It was… massive. A supermassive, lizard-like monster. Atlas couldn't clearly estimate its size, but one thing was certain: this creature could effortlessly devour anyone with its enormous mouth.
Its body was covered in thick, sand-colored scales that blended seamlessly with the desert landscape. The creature's build was powerful and muscular. Along its back, jagged, rocky spines jutted out, resembling desert cliffs. Its long tail dragged behind it like a weapon of destruction.
This monster could only be described as a desert version of Godzilla—except this one crawled on all fours. Though not as colossal as its cinematic counterpart, its sheer size and menacing presence were still utterly terrifying.
The "Dune Godzilla" repeatedly slammed its massive body against the Dune Bastion, shaking the mighty city wall with every impact. The force sent tremors rippling through the entire city, a tangible wave of destruction.
As for the Saharan Soldiers? Their weapons were now useless, unable to deal any meaningful damage to this behemoth.
Damn, this was madness!
They announced the grade and type of the monster on the live broadcast.
[Epic-grade Dunecrawler Rex Lv. 255]
Atlas swallowed hard at the information. The monster's grade alone was extraordinarily high, not to mention its incredible level. And to make matters worse, this wasn't just a normal monster—this was a Boss Monster, or more specifically, a Raid Monster. These creatures possessed power and abilities many times greater than monsters of the same grade and level.
Oh damn, even an Epic-grade Dungeon Boss was this terrifying?!
This was the first time Atlas had seen and felt the sheer force of such a monster in person. His thoughts spiraled. If an Epic-grade was this overwhelming, then what about a Unique-grade or even a Legendary-grade?
A Mythic-grade was already beyond anything he could imagine, and as for the Arcane-grade... that was the same grade that had destroyed Lyrassa's world.
Atlas swallowed again, the weight of these thoughts pressing heavily on him.
People were visibly more panicked now. Those who had been calmly sipping coffee in the café just moments ago had rushed outside, their fear evident.
But what were they trying to do? Flee the city?
It seemed so. Some had already started making their way out of the city through alternate routes, adding to the chaos outside. The pandemonium was escalating rapidly.
Could the Saharan Soldiers really handle this battle?
"Karian, in his past, would have probably considered a monster like this a light snack," Edrik commented with a faint smile.
Atlas gave an awkward grin in response. No wonder Karian had such an insatiable appetite.
Then—
Suddenly, people in the café began shouting.
"They've arrived! They've arrived!"
"Oh, the saviors!"
Saviors?
Atlas turned his attention back to the broadcast. On the screen, he saw several figures emerging onto the battlefield. There were about twelve of them, floating in mid-air. The camera quickly focused on the figure floating at the center of the group.
"Lord Kareem has arrived! We're saved!"
The warriors they referred to stood out immediately. Clad in heavy, enchanted armor, their face hidden behind an enclosed helmet, they floated effortlessly above the battlefield.
The leader wielded a massive, glowing sword, and a pair of magnificent wings spread wide behind him.
"Damn, that guy's armor is incredible," Atlas muttered.
"Who is he?" Atlas voiced his curiosity.
The waiter responded, "That's Lord Kareem, a Rank 4 Sentinel. The others with him are part of his alliance. Their levels are likely in the 200s." His face noticeably relaxed, the tension easing as hope flickered in his eyes.
"Good, finally some high-level awakeners have arrived," Atlas said.
"High-level Lords," Edrik corrected.
"Ah, right."
The eleven other warriors wasted no time, shooting straight into the battlefield and descending to confront the monster directly.
Damn, seriously, that's a bold move! It was something the Saharan Soldiers hadn't dared to do—they had kept their distance, hovering in the air and firing from afar.
Meanwhile, the one clad in the most spectacular armor, with his massive greatsword and those impressive wings, approached the Dune Godzilla alone.
Was he really planning to face this monster by himself? Could he actually pull it off?
Lord Kareem raised his greatsword high into the air, and instantly, an immense energy surged through it, making the weapon appear several times larger. The blade radiated a blinding light, dazzling to behold—a truly spectacular display.
"Damn! That is sick!" Atlas exclaimed, captivated by the sight.
The greatsword crashed down onto the Dune Godzilla, unleashing a massive energy wave that rippled in all directions as the enormous blade struck the monster's thick, sand-colored hide.
Would it work?!
No! The Dune Godzilla retaliated, suddenly moving with shocking speed to evade the potentially fatal blow. The greatsword missed its mark, slamming into the ground with a resounding impact.
The Dune Godzilla didn't stop there—it leaped toward Kareem with startling agility and smashed into him with tremendous force, sending him flying through the air.
Damn!
Yet Kareem endured. Shaking off the blow, he once again raised his now even more massive greatsword. Without hesitation, he launched himself at the monster, his movements swift and precise, striking its body repeatedly with relentless force.
Atlas couldn't take his eyes off the battle.
"Seriously, this Lord is incredible! And he's only Rank 4?!" he muttered, stunned.
Could the gap between Rank 1 and Rank 4 really be this vast?
The faces of those still in the café were filled with hope and desperation. This Lord had to succeed—if he didn't, the city could be destroyed.
Oh damn, seriously?!
And this was only an Epic-grade raid monster. No wonder Edrik had said before that the Dune Bastion would crumble easily if faced with a high-grade monster. Now Atlas fully understood what he had meant.
The battle raged on, with Kareem maneuvering gracefully through the air, using his mobility to deliver powerful blows to the monster. His strikes seemed to chip away at the beast, but progress was slow against its thick scales and immense durability.
Before long, Kareem's movements began to slow. Was this turning into an endurance battle?
His comrades swooped in to assist, attacking the Dune Godzilla with coordinated efforts. But the monster suddenly moved at speed, its massive claw slashing through the air and striking them.
With a single devastating blow, one of the warriors was sent crashing to the ground, their body shattered upon impact.
Oh shit! Another casualty!
The Saharan Soldiers provided support from a distance, with hundreds of turrets and cannons continuously bombarding the massive lizard monster.
Kareem activated another skill, his greatsword glowing brightly and growing larger, as if ready to deliver divine punishment upon the beast.
The others worked together, distracting the monster, and then—THAT!
Kareem's massive greatsword came crashing down, slamming the lizard into the ground with overwhelming force. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the air, and—yes! The monster's thick skin began to crack!
A deafening roar echoed across the battlefield, followed by a massive shockwave that sent tremors through the city. Once again, the café shook violently, with plates and glasses falling to the floor.
And then it happened—Kareem's greatsword sliced through the lizard, splitting it apart!
Cheers erupted across the city. Everyone in the café stood up, shouting, "Victory! Victory! Victory!"
Oh damn, what an epic battle! Atlas watched in awe as Kareem and the other warriors slumped in exhaustion, clearly worn out from the fight.
But just as the crowd was celebrating—
EARTHQUAKE! THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD!
A new tremor rocked the city, even more violent than before. Objects crashed to the floor, and windows shattered under the sheer force.
Oh damn it—was this another Dungeon Boss?!
***
(Author's Note:)
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