As a gargantuan entity standing over ten meters tall, composed entirely of countless thick, gnarled bones, Udaeus radiated a crushing sense of pressure even when standing perfectly still.
Furthermore, it reigned as the Floor Boss of the Dungeon's 37th floor. Only adventurers of Level 5 or 6 and above possessed the qualifications to subjugate it and emerge victorious. Within the Labyrinth City of Orario, those capable of such a feat were the pillars of their respective Familias and the most beloved children of the gods.
Clearly, while the adventurers currently present were not low-level, they were far from ready to challenge a Floor Boss.
Thus, when Udaeus's eye sockets flared with a terrifying light and it raised a massive, black skeletal hand to smash downward, the group scattered instantly. They fled in all directions, offering no pretense of a frontal confrontation.
Regrettably, they had underestimated the catastrophic destructive power of a Floor Boss.
With a single strike, a massive crater was gouged into the earth. Simultaneously, a forest of bone-like spikes erupted from the ground, turning the surrounding tens of meters into a death zone.
A young woman, just a fraction too slow, had her thigh instantly impaled. She collapsed with a heavy thud, letting out an agonizing scream.
"Aaaahhh!!! My leg! My leg! Someone, help me!"
But in that moment, everyone was running for their lives; no one had the luxury of looking back. In normal circumstances, most members of the party might not have minded playing the hero to rescue a damsel in distress, but this was Udaeus. This was a nightmare of the depths they might never overcome in their lifetimes. Escaping with their own lives was already a stroke of luck.
At a time like this, turning back wasn't an option; even slowing down meant certain death.
"No! Don't leave me! Please!"
The girl, who looked to be in her early twenties, let out a desperate cry. She could clearly see the massive black shadow looming over her. In a second or two, a fatal blow would descend from above.
In the nick of time, Lupos finally released a surge of Shadow Chakra clones, sending the pack of wolves charging forward at blistering speed.
Before the brown-haired girl could even process what was happening, a deafening explosion erupted. The resulting shockwave sent her tumbling over ten meters, slamming her against a stone wall before she finally came to a halt.
As she struggled to lift her head, she saw a giant silver wolf standing atop the mangled remains of the Floor Boss. With razor-sharp claws, it tore out the glowing red heart, the creature's critical weakness, from its chest.
In the next heartbeat...
Bang!
The colossal Udaeus dissolved into a cloud of translucent white dust, leaving behind nothing but a massive Magic Stone.
"How... how is this possible? The 37th-floor boss... defeated by a wolf?" The girl's eyes widened in disbelief.
However, the shock was short-lived. Due to massive blood loss and the severity of her injuries, she rapidly spiraled into hemorrhagic shock and lost consciousness.
In her fading moments, she caught a glimpse of a young man with short silver hair. Accompanied by two other nearly identical silver wolves, he walked slowly toward her. He knelt to inspect her wound and said with a light chuckle, "You're in luck that you ran into me. With an injury like this, you would've been dead in ten minutes."
"Don't... don't leave me. I don't want to die..."
The girl squeezed out these final words with the last of her strength before blacking out completely.
Looking at the unconscious girl who was still deathly afraid to let go of his hand, Allen couldn't help but sigh. "That's quite the will to live. Besides, I happen to need a guide. Don't worry, you're saved."
With that, he pulled out a bottle of top-tier healing potion and poured it down her throat.
Since all the Level 60 raids had moved into "farm status" for him, his stock of various healing and mana potions had become excessive. He had single-handedly crashed the Auction House prices for these supplies to under one gold piece per stack.
Within seconds, the deep, bone-exposing puncture wound on the girl's thigh began to knit back together. The deathly pallor of her face regained a hint of color.
Having finally found a living person, Allen abandoned his aimless wandering. He used Wood Release to create a tree, split it for firewood, and lit a campfire. He then pulled a large pot from his backpack and began preparing a meal, though he wasn't sure if it was breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
The environment inside the Dungeon was complex; some areas were lush rainforests, others were plains, mountains, or deserts. Some floors were dim labyrinths where the ceiling was shrouded in pitch-black darkness, making it impossible to tell day from night.
Before long, an enticing aroma filled the air, causing his three pets to begin drooling uncontrollably.
Unfortunately, the trio had massive appetites. Allen gave each wolf a large bowl as a token gesture, then filled the rest of their bellies with heaps of Roasted Quail from Dire Maul North tributes, supplemented with Alterac Swiss from Stratholme supply crates. It was both nutritious and filling.
While the system categorized wolves as carnivores, in reality, these three giant silver wolves didn't limit themselves to meat, they actually had a significant fondness for cold drinks and desserts.
Just as Allen had finished feeding his pets and sat down to eat, the unconscious girl let out a soft moan. She slowly opened her eyes and stared blankly at him, and then at the food in his hand.
"You're awake?" Allen looked genuinely surprised.
By his estimate, a normal person losing that much blood should have been out for at least an hour or two, even with the best healing potions. Yet, this girl looked like she was ready to go after only forty minutes.
Specifically, her impaled thigh had regained its color, and the newly regrown muscle looked firm and toned, a clear sign of long-term, rigorous training. It was obvious her adventurer level was quite high; both her physique and recovery speed far exceeded the average person.
"Thank you! Thank you for saving me. I will never forget this kindness!" The girl struggled to her feet and bowed deeply.
"Don't mention it; it was no trouble. If you don't mind, could you tell me your name and which Familia you belong to?" Allen asked, his tone casually curious.
"Of course! It would be my honor!" the girl agreed without hesitation.
After all, for the adventurers of Orario, introducing one's name and Familia upon a first meeting was the most basic of manners.