Chapter 498: The Dungeon Core Guardian

The six companions emerged from the passage into an enormous underground chamber, where golden light illuminated towering pillars and walls covered in ancient runes.

Streams of concentrated mana flowed through channels carved into the floor, converging beneath a massive crystal suspended above a circular stone platform.

Sage immediately recognized the crystal.

The Dungeon Core.

It was considerably larger than the cores he had encountered in Evergreen, measuring nearly three meters across and radiating an extraordinary concentration of mana. However, something else occupied the platform beneath it.

An enormous armored figure knelt before the crystal, its body covered in dark silver plates engraved with glowing runes. Two curved horns protruded from its helmet, while a colossal sword rested between its hands.

Leon stopped immediately. "Everyone, remain behind me. That creature is considerably stronger than the enemies we encountered during the trials."

Mina stared at the motionless figure. "Captain Leon, is that the dungeon’s final boss?"

"I doubt it," Leon replied, examining the chamber. "We haven’t explored the dungeon’s ordinary floors. This creature appears to be guarding the crystal specifically."

Sage nodded, carefully concealing his satisfaction. The Guild System had already confirmed that this was the Dungeon Core Guardian, an entity entirely separate from Greyfen’s Ultimate Dungeon Boss.

The Guardian’s purpose was not to prevent explorers from conquering the dungeon.

It existed to prevent anyone from claiming ownership.

As the expedition approached the platform, the Guardian’s helmet suddenly lifted.

RUMBLE!

Crimson light ignited behind its visor.

The enormous creature rose to its full height, towering above Leon as it pulled its sword from the ground.

A deafening roar shook the chamber.

"Well," Sage remarked, gathering mana around his hands, "I suppose asking politely for the crystal is no longer an option."

The Guardian charged.

BOOOOM!

Its colossal sword struck the ground, sending a violent shockwave across the chamber. Leon immediately intercepted the attack, his silver mana blazing as he redirected the weapon away from his companions.

CLANG!

The collision shattered the surrounding stone.

Leon slid backward several paces, his boots carving deep grooves across the floor.

His expression sharpened.

"Now that’s impressive," he murmured.

The Guardian attacked again, swinging its sword with astonishing speed for something so enormous. Leon avoided the descending blade before delivering a powerful slash across its armored chest.

CRACK!

A deep fracture appeared.

However, golden runes immediately illuminated across the Guardian’s armor, partially restoring the damage.

Iris noticed the reaction. "Guildmaster, the Guardian is drawing mana from the chamber!"

Sage glanced toward the channels beneath the platform. "Then we’ll need to interrupt that connection. Rowan, examine the formations. Iris, find out how they’re supplying it."

Leon continued engaging the Guardian while Mina moved toward its exposed flank.

Golden mana erupted around her sword.

BANG!

Her attack struck the Guardian’s knee, forcing it to shift its stance. However, the creature immediately retaliated with a sweeping kick.

Mina barely avoided the blow.

Lucan rushed forward and pulled her away before the Guardian’s sword descended.

BOOM!

The impact shattered the ground where they had stood.

"Don’t approach it alone!" Lucan warned, maintaining his defensive stance. "We need to create openings together!"

Mina nodded, her expression unusually serious. "Understood. I won’t make that mistake again."

Meanwhile, Rowan examined the surrounding pillars, searching for patterns in the glowing formations.

After observing several exchanges, he noticed something unusual.

"Guildmaster! The Guardian’s armor brightens whenever it stands near the central platform!" Rowan shouted. "But the runes weaken whenever Captain Leon forces it away!"

Sage immediately understood.

The Guardian’s greatest advantage depended upon its proximity to the Dungeon Core.

"Leon, draw it toward the eastern wall!" Sage commanded. "Everyone else, prepare to interrupt the mana channels!"

Leon smiled faintly. "Gladly."

His silver aura intensified.

SWISH!

He disappeared from his previous position and reappeared beside the Guardian, delivering a devastating strike against its shoulder.

The enormous creature staggered.

Before it could recover, Leon struck again, forcing it several meters away from the platform.

However, the Guardian suddenly slammed its sword into the ground.

BOOOOM!

A massive wave of crimson mana erupted outward.

Leon immediately retreated, while Sage raised an enormous earthen barrier to shield the others.

The shockwave struck.

CRAAASH!

The barrier shattered, sending fragments flying across the chamber.

Lucan was thrown backward, striking a nearby pillar.

"Lucan!" Mina cried, rushing toward him.

"I’m alright!" Lucan answered through gritted teeth, struggling to stand. Blood trickled from his forehead, but he immediately raised his weapon again.

Sage glanced toward their remaining supplies.

Only two healing potions remained.

"Use one," Sage instructed, tossing a potion toward Lucan. "I’d prefer everyone to remain alive until we finish this."

Lucan caught it and drank immediately.

Meanwhile, Iris had discovered something important.

"Guildmaster, the formations are connected to four pillars surrounding the platform!" she announced. "If we disrupt their mana flow simultaneously, the Guardian should lose its reinforcement!"

Sage examined the pillars before nodding. "Then that’s our opportunity. Rowan, identify the correct channels. Iris, prepare to redirect them. Mina and Lucan, protect her."

The Guardian suddenly roared and charged toward Iris.

Leon intercepted it.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Their weapons collided repeatedly, each impact sending violent tremors through the chamber.

For the first time during the expedition, Leon was genuinely exerting himself.

His movements became faster, his swordsmanship sharper, and the silver aura surrounding his body intensified until the nearby stone began cracking beneath the pressure.

Nevertheless, the Guardian refused to fall.

Its armor continued regenerating, while powerful bursts of mana prevented Leon from maintaining an uninterrupted assault.

Sage watched the battle carefully.

We can’t continue wasting strength like this.

He raised both hands.

Earth Mana surged beneath the Guardian, creating enormous stone restraints around its legs. At the same time, powerful winds struck its upper body, disrupting its balance.

"Now!" Sage shouted.

Mina immediately charged forward, striking the Guardian’s exposed knee while Lucan intercepted its retaliatory swing.

Their attacks weren’t enough to defeat it, but they delayed its movements.

That was all Iris needed.

She extended her hands toward the surrounding pillars.

Streams of Water Mana flowed into the ancient channels, disrupting the formations while Sage reinforced the surrounding stone to prevent the chamber from collapsing.

Rowan continued directing them.

"The northern pillar first!" Rowan called. "Then the western one! The remaining channels connect beneath the platform!"

CRACK!

The first formation shattered.

BANG!

The second collapsed.

The Guardian released a furious roar as its armor began losing its golden glow.

However, before Iris could disable the remaining formations, the creature suddenly turned toward her.

Its sword rose.

Leon moved instantly.

BOOOOM!

He intercepted the descending weapon with his own blade, silver mana exploding around him.

"Finish it!" Leon commanded, forcing the Guardian backward.

Iris gritted her teeth and released the remainder of her mana.

The third formation shattered.

Sage immediately crushed the final channel beneath an enormous pillar of stone.

CRAAASH!

The golden runes covering the Guardian’s armor extinguished.

Its regeneration stopped.

Leon recognized the opportunity.

His silver aura surged violently as he raised his sword.

"Everyone, stand clear!"

The Guardian roared and charged.

Leon stepped forward.

For a brief instant, his entire figure disappeared within a brilliant silver flash.

SLAAAAASH!

A devastating sword strike crossed the chamber.

The Guardian’s colossal weapon shattered.

A deep fracture spread across its armored body before the enormous creature collapsed onto the platform.

BOOOOM!

Silence returned.

Leon lowered his sword, breathing heavily.

The Guardian did not rise again.

Sage stared at the fallen creature before releasing a long breath.

"Well," he remarked, "that was considerably more expensive than I anticipated."

Mina laughed weakly. "Uncle Sage, we almost died!"

"Exactly," Sage replied. "And near-death experiences are notoriously expensive."

A familiar notification appeared before his eyes.

[Ding!]

[Dungeon Core Guardian Defeated!]

[Dungeon Core Accessible!]

Sage approached the enormous crystal while his companions recovered.

Golden light illuminated his face as he placed his palm against its surface.

[Claim Dungeon?]

[Yes / No]

Without hesitation, Sage selected the first option.

[Claiming Dungeon...]

[Claim Successful!]

[Greyfen Dungeon is now under the ownership of the Adventurer Guild!]

Sage smiled.

Finally.

-----

Outside Greyfen, hundreds of Warriors, mercenaries, merchants, and noble representatives had gathered around the entrance.

Arguments concerning exploration rights had grown increasingly heated.

Several mercenary leaders were preparing their own expeditions, while representatives of noble households insisted that the dungeon’s ownership should be determined through royal authority.

Then the earth trembled.

RUMBLE!

Enormous stone pillars erupted from the ground around the dungeon entrance.

BOOOOM!

Ancient runes illuminated across their surfaces, spreading brilliant golden light throughout the surrounding valley.

A gigantic magical formation appeared between the pillars, completely sealing the entrance.

The gathered crowd erupted into chaos.

"What in the Kingdom is happening?!" one mercenary shouted, stumbling backward.

A nearby Warrior stared at the formation in disbelief. "I’ve heard about something like this before! The Adventurer Guild uses these strange pillars to control its dungeons in Evergreen!"

"Impossible!" a noble representative protested. "Nobody has been granted ownership of Greyfen!"

Several Warriors attempted to approach the entrance.

The golden barrier immediately repelled them.

BANG!

They stumbled backward, unable to pass.

Within moments, the entire gathering understood one terrifying possibility.

Someone had already claimed the dungeon.

And if the rumors concerning the Adventurer Guild’s unusual dungeon seals were accurate, they knew exactly who that someone was.

Deep inside the Dungeon Core Chamber, Sage watched another notification appear.

[Dungeon Ownership Confirmed!]

[Owner: Adventurer Guild]

[Dungeon: Greyfen]

[Official Classification: Pending Announcement]

Sage’s smile widened.

Greyfen now belonged to the Adventurer Guild.

And the greatest shock was still to come.