"Oh, it's a Lycanthrope, not a Cereberus," Remarked the Lancer in surprise.
"Yeah, looks like we're fighting, after all," Nodded Ariella, stepping forward, as Hal moved to the back again.
"Wait, something's off about this, I'm getting a bad feeling. The Boss Room looking so different to the rest of the Dungeon, and the fact that the Dungeon Boss is paying no attention to us even though Lycanthropes are highly aggressive, it's way too abnormal. It almost feels like...we're walking into a trap," I spoke up warily.
"The only presence I sense in the Boss Room is that Lycanthrope, and they aren't intelligent enough to do things like set traps, right?" Responded the Detector.
"Yeah, that's true. I'm getting a bad feeling too, but maybe it's just that this Dungeon has an unstable Mana concentration or something? Didn't we learn in class that that's something that can mess with Hunters' senses?" Pointed out Ariella.
"Oh, yeah, I remember that chapter."
"That's probably what it is."
Huh, I don't remember that.
"Alright, guys. Let's get in there, kill the Dungeon Boss and end this," Declared Ariella, slamming her fists together.
While I was still a bit skeptical, but I went along with the group, entering the Boss Room. Ariella, the Lancer and I went in first, followed by the Attack Mages, then the Support Mages, while the two supervising Hunters hung back by the entrance.
"This is it, our final fight of the raid," Remarked the Lancer, a relieved smile on his face.
"Yeah...looks like the Dungeon Boss still isn't making a move, is it waiting for us to attack first? Okay, then...Attack Mages, do your th-...!" Began Ariella.
"What the-...?!" Hal's voice suddenly rang out, sounding alarmed.
I turned my gaze back, my eyes widening at the sight that met me. Dozens of vines were gathering over the entrance, sealing it up in a matter of seconds.
Hal drew out his sword and shot towards the entrance, unfurling a rapid upward slash of his blade. But he barely managed to even damage the vines, only managing to inflict a shallow cut across a few of them, the damage repairing itself in almost an instant.
What the hell-...?
My gaze snapped back to the front as a thud echoed out, to see the Lycanthrope slumped across the ground, its body laying limp and lifelessly-...wait. No, don't tell me...
"That's not the Dungeon Boss, there's something else in here!" I exclaimed, instinctively backing away, before stiffening as the vines bunched over the throne began to part and spread apart, opening up to reveal a feminine, humanoid figure seated on the throne.
I get it now...the Lycanthrope wasn't relaxed, it was dead.
And since whatever propped up its corpse was hiding right behind it, the Detector didn't notice that the Lycanthrope was dead. That Monster, is it a-...?
"Get back, ALL OF YOU!!! That's a Greater Demon!" Yelled Hal, as he and Ferna rushed out to the front, urging the rest of us to get back.
What? You've gotta be shitting me.
Greater Demons are Critical Level Monsters, and Demons in general are considered to be one of the most dangerous types of Monsters.
Greater Demons are the second most powerful species of Demon, a single Greater Demon is supposed to be at least as powerful as the strongest Ace-Ranked Hunters.
"Haha...hahaha...HAHAHAHA!!! You've walked right into my trap, foolish humans! Tell me, how did you like my deception?! You did not expect to see one of my kind here, did you?! HAHAHA!!!" Cackled the Greater Demon, as she stood up and stepped forward, a wide, malicious grin spread our across her face.
Oh, yeah, and Demons happen to be the sole type of Monster that can speak.
She had scaly red skin, the whites of her eyes were black with dark blue irises, she had long, silky black hair that went down to her waist, with a narrow, curved black horn on either side of her head.
Her gleaming, razor-sharp fangs were jet-black, as were her claws, and she had black wings on her back, along with a long, slender black tail. She was about average height, with an attractive figure.
She wore a sleeveless black dress with a slit across the side of her left leg, with a dark gray rose pattern embroidered across the right side, and black heels with a lot of straps on her feet.
She held a black whip with thorns in her hand, the weapon resembling the vines spread out all over the room and around the entrance.
"
Personal Details:
Name: Spina Aculeus
Age: ???
Gender: Female
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 95 KG
Skills:
Super Regeneration
Negative Energy Generation
Elemental Immunity
Mid Status Effect Resistance
Demonic Arts:
Black Brambles
Stats:
HP: 514
MP: 1250
Strength: 510
Agility: 806
Vitality: 518
Perception: 748
Power Level: 724,300
I get it now, she's the one who was setting off my passive lie detection this whole time. She's got an insane amount of Mana, which probably permeated the entire place, and her orchestrating this deception, as she called it, must have carried through her Mana.
"All of you, break through the vines over the entrance and run, I'll hold her off!" Exclaimed Hal, as he began to sprint towards the Demon.
"Will you, now? Hah...know your place, human. [Demonic Art: Black Brambles]," She chanted, as several vines across the pillars extended out and came zipping in towards Hal with immense speed.
He came to a halt and swung his sword across, slicing through a couple of the vines, before letting out a stifled yell as the rest of the vines wrapped around his limbs and torso before he could react, the thorns digging into his skin as he struggled to try and break free.
The Demon smirked before spreading out her wings, taking a step forward as she flapped them powerfully, an intense gust of wind erupting behind her as she launched herself forward with immense speed, closing in on Hal in the blink of an eye.
The sound of flesh rending and bones snapping echoed out, followed by a wheezing gasp of agony, as the Demon plunged her claws through the middle of Hal's chest, her arm bursting out his back.
"Ah, I suppose I should introduce myself. I am the Greater Demon Spina Aculeus, and I shall be your demise, humans," She smiled as she pulled her arm back out, licking some blood off the side of her wrist before giving us an elegant bow...