Ex-Human Morphus [A Mutant Evolution Apocalypse LitRPG]
Chapter 238

Chapter 238

Jake stood in the same spot, looking around in awe. He had emerged from the portal just a minute earlier, yet he couldn’t bring himself to move, still captivated by the strange sights around him.

Enormous islands rose from a tumultuous sea of molten magma that ebbed and flowed like a living thing. Each island showcased a strange, mostly empty landscape. Wherever he looked, he saw islands all around him, differing in both size and height. Some loomed high above, at least a dozen meters tall, while others were almost submerged, sitting flush with the fiery ocean that enveloped them. Some islands measured just thirty meters in diameter, while others spanned at least a kilometer across. The array of islands stretched to the horizon as far as he could see.

Jake stood in the middle of one of the smaller islands, measuring about twenty to twenty-five meters across. He spotted odd creatures roaming around some of the neighboring islands, but the one he was on appeared devoid of enemies. The ground was covered by a thick layer of ash dust that swirled in the light breeze. He could feel the ground trembling beneath his feet; the ash-covered islands definitely appeared to float precariously over the ever-moving sea of molten magma.

The air was heavy with the acrid scent of sulfur, mingling with the warmth radiating from the magma ocean and the lava rivers that snaked across the landscape of the larger islands. Those rivers glistened like molten gold, sending flickering tongues of flame into the air that illuminated the area and cast dancing shadows on the ash-laden terrain. The sound of bubbling magma filled the air with a low, ominous rumble, occasionally interrupted by the violent eruption of geysers that shot plumes of fiery rock and ash high into the sky. Jake found the spectacle both beautiful and terrifying.

While the landscapes of the islands felt empty, they were not devoid of features. Rugged rock outcroppings emerged like jagged teeth from the earth. Here and there, colossal bones—remnants of eldritch creatures—protruded from the ground. The only means of crossing the islands were the grotesque bridges formed from the skeletal remains of massive ancient dragons, their once-majestic forms now twisted into monstrous arches over the rivers of lava. The islands floated precariously, swaying slightly atop the waves of magma, causing the bone bridges to shift with loud, ominous groans.

It definitely felt like the final floor of the dungeon. If each level lay beneath the one before it, then this was the very bottom. There was no place lower to go. Sure, there was one more level—the fifth one—but from what he had learned while reading the dungeon’s description, it was merely an arena for battling the final boss. The arena was likely hidden somewhere on this floor, and all he had to do was locate a portal to take him there. At least, that was his assumption, but he was confident that it would prove true.

Anyway, it was time to get moving. He took one last look around and picked a direction. Several bridges connected his island to the neighboring ones. Some were devoid of enemies, while others contained some. Jake chose a path toward one of the latter. He approached the bridge linking the two islands. It was made from the titanic spine of a dragon, with the ribs arching upwards to form a tunnel he needed to traverse. The floor of this bone bridge, crafted from the enormous creature’s spinal cord, was uneven but wide enough to walk on comfortably. It creaked ominously with every step but held firm. Beneath him, a river of magma pulsated with life, and geysers erupted without warning on either side.

Finally, he reached the other end of the bridge and stepped onto the island. This one was somewhat larger than the previous one and had a number of creatures milling around in the center of the barren landscape. They resembled Komodo dragons or monitor lizards but were two or even three times larger. As Jake approached, he appraised one of the overgrown lizards with a thought.

Dragonspawn – Level 105

Every creature turned its head toward Jake, their small red eyes fixed on him as he approached. They regarded him for a moment, but as he closed the distance to about ten yards, they scuttled forward with surprising speed. One of the lizards suddenly halted and gaped its jaws wide. In the next moment, a torrent of fire shot from its mouth. Jake swiftly darted to the side, managing to evade the fiery assault just in time.

One of the dragonspawn managed to get within biting range, tearing into his leg with its teeth. The armor broke under the fierce force, but the creature’s teeth didn’t penetrate deeply enough to let any mana flow out. Jake attempted to strike the brazen lizard, but it managed to jerk its head aside just in time. To his surprise, these creatures turned out to be incredibly agile. He struck again, and this time his blow found its mark. He slammed his smashfist into the lizard’s head, cracking its skull and killing the creature with just one powerful blow. Feral Instincts alerted him to another dragonspawn gearing up to unleash a stream of fire. Just as he was about to jump out of the way, a second lizard barreled into him from behind, knocking him off balance and sending him crashing to the hard, unyielding ground, a cloud of ash erupting around him.

He wasted no time rolling to the side as the other lizard unleashed a torrent of fire at him. The flames brushed against his side, melting some of his armor, but the damage wasn’t too severe. While the dragonspawn were strong and agile, their fire wasn’t nearly as powerful as that unleashed by the Flame Orbed Crawler he had fought on the previous floor. The Fire Protective amulet still hanging around his neck reduced some of the damage he took from the flames.

Jumping to his feet, he resumed fighting the dragonspawn. There were only a few lizards left, so it didn’t take him long to take care of them.

Multiple enemies killed. +15,250 XP

Jake scanned the area to confirm there were no more foes on this island. There were none left. On the other side of the island near a bone bridge that arched over a river of lava, he noticed a small chest. Upon approaching it, he carefully examined the chest for any mechanical or magical traps. Finding none, he lifted the lid and peered inside.

At the bottom of the chest lay several lesser mana items and a few gemstones of the same types he already possessed. He siphoned the magical energy from the consumables, replenishing some of his mana reserves. After that, he stored the gemstones in his inventory and got back on his feet. He crossed the bone bridge leading to the next island and continued exploring this level of the dungeon.

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