"Before I fall asleep, I'll get you out of here, so don't die."
The dragon used its power, and the fetus reappeared in the dungeon, on the 100th floor.
Standing before it was the mightiest monster of Amon's dungeon: Chimera Amon.
The 100th floor was the size of a battleground—large enough to allow for long-range attacks but not so vast as to lose sight of the enemy.
The area was surrounded by strange, ancient decorations, and at the far end sat a humanoid figure whose presence exuded the aura of a feral beast. Seated on a throne, it observed its surroundings, waiting for the next challenger bold enough to face it.
Before the monster lay something it could not comprehend.
"It's right in front of me, yet I feel no presence. What is this? At first glance, it looks like a chrysalis."
"I can't sense its power, but this thing is dangerous."
Chimera Amon rose slowly from its throne and began walking toward the unknown entity. A sword materialized from thin air.
"What are those lazy fools doing, allowing such an abomination to exist? You are a threat. I've witnessed your entire journey through the dungeon—a discarded creation of a human—but you disappeared before reaching the final floor, and now here you are before me!"
As the boss of the highest level, Chimera Amon had the ability to observe everything occurring in the dungeon, even if it was beyond its control.
Chimera Amon walked slowly toward the being before it, speaking of its fears and aspirations. Perhaps this was because it had never spoken to anyone in this place, and the other party's inability to reply only made it easier.
"They trapped me in this body as a monster. I, Pelticus, the great King of Hans, reduced to cleaning up their messes."
"Since then, I've seen the souls of my people migrate into the bodies of every monster in this dungeon, condemned to be killed over and over again. Are we livestock for the heroes?"
The entity before it remained motionless. It was now within the range of Pelticus's sword.
Pelticus smirked and swung his sword downward as if discarding trash.
He turned away, but the sound of something stirring caught his attention. Turning back, he saw the monster regenerating.
His faint smile faded into sadness.
"I see. So your torment won't end like this, trash?"
Pelticus swung his sword again, but this time the entity dodged.
"Oh, I noticed your presence on the 25th floor. By the 40th, you awakened your instincts and fled the dungeon in fear. And now, not only do you refuse to flee, but you've managed to avoid my strike?"
"Tell me, has your consciousness already developed to this point, or is this merely another form of instinct?"
The entity began to transform slightly—limbs sprouting—but its overall appearance was grotesque in Pelticus's eyes.
"Then try to avoid this: Decados."
A rain of slashes, as fast as sound, descended upon the monster, scattering it to the four winds. Its former form was no longer distinguishable, save for a single limb lying on the ground.
"I doubt your nerves are developed. Do you not feel pain? If your consciousness has formed, then I've spared you pain twice. That's the only kindness I can grant you, trash of a human."
Pelticus calmly observed what remained, but it began vibrating. Suddenly, black spikes emerged from the limb, attempting to pierce the surroundings. Pelticus dodged with ease.
"I understand now. You're just a monster driven by instinct for now, but you're growing too fast. That's dangerous."
"In that case, watch closely, monster. I am Dawn Pelticus, last King of Hans."
Dawn Pelticus took this threat seriously. His body emitted a golden glow that enveloped his sword.
"Behold my intent."
His presence caused the ground to tremble. Normally, projecting such intent would inflict numerous debuffs on an enemy: paralysis from the pressure, difficulty moving, disorientation, and so on.
But the entity before him seemed unaffected.
Once again, he swung his sword, now imbued with his intent, but the entity dodged.
"I don't have time to play with something that evolves."
He appeared behind the monster, which was mid-air from dodging his strike, and unleashed Decados at full speed—a flurry of strikes meant to vaporize the monster.
The monster was obliterated. Yet from dust, blood, and flesh, it reformed its original shape and retreated, carving a great distance between itself and Pelticus.
"Impossible… That strike was imbued with my intent. It should have disrupted the source of its power and halted its regeneration."
"Ah, I'm tired. Why must I deal with the failures of this world while in this state?"
"Normally, I'd wait to use this power, but I have no choice. You must not leave here alive."
"I've been trapped here for so long, and I discovered that taboos can be used in this place. Forgive me, my subjects. I intended to use your strength for vengeance. I waited for the moment to escape using this, but now I will grant you rest."
The entire dungeon trembled, and the vibrations were felt everywhere. The souls of all those trapped in the dungeon's monsters converged on Pelticus.
His Chimera Amon body transformed, regaining his true form as Dawn Pelticus, the King of Dawn.
"It's not perfect. I've only achieved a tenth of what I aimed for. I intended to connect to other dungeons to gather more souls, but it doesn't matter. With this power, it should be enough."
For the first time, the monster shuddered and retreated, but it was too slow from Pelticus's perspective.
"You survived Decados, even after I infused it with my intent."
He approached the monster and kicked it, but the monster used the momentum to launch itself into the air. Pelticus smirked and swung his sword skyward.
The ceiling of the dungeon was torn apart all the way to the first level, yet the sky remained unseen—a testament to the dungeon's depth.
"They must have noticed by now. I'm going to die, but at least it won't be at the hands of a hero again."
Pelticus knelt as his body began disintegrating into particles. He observed the result of his efforts with a vacant expression.
Then, he burst into laughter.
Laughter that shook the air.
"So, even with an attack that can destroy body and soul, I've failed?"
Before him, something began to reform. He knew exactly what it was.