"Dodge that!" Connor commanded, his voice unwavering as he took the brunt of the monster onslaught, expertly holding the line. For now, he played the role of the tank, diverting the relentless attacks and subduing the advancing beasts with a skillful ferocity.
His team responded instantly, moving as one, their strikes flowing like water, each member seamlessly transitioning from one position to the next. They were growing stronger and far quicker than Connor had initially expected.
He had feared, after their first chaotic encounter, that the pressure might have been too much. The exhaustion in their eyes and the tremble in their hands had left him questioning his decisions. But now, those fears seemed distant.
The Alpha Squad fought with a different kind of fire. It wasn't just self-defense; it was the will to conquer, to destroy. Their blows landed with lethal intent, focused on taking down one enemy at a time, dismantling the horde piece by piece.
Together, they closed in on each monster, overwhelming their foes with calculated precision while Connor held the others in place. It wasn't just a strategy, it was a method to overcome the fear that had once gripped them.
The way they coordinated, striking swiftly and retreating only to strike again, showed just how far they had come.
They weren't the same team that had stumbled into this dungeon; they were now a powerful unit, each member mastering their skills and knowing exactly when to unleash them.
After nearly five grueling hours, the squads finally regrouped at the entrance to the boss room. The third floor lay behind them, littered with the remnants of their hard-fought battles. The atmosphere was light as they exchanged stories and battle experiences with the other squads, basking in the brief respite before the final push. Yet, even as laughter and relief filled the air, tension simmered just beneath the surface.
Behind the scenes, Delta Squad's frustrations reached a boiling point. They gathered behind Connor, the murmur of their grievances growing louder. It was clear their anger was not directed at the monsters they had just defeated but at their own leader. Julian had pushed them too far, and now, the squad was done being silent.
Their eyes sought Connor, the one they believed could change things. And Connor, having heard enough of their grievances, wasted no time. He strode purposefully across the cavernous hall toward Julian, who was already standing with a defiant look on his face as if bracing for the confrontation.
"Julian," Connor called out, his voice echoing across the chamber, "we need to talk."
Connor approached Julian, the tension in the air crackling between them. "I've heard the complaints from Delta Squad," he said, his tone serious. "They feel mistreated under your leadership, and it's becoming a problem. You need to address it."
Julian's head snapped toward him, his expression hardening. "This is my squad," he shot back, his tone edged with barely restrained anger. "You don't get to interfere. I know how to lead them, and I make the calls for my squad."
Connor's eyes narrowed as he stepped closer. The temperature in the room seemed to drop as his aura flared to life, a wave of killing intent rolling off him like a suffocating fog. His gaze locked onto Julian, unyielding. "It may be your squad," he said quietly, but his voice carried an unmistakable weight, "but the entire army belongs to me."
Julian felt the breath leave his lungs as Connor's presence pressed down on him like a vice. Humiliation burned in his chest, hotter than the shame of a missed strike or a failed tactic. His thoughts spiraled, recalling how his standing had slowly crumbled ever since Connor and his troupe had arrived.
Each day had seemed like another step down a ladder he could no longer climb. And now, after slaughtering countless monsters and leveling up to heights he had never reached before, he had thought, even if just for a moment, that he could finally stand tall in front of Connor.
But staring into Connor's eyes now, he felt none of that confidence. He felt smaller than ever, a crushing fear gripping him tighter than any monster's claws ever could.
Elena stepped forward, her voice calm but firm as she locked eyes with Julian. "Julian, you need to get a grip on yourself," she said, her tone carrying a hint of disappointment. "You're strong, we all know that, but don't let it go to your head. Your pride isn't what's going to keep Delta Squad alive. What they need from you is a leader who can guide them, who can put the squad first and set aside his own ego when it's time to make the hard decisions."
Julian's jaw tightened as her words sank in, each one stinging more than the last. He felt his temper flare, a surge of defiance building up inside him. "And who exactly do you think you are to tell me that?" he wanted to shout, his frustration at being treated like a rookie bubbling to the surface.
His hands curled into fists, the urge to argue back nearly overwhelming. Elena was acting like she was so much wiser, like she understood the weight of leadership better than he did. What gave her the right?
But then his gaze drifted to Connor, still standing there like a wall of iron, his eyes boring into Julian as if daring him to cross the line. There was no mistaking the message in that stare—Connor wouldn't tolerate a challenge, not now, not after everything that had just happened. The remnants of his earlier aura lingered, oppressive and heavy, reminding Julian just how easily the gap between them could be felt.
The defiance in Julian's throat died down to a hollow ache. The words he wanted to hurl back at Elena never left his lips, replaced instead by a quiet resignation. "I understand," he muttered, his voice barely audible. It felt like admitting defeat, a bitter taste lingering on his tongue as he stared down at his boots. "I'll… do better."
Elena's expression softened at the sight of his clenched fists and the downcast gaze, but she didn't back down. "You're not doing this for me or Connor," she continued, her voice gentler now but still carrying a note of sternness. "You're doing it for your squad. They're counting on you to be more than just the guy who charges ahead. They need someone who can keep them together and push them to be stronger. If you're serious about doing better, start there."
The tension in Julian's shoulders eased slightly, though the bitterness remained, gnawing at him. He forced himself to meet Elena's gaze, swallowing the remnants of his anger. "I'll get them ready," he replied, this time with more conviction. "I won't let Delta Squad down."
Elena gave a small nod, turning away to rejoin the others as she added, "Make sure you don't. We've got a tough fight ahead, and we'll need every one of us at our best."
As she walked away, Julian could feel the eyes of the entire squad on him. The shame of being called out in front of everyone wasn't something he could easily shake off. His frustrations weren't just about being overshadowed, they were about failing to maintain his face as the leader. And now, as the uneasy silence settled, he could only listen to them or get thrown away.
He glanced back at Connor, who hadn't moved an inch, still watching him with that steady, unyielding gaze. Julian felt a knot tighten in his chest, his frustration warring with an unspoken respect for the man who commanded the entire army.
Connor's strength wasn't just in his power. It was in his ability to demand more from everyone around him, to push others to grow in ways they didn't think were possible.
After resting for a while, the squads began to make their way toward the boss area. They stood in front of the large cave entrance, its darkness yawning before them like a vast mouth ready to swallow everything in its path. The air was heavy with tension, and even the faint sounds from deeper within the cave seemed to carry an ominous weight.
Connor stepped forward, coughing once to grab everyone's attention. The squads quickly fell silent, their eyes fixed on him. "Listen up," he instructed, his voice clear and steady. "The boss on this floor is a Class One rank. It's nothing new for us, but that doesn't mean we should let our guard down. The last two bosses were defeated by the leaders, and this time will be the same. Your job is to support us and follow your captains' orders."
He looked at each of them in turn, his gaze firm as it passed over the faces of the squads, assessing their readiness. He took in their expressions—some anxious, others resolute—but when his eyes finally landed on Elena, there was a subtle shift in his tone, as if he was addressing her and the entire group all at once.
"We can win this," he said, his voice rising with determination.
The squads responded in unison, their voices ringing out in a strong, echoing cry. "We can win this."
Connor nodded, satisfied with their response. "Alright, let's get into position."
The squads formed up behind the leaders, stepping forward together into the shadowed depths of the cave, where the true test of their strength awaited.