Chapter 132: Return with me, and I shall help you.

Just as Zhang Zhiyuan had surmised, the Black Dragon King Nefarian was conducting a secret experiment. Atop a raised platform, a colossal black dragon lay coiled, its massive eyes tightly shut as if in deep slumber. Yet, even in this state, the dragon's aura alone was enough to strike terror into the hearts of all who beheld it, making their very souls tremble.

It was indeed the Black Dragon King Nefarian. If that were all, it might have been expected; after all, upon entering Blackwing Lair, everyone had braced themselves, knowing this was the lair of the Black Dragon King himself.

What was truly horrifying was what Nefarian was doing. Hatchlings, grotesque dragonkin, and even powerful boss monsters were walking onto that platform one after another, as if under a hypnotic spell.

A dragonkin standing at the back let out a low growl, swung its sharp claws, and swiftly flayed and dismembered the hatchling before it. Throughout the slaughter, the hatchling shrieked incessantly, yet showed no sign of resistance.

Blood cascaded like a waterfall, staining the platform, but eerily, the surface smoothed over in the blink of an eye, becoming as clean and pristine as if no blood had ever touched it.

Next, the dragonkin stepped forward, transforming from executioner to victim, allowing a green hatchling behind it to tear it into pieces of flesh and bone.

Even the true boss monsters followed suit. A mountain-like, two-headed beast strode onto the platform, ignoring the attacks of the dragonkin and hatchlings. Finding their strikes too slow and weak, it lowered its own hideous heads and began to tear into its own body.

Soon, the platform was a river of blood, but just as before, it returned to its pristine state shortly after. If not for the corpse of the two-headed beast lying to the side, one would have doubted their own eyes.

"Is that Chromaggus?!" Ye Xiong stared, his eyes bulging in disbelief. He had never imagined a terrifying boss monster would choose to self-mutilate and allow itself to be slaughtered by hatchlings and dragonkin.

No wonder their journey had been so smooth; aside from unhatched eggs, they had encountered no resistance. All the monsters had gone to that platform to destroy themselves.

Mo Shang, who had been here once before, was equally incredulous. When their team from Survival Base 30 had visited, they had encountered no such bizarre situation. This defied his understanding, leaving him speechless.

"There is something wrong with that platform!" Zhang Zhiyuan noted, his eyes flashing. Su Chen nodded slightly, sensing the same. The platform seemed to be devouring the essence of the hatchlings, dragonkin, and bosses. For some reason, it felt hauntingly familiar.

Suddenly, a realization struck Su Chen, and his pupils constricted. If he remembered correctly, back in the stone fortress of the Frostfire Ridge mission dungeon, the Frostwolf chieftain Durotan had blood-sacrificed his own kin to absorb their essence, thereby unlocking his genetic locks.

That battle had taught Su Chen that not only ability users but also monsters could unlock their genetic potential. If Nefarian was doing the same... Su Chen felt a chill crawl up his spine. The thought was unimaginable. While both Durotan and Nefarian were bosses, they were on entirely different levels of power.

When Durotan had unlocked his genetic potential, he had nearly killed Su Chen. If the far more terrifying Black Dragon King were to do the same, the mere thought was enough to drive one to despair.

"We must stop Nefarian. We cannot let him continue to absorb their essence." A blood-red glint flashed in Su Chen's eyes as he prepared to rush forward and destroy the platform—the medium for the experiment.

Just then, a hand pressed firmly onto Su Chen's shoulder. Zhang Zhiyuan turned to the group with a radiant smile. "Brothers, we must seize this opportunity. Nefarian is sleeping, making him a sitting duck. Melee fighters, establish a defensive perimeter. Ranged attackers, prepare yourselves."

"On my command: one... two... three... attack!" Following Zhang Zhiyuan's order, the group unleashed their various techniques.

Although some felt a vague sense of unease, their trust in Zhang Zhiyuan’s tactical command led them to obey.

"No!" Pei Zhongbin shouted in alarm, trying to intervene, but it was too late; his voice was drowned out by the whistling barrage of attacks.

The onslaught slammed into the unsuspecting Black Dragon King. Under Zhang Zhiyuan's precise direction, the attacks converged on the dragon's neck, successfully breaching its defenses and carving out a deep, bone-reaching wound from which pale golden dragon blood flowed in torrents.

"We did it!" The group cheered, but their joy was short-lived.

Stung by the pain, the Black Dragon King awoke.

"ROAR! You wretched ants!" Nefarian bellowed, his golden vertical pupils burning with cruelty. He uncoiled his massive body, revealing his true, terrifying form.

Under the oppressive dragon aura, the group turned pale with panic. As chaos threatened to break out, a calm, steady voice rang out: "Do not panic! On my command, activate your genetic locks and fight!" Zhang Zhiyuan led by example, activating his own genetic lock and swinging his staff to conjure a colossal fireball, hurling it at the dragon.

Seeing this, the others found their resolve. Aside from those who had not yet unlocked their potential or the few who remained suspicious, everyone activated their genetic locks and launched a second wave of attacks.

This volley was far more ferocious. Nearly thirty awakened ability users combined their strength, tearing through Nefarian’s hide. But in doing so, they had thoroughly enraged the Black Dragon King.