The dungeon trembled again.
This time the vibration was stronger.
Small fragments of stone fell from the ceiling and shattered against the ground.
The air itself felt heavier.
Lyra's sword slowly rose into a defensive position.
"Everyone back."
Her voice was calm, but Arin could hear the tension hidden beneath it.
Borin planted the blade of his axe into the stone floor and leaned forward slightly, squinting into the darkness ahead.
"Whatever that is… it's big."
Sel raised his staff and began channeling mana.
A faint blue glow surrounded him.
Arin remained silent.
Future Sight flickered quietly in the back of his mind.
Short flashes of movement appeared inside his vision.
A shadow.
Claws.
Blood.
Then the system flashed red.
[Warning.]
[High Level Entity Detected.]
The rumbling sound grew louder.
Something was crawling toward them.
Slow.
Heavy.
Each movement echoed through the tunnel.
Then the darkness shifted.
Two massive glowing eyes appeared first.
They floated within the shadows like burning lanterns.
The creature slowly stepped forward.
Arin's pupils narrowed.
The monster was enormous.
Its body resembled a giant spider, but far larger than anything natural.
Eight armored legs slammed into the stone floor one after another.
The creature's body was covered with thick black plates that looked harder than steel.
A massive maw opened beneath its head.
Rows of jagged teeth moved like grinding blades.
Sel whispered in horror.
"…Dungeon Devourer."
The system immediately confirmed the analysis.
[Target Identified.]
[Abyss Devourer]
[Level: 28]
[Threat Level: High]
Borin cursed loudly.
"That thing shouldn't be this close to the dungeon entrance!"
Lyra's expression hardened.
"This mission report said the dungeon was Bronze level."
Sel swallowed.
"This is Silver level at least."
The Abyss Devourer screeched.
The sound echoed violently through the cavern.
The creature suddenly lunged forward.
Its massive legs slammed into the ground with terrifying speed.
"MOVE!" Lyra shouted.
The team scattered instantly.
The monster's claws smashed into the ground where they had been standing moments before.
CRASH.
The stone floor cracked open.
Arin moved smoothly to the side.
Future Sight revealed each movement of the monster slightly before it happened.
Even so…
The creature was fast.
Borin charged first.
The giant warrior roared as he swung his axe with full force.
"DIE!"
The axe slammed against the monster's armored leg.
CLANG!
The impact sent sparks flying.
But the armor barely scratched.
Borin jumped back immediately.
"Damn it!"
Lyra dashed forward.
Her sword glowed with concentrated mana.
She aimed directly for the creature's joints.
SLASH!
Her blade struck between two armor plates.
Black blood spilled out.
The monster screeched again.
"Good!" Borin shouted.
"That hurt it!"
But the creature reacted instantly.
One massive leg swept sideways.
Lyra barely managed to block the attack.
The impact threw her backward several meters.
She landed on her feet but slid across the stone floor.
Sel raised his staff again.
A powerful magic circle appeared in the air.
"Flame Lance!"
A concentrated beam of fire shot toward the monster's head.
The blast exploded against the creature's armor.
Flames spread across its body.
For a moment the monster seemed stunned.
But then the fire faded.
The creature shook its body.
Most of the flames simply rolled off its armored shell.
Sel's face turned pale.
"…It resisted the spell."
Arin analyzed the monster carefully.
The system displayed additional data.
[Abyss Devourer]
[Armor Density: High]
[Weak Points: Underbelly / Eye Cluster]
Arin narrowed his eyes.
Future Sight activated again.
The monster's next movement appeared in his vision.
It would attack Sel.
Arin moved immediately.
The giant creature lunged toward the mage.
Its massive jaws opened wide.
Sel froze for half a second.
Too slow.
But Arin was already there.
He grabbed Sel's robe and pulled him backward.
The monster's teeth slammed shut inches from Sel's head.
CRUNCH.
Stone shattered where the attack landed.
Sel's face was pale.
"…Thank you."
Arin nodded slightly.
"Stay behind me."
The Abyss Devourer screeched again.
Its eyes focused directly on Arin now.
The system displayed another warning.
[Host has attracted enemy aggression.]
Arin exhaled slowly.
"Good."
Lyra regained her stance.
"What are you thinking?"
Arin spoke calmly.
"The armor is too strong."
He pointed toward the monster's underside.
"But the belly is unprotected."
Borin grinned.
"So we flip it?"
"Exactly."
Lyra immediately understood.
"Borin — distract it."
"Sel — prepare your strongest spell."
She looked at Arin.
"You and I go for the weak point."
Borin laughed loudly.
"Now THAT sounds like a plan!"
The giant warrior charged forward again.
"HEY UGLY!"
He slammed his axe against the ground to get the monster's attention.
The Abyss Devourer turned toward him instantly.
Perfect.
Lyra dashed forward from the left side.
Arin moved from the right.
Future Sight revealed the monster's attacks before they happened.
He dodged each strike by a narrow margin.
The creature was powerful.
But predictable.
Borin took the biggest risk.
He ran directly under the monster's body.
"NOW!"
Lyra leaped into the air.
Her sword glowed brighter than before.
Arin jumped at the same moment.
Future Sight showed the perfect opening.
The monster lifted one leg to attack Borin.
Its entire underside became exposed.
Lyra struck first.
Her blade pierced deep into the monster's belly.
Arin followed immediately.
His fist slammed into the same wound with explosive force.
CRACK.
The creature screamed in agony.
Black blood poured onto the stone floor.
But it still wasn't enough.
The monster thrashed violently.
Lyra and Arin jumped away just in time.
"SEL!" Borin shouted.
The mage raised his staff high above his head.
A massive magic circle appeared in the air.
The energy inside the dungeon surged.
Sel's voice echoed through the cavern.
"INFERNO BURST!"
A huge explosion of fire engulfed the monster's exposed belly.
BOOOOM.
Flames filled the entire tunnel.
The Abyss Devourer screamed one final time.
Its massive body collapsed onto the stone floor.
The dungeon fell silent again.
For several seconds no one moved.
Then the system displayed a message.
[Enemy Eliminated.]
[+1500 EXP]
[Level Up.]
Arin breathed slowly.
The fight had been intense.
But something felt strange.
Because the system suddenly displayed another message.
One that made Arin's eyes narrow.
[Warning.]
[Additional presence detected deeper within the dungeon.]
Arin looked into the darkness beyond the tunnel.
The Abyss Devourer…
Was not the real threat.
Something else…
Was still waiting below.