Meanwhile, in the city, Eliane felt something strange.
I will intervene if necessary… it's a training, she whispered.
At that moment, in the cave, Joel attacked with a smile, thinking this would be the end.
Suddenly, he felt an oppressive pressure pressing down on him. He froze for a second and saw a slime-like substance merging in front of him. His body instinctively screamed at him to flee.
I can't… she's here alone…
Joel gritted his teeth, raised his sword, and strengthened his leg muscles as he jumped toward the merging substance.
I need to finish this now.
But immediately, his right hand went numb.
Is this… my hand? What happened?
Tentacles formed from the substance and struck him, throwing him like an insect. Joel hit the ground hard, dust and rocks scattering around him.
A monstrous figure emerged—tentacles writhing in every direction, no eyes, no visible hands, only a dark female face staring down at him.
"Haar!" The scream echoed through the cave and even outside.
Joel's eyes opened wide, but his attacks had no effect on the creature.
I don't have much time left, he whispered, pushing through the pain.
He inhaled deeply, expelled the mist from his lungs, and concentrated on his target. His vision sharpened.
The monster attacked again, tentacles lashing with blinding speed. Joel dodged each one, his body moving instinctively. One after another, he avoided them, exhaling sharply and closing his eyes. In his mind, he saw a flicker of blue flames igniting within him.
Suddenly, he opened his eyes, glowing with intensity. A small aura of energy enveloped his entire body.
The monster lunged again. Joel slashed its tentacles—again, again, and again—each strike sending a shockwave through the cave.
As they closed the distance, the creature swung a massive punch. Joel gritted his teeth and countered with a vertical strike, slicing the monster cleanly in two.
Is this… the end?
His body trembled from exhaustion, his vision blurred. But the creature's roar echoed once more.
"Haar!"
Will I die here? he whispered.
Suddenly, a sword blocked a tentacle aimed at him.
"Are you alright, kid?" a voice called.
It was the person who had spoken to him before. Outside the cave, the scene was horrifying—blood, broken bodies, chaos everywhere.
The little girl they had rescued earlier emerged, tears streaming down her face.
Don't die here! You hear me?
Joel, in critical condition, managed to whisper with the last of his energy,
Do… not… open my… eyes.
His heart slowed dangerously. One of the adventurers, a woman, said,
"He lost a lot of blood… our healer is with the other group. Maybe… this is the end of his journey."
Joel inhaled sharply, fighting the darkness, and a blue aura erupted around him. His eyes shifted color as raw energy coursed through his body. Those nearby felt an uncomfortable pressure as his steps, slow and confident, struck the cave floor like a predator's.
A voice echoed in his mind for the first time:
Do you need more power?
Open your eyes… let me see what you saw.
His entire body burned with unbelievable pain as the energy formed into a magical hand around him.
Deeper in the cave, three rank-D adventurers approached a glimmering pile of gold.
"Hey, wait! It could be a trap," one said.
But before they could react, a black substance fell from above. The monster revealed itself, swallowing one adventurer whole. The others froze, then rushed to attack—but one was lifted into the air, screaming, and cut in two. The monster mutated, becoming a fully humanoid female with horrifying power.
The adventurers who had saved Joel arrived, blood splattered everywhere. One immediately used a skill: "Shape Blade!" Sharp air pressure cut through the cave walls.
The monster dodged effortlessly, mocking their attacks. Repeated strikes made the adventurer bleed through his nostrils.
Then, an overwhelming step echoed. Joel approached, his presence alone radiating power.
"Everyone, get out of here!" he commanded, his words imbued with authority.
The monster froze, sensing death in his gaze, before she retaliated. Joel met her attack with his magical hand: bones cracked, blood spilled, her stomach burst. She slammed against the wall, shattered—but remained alive. His magic hand dissipated.
Joel's eyes blazed with intensity. The monster decomposed into black sludge, finally lifeless.
Exhausted, Joel was about to collapse. Eliane caught him, a warm smile on her face.
"You did great, Joel," she said softly.