The chamber was vast and ominously dark, illuminated only by the flickering glow of molten metal pooling in the corners. As Sung Jihoon stepped deeper into the hidden boss lair, he felt a thrill of anticipation mixed with trepidation. He hadn't expected to find this place, but an offhand remark from a drunken player in a bar had sparked his curiosity about the elusive Ironclad Demon—the hidden boss of the first floor that even the strongest players had overlooked.
Here, in this forsaken chamber, he had come not just to fight, but to rewrite the fate of humanity.
The Ironclad Demon loomed before him, a monstrous figure wreathed in heavy, jagged armor fused to its very skin. Its eyes glowed a fiery red, emanating a sinister aura that sent a chill down Jihoon's spine. Molten metal dripped from the cracks in its plating, pooling like lava on the stone floor.
With a roar that reverberated through the chamber, the demon charged, its colossal fist swinging down towards Jihoon. The ground shook violently, and Jihoon barely rolled out of the way, feeling the rush of wind from the demon's attack. He got to his feet, adrenaline surging through his veins as he readied his blade.
This creature is stronger than anything I've faced before, Jihoon thought, calculating his next move. The top clans had failed to find this boss, not because of a lack of strength, but because of ignorance; they simply didn't know what they were up against.
The Ironclad Demon lunged again, its fists like wrecking balls smashing the ground, sending geysers of molten metal splattering through the air. Jihoon moved swiftly, avoiding the deadly streams, but he knew that staying on the defensive wouldn't win this fight. He had to find a way to strike.
As he darted around the chamber, Jihoon targeted the demon's joints, slashing at its armor. Each blow sent sparks flying, but the creature barely flinched, its iron hide resisting his attacks. He needed to find a weakness—something that would turn the tide in his favor.
Then he recalled a vital piece of information from that bar conversation: there was a weak spot beneath the demon's left arm, a small gap in the armor that could be exploited.
"Alright, let's do this," Jihoon muttered under his breath, determination hardening his resolve.
The Ironclad Demon charged again, its massive form hurtling toward him. Jihoon felt the ground tremble beneath his feet as he sidestepped the assault, the demon's fist crashing into the stone floor where he had stood moments before.
With a fierce roar, Jihoon launched himself forward. Now! He slipped beneath the demon's colossal frame, the heat radiating from its molten blood engulfing him.
He spotted the gap beneath the demon's left arm, and without hesitation, he thrust his blade upward with all his might. The sword sank into the exposed flesh with a sickening squelch, eliciting a horrific howl from the Ironclad Demon. It staggered back, blood of molten metal spewing from the wound, hitting it's body against the wall, he let out an angry cry.
With a surge of adrenaline, jihoon twisted his dagger and stabbed it again, just as the demon's arm swung wildly, hitting him against the ground. He coughed out blood in that instance and struggled to get up.
But then he had sudden flashbacks of asmodeous beheading him, suddenly he bit his lips in anger as if to say that he would never yield to any monster again and quickly got up on his feet.
Jihoon pressed the demon aiming for his wounds, although some would call that a cowardly tactic, jihoon did not care as no one but him who returned from the future would understand. He struck with sheer force and precision, that made the demon writhed and scream in pain.
The floor now filled with blood from both the ironclad and Jihoon. The demon screaming in Pain went into a rampage but that didn't stop Jihoon, he pulled his blade up and took a thrusting stance and charged at the demon with his final attack.
The creature studdered and fell to the ground, the mighty ironclad demon, a D-rank monster that should have not been beaten by any newbie now fell at the hands of player Jihoon.
As he defeated the boss he received a notification from the system that said Achievement: The one who slayed the hidden boss. This achievement amounted to 1000ap [achievement points].
Breathing heavily, Jihoon stood over the defeated boss, his heart racing with exhilaration and exhaustion. He had faced the hidden demon and emerged victorious, but this was just one battle in a far larger war.
And with that victory came a new sense of purpose: he was no longer just a player; he was the harbinger of humanity revival. The future was changing and it was revolving around Jihoon.