Chapter 266 - 265 : End of the treasure hunt (1)

Chapter 266: Chapter 265 : End of the treasure hunt (1)

The ground shook.

A deep, horrifying roar filled the crystal chamber.

ROAAAR!

Dust rained down from the ceiling as the stone walls trembled.

Arthur’s team stumbled backward as a massive figure rose from the cracked ground in front of the pedestal.

It was a Chimera.

Not an ordinary monster.

Not some simple beast created for a training exercise.

It was an A-rank monster.

A creature designed to force multiple teams to cooperate—or be destroyed.

The Chimera’s body resembled that of an enormous lion, but its build was far larger and more monstrous.

Its muscular torso was covered in dark golden fur, while patches of black scales ran along its ribs and neck.

Its massive front paws ended in claws capable of tearing through solid stone.

Two curved horns rose from the sides of its head.

But its most terrifying feature was its main head.

Instead of a lion’s head, a massive serpent’s head rested atop its muscular body.

Its long, scaled neck rose above the creature as crimson eyes stared down at the students.

Its forked tongue flickered between rows of jagged fangs.

Black venom dripped from its mouth.

Every drop that touched the stone floor released a faint hiss.

A second head, shaped like that of a goat, protruded from its left shoulder.

The goat head had dull yellow eyes and jagged teeth, constantly snapping at the air.

On the Chimera’s right shoulder was another serpent head.

Its tongue flickered rapidly as black venom dripped from its fangs.

And behind the Chimera’s lion-like body rose the tail of a giant scorpion.

The segmented tail was covered in black armor, ending in a massive stinger that glowed with crimson poison.

The main serpent head slowly turned toward Arthur’s team.

Its jaws opened, revealing rows of razor-sharp fangs.

Crimson eyes glinted in the dim chamber.

Then an enormous red bar appeared above the monster’s head.

{ A-Rank Dungeon Boss: Infernal Chimera }

{ HP: 100% }

The HP bar was massive.

It stretched across the air above the Chimera like a warning.

Arthur’s heart sank.

The monster’s health pool was ridiculous.

Even with all 5 of them working together, defeating it would consume a huge amount of mana and leave them vulnerable to the other academies waiting outside.

But behind the monster stood the pedestal.

And upon that pedestal rested the egg-shaped crystal.

It glowed with a warm golden light.

The treasure.

The objective.

The reason they had entered this cursed dungeon.

Arthur stared at the crystal.

’Well, that is convenient.’

The Chimera suddenly raised its serpent head.

ROAAAR!

Its roar shook the chamber.

Arthur drew his katana.

"Get ready, everyone!"

The Chimera charged.

Its enormous claws slammed into the ground with enough force to crack the stone floor.

Arthur’s team scattered immediately.

Victor leaped to the left.

Jasmine moved toward the right wall.

Evangline rolled behind a fallen stone pillar.

Rubina stayed close to Arthur.

The Chimera’s claws crashed down where they had been standing only a second earlier.

BOOM!

Stone exploded beneath its claws.

The creature didn’t stop.

Its crimson eyes locked onto Arthur and Rubina.

The serpent’s jaws opened.

A fiery glow appeared deep inside its throat.

Arthur’s eyes widened.

"Move!"

A massive stream of fire erupted from the Chimera’s mouth.

Arthur grabbed Rubina and pulled her into his arms.

Then he ran.

The flames swept across the chamber.

Arthur weaved between broken pillars, narrowly avoiding the blazing attack.

Everywhere the flames touched, stone melted into glowing fragments.

Rubina held tightly onto Arthur’s coat.

"Arthur!"

"I know!"

Arthur jumped over a broken wall.

A wave of fire passed beneath them.

He landed behind another stone pillar just as the flames consumed the area behind them.

Evangline raised her Desert Eagle.

"Let’s see how you like this!"

She pulled the trigger.

Bang!

The modified bullet slammed into the Chimera’s shoulder.

BOOM!

An explosion erupted against its body.

The blast shook the monster.

But it barely moved.

The HP bar above its head shifted only slightly.

{ HP: 98% }

Evangline’s eyes widened.

She fired again.

Bang!

BOOM!

Another explosion struck the Chimera’s chest.

The monster roared, but the damage remained insignificant.

Evangline stared at the HP bar.

"Is this really only an A-rank monster?"

Jasmine raised both hands.

Ice mana surged around her.

"Frost Barrier!"

A thick wall of blue ice erupted from the ground.

The Chimera slammed its massive claws into the barrier.

CRACK!

The entire wall shook.

Cracks spread rapidly across its surface.

But it held long enough to buy them a few seconds.

Arthur looked toward the team.

"Don’t fight it seriously yet!"

Victor turned toward him.

"What?"

"Conserve your strength," Arthur ordered. "Avoid its attacks until I tell you otherwise."

The team exchanged uncertain glances.

But they obeyed.

Victor focused on blocking the Chimera’s attacks without using his stronger techniques.

Jasmine created small ice barriers whenever necessary.

Evangline fired only enough shots to distract the monster.

Arthur kept Rubina away from danger.

They ran.

Dodged.

Blocked.

And waited.

Meanwhile, Arthur led Rubina toward a massive stone pillar near the edge of the chamber.

The Chimera was busy chasing Victor and Jasmine on the opposite side.

Arthur looked at Rubina.

"Do you know any concealing spells?"

Rubina nodded quickly.

"Yes."

Her voice was more confident now.

"As a healer, I learned that hiding my presence is important. I can conceal myself from mana senses and most tracking spells."

She hesitated before continuing.

"I also know several advanced mana recovery spells. I can restore some mana for everyone if necessary."

Arthur’s expression brightened.

"Good."

Rubina blinked.

Arthur placed both hands on her shoulders.

"You are the one who is going to make this crazy strategy work."

Rubina’s face became slightly red.

Arthur leaned closer and lowered his voice.

"Listen carefully."

Rubina nodded.

"Conceal yourself so no one can find you."

Arthur raised one hand.

"When I clap my hands, cast your recovery spell on all of us."

Rubina’s eyes widened.

"Use as much mana as you safely can."

Arthur then pointed toward the exit.

"And when I say run, run with everything you’ve got. Leave this place immediately."

Rubina looked nervous.

But she nodded firmly.

"I will do whatever you ask."

Arthur patted her head.

"Good girl."

He smiled.

"You’re far better than those morons."

Rubina smiled softly.

Then Arthur heard something.

Footsteps.

Voices.

Many voices.

They were getting closer.

Arthur’s lips curled into a smile.

"It is time."

Rubina looked at him.

"The other academies have arrived."

Arthur moved away from her.

Rubina immediately activated her concealing spell.

Soft green light covered her body.

Then she faded into the shadow of the pillar.

Her presence vanished completely.

Even Arthur could barely sense her anymore.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

The other academies entered the enormous chamber.

Their eyes widened immediately.

The Infernal Chimera was rampaging through the room.

Arthur’s team appeared to be struggling desperately against it, constantly avoiding its flames, claws, serpent heads, and scorpion tail.

From the outside, it looked as though Celestias Academy was barely surviving.

None of the other teams had seen Arthur hide Rubina.

They had not heard the plan.

All they saw was a powerful A-rank monster and a team desperately trying to survive.

Christopher entered with the remaining Black Star Academy students.

The moment he saw Arthur still alive, his expression darkened.

"Damn it."

Then Glacier Peak Academy entered.

Ava and Eva stepped forward together.

Their eyes immediately settled on the golden crystal behind the Chimera.

Ava raised her voice.

"Everyone!"

The students from the remaining academies turned toward her.

"As you can see, the crystal is behind the monster."

She pointed toward the glowing pedestal.

"And I can guarantee that no academy can defeat that Chimera alone."

Her eyes moved across the gathered groups.

"Even those monsters from Celestias Academy are struggling."

Arthur heard her from across the chamber.

He almost laughed.

Ava continued.

"Our only choice is to work together."

She raised one hand toward the Chimera.

"First, we defeat the monster."

Her voice became firm.

"After that, we fight among ourselves to decide who takes the crystal."

Several students exchanged glances.

They thought about it.

There was no better option.

If they fought each other now, the Chimera would tear them apart.

No one would get the crystal.

The academy representatives slowly nodded.

"We agree."

"The monster is the priority."

"First, we kill the Chimera."

Ava looked toward Christopher.

"What about you, Christopher?"

Her voice was calm.

"Do you agree with this plan?"

Christopher gritted his teeth.

"I can’t believe I’m being played by a first-year brat."

Ava and Eva glanced toward Arthur.

"It is the same for us," Eva said.

Ava nodded.

"It seems he planned this very carefully."

Christopher’s expression darkened.

"Fine."

He looked toward the Chimera.

"I agree."

Then he raised one finger.

"But who will land the final strike?"

Everyone fell silent.

Christopher’s sunglasses reflected the flames burning across the chamber.

"As you all know, the person who delivers the final blow will receive the monster-kill points."

He looked toward the Chimera’s HP bar.

"That A-rank monster is worth 5 points."

Christopher smiled faintly.

"I believe all of us would like to claim those points."

The academy representatives looked at one another.

Distrust spread through the group.

Before anyone could answer, Arthur’s voice came from behind them.

"Why don’t we leave it to our skills?"

Everyone turned.

Their eyes widened.

No one had noticed Arthur approaching.

He stood behind the gathered teams, his katana resting casually against his shoulder.

"Whoever is quickest gets the points."

The academy representatives stared at him.

Arthur gave them a calm smile.

"I think all of you should start fighting now."

The Chimera suddenly turned.

Its crimson eyes locked onto the gathered students.

Then it charged.

ROAAAR!

Its serpent mouth opened.

A torrent of fire exploded from its throat.

Christopher’s eyes widened.

"You bastard!"

Everyone scattered.

The flames tore through the place where the academy teams had been standing only moments earlier.

The students spread out around the Chimera.

Then they raised their weapons.

"Attack!"

Magic erupted throughout the chamber.

Fireballs.

Lightning spears.

Ice blades.

Wind slashes.

Illusionary attacks.

Earth spikes.

Mana arrows.

Curved blades glowing with desert magic.

Heavy weapons crashing into the monster’s body.

The chamber instantly became a battlefield.

Christopher raised both hands.

Dark mana gathered around him.

"Dark Star Destruction."

Several black spheres appeared above him.

They spun rapidly before shooting toward the Chimera.

BOOM!

BOOM!

BOOM!

The attacks exploded against the monster’s armored body.

The Chimera roared.

Its HP began dropping.

{ HP: 85% }

Students from the other academies aimed for its weak points.

Its eyes.

Its exposed throat.

The joints in its legs.

The serpent heads.

The goat head.

Arrow after arrow struck its body.

Spells exploded across its fur and scales.

The Chimera became enraged.

Its serpent head opened wide.

Another wave of flames swept through the chamber.

Three students from Martial Star Academy were caught in the attack.

They screamed.

Their bodies dissolved into motes of light.

Eliminated.

The remaining students continued attacking.

They had no choice.

Ava and Eva stepped forward together.

Their mana began resonating.

A cold wind filled the chamber.

Their eyes glowed pale blue.

"Frozen World."

The temperature dropped violently.

Frost spread across the floor.

The Chimera tried to move.

But ice rapidly climbed over its massive legs.

The twins’ spell froze the monster from the ground upward.

Its paws became trapped.

Its legs stiffened.

The Chimera roared and struggled.

But the ice held.

The Glacier Peak Academy students immediately seized the opportunity.

"Now!"

Several of them rushed forward.

Ice blades formed around their weapons.

They attacked the Chimera’s right serpent eye.

Slash!

Pierce!

The attack struck directly.

The eye burst.

The Chimera screamed in pain.

It became blind in one eye.

Its HP bar dropped rapidly.

{ HP: 20% }

Arthur watched from the edge of the battlefield.

His eyes moved toward Jasmine.

Then he raised his voice.

"Everyone, concentrate your attacks on the monster!"

The students turned toward him.

"We cannot let anyone else get the crystal before us!"

Arthur pointed toward the pedestal.

"The crystal is protected by a spell. It can only be claimed after the boss monster dies!"

His crimson eyes gleamed.

"And that A-rank monster is worth 5 points!"

The greed in the students’ eyes intensified as they fight even more fiercely now.