The moment the dungeon trembled, Ethan knew they were in for trouble. The walls pulsed with eerie golden light as the runes flared brighter, illuminating the massive chamber they stood in. The air crackled with raw mana, making the hairs on his arms stand on end.
Seraphina and Serene, both standing on either side of him, readied themselves for battle. The tension between the two was almost as thick as the mana in the air, but Ethan had little time to worry about that.
A deep, guttural roar echoed through the chamber as the very ground beneath them shifted. From the far end of the room, a pair of massive stone doors creaked open, revealing an enormous beast emerging from the depths of the dungeon.
Dungeon Boss: Twilight Behemoth
It was a towering monstrosity covered in obsidian-black scales, its glowing amethyst eyes locked onto them with predatory intent. Its body pulsed with dark energy, and its long, jagged claws scraped against the stone floor, sending sparks flying.
Serene let out a slow breath. "This… is unexpected."
Seraphina gritted her teeth. "We don't have time to hesitate. That thing looks stronger than the last one."
Ethan flexed his fingers, feeling the strain of his previous battles still weighing on him. But there was no room for doubt.
"Then let's take it down."
The Battle Begins
The Twilight Behemoth moved with shocking speed for its size, its claws sweeping across the chamber in a wide arc. Ethan ducked under the attack, feeling the air pressure alone threaten to knock him off balance.
Seraphina countered with a swift slash, her blade glowing with dark energy as it cut through the creature's thick hide. Serene followed up immediately, unleashing a blast of compressed mana from her palm, striking the beast in its side.
The Behemoth roared in fury but remained unfazed. With a flick of its tail, it sent shockwaves through the ground, forcing Ethan to leap back.
Passive Ability Reminder:
Never Give Up (Progress: ???)
Iron Stride (Progress: 90%)
Bloodforged Tenacity (Progress: 67%)
Enduring Will (Progress: 49%)
Unyielding Flesh (Progress: 52%)
Ethan clenched his fists. He couldn't rely on mana like Serene or Seraphina, but his strength lay elsewhere. He activated Iron Stride, feeling his movements sharpen as he dashed toward the beast.
His fist connected with its knee, the impact sending a ripple through its leg. Though it didn't stagger, he could feel the force transferring through its body. A small victory.
Serene flicked her wrist, conjuring a dozen ice lances that shot forward, piercing into the Behemoth's hide. The creature howled, finally feeling the pain.
Seraphina, taking advantage of the opening, dashed forward and slashed at its neck. The blade struck true, drawing dark ichor from the beast's body.
Ethan didn't hesitate. He leaped into the air, using his full strength to aim a devastating punch at the same wound. His fist connected, and this time, the Behemoth let out a deafening screech, staggering backward.
The Turning Point
The Behemoth retaliated with a blast of dark energy, the force sending Ethan flying into the dungeon wall. Pain flared through his back, but he forced himself up, his body aching from the impact.
Seraphina and Serene didn't let up. They unleashed a barrage of combined attacks, their synergy—despite their rivalry—forcing the Behemoth onto the defensive.
Ethan took a deep breath. His body was at its limit, but he couldn't stop now.
His vision blurred for a moment, and suddenly, a system message flashed before his eyes.
Iron Stride has reached 100% progress.New Upgrade: Titan's Ascent unlocked!
A surge of power exploded through his veins. His legs felt lighter, stronger—almost as if the weight of gravity itself had weakened against him.
Ethan grinned. He knew exactly what to do.
The Final Blow
With a powerful kick off the ground, Ethan shot into the air with unprecedented speed. He soared higher than before, the power of Titan's Ascent propelling him effortlessly. The Behemoth's glowing eyes followed him, but it was too late.
Gathering every ounce of his strength, Ethan descended like a meteor, his fist aimed directly at the Behemoth's skull. The impact was earth-shattering. The dungeon floor cracked beneath them as the Behemoth let out one final, agonized shriek before collapsing lifelessly.
The chamber fell silent.
Ethan exhaled heavily, his body trembling from exhaustion.
Seraphina stared at him, a mixture of awe and frustration in her eyes. "What the hell was that?"
Serene smirked, brushing off her sleeves. "Looks like our F-rank just got a little more interesting."
Ethan chuckled, wiping sweat from his brow. "Yeah… I think so too."
Aftermath
As they caught their breath, the tension between Serene and Seraphina didn't fade. If anything, it grew worse.
Seraphina crossed her arms, glaring at Serene. "Why are you even here, Aldridge? You're not needed."
Serene smirked. "Oh? I didn't realize I needed permission to explore a dungeon. Or to be interested in someone." Her gaze flickered toward Ethan, making Seraphina's scowl deepen.
Ethan groaned internally. This was going to be a problem.
New Passive Ability Acquired:
Titan's Ascent (0%) – Enhances movement, allowing for explosive leaps and increased aerial control.
He sighed. One problem at a time.
To be continued…