This adventurer is overly righteous.

"thump"

A round bottle fell into the water from a height, making a muffled sound as it hit the surface. Ripples spread out, attracting the attention of the Steel Swamp Dragon, which slowly swam toward it.

"It's gone."

Logan threw down the bottle, took a deep breath, and then grabbed Kroya's hand.

Kroya was only holding onto the rock pillar with his right hand; if his strength hadn't been high enough, they would have definitely fallen.

Then they started swaying, swinging their bodies back and forth to build up speed.

Kroya confirmed that their target passage was not far from the stone pillar where they were now, and that using this method to throw both of them across at the same time would greatly shorten the journey.

Before that, they needed to lure the Steel Swamp Dragon as far away as possible, and now was the time to act.

So Kroya let go, and the two of them, a human and a goblin, fell into the water in a clumsy arc, creating a huge splash. This commotion immediately attracted the Steel Swamp Dragon, which quickly turned around and let out a roar that seemed to make the entire cave tremble, charging straight at the two of them. Even though the two of them were swimming forward with all their might, the distance between them was being rapidly reduced.

The massive body of the Steel Swamp Dragon was like a steel blade cutting through the water. The water that hindered Kroya and Logan's movements seemed to have no effect on it. Its back, which was exposed above the water, stirred up countless white splashes of water due to its extremely high speed as it moved forward.

The next moment...

"bump"

The immense impact nearly emptied the water as the Steel Swamp Dragon slammed solidly into Kroya's shield. At the same time, several sounds like shattering glass echoed through the air—Kroya's protective spell on the shield was completely shattered.

The outermost armor was completely deformed and destroyed. The protective covering burst open in an instant, and the one-handed shield, which served as the last line of defense, was also completely damaged under immense pressure. Kroya felt that he had lost feeling in his left hand and crashed into Logan's back, being sent flying together.

If it weren't for the various measures taken to mitigate the impact, and the fact that they were in the water, Logan and Kroya would likely have been seriously injured.

However, while the Steel Swamp Dragon's charge caused Kroya heavy losses, it also brought benefits—they used the impact to quickly pass through the passage. At the end of the passage, they could see some damp but walkable rocks. Kroya and Logan escaped the water and entered the cave.

"Did you get rid of it?"

Logan's chest heaved as he gasped for breath, still shaken by what had just happened. Before he could even feel the joy of surviving, unsettling thuds continued to echo from the other side of the passage.

The middle section here is extremely narrow, making it impossible for the Steel Swamp Dragon to enter. However, this did not deter it; instead, it began to dig into the rock wall, widening the passage to a size that it could pass through.

Kroya and Logan exchanged a glance, the meaning conveyed in their eyes was all too clear.

"escape!"

This thing doesn't look like something you can fight head-on.

Kroya and Logan began to flee along the route they remembered. Not long after they left, the head of the Steel Swamp Dragon emerged from the passage. It extended its snake-like tongue and kept sniffing the lingering scent in the air. The hard membrane covering its eyeballs slowly opened. It climbed onto the rocks and began to follow the scent it had smelled.

  

The powders that could mask the scent had long since lost their effectiveness after being wetted, leaving Kroya and Logan with a scent that was extremely distinct to the Steel Swamp Dragon.

"Boom!"

A sound came from behind them, caused by the movement of a huge object, which prompted Kroya and Logan to speed up.

Whenever they stopped to rest for a moment, the Steel Swamp Dragon's voice would echo around them like a ghost, forcing them to continue running until they were almost exhausted. The dragon was showing excessive persistence, and during their escape, Kroya couldn't help but wonder why it was so crazy.

"It couldn't be for this reason, could it?"

Kroya remembered the bizarre heart that had been used as a sacrifice by a vampire, and he still carried it with him.

After touching the heart, Kroya sensed an extremely evil and terrifying power, something extraordinary. Perhaps it was this thing that attracted the Steel Swamp Dragon, which wanted to devour it and obtain its power.

If all else fails, should we just throw this thing at that guy?

After thinking it over, Kroya decided to abandon the idea. After all, no one knew what would happen after the Steel Swamp Dragon ate the heart—there was a high probability that it would become stronger, but it would also be affected by the power contained in the heart, turning into an even more bloodthirsty monster.

In that case, the situation might actually get worse.

The two men moved through the cave, following the waterway according to the map, but they avoided going into the water unless absolutely necessary, instead walking along the shore.

They knew that the Steel Swamp Dragon had definitely memorized their scent, and that it was probably more familiar with the environment than they were. Its limbs also allowed it to run quickly on land, and it was likely faster than the two of them.

"Next, we'll go this way..."

Both Kroya and Logan are quite fast runners, with Kroya having a higher stat. However, as a goblin, Logan is better suited to the underground environment, and he has also received professional training as a spy.

Even so, they were panting and exhausted. They had been running nonstop for a long time, passing through many passages, and were almost overtaken by the Steel Swamp Dragon several times, whose roars were almost right behind them.

However, they were finally close to the finish line, so they slowed down.

Logan leaned against the rock wall, pointing to a cave entrance, his fingers too tired to straighten.

"Once you cross this path, you'll see the road leading outside. We should now be on the shady side of a small hill..."

"..."

"What's wrong?"

Logan noticed that Kroya's expression seemed somewhat subtle.

Because you pointed in the wrong direction...

This was the first time Logan had given the wrong directions, but that's understandable; the extreme fatigue from running for so long made it easy for his brain to become a little confused.

Kroya planned to tell Logan the truth about the lie he had told earlier and then point him in the right direction. However, Logan was right; they were indeed close to the exit, but in a different direction.

Lies will eventually be exposed. Kroya took a deep breath and prepared to speak. Logan looked at Kroya with suspicion. Behind him, at the cave where he had just pointed, the front of a huge head appeared. No eyes could be seen, only yellowed teeth like scimitars and a nose that was constantly shrinking and sniffing.

Kroya's pupils suddenly contracted, and his body stiffened.

Steel Swamp Dragon.....

The terrifying monster caught up with them again.

No, perhaps they never truly got rid of it. The Steel Swamp Dragon's earlier pursuit was more like driving them away. It used its roars to force them to move, thus exhausting Kroya and Logan's stamina until they were completely worn out, at which point it leisurely appeared.

This guess was baseless, but the timing of the other party's appearance was too coincidental, making it hard for Croa not to make such a connection.

If Kroya were to turn and run now, he would certainly escape alive. The Steel Swamp Dragon would prioritize attacking Logan, who was closest to him, giving him the opportunity to flee. Kroya knew the way, and he knew it was a short and close route. However, the price for doing so would be that Logan would be killed...

Are we just going to give up on Logan like this?

When Kroya first saw the Steel Swamp Dragon, he was filled with astonishment and fear, but now another emotion was growing in his heart like a flame, an emotion called resentment.

Like a doctor facing a patient whose life is slipping away despite all his efforts to save them, Croja felt resentful.

If he could save a stranger's life, Kroya was willing to expend his energy and time for it, and he was also able to face some terrible dangers without fear. He did not regret or lament for it. Success was right in front of him, and the two of them were about to escape. All his efforts would eventually pay off. Although he was exhausted, he was able to save the life of a goblin who seemed to be of good character.

And you, you vile monster, you filthy beast, are going to take his life right before my eyes, making all my efforts in vain!

The weakness vanished from his heart, replaced by a determination and courage that fueled his fury at the monster that had driven them to the brink of despair.

I am not afraid of death, nor am I afraid of you.

Your unwavering belief in saving lives deserves praise for your courage.

[Magic power increased moderately]

Your courage pleases the gods, and they watch over your good deeds.

[Received a temporary blessing: Unyielding]

[Unyielding Spirit: Your fighting spirit will transform into your strength, keeping your body in peak condition]

Praise be to the gods!

Kroya charged toward Logan, and the Steel Swamp Dragon roared in anger.

The gods affirmed Kroya's courage and his righteous act of saving others' lives, which made Kroya completely free of any confusion. He no longer thought about whether his actions were too reckless.

If he wants to do it, that's enough.

Gods above, be our witness.

I will never abandon a life that my own hands can save...