*Thud*
After throwing that punch at the jaguar's head, the last one was finally down. All the jaguars I had defeated were lying around me, and I floated above them, thinking deeply.
"Should I take these corpses back with me?" I wondered. I had the Sealing Techniques to do it if I wanted, but the gate wasn't mine; it belonged to Kim Namjoon. So, should I take the corpses or not? That's what I couldn't decide.
Honestly, it's not like Namjoon would be interested in these corpses, and they'd just go to waste anyway. So, does it really matter if I take them? I don't think so.
I decided to take them. I know some sealing techniques, like the storage sealing one, where I can stash things away, kind of like having an inventory. The cool thing is, I can store a lot of stuff, including these corpses.
While I was looking around, I felt that same magical energy again. "Let's go for the boss next," I thought.
---
A little while later...
"Hold it right there," I called out, popping up in front of the Giant Jaguar and its crew. These jaguars were a bit bigger than the ones I'd dealt with before, but they didn't scare me.
The Giant Jaguar, clearly the boss of this dungeon, stood proudly at the front. Its eyes glowed with a fierce light, almost demanding respect. I took a moment to size up its power and quickly realized it was just an A-Rank creature.
I let out a sigh, feeling a bit disappointed. I had hoped the red gate would offer a tougher challenge. "An A-Rank, really?" I muttered to myself, a bit let down that there wasn't a stronger opponent. The Jaguar's aura was strong, but I'd faced way tougher creatures.
The Giant Jaguar let out a growl, a deep rumble that echoed through the forest. Its minions followed suit, staring me down and ready to jump at their leader's command. Despite being outnumbered, I stayed calm, ready to take them all on.
With a little smirk, I said, "Let's make this quick."
The Giant Jaguar charged, its huge paws pounding the ground, while its minions closed in from the sides, ready to attack. I stood firm, watching with a grin as they came closer. Their moves were strong and well-coordinated, but to me, they were predictable.
As the first of the smaller jaguars lunged at me, claws out, I smoothly stepped aside, letting it fly past without a scratch. Another came from the left, and I spun around, delivering a swift kick that sent it crashing into a tree. The crash echoed through the forest, and the leaves rustled from the impact.
The Giant Jaguar roared in frustration, urging its minions to attack harder. I decided to have a bit of fun, letting them get close before teleporting just out of their reach. Their claws and fangs hit nothing but air, and their confusion grew with each failed attempt.
The forest floor became a blur beneath me as I danced around their attacks, leaving them bewildered. Every move brought a thrill, even if this was just a warm-up for me.
Deciding it was time to finish the game, I focused my energy, ready to strike. The Giant Jaguar lunged at me, its mouth wide open, ready to crush me with its strong jaws. But I was quicker.
With a quick step forward, I launched myself into the air, twisting mid-flight to position myself above the beast. As I descended, I gathered chakra into my palm, creating a Rasengan that glowed with intense energy.
With precise aim, I brought the Rasengan down onto the Jaguar's head. The force of the impact was immense, creating a shockwave that rippled through the air. The Giant Jaguar's roar turned into a pained whimper as it was driven into the ground, unable to withstand the attack.
"That was easier than expected, so it's done then," I said to myself, looking at the remaining minions of the dungeon boss still staring at me, "Looks like I'll have to take care of you all now."
---
Meanwhile, the team sat around, enjoying the fruits they had gathered, sharing stories to keep their spirits up. The sudden flicker of light, signaling the gate's reappearance, caught everyone off guard.
"It's done," one of Naruto's clones announced, breaking the silence.
"What do you mean? Did he already defeat the dungeon boss?" Kim Namjoon asked, surprise in his voice.
"Yes," the clone replied calmly, "and he's on his way here now."
The group exchanged looks, a mix of relief and amazement washing over them. The thought that Naruto had single-handedly taken down the dungeon boss was both impressive and reassuring.
"It hasn't been long at all," Soojin Choi remarked, shaking her head in disbelief. "He's really something else."
"Yeah, I never doubted him for a second," Minji Lee added with a smile, feeling a surge of confidence now that they knew they were safe.
Hyun Kim let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. "I guess we're lucky to have him with us."
As they chatted, the sound of footsteps approaching drew their attention. Naruto emerged from the forest, his expression relaxed and slightly amused.
"Looks like I missed the party," Naruto quipped, glancing at the remains of their impromptu meal.
"You were the one throwing the party," Jisoo Han laughed, standing up to greet him. "Thanks for taking care of everything."
"No problem," Naruto replied with a shrug. "I hope you all were comfortable while I was gone."
Taeyang Kim nodded. "Your clones were a huge help. We managed just fine."
"Good to hear," Naruto said, looking at the gate that now stood open, ready to take them back. "Shall we head out, then?"
The group gathered their belongings, getting ready to leave the red gate. As they approached the shimmering portal, Kim Namjoon turned to Naruto.
"We owe you, Naruto. I don't think we'd have made it without you," he said sincerely.
"Just doing my job," Naruto replied with a smile, leading the way through the gate.
With that, they stepped through the gate, leaving the dungeon behind. A feeling of safety and relief washed over them as they returned to the familiar world outside.