Chapter 32
YAWNNN!
"I would appreciate it if you stop yawning now, for we are here already. We don't want to alert the boss all of a sudden," Zarin whispered as the group that was to fight against the boss stood at the edge of the entrance to the boss' room.
The edge of the entrance was set high up in the air. The narrow hallway they had passed through led them to an opening embedded in the side of the cavern wall. From their vantage point, the group all stood silently, staring down at the beast below.
The boss resembled the wraiths they had fought earlier but bore grotesque differences. It was roughly humanoid in shape like the D-rank minions they encountered before, but twisted far beyond recognition.
Standing at nearly eight feet tall, its body was formed of sinewy flesh barely held together by torn black skin that looked like burned leather stretched too thin.
Patches of bone jutted out along its back and shoulders like malformed spikes, and its arms ended in elongated claws. Each finger was more like a rusted sickle, as long as a sword, scraping against the ground as it prowled around the cavern.
Its eyes—if one could even call them that were milky white slits, glowing faintly beneath a cracked, skull-like face crowned with jagged horns. Instead of feet, its legs ended in jagged stumps, fused grotesquely with the dungeon floor.
"Woah! It's different from the others," Rina whispered with a gulp, her eyes fixed on the monstrous figure. Beside her, Zarin swung his sword a few times in the air, loosening his stance as though ready to strike at any second.
"It's a C-rank for a reason," Ryker muttered, his baggy eyes narrowing while his hands tightened on the hilt of his sword. He studied the beast's movements with unnerving calm, his breathing steady even as tension thickened the air.
"What now?" Aria asked as she nudged an arrow against her bowstring, her knuckles turning pale from how tightly she gripped it.
"Aria, stay with Rina here and support us as much as possible… without sending an arrow into us, please," Ryker instructed before releasing a short yawn, his voice edged with both mockery and fatigue. Aria's cheeks flushed hot with embarrassment, but she nodded quickly.
"Zarin, with me. Let's go!" Ryker barked as he leapt into the air, descending toward the cavern floor. Zarin grinned wide, excitement burning in his eyes as he followed suit, sword clutched tight.
The beast, alerted by the sound of their descent, spun its head around.
CACKLE!
A low, distorted laugh reverberated across the cavern walls as the monster suddenly dashed toward them with terrifying speed, claws carving streaks into the stone floor.
"Let's go!" Ryker ordered, his boots cracking against the ground as he charged forward. Wind swirled wildly around his sword, the current pulling and howling as his gaze stayed fixed on the approaching horror.
"Right behind you!" Zarin shouted, his own dash not quite as fast but still quick enough to close the distance.
CACKLE!
The unsettling sound echoed again, this time directly above Ryker. His instincts screamed as he stopped mid-charge and tilted his gaze upward, only to find the beast hurtling down from the ceiling with claws aimed directly at his head.
"Shit," he muttered, twisting his blade with a sharp swing. Wind wrapped tightly around his body, boosting his speed as he rolled away just in time.
The beast slammed into the ground with a deafening crash, its claws shredding stone like a hot knife through butter. Shards and dust exploded outward, filling the air with choking grit.
"You okay?" Zarin called out as he closed the distance. His boots dug into the dirt as he leapt high into the air, sword raised overhead before he brought it down toward the beast with a fierce roar.
The monster's pale eyes snapped upward. With chilling precision, it raised one enormous claw and blocked the strike.
WOOSH!
The air warped as steel met claw, the pressure of the clash rippling outward. Zarin's teeth clenched hard, muscles straining as his blade trembled against the monster's raw strength.
CRACK!
"F*ck," Zarin gasped, his eyes widening at the faint fracture running across his sword. Before he could recover, the beast shifted.
Its fused legs separated with a grotesque snap, granting it sudden mobility. With surprising agility, it drove its foot into Zarin's stomach, the kick so brutal it sent him flying through the air.
Blood sprayed from his lips as his body spiraled backward, crashing against the rocky ground with a sickening thud.
SWOOSH!
Two arrows could be seen slicing through the air, heading toward the beast at lightning-fast pace, but as if sensing the threat, it spun around abruptly, swinging its claws with a violent force and shredding the arrows to pieces when...
"Bull Thrust!" Ryker roared, thrusting his sword forward with ferocity. The glowing blade carved through the air toward the beast.
This time, it was a fraction too slow. It tried to leap back, but the strike connected, ripping a gaping wound into its shoulder and spilling dark blood.
SHRIEK!
The cavern trembled as the beast let out a piercing cry, its noise pattern changing, warped by the agony coursing through it. Ryker, however, ignored the sound.
His focus was unwavering. With determination blazing in his eyes, he dashed forward, sword flaring like a streak of light in the air behind him.
With a grunt, Ryker leapt high, descending swiftly with a vertical slash aimed straight for the creature's skull. But the beast reacted quicker this time.
One massive claw shot upward, meeting his blade with a thunderous bang that echoed throughout the cavern. Sparks burst from the collision, and Ryker gritted his teeth hard, arms trembling from the force.
Then, without giving him a chance to recover, the beast's second claw lashed forward in a deadly arc. Ryker's eyes widened in shock. He was trapped, unable to move as the crushing blow came for him when...
"Die, you sneaky bastard!" Zarin's roar filled the cavern. He burst forward, his sword raised just in time, intercepting the monstrous strike.
The force sent him skidding back across the rocky ground, blood staining the corner of his mouth, but he held firm.
"Go!" Zarin bellowed.
At once, three arrows rained down from above, cutting through the air toward the beast. Enraged, the creature tried to kick Ryker away, its claw whipping around in desperation. But Ryker, seasoned by countless battles, was ready.
He snapped his blade into place, bracing for impact. The kick landed, but his defense held. The force hurled him backward, boots grinding across the cavern floor, yet not a scratch marked his body.
The beast swung its freed claw toward Zarin, but the swordsman dropped low, ducking under the strike as the claws scraped so close they nicked strands of his hair. The narrow escape left the air tense and electric.
This opening allowed the wraith enough time to spin and strike. Its claws slashed the arrows mid-flight, shattering them, before it leapt backward, creating distance between itself and the two warriors.
Ryker and Zarin quickly regained their footing, eyes sharp, weapons gripped tightly. Step by step, they began circling, gazes locked onto the beast's every twitch and motion, like predators stalking prey. The atmosphere was thick with danger, each heartbeat drumming with anticipation.
"This is becoming quite difficult," Zarin muttered, his voice low, almost strained. His eyes flickered briefly to his sword, the blade cracked and faltering. A faint shadow of melancholy clouded his expression.
"Let's go!" Ryker roared again, rallying his strength as he charged. Zarin clenched his teeth, tightened his grip, and followed without hesitation, while the beast crouched low, ready to unleash its fury against them once more.