The cold air crept through the crystal cavern. Cracks along the walls shimmered with a pale blue glow, yet there was no beauty to be found, only a suffocating pressure, as though something vast and dreadful was lurking in the shadows.
Despite the falling night, they agreed to continue the hunt.
In his silence, Arzael sharpened his thoughts.
Seraphina and Puff… they are my priority. The rest… if they must be sacrificed, I will not hesitate.
As they advanced, the crystalline glow intensified. The walls reflected light like a thousand flickering candles, guiding them deeper toward the upper chambers of the cavern. Yet soon, a pungent stench began to seep into their lungs.
Puff was the first to notice. Her tiny nose twitched, her face paling. "D-did you smell that…? It reeks of carrion…"
Alicia frowned, pressing the back of her hand against her nose. "Yes… I smell it too."
The little creature whimpered and leapt into Arzael's clothes, trembling. "Boss… I'm scared."
Arzael glanced down at her briefly, voice steady and cold. "Stay still. You're tickling me."
Their steps grew heavier until at last, the sight revealed itself.
At the end of the cavern lay heaps of corpses, human, elf, dwarf. Some were fresh, drenched in blood, while others were nothing but dry bones. The stench of rot was so overwhelming it stabbed at their heads.
Alicia covered her mouth, face blanching. "Those are…"
"How many corpses are piled here…?" Thorak muttered, his deep voice grim, his hardened face shadowed by sorrow.
Celia raised her hand, her voice sharp with command. "Stay alert. All of you."
Arzael and Seraphina said nothing. Their eyes sharpened, bodies tense, awaiting what would come.
Then, from within the darkness of the cavern… two glowing red eyes emerged.
Heavy thuds followed. DUG… DUG… Each step shook the crystalline ground.
"Formation!!" Celia barked.
Thorak stood at the front with Arzael, Celia behind them, Alicia and Seraphina in the rear.
In an instant, from the abyss of shadow surged forth a Black Dragon. Its scales glistened obsidian, wings tearing through the air and scattering crystalline mist. Its movements—swift, far too swift for a beast of such size.
Before it could charge, Thorak slammed his axe into the ground. "Earth Wall!"
A massive wall of stone erupted, intercepting the dragon's advance. The ground trembled and cracked, but it gave them a brief opening.
Celia leapt back, drawing her bow. "Binding Arrow!"
Her glowing arrow struck the floor, chains of magic rising to coil around the dragon's legs.
"Attack!!" Thorak roared.
The dwarf swung his axe against the beast's scales, CLANG! Sparks erupted, but nothing more. Not even a scratch.
Alicia raised her staff, conjuring a storm of jagged ice shards. CRACK-CRACK-CRACK! They shattered uselessly against the black scales.
"Its hide is… impossibly tough…" Alicia panted, sweat dripping from her brow.
Celia drew another arrow, this one glowing gold, and loosed it with all her strength. BANG! The arrow struck its horn, shattering it. The dragon shrieked in rage.
Arzael stepped forward, his blood reshaping into blades, arrows, and spears that floated around him. "Blood Manifest."
With a flick of his hand, the blood-forged projectiles struck true, piercing the dragon's left eye. The beast roared in agony, its remaining eye narrowing with wrath.
"Well done, Arzael," Celia called, her voice clipped but full of grit.
Seraphina raised her hand, mana surging like a storm around her body.
"Mana Burst."
A blue explosion of energy slammed into the dragon, forcing it to stumble back.
But it only fueled its fury. With a guttural growl, the dragon lunged straight at Seraphina, claws outstretched to rend her apart.
Seraphina did not flinch. She stood tall, hand raised, as though unshaken by fear. But before the claws could reach her, her body was suddenly lifted, Arzael pulled her into his arms, vanishing into shadow.
"Shadow Step." They reappeared several meters away. Seraphina unleashed her gathered mana directly at the dragon's head. The explosion rang out, staggering the beast once more.
The dragon spread its wings wide, drawing in a deep breath.
BRUUUUMMMM!!
A torrent of black fire burst forth, consuming the crystalline cavern. The heat alone seared lungs, threatening to burn them from the inside.
Thorak planted his feet. "EARTH FORTRESS!!"
A colossal wall of stone erupted, shielding Celia, Alicia, Arzael, and Seraphina still in his grasp. The inferno crashed into it, devouring all.
But Thorak… stood outside the wall, unprotected.
The black flames swallowed him whole. His mighty frame was engulfed, flesh burning away in an instant, reduced to charred ash within seconds.
Then, silence. The flames faded. The fortress crumbled, falling along with Thorak's sacrifice.
Alicia turned quickly, her face drained of all color. "Huh?… What happened?… Where is Thorak…?"
Celia exhaled heavily, her voice flat. "He's dead."
Alicia's eyes widened, her body trembling. "H-he… he gave his life… for us…?"
Puff peeked out timidly from Arzael's clothes, her eyes glistening with tears.
"Thorak… is dead?" Her voice cracked, on the verge of breaking.
Arzael's gaze remained fixed on the dragon, his tone cold and unyielding. "Focus. Puff, get out of my clothes."
"Y-yes, Boss…" Puff leapt down, clinging to Seraphina's side, still trembling.
Arzael clenched his hand.
[Inventory Accessed]
[Crimson Edge Equipped]
A black blade streaked with crimson veins materialized in his grasp.
Normal attacks are useless… then there's only one option.
He sliced his own hand with the blade. "Pain Conversion: +50% ATK."
Blood streamed forth, forming hardened crimson spikes that hovered around him.
"Blood Manifest: +25% ATK."
"Random Bullshit." The projectiles rained upon the dragon, yet its scales endured, unbroken.
Arzael bent his knees. "Shadow Step."
His figure blurred, reappearing right before the dragon's head.
The final skill ignited. "Crimson Execution."
HP -1600. MP -600.
Crimson Edge glowed blood-red, a single slash arcing with dreadful finality.
SKRREEEEEEE!!!
One strike.
The cavern shook violently. The Crystalline Spires themselves trembled under the force.
Level Up! 24 → 25
[Crimson Edge Leveled Up 2 → 3]
The Black Dragon's body split cleanly in two, crashing into the ground with a thunderous quake. Black smoke coiled upward, staining the crystalline walls with its foul presence.
Arzael stood motionless, Crimson Edge dripping with blood. He walked back to the group.
But no cheers came. No cries of victory.
Only silence.
Puff sobbed softly, hiding her face in her tiny paws. Alicia collapsed to her knees, tears streaming down her cheeks. Celia stared blankly into the void, while Seraphina remained quiet, expression cold, yet her eyes faintly trembling.
The Next Morning, They have returned to the valiant capital city.
The party descended in silence, carrying the weight of loss. Few words passed between them.
At Infront of the Valiant Alliance guild, Celia halted. "Enough," she murmured, voice hoarse. "You should return to your homes or inns. I will be the one… to inform the guild. And Thorak's family."
No one argued. They simply nodded.
Arzael, Seraphina, and Puff returned to their inn. And Alicia returned to her hoom
Inside their room, the air was thick with grief. Puff sat on the table, her face downcast, ears drooping.
"Thorak… he was just a father trying to provide…" Her voice was soft, nearly broken.
Arzael looked at her briefly before speaking "What's done… should not be mourned further."
Puff bit her lip, tears threatening to spill. Seraphina stood by the window, eyes on the sky, silent and unmoving.
That night, their room was drowned in silence, haunted by the shadow of the Black Dragon, the sacrifice of Thorak, and the heavy burden that each of them now carried.