Chapter 11: Dungeon Break Protocol;Part 2

The mini-boss lunged forward like a charging beast, its flame-coated claws slamming the earth with a force that shook the cavern. Debris flew, and a shockwave knocked dust into the air, momentarily blinding the three cadets.

But they were ready.

"Kain! Left!" Yujin shouted, leaping back and firing a pair of shots from Demon Howl. The bullets struck the monster's shoulder, melting some of its bone plating and exposing glowing tissue beneath.

"Got it!" Kain moved like a blur, his Phantom Blade pulsing with mana. He slid under the creature's sweeping arm and unleashed a cold crescent slash across its ribs. Frost surged over the exposed tissue, slowing it down.

The beast growled, turning to strike him—but Taro Blaze slammed into its back like a freight train.

"Surprise, ugly!" he bellowed, delivering a brutal uppercut with his gauntlet. A burst of mana exploded on impact, launching the creature upward for a moment.

Kain didn't waste the opening. He jumped high, slicing down with both hands.

CRACK!

A trail of frozen air followed the swing, landing directly on the creature's head and splitting its helmet in half. But the beast roared louder, clearly far from dead.

"This thing's built to tank," Taro muttered. "Not gonna drop easy."

"Then we break it piece by piece," Yujin said. His awakened eye analyzed the mini-boss—marking small, pulsing weak spots deep under its armor.

"I see a spot near the lower spine. Taro, lift it."

"You got it."

Taro stomped forward and, with a grunt of raw strength, grabbed the monster's leg and flipped it—slamming it spine-first into the stone.

BOOM!

Yujin sprinted forward, guns glowing red-hot, and fired at the exposed spot. Six rapid-fire shots burst into flame, each one igniting on impact.

A piercing shriek tore from the monster's throat as its spine cracked. It thrashed violently, knocking Kain back and nearly clipping Taro.

Kain skidded to his feet and drew in mana, breathing deep. "Yujin—cover me."

Yujin nodded and reloaded mid-dash, unloading a barrage to distract the beast.

Kain whispered, "Frozen Lotus—Second Bloom."

His sword shimmered, and he vanished from sight for a second.

Then—SLAASH!

A clean diagonal slash cut across the beast's chest, freezing the entire upper body in a perfect crystalline sculpture.

Taro followed up with a full-force punch to the frozen core. It shattered instantly.

The mini-boss collapsed, motionless.

Thud.

"Nice work," Yujin said, holstering his pistols.

Kain wiped sweat from his brow. "That thing wasn't even the boss, was it?"

Yujin shook his head. "No. That was just a gatekeeper."

They turned their gaze toward the glowing temple now emitting black and red mana. The air shimmered violently, and rifts were tearing through the walls.

"We don't have much time," Yujin said. "If the core breaks through… the dungeon merges with reality."

They dashed into the temple.

---

Inside, the ancient halls twisted unnaturally. The mana density thickened to suffocating levels. Shadows danced on their own, and whispers echoed—memories of the extinct race.

They reached the final gate—an altar room guarded by the true dungeon core.

It stood like a throne, and behind it, the core beast: a towering entity made of black ice, with a hollow face and eyes like dying stars. Chains floated around it, and it radiated a malevolent aura.

"Final boss," Kain muttered, gripping his sword.

"I've never seen something like this," Taro said, his voice lower than usual.

Yujin stepped forward, gaze sharp. "We finish this now. No hesitation."

The creature turned its gaze toward them—and smiled.

Then everything exploded in a storm of ice, mana, and flame.