CHAPTER 40: BOSS MONSTER (2)

The Minotaur was wreaking havoc. Each movement of its massive body shook the ground, its club smashing stone and sending dust flying.

Two spells streaked through the air—one blazing with light, the other crackling with lightning.

Seraphina and Aisha had unleashed their strongest magic, but when the spells collided with the beast, the Minotaur roared and kept moving.

The attacks had no effect.

Marcus was holding it off at the front, his spear clashing with the giant’s wooden club. He was barely keeping up.

The monster fought without skill, only raw rage and brute force. It swung wildly, but each strike carried terrifying power.

Three arrows zipped through the air, fired by Eliana, but the Minotaur smashed them aside as if they were nothing.

It was all meaningless.

Amon, who had been watching, turned his head. Not far away, he spotted Amelia and Neil. Both were badly wounded but still conscious—better off than most of them.

He waved. "Hey, Amelia!"

The two turned. Their eyes widened in shock, then softened in relief when they saw him. They rushed over quickly.

"Amon! You’re too injured!" Amelia exclaimed, her eyes full of worry. Then she noticed Arnold lying unconscious beside him, and panic crossed her face. "Is he okay? What happened to you both after you fell into that trap?"

"Calm down first," Amon said quickly. "He’s fine, just unconscious... for now. Can you heal us?"

"Yes, treat them first," Neil added firmly.

Amelia nodded, immediately kneeling beside Arnold. She checked his condition and began channeling a soft light healing spell over him.

"It looks like he drank an advanced healing potion earlier. Most of his wounds already closed, but he must’ve used a powerful attack afterward. His body couldn’t handle the strain, so he collapsed." Amelia explained, then turned toward Amon.

She pulled a small vial from her ring. "We’ve already used our advanced potions. This is all I have left—a basic one. Drink it, and I’ll heal you with my spell."

Amon nodded, snatched the vial, and popped it open. He gulped the potion down in one go.

Warmth spread through his body as his smaller cuts began closing up, though the deeper wounds remained.

Amelia pressed her glowing palms against his body. Light enveloped him, healing flesh together bit by bit. It wasn’t perfect, but it was better than nothing.

"Thanks, Amelia," Amon muttered, stretching his aching body.

Neil, pale-faced, stared at the ongoing fight.

Amon turned back toward the battlefield.

"Shit..." He cursed under his breath. In just a few minutes, the battle had taken a drastic turn.

Aisha had collapsed against the stone wall, her chest heaving as she struggled to stay upright. Marcus was on his knees, his spear planted in the ground to keep himself from falling.

Only Eliana was still in decent shape, firing arrows from the backline.Since she was ranged dealer. But even she was clearly reaching her limits.

At the front, Seraphina was still standing. Her armor was bloodied, her breathing ragged, but her sword had yet to drop. She slashed at the monster’s flesh, but her blade barely left a scratch.

She leapt back, dodging a swing. The Minotaur followed, only to be intercepted by another volley of arrows. It smashed them out of the air with its club and roared.

"ROARRRRR!"

The very air trembled with the sound.

Seraphina bent forward slightly, one leg extended, knees bent. Her right arm stretched back, gripping her sword in a reverse stance. Her entire body glowed faintly, golden sparks surrounding her form.

The ground beneath her cracked as mana surged through her.

Then—she dashed. A golden flash tore across the hall.

Her blade struck the Minotaur’s torso before it could react. Blood sprayed into the air.

The beast howled in pain and swung its club at her, but Seraphina narrowly dodged, rolling back with speed that defied her injuries.

And that’s when Amon saw it.

From the shallow cut across its torso, something faintly glimmered. A red, glowing crystal embedded inside its body.

Amon froze. Wait... Hector’s words...

"If you want to survive... attack the crystal."

Realization struck like lightning. He didn’t waste a second.

"HEY, EVERYONE!" Amon shouted at the top of his lungs. "Inside its torso—there’s a glowing crystal! That’s its weakness! Destroy it!"

Eliana didn’t hesitate.She didn’t question. She instantly loosed a volley of arrows aimed directly at the wound.

Marcus, forcing himself up with sheer will, gritted his teeth and dashed forward. He thrust his spear with all his strength, aiming for the exposed spot.

The Minotaur blocked the arrows with its club, but Marcus’s spear pierced through the cut. It struck the crystal with a sharp crack!

The crystal trembled, a visible fracture running across its surface.

But before Marcus could push further, the monster’s massive club slammed into his side.

"Guhh!" Marcus cried out as his body was launched across the hall, crashing hard into the stone wall.

The Minotaur didn’t stop. It turned its furious gaze on Seraphina again.

But before it could attack—something else struck.

A spear. Not Marcus’s, but another, glowing faintly. It shot forward and embedded itself directly into the creature’s torso.

BOOM!

The spear exploded, sending shockwaves through the hall. The Minotaur roared in agony, clutching its side.

Amon took his chance. He dashed forward, pulling out his gun.

"Bang! Bang!"

Two shots fired, bullets ripping through the air. The Minotaur’s eyes snapped toward him, but Seraphina rushed in, drawing its attention.

One bullet struck true, slamming into the fractured crystal.

Crack!

The sound echoed, but the core wasn’t destroyed yet.

The monster went berserk, its movements wild and uncontrollable.

Seraphina met its club head-on, her sword glowing brighter than ever. Her movements looked stronger, sharper, as if desperation itself fueled her body. She blocked the club with her glowing blade, her teeth gritted.

Amon seized the opening. He raised his hand, index finger aimed at the wound.

"[Mana Bullet]!"

A small, compressed sphere of mana shot forth. Stronger than his revolver bullets. At the same time, an arrow from Eliana whistled through the air.

Both attacks struck the crystal together.

CRACK!

The sound of shattering rang out. The crystal burst apart, glowing fragments scattering like fireflies.

The Minotaur let out a final, earth-shaking roar before its massive body collapsed.

THUD!

The entire hall trembled as the beast fell lifeless.

Amon dropped his arm, chest heaving. Then, despite the blood covering his face, he broke into a wide grin. "We... we did it!"

Seraphina fell to her knees, exhausted, but a faint smile curved her lips.

Eliana ran to Marcus, who lay slumped against the wall. She shook him desperately, then poured a potion down his throat.

Slowly, Marcus groaned and opened his eyes.

Amon walked over to Seraphina, still grinning. "Heh, you were amazing."

Seraphina didn’t respond immediately. Her eyes swept across the hall. All around, students lay scattered. Some were unconscious. Some... weren’t moving at all.

Her expression darkened. "Some students might already be dead. Go check on them."

Amon blinked, then nodded quickly.

The fight was over. But the cost was heavy.

He moved among the fallen, checking pulses, dragging the unconscious together. Amelia and Neil did the same, their faces grim.

Then Amelia suddenly spoke, her voice tense. "Wait... why hasn’t the gate opened yet? Didn’t we just defeat the boss monster?"

Everyone froze.

She was right. Normally, killing the dungeon boss should release the gate back to the surface. But nothing happened.

"That’s... strange," Eliana said, her tone serious. "Why is the exit still sealed?"

The hall fell into heavy silence.

The victory that should have brought relief only deepened the unease.

Then—

Tap. Tap.

Footsteps echoed.

From the far end of the hall, a man appeared. Middle-aged, cloaked in shadows, his calm steps cutting through the silence.

Everyone turned toward him at once.