The remaining adventurers stood at the ready, anticipation and anxiety coursing through their veins. Most of them were commoners, individuals who had never received proper training or education on dungeon exploration. They had entered this labyrinth with dreams of glory, riches, and adventure, yet none of them had truly understood the horrors that lurked within the depths. Now, trapped with no way out, their inexperience became evident as their expressions wavered between fear and determination. The air was thick with unease, their nervous glances shifting between one another, silently praying that they would survive what lay ahead.
Aiden and the girls were already making their way toward the exit when, without warning, the cavern's openings sealed shut. A translucent mana barrier shimmered into existence, enclosing the entire area and blocking all paths of retreat. The energy pulsated, a subtle hum resonating through the cavern, sending shivers down their spines. Aiden's brows furrowed, his sharp eyes scanning the barrier as he instinctively reached out, only to feel the potent energy repel his touch like a living entity rejecting his presence.
Chloe and Clara, standing beside him, also frowned. The realization dawned on them in an instant.
"It's too late now," Chloe murmured, gripping her staff tighter. "We have to defeat the dungeon boss if we want to get out."
Clara nodded, her hands trembling slightly. "There's no other choice."
As they prepared themselves for battle, an eerie tremor rippled through the dungeon. The entire cavern quaked violently, throwing many of the adventurers to the ground. Dust and loose rocks fell from the jagged ceiling, while the oppressive weight of something sinister loomed over them all. The very air thickened, and goosebumps rose on everyone's skin as an overwhelming aura flooded the cavern, suffocating them in its intensity.
A shadowy figure descended from above, crashing into the ground where the previous dungeon boss had died, with a thunderous impact, sending up a massive cloud of dust that obscured the sight of what had just arrived. The tremors beneath their feet ceased as an ominous stillness settled. As the dust slowly cleared, revealing the creature within, their eyes widened in horror.
A goblin boss, but unlike any they had encountered before, stood before them. Its entire body was blood-red, its skin appearing almost as if it had been bathed in the essence of those it had slaughtered. Its eyes, glowing crimson like twin embers in the darkness, radiated a hunger that sent shivers through the remaining adventurers. In its grasp, it wielded two short swords, each emanating a dark energy that pulsed in sync with its ragged breathing. The ferocious gaze it cast upon them was enough to paralyze even the bravest among them.
Even Aiden and the girls could feel the immense bloodlust radiating from the creature. It was so potent that it made their bodies tense involuntarily. Their instincts screamed at them to run, to flee from this nightmare given form, but their rational minds knew there was no escape.
The cavern fell into absolute silence, the only sound being the soft patter of settling dust.
Then, the monster took a single step forward.
In an instant, it vanished from sight.
A faint swishing sound echoed.
Then—THUD.
A headless body collapsed onto the ground, blood spurting from the severed neck like a grotesque fountain. The victim had been one of the leaders of the adventuring group. His comrades stood frozen in shock, their minds struggling to process what had just occurred.
Screams erupted as terror gripped the adventurers. Some collapsed to their knees, tears and snot running down their faces as they wailed in despair. Others stood paralyzed, unable to comprehend how their comrade had perished without even seeing the attack.
The monster grinned, baring its jagged teeth as it relished in the chaos, its wicked smile stretching across its face. It was feeding on their fear, drawing satisfaction from their terror.
One adventurer, in sheer panic, turned on his heel and ran, desperate to escape.
The goblin boss vanished once more.
A split second later—THUD.
Another body hit the ground, headless, blood showering those nearby.
Clara and Chloe took a step back, their faces pale. For the first time, true fear gripped their hearts. They had trained, they had fought, but never had they witnessed such carnage. The so-called initiates, once eager adventurers, were now nothing more than lambs being slaughtered.
The monster continued its rampage, killing one by one, savoring each death like a sadistic predator playing with its prey.
Aiden watched in silence, fists clenched. His entire being screamed at him to step in, to end the massacre. He loathed the way the goblin boss toyed with the adventurers, treating their lives as mere playthings. But he couldn't make a move yet.
If he unleashed his true strength now, the secret of the shard within him would be exposed. And if that happened, it wouldn't just be him in danger—his family, his loved ones, would all be hunted.
He had to wait.
His eyes flickered to Chloe and Clara, who trembled beside him. He didn't blame them. This was likely their first time facing death so closely. Unlike him, they weren't protected by the shard's influence. It dulled his negative emotions, allowing him to remain eerily calm even in the direst situations.
He sighed internally.
They were lucky he was here.
Moving swiftly, Aiden stepped behind them and, with precise movements, knocked them out before they could react. He caught their limp bodies before they hit the ground and carried them toward a secluded corner.
Laying them down gently, he turned to Ciara. "Watch over them."
She nodded wordlessly, understanding that this was beyond their capabilities. At the end of the day, they were still children, only eleven years old. He couldn't expect them to be desensitized to death just yet.
By the time Aiden returned his attention to the battlefield, nearly all the adventurers had been slain. The goblin boss was now hunting those who had hidden among the corpses or behind the cavern's rocky formations.
A sudden movement caught Aiden's eye.
A survivor was running in his direction, unknowingly headed toward where he had hidden the girls.
Aiden frowned.
He had no choice.
Summoning an earth spear, he launched it with deadly precision. The fleeing man barely had time to react before the spear impaled his head, silencing him instantly.
THUD.
The body collapsed, the sound echoing in the cavern.
Aiden's expression darkened. The goblin boss turned toward the noise.
It was coming straight for him.
Aiden glanced at the girls, sighing to himself. If the monster hadn't finished off the rest of the survivors yet, dealing with the aftermath would be troublesome.
Then, something unexpected happened.
As the monster approached, it suddenly stopped.
For the first time, its instincts screamed at it. The human standing before it wasn't prey. It was different.
A predator.
Aiden and the goblin boss locked eyes.
The monster glared at him warily, sensing something unnatural.
Aiden, on the other hand, remained cool and composed.
The two stood in silence, locked in a tense standoff, neither making the first move.
The battle was about to begin.