After a restful sleep, I woke up feeling refreshed, though the looming sense of danger persisted. The tension in the air was palpable as Tsuki, Wogg, and I prepared ourselves for what was likely to be the most challenging trial we'd faced so far. As always, Tsuki and Wogg called me "Master," a title that still felt foreign but oddly comforting.
We had a quick breakfast—simple rations with some additional fruits I had stored in my dimensional storage. Wogg, after his injury in the previous battle, seemed eager to prove himself again, munching loudly and enthusiastically. Tsuki, ever graceful, ate in a composed manner, her crimson eyes scanning the surroundings as if on perpetual alert.
As we moved forward, the tension grew. "The challenges keep getting harder," I said, breaking the silence. "What if we're not ready for what's ahead?"
"Master," Tsuki said firmly, her voice steady, "we've faced everything thrown at us so far. We can handle this."
Wogg nodded in agreement, puffing out his chest. "She's right, Master! No monster in this dungeon can stand against us."
I smirked, glancing at him. "Big talk coming from someone who was almost flattened by a wyvern yesterday."
Wogg's cheeks darkened—well, as much as an undead orc's cheeks could. "T-that was different! Flying monsters are my weakness! They're... unfair!" His expression twisted into something that could only be described as cute, his tusks quivering slightly.
Tsuki chuckled, her tone light and teasing. "Wogg, you're acting adorable."
Wogg groaned, his large hands covering his face. "Not you too, Mistress Tsuki!" His voice wavered as if on the verge of tears.
Tsuki and I burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the cavernous hall. For a brief moment, the tension eased, and I was reminded of how these moments of camaraderie made this journey bearable.
---
The massive doors to the third floor's boss chamber loomed ahead, their intricate carvings depicting ancient battles and victories. Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward. The doors creaked open, revealing a cavernous chamber bathed in an ominous orange glow.
As we entered, my system activated, presenting information on the boss:
Titanus Ignivermis
Species: Fire-Earth Hybrid Behemoth.
Rank: A.
Description: A colossal creature resembling a dragon crossed with a salamander. Its body is coated in volcanic rock, and streams of molten lava course through its body. Behemoths like this are an ancient race once prominent in this world but are now considered nearly extinct.
The system's introduction ended abruptly, leaving me with no details about its abilities. That was typical—it loved to keep me in suspense.
The ground beneath us rumbled as Titanus Ignivermis emerged from a molten pool at the center of the chamber. The air grew searingly hot as the creature revealed itself, towering over us. Its molten eyes glowed with fiery intensity, and every movement sent ripples through the lava streams coursing through its body.
---
The battle began before we could even react.
With a deafening roar, Titanus unleashed Volcanic Fury, spraying streams of lava across the battlefield. The streams hardened into jagged, molten rock upon contact with the ground, creating hazardous terrain that cut off our escape routes.
"Scatter!" I shouted, leaping to the side as a stream of lava narrowly missed me.
Wogg charged forward, his axe raised high. "For Master!" he bellowed, swinging the weapon with all his might. It connected with Titanus's rocky leg but barely left a scratch. Titanus retaliated with a swipe of its massive claw, sending Wogg flying into a wall.
"Wogg!" I yelled, my heart pounding.
"I'm fine, Master!" he called back, staggering to his feet. "Just a scratch!"
Tsuki darted forward, her movements graceful and swift. She conjured a barrage of fireballs and hurled them at Titanus. The attacks exploded against its rocky hide, but the damage was negligible. "Fire isn't effective," she muttered, frustration evident in her voice.
Titanus reared back and unleashed a Seismic Roar, shaking the entire chamber. The ground cracked and shifted, throwing me off balance. I rolled to the side just as a massive chunk of rock fell where I'd been standing.
"This isn't working!" I growled, frustration mounting. "Our attacks aren't even scratching it!"
"Master," Tsuki called out, dodging another swipe from the behemoth. "Get on my back. I can dodge its attacks better than you can on foot."
I hesitated, glancing at Wogg, who was still recovering from the last hit.
"I'll act as a decoy!" Wogg declared, determination lighting up his eyes. "You and Mistress Tsuki figure out a way to take it down!"
I nodded, climbing onto Tsuki's back. Her agility was impressive, and she weaved effortlessly through the boss's relentless attacks.
---
Our plan was simple: Wogg would distract Titanus, giving Tsuki and me a chance to get close. The problem was that even when I managed to land a hit with my APW in sword form, it barely made a dent.
Frustration clawed at me as we dodged another blast of molten lava. "This isn't working!" I muttered. But then, as Tsuki circled Titanus for another pass, I noticed something—a faint glow emanating from the creature's chest, barely visible beneath its rocky armor.
"Tsuki, get me closer to its chest!" I ordered.
She obeyed without question, darting toward the massive beast. Titanus reacted quickly, swiping at us with its claws, but Tsuki dodged with a fluidity that seemed almost supernatural.
I transformed my APW into a spear, its elongated form feeling right in my hands. As we approached the glowing core, Titanus unleashed another attack—massive molten pillars rose from the ground, attempting to trap us in a Magma Cage.
"Hold on, Master!" Tsuki shouted, leaping over the pillars with a speed and grace that left me breathless.
We got close—close enough that I could see the core clearly, a small, pulsing orb of molten energy protected by layers of rocky armor. I leaped from Tsuki's back, spear in hand. Titanus noticed and swung its claw toward me, but Tsuki intercepted the attack with a fiery blast, deflecting it just enough to give me an opening.
With all my strength, I drove the spear into the core.
For a moment, everything was still. Then, with a deafening crack, the core shattered, releasing a burst of energy that sent me flying backward. Titanus roared in agony before collapsing to the ground, its molten glow dimming.
---
I landed hard, the wind knocked out of me. Tsuki was at my side in an instant, helping me to my feet.
"We... we did it," I muttered, disbelief washing over me.
"Master, that was incredible!" Tsuki said, her crimson eyes shining with admiration.
Wogg lumbered over, looking equally amazed. "Master, when did you notice the core?"
"When I got close the first time," I admitted. "But I couldn't risk throwing the spear from a distance. If I missed, it would've guarded the core even more carefully."
Tsuki tilted her head. "A calculated risk, then."
I nodded, exhaustion starting to set in. "Yeah. But it paid off."
As we celebrated, something caught my attention. Titanus Ignivermis's body didn't disappear like the other monsters we'd fought. It lay there, still and lifeless, but very much present.
"Why isn't it disappearing?" I wondered aloud, a sense of unease creeping over me.
Tsuki and Wogg exchanged puzzled glances, but neither had an answer. Whatever was happening, it was unlike anything we'd encountered before.