The ground trembled beneath Juichi and Renji as the massive Basilisk General loomed above them. Its emerald scales shimmered with a malevolent sheen, the spiked crown on its head pulsing with dark mana. Deep within the Elarian Wild's ancient dungeon, the humid air was thick with tension and the scent of blood.
Renji gritted his teeth. "Damn it… I knew something was off with her. She lured us into this."
Juichi kept his eyes on the creature, his usual carefree grin absent. "She must've had her reasons. We'll figure that out later… after we roast this overgrown lizard."
The Basilisk General hissed, its long body coiling like a serpent preparing to strike. Its eyes gleamed red, casting petrifying magic through the room.
Juichi narrowed his eyes. "You take the left. I'll distract it."
Renji nodded, drawing his blade, his spiritual aura flaring like a winter storm. "Let's end this fast."
---
The Battle Begins
The Basilisk General roared, a pulse of sound knocking stones from the cavern walls. Juichi leapt forward, a blur of motion. His foot slammed into the beast's face, diverting its gaze just enough to avoid being petrified.
Renji dashed in from the left, slicing upward. His blade sparked off the Basilisk's armored hide, leaving only a faint scratch. "Its defense is tougher than expected."
"Not tougher than my fists!" Juichi shouted, darting beneath the creature's swaying tail and delivering a crushing punch to its underbelly. The force sent a shockwave through the ground, staggering the beast briefly.
The Basilisk responded with a tail sweep. Renji raised his blade to block but was flung across the room, crashing into a pillar. Juichi flipped over the incoming tail, landing with a skid.
Blood trickled down Renji's lip, but he stood. "This thing's strong… not just physically. Its aura's corrupt. It's like it's been feeding on dark mana."
"Then we'll feed it some payback."
The creature reared its head, mouth glowing with venomous green energy. A moment later, it unleashed a stream of corrosive breath, melting stone in its path.
Juichi didn't hesitate. "Substitute Power: Surge."
His aura exploded like a bolt of lightning, raw energy crackling around his body. His hair whipped in the surge, his muscles expanding slightly as he shot forward at blinding speed. He dodged the breath attack, his fist charged with blue energy.
He slammed it into the Basilisk's jaw—an earth-shaking impact that echoed through the chamber. The creature shrieked, its head whipping back as several fangs shattered.
Renji stood, watching with wide eyes. "That power… you've reached my level already, just through raw strength…"
Juichi grinned. "Still behind on technique, though."
The Basilisk wasn't finished. It coiled tighter, then lunged at Renji with its fangs bared. Renji summoned his aura, channeling his own spiritual power. "No holding back!"
His blade extended with energy, slashing across the beast's mouth just as Juichi tackled it from the side.
The two warriors moved in sync, hammering the Basilisk with a barrage of strikes—Renji with precise, slicing slashes and Juichi with devastating body blows. The air became thick with flying dust, crumbling stone, and the creature's howls.
Just as it collapsed to the ground, wheezing, Juichi panted. "That all you got?"
The beast's crown glowed. Suddenly, a second wind erupted—its scales hardening, its eyes blazing brighter.
"Oh hell," Juichi muttered.
"Phase two," Renji said, raising his blade again.
---
Clash of Fury
The Basilisk General, now empowered, moved faster—striking out with deadly precision. It nearly crushed Renji, whose cloak tore as he dodged a razor-sharp fang. Juichi blocked an incoming tail swipe with his forearm, bones creaking under the pressure.
"This is getting annoying!" Juichi barked, charging in again.
He aimed for the crown. "Let's see what happens when I punch that shiny rock!"
But the Basilisk anticipated it this time. Its tail struck Juichi midair, slamming him into a wall.
"Juichi!" Renji called out.
The momentary distraction cost him—claws raked across his chest, blood spraying. But Renji held his ground, gritting his teeth.
In that moment, memories flashed before his eyes—of Sakura laughing, of Sakata training them under the moonlight, of Juichi getting back up again and again no matter how much he was beaten down.
"Not yet…" Renji whispered, eyes burning. "I'm not letting this thing kill us!"
His aura exploded. The ground cracked beneath him as spiritual wings spread behind his back. His sword glowed red, extending into a jagged, flame-etched blade.
"Crimson Dominion—Enryū no Kensei (炎竜の剣聖)!"
The cavern lit with a fiery red as Renji slashed upward, cleaving through one of the Basilisk's legs. The beast screamed, its blood hissing as it splattered on the ground.
Juichi, pushing himself from the wall, grinned. "Damn, Renji. That's sick."
"Don't get lazy now!"
They struck in tandem again, Renji's burning blade searing through the Basilisk's defenses while Juichi's Substitute Power overwhelmed it with raw might.
Finally, with a final coordinated attack—Renji impaling the crown and Juichi punching straight through its heart—the Basilisk General collapsed, shaking the ground with its fall.
---
Aftermath
The room fell quiet.
Juichi dropped to one knee. "That… was nuts."
Renji sat down, breathing heavily. "It's over."
As they gathered themselves, Renji muttered, "Let's head back. I want answers from Alicia."
They moved through the dungeon carefully, only to find corpses scattered along the corridors.
"Dead adventurers…" Juichi said quietly. "Judging by the armor, they were part of the guild."
Renji's expression darkened. "These were the people following us. Her security."
Juichi clenched his fist. "Then why would she run? Why leave them?"
As they approached the exit, they found it sealed shut by magical roots and stone. A pulsing aura hung in the air.
Renji placed his hand on the barrier. "This shouldn't be here. We killed the Basilisk General."
Juichi looked around. "Then it means… there's still something else. A hidden boss."
To be Continued...