Harsh's condition was critical. Blood trickled from his temple, and his armor was dented from the Mother Yeti's earlier strike. His breathing was heavy, and each attempt to lift his weapon seemed to sap more strength than it should. Now, everything rested on Jun's shoulders. The weight of responsibility pressed down on him, a mixture of fear, determination, and adrenaline.
"Everyone, fall back!" Jun commanded, his voice cutting through the chaos. His words carried authority, even as his heart raced at the overwhelming power of the frenzied Mother Yeti.
The beast's eyes glowed with a furious red, her body pulsating as the frenzied state took over. She roared, the ground trembling with the sheer force of her fury.
[Dungeon Boss is entering the frenzied state]
[Boss stats will be increased by threefold]
[You cannot exit the Dungeon without defeating the Boss]
Jun's mind froze for a second. He felt the weight of those words like a hammer. "What? We cannot exit the Dungeon?" he muttered under his breath, realizing the only hope of survival was no longer just strategy—it was raw power, courage, and timing.
The Mother Yeti lunged, and Novia immediately threw herself into the path of the attack. Her body slammed against the monster's massive paw, absorbing the force meant for Jun. She groaned under the impact, barely able to hold her stance.
"I can't hold more than two attacks! Jun… do something!" she screamed, panic flashing in her eyes. Jun's heart clenched at the sight of his ally pushed to her limit.
He steadied himself and focused. Strategy, speed, precision—he ran simulations in his mind, but the sheer scale of the Yeti's strength made every plan seem insufficient. Jun knew he had no room for error. Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward into the fray.
"I will handle this guy. Novia, you take the left guard. Priests, heal Harsh as fast as you can—we don't have much time!" Jun's orders were crisp, each word infused with authority.
His body felt fragile, his bones aching from prior battles, every muscle screaming, yet his will refused to bend. He struck the Mother Yeti, dodged, countered, and endured hits that would have shattered a normal hunter. He was on the edge of collapse when suddenly, a message appeared, glowing in the air before him:
[You have been granted the power of @&#@&# as per the contract]
[Your wounds have been healed]
[You can use @&#@&# power for 10 seconds due to ******* restrictions]
Jun's body shone with a radiant blue light. The pain that had wracked him vanished in an instant, replaced by a surge of raw, uncontrollable energy. Power flowed through his veins like molten fire, his muscles strengthening, reflexes sharpening, and stamina returning tenfold.
For a brief, precious moment, he felt invincible. His sword sang through the air with a force no normal blade could withstand. With a single, sweeping slash, the Mother Yeti fell, her massive body hitting the ground with a deafening crash.
But the sword, unable to contain the energy coursing through it, shattered mid-strike. Jun's heart skipped. With no time to hesitate, he delivered a devastating punch to the remaining guard. The shockwave alone obliterated the Yeti guard's skeleton, leaving nothing but a pile of bloodied remains.
Immediately, his power receded, returning his stats to their normal levels. His body trembled from the strain, but the monsters were defeated.
[You have defeated the Boss monster of the Dungeon]
[Rewards will be distributed according to contribution]
[You received Soul Stone of Mother Yeti]
[Exit has opened]
Jun exhaled deeply, his chest rising and falling with ragged breaths. The cave was silent, the echoes of battle replaced by the distant dripping of water. He glanced around, seeing his exhausted guildmates still alive, and relief washed over him.
Then, a cascade of system messages flooded his vision:
['High' CREATOR has taken interest in you]
['Be Mine' CREATOR is sending support. Will you accept? Yes/No]
['Hard Life' CREATOR has noticed you and the power you used]
['Hard Life' CREATOR asks who lent you that power]
['Forgotten' CREATOR asks if you want that kind of power. Will you form a pact? Yes/No]
Jun blinked. The names made him pause. He remembered stories of the Forgotten CREATOR—a legendary entity counted among the top ten CREATORs in existence, a member of the feared Council of Five Powers. Hunters who formed pacts with this CREATOR were said to achieve unparalleled strength and fame, becoming top Slayers across continents.
Turning to Harsh, still leaning against a wall for support, Jun asked quietly, "Hey, Harsh… are you okay now?"
"Yeah," Harsh replied, voice hoarse but filled with gratitude. "Thanks to you, I'm alive. I never thought I would be defeated so easily by a blue dungeon boss."
Jun nodded. "You were awesome too… but tell me, what do you know about the Forgotten CREATOR?"
Harsh's eyes widened. "Forgotten CREATOR? That's… that's one of the top ten CREATORs, part of the Five Powers council. Anyone who forms a pact with him achieves legendary feats, becoming one of the top Slayers in the Rise of East Continent."
Jun absorbed the information, his mind racing. The opportunity was immense. He didn't hesitate.
[You have formed a pact with 'Forgotten' CREATOR]
[You will gain power from 'Forgotten']
[You cannot deny the Forgotten CREATOR's orders]
[The pact will be broken if the CREATOR wants to harm the contractor]
A rush of power surged through him, and the sense of freedom with Urza returned. His body felt lighter, his reflexes sharper, his control more precise. Around him, his guildmates gasped, young and inexperienced, yet now they too felt the tangible effect of CREATOR power bestowed upon their leader.
After exiting the dungeon, the group bid each other farewell, their hearts pounding with excitement and exhaustion. Jun, thoughtful, took out the Soul Stone of the Mother Yeti to inspect it.
[Soul Stone of Mother Yeti]
You can control someone's mind as long as you maintain physical contact.
Maximum number of controlled individuals: 3
Cannot be used on Slayers whose level is triple the owner's.
Jun's eyes sparkled. This was more than a reward—it was a tool that could elevate his guild to new heights, strengthen alliances, and secure dominance in the Rise of East Continent. With this, the foundation of his future empire had begun.