Nathan poked his head through the stairs. The final floor was a wide-open room in the shape of a pyramid, closing to a point at the top. Light shone in from an opening, casting a white glow on a pedestal in the center of the room.

“Nathan!”

Nathan turned his head. Chad waved at him, Mara behind him. Both of them were sticking out of a hole in the ground.

“Chad, Mara!” Nathan said. “You guys are okay?”

Chad gave a nod as he climbed up. “Yup. Not a scratch. We didn’t have to fight anything, we just had to shoot some targets. Mara taught me how to use a pistol..”

“Chad’s a quick learner,” Mara said. “He just needs to stop trying to do ‘three-sixty no-scopes’ and he’ll do fine.”

Behind Nathan, he heard Mara and Bjorn shuffle up the stairs.

“They’re alive!” Emi said.

Bjorn nodded. “Yes.”

“What was it like for you guys?” Chad said. “I’m guessing you went through a similar test.”

Emi’s smile dropped into a frown. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

Bjorn nodded. “Yes.”

“We can talk about it later,” Nathan said.

Chad glanced between the three of them before shrugging. He turned his attention to the large room they were in.

“So this is the last floor,” Chad said. “Is there supposed to be a Pandora here?”

Nathan’s eyes searched his surroundings. Nothing. The only things in the room were the bare stone floor and the rough, unadorned walls.

“Hey, I think I see something,” Emi said.

Nathan turned toward her and followed her gaze.

She was looking at the small pillar at the center of the room, the one Nathan had noticed earlier when they came in.

What is that thing?

With a hesitant breath, Nathan crept closer, his eyes fixed on the mysterious object. At the very top, there was an etching in the shape of a hand.

“What is this thing?” Nathan said.

Mara squinted at the etching. “I feel like someone’s supposed to put their hand there.”

“Really? You think so?” Chad said. “I don’t know, I thought I was supposed to sit my ass on it.”

“Do you want me to shoot you?”

Chad coughed. “Sorry. It’s been a long day.”

Nathan took a step forward and put his hand over the top.

“Wait!” Chad said. “Are you sure?”

“I don’t see any other options for continuing,” Nathan said.

Emi pursed her lips. “He’s right, Chad. This room is empty, I think this is our only choice.”

“Put your hand on it,” Bjorn said.

Nathan reached out and pressed his hand against the imprint. A powerful blast of wind slammed against Nathan. With a blinding flash of blue light from the stone pillar, the walls of the chamber rattled and dust cascaded down from the ceiling like raindrops.

He covered his face instinctively, preventing any particulates from getting into his eyes. Through the dust, he made out the shape of a hulking figure. A reptilian humanoid five times his size. Long limbs and longer claws. A masked, wooden face. Scales all across the skin.

It fell to the ground, shaking the temple.

Nathan reached into his inventory and pulled out his harpoon. Mara pumped her shotgun. Emi readied her staff. Bjorn pulled out his war hammer. Chad brought out his katana.

[Jungle King] - Lv. 40 (E- rank)

A giant lizard that spent too long around humans, the reptile king likes knitting, reading, and long walks on the beach. On a totally unrelated note, he also has a professional background in butchery. Good luck!

----------------------------------------

The battle began as most battles began—with Mara shooting a shotgun slug right at the thing’s face. The slug flew through the air and bounced off the mask, a loud screech like metal rubbing against metal accompanying the light show.

Before Nathan could even so much as blink, Chad had already run forward. He jumped into the air, his katana outstretched for a swing. The jungle kind materialized a spear and stabbed it forward, the attack barely grazing Chad’s arm. Chad slashed at the shoulder. The katana carved a deep line across the monster’s thigh.

Oh, right, he got a serious stat increase for landing the killing blow on Callen.

Nathan had forgotten all about that.

The Jungle King roared and tilted its hand up, then swatted down in Chad’s direction. Nathan lined up his harpoon for the Jungle King’s stomach. The jungle king, too busy trying to swat Chad, didn’t even notice.

Nathan threw the harpoon.

It flew through the air and pierced into the Jungle King’s stomach, then right out the other side. It screamed and gripped his stomach while blood gushed from the wound.

Bjorn walked up to the screaming boss monster. He reared back his hammer, its weight pulling him down, and slammed it into the monster’s calf with a deafening crack. The impact sent the Jungle King crashing to the ground.

Emi blinked. “Huh, this is going to be a lot easier than I thought it would be.”

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

Oh god, she had to say it.

As if in response, the Jungle King froze. The wound stopped gushing. Its knee cracked back into place and it forced itself back up to its feet, spear at the ready.

Chad clicked his tongue. “Well. That’s not good.”

The Jungle King kicked Bjorn. He tumbled through the air before he crashed into the ground with a loud bang.

A moment later, his hand stuck up in a thumbs up.

Chad dodged to the side of a spear attack, then ducked underneath a kick. Another spear attack came right for him, and he knocked it aside using his katana.

“Nathan, a little help here!?” Chad said.

Nathan pulled out his fishing rod and ran forward. He took a split second to line up his cast, then tossed the hook out toward the Jungle King’s mask. The hook wrapped around the eyehole. Nathan tugged back as hard as he could and the Jungle King stumbled backward, almost falling before he caught himself.

Nathan dug his feet into the stone and reeled his fishing rod. The tug of war continued for a moment more—

Finally, it screamed, reached for the back of its head, and unclasped the mask. It fell off and Nathan tripped backward onto his bum.

It was a giant lizard face, it hissed and held up its spear for a throw, then threw forward.

Nathan rolled to the side. A second later, the spear passed by Nathan’s side, carving lines through the stone.

“Left yourself open, dumbass!” Mara shouted.

A loud bang echoed out. The Jungle King screamed and covered one of its eyes. Blood dripped through its hands. Mara cocked her shotgun and fired off another shot, the Jungle King backpedaled and the shell bounced off its hand.

Emi held up her staff and a massive fireball appeared over her head. She pointed forward and the fireball launched like a rocket, heat licking at Nathan’s cheeks.

It slammed into the Jungle King and he fell to the ground, scrambling, screaming. Bjorn ran up and bashed its kneecaps with two quick strikes. The Jungle King screamed more.

“Quick, beat the crap out of it before it can revive!” Nathan said.

Chad came out of nowhere and stabbed it in the other eye. Bjorn ran over to the skull and blew it open with a single attack. Emi hit it with fireball after fireball. Mara unloaded slug after slug. Nathan found his harpoon and stabbed it in the heart repeatedly.

And then, a moment later, it somehow swung its leg, sweeping everyone away. Nathan tumbled across the ground before coming to a stop.

Ow.

Chad flew through the air like a ragdoll, parallel to the ground. He slammed his katana into the stone and grinded to a stop.

“It had its brain bashed open.” Chad pulled his katana back with a hard tug. “What is this bullshit?”

“There’s something we’re missing,” Nathan said. “But I don’t know what it could be.”

“We can overpower it—I’m sure that there’s got to be an end to its healing ability. It can’t keep this up forever.”

Overpower it… or find a weak spot. What are lizards weak to?

Rapid temperature changes hurt cold-blooded creatures. Of course, they could just brute force it like what Chad was suggesting. Certain lizards could drown easily because of a biological weakness.

Pick one.

“We’ll drown it,” Nathan said. “Every creature needs oxygen, this thing—even with its healing factor—is probably the same.”

Chad gave a quick nod.

“Understood. I’ll give you an opening.”

Nathan took a deep breath, a familiar power flooding his veins.

Water flowed in a circle around Nathan. Chad jumped into the air and cut a thick line across the Jungle King’s thigh. It screamed and opened its mouth.

Riptide Grasp (why did he even bother calling it that in his head anymore? He hadn’t used it for its intended use in ages) launched out and shot down the monster’s open throat.

“Someone hit it in the stomach!” Nathan yelled.

Emi thrust her staff and another fireball appeared. It launched out and slammed into the monster’s stomach, searing the flesh.

The Jungle King’s eyes widened.

A sick choking noise echoed from the monster. It scrambled against the walls, and rolled along the ground. Its body tumbled around for another minute before it stopped.

[You have leveled up!]

[You have leveled up!]

[Achievement get: Boss Killer I]

Nathan opened up the achievement.

[Boss Killer I]

Congratulations, you’ve proven that no one is safe from your relentless quest for loot and glory—not even those poor bosses who were just minding their own massive health bars.

+10 STR, +10 DEX

A bell chime rang behind them. Nathan turned around.

The pedestal where he’d placed its hands now had a glowing silver cube on top of it.

Nathan approached it, his footsteps slow and careful.

Chad looked at it. “Is that what I think it is?”

The inside of it was translucent, revealing a swirling core of bright energy, like fish swimming through a pond.

[Pandora] - (E+++ Rank)

Congratulations, lucky mortal! You’ve stumbled upon a Pandora! This sleek, rune-covered box is basically the VIP lounge of evolution, and guess what? You’re on the guest list. (Only a hundred made, because scarcity is cool.)

When activated, expect a light show, dramatic wind gusts, and maybe a choir of disembodied voices chanting your name. You’ll feel the power surge through you as your F-Rank existence is turbocharged to E-Rank greatness. That’s right—you just went from “meh human” to “slightly less meh human.”

Note: High-tier ascension is immensely painful. Not only that, but it takes hours to complete. It’s highly recommended that you find a safe place to ride out the process.

Best of luck, and don’t die!

A Pandora.

Nathan picked up the cube. “All this trouble for a tiny cube.”

He looked at it a bit longer before he tossed it at Chad. Chad’s arms snapped up and grabbed it. His eyes bugged out.

“What the hell, man, what if I dropped it!?”

“I guess we would’ve had to go find another Pandora?”

“That seems inadvisable,” Bjorn said.

Chad played with the cube in his hands.

“Do we have any idea how to activate it?” Chad asked.

“Maybe you’re supposed to eat it,” Emi said.

Everyone turned toward her.

“What?” she said. “I mean, the way I absorbed the mana stones was by crushing them and putting them in my blood, remember?”

Nathan stared at her arms.

At this very moment, there are tiny chunks of rock floating in her bloodstream.

Chad squinted his eyes at the cube. “So we’d have to crush this thing and then… tip back and swallow? That sounds like a not-good idea.”

“This is a stupid conversation,” Bjorn said.

Before they could continue, a light caught Nathan’s attention. He turned to the side, revealing a glowing blue light shining from the floor.

“What’s that?” Emi said.

Chad blinked. “It’s an escape hatch.”

Nathan raised an eyebrow. “I don’t know how many times we have to tell you that this isn’t a game before you believe us.”

“I believe you, but you can’t tell me this wasn’t inspired by dungeon crawler games.”

After a few seconds, Nathan walked over and stood in the blue light. The rest of the group followed.

The light intensified and a feeling of weightlessness descended on Nathan.

----------------------------------------

The next thing Nathan knew, he was standing outside, surrounded by trees and grass. He turned around and saw the temple behind him.

“Woah—“ Emi almost fell over before catching herself. “That was somewhat disorienting.”

Nathan was about to respond when he paused.

Goosebumps ran down his spine.

“Does something feel off?” he said.

Bjorn tensed and reached into his inventory. “No, but I’ve learned to trust your instincts.”

Everyone cautiously pulled out each of their weapons. Nathan’s eyes darted from left to right.

Then he heard a clapping noise.

His neck snapped over to the right.

“I’ve gotta say, you guys move fast,” a voice called out through the tree line. “I really thought we’d beat you here, but you swept past us.”

“Who’s there?” Nathan said.

“You don’t even recognize me after all the crap you’ve put me through. Typical.”

“Stop hiding.”

A snort.

“Fine.”

Footsteps through the grass echoed out. A man stepped forward. His body was well-defined, his clothes rugged. He had a bald head and a sleazy smile. Behind him trailed a dozen or so other men.

It was his eyes that caught Nathan’s attention. They were cold, dead. They reminded Nathan of a corpse.

“What do you want?” Nathan said.

“I think it’s about what you want,” the man said. “I’ve heard that your orc friend is looking for a few of his pals.”

Bjorn’s back stiffened.

Vince snapped his fingers. An orc was brought out in chains. His body was thin, bones poking out from his chest. His skin was covered in dirt and dry blood. He stared at the ground.

A gasp sounded to Nathan’s right. He turned to look.

“Kason…?” Bjorn said.

The orc on the ground snapped his neck up. He stared at Bjorn for a few disbelieving moments.

“Commander?” Kason said.

Nathan looked back and forth between the two.

This just got a whole lot more complicated.