In response, the eight 'Noble Knights' surrounding it moved as one, their muscles coiling like springs ready to be unleashed. At Joshua's unspoken command, they launched themselves at the 'salamander' with a coordinated ferocity that was almost beautiful to behold.

  Their halberds sliced through the air, aiming for the salamander's gleaming scales, but the creature was not easily bested.

  Each blow that connects barely leaves a mark; the salamander's regenerative abilities are already working to repair the damage.

  The creature's hiss grew louder, a promise of the pain it intended to inflict.

  As the knights pressed their attack, one misjudged his strike, his halberd glancing off the beast's side. In a flash, the salamander swiped its massive tail, knocking him back with a force that sent him soaring through the air.

  BAM

  He collided with a tree trunk, the impact echoing through the forest as he slumped to the ground, breathing heavily. But overall, he needed time to recover before joining back in the fight.

  Joshua assessed the situation from his position, his gaze flicking from knight to knight, noticing the minor nicks and bruises that marred their otherwise impeccable armor.

  He knew they were tough, but he hadn't anticipated the salamander's ability to regenerate so quickly.

  The creature had proven to be a formidable opponent, and the 'Noble Knights' would need every advantage they could get.

  Joshua descended his consciousness into one of the 'Noble Knights', feeling the cold steel of the halberd in his grip.

  He focused his energy, and a fiery aura began to envelop the weapon. The blade grew hotter, the metal hissing as it was coated in a layer of [Flame Spirit].

  This is the first time he has used this spell since getting it. [Flame Spirit] was supposed to be a 15-meter offensive spell.

  [Flame Spirit] is just like a fireball from fantasy, but Joshua found it better use in forging and in coating it on weapons. Of course, it damages the weapon if cast on for a long period of time.

  Joshua, in the Knight's body, swung the halberd with all his might, aiming for the 'salamander's' side. The blade sizzled as it sliced through the air, and when it connected with the creature's flesh, it left a deep gash. The 'salamander' howled in pain, its regenerative powers faltering as the flaming blade cauterized the wound.

  The creature staggered, the fiery spirit clinging to its scales like a malevolent second skin. Its usually quick healing was now a slow crawl, the salamander's body struggling to keep up with the intense burn.

  It realized it was outmatched and decided to retreat, diving into the river with surprising agility for its size. The surrounding water boiled and steamed as it sank beneath the surface, its massive tail flipping and sending waves crashing over the riverbanks.

  Joshua and the 'Noble Knights' didn't miss a beat. They dove into the river in pursuit, their enhanced physiques allowing them to barely keep up with the creature's frantic retreat.

  Even though it is dangerous to chase this beast in its natural environment for fear of being disadvantaged when fighting in water.

  Joshua didn't hesitate, plunging into the river intending to hunt this creature down for its DNA.

  Following the salamander's trail of steaming water, the 'Noble Knights' dove, tracking the creature's movements easily. The riverbed was littered with rocks and debris, but the salamander's path was clear, a beacon of heat in the otherwise frigid water.

  As the salamander darted into the depths, it released a burst of steam, illuminating the murky waters with an eerie, shifting light. The huge stone suddenly moves away, revealing a hidden cave and an ancient temple, long submerged beneath the river's surface.

  Joshua's eyes widened in surprise as the 'Noble Knights' followed the creature into the underwater chamber. The structure was unlike anything he had seen before; ancient runes carved into the stone walls, and the floor littered with broken artifacts.

  The salamander had retreated to the deepest part of the chamber, its scales pulsing.

  RAWRR

  It roared, a sound that echoed through the ancient stones and reverberated in their very bones. The surrounding water churned with agitation, hinting at its rage.

  The 'Noble Knights' paused, their eyes scanning the area for the creature's next move.

  Joshua, through the Knight he controlled, felt the creature's anger, its fear, and something else - a sense of territorial protectiveness. It was clear that this place was significant to the salamander, perhaps its lair.

  Ignoring the creature's warning, he ordered the 'Noble Knights' to press forward. The salamander, cornered and enraged, unleashed a torrent of fire from its gaping maw, the heat and light momentarily blinding them.

  BOOM

  Joshua's vision went white, then black. His eyes stung and watered from the sudden light release in the dark, but he didn't panic. Instead, he focused on the surrounding sounds, the splashes of water, the hiss of the fire, and the grunts of his 'Noble Knight' as they bore the brunt of the attack.

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  A few suffered 2nd degree burns and the rest suffered from 1st degree burns to none, ignoring the pain as they got ready to attack.

  Joshua's enhanced hearing picked up the creature's heavy breaths, the sizzle of water against its burning body. He could feel the vibrations of its powerful tail swishing through the water, searching for its next target. His skin tingled with the residual heat from the fire, but his eyes remained closed.

  The 'Noble Knight' under his control took a deep breath and dived into the river, the cold water a stark contrast to the fiery breath it had just endured. The salamander's presence grew stronger, a beacon of fury in the murky depths.

  Joshua's Knight swam deeper, his movements precise and swift despite the weight of the armor. The underwater cave was vast, with ancient carvings on the walls that hinted at a forgotten civilization that now serves as a lair for the creatures they now hunted.

  The 'salamander' was a creature of the water, its powerful tail propelling it through the currents with a grace that belied its size. The knights followed closely, the water parting around the enchanted halberd like a blade slicing through the air.

  The salamander attacks him in the water, trying to bite him down.

  The 'Noble Knight' deftly avoided the creature's snapping jaws, the water around them churning from the impact. As the creature got tired from its flame attacks, its movements grew more predictable.

  It seems the salamander can't fire the breath attack continuously, and he can't cast flame spirit of flames when he is in the water. The only thing he can do is take it down with brute force, but the water is its domain.

  Joshua's mind raced with strategy, his thoughts a blur of potential scenarios and outcomes.

  The 'salamander' was tiring, its fiery breaths coming less frequently. He knew he had to act swiftly, before the creature regained its full strength.

  Joshua's mind raced, formulating a plan.

  "Knights, hold it down!" he ordered, his thoughts echoing through the mental link he shared with his 'Noble Knights'.

  The seven remaining 'Noble Knights' moved in unison, their halberds flashing through the water as they surrounded the salamander. They knew the creature's power was in its mouth, claws and tail and with each successful dodge, they chipped away at its stamina.

  Joshua's mind raced with the thought of controlling such a creature. If he could tame it, the 'salamander' could become an invaluable asset to his growing force.

  He sent a command through the mental link to his 'Blood Wolf Knights' to maintain their pressure, tiring the creature while avoiding its fiery assault.

  Joshua retreated a safe distance and focused as he opened a [PORTAL], bringing out the [Bondservant]. It was a chip designed to enslave people and force them into his service. He just hopes it works out on the salamander.

  The 'salamander' roared in rage as the 'Noble Knights' held it in place, it moved to perform a fiery breath around them like an angry inferno. The knights, driven by their unyielding loyalty to Joshua, endured the heat. Their bodies burn as they jump or swim in the water to avoid direct hits and flames.

  The salamander further weakened with its last fire breath, Joshua saw his opportunity.

  He took a deep breath and focused his Qi on his body. Feeling the strength, he jumped onto the creature's back, stabbing it as he tried inserting the chip. The 'Noble Knights' ran up to the creature's legs and tail, tightened their grip, their enhanced bodies further strengthened by Qi holding the creature down.

  The 'salamander' felt a sharp pain at the base of its skull as the chip was inserted. It thrashed and bucked, trying to dislodge the intruder that had dared to attack it in its own sanctum.

  Joshua, with the strength of his enhanced body, held on tightly, his fingers digging into the creature's tough scales. He could feel its powerful muscles contracting beneath him, the creature's desperate attempt to break free from the grip of his 'Noble Knights'.

  The 'salamander' thrashed its head from side to side, trying to dislodge the pesky human that had dared to climb onto its back. Its fiery eyes burned with rage as it felt the foreign object being inserted into its skull. The 'Noble Knights' tightened their grip, their Qi-infused muscles bulging in an effort to keep the creature still.

  Joshua grunted with the exertion, his own Qi pulsing through his limbs as he fought to keep the creature's head down. The salamander's scales were slick with water and blood, making it difficult to maintain his hold. Yet, he was determined to see this through. The power contained within this creature was too great to be allowed to run amok.

  The Bondservant device clicked into place, and the creature's movements grew sluggish. The fiery rage in its eyes began to dim, in fear it did something Joshua couldn't detect but only feel. The 'Noble Knights' surrounding it released their grip, watching cautiously as their once-formidable enemy succumbed to the power of technology.

  The 'salamander's' thrashing slowed, then ceased altogether. The water still grew around them, the only sound the heavy panting of the exhausted knights. With a final gasp, the creature's head bowed to Joshua, its fiery breath becoming shallow and regular.

  Joshua did not know what had happened, as he felt something contracted him through the [VOID] but he breathed out a sigh of relief as he saw the 'salamander' subdued. He can feel that the [Bondservant] has linked its soul to him, he can feel the salamander's emotion.

  He retreated from the knight's body and back to his own, his muscles tensing and releasing as he regained control. His heart was racing, the exhilaration of the hunt still coursing through his veins.

  Resting for a while, he sat up on the couch as he commanded Nexus the next step.

  "Nexus scans its genes and starts the next upgrades of the blood Knights. And scan any anomaly in me and the [VOID]." he instructed, his voice tight with excitement.

  Joshua then remembered that he had ended up in the salamander's lair. He ordered the 'Noble Knights' to scout the place.

  The 'Noble Knights' quickly dispersed, leaving the defeated 'salamander' behind.

  They moved with purpose, their eyes scanning the murky waters and the ancient, moss-covered stones of the riverbed.

  The submerged chamber was vast, a testament to the forgotten civilization that had once thrived here.

  The 'Noble Knights' fanned out, their flashlights brought through [PORTAL] piercing the darkness and illuminating the treasures scattered around them.

  There, nestled among the ruins, they located several small piles of gold and jewels on the ground.

  Joshua's eyes lit up at the sight of the treasure. It was clear that this was the salamander's lair. The creature had been hoarding its spoils from raids or scavenging this ancient place, just like a dragon's treasure trove hidden beneath its belly protecting the hoard of treasures.

  Then he had a sudden idea, since his old base was being attacked and damaged because this salamander happened to pass by. It won't mind them moving into this place; Nobody would expect a base hidden below the river.

  He turned to Nexus, his voice sharp with excitement.

  "Scan and record every inch of this place, Nexus," he ordered.

  "We're moving our operations here. The 'salamander' won't mind if we move here."

  [Sir, I didn't detect or spot any anomalies]

  [All bodily functions are healthy]

  [VOID is in perfect condition]

  Seeing this report, Joshua knitted his brow.

  As he was sure something had happened when he enslaved the salamander. Looking into its eyes, he is sure it still has an intelligence that should not be present.

  There were many things he did not know. The only thing he can do is study it slowly.

  His thoughts were interrupted as Nexus reported on the improvements of the 'Blood knights'.

  [Sir, the design for the new Blood Knight is ready]

  [Would you like to look at the improvements?]

  Joshua smiled as he looked at the screen full of the explanation that Nexus provided.