For several long moments...
No one moved.
The creature's enormous head tumbled across the frozen valley, each impact shaking the mountain as it rolled before finally coming to rest against a distant cliff.
The body remained standing.
Only for a heartbeat.
Then golden-white mana erupted from every wound.
The explosion of magic washed across the battlefield like a warm wind, scattering snow into the sky.
Silence followed.
The System's warnings vanished.
The oppressive weight that had filled the mountain disappeared.
It was over.
The Vixens still stood behind Warden.
None of them had lowered their weapons.
None of them had spoken.
Their eyes remained fixed on the lone figure standing in the distance.
Blonde hair stirred gently in the mountain wind.
Black trench coat fluttering behind him.
Peacemaker rested casually across one shoulder.
He looked...
Untouched.
As though the greatest battle of their lives had merely been another afternoon's training session.
Llandra was the first to exhale.
"...Husband..."
There was admiration in her voice.
Wonder.
And perhaps a little disbelief.
Bunny slowly lowered her hammer.
"I..."
She shook her head.
"I thought I knew how strong Jaxy was."
She laughed quietly.
"I had no idea."
Zee adjusted her glasses for what felt like the hundredth time that day.
"My calculations..."
She smiled.
"...were significantly incorrect."
Nyxian folded her arms.
Her crimson eyes never left Jax.
"My Beloved..."
She grinned.
"I call dibs on being first with him tonight."
The others finally looked at her.
Nyxian shrugged innocently.
"In my defense..."
She placed a hand dramatically over her chest.
"...I guarantee I'll be quick. I'm already starting now on round two after watching that. I know the rest of you are probably in a similar position."
Llandra looked away first, a faint blush touching her cheeks. She casually crossed her legs.
Bunny's ears stood straight up.
Zee suddenly found the snowy ground incredibly interesting.
None of them argued.
Which, to Nyxian's immense satisfaction...
Told her everything she needed to know.
The only one who reacted differently...
Was Warden.
The General Knight slowly turned his helmet toward Nyxian.
He looked at her.
Then at the other three.
Then back again.
He remained perfectly silent.
After several thoughtful seconds...
He simply turned back around and began walking toward Jax.
Nyxian blinked.
"...Was he judging me?"
Bunny giggled.
"I think he was trying to understand you."
"I don't think he wants to," Zee admitted.
"I don't blame him," Llandra said with a smile.
Inside the cave, Jax had already returned to the throne chamber.
System notifications filled his vision.
NEW EXTRACTIONS AVAILABLE
Jax looked across the battlefield.
Frost Wizards.
Crystal Yetis.
Ice Sentinels.
Frozen Behemoths.
The deeper floors had been filled with powerful monsters.
Until now...
None of them had responded to Shadow Extraction.
He frowned.
"Interesting..."
He knelt beside the nearest Frost Wizard.
"Come Forth."
Shadow poured across the body.
It rose immediately.
Jax blinked.
"It worked?"
The System chimed again.
DUNGEON ANCHOR DESTROYED
RESTRICTIONS REMOVED
He smiled.
"So that's what was preventing it."
His grin widened.
"Well then..."
He looked around the enormous battlefield.
"...let's see how much room I really have."
"Come Forth."
One shadow stood.
Then another.
Another.
And another.
Soon the cavern echoed with a chorus of rising shadows.
One became ten.
Ten became fifty.
Fifty became hundreds.
Jax lost count.
Meanwhile...
Far below...
Warden had quietly reached the lower floors.
Without being asked, he began directing the Shadow Army.
A silent gesture.
Crystal soldiers immediately separated.
Some guarded corridors.
Others searched every chamber.
The strongest monsters were carefully lifted.
Not dragged.
Carried.
One after another, they ascended the dungeon toward Jax.
Like an honor guard returning fallen champions.
Jax watched them arrive.
He chuckled.
"So you already know."
Each body Warden selected possessed unusually dense mana.
Every single one successfully answered Shadow Extraction.
Hours passed.
The army never slowed.
Neither did Jax.
Eventually...
The line ended.
The final body disappeared beneath shadow.
Warden climbed the last staircase alone.
His sword rested upon one shoulder.
His shield remained locked to his arm.
He stopped before Jax.
Neither spoke.
Jax simply raised an eyebrow.
"No more?"
Warden lowered his helmet.
A single slow nod.
Jax looked around the now-empty dungeon.
Rows upon rows of newly risen shadows stood silently awaiting orders.
His legion had grown tremendously.
He had expected to leave with Frost Crystals.
Instead...
He had gained an army.
His gaze drifted toward the cavern where the ancient being had fallen.
The creature itself still resisted Shadow Extraction.
It wasn't a beast.
It never had been.
Whatever it truly was...
It belonged to an age long before dungeons.
Jax smiled.
"I suppose I can't win them all."
Warden spoke quietly.
"No..."
A brief pause.
"...my liege."
Jax sighed.
"You know..."
He rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"You really don't have to call me that."
"Understood."
Another pause.
"...my liege."
Jax couldn't help laugh.
"You're impossible."
Warden said nothing.
He simply stood at attention.
Waiting for the next command.
And somewhere in the back of Jax's mind...
A new thought began to form.
If Warden could learn...
If his shadows could now choose...
How much stronger...
Could they still become?