"System, how much time is left?" I asked impatiently.
_____
[Time remaining: 15 seconds]
____
I looked over and realised the salamander had locked onto Kala and was charging at her in a blind rage.
It had her cornered.
She desperately pushed herself to the limit, casting swift spells to hold it back.
My blood boiled.
I wanted to rip that thing apart.
Not for dominance. Not for victory.
Not this time.
For a reason I couldn't quite grasp.
Maybe because Kala was in danger?
"Fucking lizard…" I growled.
"True Dragon Transformation."
Caspian's body contorted, then instantly shifted into the form of a majestic true dragon.
His massive frame nearly filled the chamber.
His scales shimmered in brilliant gold mixed with fierce crimson.
Two colossal eyes opened, blazing like twin suns.
He hovered in the air, each wingbeat sending powerful gusts that made the suspended platform sway violently, chains creaking under the strain.
Then he roared—loud enough to shake the molten walls.
Debris rained down from above.
His maw opened wide, revealing teeth the size of a man.
His stats multiplied, power surging through him and begging to be unleashed.
The salamander's remaining eye shifted from malice to fear.
Caspian's presence alone overwhelmed it.
Abandoning Kala, the creature roared back, but the threat was hollow now.
Still, it spat a massive orb of boiling flames toward him.
Caspian blocked with his wing.
The impact was underwhelming.
The flames barely left a mark.
A thunderous rumble of annoyance escaped him.
He dove.
Far faster than something his size should move.
His talons latched onto the salamander as he slammed it into the ground with a resounding crash.
The platform cracked, sections breaking away to reveal lava below as he dragged the boss along with a single goal—
Total destruction.
The salamander flailed wildly, clawing and biting at his diamond-hard neck, but it couldn't break through.
'System! Time?!'
______
[Time remaining: 8 seconds]
______
Caspian reacted immediately, slashing at the salamander's last eye.
Blood sprayed as deep gashes tore through.
The creature shrieked, blinded.
Fear turned to desperate survival instinct.
It opened its mouth to unleash another wave of flames.
Caspian pinned it down with overwhelming strength.
His claws tore through its hide like paper.
As flames built in its throat, he acted.
Grabbing its upper and lower jaws, he forced them apart.
The salamander struggled, thrashing violently.
Then—
A sickening crunch.
Still, it unleashed its flames at him.
Caspian didn't dodge.
His neck, thick as an ancient trunk, endured the blast.
Instead, he inhaled.
Charging his own breath.
White-hot fire erupted from his jaws like a volcanic explosion.
The ground around them scorched and melted instantly.
_____
[Time remaining: 3 seconds]
_____
The inferno poured directly into the salamander's open maw.
Its body swelled with internal flames.
Its insides melted into blackened slag.
Finally, it collapsed.
Defeated.
_____
[Time remaining: 2 seconds]
[Boss defeated within 30 seconds!]
[Mission completed!]
[10,000 SP rewarded!]
_____
Caspian shifted back into his humanoid form.
He didn't look relieved.
He looked annoyed.
'I could've done better… still a lot to learn. But I succeeded! That's what matters. And I'm not broke anymore.'
______
'So violently beautiful… what a contradiction.'
Kala stared in awe.
What shocked her most was his access to a true dragon form—something dragons normally gained only after evolving.
Shaking off her thoughts, she hurried to him.
Their eyes met.
"Enjoy the show?" Caspian laughed.
She checked him over before scolding him.
"How can you joke after nearly being killed? You need to be more careful!"
"Come on, I had him on the ropes," he replied playfully.
"I just underestimated the final boss a bit."
"From the start? You—"
She stopped, calming herself.
"From where I stood… I thought you were…"
Her eyes watered as she looked away.
'Seriously… this shameless guy always gets me worked up!'
"I like it better when you talk to me like this. Call me Caspian—we're past formalities, right?"
His familiar smile made her blush again.
She froze, suddenly aware of herself.
Embarrassment washed over her.
Patting her shoulder gently, Caspian said,
"Come on. Let's check the loot."
She nodded, face still red.
______
A chest sat before the newly opened exit.
Inside were several spell books and an ornate staff.
"Not bad."
He inspected the staff.
Wooden, engraved, leather grip, crowned with a small mana crystal to improve casting speed.
He handed it to Kala.
"Here. This will help you."
"No, I can't. I barely did anything."
"That's not true, and you know it."
He spoke softly but firmly.
"You helped a lot. Saving me from that spider is one example. Take it—and this."
He handed her a spell book.
[Spell: Water Bullets]
"Master it," he said seriously.
"Thank you, C-Caspian."
"No problem. This one's mine."
[New Spell Found!]
[Gate of Light]
[- Summon weapons of light from a gate and control them mentally for attack or defense. More mana allows more weapons.]
'Am I just lucky? That sounds insane.'
He learned it immediately.
The book dissolved into motes of light and merged with him.
With their first dungeon complete, they departed.
But a scheme was already waiting.