Final round

The air inside the dungeon was eerily silent. After the grueling battle with the Knights of Light, Lan Tian and his party stood at the entrance of the final chamber, their breaths heavy and their bodies aching. The healer, Sung Ming Woo, had been doing his best to keep them all standing, but even he was running low on mana.

Lan Tian wiped the sweat from his forehead, glancing at Ma Suho, who was stretching his arms with a confident smirk. Uncle Shin, on the other hand, looked as if he wanted to lie down and never get up again.

"Alright," Lan Tian exhaled. "Let's see what this boss is like."

They stepped forward, the heavy doors groaning as they pushed open, revealing the grand chamber ahead. The moment they entered, they all froze.

"What the hell…?" Ma Suho muttered.

Unlike the usual boss rooms, which were filled with monstrous creatures or terrifying sights, this one was practically empty. Only a single figure stood in the center. A tall, armored being, radiating an intense golden light, holding a massive greatsword in one hand and a golden shield in the other.

But what shocked them the most wasn't its appearance—it was its voice.

"You are not worthy."

The deep, commanding voice echoed through the chamber, sending a chill down their spines.

"Wait, wait, WAIT!" Uncle Shin flailed his arms. "Did this thing just talk?"

Lan Tian narrowed his eyes. "That… shouldn't be possible. C-rank bosses don't talk."

"Unless," Ma Suho added, cracking his knuckles, "this thing isn't just a normal C-rank boss."

The boss raised its sword, its golden energy surging like a burning sun.

"You seek to challenge me?" it boomed. "Very well. I shall grant you the honor of being erased by my blade."

Lan Tian sighed. "Why do these dungeon bosses always have such dramatic lines?"

Then, without another word, the boss vanished.

"SHIT! MOVE!" Lan Tian shouted.

BOOM!

The boss reappeared mid-air, slamming its sword down with a force so powerful the ground cracked beneath them. The entire party scattered, barely dodging in time.

"This guy is way faster than the Knights of Light!" Sung Ming Woo yelled, already casting healing spells to keep up with their injuries.

"Then let's stop holding back!" Ma Suho grinned and summoned his three beasts—a massive fire lion, a shadow serpent, and a thunder wolf.

Lan Tian and Sneaky exchanged glances.

"You ready?" Lan Tian smirked.

Sneaky nodded. "Let's make this flashy!"

The fight began in full force.

—

Ma Suho vs. the Boss

Ma Suho's summons charged forward, their attacks colliding with the boss's shield. Sparks and energy bursts exploded upon impact.

"Not bad," Ma Suho grinned. "But let's see if you can handle all three at once!"

His fire lion roared, sending a wave of flames. The shadow serpent slithered around, waiting for an opening, while the thunder wolf charged electricity through the air.

The boss, however, deflected every attack with ease.

"Tch," Ma Suho clicked his tongue. "This guy's defense is crazy!"

—

Lan Tian & Sneaky vs. the Boss

On the other side, Lan Tian rushed in, his sword coated in telekinetic energy. With a swift motion, he slashed at the boss's exposed side.

CLANG!

The attack barely left a scratch.

"Seriously?!" Lan Tian gritted his teeth.

Sneaky took the opportunity to strike from behind, using his poison-coated claws. However, the moment he got close, the boss released a burst of holy energy, sending Sneaky flying back.

"ARGH!" Sneaky groaned. "What kind of cheap trick was that?!"

Lan Tian quickly helped him up. "Guess poison doesn't work well against light attributes."

"Great," Sneaky grumbled. "And here I thought I was the ultimate assassin."

—

Uncle Shin vs. the Boss

Uncle Shin, not wanting to be outdone, activated his spirit summon ability. His spirit fused with him, his body glowing with an ethereal aura.

"Alright, you shiny bastard," Uncle Shin smirked. "Let's see if you can handle me now!"

Charging forward, he punched straight at the boss's chest. For the first time, the boss was pushed back slightly.

"Hah! Didn't see that coming, did you?!" Uncle Shin laughed.

But the boss quickly retaliated, swinging its massive sword. Uncle Shin barely dodged, but the sheer force sent him skidding across the ground.

"Holy crap, that hurts!" Uncle Shin wheezed.

—

Final Attack

The party was battered, bruised, and exhausted.

Lan Tian wiped his mouth, his body aching. "Alright… time to end this."

He lifted his sword, focusing all his remaining energy into it.

"[Dominance Over the Weak]!"

The boss suddenly froze. Though it was strong, it was still within range of his ability.

Sneaky, seeing the opening, smirked. "Time for some payback!"

Using his enhanced telekinesis, he lifted the boss's own sword and stabbed it through its chest.

BOOM!

The boss's light flickered, and cracks spread across its body.

Ma Suho saw this and grinned. "Guess it's time for the grand finale."

He snapped his fingers, and all three of his summons attacked at once. The fire lion's flames, the thunder wolf's lightning, and the shadow serpent's piercing strike all collided at once.

"NOW!" Lan Tian shouted.

Uncle Shin roared, fusing even more with his spirit, and delivered a final, earth-shattering punch to the boss's head.

CRACK!

With a deafening explosion, the boss shattered into countless fragments of light.

[You have defeated the Guardian of Light.]

[EXP Gained!]

[Level Up!]

The system messages flooded their vision.

—

Aftermath

Lan Tian collapsed on the ground, panting. "Damn… that was tough."

Ma Suho stretched, grinning. "Yeah, but we did it."

Sung Ming Woo wiped the sweat from his forehead. "I'm going to sleep for a week after this."

[Lan Tian: Level 25 → 27]

[Ma Suho: Level 42 → 43]

[Uncle Shin: Level 23 → 25]

[Sung Ming Woo: Level 30 → 31]

Lan Tian turned to Sneaky. "Hey, why didn't you eat the spirit stone?"

Sneaky pouted. "You guys destroyed the boss too fast! I didn't even get a chance!"

Lan Tian chuckled. "Oh well, you'll get the next one."

Ma Suho smirked. "Alright, boys, let's head back and celebrate."