The second collision goes almost exactly as expected. Our speed on impact isn't as fast, so my strike is less powerful, but I'm more focused on keeping this dragon entertained while I figure out how to gain slightly more power and fully understand what this yellow hexagon ability is. The fact that there is no mana or qi inside the manifestation makes me believe this is some kind of unique trait that this being awakened with its True Core. The Lich King said all True Cores have unique attributes awakened, and I see no barrier magic or any sign of this yellow creation on the creature's status, even now with my mythic-grade appraisal and inspect skills. I'm able to see every detail of its status, down to the amount of HP remaining, and even its individual stat points. It only has one buff on its status: [Earth Dragon's Roar]. While I know Ember received the ability to transform into a human after his second rank-up, this ability doesn't show on his status. The only one that does is the fire ability he awakened in his first rank-up. I'm unsure what this monster's buff is, and if it is activated right now or not... It may very well be the bronze-colored beam that flows from its mouth after every exchange, but this could just be its innate ability. Before I start pulling out some of my own tricks, I want to know more about my opponent first. Even though a clear path to victory seems to be ahead, I'm not dropping my guard. Another 20 full exchanges go by, and I gain even more levels. The dragon begins to take a more offensive and aggressive stance once it realizes my attacks are coming at it faster and harder than before. This works for a few minutes, pushing me back about 100 kilometers just by attacking and diving in faster to gain the advantage each exchange we have. However, this series of events only fuels me more. The fact that I'm getting pushed back, closer to the population I need to protect, makes me want to improve even faster. I'm in total concentration for another 20 exchanges, and my level rises even higher, and a familiar skill gets upgraded mixed in with the strings of notifications. [Hibernation][Mythic Grade] It's a skill I received in another Labyrinth a while back, and couldn't find any dungeon monsters to upgrade it. It puts a smile on my face, making me wonder if some of the other unique skills I managed to absorb in other labyrinths will be found in the future, and I continue the battle. I'm still being pushed back, but my attacks are even stronger and propel me further, another 200 kilometers closer to the Crimson City; however, there's a turning point that displays the weight of my newfound power. I put my everything into a dual blade slash, fully expecting it to be like all the others—coming so close to breaking the barrier, then getting blasted backward dozens of kilometers by my own energy. However, that paper-thin line of the strongest gravity at the center of the hexagon that has been holding me back all this time finally breaks. Mid-slash, another rush of levels and MCP flood my body, bringing me to [Lv. 5991], and the satisfaction I gain from watching the yellow manifestation of pure divine threads break and shatter into millions of pieces makes the countless failures well worth it in this fight. It is the first time I feel any emotion or see any reaction from the bronze dragon. A small ripple of genuine surprise comes from the creature's psyche, as for the first time in this entire battle I'm the one that is on the offensive. However, the unbothered eyes and baseline of uncaring confidence is still the dragon's overarching emotion. It only has fractions of a second to try to react, and it can't twist out of the way in time. Two waves of Dark Red Soul Energy coursing with yellow divine light collide with the dragon's side. Instead of myself being pushed backward after every exchange, finally, my energy attacks make contact with the dragon's right side, exploding into an immense energy blast against its natural defenses and sending the mythical creature rocketing through the air as I follow through with both of my blades. The bulk of the attack was absorbed by the yellow hexagon, but I did it. My blades made it through. I fly forward with killing intent in my eyes and a clear path to victory ahead. The next 5 exchanges go much differently than the last. I'm in total control of this battle now, managing to channel more and more energy into my strikes. The unbreakable gravity shield that erupted back on me every time I tried to break it at the start of our battle is now unable to handle my attacks at all. Every time we collide, there is still a pause in the air as our auras clash, but my blades sink through and release violent energy attacks on this dragon every time. I aim directly for the chest and neck now, but every time the hexagon is still there, taking the brunt of the blow. The remaining force that actually hits the dragon never makes it past its natural defenses, so I still haven't drawn blood. However, as I push the monster back the full 300 kilometers that it pushed me, I learn something new about this True Core Barrier that I didn't know before. With more confidence after each attack, I begin testing out more abilities. I send telekinesis-powered ice spears, fireballs, stone bullets, and even various mental attacks the dragon's way before, during, and after the barrier is broken. The breakthrough I come to is during one series of attacks where I send off a very concentrated spear of ice its way right after breaking its barrier. While it can handle taking the mental attacks without fear, it attempts to block the physical attacks with its shimmering yellow hexagon, but there is a small amount of lag in between the breaking point of its ability and the time necessary to create another one. My concentrated attack of ice magic tethered with divine energy hits the dragon's right leg, actually making contact with its scales for a fraction of a second before the barrier is able to form again and propel the rest of the attack away. The attack itself wasn't strong enough to actually cause injury, but it's given me enough insight to call this exchange the dragon's fatal move.