A sharp metallic clang echoed through the stone corridors of the dungeon.
It was the sound of a sword—the sign of a boss appearing.
The group of four adventurers heard it first… well, now five, since they had added another member recently.
"B-Boss… it's the boss!" the stuttering boy exclaimed.
---
Let's take a moment to explain how the 'Myriad Realms Cave' dungeon worked:
1. Every time the boss on a floor is defeated, the layout of that level completely changes. That's why Ethan, despite reading dungeon guides, couldn't find the right path beforehand—the maze refreshes and shifts after each boss kill.
2. Secondly, once the number of wild monsters on the floor drops below a threshold, the boss is automatically summoned, and all players within the dungeon hear the distinct sword sound that signals its arrival.
---
"Didn't you say the boss never showed up until like a week into your last run?" the newest member of the group asked their team leader, confused.
The Boss grinned and clapped the newbie on the back. "That's right! But our strength has improved, and we've got your sister-in-law Ava with us now. That's why the boss spawned so fast this time."
The newcomer looked at him with admiration.
"Let's go!" the Boss shouted, raising a fist. "Time to hunt the boss!"
---
Lily Winters also heard the sword's hum resonate through the dungeon. She immediately recognized it for what it was.
"The boss has appeared."
She tightened the grip on her long blade and broke into a sprint. She had gained a lot of rewards from her time here—more than enough to attempt taking down the boss solo.
Knowing there was another team roaming around, she didn't want to miss the opportunity or let the boss get stolen. She quickened her pace, her mind focused.
---
But neither group was close.
Ethan, however, was right around the corner when the boss appeared.
He was the first to arrive.
In a large circular chamber, a monstrous blade floated ominously.
> LV20 Silver-Rank Boss – Scarlet King Greatsword
Surrounding it were several other ordinary Scarlet Giant Swords, all glowing faintly with blood-red energy. They hovered in a protective ring like royal guards.
Had this been yesterday, Rebel Bone Boy might've struggled. Fighting multiple floating swords at once would have left him chipped, battered, and bruised.
But not anymore.
With a growl of determination, Bone Boy lunged, his massive jaw clamping onto the boss sword's hilt.
Then—he began to spin.
> CLANG-CLANG-CLANG!
Bone Boy swung the boss around like a weapon, smashing the surrounding swords to bits.
The smaller minions shattered like glass.
Now alone, the boss struggled in Bone Boy's grip.
It tried to resist, but Bone Boy had learned.
He stopped the wild flailing and instead shifted tactics, biting firmly on the hilt and grinding down the blade itself.
> CREEEAK… CREEAK…
Ethan winced at the shrill screeching, covering his ears.
Then—CRACK!
Two minutes later, the boss shattered into fragments.
Bone Boy dropped the last piece and strutted back proudly.
> System Notification: Boss defeated – LV20 Scarlet King Greatsword
Rewards: Experience gained.
Loot obtained: Silver-Rank Weapon – Scarlet King Greatsword
Skill Book: Blood Drain (Green)
Material: Heart of the King's Sword
---
Ethan quickly checked the skill.
> Blood Drain (Green): Passive skill.
Converts a portion of the damage dealt into health recovery.
A life-stealing effect.
He raised his eyebrows. This was a valuable passive.
"This might be useful for Lily... or maybe Fairwind," Ethan muttered, mentally noting his options. Since his build focused on spiritual attributes, the melee-based passive wasn't immediately helpful for him.
He decided to stash it away for now.
Next, he examined the weapon drop.
> Scarlet King's Greatsword – Silver Rank
+88 Strength, +12 Constitution, +10 Armor Penetration
In terms of stats, it was impressive. But...
Ethan sighed.
It was too massive for practical use, like wielding a doorframe. He tried swinging it, but it was unwieldy. Better to sell it for cash later.
---
Suddenly, a soft humming sound echoed nearby.
A shimmering portal appeared where the boss had been hovering moments ago.
The gateway to the second floor had opened.
Ethan didn't hesitate.
"Go," he said, nodding at Bone Boy.
The skeletal ant stomped forward to clear the path, and Ethan stepped through.
---
In an instant, the scenery shifted.
Gone was the stone labyrinth.
Now, Ethan found himself in a maze made of bushes and hedges, neat and green like something out of a fantasy garden.
It reminded him of the movie "The Shining"—creepy and quiet.
Don't be fooled, though.
Ethan remembered from the guide: the monsters here were disguised as bushes. They were dryads, creatures that only revealed themselves when they attacked.
He kept moving cautiously.
As he walked, the bushes behind him shifted silently, swallowing up the portal he had just come through.
No turning back now.
---
Meanwhile, just minutes later…
The group of five arrived at the now-empty boss room.
"Boss… it's gone!"
SMACK!
"Of course it's gone, genius!" the Boss growled. "I'm not blind!"
They looked around. All that remained were shattered sword fragments and some glowing dust.
There wasn't even a full blade left—just powder.
The Boss stepped closer, inspecting the remains.
He blinked. "What kind of monster could destroy the boss and all its guards this fast?"
He had fought the same boss before. It had taken his team of five nearly 20 minutes to kill it last time—and that was with buffs and teamwork.
But this time?
They'd only heard the boss sword's echo a few minutes ago, and already it had been vaporized—along with its minions.
The Boss's mind was reeling. This was beyond anything he had expected.
---
"B-Boss… should we… go to the next floor?" one of the newbies asked.
The Boss hesitated.
Truth be told, he was feeling nervous.
But thanks to their new member—an assassin class—their DPS (damage per second) had increased noticeably.
Yesterday, their battles had gone faster than usual.
Still, something felt… off.
If he retreated now, would the others see him as a coward?
Before he could decide, a shadow approached quickly.
Lily Winters arrived at the scene.
She scanned the area—and immediately saw the broken remains.
Her eyes narrowed. She turned to Ava, the only girl among the five, and asked coldly, "Did you kill the boss?"
Before Ava could respond, the Boss stepped forward quickly.
"Y-Yeah! We did."
Lily's gaze sharpened.
She was no fool.
Looking around, she could tell that the damage was too complete. It wasn't just the boss—even the guards were obliterated beyond recognition.
And not a single scratch on any of them?
She didn't buy it for a second.
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