..
Its glowing eyes, hollow and ancient, locked onto the intruders. Its grip on the war hammer tightened, the golden monolith resting against its broad shoulder.
The silence was suffocating.
Then—
Diego Jordan "How the hell are we supposed to beat that thing?!!!" DJ's panicked voice shattered the moment, his entire body trembling as cold sweat ran down his face.
No one had an answer.
Because standing before them was not just a boss—
It was a Gilded Behemoth, just as it's name stated.
And it was ready to crush them all.
..
---
Location: The Eclipsed Labyrinth.
Year: 2026
Date: February 20th
Time: 8:16 AM
POV: Third Person
---
The group of nine invaders stood together with their backs pressed against the towering doors of the boss room, their breaths heavy with anticipation. In front of them, the ground trembled under the weight of an approaching behemoth, a monstrosity born of the labyrinth's cursed depths.
Zayne took command, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "This is no time to panic. Adrian, Damian—you two take the lead. The rest of us will back you up." His gaze landed on Damian, eyes sharp with urgency. "Damian, this is the perfect chance to use that disintegrating touch of yours. From what I can see, that might be the only thing strong enough to bring that thing down."
During their fifteen-minute march to the boss's chamber, Damian was questioned for the reason why he had blacked out after touching the blighted chimera. And after some thought he answered saying that he had used [Entropy Surge], a devastating Facet that strained his body to its limits—so much so that he could only use it once per battle.
Zayne continued, addressing the two female fighters. "Elise, Mira—stay back and provide support. Mira, use that book of yours if possible." His eyes flickered toward the [Abyss Warden Codex] strapped to her side before barking the final command. "Now, GO!"
Adrian and Damian sprang into action, Damian leading the charge with unwavering resolve. Zayne, Garrick, DJ, Michael, and Justin followed closely behind. Meanwhile, Mira nocked three ice arrows onto her bow, infusing them with hexed magic before letting them loose. The arrows whistled through the air, striking the behemoth's thick hide. Though they barely pierced an inch into its flesh, the hex took effect—albeit weakly.
The behemoth roared in response, the sheer force of its bellow forming a shockwave that barreled toward the group.
At the forefront, Damian didn't falter. Nestled around his neck, Nyxi—his battle-focused companion—coiled tightly like a scarf, while his blade [Lunar Fang] gleamed in his right hand. A mere meter away from the incoming shockwave, Nyxi activated [Phantom Stride], blinking herself and Damian three meters ahead, cleanly bypassing the blast.
Behind him, Garrick bellowed, "Come to me!" The group heeded his call, clustering around him as he slammed his massive shield into the ground. A semi-transparent dome expanded outward, shielding them within a five-meter radius. The shockwave crashed against it, dissipating harmlessly.
Elise and Mira, left at the back, acted swiftly. Elise summoned a towering wall of ice, thick and sturdy. The shockwave slammed into it, shattering it instantly but sparing them from the brunt of the attack.
Now mere meters away from the behemoth, Damian tightened his grip on Lunar Fang. Silver light shimmered along the blade as he swung, sending an arcing slash toward the monster's leg. His plan was simple—knock it off its feet and unleash Entropy Surge. But his plans rarely worked in his favor. The dark silver arc struck true, carving a deep gash that spilled golden blood, yet the behemoth merely staggered back.
Damian Derulo 'This is going to be tough...' An understatement of the century.
Adrian's footsteps thundered behind him. Without hesitation, he leaped high, both hands gripping his Titan Maul. As his hands morphed into solid steel, he activated [Breaker's Might] and brought the hammer down onto the behemoth's torso with a mighty roar. The impact sent the creature staggering further.
Zayne and Garrick seized the moment. Garrick, wielding the Sentinel Gauntlet, unleashed [Mana Sword Blast], a devastating slash of condensed energy. The attack struck harder than expected, enhanced by the gauntlets' power—knocking the behemoth completely off its feet. The entire chamber shook as the colossal beast crashed onto the ground.
Wasting no time, Zayne led the next assault, sprinting along the behemoth's fallen form, slashing relentlessly with his sword, Crimson Reaver. Each strike left a glowing crimson trail in its wake. On the opposite side, Justin, now armed with the Sentinel Shroud and the Cursed Dagger, unleashed his Facets.
[ Dagger Rush ]
[ Vital Hit ]
His movements blurred as he rained down rapid strikes, alternating between Dagger Rush and Vital Hit. Though most of his cuts were shallow, Vital Hit left deeper gashes, widening the wounds. The behemoth's body shuddered under the onslaught.
Then, Zayne's [Crimson Echo] activated.
*BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!*
A series of fiery explosions erupted across the behemoth's body, each blast sending a fresh wave of golden ichor spraying across the chamber floor.
The behemoth roared in agony, releasing another shockwave. This one was even stronger, sending all seven invaders sprawling.
Gritting his teeth, Damian pushed himself up just in time to see the behemoth rise once more. Its wounds knitted together at an alarming rate—save for the ones inflicted by Justin. The beast's fury was palpable as it lifted its massive warhammer high over its head, ready to crush them.
Elise's voice rang out far behind them in alarm. "LOOK OUT!"
She and Mira had been the only ones with time to shield themselves from the recent roar, Elise having erected another ice wall for protection. Now, as the hammer descended, there was little time for the others to react.
Garrick slammed his shield into the ground once more, forming another protective dome. Those within its radius were safe—but Michael, Diego, and Damian were not.
Damian turned to Nyxi, expecting her aid, only to find her lying unconscious a few feet away, thrown from his neck by the earlier shockwave.
As the hammer fell, time seemed to slow.
And in that moment, Damian realized—he was on his own.
At the same time the Gilded Behemoth's hammer made contact with the ground, the entire chamber trembled. The floor caved in and cracked in a vast spider web pattern, but the destruction didn't stop there. A shockwave, far stronger than an atomic bomb, erupted outward, carrying with it a scorching heat wave that seared everything in its path.
Damian's eyes widened as he saw the incoming devastation. Without a second thought, he lunged in front of Nyxi, shielding her from the blast. The moment the shockwave struck him, knocking him away, agony flooded his body. He felt his bones crack under the force, his shirt disintegrating as his back was scorched by unbearable heat.
"ARRRRRRGGHHHHH!!!!" Damian's scream was barely audible, drowned by the roaring shockwave. His body was hurled through the air like a ragdoll, slamming into the ground with bone-crushing force. His back, once whole, now bore third-degree burns, the raw flesh exposed to the searing air.
Michael and Diego fared no better. The shockwave knocked them unconscious before they even registered the attack. Elise, acting quickly, erected barrier after barrier of ice, each layer melting instantly but managing to mitigate the full force of the blast for herself and Mira. Meanwhile, Garrick's shield dome barely held on, quivering under the intense pressure, but ultimately withstanding the brunt of the explosion.
As the heat wave subsided, the entire chamber shimmered with residual heat. The once-sturdy stone walls now glowed a dull red, warped by the extreme temperature. Zayne turned to Elise, panic flashing in his eyes.
Zayne Callister "Elise!!" Zayne called out, ready to sprint toward her as he saw the last of her ice walls melting away.
"We're good," Elise responded, stepping forward alongside Mira, her face set in grim determination.
Before anyone could regroup, the Behemoth took a step forward. The ground quaked beneath its sheer mass. It held its massive hammer horizontally, gripping it firmly in both hands. A golden light began to emanate from the weapon, its form shifting, elongating. The hammerhead vanished, leaving behind a thick bo-staff that pulsed with an ominous energy.
Damian, still struggling to his feet, ignored the pain searing through his body. With gritted teeth, he hoisted the unconscious Nyxi around his neck, beneath his hood. His entire back screamed in agony, his spine throbbing from the fractures.
Damian Derulo 'Damn it... What the hell is it up-to now?' he thought, his vision blurring slightly from blood loss.
The staff, now free from the Behemoth's grasp, floated into the air. It rotated slowly at first, but an eerie sense of foreboding crept up Damian's spine. A sickening feeling churned in his gut.
'I have a very bad feeling about this.'
Mira's eyes flickered with power as she activated her Witch's Insight. The moment the ability registered what was happening, her face drained of color. Horror dawned in her eyes.
"DON'T LET IT CONTINUE!!" Mira screamed, her voice laced with panic. She drew her bow, firing three hexed arrows aimed straight at the staff.
But it was too late.
The staff erupted into motion, spinning at an impossible speed. The arrows never stood a chance; they were shredded mid-air by the rotating weapon. Elise reacted next, forming a massive ice spear and launching it at the Behemoth. Adrian followed suit, leaping high and slamming his Titan Maul into the ground, activating Earth Shatter in hopes of destabilizing the beast.
Damian, gritting his teeth through the pain, swung the shimmering Lunar Fang. The silver arc it produced cut through the air, aiming straight for the staff.
None of it mattered.
The staff accelerated. Faster. Faster. And then, golden shards burst from its rotation in all directions. They sliced through the chamber like divine judgment, leaving devastation in their wake.
An arc of golden energy hurtled toward Damian. He barely managed to twist his body, but the shard slashed through his side, carving deep into his ribs. Garrick attempted to summon another protective dome, but the shards tore through it like paper. One of the golden fragments shot toward him. He raised his shield desperately, but the moment it made contact, the shield shattered. Another shard followed—unstoppable. Adrian saw it too late.
"Garrick!" Adrian bellowed as he lunged, activating Steel Morph in a desperate bid to shield his comrade.
But the shard didn't stop. It cut through Adrian's reinforced body like it was nothing. His form stilled in midair.
Then his upper body separated from his lower half.
Blood sprayed in all directions as Adrian's severed torso hit the ground with a sickening thud.
Five more shards whizzed toward Michael and Diego—both unconscious, unaware of their impending doom. Their bodies were diced apart, their lives snuffed out before they even had a chance to fight back.
The attack lasted only five seconds.
In five seconds, three of their comrades were dead.
The golden staff ceased its rampage and returned to the Behemoth's hand, morphing back into its original hammer form. Silence reigned, the weight of loss sinking into the group like a leaden blanket.
Then, a scream of utter anguish tore through the air.
"ADRIANNNNNN!!!!" Mira's voice cracked, her throat raw from the sheer force of her despair. Tears streamed down her face as she sprinted toward Adrian's upper body, dropping to her knees.
"Nononononono... Addy, get up, get up please, no, you can't do this to me!" she sobbed, her hands trembling as she cradled what was left of him. "Wake up! Please! Addy, you said—you said you'd protect me! You can't leave me! Please, please wake up!"
Zayne stood frozen, his mind struggling to process the sight before him. His best friend—his brother in all but blood—lay motionless, his lifeless eyes staring blankly into the void.
"A-Adrian...?" he whispered, taking a weak step forward. His legs buckled beneath him, and he collapsed onto the ground, his entire body shaking with shock and grief.
Justin, barely able to move, pointed a trembling finger toward the remains of Michael and Diego. "T-They... they're gone too..." His voice was hollow, as if he had lost the will to speak.
Garrick clenched his teeth, his entire body trembling with fury and grief. More lives, stolen by this damn dungeon. He turned his gaze back to the Behemoth, hatred blazing in his eyes.
A distance away, Damian watched everything unfold, his expression unreadable behind his mask. He didn't cry. He didn't tremble. He simply stood there, blood dripping from his numerous wounds, his injuries burning like molten fire. The pain was relentless, as if someone kept rubbing salt into his wounds—his Undying Resonance being the source of his pain.
He exhaled, slow and steady.
The fight wasn't over.
*Thud*
The boss took a step forward, then another. The ground trembled beneath its weight as it closed the distance.
Garrick Johnson tightened his grip on his greatsword, his shield now shattered and discarded. "Lad, get up! This is not over!" he barked, his voice rough with urgency.
Zayne sat frozen on the cold dungeon floor, his breathing ragged, his mind numb with grief. He wished—prayed—that this nightmare would end. His fingers trembled against the hilt of his Crimson Reaver, but his body refused to move.
"Zayne! Get up, dammit!" Garrick shouted again, but his voice was drowned out by the pounding of Zayne's own heart. He barely registered the sound of approaching footsteps before—
*SMACK!*
A sharp sting exploded across his cheek. His head snapped to the side, and his dazed eyes locked onto Elise, her face streaked with tears.
"Eli… Adrian, he—" Zayne's voice cracked, his body shaking.
"I know!" Elise choked out, her breath hitching. "I know, Zayne! But if you sit here and let yourself break, then what was the point of all this?! What was the point of Adrian fighting?! He believed in us, in you! Are you going to sit there and let his sacrifice be for nothing?!" Her voice was desperate, raw, each word a desperate plea to pull him from the abyss.
Zayne sucked in a sharp breath. Adrian was gone, but the battle wasn't over. His hands clenched into fists. No more hesitating. No more doubting.
His grip on the Crimson Reaver tightened, and with a surge of determination, he pushed off the ground and charged forward, Garrick and Justin right behind him.
Elise exhaled sharply, her own legs wobbling before she turned her gaze to Mira. The girl was curled on the dungeon floor, trembling, her entire body wracked with sobs. Elise moved beside her, kneeling, gently placing a hand on her shoulder.
Mira's tear-streaked face turned toward her, eyes hollow. "Elise... Addy's gone. My Addy's gone..." Her voice broke, choking on the pain. "He said… he said we'd get married after we graduate from college—hick—" A fresh wave of sobs took hold of her, and her body shook violently.
Elise wrapped her arms around Mira, holding her tightly. "I know," she whispered, voice thick with grief. "I know it hurts, Mira. But you have to live. You have to keep going. For Adrian. He wouldn't want you to give up. He fought to make sure you lived, so don't waste that. Honor him by surviving. By fighting."
Mira clutched Elise like a lifeline, her sobs muffled against her shoulder. "I—I don't know if I can..."
"You can," Elise whispered. "And I'll be here every step of the way. We all will."
---
On the battlefield, Zayne moved like a phantom, darting around the Gilded Behemoth's massive limbs. Each of his strikes left glowing red slashes along its legs, the marks pulsating with deadly energy. Justin, relentless as ever, activated [Dagger Rush] and [Vital Hit] in rapid succession, his daggers sinking deep into the monster's flesh. Garrick, with every ounce of strength left in him, leaped high and brought his greatsword crashing down, sending a wave of mana-infused force slamming into the behemoth's torso. Explosions erupted along the wounds Zayne had inflicted, sending golden blood spraying across the battlefield.
The behemoth roared, the sound deafening as it dropped to its knees. But even weakened, it was still dangerous.
A sudden shockwave blasted outward from its body, sending everyone flying. But Zayne, fueled by grief and rage, yelled and slashed through the force and launched himself at the behemoth, his sword poised for the kill. With a battle cry, he plunged the Crimson Reaver into its chest.
The blade sank in—but only five inches. The behemoth's massive arm swung around, striking Zayne and sending him crashing into the ground.
Garrick's eyes blazed with fury. He sprinted toward the fallen behemoth, hefting Adrian's Titan Maul. "Breakers' Might!" he roared, activating the Facet. His enchanted gauntlets pulsed with power, amplifying his strength fivefold. He leaped, bringing the hammer down with all his might onto the hilt of the embedded sword.
*BOOM!*
The force drove the Crimson Reaver straight through the behemoth's chest, pinning it to the dungeon floor. A moment of silence, then—a massive explosion erupted from within the behemoth's body, sending a shockwave across the chamber. Golden blood splattered everywhere as the beast's body collapsed with a deafening thud.
For a brief, fleeting moment, there was silence.
Zayne coughed, wiping blood from his mouth as he slowly rose to his feet. His vision was hazy, but through the smoke, he saw the motionless corpse of the Gilded Behemoth. "Is that it?" he muttered. "Has it finally—"
A bright golden glow erupted from the fallen beast. Zayne's breath hitched as the light faded, revealing the behemoth, standing tall once more. The gaping hole in its chest remained, but its eyes—once a golden hue—now burned a menacing crimson.
"No..." Damian muttered, eyes widening. "That's not all."
Before anyone could react, the behemoth moved—faster than before. It surged toward Garrick, hammer raised high.
*BAM!!*
Blood and gore splattered across the battlefield.
Garrick was gone—reduced to unrecognizable chunks of flesh and bone. The impact sent shockwaves through the dungeon, knocking Justin back.
"BOSS!!" Justin screamed, his voice laced with horror. A mistake.
The behemoth's red eyes snapped to him.
With a monstrous leap, it reached him in seconds. The hammer came down before Justin could react.
*CRACK!*
Justin's body was crushed, his lifeless form smeared across the dungeon floor.
Elise moved instantly. "[Frozen Veil] [Ice Spears]!" she commanded. A thick armor of ice encased her body as ten massive spears of ice shot forward. The behemoth swung its hammer, shattering seven of them, but three struck, embedding themselves deep into its flesh.
Zayne took the opening, sprinting toward his sword. He yanked the Crimson Reaver free, the blade glowing a furious red. With a battle cry, he lunged at the behemoth's back, plunging the weapon deep into its spine before leaping away.
Damian, despite the searing pain in his body, grit his teeth and ran. "That idiot…" he muttered, pushing forward.
The beast howled, turning sharply at Zayne, but an ice arrow struck it, halting its movement.
Mira had joined the fight, loosing arrow after arrow, each hexed with potent slowing effects. Her fingers burned from overuse, her breath coming in ragged gasps, tears streaking her face and as she bit back searing pain of her loss. Meanwhile, Elise conjured more ice spears, but her reserves were nearly depleted, her control faltering. The battlefield was a storm of magic and steel, and they were barely holding on.
Zayne, eyes locked on the Titan Mallet, sprinted past Damian. The sight of his body was grim—Damian's body was battered, his wounds deep, yet he still moved, sheer willpower keeping him upright.
Damian's focus shifted to the Behemoth, still fending off the relentless barrage from Elise and Mira. He swung his sword, unleashing a silver arc of light that carved into the monster's back—a grave mistake.
The Behemoth roared, its rage now fully directed at him. However, the brief distraction left it vulnerable. An ice spear struck deep into its shoulder, eliciting another guttural snarl. Mira and Damian's eyes met for the briefest second—both alight with unwavering determination.
Mira Valen "[Chaos Flames!]"
A surge of hellish black fire erupted from her outstretched hand, crackling with volatile energy as it raced toward the Behemoth.
Damian Derulo "[Entropy Surge.]"
He braced himself for the inevitable backlash as raw destructive energy coiled around his palm before launching forward.
The two attacks hurtled toward the beast—only for a golden barrier to manifest, shielding it from harm.
Both spells collided against the barrier, igniting a brilliant explosion of light and darkness. Mira staggered, her energy spent. Shock painted her features.
Elise Laurent 'It has a shield?!'
The barrier shimmered before fading, leaving the Behemoth unharmed. Damian stood behind it, his head throbbing violently. The Facet's backlash clawed at his mind, but he remained conscious—barely. Only because his attack had struck the shield rather than the monster itself, so it's effects was diminished.
With great effort, Damian lifted his head. His vision blurred, yet he could see it—the Behemoth's hammer arcing toward him with terrifying speed. He didn't react. He simply watched, mind eerily clear.
His expression dulled, eyes darkened. There was no fear, no defiance. Just tired resignation, the same emptiness he felt days ago when he sat in his dimly lit room, staring at his bed without purpose.
Then, in an instant, he was gone.
A blur of motion—suddenly ten meters away. The hammer crashed into the ground where he once stood, sending a shockwave rippling across the battlefield.
Damian blinked in confusion, his gaze shifting to his shoulder. Nyxi was awake, her dark silver eyes locked on the Behemoth.
Damian Derulo '...Of course… Sigh.'
His sigh was not one of relief, but mild disappointment. 'That was a perfect chance…'
Yet, the battle demanded his attention. He turned and bolted, baiting the Behemoth. It took the challenge, thundering after him, its massive frame surprisingly agile. It was faster, but Nyxi's teleportation kept Damian perpetually out of reach.
The others caught on. Zayne, now wielding the Titan's Mallet, surged forward, Elise and Mira following close behind. As soon as he closed in, Zayne leaped, activating [Breaker's Might]. The moment his hammer struck the embedded sword in the Behemoth's back, a thunderous shockwave erupted.
The Behemoth lurched forward—right toward Damian.
Nyxi teleported him away just in time.
The Behemoth crashed, spine glowing an ominous red.
*Boom!*
Another explosion detonated, carving a fresh, gaping wound in its back. It lay there silently for a few seconds, then suddenly it's body started trembling, glowing red-hot.
Mira Valen "I'm not having that."
Her voice dripped with venom. She yanked her codex from her belt, flipping it open. Only one spell remained viable.
"[Umbral Shackles!]"
The Codex shimmered with an ominous red light and immediately, Dark chains burst forth from the shadows, latching onto the Behemoth, constricting its movements. It thrashed violently, but Mira refused to yield. Her entire frame trembled, but she clenched her teeth and held firm.
"Damian!" she roared.
Damian stepped forward, then another, he was tired, exhausted.
The chains were breaking. One snapped. Then another.
'They won't hold… Haha… this might kill me.'
He exhaled, eyes sharpening.
"[Oblivion Chains.]"
From his hands, chains of dark gray surged forth, slamming into the Behemoth with malicious intent. They coiled around its limbs, chest, and throat. The moment they latched on, its struggles ceased.
Slowly, Damian approached. The Behemoth's body slowly withered, its roars now choked whispers.
He pressed his palm against it.
"[Entropy Surge.]"
A second later, blood gushed from his mouth, staining his lips, then his nose, eyes and ears. He only watches as the Behemoth's form crumbled to nothingness.
Behind him, Mira collapsed to her knees, drenched in sweat. Then Damian surrendered to the darkness, with a only a thought.
Damian Derulo ' Maybe.... This time... '
.
.
.
.
.
.
To Be Continued.....
A/n: Character and Relic images have been uploaded to discord.....
https://discord.gg/u2yVtVkudz