Ethan descended through the fissure to the sixth layer. He found Leo and the others already locked in combat.
He'd been delayed for nearly twenty minutes up top. A carpet of shattered bones now surrounded his crew. Their opponent was… different.
A hulking, blood-red skeleton, standing four or five meters tall, wielding two wicked-looking bone blades.
"Well, look at that. A Skeletal Reaver," Ethan grinned, landing lightly behind them. The massive bones of its frame hummed with a deep, angry crimson light. "Your luck's pretty good."
"Boss, tell me this thing actually drops loot?" Leo grunted, expertly parrying a heavy blow from the monstrosity that sent tremors up his arms.
"Heh. This one definitely drops good stuff. Was it just… waiting here for you?" Ethan asked, genuinely pleased. This was a bonus rare spawn, a 'speed-run' treat that didn't appear on every attempt.
"Yeah, it charged us the second we landed. Damn thing hits like a truck," Leo shot back.
