The tunnel widened abruptly into a vast, glowing basin, the ground veined with rivers of magma that flowed beneath thick glass-like rock. A rumble echoed ahead—a slow, thunderous breathing. The temperature spiked.
Kaito raised his hand, signaling everyone to stop.
"This is it," he said.
A monstrous silhouette loomed in the fiery distance. Crimson heat shimmered around its outline—twice the height of Hiroto, its limbs plated in obsidian-like armor, molten veins glowing underneath like living lava. A horned crown curled back from its skull, and its mouth exhaled embers with every breath.
[Lv. 15 – Echoflame Sovereign – Lord Rank]
The moment its rank appeared, Hiroto's eyes widened. "L-Lord Rank?!"
"Relax," Kaito said calmly. "It's not about title—it's about how we deal with it."
The others looked unconvinced.
Kaito exhaled and began briefing. His voice was low, steady.
"This boss uses wide-range flame attacks, so don't group up. If you're caught in its breath attack, you'll take continuous burn damage unless you get clear. It also pounds the ground to knock us down—watch its hands. When it raises both arms, that's your cue to dodge sideways. Never backward. Back is lava."
Kaede nodded slowly, absorbing every word.
"Anyone hit by its stomp will be stunned for two seconds," Kaito added. "And once its HP drops to thirty percent, it'll enter Berserk Mode. That's when things get rough. It'll move faster, hit harder, and one of its attacks becomes unavoidable—a lava eruption that hits everyone."
"Wait, unavoidable?" Aika asked, worried.
Kaito smiled faintly. "Don't worry. I'll tell you what to do when it comes. For now, just focus on what I say mid-fight."
There was silence—then slow nods from the team.
"Alright," Kaito said. "Potions out. Drink the regeneration doses now. You'll need them."
Each member pulled out a small red vial—Minor Regeneration Potion. One sip gave them slow, continuous healing for a short time.
Kaito stepped forward to the edge of the platform. The Sovereign's eyes flared open, twin coals igniting in its skull. The stone beneath them rumbled.
He glanced over his shoulder once more. "Remember. Follow my voice. Trust your role."
They nodded.
...
The entrance to Echoing Deep loomed beneath the jagged cliff face, its crimson runes pulsing like a heartbeat. Dozens of players gathered at the stone-stamped threshold, their expressions mixed with hesitation and frustration. This was South Glade's first dungeon—and the only one available to its players for now.
Most had formed parties of four to six. A few had already gone in and come back out—silent, bruised, and unwilling to explain how they got separated, or worse, how they lost their equipment.
"They got wiped again?" one archer whispered, watching a trio stagger away from the portal. "That's the third group today."
"No proper tank. No map. And someone said they wandered around for twenty minutes before even seeing a monster," another muttered.
A ripple of tension passed through the crowd as a familiar tag appeared near the path—[Everhold Dominion].
A black-uniformed squad of six moved toward the gate. Their armor was stylized, precise. Their footsteps didn't falter. At the center of their formation stood a tall man with a dark scarf covering his mouth, a two-handed halberd slung across his back. A faint red glow pulsed behind his narrowed eyes.
Rhine.
The name sent a quiet murmur across the watching players.
One of his guildmates, a sharp-nosed thief named Bran, leaned close and whispered, "Sir… we've already lost two teams in there. Some members are saying it's not worth the risk."
Rhine didn't stop walking. "Then tell them to log out. Glory doesn't reward the weak."
"But the terrain's a maze. Too dark, barely any loot unless you're lucky, and—"
"The loot is there," Rhine cut in coldly. "You just lack the strength to claim it."
He reached the base of the glowing gate, where the next wave of players were waiting.
"You see this crowd?" he said without turning back. "They're scared. That means it's working."
Bran remained silent.
"Push to Layer 2 this time," Rhine ordered. "No stopping, no chat. Kill, map, clear."
The Dominion team entered the dungeon without hesitation, leaving the rest of the players staring nervously after them.
The colossal figure at the chamber's center pulsed with molten veins. The Echoflame Sovereign towered above them, magma flowing beneath its obsidian exoskeleton. Its burning crown of horns radiated heat in waves, and lava trickled from its fists like molten chains.
The moment Kaito crossed the threshold, the creature's crimson eyes flared open.
[Boss Identified – Echoflame Sovereign – Lv. 15 – Lord Rank]
He turned to his team.
"I'll tank the main aggro. Aika — keep your heals on cooldown, no delay. Hiroto, you'll intercept if I get locked. Daichi, you'll cover Hiroto if needed. Kaede, aim from a distance — target the legs if they glow. Mei Rin, keep a steady fire on its back when it moves. Suzune… use traps only when it charges. Don't stack up."
He noticed the tense, confused faces.
Then smiled.
"Don't worry. It'll be okay."
He stepped forward.
The Sovereign raised its arm—and the chamber roared to life.
Flames spiraled from beneath the boss's feet, forming three rings of fire. Kaito dashed in first, , weaving between flame pulses with ease. He slashed diagonally with Cross Slash, drawing its attention immediately.
THUD!
The Sovereign slammed its fist into the ground, sending a shockwave of fire. Kaito dodged left, slashing upward with Cut. Sparks cracked up the boss's torso.
"I've got aggro!" Kaito called. "Stay back!"
The boss swept its arm toward him—Kaito ducked under the arc, sliding across scorched rock.
"Now, Hiroto—!"
Hiroto dashed forward and raised his shield.
CLANG!
The halberd-sized arm of the Sovereign crashed against his guard, forcing him back, but holding.
"I got it!" Hiroto grunted.
Kaito leapt in again, chaining Cross Slash into the exposed arm, slicing deep with a burst of sparks.
[BURNING WRATH – ACTIVATED]
Flames erupted from the boss's feet, coating its limbs in fire.
"Fall back! Aika, throw a Heal on me — now!"
Aika chanted, glowing softly. A shield of light enveloped Kaito just as the next blast came.
Suzune threw out a trap — a Firebind Grenade, bought at the town — that staggered the boss for just a second.
Mei Rin loosed a pair of focused shots, each one slamming into the creature's back with surgical precision.
Kaede lifted both hands, channeling a basic Fire burst, which exploded near the Sovereign's side — not strong, but enough to keep pressure.
The Sovereign roared, slamming both fists into the ground. Lava pillars burst upward in random intervals.
"Keep moving!" Kaito shouted.
Hiroto intercepted another charge. Daichi followed up with a Shield Bash, managing to make the boss stumble.
Kaito took the moment to unleash Cut again — this time carving a line across the Sovereign's molten chest.
Kaede cast another Fire burst, while Mei Rin repositioned and hit a glowing crack near the leg. The Sovereign reeled.
HP: 42%
he Sovereign staggered, cracks glowing like molten veins across its obsidian armor.
"Keep the pressure up!" Kaito barked, dashing left to flank.
Mei Rin pivoted gracefully, drawing a precise bead on the boss's knee joint. Twang! — another arrow embedded with force, forcing the Sovereign to shift its stance. Suzune had already laid down another snare — two thin wire traps glinting faintly in the gloom.
"Timing, Suzune — now!"
The wire snapped upward as the Sovereign stepped forward, catching its right foot mid-motion. It buckled slightly, and Hiroto charged.
"Shield Bash!"
With a roar of his own, Hiroto slammed his shield into the creature's midsection. Sparks flew. The impact barely moved the Sovereign, but it opened an opening.
Kaito darted in.
"Cut!"
His blade flashed silver and left a deep gash across the boss's ribs. The Sovereign howled, molten blood dripping down its flank.
"Kaede, now!"
A blast of lightning erupted from Kaede's staff, connecting with the Sovereign's shoulder. It reeled again.
"Don't stop, Daichi — pressure from the left!" Kaito called out.
Without a moment's hesitation, Daichi surged forward. His feet glided over the uneven stone floor, fists clenched and glowing faintly with inner energy. He ducked low, dodging a falling ember, and closed the gap in three quick steps.
"Flash Palm!" he roared, slamming an open palm into the Sovereign's side.
A shockwave rippled out from the point of contact, forcing the boss to shift its balance. But as it twisted toward him, Kaito's voice cut through sharply.
"Back off — it's winding up!"
Daichi pivoted and sprang backward just as the Sovereign's molten fist came crashing down, pulverizing the ground where he'd stood seconds before.
Aika's eyes were already glowing. "Group Blessing!"
A shimmer of light spread out, bolstering everyone's defenses and patching minor wounds. Kaede grinned. "Much appreciated."
Another flame orb exploded near the Sovereign's hip. Mei Rin's shot had found a weak spot again.
It bellowed — wounded and furious. The chamber trembled as it dropped to all fours and suddenly lunged.
"Scatter!" Kaito shouted. "It's charging!"
The entire party broke formation as the Sovereign swept across the floor like a burning juggernaut. Hiroto and Daichi moved to intercept, taking turns blocking its momentum while Kaito slashed at its exposed side, forcing the boss to turn.
Their coordinated moves chipped at the HP.
[HP: 39%]
Kaede cast another bolt of lightning, while Suzune lobbed a small fire trap under its path.
It stepped directly onto the trap.
BOOM!
The explosion sent shards of lava and rock into the air.
[HP: 36%]
Kaito urged. "Don't let it breathe!"
"On it!" Hiroto growled, charging again with shield braced.
The Sovereign twisted unnaturally, ignoring the damage and focusing on Mei Rin.
"It's targeting our backline!" Aika warned.
"I'll stop it." Daichi sprinted, colliding with its shin and drawing its ire.
Kaede launched another fire burst while Aika activated a light barrier to shield Mei Rin.
[HP: 33%]
Kaito moved with speed that blurred his figure — Cut once across the throat, then a slash to the chest.
The Sovereign roared, stumbling back.
[HP: 30%]
[BOSS SKILL – SCORCHED DESCENT – ACTIVATED]
The Sovereign let out a roar that shook the chamber. Its entire body turned red-hot, and its back erupted with flame spikes.
"Everyone back!" Kaito yelled. "This is the big one!"
The boss raised both arms high—and slammed them down.
A wave of burning magma expanded from its feet.
"Hiroto — intercept!"
Hiroto rushed in, shield up, taking the brunt of the wave. His HP dipped drastically.
"Aika, heal him now!"
Light surged across the field. Hiroto stood firm, teeth clenched.
Kaito blinked through the smoke, dashed behind the boss, and activated Cross Slash again — both slashes connecting with perfect precision.
Kaede managed one more Sparkburst, followed by Daichi launching a charge to buy a second of relief.
"Suzune, trap—Mei Rin, now!"
The two synced perfectly. A trap burst beneath the boss's feet — Mei Rin's arrows struck glowing joints.
"Finish it!"
Kaito's blade crackled with lightning one last time. He leapt, spun mid-air, and plunged the sword down into the Sovereign's neck.
[CRITICAL HIT – 472!]
The Sovereign froze.
Then crumbled, its magma-stone body turning dark… then shattering into a storm of flame and light.
Leaving behind a pile of shinning Loot.