Leon frowned deeply, holding the golden Abyssal Bead in his hand. His expression darkened as a realization struck him. "Wait... why is this another Abyssal Bead? This should''ve been the Dungeon Core," he muttered, turning the orb over in his palm, as though searching for an explanation in its faintly glowing surface.

    The group exchanged puzzled glances.

    Roselia approached cautiously, clutching the shimmering Item Core she had just claimed. "This isn''t the real Dungeon Core, is it?" she asked, suspicion evident in her tone.

    Leon shook his head slowly. "No. This is just a sub-core. It means..." His voice trailed off as his sharp eyes scanned the now-silent chamber. "It means there''s another hidden floor. We haven''t finished this dungeon yet."

    "What?" Kara stepped forward, her shield clanging softly against the ground. "Are you sure, Leon? The Tyrant was massive—how could that not be the final boss?"

    Leon turned the Abyssal Bead over in his hands again, his thoughts racing. "The old guards spoke of something deeper. They said no one had ever fully cleared this dungeon because the true final floor couldn''t be accessed without the right key."

    "And you think this Abyssal Bead is the key?" Marian asked, gripping her staff tightly.

    Leon nodded, his gaze steady. "This isn''t just a reward. It''s a marker—a key to unlock what lies below. There''s no other explanation."

    Dren scratched the back of his head, frowning. "Alright, say you''re right—how do we find this hidden floor? I don''t see any secret doors or glowing runes."

    Leon hesitated before speaking. "There might be another key that we''ve overlooked," he said, his voice thoughtful.

    "What do you mean by another key?" Lyric asked, puzzled.

    "At the door to this floor," Leon explained, "there were ten grooves. Nine of them formed a circle, where we placed the Abyssal Beads we''ve collected so far. But there was one in the center—larger than the others." He held up the golden Abyssal Bead for everyone to see. "It''s meant for this."

    "So, you''re saying we have to go back to that door and place this in the center groove to see if the real final floor opens?" Kara asked, her brow furrowed.

    Leon nodded firmly. "Yes. If we want to truly conquer this dungeon, we have to."

    The team exchanged uncertain looks, but one by one, they nodded their agreement. The prospect of another, even more dangerous floor loomed over them, but they trusted Leon''s instincts. Without hesitation, they began their trek back to the enigmatic door, ready to face whatever awaited them beyond.

    The journey back to the enigmatic door was tense. The air seemed heavier, and the silence in the dungeon was unsettling, as though the walls themselves were holding their breath. The team moved cautiously, their exhaustion tempered by the anticipation of what might come next.

    When they reached the massive door, it loomed over them like a sentinel guarding untold secrets. The grooves where they had placed the nine Abyssal Beads formed a circle, their faint glow pulsing rhythmically. But the larger groove at the center remained ominously dark.

    The air around the Azure Bull Demon grew heavy as it shifted forward, standing to its full, imposing height. Its mere presence seemed to warp the space around it, the bluish glow of its body intensifying as it prepared to unleash its wrath.

    "A human and a demoness?" The Azure Bull Demon opened its mouth, its deep voice reverberating through the chamber.

    "Finally, someone released the seal of this damned place," it continued, its massive form rising from the throne. The sheer presence of the demon was oppressive, each movement exuding a predatory grace. "I have been sending out Blue Warnings for over a century now, yet only now does someone come to break the seal."

    The demon''s piercing sapphire eyes glared at them, brimming with suppressed fury. "Do you know how hard it was?" it snarled, lifting its enormous hands as if stretching after a long imprisonment.

    Leon tensed, his instincts kicking in. Without warning, the demon swiped a clawed hand through the air, and a shockwave tore across the chamber.

    "Move!" Leon shouted.

    Both Leon and Roselia leapt to the side just in time as the spot they had been standing on exploded, leaving behind three massive claw-like gouges in the stone floor.

    "Hm," the demon rumbled, tilting its head as it studied them. "At least you won''t die as pitifully as that weakling king who dared to seal me here."

    Its lips curled into a cruel grin. "But don''t think for a second that you''ll fare any better."

    Roselia''s daggers gleamed in her hands as she slipped into a fighting stance, her movements fluid and deliberate. Leon drew his blade, his eyes never leaving the massive figure in front of him.

    "So, it was you who had been causing the monster tides by sending the Blue Winds?" Leon asked, his eyes narrowing as he fixed his gaze on the towering Azure Bull Demon.

    "Yes, it was me," the demon replied, its voice dripping with contempt. "I hoped some fool would recognize where the winds came from and come to this place to break the seal. They came, oh yes—but those cowards always turned back at the ninth or tenth floor." The demon sneered, its massive horns glinting under the eerie light of the chamber. "Those blind insects never even knew this hidden eleventh floor existed, let alone dared to open it."

    Leon''s grip on his sword tightened as the demon continued, "But you... you''ve done it. As a token of my gratitude for releasing me, I''ll grant you a swift death."

    Before Leon could respond, the demon moved with blinding speed, closing the distance in an instant. Its hand, glowing with an azure energy as sharp as blades, slashed down toward Leon.

    "Leon!" Roselia shouted, her daggers flashing as she launched herself to intercept.

    Leon reacted swiftly, raising his blade just in time. Sparks flew as the demon''s claws collided with the steel, the impact forcing him back several paces. The sheer strength behind the attack was enough to crack the ground beneath him.

    "Faster than I thought," Leon muttered, steadying himself.