Chapter 234 Playing With Fire [Part 5] The light in the Fire Dragon's eyes was extinguished after it drew its last breath. It had come to the Valbarra Archipelago thinking that no one in it would be able to kill it, and this mentality had led it to its doom. Before anyone could even sigh in relief after the great battle ended, the body of the Fire Dragon shuddered as Cranky pierced its chest with its sharp claws with the intention of digging its Beast Core. The greedy Devil-Horned Honey Badger had every intention of consuming the Rank 9 Sovereign's Beast Core, allowing it to once again grow stronger. The Ogre King and the Tigerkin King, who also had the same idea, were immediately intimidated when the Devil Horned Honey-Badger glanced in their direction with the "Hands off or I'll bite you gaze!" gaze. "Cranky, I don't mind if you eat the Beast Core, but share the blood and flesh of that Dragon," Thirteen stated. "If your allies don't become strong, the Majin Prince will turn you into a roasted Honey Badger and eat you." The Honey Badger wasn't his servant, nor his friend. They were merely allies by necessity, so he could only ask it to share the kill to the others. Cranky made an impatient clicking noise as if telling the boy to not disturb it because it was still busy digging through the Dragon's Chest to get its Jinn Core. Fortunately, half a minute later, the Honey Badger pulled the thing it wanted from the Sovereign's body. It was a glittering purple Core that was at least a meter-tall. Just a glance was enough to tell everyone that it contained great power, which could potentially elevate any of them to the next Rank. However, Cranky decisively dug a hole and made himself scarce, looking for a safe place to eat its prize. "Everyone, eat and drink the Dragon's Blood," Thirteen ordered. "We don't have much time." Giga Chad and Blacky didn't hesitate to bury their faces on the hole that Cranky had dug on the Dragon's chest to get its Jinn Core. The two beasts slurped the Dragon's Blood, and bit its flesh like monsters who hadn't eaten in a month. Monsters didn't only raise their Ranks by eating Cores. They also become stronger by consuming monster meat because it was very nutritious as well. The Ogre King, and the Tigerkin King, didn't hesitate to eat the Dragon's flesh as well, increasing the regeneration rate of their bodies, allowing their injuries to heal faster. "Go, Tiona," Thirteen whispered. "Eat the Dragon's Brain. Ignore everything else." The Black Snake nodded and crawled towards the Dragon's mouth, so that she could chew her way to its brain. The Skill Predation didn't only work on Monster Cores. It was also activated by eating monster meat, but the chances of gaining a skill was comparatively lower than eating a Beast Core. But, since Cranky had already taken away the grand prize, they were forced to eat the bread crumbs that were left behind. Gerald, on the other hand, was looking at the space in front of him with a silly grin on his face. Thirteen didn't need to be a genius to understand why his Father was acting this way. Since he was the one that had dealt the killing blow to the Dragon, it was highly possible that he had acquired something good from it. After all, what he killed was a Rank 9 Sovereign. Even if he didn't gain its avatar, gaining an item from such a creature would certainly be at the peak of the Gold-Grade Rank. But, seeing how happy Gerald was, a possibility appeared in Thirteen's head. "Pops, what rank did you get?" Thirteen asked. "Mythical," Gerald replied with a smug smile on his face. "Nice!" "Hahaha!" What Thirteen didn't know was that due to how special this mission was, the Laplace Demon, and the One, had unlocked a special feature for all Wanderers participating in this mission. They had removed the Rank Limiter, allowing those who participated in this battle to readily equip or summon any item or Avatar that they gained from killing Jinns or Majins, regardless of its Rank. Gerald was only of the Grandmaster Rank and it was impossible for him to use any Mythical Equipment because only Thrones and Monarchs could use them. But, because the Rank Limiter was removed, he was now able to use equipment that he should be unable to use due to his low rank. While the Father and Son duo were feeling happy with their spoils, Giga Chad's and Blacky's bodies started to glow faintly. Red flames blazed from Giga Chad's claws, and a flame mark appeared on its forehead. It had undergone a mutation and had become a Rank 4 Alpha Monster, who went by the name, Blaze Chad Skunk. Similar to what happened to Giga Chad, Blacky's feet had also started to blaze. But, unlike the Chad Skunk's red flames, Blacky's flames were purple. Its eyes had also turned purple, and its body had grown by two feet. It had evolved into a Rank 4 Monster called, Nightmare Black Hound. After the two left, Rocky also started to feast on the Dragon's flesh and blood, making it undergo an evolution as well. From a Rocky Bal-boa, it now evolved into a Magma Bal-boa, and jumped to a Rank 6 Alpha Monster. King Atlas and King Gomorra didn't have a jump in rank, but their injuries both healed at an incredible rate. It was as if they had drunk an elixir, making the injuries they sustained in battle heal completely. The Dragon was simply too large to be devoured, so after they had their fill, they left the hole and climbed up together. Gerald looked at this scene with itchy hands because if possible, he wanted to take the remains of the Rank 9 Sovereign back home, so that he could craft an item from it. However, he didn't have a way to transport such a large creature, making him feel depressed. Thirteen, on the other hand, wasn't troubled by this problem because he had a way to get the Dragon Corpse and put it to good use. "Rocky, store the Dragon's corpse inside you." Thirteen ordered. The Magma Bal-Boa happily obeyed the seven-year-old's order and devoured the Giant Dragon, storing it inside its Mobile Fortress. Gerald looked at the Magma Bal-Boa then at his son before giving Zion the thumbs up. "Good job, Son!" Gerald said. "Now we can make a killing when you return to Pangea." "Pops, go back," Thirteen replied in a solemn tone. "Thank you for helping me, but this is as far as you can go." The seven-year-old then mounted Blacky's back, who had now become stronger, and faster than ever before. "Son, how can I possibly leave you at this point?" Gerald asked. "Pops, I promised mom that you would return home safely," Thirteen insisted. "You should stay with Cristopher, and just guard our secret weapon." "You want me to leave you as you face that Majin Prince?" Gerald asked with a sneer. "Not happening son. Both of us are going back together." Thirteen, glared at his father, who glared back at him. He could see Gerald's determination, but he really didn't want his father to gamble with his life, especially since he didn't have to do it. But, before he could say anything, Rocky spat Tiona out, who didn't hesitate to crawl up Blacky's body, and once again return to her rightful place beside her Master. There were no apparent changes that could be seen in her appearance, but Thirteen could tell that she was very happy. This only meant one thing. 'She learned an ability,' Thirteen thought. 'This is good.' Just as the boy was about to ask his Beast Companion what kind of skill she had learned, the ground shook, which was similar to what happened during a volcanic eruption. Thirteen and Gerald immediately gazed at the battlefield where an explosion, that caused a red fiery mushroom to soar up towards the heavens, was located. Suddenly, a powerful presence descended across the battlefield, making Giga Chad and Blacky whimper. "He's here," Thirteen muttered. "Arundel finally made his move." 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖 The seven-year-old didn't know if he should be happy or not due to this realization. He was happy because Arundel had finally appeared, which meant that he didn't need to act recklessly in order for him to enter the battlefield. However, this could also not bode well for them because of one simple reason. Arundel only made his move when he believed that he had a hundred percent chance of winning. Since he had made his appearance, Thirteen couldn't help but shudder as he urged Blacky to run in the direction where the Barbarian King, Orc King, and Troll King were fighting the Magma Fiend, Antaereus.