Chapter 99: The Dungeon Boss

The three continued deeper into the ruined city, following a broad avenue that gradually narrowed between rows of collapsed buildings.

The grey sky remained unchanged overhead, casting a dull light across the broken streets, while the occasional distant howl reminded them that several Dungeon Monsters were still roaming somewhere ahead.

Jet walked at the front with his Vorpal Blade resting against his shoulder, his attention moving between the ruined buildings and the road ahead.

Frey kept pace beside him, occasionally rotating his injured shoulder to loosen the stiffness left behind by their battle with the Ironmaw Devastator. Mikhail followed several meters behind, his enormous backpack considerably heavier than when they had first entered the Dungeon. ℴ

Fortunately, the remaining monsters proved much easier to handle.

Their first encounter came near a collapsed pedestrian bridge, where four Ruin Hounds emerged from beneath a pile of concrete debris. Jet intercepted two of them before they could reach the center of the road, while Frey restrained the remaining pair with Vritra’s Coil and finished them using his curved swords.

The encounter lasted less than twenty seconds.

Mikhail immediately began harvesting, removing the valuable parts with the efficiency they had come to expect from him.

By now, he had established a routine that allowed the three to move through the Dungeon without wasting unnecessary time. Jet and Frey eliminated the monsters, Mikhail collected whatever materials were worth carrying, and they continued forward.

Their next encounter involved three Iron-Shell Crawlers that attempted to ambush them from the remains of a collapsed parking structure. Unfortunately for the creatures, Jet had already noticed the movement beneath the rubble.

He rushed forward before they could emerge completely, manifesting his Asura Arms and transferring the Vorpal Blade into one of the additional hands. The first Crawler lost its head before it could raise its mandibles, while the second was pinned against a concrete wall by Frey’s Vritra’s Coil.

The third attempted to retreat.

Jet caught it with one Asura Arm, dragged it backward and drove his blade through the exposed joint beneath its armored head.

Frey watched the creature collapse before turning toward his friend with an amused expression. "Bro, I’m starting to think those extra arms are cheating. You can attack from practically any direction now."

Jet dismissed the manifested limbs and shook his head. "I’m still getting used to them. Controlling four arms at once is harder than it looks."

Frey glanced toward the three dead Crawlers and raised an eyebrow. "Well, you’re making it look pretty damn easy."

Jet smiled faintly but didn’t respond.

Although his control had improved considerably, he knew he was still far from mastering the ability. The additional arms responded to his intentions, but coordinating their movements alongside his physical limbs required constant concentration.

During the battle against the Devastator, he had occasionally struggled to maintain his balance whenever he transferred the Vorpal Blade between them.

Nevertheless, the progress was undeniable.

After Mikhail finished collecting several intact armor plates and venom sacs, they resumed their journey.

Over the following twenty minutes, they encountered the remaining groups of ordinary Dungeon Monsters scattered throughout the surrounding streets.

Several Gravebound Stalkers attacked from the broken windows of a ruined building, while another pack of Ruin Hounds attempted to surround them near an intersection filled with overturned vehicles.

None survived.

Jet and Frey had already grown familiar with their attack patterns, and the difference in strength between the ordinary White-Class monsters and the Green-Class Devastator was enormous.

The Ruin Hounds couldn’t withstand more than a few strikes, while the Gravebound Stalkers were quickly restrained whenever they attempted to use their agility to escape.

Mikhail continued harvesting until his backpack was almost completely filled.

"That’s enough," Mikhail announced after securing the last collection bag.

He straightened his back with some difficulty and adjusted the thick straps digging into his shoulders. "Unless the next monster is carrying gold bars inside its stomach, I’m not collecting anything else until we reach the Boss."

Frey glanced at the enormous backpack and laughed. "Look at that, Fatty. You’ve finally discovered that there’s a limit to how much junk a human being can carry."

Mikhail gave him an offended look. "Valuable materials, Frey. They’re called valuable materials. And unlike you, I actually understand how much money we’re making."

Jet chuckled at their exchange before turning his attention toward the avenue ahead.

Something had changed. The ruined buildings were becoming larger, and the road had widened considerably. Massive stone structures lined both sides of the avenue, their cracked facades decorated with enormous columns and broken ornamental carvings.

At the far end stood a particularly imposing building. It occupied an enormous square surrounded by collapsed walls and shattered stone monuments. Broad steps led toward its entrance, while several massive columns supported the remains of a triangular roof.

Despite the extensive damage, the structure remained largely intact.

Jet slowed his pace.

"Looks like we’ve reached the end," Jet said, examining the building ahead.

Frey followed his gaze and narrowed his eyes. "You think the Boss is inside?"

Jet nodded. "Most likely. We’ve already cleared the ordinary monsters along the way, and that building looks large enough to serve as the Boss area."

Mikhail immediately adjusted his backpack and glanced toward the entrance with a cautious expression. "Then I’ll find somewhere safe once we get inside. After what happened with that Devastator, I’m not interested in becoming another casualty."

Frey gave him an approving nod. "Good. For once, Fatty, we’re thinking exactly the same thing."

The three crossed the enormous square and climbed the broad staircase leading toward the entrance.

Several sections of the steps had collapsed, forcing them to navigate around deep cracks and piles of rubble. Two enormous doors stood partially open beneath the remaining columns, revealing a dark interior beyond.

Jet entered first. Frey followed closely, while Mikhail remained several steps behind.

The interior was enormous.

A vast rectangular hall stretched before them, its ceiling supported by towering stone columns arranged along both sides. Broken chandeliers hung from rusted chains overhead, while shattered windows allowed narrow beams of grey light to illuminate the dusty floor.

Rows of ruined wooden benches occupied the center of the chamber, many overturned or crushed beneath fallen masonry. A broad central aisle extended toward an elevated platform at the far end, where an enormous stone seat stood beneath a cracked ornamental arch.

The entire place resembled an ancient city hall.

Jet examined the chamber carefully, noting the numerous columns, broken furniture and piles of rubble scattered throughout the interior.

There was plenty of space to fight.

However, the columns could obstruct their movements, and the damaged ceiling presented another potential danger if the Boss possessed enough strength to bring it down.

Then he noticed something moving near the elevated platform.

A massive figure sat motionless upon the stone seat.

At first glance, it resembled an enormous armored warrior, nearly four meters tall even while seated. Its body was covered in thick plates of dark bronze armor, with jagged protrusions extending from its shoulders and forearms. A heavy helmet concealed its face, leaving only two narrow openings through which an eerie crimson light flickered.

An enormous double-headed axe rested beside the stone seat.

The weapon was almost as tall as Jet himself, its broad blades chipped and stained dark along their edges.

As the three entered the hall, the figure slowly raised its head.

A deep metallic scraping sound echoed throughout the chamber.

Then the System notification appeared.

[Dungeon Boss Identified]

[Name: Ironbound Castellan]

[Classification: Green-Class Dungeon Boss]

[Star Rank: 2-Star]

Jet’s expression became serious.

"So that’s our Boss," Jet murmured, tightening his grip around the Vorpal Blade.

Frey studied the enormous armored figure before letting out a low whistle. "Great. First we fight an oversized armored lizard, and now we get a giant bastard carrying an axe."

Mikhail stared at the Boss for several seconds before quietly retreating toward a thick stone column near the entrance. "I’ll be over here," Mikhail announced, carefully lowering his backpack behind the cover. "Preferably somewhere that enormous axe can’t reach."

Neither Jet nor Frey objected.

The Ironbound Castellan slowly rose from its seat.

Its enormous armored boots struck the stone platform with heavy metallic thuds as it reached for the double-headed axe.

The moment its fingers closed around the weapon, the crimson light behind its helmet intensified.

Then it stepped down from the platform.

BOOM!

The stone floor cracked beneath its weight.

Jet immediately lowered his center of gravity.

"Frey, don’t underestimate it," Jet warned, keeping his eyes fixed on the approaching Boss. "We don’t know what abilities it has."

Frey drew both curved swords and grinned. "Don’t worry, bro. I’m not planning to let another monster beat the shit out of me today."

The Castellan suddenly accelerated.

Despite its enormous size and heavy armor, it crossed several meters with surprising speed, dragging its double-headed axe behind it before swinging the weapon horizontally toward Jet.

Jet immediately ducked.

WHOOSH!

The enormous axe passed above his head and struck a nearby column.

BOOOOM!

Stone exploded outward. The entire column shattered beneath the impact, sending fragments scattering across the chamber.

Jet rolled sideways and immediately counterattacked, driving the Vorpal Blade toward the exposed gap beneath the Castellan’s raised arm.

CLANG!

His weapon struck something hard beneath the armor. The impact sent a sharp vibration through his wrist, and Jet immediately withdrew before the Boss could bring its axe down upon him.

Frey attacked from the opposite side.

"Vritra’s Coil!" Frey shouted, extending his hand as three translucent serpents materialized around the Castellan’s enormous arms.

The Coils tightened.

For a brief moment, the Boss’s movements slowed. Then the Castellan twisted its shoulders and violently pulled its arms apart.

CRAAACK!

One Coil shattered instantly.

Frey’s expression changed.

"Shit! This thing’s strong too!" Frey cursed, immediately reinforcing the remaining restraints with additional Mana.

The Castellan turned toward him.

Its enormous axe rose overhead.

Jet reacted immediately, manifesting his Asura Arms as crimson-black Mana erupted from his upper back.

He rushed forward, using one additional arm to seize the Castellan’s armored shoulder while another struck the side of its helmet.

BOOM!

The impact forced its head sideways.

The Boss staggered half a step, interrupting its attack against Frey.

Jet immediately transferred the Vorpal Blade into his right Asura Arm and slashed toward the exposed section beneath its helmet.

The Castellan raised one armored forearm.

CLANG!

The blade struck its gauntlet.

Sparks scattered across the chamber.

The Boss retaliated with a powerful kick.

Jet crossed both physical arms before his chest while his additional limbs pushed against the Castellan’s armor, allowing him to redirect part of the impact.

Nevertheless, the force sent him sliding backward across the stone floor.

Frey immediately rushed forward.

Both curved swords flashed as he attacked the Boss’s exposed flank, striking several times against the gaps between its armored plates.

Metallic clangs echoed throughout the hall.

The Castellan twisted its enormous body and swung the axe backward.

Frey barely managed to leap away.

The weapon struck the floor where he had been standing, splitting the stone and sending a violent shockwave through the chamber.

Jet landed beside Frey, his Vorpal Blade raised.

Across from them, the Ironbound Castellan slowly straightened, its crimson eyes burning beneath the heavy helmet.

Neither side moved immediately.

The Boss tightened its grip around the enormous axe.

Jet and Frey exchanged a glance.

Then Frey smiled bitterly.

"Bro," Frey muttered, rotating his aching shoulder while keeping his swords raised, "I think this bastard might be even tougher than the last one."

Jet stared at the enormous armored warrior before answering with a grim smile.

"Yeah," Jet replied, tightening his grip around the Vorpal Blade. "I think we’re in for another long fight."