Accepting the system prompt, the sound of gears grinding filled the air. The noise echoed across the bridge as the party exchanged glances and took a step backwards in caution.
An instant later, their attention was immediately drawn towards the gate. Chains, made from the same obsidian as the golems emerged from within the castle walls. They coiled around the gates, linking through its frame before the tension was held taut. And with a low groan, the chains strained against the weight of the gate and pulled it off the ground. Locking it above their heads with a final clank.
“Fancy...” Merial muttered.
Stepping inside, the party found themselves inside a large hall. The first thing they felt was the air. Like the outside, it was both hot and dry. But it seemed to be stale. Almost as if the castle had been undisturbed for many years.
“Doesn’t look too much like a castle to me,” Cole said, looking around.
The hall was illuminated by streams of lava flowing down the side of fractured walls. But the boy was right. There wasn’t anything much other than the several stone chairs scattered across the floor — which was also stone...
“We’ll see soon enough,” Jamie said, “Let’s just keep going for now.”
With their attention placed on finding any hidden traps, they crossed the hall and arrived at a closed stone door at the other end.
“Cole, will you do the honors?”
“Sure thing,” The boy grinned.
Pulling out his hammer, the door was soon smashed into pieces and a long stone corridor stretched out in front of the party’s view.
The path was much smaller than the space they were currently in and like the hall, there were cracks riddled across the walls. But this time, they illuminated the corridor with a faint amber colored light.
Assuming it was safe because nothing immediately jumped out at them, they headed inside.
The party eventlessly walked through the stretch for several minutes until they reached a fork. With one path leading to the right; the other leading to the left.
“What should we do?” Merial frowned.
“Maybe we can split up,” Cole suggested as the hammer poofed back into his inventory.
“No, we shouldn’t do that,” Jamie refuted the boy, “We don’t know the layout and who knows if we might find any more of those golems.”
“Sorry...” The boy muttered.
Jamie released a chuckle as he ruffled the boy’s hair, “It’s alright. Let’s just be careful.”
“Mn!” Cole nodded as his eyes visibly brightened.
Meanwhile, Rin was in deep thought.
Both options would most likely be safe. But something like this was uncommon in trapped dungeons. Usually, they would be more streamlined — with the shape being a path leading straight to the boss.
“Use your skill Merial,” Rin said as the elf tilted her head, “...To see the ends of the corridors.”
“Ah right, I didn’t think of that.”
Activating her skill, the elf’s eyes gleamed green and she looked down the left corridor.
“What do you see?”
“Hang on, it’s a little blurry.”
“What?”
“It’s red and it looks like it's coming... towards us?”
“...”
Wordlessly, Rin erected a wall of ice and closed off the entirety of the left corridor. The reason why she blocked it off was because she didn’t want them to fight a two-front battle. And it would be much easier to retreat if they only had one side to deal with.
“Wait... it’s a blue square now!”
Shaking her head, Rin turned to the right as several magic circles appeared above her head. Each rotating slightly while also brimming with a dim white light.
“You might want to turn off the skill now,” Alana tapped the ranger's shoulder.
“Huh... okay.”
De-activating the skill, the elf was immediately met with quite a familiar sight. It was Rin’s ice, but it was shaped in such a way that it jammed the entirety of the left corridor.
“We’re under attack,” the healer smiled awkwardly.
Turning around, Merial noticed that the ground was shaking while the party was positioned facing the other end with their weapons drawn. Quickly realizing the situation, she pulled out her bow and stood alongside the mage.
“Finally joining us?” Rin joked, shooting a glance at the elf.
“Shut up. I’m still getting used to the skill.”
Chuckling slightly, Rin turned back towards the corridor. But what she saw caused her to click her tongue.
[Infernal Guard – lvl 40]
[Infernal Guard – lvl 43]
[Infernal Guard – lvl 39]
[Infernal Guard – lvl...]
Rushing towards them was a horde of humanoid bodies. The number — too large to count as they pressed against one another, even trampling on their own to reach the party.
“People!” Cole exclaimed.
As they came into view, Rin could see the tattered remains of a dark red uniform covering parts of their bodies. They looked and moved as if they were human, even carrying weapons of the kind. However, Rin knew that it wasn’t the case.
“Parasites...” she muttered in disgust.
Looking closer, the sockets where their eyes should’ve been were empty. While necrotic flaps of flesh loosely swung around from the movement. But the most prominent detail about the creatures were the fiery veins streaking across their flesh.
“Just like the golems,” Merial said with a frown.
“And what happened to them,” The white-haired girl smiled and started to gather her strength.
Fwoosh!
Mana surged from within her as a lance shot out from one of the magic circles. The ice spiraled through the corridor, smashing through a torso before splattering pitch-black blood into the air.
However, that attack was only the beginning.
Following the first attack, another lance was sent flying. Then another followed, directly chasing its former. Soon, all that the party could hear was the high-pitched whine of hundreds of pieces of ice, cascading towards the horde. The increase in levels were treating her good.
‘Is this even fair...?’ Jamie thought, the arm carrying his weapon hanging loosely at his side.
Rin’s storm collapsed the horde’s frontline. Effortlessly slicing through flesh as if the corridor was a blender. The only thing the party could do was watch the destruction.
Quickly, the creatures began to fall as they mindlessly pushed forward unto their death. Mutilated flesh lay scattered across the corridor as black blood seeped out of the bodies. The fight was seemingly won. However, Rin knew it wasn’t since she didn’t receive a notification for any kills and kept her guard up.
Soon, she sensed a shift of movement and saw a flash of red.
[Emberleech – lvl 45]
HP: 5000/5000
“There it is,” she said, using her identification skill.
It was the parasite, the mastermind behind the corpses of the fallen guards.
Rin sent out a quick shard, the leech letting out a terrifying screech as the ice embedded into its body.
“Yuck...” Merial said, looking at the corpse.
The sight of the parasite sent a shiver down their spines. It had no eyes, and its body was almost the size of a watermelon. But the thin tendrils were the deciding factor. They were splayed out and still moving, reaching out towards the party.
Combined with the current circumstances. It was just... wrong.
“It’s dead right...?” Alana said, gripping her staff.
“I’m not sure, don’t go near it for now,” Jamie replied.
Just as the man finished his words a ripple ran through the pool of blood. Hundreds of the same parasites appeared from the mountain of corpses. Their eye-less gaze staring straight at the party as numerous screeches echoed through the corridor.
A moment later, they all charged.
Immediately, Rin raised an arm as the magic circles once again began to spin. Her mana flowed into the proxy, brightening their hue by the second. And when they were fully charged, death had arrived for the enemy.
The ice sheared through the first wave of leeches, killing them instantly. While the second wave suffered the same fate.
Notifications rapidly shot through her mind and reminded her of every single kill. But there was no end to the number of leeches.
Crack!
Suddenly, a massive fracture spread across the ice blocking off the other corridor. The corpses on the other side had finally reached them.
“Fall back,” Jamie said calmly. “We’ll kill them all in the choke.”
Nodding, the party quickly retreated further back into the path leading towards the main hall. Setting down a few barriers, Rin along with the rest of the party prepared to receive the attack.
A few seconds later, the monsters cleared the corner.
Corpses along with the parasites rushed towards them, their bodies a horrible sight to witness.
“Ready?” Merial said.
The elf held her bow up high, a bright light filling the corridor. The arrow attached to the drawstring pulsed with power as the quiet humming Rin was familiar with ensued.
“Yup,” Rin said, her magic already above their heads.
Boom!
The ranger released her hold on the string and the arrow spiraled through the air. It tore through everything in a linear path before smashing into the wall at the other end of the corridor. While the monsters that the elf had missed, Rin’s ice made quick work of them.
The rest of the party could only scratch their heads as they stood on standby and enjoyed the two’s show.
“Alright, let’s move on,” Merial said cheerfully.
“...”
Moving forward, they waded through the corpses until they once again reached the fork in the path.
“Looks like we’re here again. Right or left?” Jamie asked.
“Left, I'm not walking through that again,” Merial said with a frown.
The party’s gaze shifted to the right.
“Good answer,” Alana shuddered.
They went to the left, passing Rin’s barricade as they headed deeper into the corridor. The party encountered several more groups of parasites, but the monsters were easily dispatched.
Soon, the entrance of a massive room appeared in their vision. From what they could see, it was likely the throne room.
Approaching the entrance, Rin immediately felt a massive presence. The air along with the mana’s density increased as her steps slowed to a halt.
‘Strong...’
“You guys feel that too?” Jamie asked.
“Feel what?” Cole said.
“That,” Alana whispered.
Peering into the room, a chilling sight lay before them. A throne stood tall in the center. Faded banners draped down from the ceiling, thirty meters above. Hanging barely by a couple of threads.
Sitting atop the throne, a humanoid skeleton still wore a silver crown.
But the party members weren’t paying attention to that. Instead, they had their eyes on something else...
‘The boss.’
Rin looked at the being that was emitting the pressure. It was a massive, scaled wing-less creature. Two legs rested beneath its massive skull while its rear, rather than having a pair of hind legs, ended with a long and muscular tail.
[Infernal Wyrm – lvl 40]
HP: 650,000
The wyrm had its body coiled around the throne. It rested on a pool of lava that splashed around the base of its body, and for its jaws, white dagger like teeth protruded from its mouth. Threatening a painful death.
“Is it awake?” Merial asked nervously.
The wyrm must’ve noticed the party as it now had an enormous eye open, staring at the party intensely.
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“Maybe—”
Confirming the elf’s suspicions, the wyrm released a roar that shook the very foundations of the castle.
****
“Scatter!” Jamie shouted.
A red glow appeared within the wyrm’s jaw, spreading outwards as a fiery breath attack blasted towards the party
Immediately, they darted out of the way. Hiding behind the edges of the entrance as a scorching plume of fire rushed into the corridor. The attack charred the ground black while the walls glowed red with heat.
Seeing the flame fade away, the party members glanced at one another. Other than a couple of singes, they were unscathed.
“Get inside, we need to get more space!” Jamie shouted.
The man was right, they wouldn’t be able to stay in the corridor for much longer. They needed to go now, lest they wanted to be boiled alive.
Rushing into the throne room, the party separated into the formation just as the wyrm released a low guttural growl.
The creature’s throat began to pulsate, the gills along the side of its neck flaring up and shining a brilliant orange. Rin could even feel the pressure of the mana coalescing within the wyrm’s jaws.
‘What are you planning...’ she thought, readying her spells in turn.
Meanwhile, the boy and the man were already across the throne room. Their silhouettes minuscule against the massive wyrm’s body as their weapons smashed against the creature’s armored scales. Alana had already cast her buffs on the party while dozens of arrows soared through the air.
Rin looked at the wyrm, its body constantly bombarded with attacks. Yet it didn’t react. Its form lay unmoving as the mana continued to gather within its maw.
Suddenly, the wyrm opened its jaw wide. An orb of fire forming between its teeth as particles of a beam began to appear.
“I see,” Rin whispered. “Really think that’s going to work?”
She threw a dagger beneath the wyrm’s head and fueled her mana into her ice. The orb within the wyrm’s maw continued to grow, eclipsing the room with a hellish light as it aimed towards the party.
Bang!
A pillar shot up from the dagger and crashed into the bottom of the wyrm’s jaw, causing the wyrm’s head to jerk upwards just as the beginnings of its attack came to life.
Infernal fire blasted into the ceiling. Stone melted as the beam flailed uncontrollably, lighting up the ceiling in scores of scorching flames.
Tremors traveled through the room as several massive pieces of stone crashed down to the floor. Unfortunately, none of the rocks had hit the creature, but this gave the party an opportunity to cause even more damage.
Cole smashed his hammer into the wyrm’s side and slightly knocked the wyrm backwards. While Jamie’s body glowed with red, his movements accelerating with every attack as blasts echoed across the room. His pole too fast for even Rin to follow.
Most importantly, all of this combined gave Merial the chance to charge and release the devastating attack she had used all throughout the dungeon.
Her arrow pierced deep into the creature’s body and drew steaming hot blood. But still, the wyrm had only lost a quarter of its health.
Frowning, Rin realized that this boss was a bad match for the party. Only the ranger could effectively cause any sort of damage due to the blunt weapons the men used. While she herself would probably be able to deal a good amount of damage if she engaged in close quarter combat with the beast. But there was the issue of her being the only support. If the wyrm successfully released its beam attack without her being able to stop it. Pray tell that Alana could heal them.
“Cole, watch out!” Merial called.
The wyrm staggered back from the attacks and whipped its body around. Its tail lashing out towards the boy just before it was barely stopped by a piece of ice. But the wyrm didn’t stop there. It spun around once more and smashed Cole with its leg, sending the boy flying until he impacted the wall a dozen meters behind.
Looking towards the fallen boy, the wyrm let out a snort before turning towards Jamie, opening its jaws wide open as flame was shot towards the man.
Jamie vaulted back and away from the party, storing his pole into his inventory to gain speed as he led the wyrm away. Resummoning his pole, the red shroud covering his body intensified as all Rin could see was a blur.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The impacts of his attacks rang out into the air as his figure danced around the wyrm’s body. The creature thrashed around, struggling to land a hit on the fly-like human until suddenly, its tail clipped the man’s leg.
Jamie stumbled and his body lurched forward. He tried to maintain his balance, but his momentum had already sent him reeling.
Roaring, the wyrm leapt forward, chasing the man in an effort to not let its prey escape. Its massive frame flew across the space, landing hard in front of the man as a shockwave coursed through the ground. Then, it lunged forward, slashing across the disoriented man’s torso, ripping his armor to shreds as he was sent flying.
Blood trailed from his figure as he crashed into the ground and tumbled for several meters. He released a pained series of coughs as he struggled to get to his feet, his blood pooling around him.
“Jamie!” Alana released a cry.
The healer slammed her staff into the ground as a bright light surrounded the man. In no time, his wounds regenerated themselves and he rolled out of the way to avoid being crushed by the wyrm’s leg.
Snarling, the wyrm released a frustrated roar and instead focused its attention on the healer. It started to slither towards her, claws digging into the ground. The thought that ran through the creature's mind was that if it killed the healer, the others would be easy hunting.
“Get behind us Alana,” Merial said as the healer wordlessly nodded.
Alana quickly scurried behind the two as Rin shot a glance towards the boy who had just risen to his feet. His armor had a deep fracture running through the black obsidian, but other than that he was fine.
She signaled to the boy with her eyes and the boy nodded in response, knowing exactly what the girl wanted him to do.
Cole started to run; his hammer held high as a ramp of ice came to life before him. He increased his speed, eyes locking onto the beast as he jumped off the ramp and intercepted the wyrm’s path.
“HAAAAAAAAA!!”
The boy then swung his hammer, flames igniting around the metal as the weapon smashed into the wyrm’s jaw.
CRAAAACK!
The sound tore through the air, prompting a cheer from the elf.
“GOOD SHIT COLE!!” Merial shouted.
Retreating back towards the party, Jamie and Cole once again stood together at the forefront. The party was no longer separated, now was the perfect time to act.
Raising her bow, the ranger activated her skill and the flailing wyrm’s body slowed to a halt. Her eyes glowed green and she released her arrow; piercing directly through the eye protecting film that had frustrated her for so long.
The creature screeched in pain as the arrow sunk deep into its retina. Hot blood splattered from the injury as its remaining eye began to light up with red.
Then, it turned bloodshot.
Blood red mist began to exude out of its body as a wave of pressure blasted outwards. The creature was entering a state where it would give up control of itself to its instincts, all for the sake of survival. Pain would be ignored; all rational thought would be abandoned just so it would be able to kill its prey.
[Infernal Wyrm – lvl 40 (Berserk)]
HP: 327,273/650,000
Rin sucked in a deep breath; the fight was just getting started.
“Alana, would you give me a hand?” Rin said, facing the woman who nodded in turn.
Immediately, the healer whispered an incantation. But this time, the ethereal whispers produced from her lips were more complex and drawn out. Sweat dripped to the ground from the healer’s forehead as her knuckles went white from her grip on the staff.
Meanwhile, the wyrm raised its head into the air and released an ear-shattering roar. It barreled forward, crashing into the boy as he was flung back with a scream. The wyrm’s speed was too fast for him to react.
Gritting his teeth, Jamie glanced back at the boy before bringing his pole above his head.
Bang!
The wyrm’s leg crashed into the man’s weapon, hammering him from above. His feet sank into the ground and scraped against the surface as he was pushed backward. Until finally, the red light surrounding his body waned and his legs buckled under the force.
Luckily, Merial had been charging the entire time and her spear-like arrow smashed into the creature’s side—allowing the man to roll away just as the wyrm’s claws sunk into his earlier position.
But this time, the wyrm shrugged off the projectile, its scales too tough to penetrate. Merial frowned, seeing that the damage was minimal. It was then the wyrm turned towards the elf. Jaws wide open as an orb of flame formed just above its freakish tongue.
“What the fuck!” Merial exclaimed.
She dashed out of the way just as the beam impacted her position, continuing to chase her figure as she bolted across the ground. Simultaneously, her bow sent arrows slicing through the air towards the beast, acting as nothing but a distraction. Seconds later, the creature quickly realized that the elf was too nimble and set upon her with the will to swallow her whole.
Widening her eyes, the elf quickly summoned a circular item into her hands. The object emanated a dangerous red glint as it pulsated with pure destructive power. Most called it the manade.
“Eat this!” She yelled.
Throwing the object into the air, the creature snapped its jaws around the item before a massive explosion erupted inside the wyrm’s mouth.
“HAHAHAHA.”
The elf laughed with glee as she witnessed the sight. Smoke billowed from its nostrils, polluting the air with a disgusting stench as cracks could be seen running through several of the wyrm’s teeth. Droplets of blood fell rhythmically, corroding through and staining the stone. While for its tongue, it hung about uselessly, the muscles all torn into shreds. However, the attack was nowhere near enough to incapacitate the creature and only enraged it further.
“Oh shit...” The elf muttered before taking off once more.
Rin watched on worriedly as the healer finally completed the incantation and stumbled forward, the exertion of the spell causing her body to collapse. Coming to her side, Rin quickly caught the woman then set her on the ground gently.
“They’ll be fine... right?” the healer said weakly.
“Yes,” Rin replied with confidence.
I’ll make sure of it...
[Unholy Convergence Applied | All stats doubled]
Feeling the buff settle inside her body, she noticed it was different from the earlier spells the healer used. It was no normal thing, something that shouldn’t be allowed. But Rin didn’t dwell on it and whispered a quiet thanks to the party who had bought her the time. Now... it was her time to act.
Activating her aura, ice graced the floor with every step as her hair billowed with power. Rin pulled out her blade, charging it with mana as the wyrm finally turned its attention away from the elf and onto its new adversary.
"Don’t get too cocky now,” she said as the edges of her lips curled up into a grin.
Conjuring a dagger into her hand, Rin flicked her wrist, sending the ice straight above the wyrm’s body. Then, she activated frost-blink. Teleporting to the ice and landing on the creature’s back.
Her footing wobbled as the wyrm shifted, reacting to her weight. But she quickly stabilized and slashed along the length of its back just as the wyrm started to writhe around.
Expecting this, Rin dashed along its body with her aim being the back of its neck.
Reaching her target, she stabbed downwards, puncturing through its scales and into flesh. Blood spurted into the air which she quickly blocked with her ice. And instead of dismissing the magic, she reused her ice, molding it into the shape of a massive spear before jamming it directly into the wound.
“Perfect,” she smiled.
Now, she would always be able to teleport above its body as long as she had mana. Although, it wouldn’t be a problem as her mana pool now far eclipsed the cost of her skill.
Vaulting backwards, she tucked into a flip just as the wyrm rolled over on itself. The spear being cut off, but the part of it embedded within would still be there for her to use.
Looking at the creature who still hadn’t noticed that she had already gone; a look of amusement appeared in her visage.
“Hey!” Rin produced a sharp whistle. “I’m over here!”
Instantly drawing the wyrm’s attention, the creature snarled and barreled towards her. It raised a leg, claws glinting with its own blood as it slashed across the horizontal axis.
Reacting to the attack, Rin summoned another sword into her hand and crossed her two blades.
Clang!
The Fang of Boreas, some random blade of ice, and the wyrm’s claws clashed against one another as they interlocked into a vicious battle of strength. But instead of drawing back and retreating, Rin thrusted forward, pushing the creature’s arm back a couple inches.
The wyrm almost had a look of surprise appear in its remaining eye as it was pressed by the mage. But it was no matter, it wouldn’t make the mistake again.
The wyrm shoved down with increased strength, pushing aside the girl with considerable effort before whipping its body around.
Whoosh!
Twisting her body, the wyrm’s tail passed harmlessly beneath her as she landed on her feet. Preparing to re-engage the creature, she suddenly felt a spike of danger coming from above. Flicking her gaze upwards, she saw that the jaws of the wyrm were falling down fast upon her. But this time, she didn’t have a manade to stop the creature in its tracks.
However, the wyrm couldn’t account for the fact that the girl was primarily an agility-based fighter. And with a laugh, she shot forward under its body just as its jaws crashed into the ground
Spreading her ice over the surface, she slid across the ground and stabbed her blades upward. Easily cutting into its defenseless underbelly as a long laceration formed in its flesh. While blood gushed out of the wound, the corrosive liquid pouring down from above and burning her skin black.
A second later, the wyrm allowed dear ol’ gravity to take over and sent its body crashing downwards with the intent to crush her. But it didn’t find purchase as the girl teleported to her ice above the creature, stabbing down and through.
...Nothing happened.
Looking downward, her eyes nearly bulged out of her eyes as she looked down at her hands. The Fang of Boreas was nearly gone, the only thing remaining was the hilt as the rest was melted away by the creature’s corrosive blood. While her other blade... it was just water at this point.
‘What the hell...?’
Tossing the sword—now hunk of garbage away, she replaced her lost weapons with another two swords of ice. Making haste from the lost time, she quickly slashed downwards, her twin blades nothing but a blur as she inflicted as much damage as she could in the limited time frame.
But soon, she was thrown off and before she even hit the ground, her eyes widened. Barely able to react, she used her teleportation skill, whisking her away to safety. But when the magic didn’t immediately activate, she muttered a curse.
Tensing her body, she poured out her magic, forming four layers between herself and the creature’s tail. But it was futile, the ice was effortlessly shattered, and the impact struck her body. The force, coursing through her being as she was slammed into the castle walls.
“Gah!”
Falling to the ground, she coughed out a mouthful of blood as a wave of pain flowed through her mind. She suspected significant damage to her internal organs along with several cracked ribs.
Ignoring the pain, she stabbed her sword into the ground and used it as a crutch to push herself to her feet. All the while her body screamed at her to cease any movement as she quickly did an assessment of her sustained injuries.
“Broken ribs...” she touched her side and looked at the surface of her skin. “And internal bleeding.”
Looking up at the wyrm a newfound appreciation was held for the creature. So far, it was the first to push her to this point in this new life. Even with the healer’s buffs, it still overpowered her. Still, Rin had one last final card up her sleeve.
Instantly, the earrings adorning her visage shattered as a surging strength flowed into her body, threatening to overpower her with rage.
[Boreas’ Anger – lvl 20 (Rare Quality) - Earrings]
Intelligence + 20 when equipped
Wisdom + 20 when equipped
Active Skill: Wolf’s Rage -
For one minute increase all stats by 100%. After the minute passes, reduces all stats by 50% for two hours.
Cost: None
Charges: 0/1
It seemed that Boreas had one last gift for her.
Rin’s body swayed for a second before she launched off the ground, base stats quadrupled and surging with power as she lurched forward like a lone wolf. The ground instantaneously fractured beneath her footsteps as she bolted towards the wyrm with the intent to kill.
Two swords of ice in her hand, she leaped into the air. Sinking her twin blades into the side of its neck. She hung for a second, then kicked forward, swinging herself upwards onto its back with the momentum. The wyrm uselessly snapped its jaws towards her, but the girl only scoffed and encased both her hands in ice.
Smashing downwards, she hammered both fists directly on top of the wyrm’s head. A crack resounded out from the impact, and she used the time to conjure up a dagger into her hand. Slashing forward, but barely missing its eye by an inch.
Frowning, she decided to take the fight in another direction and the beginnings of a massive magic circle started to form just above the ceiling. She fueled her mana into the proxy and continued to slash away, constantly regenerating her blades that were corroding from its blood.
By now, her clothes were in tatters and her body, scorched in burns. But she only relished the feeling; it was the rush of battle that she lived for.
Suddenly, the wyrm jumped, its frame skyrocketed into the air as Rin was thrown off. Recognizing the situation, Rin didn’t want to waste the cooldown of her only safety-net, frost-blink, and dove into the only place she could.
Directly into the maws of the beast.
Snap!
The wyrm’s teeth slammed shut behind her, barely missing her by a few inches.
“Ugh,” she staggered.
Inside its mouth, the stench was overpowering and with her senses heightened, it didn’t help in that respect. However, she knew that this was a massive opportunity and wouldn’t squander the chance.
Creating a double ended spear, she stabbed down, wedging it vertically between the wyrm’s upper and lower jaw. If it wanted to crush her between its maw, it would have to first suffer the pain of being pierced through its roof and chin.
Stabbing sideways, she ran her sword along the soft pinky palate of the wyrm as its scalding blood was released. It burned her skin, eating through her flesh and she suppressed the urge to teleport to safety.
Continuing to slash away, all was well until a gush of blood poured down at her from above. Rin couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw that its jaws were rapidly closing in around her, the light from the outside coming in through two puncturing holes.
“You crazy bastard!!”
Encasing her body with ice, she protected herself from the scalding blood as spikes alike a porcupine shot out from the ice. Stabbing into the creature from the inside and slowing its descent.
Suddenly, she felt a burst of heat forming from deep within its body, the steam travelling up its neck and into its mouth. It was going to burn her alive.
Not yet...
She had to stall for a couple more seconds, otherwise she would end up missing the creature altogether. Thus, she did what any sane person wouldn’t do and slid down its esophagus.
As she reached its stomach, the heat intensified several folds as the blood beneath her skin started to boil. Grimacing, she continued to head deeper into its body, looking for the source of its heat, the infernal core.
Quickly panning her gaze over the labyrinth of its body, she sensed her vision start to blacken. No, it didn’t blacken. She had found the core, a black spherical shape directly in front of her.
‘There...’
Stabbing into the sphere, she immediately teleported out and crashed to the ground. Rolling a couple of times as she came to a stop. While her body, weakened by the tradeoff effects of the earrings, could only lay incapicated.
BOOM!
A blast was heard from within as flames rushed out of the wyrm’s orifices, covering the room with smoke. Despite everything, the beast remained standing, and with its remaining eye filled with hatred, it slowly turned its attention towards the girl. Every step slowly thundered against the ground while its lips curled into a vicious sneer as it took in the pest.
Yet, fear was nowhere to be found in her eyes.
“Look up,” she grinned.
Pointing upwards, the end of a colossal spiraling lance emerged from the magic circle that she had prepared earlier. The massive weapon rapidly whirled, cutting through the air with a sharp hum.
Slowly, the ice descended from the magic circle as the full extent of its might could now be realized. Measuring 15 metres in length, the ice shimmered as the final vestiges of her mana honed the blade’s edge razor sharp.
“Die.”
Bringing down her finger, the ice followed her movement and hurtled downward. A moment later, the lance impacted and drilled into the wyrm’s scales. Immediately, the wyrm’s legs collapsed, its body crashing down from the weight of the lance. But the ice didn’t stop there. It forced its way through, impaling deep into the wyrm’s flesh, and even more, driving past its bones before embedding itself into the ground.
The flames of the wyrm were instantly extinguished, as proof was the body skewered to the floor of the throne room.
At last, the battle was over...