[Boss Level forcefully decreased by 3]
[Hint: Environmental Weakness Identified — Obsidian Pillars (Magmatic Conduits)]
The monster raised its arms—and roared.
A wave of flame exploded outward.
The stone beneath their feet cracked as if in pain. Lava burst from fissures. Molgrath charged forward like a juggernaut.
"Scatter!" Alex shouted, rolling away just as an axe embedded into the ground where he stood.
The impact shattered stone. Sparks flew.
Raven ducked behind a fallen column, panting. "You got a plan?"
"Hit the pillars. System says they're weakening the beast."
Raven swore under his breath. "Of course it's pillars."
Alex dashed toward the first conduit—an intact obsidian column glowing with faint runes.
Molgrath noticed.
It bellowed and hurled a molten axe toward him.
He leapt—barely—as it slammed into the ground behind him, the shockwave throwing him forward.
He hit the base of the pillar hard, wind knocked from his lungs.
Move… move…
He climbed to his feet, dagger in hand, and struck.
CLANG.
The blade barely chipped the surface.
CLANG.
Again—sparks, but no crack.
He growled and drove Witherfang deeper.
CRACK.
A spiderweb fracture formed. Then—
BOOM.
A burst of heat exploded outward, throwing Alex off his feet.
One pillar down.
But the price was steep—his arm was scorched, his breathing ragged.
"AHHH—DAMN IT!" Raven's voice rang from across the arena.
Alex turned and saw him slammed into a wall, his cloak smoking. Molgrath had struck him mid-sprint. He struggled to rise, limping.
"Go for the second!" Alex shouted, coughing.
Raven nodded through gritted teeth and made his way to the next pillar—zigzagging through a rain of molten projectiles as Molgrath's claws tore through stone.
He reached the conduit, swung his blade—and winced.
"This thing's reinforced!" he roared.
He kept striking. Over and over. Each swing bounced until finally—
CRACK!
It began to splinter.
Another blow—
BOOM.
A surge of lava hissed up and receded.
Two down.
But the monster had seen it.
Molgrath stopped.
Its chest cracked further. Lava sprayed from new fissures. Its glow intensified.
It screamed—not in pain, but fury.
[Boss Entering Rage Phase]
[New Ability Unlocked: Magma Pulse]
[Arena Conditions Altered – Floor Stability: Low]
The chamber shook.
Lava poured faster now, the floor glowing brighter. Cracks widened underfoot. Steam hissed from walls.
Then came the Magma Pulse.
A violent wave of heat and pressure burst from the boss's core, knocking both Alex and Raven across the chamber.
Alex hit a broken column hard, gritting his teeth to keep conscious.
"RAVEN!" he shouted, eyes blurry.
The red-haired warrior groaned, barely pushing himself up. "Still alive… barely."
Molgrath's eyes turned—locked on Alex.
It charged—faster, more brutal.
Each footstep shattered stone.
I won't make it… not like this…
Alex forced his body to move. Blood trickled from his mouth. He activated Dash, zipping beneath Molgrath's next strike, feeling the searing heat graze his back.
He reached the third pillar.
No time to think.
He roared and drove Witherfang in. The pillar resisted—but it began to fracture. Molgrath turned—axes raised.
Alex struck again.
CRACK.
Again.
CRACK—BOOM.
The final pillar exploded, the chamber dimmed—and the lava stopped rising.
Molgrath screeched, stumbling back, the molten core in its chest now fully exposed. Its body flickered—runes breaking apart.
Raven limped forward. "That's it! Now!"
Alex disappeared into Stealth. Molgrath thrashed, scanning wildly.
Too late. Alex reappeared mid-dash—Witherfang glowing.
He plunged the dagger into the exposed core.
CRACK!
The monster howled, fire spewing from every wound. Raven ran in with one final scream, leaping, and drove his blade into the spine.
A shockwave erupted.
They were both thrown across the chamber like broken dolls.
Smoke. Silence.
Then—
The beast groaned one last time…
…and collapsed.
Its body shattered. Lava drained. The chamber dimmed.
They had won. Barely.
Ding.
[Congratulations. You killed the Molgrath]
[Dungeon Cleared.]
[Rewards Granted..]
A radiant light exploded from the boss's remains. Alex and Raven shielded their eyes. When the glow faded, several items floated midair—an strange fragment, an orb, two shimmering books, 2 equipments, 5 vials-with mixed colors engulfed in faint blue light, and—
A red gem, pulsing like a heartbeat.
Raven's gaze locked onto it. He took a step forward. His breathing quickened.
"I think… this is mine," he whispered.
Before Alex could respond, the gem dissolved into glowing threads that surged into Raven's chest.
His body seized violently. Eyes wide. Back arched.
Then—flames erupted from his skin.
[Class Awakening Initiated...]
Raven collapsed to his knees, screaming. Flames danced from his shoulders, wrapped around his chest, spread through his limbs like living armor. His veins glowed beneath his skin, every cell igniting with power.
Alex took a step back. "Shit…"
Raven was transforming. His body was being rewritten.
But he was completely defenseless.
Then— A sound. Slow. Measured. Footsteps.
From the shadows of the dungeon gate, a man emerged.
"Fascinating. I arrived just in time."
Clad in sea-blue armor, his very presence made the air colder. His black hair slicked back, eyes calm, cruel. Water dripped from his gloved fingers, pooling unnaturally beneath his boots without a source.
A symbol burned on his armor—Fang.
Alex felt the pressure instantly. His instincts screamed.