The moment the Dungeon Behemoth charged, the entire tunnel exploded into chaos.
THOOOOOM!
Its massive foot struck the ground like a falling boulder.
Stone shattered beneath its weight.
The monster moved with terrifying speed for something of its size.
Avdhoot reacted instantly.
"Spread out!"
The four students jumped apart as the Behemoth's claw slammed down where they had stood.
BOOOOM!
The impact blasted shards of stone across the tunnel.
Priya whistled.
"Okay… that thing hits harder than Professor Rane."
Raivan didn't smile.
"Focus."
The Behemoth roared again and swung its massive arm across the tunnel.
WHOOOOOSH!
Priya ducked beneath the strike and rushed forward.
Flames erupted around her gauntlets.
"Let's test that armour!"
BOOM!
Her fist slammed into the monster's leg.
The sound echoed like iron striking stone.
But the Behemoth barely moved.
Priya blinked.
"…That's illegal."
The monster turned its head slowly.
Then it kicked.
Priya barely blocked with her gauntlets as the impact launched her backwards across the tunnel floor.
She crashed into the wall.
"Ugh… yep. Definitely stronger than the professor."
Raivan moved next.
Cold mist spread across the tunnel as frost mana gathered around his blade.
"Freeze."
His blade cut through the air.
A crescent of ice energy shot forward and struck the Behemoth's chest.
CRACK!
Frost spread across its armour.
But only for a moment.
The monster flexed.
The ice shattered instantly.
Raivan frowned.
"The armour absorbs mana."
Manaswini stepped forward quickly.
"Then stop attacking the armour."
Her staff glowed.
"Gravity Snare!"
The stone floor beneath the Behemoth warped suddenly.
Mana pressure increased around its legs.
For a moment, the monster slowed.
Avdhoot seized the opportunity.
He sprinted forward.
Low stance.
Silent steps.
The Behemoth's focus remained on Raivan and Priya.
Avdhoot slid beneath its arm and climbed along the creature's massive leg.
His dagger flashed.
CLANG!
The blade struck the stone armor.
No damage.
Avdhoot clicked his tongue.
Too thick.
But he noticed something.
Between the armour plates—
Small flexible joints.
The Behemoth roared and swung its arm toward Raivan.
Avdhoot leapt.
His dagger struck downward into the joint behind its shoulder.
STAB!
The blade pierced flesh.
Dark blood splashed across the stone floor.
The monster roared in pain.
Its entire body shook violently.
Avdhoot jumped away just as its claws slammed into the ground.
BOOOM!
The shockwave knocked everyone off balance.
The Behemoth turned its glowing yellow eyes toward Avdhoot.
Now it was angry.
Very angry.
The creature inhaled deeply.
Manaswini's eyes widened.
"Move!"
A blast of compressed air exploded from the Behemoth's mouth.
A shockwave tore through the tunnel.
ROOOOOOAR!
The force slammed into the students like a hurricane.
Raivan slid across the ground.
Priya smashed into a rock wall.
Avdhoot rolled across the floor, barely avoiding a falling stone pillar.
Dust filled the air.
For a moment no one moved.
Then Priya stood up slowly.
Blood trickled from her lip.
She laughed.
"Now we're talking."
Flames surged around her gauntlets again.
Raivan stood beside her.
His frost blade glowed brighter.
"We hit the joints."
Manaswini nodded.
"I'll slow it down."
Avdhoot wiped dust from his face.
"…Then we finish it."
Manaswini slammed her staff against the ground.
"Stone Bind!"
Stone chains erupted from the floor and wrapped around the Behemoth's legs.
The monster roared and struggled.
Priya charged first.
Her fists burned with blazing fire.
BOOM!
Her punch shattered one of the armor plates on its knee.
Raivan followed immediately.
His frost blade struck the exposed joint.
CRACK!
Ice spread deep into the wound.
The Behemoth roared again.
Avdhoot dashed forward.
His movements were faster now.
Sharper.
He jumped onto the monster's arm.
Ran across it.
Then leapt toward its shoulder.
His dagger plunged downward.
STAB!
Another joint pierced.
The monster screamed.
But it was not finished.
With terrifying strength, it tore free from the stone chains.
Its massive arm grabbed Avdhoot mid-air.
CRUNCH!
Avdhoot gasped as the creature lifted him off the ground.
Priya shouted.
"AVDHOOT!"
The Behemoth tightened its grip.
Bones creaked under the pressure.
Avdhoot's vision blurred.
Move…
Move…
His body reacted on instinct.
He twisted his wrist.
The dagger flashed again.
SLASH!
He cut deep into the creature's palm.
The Behemoth roared and released him instantly.
Avdhoot dropped hard to the ground.
Pain shot through his chest.
But he forced himself up.
Not yet…
Raivan shouted.
"It's chest!"
During the struggle, one of the armour plates had cracked.
A narrow opening revealed the creature's core muscles.
Manaswini gathered her remaining mana.
"Gravity Pulse!"
The wave slammed into the Behemoth's torso.
It staggered.
Priya jumped high into the air.
Her gauntlets burned brighter than ever.
"THIS ONE'S FOR REAL!"
BOOOOOOM!
Her flaming punch shattered the remaining armour on its chest.
Raivan moved instantly.
His frost blade pierced the exposed flesh.
CRACK!
Ice spread through the wound.
The monster roared violently.
But Avdhoot moved last.
And fastest.
He sprinted forward.
Leaped.
And drove his dagger straight into the creature's heart.
STAB!
The Behemoth froze.
For one long moment, the entire tunnel fell silent.
Then—
The monster collapsed.
THUD.
The ground shook as its massive body hit the floor.
The dungeon fell quiet.
Heavy breathing filled the tunnel.
Priya dropped to the ground.
"…Okay."
"That thing was ridiculous."
Raivan leaned against the wall, exhausted.
Manaswini sat down heavily.
Avdhoot remained standing.
Barely.
His chest still ached from the crushing grip.
But he stared at the fallen monster.
Slowly.
Something strange happened.
The ground beneath the Behemoth began to glow.
Ancient markings appeared across the stone floor.
Manaswini's eyes widened.
"…That's not natural."
The symbols formed a circular pattern.
Like an ancient seal.
The dungeon wasn't natural at all.
It had been built.
Avdhoot looked deeper into the darkness beyond the chamber.
A massive stone gate slowly emerged from the shadows.
Covered in ancient inscriptions.
Priya stood slowly.
"…You're kidding me."
Raivan's voice was quiet.
"This dungeon…"
"…has another level."
The gate trembled.
Something moved behind it.
Something far older than the Behemoth.
Avdhoot stared at the ancient door.
His instincts screamed.
Whatever was behind that gate—
It was far worse than anything they had fought tonight.
[End of Chapter 30]