Sticking to the back, I followed closely as Ramon and the others advanced with heightened caution. No one wanted a repeat of our last ambush.
Slowly but methodically, we cleared the remaining monsters. Eventually, we reached the final floor.
The moment we stepped inside, it was obvious which object held the dungeon's core. A massive mana crystal stood at the far end of the chamber, its deep glow illuminating the otherwise dim surroundings.
"Alve, stay sharp. This dungeon boss is no joke," Ramon warned, gripping his sword tightly.
"I get it. I'll be extra careful from now on," I assured him.
But as we moved forward, something felt… off.
The dungeon core was there, pulsing with raw energy. But where was the boss?
The final floor was much smaller than the others, leaving us with no room to retreat or hide. A perfect battlefield for a final challenge.
Silver, the team's sharp-eyed archer, suddenly tensed. "There's something behind the core."
At his words, everyone immediately focused their attention forward.
Then—_thud._
The ground trembled as something massive stirred.
A shadow loomed from behind the core. Then, stepping forward into the dim light, it revealed itself—
A towering Minotaur, its muscular form wrapped in scars, gripping a massive battle axe.
My body stiffened. That thing could squash me like a bug.
"I'll stay back and avoid getting caught in the fight," I muttered, swiftly moving toward the farthest point in the chamber.
Now I understood why Ramon's party had wanted to summon a magic beast earlier. If I got too close, I wouldn't just be useless—I'd be a liability.
Crouching behind a large rock, I watched as the battle began.
Ramon lunged first, his sword slicing through the air. The Minotaur swung its axe in a slow but devastating arc. He barely dodged in time.
The team spread out—Emma casting spells to slow the beast movement, Silver firing arrows at its joints, Lily focusing on healing. Their coordination was nearly perfect.
Despite its size and power, the Minotaur was being worn down bit by bit. It was slow, predictable.
This was _doable._
And then—
_ROOOOAAAAAR!_
A deafening scream erupted from the Minotaur.
My blood ran cold.
"What the hell was that?" I muttered, glancing behind me.
And then I heard it—grunts, shuffling, the sound of multiple footsteps approaching.
A horde of goblins had just entered the chamber.
I let out a shaky breath.
"...I really hope I have a retry option in real life."