The dungeon shuddered violently, as if it, too, had felt the force of their battle.
Dust hung thick in the air, swirling like a ghostly mist as it settled over the battlefield. Cracks riddled the chamber floor, splitting outward like shattered glass beneath Henry's feet, marking the sheer devastation left in the wake of his punches.
And there—staggering, barely holding itself up—was the Stonebreaker Troll.
One of the dungeon's most formidable bosses, now reeling in disbelief.
It hadn't expected this.
Not from a human.
Not from someone it considered nothing more than an insect.
Henry flexed his fingers, rolling his shoulders. His knuckles ached—the sting of raw power surging through him. It hurt… but in the best way possible.
Because it meant the beast could feel it too.
The troll let out a deep, guttural roar, the sound vibrating through the stone walls, carrying with it the weight of its rage and disbelief.
Its massive, stone-textured muscles rippled as it lifted its colossal iron club, the weapon twice Henry's size, its edges glistening under the dungeon's dim, eerie glow.
This time—there was no hesitation.
It was going to crush him.
Henry grinned, cracking his neck as he tilted his head. His body burned from exhaustion, his energy reserves dipping lower with every second, but he wasn't going to let this beast have a comeback.
"Oh no, you don't," he muttered, stepping forward. "You're not getting a dramatic last stand, buddy. This fight's already over."
The troll roared.
And then—it swung.
The club came down like a meteor, aiming to flatten Henry where he stood.
Henry vanished.
Dash activated.
In a blink, he shot forward, his movements a blur of motion, closing the gap before the weapon even hit the ground. The shockwave of the missed strike sent stone shards flying, but Henry had already repositioned himself.
And then—he struck.
His fist shot forward.
Aimed straight at the troll's gut.
BOOM!
The force of the impact sent a rippling shockwave through the beast's core.
The troll lurched backward, its massive feet dragging across the chamber floor as it struggled to stay upright. The dent in its rocky hide deepened, cracks spreading like veins of lightning across its torso.
But Henry wasn't finished.
Another punch.
Straight to the ribs.
CRACK!
The troll let out an agonized grunt, its entire frame shuddering from the sheer force of the blow.
Henry smirked, wiping sweat from his brow. "Not so tough now, huh?" His eyes gleamed with amusement. "Bet you regret breaking my sword now."
The troll's eyes burned with fury.
It swung wildly, desperate—
But Henry was already moving.
He ducked, weaving under its arm, feeling the wind whistle past him as the massive limb barely missed.
And then—he jumped.
A blur of motion.
Dash activated again.
Henry soared upward, the world slowing around him as his momentum carried him straight for the troll's head.
The beast's glowing yellow eyes widened.
Henry pulled his arm back.
And then—
BOOM!
His fist crashed into the troll's face.
Stone cracked. Rock splintered.
The sheer force of the impact sent shockwaves through the beast's skull.
But he wasn't done.
Before it could react—before it could even process what had just happened—
Henry twisted mid-air.
And slammed another fist straight into its jaw.
CRACK!
The troll's head snapped back violently.
For a second—just a second—
The beast froze.
A long, still pause followed.
Then—
BOOM!
The Stonebreaker Troll collapsed.
The dungeon shook violently as its massive form crashed against the chamber floor.
Dust and debris exploded outward.
Its iron club slipped from its grasp, landing with a thunderous thud beside it.
Its body gave one last twitch—before going completely still.
---
[ Boss Defeated. ]
Henry exhaled, his chest rising and falling.
The battle rush was still in his veins, his heart still hammering from the adrenaline.
But he had done it.
He had won.
[ EXP Gained: 3,000 ]
[ Skill Points Earned: 100 ]
His legs trembled slightly as he forced himself to straighten. Exhaustion clawed at his limbs, but a thrill bubbled beneath the fatigue.
"Man…" He wiped his forehead, letting out a shaky breath. "That felt—"
BANG!
Pain.
Pure, searing pain shot through his back.
Henry's breath ripped from his lungs.
Something had hit him. Hard.
His vision blurred as his body was flung across the chamber.
BOOM!
His back slammed into stone, his body rolling across the dungeon floor.
By the time he stopped moving, his ribs were screaming, his entire body a mess of agony.
Blood rushed up his throat. He coughed, spitting crimson onto the ground.
His breathing turned ragged. His arms barely moved.
---
[ Warning: HP Critically Low. ]
[ Current HP: 7 ]
Henry gritted his teeth, forcing himself to push up on his trembling arms. His fingers dug into the rough stone, trying to ground himself through the pain.
His head snapped up—
And that's when he saw them.
A group of figures stood at the entrance of the chamber.
Slowly—they stepped forward.
Their faces twisted with fury.
Their weapons drawn.
The hunters.
The ones he had left behind on the 14th floor.
Boros stood at the front, his scarred face set in a deep scowl. His eyes burned with murderous intent.
"Well, well." His voice was like gravel dragged across steel.
Another hunter—a wiry man with twin daggers—spat onto the ground. "You thought you could just run?"
Henry let out a breathless chuckle.
He spat blood to the side, wiping his mouth.
"Well… shit."
The hunters spread out, slowly surrounding him.
Henry's mind raced. His body was wrecked. His HP was low.
And he was completely outnumbered.
Boros lifted his battleaxe, resting it against his shoulder. "Nothing to say? That's fine. We'll enjoy breaking you."
Henry clenched his fists.
But his body—wouldn't cooperate.
For a moment, the dungeon chamber was silent.
Then—
Boros stepped forward.
His battleaxe rested against his shoulder, its blade still stained with the blood of past victims. His scarred face twisted into a cruel grin as he locked eyes with Henry—battered, bloodied, and barely standing.
Behind him, the other hunters spread out, forming a half-circle formation, weapons drawn. They moved slowly, deliberately, the confidence of men who had already claimed their victory written all over their faces.
And then—
Henry laughed.