BOOM!
A blinding red flash and a deafening explosion ripped through the quiet, dark forest. The thunderous roar startled the slumbering creatures across the entire island, causing them to turn towards the source in a panic.
Meanwhile, Oliver felt warm bits of meat and blood splatter against his face. The shockwave had unleashed a torrent of dust, debris, and gore in his direction. Fortunately, he reacted quickly. He dropped to the ground, belly flat, and covered his head, allowing the majority of the debris to fly over him.
"Phew! That really blew up."
Perhaps the dragon's body had acted like an enclosed container, amplifying the explosion. Despite the red crystal being smaller and less mana-dense, it had detonated with far greater power. He thought, 'It was a good idea to push it into its mouth.'
