Team Echo pushed deeper into the twisted forest, the fog growing thicker and heavier with each step.
Jonah whispered, "Hey… anyone feel like we're being watched?"
"Yes," Charles answered instantly.
Everyone stopped and stared at him.
Charles coughed.
"I mean—probably! Dungeons… watch things… maybe… haha?"
Kyren raised a brow.
"You're acting stranger than usual."
Charles threw his hands up.
"This is my NORMAL. This is PEAK F-RANK. I am the most average man alive."
Jonah nodded sympathetically.
"Yeah, that makes sense."
Kyren: "No it doesn't."
Liam patted Charles's shoulder kindly.
"Don't worry. We'll handle whatever appears."
The universe decided to test that confidence immediately.
---
The Wrong Vines
Something brushed Charles's leg.
He screamed.
"GAHHH—SOMETHING IS TOUCHING ME—"
He kicked wildly, nearly hitting Jonah in the face.
"It's just a vine!" Mira said. "Calm down!"
"It moved on its own!!"
"It's a plant," Kyren deadpanned.
"PLANTS SHOULD NOT MOVE."
A vine actually slithered away at that exact moment.
Everyone froze.
Jonah whispered, "Okay… maybe the vine WAS alive."
Liam nodded seriously.
"Dungeon flora can be dangerous."
Charles pointed at it like he'd just caught a serial killer.
"I TOLD YOU."
Kyren muttered, "Still dramatic, though."
---
Team Echo Dysfunction
Jonah: "Should we cut it?"
Mira: "No! It might be peaceful!"
Kyren: "It's clearly hostile."
Liam: "Let's remain calm."
Charles: "IT TOUCHED ME."
The vine suddenly hissed.
Everyone screamed.
Even Kyren flinched.
Charles triumphantly yelled, "SEE?? SEE!?!?"
But then the vine scurried away like a scared worm.
Mira blinked.
"…I think it was more afraid of us."
Charles felt personally offended.
"How dare you say that about my emotional enemy."
Jonah laughed out loud.
"Man, you are so jumpy—"
He turned around and screamed again.
Something BIG moved in the distance.
---
The Ground Trembles
BOOM
…BOOM
...BOOM.
Liam raised his shield instantly.
"That's heavy footsteps."
Mira clutched her staff.
"What is that? A miniboss?"
Kyren tightened his grip on his spear.
"No… that pressure is too strong."
Charles froze.
His heart squeezed painfully.
That presence—
heavy, cold, crawling under his skin.
Rift pulsed violently:
[WARNING]
[The Rift Beast has detected the Host]
[Boss encounter imminent]
Charles's face drained of color.
"Oh no."
Jonah looked around nervously.
"What do you mean 'oh no'?!"
Kyren glared.
"What did you do?"
"NOTHING!! I DID NOTHING!!!" Charles insisted.
Boom.
A giant shadow moved behind the trees.
Mira squeaked.
"That's… too big?"
Liam stepped forward.
"Everyone stay behind me."
Kyren followed right beside him.
Jonah crawled behind Charles.
"Protect me, glowy support boy."
"I AM NOT GLOWY!!"
BOOM.
The trees split apart.
---
Dungeon Boss Appearance
A massive figure stepped through the dark:
Rift Beast — Rank F+
Black fur scorched at the ends
Glowing red eyes
A cracked horn
And a pulsing core inside its chest
It exhaled a deep, rattling growl that shook the ground.
Mira whispered, terrified,
"That's… the boss…"
Liam braced.
"Everyone in formation—NOW!"
Kyren snarled.
"It's early! Why is it appearing now!?"
Charles thought he might faint.
"…Because it hates me."
"WHAT!?" Jonah screeched.
Kyren grabbed him.
"What do you mean it hates you!?"
Charles waved his hands frantically.
"NOT ME SPECIFICALLY! IT JUST—UH—HATES BISHOPS! YES! THAT'S A THING!"
Mira frowned.
"That's not a thing—"
Rift chimed quietly:
[Host panic level: extreme]
[Host options: 1) Run. 2) Die. 3) Panic.]
Charles muttered, "None of these are good options!!"
---
Boss Targets Charles
The Rift Beast lifted its head—
sniffed the air—
and its red eyes locked onto Charles instantly.
Growl.
Liam stepped in front of Charles.
"He's the support! Step back!"
Kyren slid his spear forward.
"We handle this. Stay behind."
But the boss kept staring at only one person.
Only Charles.
Jonah whispered, "It's… looking straight at you."
Charles laughed nervously.
"Haha… must be my shampoo."
Kyren snapped,
"STOP JOKING AND MOVE!"
---
Boss Charges
The beast roared—
A deafening, bone-shaking roar—
And then it lunged.
Directly at Charles.
Charles screamed.
"WHY ME AGAIN—?!??!"
---