Red Dragon Monster Hunter Template.

He himself stood up lazily, his scales clanging against each other with a metallic sound, and stepped into the passage back to the ground.

When passing by the cave where the mushroom people lived, Thor stopped and took a quick look.

As the lava changed course, the original fissure was once again filled with mycelium, and the brilliant fluorescence flickered throughout the cave, creating a mesmerizing and hazy atmosphere.

When the fungi at the cave entrance sensed Thor's arrival, all the fungus people awoke instantly, relying on the communication network formed by their hyphae.

One after another, colorful umbrella-shaped caps rose from the mycelium, which resembled rainbow velvet, and slowly bowed down to Thor.

He ignored the ordinary mushroom people, stretched out his claw and touched the air, and a mushroom with a reddish-brown cap and bright orange-red spots appeared out of the air.

This is the nitrated umbrella mushroom he extracted earlier; just from the name, you know it's an extremely dangerous thing.

In the world of Monster Hunter, this unique fungus typically grows in craters or places with abundant lava. It can synthesize a high-energy flammable grease within its body by absorbing high temperatures and special substances near volcanoes.

Once subjected to a violent impact or external stimulus, it will explode like unstable nitroglycerin.

Using this on mushroom people might have unexpected effects.

After all, both belong to the fungi family. If these fungus people can absorb the advantages of nitrifying mushrooms, their originally monotonous attack methods can be greatly enhanced.

Moreover, their ability to absorb high heat is also crucial, since Thor intends to spread their mycelium throughout the underground of the entire territory.

As a red dragon, a powerful red dragon, his unconscious alteration of the environment destined volcanoes and lava to frequently appear within his territory.

Ordinary mycelia cannot adapt to such a high-temperature environment; only heterologous species like *Amanita muscaria* can thrive in it.

…………

The reddish-brown nitrifying umbrella, which was over twenty centimeters tall, was thrown by Thor toward the approaching mushroom king, who grinned and spoke.

"Look at this. I've found something that will make you fearless of lava and high temperatures from now on. Assimilate it as soon as possible, and then let your fungal network leave this cave and spread all the way to the surface."

The Mushroom King stretched out his short, fat hands and, with the help of psionic energy, easily caught the flying Nitrofuge.

Unseen rays of light emanated from its body and spread outwards, while the viscous liquid hanging from its large, fleshy canopy swayed like a beaded curtain.

The mushroom before me possessed a bizarre structure, unique energy, and an unfamiliar way of life—it was a type of fungus I had never encountered before. The more closely I observed it, the more awe-inspiring it became.

If it weren't for that subtle sense of familiarity, it would almost have mistaken it for some other creature that looked like a mushroom.

"Yes, Your Majesty! Great Red Dragon, thank you for your kindness and generosity. I will do my best to nurture it and bring it into life and thought as soon as possible."

The air vibrated as the Fungi King responded. After giving his instructions, Thor stopped paying attention, turned sideways past the cave entrance, and walked back the way he came.

As the terrain gradually rose, after a while, light began to appear before our eyes, something we hadn't seen in a long time.

A tiny ray of light appeared in the distance, slowly expanding and elongating until it formed a narrow opening.

Standing in the sunlight again after a long time, Thor felt a sense of comfort and relaxation. He shook his body vigorously, stretched, and felt his energy levels rise.

After looking up to determine the direction, he immediately flapped his wings and took flight. His enormous wingspan cast a large shadow on the ground, and the flames that ignited on his body left a long trail of fire as he flew towards his nest.

He swept past a vast expanse of low hills, leaving them far behind. The surrounding environment remained unchanged from when he left.

Except for the mountain he used to build his nest, which had only been gone for a few days, it seemed to have gotten noticeably "fatter," with thick smoke billowing from the cave entrance, mixed with burning sparks.

Thor could sense that a massive amount of fire and earth element was accumulating in the low mountain, like a bomb with a lit fuse, ready to explode at any moment.

Chapter 155 Volcano

Driven by both the allure of its own magic and the rules of the world, the magma drawn from the earth has arrived at the predetermined location.

With just one glance, Thor understood the root cause of the nest's anomaly—the lava he had diverted from around the fungus cave had instead accelerated its ascent, eagerly trying to break through the surface and create an erupting volcano.

This might not be a bad thing for Thor. As a red dragon, living in an active volcano is far more comfortable than in a simple stone cave.

This place not only provides him with abundant fire and earth elemental supplies, but also allows him to absorb underground substances to aid in his physical development and defend against enemy invasions.

Even so, it doesn't mean that Thor will let this nascent volcano erupt directly.

Regardless of the extent of its impact on the surrounding life, the terraced fields that have been painstakingly cultivated, as well as the crops that have not yet been harvested, will all be destroyed.

Unwilling to witness this scene, Thor quickly increased his flight speed, his broad wings flapping rapidly behind him, and the flames on his body rising even more intensely, transforming him into a shooting star as he plunged headlong into the nest billowing with thick smoke.

The pungent smell of sulfur hit him, and he saw that the rocks on the ground where he used to lie had turned reddish-brown.

It was as if a giant creature was constantly pushing upwards from below, causing the ground to bulge slightly, and the small pebbles scattered on it were still gently bouncing.

With his powerful elemental affinity, Thor inexplicably sensed an emotion mixed with rage and violence, an emotion that was eager to burst forth from the earth.

It seemed as if the boiling magma below truly possessed life.

If it were an ordinary red dragon, perhaps all we could do at this moment would be to let it run its course and allow it to develop freely.

However, thanks to his purified bloodline and the addition of multiple monster templates, Thor had more room to maneuver when facing this immense power of heaven and earth.

His body, which had been suspended in the air, slowly descended, and his four feet pressed down on the raised mounds on the ground.

As he took a deep breath, dazzling flame patterns shimmered on the membranes of his slightly open wings.

Thor continuously absorbed large amounts of fire and earth elements into his body, where they fused with magic and dragon-attribute energy. After being imprinted with his own mark, these elements were then continuously channeled into the ground through the tip of his tail.

In this way, Thor's mental energy is like a circulating purifier, or a drop of ink spreading, allowing his mental domain to continuously expand downwards.

The magma surging underground was soon as if it had been put under invisible reins. The turbulent energy gradually calmed down and had to obey Thor's will, slowing down the rate of eruption.

First, the ground bulged and cracked open, and then orange-red magma slowly seeped out.

The potentially unrestrained eruption was slowed down by hundreds or thousands of times at this moment, and the damage it could cause was naturally reduced accordingly.

The scalding liquid, which looked like delicious syrup, quickly submerged Thor's feet and continued to spread outwards, filling the entire lair.

Thor glanced at the cave entrance not far away, then looked up at the sky above him. After a moment's thought, he raised his head and, after a brief gathering of strength, exhaled a scorching breath.

The orange-red flames, tinged with blue light, quickly melted the rocks overhead as the magma continuously supplied them with high temperatures, and the golden-red liquid rained down.

Propelled by the magma, Thor's body began to rise slowly, and the rock wall above him thinned until it was finally completely pierced through.

Bright sunlight streamed down from the sky, illuminating Thor's dark red scales with a strong metallic sheen.

He was pushed all the way to the top of the mountain, and little by little, he controlled the speed of the lava eruption beneath his feet, preventing it from shooting into the sky and forcing it to slide down the mountainside.

After a period of time, the surface of the low hill where he built his nest was completely covered by lava, and the lava flowing to the foot of the hill gradually began to solidify due to insufficient subsequent heat supply.

Large amounts of obsidian, still shimmering with red light, continued to accumulate, causing the entire low mountain to grow larger and its height to rise steadily, gradually standing out from the surrounding landscape.

This spectacular scene naturally attracted the attention of Thor's men. At first, it caused a moment of fear, but when they saw the red dragon standing proudly on the mountaintop, its feet treading on lava, their fear quickly turned into fervor.

Intense emotions surged from all directions, transforming into a series of enhanced prompts beneath Thor's gaze.

This added some fun to his otherwise boring situation. He casually exchanged for some "candy beans," popped them into his mouth, and then bent down to lie down.

For the next few days, he controlled the eruption of lava, a process that lasted for nearly a week before gradually subsiding due to exhaustion.

Somewhat impatient, Thor rose into the air from the calmed lava and looked down, discovering that the low mountain he once knew had been completely transformed.

Originally just over a thousand meters high, it has now increased by at least two or three hundred meters, and its shape has become much thicker, turning into a standard cylindrical shape.

After the molten lava solidified on the mountain surface, the resulting obsidian and basalt intertwined to form a deep iron-black color, which was also tinged with a dark red due to the influence of the red dragon's magic.

Because the eruption was not violent, it did not produce much volcanic ash. Although it still damaged crops and landforms on many surrounding hills, the situation was much better than a direct eruption.

As for the damaged fields, it's not all bad. The erupting volcanic ash is rich in minerals, serving as natural fertilizer. With deep plowing and replanting, the next season's crops will surely yield a better harvest.

As Thor's strength increased and his control over the volcanic magma improved, he was even able to actively manipulate the volcano to erupt periodically.

After each crop matures and is harvested, the volcano erupts once, which not only fertilizes the land, but the high temperature and sulfides also disinfect pests and diseases.

Meanwhile, the magma that erupts from the ground is rich in minerals from the earth's veins, which, after solidification, form natural mineral veins.

Therefore, for a red dragon, a volcano is not only a comfortable habitat, a safe sanctuary, and an energy supply station that continuously generates magical elements, but also an important source of income.

Thor looked down at the dark volcano and nodded in satisfaction.

This is the proper lair for a red dragon. Those who dig holes in rocks and occupy abandoned castles are the choices of the weak.

As his strength increases, he will attract more and more magma from the earth's veins, and the volcano will continue to grow.

In the foreseeable near future, it will undoubtedly become one of the most magnificent wonders in the world.

Chapter 156 Ailan

The crisp sound of bells jingled, the horses' hooves pounded the ground with a steady thud, and the iron-plated wheels rolled over the loess sand, leaving behind long, winding tracks.

A caravan, braving the increasingly biting autumn wind, traveled from east to west across the desolate wilderness.

Tall draft horses and sturdy mules silently pulled the cart, while human warriors clad in worn chainmail accompanied them vigilantly.

Mark sat in the lead carriage, gazing into the distance as if he could see through the endless wilderness to the rolling hills.

He ultimately couldn't resist the temptation. After a fierce internal struggle, he took all his possessions and once again embarked on the journey to the dragon's lair.

Now in his fifties, he had always thought that his greatest wish was simply to live out his life peacefully.

However, when the opportunity to choose was truly presented to him, he realized that he was not content with mediocrity.

He wanted far more than the ordinary caravan members. Earning a few hundred or a thousand gold coins by reselling a few weapons sounded good, but it was far from satisfying his appetite.

How could someone who could build their own caravan from nothing not be greedy?

If the dragon can keep its promise, it means it is also a tradeable entity. In that case, why limit the trade to weapons?

The vast wilderness holds inexhaustible wealth, but limited by their resources, these small caravans can only scavenge a few scraps.

If he could gain the support of that red dragon and rely on its powerful strength, he would surely be able to create a massive merchant guild that could cover the entire wilderness.

Even better, if I were outstanding enough, I might gain the favor of that red dragon and be transformed into a dragonborn with a long lifespan…

Whenever Mark thought of this, he couldn't help but feel excited. His somewhat aged body seemed to be rejuvenated, his heart pounding and his blood surging uncontrollably.

This is undoubtedly an opportunity—an opportunity to gain greater power, more wealth, and a longer life.

Although the price might be selling one's soul to the dragon, countless ordinary lives in this world want to sell their souls to the devil but can never find a way.

I must seize this opportunity to successfully let the blood of the red dragon flow into my veins, and then use this to create a dragon family that will last for thousands of years!

Just as he was letting his imagination run wild and a surge of ambition welled up in his chest, the caravan suddenly stopped, and a strange voice came from outside.

"Excuse me, gentlemen, are you traveling merchants in the wilderness? Could you give me a ride? I am willing to pay a certain fee for it."

The sound was as clear and crisp as a flowing stream, seemingly carrying a soothing power that made the members of the caravan involuntarily stop in their tracks.

Mark, also curious, lifted the thick carriage curtain and peered out.

A young woman was standing under a tree not far to the side. She was wearing a plain beige top, a light leather armor over it, brown trousers, and her shoes were speckled with mud.

What's most striking is her long, golden hair that resembles waves of wheat, her blue eyes as calm as a still lake, and her fair, oval face adorned with a smile that instantly wins people's hearts.

However, this was a desolate wilderness, and the sudden appearance of such a person made Mark involuntarily wary.

He did not respond to the other person's request for a ride, but instead asked cautiously.

"Hello stranger, where are you from? Why are you here? There doesn't seem to be a town nearby."

The woman smiled slightly upon hearing this, showing no anger at Mark's wariness, and spoke in a gentle voice.

"I am a solitary bard, traveling far and wide to gather material in order to create more exciting stories."

Don't let my appearance fool you, I'm actually quite capable. Take me with you! Besides paying for your meals, I can also keep watch and act as your bodyguard.

The gentle voice, like a flowing spring, made Mark realize with a start—it was a bard, no wonder his voice was so beautiful.

At the same time, the warmth in that voice made him involuntarily lower his guard. But perhaps because of the kindness that still remained in his heart, he didn't immediately agree.

"I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you. Our destination is not to return to town, but to go to the territory of a dragon for a dangerous deal."

The risks during this period are extremely high. No one can say for sure whether that capricious monster will suddenly burn us to ashes.

"You should go back the way we came. We can give you some food and water, or sell you an old horse. It's a clever guide and can help you..."

However, Mark's good intentions were destined to be in vain. The moment she heard "heading to the dragon's territory," the woman's eyes lit up, and all her attention was drawn to that sentence, making her unable to hear anything else.

"Trading in the dragon's territory? Fantastic! This is the kind of exciting adventure I've been looking for. Please take me with you no matter what..."

The bard's voice seemed to possess a magical power, making one want to believe it.