The battle blurred into a rhythm.
***
Steel.
Bone.
Dust.
***
Each swing of Arceus's sword carved through another skeleton, each impact sending brittle fragments scattering across the molten-lit ground. The cavern echoed with the dry clatter of collapsing bones, the hiss of lava veins, and the sharp, steady beat of his breathing growing heavier with every strike.
***
Ding!
[You killed Skeleton Soldier. +1 coin]
[+1 Skeleton Soldier's spirit has been absorbed by Nemesis' will.]
***
Again.
***
Ding!
[You killed Skeleton Soldier. +1 coin]
[+1 Skeleton Soldier's spirit has been absorbed by Nemesis' will.]
***
Again.
***
Again.
***
The notifications stacked like a silent tally of effort and exhaustion, each one a small victory carved out of relentless motion. Arceus's focus sharpened with every kill, his hesitation fading, replaced by instinct, then by intent.
***
Twenty-four skeletons.
***
His mana ran dry.
***
The glow around his blade flickered—
Then vanished.
***
Before he could even speak, another crystal flew toward him.
***
He caught it.
***
Absorbed it.
***
Ding!
[524 Mana Points worth reserves added to host]
***
The energy surged again.
***
Warm.
Sharp.
Temporary.
***
They moved deeper.
***
Through narrow tunnels where the air grew thicker, the walls closing in as if the dungeon itself was watching. Skeletons continued to rise, and Arceus continued to cut them down, step by step, breath by breath, until—
***
Thirty-seven more fell.
***
And then—
***
The space opened.
***
A chamber.
***
Wide.
Silent.
***
Too silent.
***
The ground trembled.
***
A low rumble rolled through the cavern, deeper than anything before.
***
Then—
***
It rose.
***
Stone cracked.
Lava veins flared.
***
A massive figure pulled itself from the earth, its body a fusion of charred wood and molten rock, its limbs thick and heavy, its movements slow—but filled with overwhelming weight.
***
Arceus's eyes narrowed instantly.
***
The system responded.
***
Emberwood Golem
Level: 21
Grade: Rare
***
"…Level twenty-one?"
***
His steps faltered.
***
The difference—
***
Was immediate.
***
The skeletons had been manageable.
Predictable.
Weak.
***
This—
***
Was not.
***
Behind him, Veronika's voice came, low but tense.
***
"It's an elite-tier monster…"
***
A pause.
***
"You sure you can handle it?"
***
Before Arceus could answer—
***
Alaric spoke.
***
"What is there to worry about?"
***
His tone was calm.
Too calm.
***
"Betty is here."
***
Veronika looked away, her lips pressing together.
***
"…Betty's already uncomfortable helping him."
***
A quiet admission.
***
"And I don't know how long I can keep her under control."
***
But Arceus had already been pushed forward.
***
A step.
***
Another.
***
He tightened his grip on the sword.
***
The golem roared.
***
RAAA—!
***
It charged.
***
The ground shook under its weight, its massive fist rising, casting a shadow over Arceus before crashing down with terrifying force.
***
He rolled.
***
Barely.
***
The impact shattered the ground where he stood a moment before, fragments of stone exploding outward.
***
Arceus sprang to his feet and swung.
***
The blade struck its leg.
***
A shallow cut.
***
Mana drained.
***
More than thirty points—gone in a single strike.
***
"…What?"
***
The cost—
***
Was brutal.
***
Behind him—
***
"Betty, kill it."
***
Veronika's command came sharp.
***
The cat raised its paw—
***
But—
***
"Wait."
***
Alaric stepped in.
***
His hand lifted.
***
Mana gathered.
***
Then—
***
It surged.
***
Purple tendrils shot forward, wrapping around the golem like chains, binding its limbs, locking it in place as it roared and struggled.
***
GRAAA—!
***
It couldn't move.
***
Alaric's gaze shifted to Arceus.
***
"Don't think."
***
A pause.
***
"Attack."
***
That was all he needed.
***
Arceus charged.
***
No hesitation.
***
No doubt.
***
He swung.
***
Again.
***
And again.
***
Each strike chipped away at the golem's body, sparks of molten energy scattering with every impact. His breathing grew heavier, his muscles screaming, his grip tightening as the sword trembled in his hands.
***
Minutes passed.
***
"Master Seraph—another crystal!"
***
Ding!
[348 Point of mana has been added.]
***
The fight continued.
***
Sweat dripped down his neck.
His arms burned.
His legs trembled.
***
But he didn't stop.
***
Then—
***
He leapt.
***
High.
***
The sword burned with mana.
***
"Oraaa—!"
***
He brought it down.
***
Straight into the chest.
***
The core cracked.
***
Then—
***
Shattered.
***
The golem froze.
***
Then dissolved.
***
Its massive form collapsing into grains of glowing ash that scattered into the air like dying embers.
***
Ding!
[[You killed Emberwood Golem +100 coins]
[Emberwood Golem's spirit has been absorbed by Nemesis' will]
[Emberwood Golem's spirit is converted into 100 common-grade spirits.]
***
"…Ugh…"
***
Arceus dropped to the ground.
***
His body finally gave in.
***
He sat there, shoulders slumped, breath ragged, his arms heavy as if they no longer belonged to him.
***
Half an hour.
***
Of constant fighting.
***
Alaric frowned.
***
"Arceus."
***
His tone sharpened.
***
"We've only covered one-third of the dungeon."
***
A pause.
***
"You don't get to be tired yet."
***
"Get up."
***
Arceus looked up.
***
The words felt heavy.
***
Unfair.
***
But—
***
Not wrong.
***
"The more you push," Alaric continued, "the closer you get to drawing out Nemesis."
***
A beat.
***
"If you weren't outmatched…"
***
"I wouldn't have stepped in."
***
Arceus clenched his jaw.
***
Inside—
***
He scoffed.
***
I don't need Nemesis.
***
I just need kills.
***
Spirits.
***
But he said nothing.
***
Instead—
***
He forced himself up.
***
His legs wobbled.
***
For a moment—
***
He almost fell.
***
But he steadied.
***
Nodded.
***
Ready to move again—
***
A hand stopped him.
***
Firm.
***
"Sit."
***
Veronika.
***
Her grip tightened around his arm.
***
"Hmm?"
***
"Uncle, that's enough."
***
Her voice cut through the tension.
Sharp.
Unyielding.
***
Alaric didn't budge.
***
"Why?"
***
His arms folded again.
***
"He's not done."
***
A pause.
***
"If he rests every time he's tired…"
***
"He'll never grow."
***
His gaze hardened.
***
"Monsters won't wait."
***
Veronika stepped forward.
***
Planted herself between them.
***
"He's not you."
***
Her voice rose.
***
"This is his first dungeon."
***
"You can't treat him like a veteran."
***
The air tightened.
***
"Vera…"
***
"You're too soft."
***
"And you're too stubborn!"
***
Her words snapped like a whip.
***
Even Arceus blinked.
***
This—
***
He hadn't expected.
***
"I don't care if you're my uncle," she continued, her voice trembling slightly but refusing to break. "I'm not letting you push him until he collapses just to force out some connection with a spirit king."
***
Silence.
***
Heavy.
***
Tense.
***
Alaric exhaled slowly.
***
Defeat.
***
"…Fine."
***
A pause.
***
"Twenty minutes."
***
His tone was firm.
***
"Not a second more."
***
Veronika's shoulders relaxed slightly.
***
A small victory.
***
She turned.
***
Guided Arceus gently toward a broken section of the wall.
***
"Sit."
***
This time—
***
Not a command.
***
But care.