Klarion helped Hatsune to her feet, her injured frame leaning heavily against him. Her breathing was steady, but her steps were hesitant. When she saw the concern on his face, the Leporine pushed herself to stand unaided.


    “I’ll be right behind you,” she said, moving slowly but steadily. “The wrap is helping, I just need a few minutes to adjust.”


    “Alright,” Klarion nodded, pulling his arm back and giving her some room. “So, plan. Apart from the stairs back up and the pool we landed in, that doorway over there is practically screaming that the Boss is over there. I figure we take a look to see what we are facing and if there is anything in the Boss’s room we might use in the fight.”


    “Sounds good,” Hatsune nodded. She did some quick squats, wincing, then readied her longsword.


    “You sure you can handle this?”


    “Believe it or not, I’ve had worse,” she said, making a face halfway between a smile and a grimace. “As long as I’m just playing a supporting role, I’ll be ok.”


    “Ok, if you’re sure,” Klarion said. Despite his concern for the Leporine, he was glad that he was going to have help tackling the Boss. If the creature was anything like those that he had faced off against with his friends back on Earth, it was going to be an uphill battle, and he was going to need all the help he could get.


    Without another work, Klarion readied his greatsword and slowly made his way to the opening he had seen before. He took his time, both to make sure Hatsune was doing ok and to make sure there were no more of those lizardmen hiding around them. The soft glow of the luminescent moss on the walls barely illuminated their surroundings, but it was enough for him to tell if they were the only ones left on this floor or not. Thankfully, it appeared they were, as nothing attacked as they arrived before the opening.


    Unlike the natural rock formations around it, the walls immediately surrounding the opening were smooth and deliberate looking. Klarion felt his pulse quicken as they approached, wondering what kind of monster they would have to face. Hector had said it was a different one every time, but given that he had clearly aimed to see both Klarion and Hatsune dead, he was not going to trust a word he said.


    As they moved closer, the air grew colder, and a faint hum filled the silence. Klarion slowed his steps, his eyes narrowing as he caught the sight of faint patterns etched into the stone around the opening. At first, they appeared to be random grooves, but as they neared, the grooves began to shimmer, faintly glowing with eerie, shifting blue light. Hatsune tensed beside him, her ears fixing forward as they detected faint sounds from within.


    “Dungeon runes,” she whispered, her voice barely audible though she was only feet away. “This is definitely the Boss Room. We need to be careful.”


    Klarion frowned, his hand tightening around the hilt of the scavenged greatsword. The Dungeon runes were intricate and otherworldly, their shapes flowing together in ways that defied logic and made it impossible to discern any meaning from them. As they lit up, one by one, the glow spread to cover the edges of the opening, creating an archway of pulsating blue light. The hum grew louder, resonating in his chest like the thrum of a distant drum.


    “Do you think it’s a trap?” he asked, voice just as low as Hatsune’s.


    Hatsune shook her head. “No, from what my father said, this is just how Dungeons indicate rooms that hold a Boss. We should be ok to take a look inside.” She pointed to the runes. “So long as we don’t step past those, the Boss shouldn’t attack.”


    “Alright, let’s take a look then.”


    They stepped up just to the edge of the glowing archway. The air coming from inside the room was colder still, carrying the metallic tang of old blood and the faint scent of decay. The room beyond was massive, the walls disappearing into shadow far above them. A faint light emanated from glowing braziers spaced unevenly around the chamber, their flickering flames casting long, dancing shadows.


    Klarion’s eyes swept the room, taking in the layout. The floor was uneven stone, worn smooth in some places and jagged in others. Thick pillars, most plain but for the occasional cracks through them, rose from the ground. Four had Dungeon runes on them, forming a rough square around the platform, and Klarion could tell that was going to be important. Chains hung from the pillars and random spots from the ceiling, swaying slightly like they had just been disturbed. Some were thick and heavy, while others were thinner, their ends tipped with hooks that gleamed silver and black in the dim light.


    At the center of the room stood a raised platform, and atop it, the Boss waited.


    The creature was a hulking monstrosity, its form both humanoid and grotesque. Standing at least three times Klarion’s height, it was covered in mottled, blackened flesh. Its limbs were unnaturally long and muscular, ending in massive hands tipped with razor-sharp claws. Its face was a nightmare, a featureless void save for two burning orbs of molten red light where its eyes should have been. Around its neck, a heavy iron collar was attached to several of the chains that hung from the ceiling, though the slack in the chains suggested they were more for show than actual restraint.


    The Boss let out a low, guttural growl as it turned its blazing gaze toward them. Its presence was suffocating, the sheer malice radiating from it pressing down on Klarion and Hatsune like a Physical weight. With difficulty, Klarion pushed the feeling away and focused on thinking through the best way to kill it.


    The creature moved, its chains rattling as it descended from the platform with a slow, plodding gait. Each step it took echoed through the chamber, a chilling indicator of its immense weight and strength. Klarion’s mind raced as he considered their options. The room was vast, with plenty of space to maneuver, but the chains hanging from the pillars and ceiling created a maze of obstacles that could easily work against them.


    “I think I’ve got an idea,” Hatsune said, her voice steadier now despite her injuries. “If we can use those chains to slow it down, we can chip away at it.”


    “I was thinking the same,” Klarion agreed, his eyes continuing to scan the room, making sure he hadn’t missed anything. “Those pillars… I think they are covered in the same runes as the entrance. They might be tied to the fight somehow. If we can figure out what they do—”


    The Boss roared, cutting him off. The sound was deafening, a mix of rage and challenge that reverberated through the chamber. The chains hanging from the ceiling began to rattle violently, some of them snapping taut as if pulled by invisible hands.


    The glowing runes of the archway pulsed red once and then died.


    Klarion and Hatsune barely had time to react before one of the chains lashed out, the jagged hook at its end burying itself in the stone floor mere inches from where they stood.


    “Move!” Klarion shouted, grabbing Hatsune and pulling her to the side as another chain struck the ground where they had been standing. The Boss advanced, its molten eyes fixed on them as it dragged its chances behind it.


    Klarion’s heart pounded as he adjusted his grip on the greatsword. He thought they had been safe outside the room, but apparently, they had been too close and a countdown had triggered.


    “Alright, here’s the plan,” he said quickly, pushing his fear away. “Since the chains are attacking us, we should focus on figuring out what is so special about those glowing pillars. If the Boss gets too close, I’ll get its attention. Let’s move!”


    The Boss roared again, a sound that made the braziers’ flames flicker and the chains overhead tremble again. Klarion entered the room first, Hatsune close behind. He led them to skirt the edges of the chamber, his eyes darting between the approaching Boss and the nearest glowing pillar. The problem was going to be how they could reach it without getting skewered by the thrashing chains or coming within range of the Boss. This wasn’t going to work.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    “We need to split up!” Klarion shouted, dodging a chain that lashed out with blinding speed. The blade at its end embedded itself in the ground, sending shards of stone flying.


    “I’ll head right!” Hatsune called back, darting behind a nearby plain pillar for cover with a curse. “I can’t move fast enough like this!”


    She wasn’t wrong. The Leporine’s leg was still clearly slowing her usually nimble movements. Klarion cursed, his gaze darting between Hatsune and the Boss, the monster continuing to stalk towards them.


    “Do what you can!” Klairon barked. “Just keep yourself safe first!”


    Without waiting for an acknowledgment, Klarion surged forward, his greatsword swinging in a wide arc as he aimed at a chain swinging toward his face. The blade connected with a screech of metal on metal, the force of the strike sending vibrations up his arms and throwing the chain back. Sparks flew, but the chain remained intact, merely recoiling like a snake before striking out at him again. Klarion barely ducked in time, the end of the chain missing his head by inches.


    The Boss abruptly surged forward, raising an arm thick as a tree trunk. Its claws came down like a falling guillotine, forcing Klarion to throw himself to the side. The impact of the claws against the ground left a crater in the stone floor where he had been standing. Additional chains began to crawl across the ceiling in the direction of Klarion and Hatsune.


    “Those chains are going to keep us pinned if we don’t figure this out fast!” Hatsune called from her cover.


    “I’m working on it!” Klarion snapped.


    He dashed toward the glowing pillar, his movements erratic to avoid the occasional lumbering strike from the Boss who had slowed back down. Another chain lashed out, catching his ankle and pulling him off balance. Klarion hit the ground hard, pain flaring up his side. The chain began to tighten, dragging him backward toward the approaching Boss.


    “Klarion!” Hatsune shouted in panic.


    Gritting his teeth, Klarion twisted his body, swinging his greatsword upward with all his strength. The blade easily severed the thinner chain, and he scrambled to his feet before the Boss could close the distance.


    “Don’t worry about me, get to one of the other pillars!” Klarion yelled just as he reached the pillar he had been aiming for. His free hand traced the glowing runes, their heat surprising against his fingertips.


    “Hurry up!” Hatsune called out, now darting between pillars, using limply hanging chains as cover.


    The Boss ignored her, still trying to get within range of Klarion. More chains dropped down from overhead, splitting to head after them both. They were running out of time.


    Klarion slammed his palm flat against the runes on the pillar. They flared brighter, and a jolt of energy coursed through him. The chains above rattled violently, and the Boss let out an earsplitting roar.


    “That did something!” Hatsune called. “Get to the next one!”


    Klarion didn’t have time to reply. The Boss charged again, its massive form again picking up speed. Klarion dove to the side, the monster’s claws raking deep gouges into the pillar he had just activated.


    “Hatsune,” he called while desperately opening the distance between himself and the Boss. “I need you to do exactly what I just did to both glowing pillars on your side!”


    “What?!” she yelled back, her voice strained as she dodged a chain. “I didn’t see what you did!”


    “Just smack your hand against the rune!” Klarion shouted back, rushing towards the next glowing pillar, the Boss slowly falling behind. “Trust me!”


    The Boss let loose a grinding growl, its movements becoming more erratic as the chains swung in towards Klarion with increased fury. The monster seemed to sense what they were doing, its calculating gaze snapping between Klarion and Hatsune. The moment the Leporine activated her pillar, the Boss lunged in her direction, claws leading. Klarion’s stomach dropped as the Boss began to pick up speed again.


    Slamming his entire free arm against the other glowing pillar on his side, he bounced off the upthrust stone and sprinted after the Boss. He pushed himself to go faster as the monster got within range of his bodyguard. It raised its claws high.


    “No!”


    Hatsune spun, face grim and eyes locked at the descending attack. At the last second, she threw herself to the side, longsword lagging to cut a long black line across the outhrust leg of the Boss. It roared in pain, swinging in reflex back at the cause of its injury.


    Which was when Klarion got within range.


    He put all of his momentum into a sweeping slash at the Boss, cleaving a massive gash across its lower back. It roared again, forgetting Hatsune as it spun to face its latest attacker. One clawed hand came lunging in from the side, and he raised his greatsword in a desperate block as Hatsune scrambled to open some distance between them. The force of the impact sent him skidding backward, his arms screaming in protest.


    “Klarion!”


    “I’m fine,” he grunted. “Get to the last pillar! Go!”


    Hatsune nodded, her movements slowing down, but still determined as she limped toward the final pillar. Klarion faced the Boss, greatsword raised as he prepared to buy her as much time as she needed.


    The Boss shrieked, the chains hanging nearest to Klarion lashing out in every direction. Klarion ducked and weaved, each swing of his sword deflecting a chain as he struggled to stay ahead of the lunging strikes of the Boss. His arms felt like lead, his breath coming in ragged gasps, but he forced himself to keep moving.


    “Hatsune!”


    “Got it!” she gasped.


    As Hatsune slammed her hand against the final pillar, a surge of energy filled the chamber. The runes on all four pillars blazed once with brilliant light, and the chains overhead trembled violently before snapping taut. The Boss howled in agony, its massive body convulsing as waves of chains wrapped around it, dragging it toward the center of the room. With a squeal, several tons of monster was slammed into the edge of the platform, slamming the Boss down on its back in the middle of where it had been standing when Klarion and Hatsune had first arrived at the room. The squealing reached a higher pitch as the chains continued to tighten around the body of the Boss, cutting deep into its blackened flesh. Despite the pain, it began using its claws to frantically break the chains that held it.


    Klarion tore his gaze from the Boss to look over to Hatsune, and his breath caught as he saw her slender form slumped heavily against the final pillar. The brilliant flare of the runes had cast her in stark relief, her silver hair glistening with sweat and her ears slumped in exhaustion. Despite her visible fatigue, her chest rising and falling as she clung to the stone for support, she made eye contact with Klarion.


    And smiled.


    The Boss pushed itself up to one knee, and the entire ceiling that anchored the chains groaned as it did so. Its squeal turned back into a roar as it forced itself back to its feet. Cracks spread across the ceiling.


    Dust fell, followed by stone. Pieces hit the ground around him, several striking closer to Hatsune. Time seemed to slow as she fell to the side, coming to rest against the ground, green eyes closing.


    And still, she smiled.


    Something inside of Klarion snapped.


    It started as a subtle shift, a spark that ignited deep within him, spreading like wildfire through his veins. At first, it was only a flicker of something darker, a feeling of rage at the injustice of the suffering Hatsune had suffered, of his coming to save her, only to watch her fall after acting to save him. He had felt this way before, but before he could think further, all rational thought fled.


    It grew, consuming him whole.


    He could feel it pulsing in his chest, radiating outward, filling every part of his body with an energy that was raw, untamed, and frightening. His heartbeat thudded in his ears, matching the pounding rhythm of the power flooding his limbs. Hatsune’s smile faded as his vision blurred before snapping back into focus, the struggling Boss looming before him. Each breath felt like fire, and each heartbeat carried the thrum of unstoppable force. Rage turned to fury and, at that moment, he was no longer in control of his thoughts. He was a weapon, an instrument of destruction, and he was focused solely on the creature before him.


    The Boss, broken chains beginning to fall away, had enough strength to pull against the rest as it faced him, its red eyes burning like liquid fire. Its jagged claws scraped the ground, sending sparks flying as it flung the chains it had cut free in Klarion’s direction.


    But he was already in motion.


    The surge of energy coursing through him propelled him forward, faster than he had ever moved before, and in that moment, Klarion knew he was now using his stats and new skill to the utmost. The scavenged greatsword felt light in his grip, becoming an extension of his very being.


    With a primal roar of his own that echoed through the cavernous chamber, Klarion launched himself at the Boss, the greatsword swinging with devastating force. The blade struck the creature’s chest, cutting through chains and into its flesh, links flying in every direction.


    It screeched in pain, but he didn’t pause to watch the boss stumble back. He was already on the move again, his body a blur of motion, greatsword cutting through the air. Every swing, every strike, was fueled by the fury of what had happened to Hatsune. The Boss tried to retaliate, its molten eyes flickering with hate and malice, but still partially restrained by the chains, it was slow, too slow. Klarion’s attacks came faster, each more brutal than the last as he worked to cut his way through the blackened flesh of the monstrous Boss. The creature’s molten eyes glowed brighter, fury and desperation making its strikes erratic. Its body crackled with dark energy as it summoned the last of its strength, launching itself at Klarion with terrifying speed only slightly slowed by the remaining chains.


    But Klarion was faster.


    With a final, ferocious cry, Klarion launched himself at the Boss. His greatsword rose high above his head, only to come crashing down on the descending skull of the Boss with a sickening crunch. The entire upper skull spilled open, and then a final, ear-splitting roar turned into a whimper that was cut short as its body collapsed to the ground.


    Klarion’s breath came in ragged gasps, his chest rising and falling with the exertion of the battle. His fury began to cool as the Boss ceased to move. After one more long moment, making sure it was truly dead, he dropped his greatsword and rushed over to Hatsune.