Chapter 21 – The Alpha Hunt
The air outside StoneDragon's walls was thick with rising heat. Volcanic fields stretched out ahead of Metatron like a red sea of simmering rock and ash. Black stone cracked under his boots as he moved, visor detailing faint heat signatures through the mirage-like haze.
He checked his interface again:
> [Name: Metatron]
[Level: 11]
[HP: 164 / 164]
[Stat Points Available: 20]
Satisfied, he holstered his Daylight pistol and drew his obsidian blade. The black metal shimmered faintly, reacting to the heat as if it thirsted for battle.
Then he saw it.
A mountain shifted—then lifted its head. Flames licked through plates of molten steel, and glowing veins pulsed beneath armor-like scales.
> [Enemy Detected: Molten Fang Alpha]
[Threat Level: High | Weak Points: Chest Vents, Jaw Underside]
Metatron fired the first shot.
Daylight boomed, cracking the volcanic silence. A burst of thermal-light round ricocheted off the Alpha's armored scales. It howled, molten spittle cutting through the air.
He fired again—four more shots. The beast charged.
This time, the bullet found its mark. A glimmer of smoke rose from one cracked plate. Metatron dashed forward, blade in hand, precision guiding every step. He targeted the vent under the beast's throat—and swung.
Steel collided with molten flesh. The air shook.
But then—click.
> [Ammo Depleted – Daylight]
There was no time to reload. The Alpha unleashed a burst of fire. Metatron barely rolled away—the edges of his cloak singed as his HP dipped.
> [HP: 54%]
The beast lunged again. He ducked under its claws, faded to the side, and brought his blade down in a sweeping arc at the exposed vent. Sparks flew. Something cracked.
> [Critical Hit! 312 Damage]
The Alpha staggered, molten veins flaring wildly. Now or never.
Metatron rushed beneath the towering beast with all his force—blade thrust upward, piercing through the vent into the core of its molten heart.
A burst of flame erupted, and the beast finally collapsed, crumbling into ash and embers.
> [Quest Complete – Molten Fang Core Acquired]
[XP Gained: 2,800]
[Level Up! Level 12]
[Stat Points Available: 28]
Metatron stumbled backward, panting. His visor flickered from the heat.
"Too close," he muttered, gripping the core fragment tightly.
He rested on the molten ground for a few minutes, letting the firestorm settle…and then he turned back toward StoneDragon.
The forge was waiting.