Looking at the Star Fruit Tree, Silas decided he had to get his hands on the dungeon core. Since the tree was part of the dungeon, taking the dungeon core would be enough to claim it. Once he found someone to forge a grimoire, he could use this very dungeon as a place to raise his Star Wolf. There was even a possibility that he could transfer the grimoire to his human self, which would be far more useful than using it in his Nyxian Pride form.


    As plans took shape in Silas’s mind, something else was happening to the dungeon core.


    The core, which had been floating in the middle of the altar, started to flicker. Silas’s heart tightened—what was to come had finally arrived.


    Nina, who had been looking around the dungeon, flew swiftly to his mane to hide.


    Silas was speechless. “Little lass, it’s not like you can take damage and die. Why are you in such a hurry to hide?”


    Nina pouted at his words. It was just an old habit, and she still wasn’t used to being an energy body. Even though Silas said she couldn’t take damage and die, that was only valid as long as Silas was alive. If he died, she would perish as well.


    The flickering crystal pulsed, and a thin, narrow crack formed in the space above the altar. A moment later, something forcefully smashed the narrow opening from the other side. The space shattered, releasing a dark miasma that poured out unceasingly, making Silas slightly uncomfortable. A huge leg emerged from the portal, shaking the entire dungeon, followed by a giant humanoid beast stepping through.


    Nina was shocked. Her trembling voice barely escaped her lips. “How could…?” She couldn’t even complete her sentence.


    The being that had torn through space and entered was a noble race of the Netherworld.


    “What do we have here?” A grumbling voice echoed through the dungeon. “They said this place is locked and no one can enter.”


    Both Nina and Silas looked ahead in shock. A giant humanoid figure stood before them, its presence warping the surrounding space into complete darkness due to the thick miasma emanating from its body.


    The demon was clad in dark red armor with intricate crimson patterns, and a red flame symbol burned atop his head. He gazed at Silas and Nina as if they were mere pests.


    Nina swallowed hard. “Young Master, I think it’s better to exit the dungeon and give up on the Star Fruit Tree. With your current strength, I doubt we’ll have a good ending…”


    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Standing before them was one of the Giant Demons from the Mountain Splitter race—a name that symbolized their sheer size.


    The stark size difference alone pushed her into despair. She knew Silas was strong, but just how strong was he? She had no answer to that.


    The Mountain Splitter Giant looked at them with mockery. But when his gaze settled on Silas, he saw no panic. No fear.


    Just a grin.


    If Silas had been in his human form, he would have cracked his knuckles to show who was boss. But it was a pity—this little dwarf, only about 260 meters tall, was trying to overpower him with sheer size?


    What a joke.


    Silas had yet to unleash his full size, and Nina had no idea he could even grow.


    “Latch on tight, little lass.”


    As Silas spoke, he leaped forward, approaching the giant swiftly. He had no interest in wasting time talking to low-level mobs. If he could kill, he would kill. If he couldn’t, he would run. That was all there was to it.


    With each step he took, Silas’s size doubled.


    He wasn’t planning to unleash his full size—where was the fun in that? After taking a little over a dozen steps, he pounced.


    The giant was caught off guard. His advantage was suddenly gone.


    With a roar, the demon withdrew the fiery red blade from the halberd strapped to his waist and swung it down.


    “Clashing weapons, are we?” Silas grumbled.


    He could grab weapons and use his tail as a substitute for his hands, but it was still just that—a substitute. He was far more comfortable using his actual hands to wield weapons. Maybe he should start looking for a way to obtain the Transform Skill soon.


    The skill had stringent requirements, needing blood essence to transform into a species for the first time. Even with such harsh conditions, it was a rare and heavily restricted ability. In the human world, it was tightly controlled due to its use in identity theft, murder, robberies, and scams. Anyone who possessed the skill had to be registered and abide by special laws.


    Of course, enforcement was tricky. Unless someone witnessed a transformation, no one would know. People still used the skill, and the government was powerless to stop them.


    Silas pounced at the giant.


    The demon slashed with its fiery red blade, aiming to cleave Silas in two.


    Silas struck the blade with his claws.


    Clang!


    A metallic ringing echoed through the dungeon as the demon was sent flying from the impact.


    Damn.


    Even Silas was shocked by his own strength.


    He had only used 20-30% of his power.


    Moreover, the demon was two realms above him—this should have been a much tougher opponent.


    “AAARGH!”


    The demon roared in fury, humiliated.


    He was from one of the strongest races in the Netherworld, known for their brute strength, yet he had just been tossed aside like a mere child—by someone two realms lower than him.


    This had never happened before.


    All his life, he had been unrivaled, which was why his clan leader had entrusted him with this dungeon.


    The memory of his leader’s words surfaced in his mind.


    "Little guy, look what I’ve got for you. Considering how outstanding you’ve been, I had to spend some time to procure a Star Tree for you."


    If he failed to protect it…


    He clenched his fists.


    He couldn’t afford to disappoint his clan leader, who had shown him such kindness.


    Yet these two pests had almost stolen it right under his nose.


    His mind grew heavy, and his eyes turned red.


    ROOOOAR!


    His deafening roar reverberated through the dungeon, shaking the walls.


    A suffocating aura engulfed the space as a vague silhouette began to form behind him.


    It was ten times larger than the giant himself.


    A golden flame symbol burned on its forehead.


    As the demon summoned his Battle Spirit, his complexion turned pale.


    His lifeforce was draining rapidly—this was his last move.


    Silas’s back was drenched in cold sweat.


    That thing behind the demon…


    It gave him the feeling that if he took even one hit—


    H


    e would die.


    He had to attack NOW before it took full shape.


    He couldn’t hesitate.


    He had to end it.


    Die.


    Die.