The heavy crash of the dungeon boss's body against the stone floor echoed like thunder. Everyone stood frozen, catching their breath as the massive creature let out a final, guttural roar before collapsing. The chamber went silent, the only sound the faint drip of water echoing in the distance.
A faint glow surrounded him.
Level Up! New Skills Acquired: [Dark Fang Slash], [Mana Burst Strike], [Stone Skin Fortification].
He let out a steady exhale, raising an eyebrow. Not bad. These could be useful. His gaze scanned the skill descriptions—dark-element slash, explosive mana strike, and a defense technique that hardened the body like rock.
With calm, steady steps, he approached the boss's massive corpse, expecting to see a crystal core, rare materials, or even a weapon lying there. He crouched down, his hand reaching forward—
"There must be something rare item after defeating the dungeon boss."
—but before he could touch it, the creature's body shimmered unnaturally. In the blink of an eye, it dissolved into particles of light and vanished without leaving a single fragment behind.
He froze, eyes narrowing.
No loot? No crystal? Not even a corpse? That's impossible… unless…
His jaw tightened.
"Huh..What the?"
"If my thought were right, this wasn't a dungeon boss. It was summoned or controlled by someone."
He turned, ready to warn the others—only to realize the heroes had already left the chamber. He stood alone.
"Tch… they're already left?"
he muttered under his breath before sheathing his weapon and heading for the exit.
By the time he emerged, the sun was already setting, painting the sky in crimson and gold. Without stopping to rest, he made his way to the royal castle, urgency pushing him forward.
The guards at the gate recognized him instantly and allowed him through. Moments later, he was standing in the grand throne room before the King. The King's expression was tense, his eyes heavy with worry, as if he had already sensed grim news was coming.
"Tell me,"
the King demanded.
"What did you find in the dungeon?"
He bowed slightly, then spoke in a steady tone.
"I think the boss wasn't normal. After its death, it vanished without leaving a corpse or drops. That means one thing—it wasn't a true dungeon boss. It was summoned… most likely by the demons."
The King's face paled. His fingers gripped the armrest of his throne until his knuckles turned white.
"Summoned? Then… the demons have already stepped into our borders?"
Gasps and murmurs filled the hall.
"If this is true, their plans are moving faster than we thought…"
"Summoning bosses inside our dungeons… so, they must be planning to do something inside the dungeon…"
The King closed his eyes for a moment, his voice trembling slightly.
"What are we to do? My people will panic if they know of this… another attack like before could destroy us."
The tension in the hall grew heavy, ministers whispering among themselves in fear.
Then his voice cut through the air, calm and resolute.
"Don't worry. I'll find a way to solve this."
All eyes turned to him. The ministers looked shocked, some even scoffing at his confidence, but none could deny the certainty in his voice.
The King leaned forward, his gaze sharp.
"…You've proven yourself before. If you say you'll handle this, then I will trust you."
"If you need help you can come to me anytime."
He gave a short nod.
"Leave it to me. Whoever is behind this… I'll find them. And I'll defeat them."
The atmosphere in the hall shifted. The fear lingering in the air slowly gave way to a fragile spark of hope.
The King finally exhaled, shoulders easing slightly.
"Then may the gods guide your hand."
He bowed once more, then turned and left the throne room, his footsteps echoing with determination.
That night, moonlight spilled through the window of his chamber. Sitting on the edge of his bed, he replayed the scene of the disappearing boss over and over in his mind.
If demons can infiltrate dungeons already… then this kingdom is in more danger than anyone realizes.
His hand clenched tightly. I'll need more strength. And fast.
He closed his eyes, whispering into the quiet night.
"I'll defeat them. No matter what it takes."
"I have to protect this nation."
The silver light of the moon washed over him, steady and cold, as he drifted into uneasy sleep—prepared for the battles to come.