The dungeon corridor grew heavier with every step we took.
Demonic mana gathered along the crimson walls like an invisible mist. Small crimson crystals glowed faintly around us, illuminating only parts of the path.
The roar echoed once again.
Closer.
Louder.
Scarlett walked beside me while small crimson sparks flickered around her right hand.
"This definitely doesn't sound like an ordinary goblin."
"Because it isn't."
I continued advancing slowly while observing the surroundings.
Bodies were scattered across the ground.
Not just monsters.
Some belonged to adventurers.
The destroyed armor and broken weapons made it clear that groups had tried to enter this dungeon before us.
And failed.
Scarlett noticed as well.
"The Guild Master wasn't exaggerating."
I stopped for a few seconds beside a wall marked by enormous claw marks.
They looked as though they had been made by some gigantic creature.
I lightly ran my fingers across the shattered stone while analyzing the size of the marks.
Far too large for an ordinary goblin.
Much too large.
The magic crystal attached to my arm glowed again.
Lyannis's voice echoed calmly.
"We're advancing through the left side."
"Have you encountered resistance?"
"Moderate."
Elara's voice came immediately afterward.
"These goblins are organized into small groups."
"Like soldiers," Liriel added.
I frowned slightly.
That still bothered me.
Monsters normally fought by instinct.
These didn't.
They seemed to be under direct command.
Scarlett then looked ahead.
"They're coming."
At that very moment, I heard dozens of footsteps echoing through the corridor.
Numerous goblins emerged from the darkness.
But this time, their numbers were much greater.
More than fifty.
All armed.
Their crimson eyes glowed intensely as they advanced in formation.
Some carried shields made of bone and rusted metal.
Others wielded black spears wrapped in demonic mana.
Behind them stood goblin mages holding crude staffs.
This was truly becoming a problem.
The monsters charged all at once.
The mages began firing small dark spheres of mana while the soldiers rushed forward.
I dodged the first attack and instantly drew my sword.
The golden blade sliced through two goblins in a single motion.
Scarlett raised her left hand.
An explosion of fire immediately engulfed the corridor.
The impact hurled several monsters against the dungeon walls.
The goblin mages tried to continue casting spells, but Scarlett had already charged.
She cut through the group like a crimson bolt of lightning.
A chain of explosions completely illuminated the corridor.
Their screams echoed throughout the dungeon.
Meanwhile, three goblin soldiers tried to surround me from the side.
I dodged the first strike and kicked one of them into the wall before quickly cutting down the other two.
But then I noticed something strange.
The monsters showed no fear.
Even after watching dozens of their companions die, they kept advancing.
As if they were being forced.
The roar echoed again.
This time it was so powerful that the ground trembled.
The goblins immediately stepped back.
Scarlett smiled faintly.
"It seems he finally lost his patience."
The mana pressure began rising violently.
Then a massive shadow emerged from the darkness of the main corridor.
Heavy footsteps echoed slowly.
One.
Two.
Three.
And then he appeared.
The Goblin King.
The creature was colossal.
Over four meters tall.
Its muscular body was covered in black plates resembling natural armor. Rusted chains wrapped around parts of its arms while a massive, jagged sword rested upon its shoulder.
Its eyes glowed with an intense crimson light.
Demonic mana constantly poured from the monstrous body.
But the worst part was the pressure.
This definitely wasn't an ordinary monster.
Scarlett narrowed her eyes.
"So this is Rank S."
The Goblin King stared at us silently for a few seconds.
Then it roared.
The sound wave violently swept through the entire corridor.
Even the crimson crystals embedded in the walls began to crack.
The monster charged immediately afterward.
Far too fast for something that size.
The gigantic sword came crashing toward me with tremendous force.
I blocked the strike with my golden sword.
The impact shattered part of the ground beneath my feet.
The force instantly traveled through my arms.
Strong.
Very strong.
The Goblin King continued pressing down with its sword as it roared violently.
Scarlett appeared from the side, launching several spears of fire at the creature's body.
The explosions struck its shoulder and back.
But it barely moved.
That caught my attention.
Its physical durability was absurd.
I forced the monstrous sword away and retreated several meters.
The Goblin King slammed its foot violently into the ground.
Demonic mana exploded around it.
Numerous smaller goblins began emerging from the surrounding corridors once again.
"Of course. It couldn't be that simple," Scarlett muttered.
The magic crystal glowed again.
Lyannis's voice came through immediately.
"Takumi. We're surrounded by hordes on the left side."
"Can you handle them?"
"Yes."
Right afterward, I heard Rai'kanna.
"We're advancing as well."
Explosions echoed from deeper within the dungeon.
Scarlett probably wasn't the only one destroying half the cave at that moment.
The Goblin King charged again.
Even faster this time.
I partially activated my armor immediately.
Golden fragments began forming over my arm and chest as my mana increased dramatically.
The creature attempted a horizontal slash.
I barely dodged while enveloping my sword in draconic fire.
Then I attacked.
The golden blade partially pierced the monster's chest.
But not deeply enough.
The Goblin King roared furiously and tried to grab me with its free hand.
I quickly retreated before it could hit me.
Scarlett seized the opening.
A massive crimson magic circle appeared behind her.
Seconds later, a rain of fire descended upon the monster.
The explosions made the entire dungeon tremble.
Even so, when the smoke cleared, the Goblin King was still standing.
Wounded.
But alive.
Scarlett clicked her tongue.
"That thing is way too durable."
The monster then raised its gigantic sword above its head.
Demonic mana began concentrating around the blade.
That was bad.
Very bad.
"Takumi!" Liriel shouted through the magic crystal.
At that same instant, a massive golden barrier formed around me.
The Goblin King's strike crashed down violently.
The explosion destroyed part of the corridor.
Rocks flew in every direction.
But Liriel's barrier held the impact long enough.
I seized that opportunity.
My mana erupted violently as I activated more sections of the golden armor.
Draconic fire completely engulfed my sword.
Scarlett noticed immediately.
She smiled.
"Finally."
I charged.
The dungeon floor cracked beneath my feet.
The Goblin King roared and attempted another attack.
But this time I was faster.
I dodged the monstrous sword and instantly appeared in front of the creature.
Then I struck.
The golden blade completely sliced through the Goblin King's body in a single slash.
The draconic fire exploded immediately afterward.
The shockwave swept through the entire dungeon.
The smaller goblins froze in place instantly.
The Goblin King's gigantic body began cracking apart slowly as black mana escaped from its wounds.
For a few seconds, the monster remained standing.
Then it fell.
The impact shook the ground once again.
Silence.
Only the sound of falling rocks echoed through the ruined corridor.
Scarlett let out a small sigh.
"It finally died."
I partially deactivated my armor while observing the creature's body.
Demonic mana still seeped slowly from the corpse.
That wasn't natural.
I slowly approached the Goblin King's body and then noticed something embedded in its chest.
A black stone.
Small.
But incredibly dense with demonic mana.
I frowned slightly.
So this was it.
The source of the mutation.
I carefully picked up the stone.
The evil energy pulsed strangely within it.
The magic crystal glowed once again.
Lyannis spoke immediately.
"Takumi. What happened?"
"We just defeated the Goblin King."
Rai'kanna let out a small laugh from the other side.
"I knew it."
Liriel then asked,
"Has the dungeon's mana decreased?"
I looked around.
She was right.
The pressure was slowly beginning to weaken.
The crimson crystals embedded in the walls had lost part of their glow.
I nodded, even though she couldn't see me.
"Yes."
Scarlett crossed her arms.
"So defeating the leader affected the entire dungeon."
I carefully stored the black stone away.
"This probably came from the demons."
Elara remained silent for a few seconds before replying,
"So they really are deliberately spreading corrupted mana."
That confirmed my suspicions.
The demons weren't just building armies.
They were transforming the continent itself.
I looked once more at the Goblin King's gigantic corpse as silence settled over the ruined dungeon.
Then I slowly took a deep breath.
But at that very moment...
Another roar echoed from deep within the cavern.
Farther away.
Deeper.
And it definitely... did not sound like a goblin.