Arie sprinted toward the source of the scream, his heart pounding as he got closer. As he rounded the final corner, he skidded to a stop, taking in the scene before him.

A young girl was backed up against a dungeon wall, her eyes wide with terror as she tried to shield herself from a massive creature looming over her. The creature's red eyes gleamed in the dim light, its sharp claws raised, ready to strike.

Arie's heart skipped a beat. It was the Grimshale—the very monster he had come to hunt for his quest.

But now, this quest was no longer just about earning money. The girl needed his help, and he couldn't abandon her.

Though he didn't know her name, her face stirred something in his memory, as if they had crossed paths before, her face looks very familiar, but he can't think of why that it. Yet, there was no time to think about that now.

As the Grimshale lunged toward the girl, Arie reacted without a second thought. He launched himself forward, his hand instinctively moving to summon his slime weapon, which quickly expanded to form a solid blade.

With all his strength, he struck at the monster's thick hide. His blade made contact, but the Grimshale barely flinched, and before Arie could prepare for a counter, the creature swiped its massive claw, hitting him square in the stomach.

Arie flew backward, slamming into the stone wall with a force that left him gasping for breath. Pain shot through his body as he struggled to stand, clutching his stomach.

This beast was far stronger than anything he'd faced before. Its thick, scaly skin seemed even tougher than the spider's hide he had fought on floor 10. The creature had barely been scratched.

"Get out of here!" the girl screamed at him, her voice trembling with fear. Her eyes were wide, pleading, as if she thought he didn't stand a chance.

But Arie wasn't one to give up easily. Her voice triggered a flood of memories, taking him back to another time, another place. He saw flashes of another girl's face—a girl he had once failed to protect.

"No," Arie murmured, shaking off the memory. He couldn't let the past hold him back now.

Ignoring the pain, Arie pushed himself back onto his feet. He summoned his energy and conjured a bow and arrow, both glowing with a dark purple flame.

The girl's eyes widened, recognizing the deadly power of his destruction magic mixed with fire. She looked at him in awe, perhaps for the first time seeing him as something other than a stranger.

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"Get back," Arie commanded, his voice low but firm. He aimed carefully at the Grimshale, watching as it turned its attention toward him. He could feel the thrill of power building up in his grip, the energy humming as he prepared to release it. The Grimshale growled, its red eyes narrowing as it sensed the threat.

Arie took a deep breath, steadying himself. He was about to release the arrow when the Grimshale let out an ear-piercing howl, a sound that sent chills down his spine. In that instant, a shimmering barrier appeared around the creature.

Arie was about to release tge arrow when suddenly, his bow and arrow vanished into thin air. The realization hit him like a punch: the Grimshale had the power to nullify magic within its range. He had forgotten about that detail in his rush to act.

Before he could react, the Grimshale lunged at him, claws swinging with terrifying speed. Arie barely managed to bring his arm up in time, but the creature's strike was too powerful.

The blow knocked him off his feet, and he hit the ground hard, pain shooting through every muscle.

Before he could even catch his breath, the Grimshale pinned him down, its heavy claw pressing against his chest.

Arie struggled, but the creature's grip was like iron. He felt jagged spikes shoot up from the ground, binding his arms and legs in wooden restraints that twisted and tightened the more he fought.

Panic welled up inside him as he struggled to break free, but the bonds only seemed to grow stronger.

The Grimshale turned its attention back to the girl, stepping toward her with slow, deliberate movements. She screamed, pressing herself against the wall, her terror clear in her eyes. She was trapped, with nowhere to run.

Arie's mind raced, flashes of his past haunting him. He couldn't fail again—he couldn't let another girl die because he wasn't strong enough.

He remembered Sara's final words, her face fading as she slipped away, leaving him with the weight of his own failure. He clenched his fists, gritting his teeth as the memories clawed at him, trying to pull him under.

"Somebody... Please… help me," the girl's voice broke through his haze, soft and desperate, filled with fear.

That plea snapped him back. He couldn't let her die. Not now, not ever.

With a roar that seemed to come from the depths of his soul, Arie surged against the wooden restraints, his strength fueled by a fierce determination.

The wooden spikes shattered, and he was free. His katana flashed into his hand, its blade gleaming as he rose, a newfound resolve burning in his eyes.

His thoughts fueled by a single, burning goal: to protect her. The creature, caught off guard by his sudden attack, turned too late.

From a distance, Arie's katana sliced through the air with deadly precision, sending a slash that struck across its thick hide, leaving a long tear in its armor-like skin. The creature roared in pain, staggering back as green blood oozed from the wound.

Arie kept his focus, unleashing a second slash, the blade's slash carving another deep gash into the creature's side before it could fully recover.

The Grimshale's furious eyes locked onto him, it was about to stike back, but Arie showed no sign of backing down. With determination burning in his eyes, he let out a roaring sound, unleashing a flurry of rapid slashes, each one tearing deeper into the monster's defenses.

The Grimshale tried to counter by nullifying magic, but Arie's attacks, doesn't seem to ba magic at all, his movements sharp and calculated, each strike fueled by his resolve.

The creature, now covered in deep wounds and visibly weakened, let out a final, desperate roar.

Arie gathered all his remaining strength, channeling dark energy into his blade. With a powerful swing, he unleashed a wave of dark energy, a force that cut through the air like a storm. The wave struck the Grimshale, cleaving it in half.

The beast let out a final, pitiful howl before collapsing to the ground, twitching once before falling still.

Breathing heavily, Arie staggered back. Relief washed over him as he took in the sight of the defeated creature. Exhausted, he nelt down, and when he turned, he saw the girl standing there, her face pale but eyes wide with a mixture of awe and relief.

Tears streaked her cheeks, and before he could speak, she ran forward, wrapping her arms around him in a tight embrace. Arie stood still, letting her cling to him, feeling the weight of the battle finally begin to lift.

Just then, a figure, cloaked in the darkness, stood in the distance, watching him with unwavering focus.

The figure turned and vanished into the shadows with a smile creeping out of his lips

The battle was over, but something else had just begun.