The sight before Rae was almost laughable, if it weren't so terrifying. The entirety of the third level was the floor guardian's habitat. Right there, past the swarm of colossal monsters, stood the gate to the next level—tauntingly close yet impossibly far.
Was this truly a beatable level? The monsters were gigantic, towering forms of ogres and trolls, their sheer size enough to instill dread. At the back of the horde loomed an even more intimidating figure—a behemoth of monstrous proportions. How could anyone possibly face this?
Rae's mind raced, searching for options. Was it feasible to simply run past the monsters and brute force her way through to the gate? Unlikely. What about the ring and shield she had? Could they turn the tide of battle, granting her an advantage? She clenched her fists.
"Eleanor, Cilia," she said aloud, "I don't know how we're going to survive this, but we will."
She forced herself to think of a plan. The monsters' abilities were unknown, which meant the safest approach was to take them out before they had a chance to act. But the odds weren't in their favor—the monsters outnumbered them, and there was no cover to shield them from attacks. The shadow plane could be an option, but moving herself, Eleanor, and Cilia in and out of it would be exhausting. Maybe she could leave the two in the shadow plane and face the level alone.
"Eleanor, Cilia," Rae began hesitantly, "I think—"
"We already know what you're about to say," Eleanor interrupted firmly, her voice resolute. "But we won't allow it. Cilia and I are capable. I know our power doesn't compare to yours, but let us fight by your side. We'd rather share in the victory—or the defeat."
Rae met Eleanor's determined gaze, conflicted. She admired their bravery but feared for their safety. She worried they'd become liabilities, but she couldn't allow herself to dismiss their resolve entirely. For now, she decided to trust them.
The ground began to rumble, interrupting her thoughts. The monsters were no longer content to wait—they were advancing. Each of their steps sent tremors through the earth.
Rae turned to Eleanor. "Take this shield and use it wisely. Do everything you can to protect Cilia."
She handed the shield over, praying it would be enough to keep them safe. Then, Rae stepped forward, focusing her attention on the approaching enemies. The trolls were slow—perhaps she could use her speed and agility to her advantage. If they weren't particularly intelligent, she might even turn their numbers against them.
Her first target was the largest of the three trolls. Rae darted forward, aiming for the tendons in its legs. Her blade struck true, severing the connective tissue. The troll staggered but didn't fall as she had expected. Instead, it straightened itself, the tendons visibly regenerating.
"So, that's your game," Rae muttered under her breath. "High regenerative abilities."
A sudden rush of air caught her attention. Clubs, wielded by the other trolls, hurtled toward her. Rae sidestepped, narrowly avoiding one—only to watch it crash into a fellow troll, sending the creature sprawling. A smirk tugged at her lips. They weren't just slow—they were clumsy.
She moved swiftly, relying on her speed to confuse them. Using earth magic, Rae destabilized the ground beneath their feet, causing the trolls to stumble. Then, she unleashed a burst of light magic, targeting their weakness. The results were immediate—the light tore through their raw, regenerating skin, slowing their healing process.
For a moment, Rae thought things were going according to plan. But a heavy blow from behind sent her sprawling to the ground. Pain exploded through her body as blood trickled down her back. One of the ogres had caught her off guard. It moved with surprising speed and precision, its massive mace a blur in its hands.
Rae gritted her teeth, struggling to her feet despite the pain. She glanced over at Eleanor and Cilia. The two were battling the other ogre, holding their own, though Eleanor seemed to struggle with the weight of the shield.
Rae summoned her gravity magic, immobilizing the trolls. Electricity sparked to life around her, arcing through the air before tearing into their flesh. The trolls' regeneration faltered, and soon they were reduced to lifeless husks.
Darkness crept into her vision as her own electricity overwhelmed her. She collapsed, barely clinging to consciousness.
When Rae's eyes fluttered open, she saw Eleanor crouched beside her, concern etched across her face. "My lady, can you hear me?"
Rae groaned, sitting up slowly. "Eleanor... Don't worry. I'm back. And honestly, I feel better than ever."
"That's good to hear," Eleanor said with a relieved smile.
Rae's gaze shifted to the battlefield. "What happened to the ogres? And where did you get that sword?"
"I defeated one while you... consumed the other's blood. Your vampiric ability activated and tore it apart." Eleanor's cheeks flushed slightly as she glanced at the blade in her hand. "As for the sword, it's the shield—it transformed. I was furious when you got hurt, and before I realized it, the shield had turned into this flaming sword."
Rae nodded, marveling at the weapon. But there was no time to dwell on it. The behemoth, which had stood motionless until now, began to stir.
The earth quaked as it advanced, a low growl reverberating through the air. Rae readied herself, casting a glance at Eleanor and Cilia, who had both collapsed from exhaustion. This final battle would be hers alone.
The behemoth spoke, its voice resonating like thunder. "You have done well to reach this far. Defeat me to pass."
Rae's grip tightened on her weapon. The entire level felt like it was part of the behemoth itself, its domain intertwined with the dungeon. This would be her greatest challenge yet