The Molten Grove Guardian moved with the weight of a collapsing mountain. Each step sent a tremor through the ground, shaking dust from rooftops and rattling the granary's stone walls. Villagers froze mid‑swing, mid‑breath, mid‑panic.
Arlen felt the pressure of its presence like a hand on his chest.
The system spoke in a cold, emotionless whisper only he could hear:
Boss Monster Detected: Molten Grove Guardian. Level 10. Threat: Catastrophic. Recommended Action: Evade.
Evade.
Right.
He'd love to.
Mira stepped beside him, shield raised, jaw tight. "Tell me you have a plan."
"I have… the beginnings of one," Arlen said. "A plan fragment."
"That's not comforting."
"Neither is that thing."
The Guardian's molten eyes swept across the battlefield. Smaller creatures parted around it, instinctively avoiding its heat. Its body was a living furnace — stone plates shifting, glowing cracks pulsing like veins of magma.
Then it roared.
The sound wasn't just loud. It was felt — a deep, resonant vibration that made Arlen's bones ache.
The system chimed again:
World Quest Updated: Defend the Village. New Condition: Survive the Guardian's assault.
Arlen's heart hammered. "We can't kill it. Not like this."
"Then what do we do?" Mira asked.
"We stall it. Distract it. Keep it away from the granary."
Mira nodded once. "Then let's move."
The First Clash
The Guardian charged.
Not fast — but unstoppable. Every step cracked the earth, leaving glowing footprints behind. Arlen grabbed Mira's arm and pulled her aside just as the creature's massive fist slammed into the ground where they'd been standing.
The impact sent a shockwave outward. Villagers were thrown off their feet. A nearby house collapsed in a burst of dust and splintered wood.
Arlen's analysis flared instinctively, highlighting the Guardian's structure. Weak points? None. Vulnerabilities? Minimal. But there — a flicker of blue light deep within its chest.
A core.
Not exposed. Not reachable. But real.
"Mira!" Arlen shouted. "Its core is inside the chest — but we can't get to it yet!"
"Then what do we hit?"
"Anything that slows it down!"
Mira grinned fiercely. "That I can do."
She sprinted forward; shield raised and slammed it into the Guardian's knee. The impact rang like metal on stone. The Guardian staggered — barely — but it was enough to redirect its next swing.
Arlen darted in, striking at glowing cracks with his ladle. Sparks flew. The Guardian barely noticed.
The system whispered:
You dealt 2 damage. Effectiveness: Negligible.
Arlen groaned. "I miss when the system didn't judge me."
A New Threat
A scream cut through the chaos.
Arlen turned. A cluster of villagers near the granary were being overwhelmed by vine‑wrapped humanoids. The creatures moved with eerie coordination, tendrils lashing out to bind arms and legs.
Arlen's analysis pulsed again — but this time, something new happened.
A second layer of information appeared, faint and flickering.
Class Fragment Resonance Detected. Tactical Insight Unlocked.
Arlen blinked. "What—"
Suddenly he saw it: the vine creatures were linked. A shared root. A central node hidden beneath the soil.
"Mira!" he shouted. "There's a root cluster under the ground — that's what's controlling them!"
"How deep?"
"Not far!"
"Then point me!"
Arlen pointed. Mira didn't hesitate. She sprinted, leapt, and drove her shield into the earth with all her strength. The ground cracked — and a glowing tangle of roots writhed beneath the surface.
The vine creatures froze.
Then collapsed.
Villagers gasped in relief.
Arlen exhaled. "Nice work."
Mira smirked. "You point. I smash. Good system."
The Guardian's Fury
The Guardian noticed.
Its molten eyes narrowed. The cracks along its body brightened to blinding white. Heat rolled off it in waves.
Arlen's system whispered:
Warning: The Guardian is entering an enraged state.
"Oh, that's just wonderful," Arlen muttered.
The Guardian raised both arms.
Arlen's instincts screamed. "Mira! MOVE!"
The Guardian slammed its fists together.
A shockwave of molten energy erupted outward — a ring of fire and force that tore through the battlefield. Trees ignited. Dirt turned to glass. Villagers were thrown like rag dolls.
Arlen hit the ground hard, vision blurring.
The system flickered:
Health Critical. Status: Dazed.
He forced himself up, ears ringing.
The Guardian was turning toward the granary.
Toward the villagers.
Toward the children.
Arlen's breath caught. "No… no, no, no."
He staggered forward, raising his ladle like it mattered.
The system chimed softly:
Class Fragment Evolving… Conditions Met: Tactical Resolve.
A new line appeared:
Skill Unlocked: Command Pulse (Rank F). Effect: Briefly draws enemy attention toward you.
Arlen stared. "You've got to be kidding me."
Mira groaned, pushing herself upright. "Arlen… what did you just unlock?"
"Something incredibly stupid."
"Use it."
Arlen swallowed hard.
Then he activated the skill.
A pulse of blue light burst from his chest, rippling across the battlefield.
The Guardian stopped.
Turned.
And locked its burning eyes on him.
Arlen tightened his grip on the ladle.
"Well," he whispered, "that worked."