Bones That Refuse to Rest
The sound came first.
A dry, scraping rattle—like something ancient dragging itself back into motion.
Then the skeletons moved.
Hundreds of them.
Their hollow eye sockets burned faintly with dull mana, jaws clacking as they surged forward in a chaotic wave.
Rio froze.
"…Nope. Nope. I'm done. I'm officially done."
Azlea rolled her shoulders, stepping slightly ahead of him.
"Relax. They're just bones."
"They're MOVING bones!"
Before panic could spread further—
Anugus stepped forward.
Calm.
Focused.
Deadly.
"…Stay behind me."
Sparks began to rise from his body—crackling, dancing along his arms.
"Charged Strike."
In one swift motion, he dashed forward.
CRACK—BOOM
Electricity exploded outward.
The skeletons didn't just fall—
They shattered.
Bones blasted apart, charred, deformed, scattered across the stone floor like broken glass.
Silence.
Smoke drifted lazily through the air.
Azlea blinked.
"…Okay… that was clean."
Rio collapsed to his knees.
"…I almost died from fear."
Anugus exhaled slowly.
"This is a dungeon. That was just the first greeting."
Rio looked up slowly.
"…There's MORE?"
Azlea smirked slightly.
"Oh yeah. This was probably Level 1."
Rio's soul nearly left his body.
"Level ONE?!"
Anugus turned, already walking forward.
"Move. Before more 'welcome parties' arrive."
Azlea followed.
"Come on, Rio."
Rio stood up dramatically.
"If I die here, I'm haunting BOTH of you."
Meanwhile — The Duo's "Adventure"
Elsewhere in the caves—
Kaizer was struggling.
Not with enemies.
But with responsibility.
"Bro… why am I carrying BOTH eggs?"
Dazai didn't even look back.
"Because you said 'I got this.'"
"I DIDN'T THINK 'this' MEANT TWO FUTURE DRAGONS!"
"…Wyverns."
"Same thing, man!"
Kaizer adjusted the bag carefully.
"…If one of these cracks, I'm blaming you."
Dazai smirked.
"You'll be dead before you can blame me."
"…Fair point."
A few seconds of silence passed.
Then Kaizer spoke again.
"So… about Winter…"
Dazai glanced at him.
"What?"
"You can just summon her now, right?"
Dazai stopped walking.
Turned.
Gave him the most disappointed look possible.
"…You were sleeping in class again, weren't you?"
Kaizer scratched his head.
"…Maybe."
Dazai sighed.
"Let me explain it slowly so your brain can keep up."
"Oi—"
"When you form a familiar bond, you can communicate mentally."
"…Okay."
"But summoning requires mana."
"…Oh."
Silence.
Kaizer blinked.
"…So basically…"
"…I can't summon her."
Kaizer grinned.
"So you can only beg her to come."
Dazai punched his shoulder.
"Shut up."
Kaizer laughed.
"Worth it."
Then he looked around.
"…Still though… it's kinda cool."
Dazai nodded.
"…Yeah."
"Other wyverns aren't attacking us anymore."
"Because they sense their queen."
Kaizer puffed his chest.
"We're basically VIPs now."
"…Don't get used to it."
Deep Within — The Rangers' Struggle
Far below—
On the 74th level—
The air was heavy.
Hot.
Violent.
Ogres roared as they charged forward, their massive bodies shaking the ground.
Arthur stood at the front, sword steady despite the exhaustion in his arms.
"Hold formation!"
His voice cut through the chaos.
"They're too strong to take head-on—control the fight!"
Berry dashed to the side, daggers flashing.
"How many left?!"
Twix fired arrows rapidly, each one precise.
"Doesn't matter! Just don't die!"
Fenris laughed like a man possessed.
"I LOVE THIS!"
He slammed into an ogre, claws tearing through flesh.
Rarg blocked a massive strike, grunting.
"Focus, idiot!"
Denise staggered slightly.
"…I'm running out of mana…"
Lerith moved quickly between them, healing wounds.
"Stay alive. That's enough."
Behind them—
Happy lay on the ground, barely conscious.
Bruno knelt beside her, breathing heavily.
"…We can't keep this up…"
Arthur tightened his grip.
"…You don't have to."
He stepped forward.
Alone.
Back to the Trio — Signs of Hope
After clearing level after level—
The dungeon changed.
Level 28…
Broken.
Scars of battle everywhere.
Azlea crouched, touching the ground.
"…This wasn't us."
Anugus nodded.
"…Someone fought here recently."
Rio's eyes widened.
"…You mean—"
"…Rangers," Azlea finished.
Hope sparked.
Anugus stood.
"Move. Fast."
Reunion in Chaos
They didn't stop.
Didn't slow down.
Level after level—cleared.
Until—
They found them.
The battlefield exploded into view.
Ogres.
Rangers.
Chaos.
Without hesitation—
Anugus jumped in.
"MOVE!"
Electricity burst outward.
Azlea followed, water forming into sharp arrows.
Rio rushed to the backlines.
"I GOT YOU! DON'T DIE!"
Arthur turned—
…and froze.
"…You three?"
Anugus smirked.
"Surprise."
Azlea shouted while casting spells,
"We're helping, don't argue!"
Rio nervously added,
"Please don't be mad…"
Fenris burst out laughing.
"HA! THE KIDS ARE HERE!"
Arthur sighed.
"…Of course they are."
Meanwhile — The Lost Duo Finds the Path
After hours of wandering—
Kaizer suddenly stopped.
"…Wait."
Dazai looked ahead.
The lake.
"…This again?"
Kaizer pointed.
"…Look."
Vines.
Roots.
Holding the water apart.
Dazai's eyes widened.
"…Anugus."
They both grinned.
"Let's go."
The Final Push — Level 99
Back with the group—
The fight raged on.
Stronger.
Harder.
Everyone pushed beyond their limits.
After what felt like forever—
The final ogre fell.
Silence.
Heavy breathing filled the air.
"…We did it…" Rio whispered.
And then—
Footsteps.
Everyone turned.
"…Yo."
Kaizer waved casually.
"Miss us?"
Dazai stood behind him.
"…Finally found you guys."
Azlea's eye twitched.
"…WHERE WERE YOU TWO?!"
Kaizer grinned.
"Exploring."
"…WITH EGGS?!"
Everyone looked.
At the eggs.
Then back at them.
"…Those are…" Denise whispered.
"…Wyvern eggs…" Twix finished.
"…From the QUEEN?!" Fenris roared.
Kaizer nodded proudly.
"Yep."
Collective silence.
Then—
"YOU WHAT?!"
Azlea facepalmed.
"…At least you're alive."
Father and Son
Dazai walked toward Arthur.
"…Hey, Dad."
Arthur looked at him.
Tired.
Relieved.
"…You picked the worst time to visit."
Dazai smiled slightly.
"…Looks like it."
Arthur exhaled.
"…I'm fine."
Dazai nodded.
"…You look like trash."
Arthur smirked.
"…I feel like it too."
The Final Shift
Then—
The dungeon trembled.
The ground shook violently.
The air changed.
Everyone went silent.
Ahead—
A massive gate appeared.
Dark.
Ancient.
Heavy with power.
"…No way…" Rio whispered.
Anugus narrowed his eyes.
"…Level 100."
Arthur stepped forward.
"…Boss level."
The gate creaked open slowly.
A deep, echoing roar came from within.
Something massive.
Something ancient.
Something deadly.
Everyone took their stance.
Weapons ready.
Hearts pounding.
Dazai looked forward—
Eyes steady.
"…Let's finish this."
The darkness beyond the gate shifted.
And something stepped forward.
The true boss had arrived.i