Chapter 96: Ironmaw Devastator

[Monster Identified]

[Name: Ironmaw Devastator]

[Classification: Green-Class Dungeon Monster]

[Star Rank: 2-Star]

Frey’s expression changed the moment he read the notification. His eyes widened as he looked from the enormous creature standing amid the settling dust to the System panel hovering before him.

"What the fuck is a Green-Class Dungeon Monster doing here?!" Frey cursed, tightening his grip around his curved swords. "We’re inside a White Dungeon! The only Green-Class monster should be the Boss, so why the hell isn’t this thing identified as one?!"

Jet was equally shocked.

His expression changed drastically as he stared at the notification hovering before him, his mind immediately recognizing the implications of what they had encountered.

Every Dungeon followed an established classification system. Ordinary monsters belonged to the same Class as their Dungeon, while the Dungeon Boss was always one Class higher.

A White Dungeon contained White-Class monsters, but its Boss would be Green-Class. A Green Dungeon contained Green-Class monsters, while its Boss would be Blue-Class, and the pattern continued through the higher Dungeon classifications.

The Red Moon System also distinguished ordinary monsters from Dungeon Bosses whenever it identified them. There was no ambiguity in that distinction, and Jet had already experienced it during their first Dungeon Raid against the Bell Executioner.

Yet the notification before him clearly identified the Ironmaw Devastator as a Green-Class Dungeon Monster.

There was no mention of it being the Dungeon Boss.

Which meant the actual Boss was still somewhere inside this ruined city.

They were facing two potential Green-Class encounters in a Dungeon that should have contained only one, and both represented threats comparable to 2-Star Awakeners. Jet and Frey were still 1-Star Awakeners, regardless of how powerful their Divine Runes had become.

"Shit!" Jet cursed as he tightened his grip around the Vorpal Blade. "Frey, this isn’t normal. We need to be careful!"

Frey gave him a sharp nod, his earlier amusement completely gone. "Yeah, I figured that out when the System decided to throw a fucking 2-Star monster at us before we’ve even reached the Boss!"

Behind them, Mikhail had already begun moving.

The fat porter took one look at Jet and Frey cursing, another at the enormous creature emerging from the dust, and immediately abandoned any thought of remaining nearby.

He turned toward a partially collapsed building on the opposite side of the avenue and sprinted for its broken entrance, his enormous backpack bouncing violently against his shoulders.

"I’m getting somewhere safe!" Mikhail shouted over his shoulder, his face pale as he scrambled over a fallen concrete slab. "You two handle that thing! I’ll stay out of your way!"

Neither Jet nor Frey stopped him. 𝑓𝑟ℯℴ𝓂

Mikhail was an ordinary human. Even a stray attack from a Green-Class monster could kill him instantly, and the last thing they needed was to divide their attention between fighting and protecting him.

The Ironmaw Devastator finally emerged completely from the settling dust.

It stood nearly five meters tall, supported by four enormous limbs covered in overlapping plates of dark metallic armor. Its body resembled a grotesque combination of a rhinoceros and a heavily armored reptile, with a massive barrel-shaped torso, a thick muscular neck and a broad skull protected by jagged bony ridges.

Two curved horns projected from its lower jaw, while its enormous mouth was filled with interlocking teeth that resembled broken iron blades.

Its front limbs were particularly monstrous.

Each ended in three thick claws, and every step drove those claws deep into the cracked asphalt. A long armored tail dragged behind its body, scraping against the road and knocking loose fragments of concrete aside.

The creature lowered its head.

A deep growl vibrated through its chest, powerful enough to make loose stones tremble around its feet.

Then it charged.

BOOOOM!

The asphalt exploded beneath its limbs as the Ironmaw Devastator accelerated toward them.

Jet and Frey immediately separated.

The monster thundered through the space they had occupied a moment earlier, its enormous shoulder smashing into the remains of a vehicle and sending the rusted wreckage tumbling across the road.

Jet twisted around and slashed at its exposed flank as it passed, but the Vorpal Blade struck the overlapping armor with a tremendous metallic clang.

Sparks scattered through the air.

The impact traveled through Jet’s arms, forcing him to tighten his grip as the Relic scraped across the creature’s armor without penetrating deeply.

"Tough bastard!" Jet muttered, his expression darkening as he examined the shallow mark left behind.

The Devastator swung its armored tail toward him.

Jet ducked beneath the sweeping appendage, feeling the rush of displaced air above his head before the tail struck a nearby concrete pillar.

CRAAACK!

The pillar shattered.

Chunks of concrete exploded outward, forcing Jet to retreat several steps as the creature turned toward him.

Frey attacked from the opposite side.

"Vritra’s Coil!" Frey shouted, thrusting his left hand toward the Devastator as a massive translucent serpent materialized around its front limbs.

The Coil tightened immediately.

The monster’s forward movement slowed as the supernatural constriction pressed against its armored body. Frey clenched his fist harder, pouring additional Mana into the ability while the spectral serpent attempted to crush the creature’s limbs together.

The Devastator roared.

Its muscles bulged beneath the overlapping armor, and with a violent wrench of its shoulders, it forced its front limbs apart.

The Coil stretched dangerously.

Frey’s expression tightened as he felt the resistance through his Divine Rune. "You’ve got to be kidding me! This thing’s strength is ridiculous!"

The monster twisted violently.

A thunderous impact erupted as it slammed one armored shoulder against the remains of a building, forcing Frey’s Coil to absorb part of the collision before the constriction finally broke.

But Frey wasn’t simply wasting Mana.

[CALAMITY RESERVOIR]

[Stored Calamity Mana: 12%]

The notification appeared briefly before his eyes.

Frey noticed the increase but didn’t have time to examine it.

The Devastator had already turned toward him.

Its enormous jaws opened, revealing rows of jagged metallic teeth, and it lunged forward with terrifying speed.

Frey threw himself sideways.

The creature’s jaws snapped shut where his torso had been a fraction of a second earlier, producing a deafening metallic crack. Its head continued forward and smashed through a section of ruined wall, sending debris raining across the street.

Jet immediately seized the opening.

Crimson-black Mana erupted from his upper back, gathering into two muscular spectral arms that extended beneath his shoulders.

[Asura Arms — Stage I]

The additional limbs flexed as Jet rushed forward.

He leaped onto a broken concrete slab and used the elevated position to launch himself toward the monster’s exposed side. One Asura Arm seized a protruding armor ridge for balance while the other drove a powerful punch against the creature’s neck.

BOOM!

The impact forced the Devastator’s head sideways.

Jet followed with a downward slash of the Vorpal Blade, aiming for the narrow gap between two overlapping armor plates near its shoulder.

This time, the Relic penetrated.

Dark blood sprayed from the wound.

The Devastator released a furious roar and twisted its entire body, throwing Jet away before he could drive the blade deeper.

Jet landed several meters away, his boots scraping across the asphalt as he absorbed the momentum. One Asura Arm struck the ground behind him, preventing him from losing his balance.

The monster’s blood dripped from the Vorpal Blade.

Jet’s eyes narrowed.

There were openings in its armor.

They were simply difficult to reach.

"Frey!" Jet called, turning toward his friend as the Devastator began advancing again. "The joints! Its armor overlaps around the shoulders and legs, but the gaps are vulnerable!"

Frey glanced toward the bleeding wound and immediately understood. "Then we need to keep the bastard still long enough for you to cut through!"

The Devastator charged again.

This time, Frey met its advance with three Vritra Coils.

The translucent serpents materialized around its front limbs and neck, constricting simultaneously as Frey planted his feet and directed Mana through his Rune.

The monster’s momentum carried it several meters before the Coils slowed its charge.

Its claws carved trenches through the road.

Frey gritted his teeth as the Devastator struggled against the restraints, its enormous body shaking violently while cracks spread across the surrounding asphalt.

The creature suddenly slammed both front limbs downward.

BOOOOM!

The impact shattered the road beneath it.

Two Coils ruptured under the tremendous force, sending a violent backlash through Frey’s Mana circulation.

[Calamity Reservoir ]

[Stored Calamity Mana: 29%]

Frey staggered backward, but his eyes remained fixed on the monster.

He had successfully intercepted part of the destructive force through his Coils. The energy hadn’t vanished. A portion had been converted into Calamity Mana and stored within his Divine Rune.

The Devastator tore through the final Coil and lunged.

Frey barely managed to twist aside as its massive head smashed into the ground beside him. The impact sent a shockwave through the street, throwing fragments of asphalt against his reinforced clothing.

Jet rushed forward to assist, but the monster’s tail swept across the avenue and forced him to retreat.

The battle continued.

Jet repeatedly attacked the creature’s flanks, using the Vorpal Blade and his additional Asura Arms to create openings while Frey restricted its movements with Vritra’s Coil.

Their attacks gradually left shallow wounds across the Devastator’s body, but the monster’s thick armor prevented either of them from inflicting decisive damage.

Meanwhile, Frey’s Calamity Reservoir continued accumulating energy.

Every successful interception, every collision partially restrained by Vritra’s Coil and every violent struggle against the constricting serpents contributed additional Calamity Mana.

[Stored Calamity Mana: 37%]

[Stored Calamity Mana: 46%]

The Devastator was becoming increasingly furious.

It slammed its enormous body against the surrounding buildings, shattered concrete barriers beneath its claws and repeatedly attempted to crush whichever Raider approached too closely.

Jet narrowly avoided another sweeping tail strike before landing beside Frey.

"We’re wasting too much time attacking its armor," Jet said, breathing heavily as he watched the monster turn toward them. "I need a clean opening at one of its leg joints."

Frey wiped a thin line of blood from the corner of his mouth and studied the Devastator’s enormous front limbs.

Then his expression changed.

"I’ve got an idea," Frey said, tightening his grip around his curved swords. "But you’re going to have to move fast."

Jet glanced toward him. "What are you planning?"

Frey grinned despite the danger. "I’m going to make that ugly bastard really, really angry."

Before Jet could respond, Frey rushed forward.

The Devastator immediately turned toward him.

Frey accelerated across the shattered road, deliberately approaching from the creature’s front while keeping both curved swords raised.

"HEY, YOU OVERSIZED PIECE OF SHIT!" Frey shouted, his grin widening as the monster lowered its head. "COME ON! I’M RIGHT HERE!"

The Devastator roared and charged.

Frey waited.

The distance closed rapidly.

Twenty meters.

Ten.

Five.

At the last possible moment, Frey thrust both hands forward.

Five enormous Vritra Coils materialized simultaneously around the Devastator’s head, neck and front limbs.

The spectral serpents tightened violently.

The monster’s charge slowed, but its enormous momentum continued dragging Frey backward across the road.

His boots carved long grooves through the asphalt.

[CALAMITY RESERVOIR]

[Stored Calamity Mana: 58%]

Frey clenched his teeth as the Devastator struggled against the restraints.

"JET!" Frey roared, his arms trembling from the strain. "NOW! I’VE GOT ITS ATTENTION!"

Jet was already moving.

Crimson-black Mana surged through his body as he accelerated toward the monster’s exposed side. His additional Asura Arms extended behind him, helping him maintain balance as he sprinted across the uneven road.

The Devastator attempted to twist toward him.

Frey immediately tightened the Coils around its head and shoulders, forcing the creature’s attention back toward himself.

"Oh, no you don’t!" Frey shouted, blood trickling from his nose as he poured more Mana into the constriction. "You’re looking at me, you ugly bastard!"

The monster roared and lunged toward him.

Frey allowed the movement.

The Devastator’s enormous front limb stretched forward, exposing the narrow gap beneath its armored shoulder.

Jet saw it.

He planted one foot against a broken section of concrete and launched himself upward.

One Asura Arm caught an armor ridge near the creature’s shoulder, anchoring him against its violent movement, while the second seized the upper portion of its extended limb.

Jet raised the Vorpal Blade with both physical hands.

Mana flooded the Relic.

The blade accelerated downward.

SHIIIIING!

The Vorpal Blade entered the exposed joint.

Dark blood erupted as Jet drove the weapon through muscle, tendon and bone, forcing the edge deeper with the combined strength of his body and manifested Asura Arms.

The Devastator released an agonized roar.

Jet twisted his hips and completed the slash.

CRAAACK!

Its enormous front limb separated from the shoulder. The severed appendage crashed onto the ruined street with a tremendous impact, scattering broken asphalt and sending dark blood spreading across the concrete.

Jet landed beside the fallen limb, his Vorpal Blade dripping with blood.

Across from him, Frey staggered backward as the remaining Vritra Coils strained around the roaring monster.

The Ironmaw Devastator had lost one of its front limbs.