Xanatos loomed over us, his malicious grin twisting into a mocking smirk. "So, pitiful insects, how would you prefer to die? Slowly and painfully, or shall I grant you a quick end to your misery?"

His words sent a chill through my veins, but I refused to give in. Gritting my teeth, I channeled the last reserves of my mana, determined to make him pay for Kenzo and Liam’s deaths.

"I’d rather die than bow to a monster like you!" I spat, gripping my glowing magical blade and charging straight at him.

"Griffith, no!" Seraphina screamed, panic in her voice.

But I was too focused to hear her. Pouring every ounce of strength into my weapon, I shouted,

"[Magic Amplification: Blade x50 Sharpness]!"

The sword erupted with devastating energy, its edge glinting with lethal brilliance. I pushed my body even further.

"[Mana Amplification: Physical Speed x50]!" I roared, my movements becoming impossibly fast, my form nearly a blur as I closed the gap between us.

With a single, powerful strike, I severed Xanatos’s head in one clean motion, the blade slicing through him before he could react.

Seraphina and Varon stared at me in stunned disbelief. "I-It can’t be…" Seraphina whispered, her voice trembling.

But to my shock, the demon’s body didn’t collapse. Instead, his severed head began to laugh—a cold, haunting sound that sent a shiver down my spine.

"Well done, you pitiful little worm," Xanatos sneered, his voice as sharp as the blade I had just used against him. "But let me give you a lesson: before you face an enemy, it’s wise to understand their abilities first."

I froze, my heart pounding, as I instinctively pulled up his interface to see what I was dealing with. The details left me stunned.

[Interface] :

Name: Xanatos Level: 102 Race: Demon Rank: B+ HP: 2400/2600 MP: 1300/1500 Traits: [Regeneration, Duplication, Dark Energy, Corruption, Disintegration, Fear, Metamorphosis, Paralysis] Resistances: [Physical Impact, Fire, Corruption, Paralysis, Mental Control, Perception, Cognitive]

My throat tightened as I read. My attack had barely scratched him. He wasn’t just strong—he was nearly invulnerable, immune to most of my abilities.

"As you can see," Xanatos said mockingly, his severed head reattaching itself to his shoulders, "your pathetic little blade can’t harm me. I’m far more than an ordinary demon. My regenerative and duplicative powers are unmatched!"

Seraphina and Varon stared at me, their eyes wide with fear. Xanatos was right—I didn’t have the tools or knowledge to defeat him. My body was drained, and I had almost no mana left. One more spell could render me unconscious, and yet I couldn’t give up.

Kenzo and Liam had given their lives so we could escape. I couldn’t let their sacrifice be in vain.

Summoning the last remnants of my strength, I raised my blade once more. "I won’t go down without a fight!" I shouted, charging toward him again.

Xanatos’s smirk widened. "Such admirable tenacity. But it won’t be enough to save you, pitiful human."

As I prepared to strike him with all my might, a violent burst of dark magic slammed into me, knocking me off my feet and sending me crashing to the ground. Pain exploded through my body as I struggled to move, my limbs trembling from the shock.

I lay there, battered and broken, my consciousness slipping away. Glaring up at the triumphant demon towering over me, I managed to whisper, "This… can’t be…" before the darkness swallowed me whole.

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The deafening sound of an explosion jolted me out of unconsciousness. Groaning, I slowly opened my eyes, my body still numb from the devastating attacks of Xanatos.

To my surprise, the demonic creature was gone, leaving behind only Seraphina and Varon, who sat nearby, dazed and shaken. From the distance, I could hear the clamor of cavalry and the metallic clash of battle.

It didn’t take long for me to realize what was happening—Golden River’s army had arrived. The noise of combat echoed through the dungeon as soldiers in shining armor moved around us, securing the area.

"What happened?" I asked, my voice raspy and weak.

Seraphina turned to me, relief softening her features. "The demon fled as soon as he saw the sheer number of troops arriving," she explained. "When he saw you unconscious, he must have decided to retreat."

I exhaled in relief, though the weight of Kenzo and Liam’s deaths pressed heavily on my chest. Surviving had come at a steep cost, and the price was almost too much to bear.

As the soldiers continued their work, an imposing man in his thirties approached us. His face was grave, and he wore the royal knight’s uniform, proudly bearing Golden River’s colors.

"Are you injured?" he asked, his tone laced with concern. "We’ll take you to the healers’ camp so you can recover."

I nodded, aware that my body desperately needed rest. "Yes… Thank you. But…" My voice faltered, my throat tight as I forced out the words. "Our companions…"

The knight’s expression darkened, and he bowed his head solemnly. "We saw. We’ll make sure they are honored properly."

Seraphina and I exchanged a sorrowful glance. Kenzo and Liam had sacrificed themselves so that we could live. Their bravery and sacrifice would not be forgotten.

Without another word, the soldiers carefully lifted us and carried us toward the healers’ camp. My body felt heavy, my mana and stamina depleted, but I was alive—and for that, I silently thanked the timely arrival of the reinforcements.

When we reached the camp, we were laid on cots while skilled healing mages worked to mend our wounds and restore our strength. Warmth spread through my body as their magic seeped into me, soothing the pain and replenishing my energy.

As I lay there, the battle with Xanatos played over and over in my mind. The demon’s overwhelming power had been terrifying, and the bitter realization hit me hard: I wasn’t strong enough. I had been arrogant, too confident in my abilities, and it had nearly cost us all our lives.

If the reinforcements hadn’t arrived in time, Seraphina, Varon, and I would have likely shared the same tragic fate as Kenzo and Liam. The thought sent chills down my spine.

"Griffith?" Seraphina’s soft voice broke through my dark thoughts. She rested a comforting hand on my arm. "How are you feeling?"

I looked up at her and managed a faint smile. "Drained, but relieved to be alive," I admitted. "For a moment there, I thought… I thought it was over."

She nodded, her expression tinged with sadness. "Kenzo and Liam…" she whispered, her voice trembling.

Reaching for her hand, I squeezed it gently, sharing her grief. "Their sacrifice won’t be in vain," I said, my voice firm despite the ache in my chest. "We’ll fight to honor their memory."

She gave me a small, wavering smile, then turned her attention to the mage tending to me. Bit by bit, I felt my strength returning, the weariness lifting as my mana and vitality were gradually restored.

Once the healers finished their work, I was able to stand, though I still felt slightly unsteady. One of the knights approached us, a look of relief crossing his face when he saw us on our feet.

"Are your injuries healed?" he asked. "We need to get you out of this dungeon immediately. The demon may have fled, but there’s no guarantee he won’t return with reinforcements."

I nodded, resolute. "Yes, I can follow you now. But… what happened while I was unconscious?"

The knight’s expression darkened. "When we heard the explosion, we rushed to your location as fast as we could. By the time we arrived, the demon had you at his mercy. But as soon as he saw us, he chose to retreat."

He paused, his eyes studying me with a mix of respect and concern. "You showed incredible bravery facing him alone. But that creature… its power is devastating. We must get you out of this dungeon before it returns."

I swallowed hard, the memory of Xanatos’s overwhelming strength still fresh in my mind. "You’re right. We need to leave immediately," I agreed. Then, my voice grew firmer. "But I refuse to leave without Kenzo and Liam’s bodies."

The knight nodded gravely. "Of course. We won’t leave them behind. Their families deserve to honor their sacrifice."

He gestured to his men, who carefully retrieved the remains of our fallen comrades. I watched them with a heavy heart, grief and determination warring within me.

Xanatos was unlike anything I had ever faced before—his power was far beyond what I could have imagined. But I knew one thing for certain: I couldn’t afford to fail again. For Kenzo and Liam’s sake, and for the sake of the kingdom, I had to become stronger.

Once their bodies were secured, the knight motioned for us to follow. "We need to get you to safety immediately. Stay close, and we’ll guide you out of this dungeon."

I nodded, my resolve hardening with each step. As we moved toward the exit, I silently vowed to never let another tragedy like this happen again.