As Emily and her teammates approached Ethan, their focus interrupted by the arrival of a gasping figure sprinting towards them.
"I've been searching everywhere for you all," the man panted, struggling to catch his breath.
"Boris, isn't it?" Leo recognized him.
"Yes, it's me. I need your assistance," Boris pleaded urgently.
"I understand, Boris, but at this moment, our priority is aiding our leader. Please, cooperate with us," Emily replied, her tone firm yet empathetic as she emphasized the urgency of the situation.
"No, actually, Sir Ethan instructed me to find you," Boris clarified, his breaths still ragged from his sprint.
"What do you mean?" Emily inquired, her curiosity piqued by Boris's unexpected revelation.
Boris proceeded to explain the dire circumstances to Emily and her teammates. He recounted Ethan's heroic intervention to shield him from Raon's wrath and how Ethan had entrusted him with the task of locating their group. Urgently, Boris detailed Raon's seemingly invincible state and emphasized the necessity of destroying his hidden heart. He stressed Ethan's ongoing battle against Raon and underscored the crucial need for their collective support.
Speaking with fervent sincerity, Boris implored his teammates to believe him and to rally to Ethan's aid, knowing that their leader's survival depended on their swift action and unwavering solidarity.
"So you're saying you hold the key to defeating Raon?" Emily's eyes widened with hope as she awaited Boris's response.
"Yes, I do," Boris affirmed confidently, his voice resonating with conviction.
"Alright then, lead the way," Emily declared with determination, her tone unwavering as she placed her trust in Boris's words. Casting a glance at her teammates, she found them nodding in unanimous agreement, ready to follow Boris into battle.
Boris led them up the stairs, his footsteps echoing in the tense silence as they followed his lead towards the guildmaster's secret chamber. With each step, he felt the weight of responsibility heavy on his shoulders, knowing that Raon's heart lay concealed within and time was of the essence.
Arriving at the end of the corridor, they were met with a door radiating an ominous chill, a foreboding presence looming beyond its confines.
"What lies behind this door?" Leo's voice quivered with a mix of tension and curiosity, his gaze fixed on the imposing barrier before them.
"Beyond this door lies the guildmaster's heart, guarded by a grotesque creature," Boris explained, his tone somber and cautious. Memories of the creature sent shivers down his spine, and he couldn't shake the lingering dread that plagued his thoughts.
"Are you all prepared?" Emily's gaze swept over her teammates, her voice steady and resolute.
"Yes," they chorused in unison, their collective determination echoing through the corridor.
"Excellent. Let's proceed," Emily declared as she grasped the door handle, her eyes ablaze with unwavering courage and hope. With a firm push, she swung the door open, leading the way into the unknown depths of the guildmaster's secret chamber.
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As they entered the room, their eyes fell upon the bizarre creature standing guard before them, its unsettling presence casting a shadow over the chamber.
"Is that Raon's heart?" Leo's voice quivered with a mixture of awe and apprehension as he pointed towards a glass tube nestled behind the creature. Within, a faint orange glow pulsed softly, the fragile vessel containing their target.
"So, all we need to do is destroy it," Dagger declared, his voice tinged with excitement and impatience as he unsheathed his daggers. Eager to put an end to their ordeal, he paid little heed to the creature before them, his focus fixed solely on their objective.
"Wait. I doubt he'll allow us to destroy it without a fight. We need to take him down first," Emily asserted, her gaze unwavering as she assessed the looming threat of the creature before them.
"Grraw," the monster snarled, its formidable appearance sending a shiver down their spines. With dark, spiky skin and glowing eyes, it exuded an aura of menace, its very presence hinting at its capacity for savage brutality.
"Alright loser, let's do this," Dagger exclaimed, his voice brimming with adrenaline and confidence as he charged forward, eager to confront the creature head-on.
"Don't you dare call me a loser, you sneaky rat!" Leo retorted, his voice booming with indignation as he surged forward, wielding his mace and shield with determined resolve.
As Dagger and Leo reached the creature, they unleashed a flurry of strikes with all their might, their weapons slicing through the air with deadly intent.
"What?" Dagger exclaimed, his brows furrowing in confusion as their attacks seemed to have no effect on the creature.
"What's happening?" Leo echoed, his voice tinged with disbelief as their weapons bounced off the creature's body as if it were forged from steel.
Their shock turned to horror as the creature retaliated with a powerful punch, sending them hurtling backwards with brutal force. The impact sent them crashing into the wall, a wave of pain washing over them as they struggled to regain their bearings.
Groaning and coughing, they pushed themselves upright, the weight of fear and uncertainty pressing down upon them as they faced the daunting realization of their adversary's formidable strength.
"Are you both alright?" Emily inquired, her tone laced with worry and concern.
"Yeah, just a bit shaken," Leo replied, his voice tinged with embarrassment and weakness.
"What happened back there?" Emily questioned, her curiosity piqued as she sought answers to their unexpected setback.
"I'm not sure. It's like my strikes just glanced off his body," Dagger explained, frustration and annoyance evident in his voice.
"The same here," Leo added, his tone bitter with disappointment.
"It seems he's resistant to physical attacks," Mike interjected, his voice calm and logical as he analyzed the situation.
"Now what should we do, Vice Leader?" Mia asked, her voice filled with a mixture of nerves and hopefulness as she looked to Emily for guidance.
"Don't worry. I've got a plan," Emily declared, her voice brimming with confidence and reassurance.
"Mike, focus on casting fire spells at him. Leo, keep him distracted. Mia, bolster Leo's defenses. Dagger, be ready to seize any opportunity to strike at the heart," Emily commanded, her voice clear and authoritative.
With swift precision, they all assumed their designated positions and began to execute their assigned tasks with unwavering determination.
Leo engaged the creature in a fierce dance of combat, his mace and shield becoming extensions of his will as he sought to both strike and evade its onslaught. Meanwhile, Mia remained close behind him, her incantations weaving a protective barrier around him, fortifying his defenses against the creature's relentless assault.
Meanwhile, Mike unleashed a relentless barrage of fire spells, his hands ablaze with arcane energy as he sought to sear through the creature's defenses and weaken its armor. Emily stood by his side, her bow drawn taut as she launched a volley of arcane arrows, each one aimed with precision to pierce the creature's hide and draw its attention away from Leo.
With each strike and incantation, a spark of courage and determination ignited within Emily's heart, fueling her resolve as she fought alongside her comrades in their desperate struggle against the formidable adversary before them.
"Excellent work, everyone. Keep pushing!" Emily's voice rang out with confidence and assurance as she observed the creature faltering under their relentless assault. With each strike and spell, she felt a surge of hope and excitement coursing through her veins, knowing they were edging closer to victory. She flashed a determined smile at her teammates before unleashing another arrow, aiming true and striking the creature in its vulnerable eye.
As their combined efforts finally began to overwhelm the creature, a sense of triumph began to wash over them. But just as victory seemed within reach, the creature's behavior took an unexpected turn. Ignoring their continued attacks, it turned its focus towards the heart, its movements determined and single-minded. It became apparent that the creature had a last-ditch plan, and it was desperate to see it through, casting a shadow of uncertainty over the battle's outcome.
"What is he trying to do?" Leo's voice carried a tense curiosity as he observed the creature's unexpected movements.
"Why is he heading for the heart?" Mia's voice rose with alarm and concern as she realized the creature's intentions.
"Leo, intercept him!" Emily's voice rang out urgently, her command laced with a sense of determination as she implored her teammate to act swiftly and decisively.
But it was too late. The creature had already reached the heart.
With a swift and determined motion, the creature seized the heart, consuming it in one swift gulp. A surge of agony and empowerment coursed through its veins as it absorbed the heart's essence. Without a moment's hesitation, it let out a thunderous roar, its body pulsating with an otherworldly glow as it underwent a radical transformation.
In a breathtaking display of metamorphosis, the creature grew larger and more formidable, its once menacing form now augmented with additional teeth and claws. It radiated an aura of pure malevolence, its newfound power fueling its insatiable hunger for destruction.
As the creature shed its former facade, revealing Raon's true self, a chilling sense of dread filled the air. It glared at its adversaries with a feral intensity, its eyes burning with fury and malice. With a primal roar that shook the very foundations of the chamber, Raon unleashed its newfound might upon them, ready to unleash untold devastation upon all who dared to oppose it.