They tried every skill their guilds had.
Azure Strike's mages bombarded the second barrier with every elemental spell imaginable. Red Wolf's brawlers slammed it with brute force. Not even a scratch.
Even Yoon Ara stepped forward, her eyes glowing coldly. She slashed through the air with her Dimensional Blade, aiming to disrupt space itself. A shimmer rippled across the surface of the barrier—but it remained whole.
Cain's voice broke the silence, frustrated.
Cain's: "Even the guild leader's strike didn't work… What the hell is this thing made of?"
From the back, a calm voice spoke.
Juno (Red Wolf's Guild Leader): "Mind if I try?"
He stepped forward, his long polearm crackling as sparks of lightning gathered at the tip. Electricity surged down his arm as he took position, charging his weapon. Then—he hurled it like a thunderbolt, smashing it against the barrier.
Boom!
The impact sent out shockwaves. For a brief second, the barrier shimmered—almost cracking.
Rover's eyes widened.
Rover (whispers): "Incredible… They're not even one of the most famous guilds, but their power… Sir Juno is like a thunder god. And Ma'am Yoon… she reminds me of Hestia from the Celestial Order."
Cain's chuckled, grinning confidently.
Cain's: "Heh, that's right. We're low-tier in rank… but we're not weak."
He stepped up. Sliding on his specialized gauntlets, flames ignited from his arms, swirling violently like twin dragons.
Cain's: "My turn."
His fists became a blur—punching the barrier dozens of times faster than the eye could see. The whole cavern echoed with the thunderous rhythm of his strikes. Finally—
Crack!
The barrier shattered like glass under pressure.
The members of Azure Strike and Red Wolf erupted in cheers, voices echoing through the dungeon.
Cain's (panting): "Told you. We're not bad, huh?"
Rover smiled faintly.
Rover: "They're not bad at all…"
The gates creaked open.
But as they stepped forward, the doors slammed shut behind them.
Rover: "The door… it's closed."
Cain's (shouting): "Did anyone close it?! What the hell—"
Yoon Ara: "Shh… we're not alone."
A low rumble. The air grew heavy.
Juno narrowed his eyes.
Juno: "We're the guests here… and whatever lives here isn't happy to see us."
Then—it stepped out from the darkness.
A towering chimera, nearly the size of a two-story building, its body molten like lava, claws dripping with heat, and three demonic heads snarling in unison.
The temperature surged. Hunters began sweating instantly.
Juno: "Strike Squad—get ready!"
Healers retreated to the rear. Mages launched hydro-blasts to cool the chimera's core—but the creature walked through them, unfazed. Then—it roared, and every hunter felt their knees shake. A War Cry.
Noses bled. Vision blurred.
Yoon Ara: "Get a hold of yourselves! Focus!"
She vanished—reappearing at the chimera's feet, slicing with high-speed blade work, but the beast barely flinched.
Juno: "We have to hit it together!"
Lightning surged from his body again as he readied his polearm.
Cain's: "Anna Cloris! Buff me now!"
Anna, an A-rank buffer, began chanting—but before she could finish, the chimera let out another War Cry, stronger this time.
Hunters from A to E-rank were overwhelmed. Even Rover staggered, blood dripping from his nose.
Rover: "What… is this feeling…?"
Yoon Ara and Juno launched a synchronized assault, but the chimera whipped its tail, sending Yoon flying into a wall.
Cain's charged in, fists blazing—only for his gauntlets to begin melting from the heat.
The beast slammed him down with its claw, pinning him.
Juno (screaming): "Cain's!! You monster!!"
He thrust his polearm into the beast's eye. It shrieked—and started charging a massive blue fireball in its central mouth.
Anna (crying): "I—I don't want to die here…"
Rover watched her. He watched them all.
Bleeding. Struggling. Fading.
He gripped his stone dagger.
Rover (to himself): "Please… come out. I need you now."
He stood, body trembling, eyes burning.
He ran at the chimera, dodging its head, rolling under its claws. He slashed with the dagger—nothing.
The chimera struck back, but Rover dodged again—instinctively, faster than before.
Then—his body changed.
Muscles hardened. His skin grew tense. Powerless still—but something within him surged.
He punched the chimera's leg. No real damage. The tail slammed into him, hurling him backward.
He stood again.
Rover (screaming): "I DON'T NEED ANYONE TO SURVIVE! I'LL KEEP GETTING STRONGER! I DON'T NEED THAT UNKNOWN VOICE! I CAN KILL YOU—MYSELF!"
Yoon Ara, Cain's, Juno, and every injured hunter—stared.
Rover, powerless… going toe to toe with a lava chimera.
No weapon. No magic.
Just raw speed, instinct—and the will to survive.
To be continue ...