When the Amphisbaena was stranded on the shore, its fate was already sealed.

The once-formidable floor master, now grounded and fully exposed, could no longer maintain its former majesty.

The light of its life flickered like a dying star hanging in the far reaches of the night sky—dim, unstable, and on the verge of vanishing forever.

Though Amphisbaena remained incredibly powerful, its overall strength assessed at the level of a terrifying level 5, it now stood before a group of elite adventurers whose abilities far exceeded the standards of any ordinary level 3. Against such a lineup, the countdown to its demise had already begun.

Alise, flushed with exhilaration, couldn't contain her rising emotions. She had never imagined that their campaign against a floor boss like Amphisbaena could proceed so swiftly and effectively.

"Lyra, I'm too fired up! You take over the command!" She exclaimed, her voice practically shaking with excitement.

Hearing this, Lyra frowned slightly and responded with exasperation, "Fine. But for the love of the gods, calm down. Don't lose your head in the middle of battle."

"I get it!"

Alise replied hastily, before darting forward like an arrow released from a drawn bow, her figure blurring as she charged straight for Amphisbaena.

Just then, the two grotesque, bloodied heads of the beast began to stir. Perhaps spurred into action by the barrage of magic that had bombarded its body, the right head reared upward and opened its gaping maw, unleashing ten thick streams of crimson mist into the air.

The dense, blood-red fog rapidly surged outward, wrapping itself around Amphisbaena like a protective shroud.

This fog wasn't just for show—it acted as a defensive barrier, significantly dampening the power of magic that dared to pierce it. The spells launched by Ryuu and the others began to lose potency upon contact, their force nullified by the thick mist.

At the same time, the left head locked eyes on the rear-guard magic casters—the source of its torment.

Akira, always attuned to the battlefield's subtle energy shifts, could feel an intense, searing heat rapidly coalescing at the base of Amphisbaena's throat.

"It's charging its dragon breath." He muttered, narrowing his eyes.

The mouth of the left head opened wide, revealing jagged fangs and a terrifying glow.

A fireball, blazing with tremendous intensity, began to form—a burning sphere of destruction. The air around it twisted with heat, distorting reality like a mirage.

"Oh no, you don't." Akira said coldly.

He swiftly planted both palms on the icy lake surface beneath him. At once, an overwhelming surge of ice-elemental magic erupted from his body, sweeping outward like a flood.

With a thunderous crack, a massive wall of glacial ice rose from the ground, thick and resolute. It shot upward with incredible speed, intercepting the right head just before it could unleash its blazing fury.

Boom!

The fire exploded inside the beast's own mouth, the detonation echoing through the battlefield like a cannon shot.

Amphisbaena howled in agony. The internal blast had caused grievous harm—it thrashed wildly, steam pouring from its nostrils as its head reeled backward.

Seeing the opening, Alise turned sharply to Ais and shouted, "Ais-chan! Handle the red mist—now!"

Ais gave a small nod. Her lips moved quietly. "Tempest."

Wind began to churn around her, green and wild.

This time, however, Ais didn't form her usual wind barrier. Instead, she concentrated the wind into her sword. The slender rapier in her hands gleamed with an emerald brilliance.

Gripping the hilt tightly, Ais let out a battle cry in her heart.

The next moment, a monstrous gust roared out from her sword, a storm of raw power surging like a beast unchained.

Even Ais herself struggled to resist its force—her feet skidded along the ground as she fought to maintain her stance.

Swooooosh—!

The green tempest slammed into Amphisbaena with a deafening roar.

Deep gouges were torn into the dragon's flesh, and torrents of blood gushed from the wounds. The red mist protecting it instantly dispersed, unveiling the creature's disfigured and rage-filled faces.

"Nice one, Ais-chan!" Alise cheered, her voice vibrant with admiration.

Without hesitation, she turned toward Kaguya and Neze. "Let's go! It's our turn!"

"Yeah." Kaguya responded casually, while Neze nodded with sharp resolve.

As the right head lunged again, Alise dodged swiftly to the left, her sword igniting in blazing flame. With a fierce swing, she delivered a series of slashes that scorched the beast's thick hide, branding it with blackened wounds.

Suddenly, the injured head twisted its neck furiously, dragging its battered body backward in retreat. But even as it recoiled, it retaliated with vengeance.

Its maw opened wide, and a blast of dragon breath erupted with devastating fury—directed straight at the advancing Kaguya and Neze.

Facing the terrifying and blazing attack head-on, Kaguya remained unfazed. Her sharp eyes never wavered as she shouted toward the werewolf girl beside her, her voice firm and commanding, "Neze!"

As if responding to an unspoken signal that only true partners could understand, Neze immediately caught on.

As someone who had fought side by side with Kaguya countless times before, she didn't need further instruction.

She simply nodded without hesitation, acknowledging the command with silent determination.

The moment was critical.

The two of them moved at the exact same time—splitting apart in a blur of motion to evade the searing dragon breath that raged toward them like a tidal wave of destruction.

(End of Chapter)

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