The Giant Crystal Crab King's roar sent towering waves racing across the lake, its Overlord-level pressure falling like solid lead upon every heart on the shore.
BOOM—!
A ten-metre wall of water slammed onto the bank, flinging the foremost students through the air; they screamed as they rolled away.
"Defensive line—form up!"
Instructor Raymond's face was deathly pale. He drove his staff into the Ground and a huge flame shield bloomed just in time to block the second surge.
"Fireball—aim for the eyes! The eyes are its weak spot!" he roared himself hoarse.
Several fire-type apprentices frantically chanted, conjuring basketball-sized fireballs that arced toward the Giant Crystal Crab King.
The spheres burst against the crystal-mountain shell in tiny sparks; not even a scorch mark remained.
"It's no use, Instructor—we can't break its defence!"
Amid the chaos, a student farthest from Raymond was targeted by a Crystalline Rock Shell Crab flanking from the side; a gleaming pincer crashed down.
"Look out!"
Veronica reacted instantly—no time for a spell. She jabbed her short wand and a fluorescent blue hemispherical barrier snapped into place, catching the lethal blow.
The shield shattered with a dull bang, buying the stunned student just enough time to flee. The Basic Defence Spell looked like second nature in her hands.
"A monster wave—here they come!"
With the students' despairing shrieks, the lakeside mud heaved and hundreds of red-eyed Rock Shell Crabs and Crystalline Rock Shell Crabs poured from water and earth, a chitinous tide that swept toward the helpless intruders.
"Damn it!" Instructor Raymond cursed, certain he might die here today.
Through the mayhem Veronica clenched her teeth, forcing herself to resist the top-tier monster's pressure as she raised her ruby-studded wand.
"In my name—answer my call!"
An intricate array flared beneath her and a seven-metre winged, serpentine Lindworm burst out with a shrill cry.
A level-25 Lindworm—the strongest creature she could summon.
"Go—hold it off!" She jabbed a finger at the crab king in the lake, her order final.
The surrounding students glimpsed the majestic Lindworm and a spark of hope lit their eyes.
The next instant that hope was crushed.
Annoyed by the tiny provocateur, the Giant Crystal Crab King lazily raised a pincer larger than a carriage.
SNAP!
The colossal claw flashed shut.
The Lindworm never even screamed; it was severed in two, dark green blood and entrails raining down.
One-shot!
As the summoner, Veronica took the backlash—she spat blood and crumpled, her face turning paper-white.
The tide of monsters was almost upon them… "Tsk-tsk-tsk."
Hidden behind a titanic root, Caesar watched the lakeside carnage with the relish of a bystander.
Beside him, Cecilia had buried her head in the dirt, only her plump trembling dragon rump sticking out, tail-tip twitching.
This very monster wave had been triggered by her "flying-sky-fairy" crab-shell toss.
"I really overdid it," Caesar mused.
The big fellow—level-40 Overlord, Bug/Steel typing.
Quad-weak to Fire.
Too bad Caesar currently possessed not a single Fire-type Move. Cecilia's Ember could probably only light the monster's cigarette.
Worse, the crab enjoyed home-field advantage; in the lake, Bulldoze and Sand Tomb would lose most of their punch.
A head-on fight meant suicide.
Sure, once he learned Weather Ball he could stand a chance—but right now he didn't have Weather Ball.
Caesar's gaze swept past the enraged crab king toward the deep blue heart of the lake—
Its lair had to hold something good.
Crabs moult after all… and with those mountain-sized crystals on its back, the cast-off shell promised riches!
Maybe even top-grade energy storage crystals!
A plan clicked into place.
He turned to the guilt-ridden Cecilia, a meaningful smile spreading across his snout.
"Stupid dragon," Caesar drawled.
"W-what?" she shrank.
"Time to atone. Head to the lakebed and bring back every shiny bit," he said, nodding toward the water.
"Huh?!" Cecilia's eyes bulged. "That's the monster's nest—no way!"
"Silver Dragon lady, you don't want these people to die for nothing, do you?"
Caesar's tone stayed flat. "After all, some dragon littered trash and caused this. If they all perish, their corpses will foul this lovely lake. Let their deaths count for something, right?"
Cecilia froze, little face twisting in conflict.
He struck while the iron was hot: "Don't worry, I'll distract Big Crab. When it's done, you keep the prettiest crystals—fifty-fifty."
At the word "pretty crystals" her eyes lit up.
Fear, guilt and greed wrestled in the tiny silver head; greed won.
"Fine—This Young Lady will grant you the favour!" She puffed her chest in bravado.
Pop! She cast Transformation again, turning into a squat, short-legged silver-shelled Rock Shell Crab.
On six waddling legs she sneak-shuffled toward the chaotic shore.
Caesar watched her comical advance, then sharpened his gaze—
The human adventurers were at their limit; they couldn't buy Cecilia much time.
Time for him to enter the stage.
He burst from behind the root like a bolt of deep-blue lightning!
ROAR!
He opened his dragon maw and blasted a searing Dragon Breath; the lakeside mud baked and cracked, white steam gushing up like a sauna.
His fore-claws slammed the Ground.
Sand Tomb! Sand Attack!
The earth became a swirling pit of quicksand while dust clouds mixed with scalding steam, forging a near-zero-visibility sandstorm that swallowed the humans and the front ranks of the crab tide!