance, or it would have already been roasted.

Even when Tristan intervened, he couldn't eliminate these Lava Lords quickly. The Lava Lords, residing in the volcano's core, were tough enough to withstand Tristan's Shadow Daggers, and any time they took damage, they would retreat into the magma to heal.

When they resurfaced, their health had already regenerated almost completely.

This "hit-and-run" tactic was something Tristan knew very well. After all, it was exactly how he fought—launch a Shadow Dagger, then Stealth away and wait for the perfect moment to strike again.

Now, experiencing it firsthand, Tristan could understand why so many bosses were filled with anger and frustration when they met their end. If he were in their place, he'd probably snap too.

Luckily, there was one silver lining: Shadow Dragon's speed was far superior to the Lava Lords, and most of their attacks missed.

Tristan couldn't help but feel a bit amused by his situation. Even though the Lava Lords couldn't harm him, their resilience forced him into a slow grind.

He knew the Fire Dragon, however, was still observing, and its presence weighed heavily on his mind. If the Fire Dragon decided to attack, he wouldn't hesitate to fight, but as long as it remained stationary at the volcano's rim, Tristan couldn't fully commit to battle.

A quick assault on the Fire Dragon would be foolish. Tristan could only think of one possibility that might explain why the Fire Dragon hadn't acted yet—perhaps it was too injured or there was another reason preventing it from leaving its perch.

"This is highly likely," Tristan mused to himself, as he mentally analyzed the situation.

The Fire Dragon was proud and powerful, so it couldn't have simply been sitting idly for this long without a reason.

"Is it injured? Or is there something else going on?" Tristan pondered further.

His thoughts were interrupted when he stomped his foot, causing Shadow Dragon to glance at him curiously.

"My Lord Shadow, is something wrong?" Shadow Dragon inquired. Enjoy exclusive chapters from My Virtual Library Empire

Tristan pointed toward the volcano's rim. "Is it only the Fire Dragon's aura over there?"

Shadow Dragon, focused, tried to sense it. "Yes, it's only the Fire Dragon... Wait, no, there's something faint, almost imperceptible."

Shadow Dragon's voice took on a note of surprise. "My Lord Shadow, if I'm not mistaken, the Fire Dragon may have laid an egg some time ago and hasn't fully recovered yet."

Tristan didn't seem shocked. Dragons were not a peaceful, loving species. Inter-dragon combat was common, and when one tribe defeated another, the winner would consume the losers, including their unhatched eggs.

Shadow Dragon continued with a touch of nostalgia, "My Lord Shadow, have you ever tasted a dragon egg? It's the most delicious thing in the world."

Tristan smirked. He would have liked to taste it, but the giant dragon probably wouldn't allow him.

However, the thought of a dragon egg being in the Fire Dragon's lair sparked a new idea in Tristan's mind. Simply eating it would be a waste. If he could get his hands on it, he could try to hatch the egg. If it worked, it could become a valuable ally.

Furthermore, the legend of Dragon Knights in ExoGenesis crossed his mind. Though his Shadow Assassin class wouldn't allow him to transition into a Dragon Knight, that didn't mean he couldn't help someone else become one.

If he could find a suitable player or NPC to bond with the dragon, he could avoid any rebellion. But first, he'd have to defeat the Fire Dragon.

Meanwhile, as Tristan was contemplating his next move, the Fire Dragon in the volcano grew increasingly alert. It had sensed Shadow Dragon's mental probe sweeping over its lair, and it seemed to pause briefly near the egg.

Had Shadow Dragon discovered the egg? The mere thought filled the Fire Dragon with an intense, seething fury.

"Greedy humans... and that damn greedy Shadow Dragon!" it raged internally.

With a mighty roar, the Fire Dragon slowly rose from the magma, determined to deal with the intruders personally.

Tristan, who had been keeping a constant watch on the Fire Dragon, immediately noticed the change. Shadow Dragon, too, sensed the impending danger.

"My Lord Shadow, it's moving. It's going to strike!" Shadow Dragon warned, its voice tinged with nervousness.

Tristan's expression grew serious. The Fire Dragon, an Epic Grade creature at level 75, was a far more dangerous opponent than anything he had faced so far. Even after completing his third class advancement, this would be a formidable challenge.

As the Fire Dragon began to move, the surrounding magma grew agitated, the air grew scorchingly hot, and every breath felt like it was burning his throat.

Yet, the fire creatures around the volcano seemed unaffected, even growing stronger in response to the Fire Dragon's movements.

This change in the environment only made things more dangerous for Tristan and Shadow Dragon. Any team that was poorly equipped would quickly fall to the overwhelming strength of the Fire Dragon.

Tristan immediately gave orders, his tone firm, "Shadow Dragon, focus entirely on dodging. Don't worry about attacking."

Shadow Dragon, fully aware of Tristan's ability to gauge threat levels, immediately complied without question. With an opponent as strong as the Fire Dragon, any distraction could lead to death.

As Tristan prepared for the real battle to begin, he knew that the outcome was uncertain—but he was ready.