The latest group of monsters defeated, the party continued to make their way over the barren landscape of Braxia towards a particularly large rock formation that Ursula led them to.

When they arrived at it, they discovered a gaping dark hole set into the bottom of it, which clearly led down into some sort of cave or tunnel.

The only problem was that there was a massive monster guarding it.

At first Horatio thought it was just a big round boulder that had fallen or that someone had placed at the tunnel entrance–big but not so big as to eclipse the whole of it. Then, as they got closer to it, the boulder stood up.

This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

Limbs thick as tree trunks unfolded from its body, which had been curled up, glowing magma-hot. It raised its head and two furious yellow eyes lit in it, fixed on the party. Horatio watched in horror as two yellow horns grew out of its head, followed by two viciously pointed yellow tusks from its face.

‘You didn’t mention this!’ Horatio said, suddenly doubting Ursula again.

‘I didn’t say this would be easy, either!’ responded Ursula. ‘It’s a Tusker–a Braxian rock monster! Make sure you don’t get gored on one of those tusks! Get ready, everyone!’

The Tusker dragged a foot along the ground, throwing up dirt and dust, and then charged them.

Boss: Tusker