The cavern stretched wider than Leon had imagined.
Jagged stone pillars rose from the ground like the fangs of some ancient beast. Faint blue crystals embedded in the cavern walls cast dim light across the enormous underground chamber.
The air felt heavy.
Thick.
Like something dangerous lived here.
Leon stepped carefully behind Aether, gripping his wooden training sword tightly.
"That roar… definitely wasn't one of those monsters earlier."
Aether continued walking calmly.
"No."
Leon swallowed.
"That means something bigger is waiting for us."
Aether stopped near the edge of the cavern.
"Yes."
Leon peeked past him.
And his heart nearly stopped.
At the center of the cavern was a massive creature.
It was enormous.
At least three times the size of a horse.
Its body was pale and muscular, with thick limbs ending in long claws.
But the worst part was its head.
Its mouth stretched far wider than a human's should, filled with rows of jagged teeth designed to tear flesh apart.
Around it were bones.
Hundreds of bones.
Animal bones.
Human bones.
Leon felt sick.
"That thing… ate the village."
Aether nodded once.
"Yes."
The creature suddenly lifted its head.
Its yellow eyes locked onto them.
For a moment, the cavern went completely silent.
Then the creature stood up.
Its body towered over them.
Leon took a step back.
"That's… definitely not normal."
Aether drew the Void Sword.
The black blade seemed to absorb the dim light around it.
"This creature has been feeding for a long time."
Leon frowned.
"So it's stronger?"
"Yes."
Leon sighed.
"…Of course it is."
Without warning—
The creature roared and charged.
The ground shook beneath its weight.
Leon panicked.
"It's coming!"
Aether moved first.
He stepped forward calmly.
The creature swung one massive claw toward him.
WHOOSH!
The air split.
Aether sidestepped effortlessly.
His sword flashed.
SLASH!
A deep cut opened across the monster's arm.
But instead of collapsing…
The creature roared louder.
The wound began closing.
Leon stared.
"…It's regenerating."
Aether's expression remained calm.
"Yes."
The creature attacked again.
This time faster.
Its claws smashed into the ground where Aether had stood moments earlier.
Stone shattered.
Leon's eyes widened.
"That would've killed me."
"Correct."
Leon shouted,
"Then why are we fighting it?!"
Aether didn't answer.
He simply moved again.
Another precise strike.
Another deep wound.
But the monster's regeneration continued.
Leon realized something important.
"This thing won't die easily."
The monster suddenly turned its attention toward Leon.
Its massive body lunged forward.
Leon barely rolled out of the way.
The ground exploded where he had been standing.
Leon scrambled to his feet.
"Okay!"
"Now I'm definitely involved!"
The creature swung its tail.
Leon blocked instinctively.
CRACK!
The impact sent him flying across the cavern floor.
He crashed against a rock wall.
Leon groaned.
"…That hurt."
Aether appeared beside him.
"Can you still fight?"
Leon slowly stood up.
"I think so."
"Good."
Leon looked at the monster.
"So… how do we kill it?"
Aether's eyes focused on the creature's chest.
"Destroy its core."
Leon blinked.
"Core?"
"Yes."
Leon frowned.
"Where is it?"
Aether pointed.
"Inside its chest."
Leon stared.
"…That's the most dangerous place."
"Yes."
The creature charged again.
This time even faster.
Aether stepped forward to intercept it.
"Create an opening."
Leon's eyes widened.
"Wait—you mean me?!"
But Aether had already moved.
The black blade clashed against the monster's claws.
The two forces collided with explosive power.
Leon clenched his fists.
Fine.
If he wanted to survive…
He had to help.
Leon ran forward.
The creature swung its tail toward him again.
But this time—
Leon dodged.
He rolled beneath the attack.
Then jumped onto a nearby rock.
From there he launched himself toward the monster's back.
"HEY UGLY!"
The creature turned toward him.
Its chest exposed.
Exactly what Aether needed.
Aether moved.
Faster than Leon had ever seen before.
The Void Sword flashed like dark lightning.
SHING!
The blade pierced straight through the creature's chest.
For a moment everything froze.
Then—
A deep cracking sound echoed from inside the monster.
The core shattered.
The creature let out one final roar.
Then its massive body collapsed.
The cavern fell silent.
Leon sat on the ground, breathing heavily.
"…That was insane."
Aether pulled his sword free.
"Yes."
Leon looked at the fallen monster.
"So that thing caused the entire village to disappear."
"Yes."
Leon felt uneasy.
"That means monsters like this could appear anywhere."
"Correct."
Leon sighed.
"This world is dangerous."
Aether looked at him.
"That is why you must grow stronger."
Leon nodded slowly.
He looked down at his hands.
For the first time…
He felt like he had truly fought something terrifying.
And survived.
High above the cavern entrance…
A silent figure stood on a rocky ledge.
The assassin Kael watched the aftermath.
He smiled slightly.
"Not bad, kid."
His gaze shifted toward Aether.
"And that monster…"
"Was stronger than expected."
Kael turned and disappeared into the shadows.
Because this incident…
Was only the beginning of something much bigger.