Chapter 457 Apple-Plucking Plan
Zhang Yuzhiās voice woke up the black dragon. It raised its head and pricked up its ears, staring straight at the waterfall.
Zhou Wen knew that they couldnāt see the distant giant dragon or the golden apple tree, so he hurriedly gestured for them to stay silent. He also descended and pulled them into the cave.
Boom!
The three of them had just entered the cave when the black dragon streaked across the sky like a black bolt of lightning. It landed beside the pool as it swept its eyes around as though it was looking for something.
After circling the pond a few times and finding nothing, it slowly returned to the apple tree.
The three people, who had held their breath in the waterfall cave, finally dared to breathe.
"Strange. Iāve come to this island many times. There are only some Water-Elemental Sprites. Why would there be an additional dragon?" An Sheng said with a frown.
"Itās not just that." Zhou Wen recounted his discovery and speculation.
Zhang Yuzhiās eyes lit up when she heard that. "In other words, we arenāt on the original island. When we passed the tunnel beneath the pool, we entered another space. This is a dimensional zone that hasnāt been discovered. Thereās a gigantic dragon here and a golden apple? Is that really the golden Apple of Discord from the legends?"
"How would I know?" Zhou Wen shook his head.
An Sheng said, "No Mythical creature is to be trifled with. Even if itās a weaker existence in myths and legends, itās not something we can deal with. Donāt even have thoughts on the golden apple. Letās swim back from the waterfall tunnel and take a look. Itās best if we can go back. If we canāt return, we can try entering the pool again. Perhaps weāll be sucked in once again and be able to leave this place."
Zhou Wen agreed since he didnāt wish to take the risk. Although Zhang Yuzhi was very interested in the golden apple from the fairytale legend, she could only leave with the two of them.
They soon realized something terrifying. There was no way back at the end of the waterfall. Furthermore, after they entered the pool, there was no strange suction force at the bottom.
After leaving the pool, the three of them returned to the cave. Zhang Yuzhi thought for a moment and said, "I remember hearing from my elders that one can only leave certain dimensional zones by obtaining a special item after entry. Otherwise, they wonāt be able to leave and they will die inside."
"From the looks of it, this dimensional zone should be the death zone youāre talking about. After you enter, either you die or the dimensional creature dies. Thereās no third option," An Sheng said.
Zhang Yuzhi thought for a moment before saying, "If we leave this island, will we be able to leave this dimensional zone?"
"Iāve already taken a look from midair. Previously, there were distant islands, but thereās nothing now. At a glance, all I can see is the sea," Zhou Wen said.
"That means weāre really trapped here. This island isnāt big either. I reckon that the black dragon or the golden apple is the dimensional zoneās special item. Killing the dragon or obtaining the golden apple is the only way of exiting," Zhang Yuzhi said excitedly, "If we kill that dragon, will we become the first dragon slayers in human history?"
"If you arenāt afraid of becoming dragon feces, you can give it a try." Zhou Wen was rather inclined to think of a way to obtain the golden apple.
The chance of dying when fighting a Mythical creature was too high, but plucking the apple didnāt necessarily mean fighting the dragon. They had quite a number of Companion Beasts that they could use to lure the black dragon away before plucking the golden apple. It was likely a much safer option.
An Sheng agreed with Zhou Wenās idea. "Yuzhi, stay here. Zhou Wen and I will give it a try and see if we can lure the dragon away and pluck the golden apple."
"Why am I staying?" Zhang Yuzhi was puzzled.
"Because the two of us are going to be apple-stealing thieves. If the two of us fail, it will be your turn to be the dragon-slaying heroine," An Sheng said.
"Thatās right. I canāt do such covert work." Zhang Yuzhi nodded.
After An Sheng asked Zhou Wen about the location and details of the golden apple tree, he sneaked out of the waterfall cave with him.
"I have a Essence Energy Skill that converges my aura. I likely wonāt be discovered by the dragon even if I approach it. When I get close, Iāll summon a Companion Beast to see how strong the dragon is," An Sheng said to Zhou Wen before he crept forward.
Zhou Wen saw him silently proceed forward like a snake. If he couldnāt see him with his naked eyes, he wouldnāt have been able to sense his existence. He couldnāt help but admire An Sheng for being a wily old fox. His abilities were much more multifaceted than his.
Zhou Wen didnāt have any similar Essence Energy Skills and couldnāt guarantee that he wouldnāt be discovered by the dragon, so he didnāt approach. He found a relatively high spot nearby and looked at the golden apple tree and the black dragon from afar.
Not long after, An Sheng arrived less than a thousand meters away from the golden apple tree. He pressed himself against the ground, and the armor on his body automatically changed color, making him almost fuse with the grass.
Then, Zhou Wen saw him summon a leopard-like Companion Beast that charged in the direction of the golden apple tree as it roared.
The black dragon hadnāt slept. It immediately stood up and saw the leopard-like Companion Beast. It flapped its wings and a black bolt of lightning streaked across the sky.
The leopard was no match for it at all. Just as it spewed out a ball of flames, it was swallowed by the black dragon.
What fast speed! Zhou Wen was alarmed. The dragonās speed was almost on par with the wolf-like, tiger-like Mythical creature in the temple.
Although it was still slightly weaker, its speed was not something Epic humans could contend with.
The leopard was an Epic creature, but it hadnāt managed to put up any resistance in front of the black dragon.
An Sheng lay motionless on the grass. After the dragon devoured the leopard Companion Beast, it roared violently and shuttled back and forth across the island like lightning, as though it was searching for other intruders.
Zhou Wen was also lying in the grass, motionless. A few times, the black dragon flew close to him, making him feel his heart in his throat. This wasnāt a game. If he was discovered by the black dragon, there was a high chance of death.
The black dragon finally quietened down and returned to the golden apple tree. After quite some time, it seemed to be exhausted. When it lay under the tree to rest, An Sheng silently retreated. He gave Zhou Wen a look and the two of them slowly retreated to the side of the waterfall.
The sound of the waterfall could conceal their voices. Even if they made any movements here, it was unlikely to attract the dragonās attention.
"This island is too small. With the speed of that black dragon, no matter where we lure it to, it can immediately return to the apple tree. From the looks of it, luring it away wonāt work," An Sheng said after returning to the cave.