A simple strike dealt noticeable damage to the Land Dragon. Yet, before its head could hit the ground, the flesh around the wound quickly began to regenerate, with the flesh buds grasping the head, preventing it from sliding off. In no time, the regeneration process had begun.
"Has the regeneration speed increased?" Bell observed the scene without rushing to strike again. Instead, he reflected on a thought that had crossed his mind earlier. "Seems the 49th floor is a turning point."
For Bell, the demigod floor boss wasn't a significant challenge. In fact, the power of the demigod was simply a stepping stone for him to adapt. Once Bell became accustomed to his own strength, that was when the real trouble would begin.
"After this Balor, the next floor bosses I encounter should be four-digit-level," he mused, a flicker of anticipation flashing in his eyes before it shifted to caution and vigilance.
After all, the gap between four-digit and five-digit levels was immense. Even if the difference were merely a single Authority, that difference could completely overturn the balance of power.
Bell, who had never faced a proper four-digit floor boss directly, knew he couldn't afford to be careless. There would be no second chances on this path—everything depended solely on his hands. This understanding caused a brief flash of fervor in Bell's eyes, but it was quickly suppressed by reason. His gaze remained fixed on the Land Dragon in front of him.
"Impressive strength, and the energy reserves within that Magic Stone are astonishing. So what?"
"Envy."
In an instant, the energy fluctuations around the Land Dragon surged dramatically. This became especially pronounced as the creature's head gradually regenerated, the energy surging along with it.
"Hmm~ Its energy consumption is becoming intense."
Just adding a Debuff to the Land Dragon caused its energy expenditure to skyrocket by dozens, even hundreds of times. What might have previously been a mere 0.01% cost for regeneration now became 1%, thanks to the added effect of "Envy."
This energy drain was painfully obvious.
As the Land Dragon's energy was excessively depleted, its innate resistance to magic also started to wane.
It's important to note that dragons naturally resist magic, but this resistance comes with a cost. Once the damage exceeds its defensive threshold, the energy expenditure skyrockets—especially under the enhanced energy consumption buff Bell had provided.
With its regeneration complete, the Land Dragon suddenly leapt backward, its instincts sensing the overwhelming sense of danger. The two deaths it had just endured, along with the massive energy depletion, had made it acutely aware that it was teetering on the edge of the abyss. Every movement now threatened to drain vast reserves of energy.
Bell wasn't surprised by the Land Dragon's human-like behavior; rather, he was pleased to see it regaining some clarity of mind.
"A demigod Land Dragon possesses considerable strength," he acknowledged. "Extraordinary magic power reserves, capable of restoring magic with each breath. But once such a body increases its magical consumption, will you still be able to squander magic as recklessly as before?"
As he spoke, Bell appeared in front of the Land Dragon, his palm forming into a blade, striking downward.
"Shh!"
The Land Dragon's massive body split cleanly from the center outward. However, the giant magic stone inside remained intact, fused within the flesh. Bell merely hovered in the air, waiting.
Suddenly, the severed head of the Land Dragon lifted, and the gemstone, now split in half, emitted a brilliant light.
"Heh~ Clever," Bell remarked with a chuckle.
The light was void of any death curse. It wasn't the original cursed death beam, but rather a pure magic cannon.
"Sloth."
In an instant, the magic that had been condensed moments before dissipated.
The Land Dragon now sensed it: the enemy before it was unreachable. Despair spread across it, but Bell refused to allow it to linger.
"Rage."
A fierce anger instantly overwhelmed the despair. The regenerated head lifted high, and the Land Dragon let out an enraged roar.
"ROAR!!!!!"
Its already massive body began to twist, and the aura of a demigod fluctuated—though only upward.
"Greed."
In that instant, the demigod aura reached its limit.
But the Land Dragon, now straining under the surging power, began to warp. Gradually, it lost its dragon form, twisting into a mass of flesh that writhed in place.
"Hmm, the material was indeed too inferior."
Perhaps it could have reached four-digit power, even purely in raw strength. But the material was too weak, and the excessive concentration of power didn't form effective strength—it just became nourishment for expanding the mass of flesh.
Ultimately, the issue was the poor quality of the material used.
Even as a Dungeon Floor Boss, the Land Dragon clearly lacked the qualifications to cross into the four-digit realm.
"I had hoped to see what level a four-digit monster could reach. It seems I underestimated the four-digit tier. Even though I've reached this stage myself, not every species can achieve it," Bell mused.
However, this experience helped Bell understand why mastering divine powers was essential for reaching the four-digit realm. Simply having enough raw power isn't enough for a species transformation. Only a properly structured power framework can guide the accumulated energy toward a defined purpose, instead of turning it into mere nourishment for a mass of flesh.
"Looks like I won't be testing Lust and Pride after all. What a shame," Bell said with a hint of regret, though there was no sympathy in his voice. He wouldn't show any pity to a Floor Boss. They had sacrificed everything to stand before him, and they needed not sympathy, but an equal share of defeat.
"Well, never mind. Though I missed some direct experiences, using Lust and Pride on a mere Land Dragon would be overestimating it."
With that slightly arrogant remark, a faint smile touched Bell's lips. Though he didn't use them directly, the sensation of Pride had still been experienced.
Bell stepped past the Land Dragon, now reduced to a mass of flesh, and murmured two words softly.
"Gluttony."
Beneath the writhing mass of flesh, a dark void emerged. Inside the void, a massive mouth appeared—large enough to swallow the Land Dragon's entire transformed body.
The massive maw beneath the earth snapped open and devoured the flesh above.
Bell, already walking away, didn't look back. He simply left in silence.
After swallowing the Land Dragon's flesh, the giant mouth slowly disappeared into the darkness below.