Snow Lion Cave [3]

The pack pounced.

Not all at once—but in a terrifying, calculated rhythm. Like they'd rehearsed this ambush a hundred times. One came at me from the left, another from above—springing off the wall. Claws gleamed like obsidian in the dim cave light.

But I was already moving..

My body twisted, slipping through the narrow space between two lunging lions. The first swipe missed my chest by inches. The second grazed my cloak, tearing it like paper—but not my skin.

Their movements were fast—but I was faster.

A third lion lunged from my blind spot.

Pivot. Parry. Shift weight.

I ducked low, sliding across the icy stone floor, then used the momentum to rise and flick a dagger toward the lion's eye. It twisted away, growling, but the warning was clear.

I wasn't prey.

Alice, behind me, had already begun her attack. She swung her blade in wide, clean arcs, coating it in frost. Every step she took left behind icy cracks in the cave floor, and her strikes hummed with raw magical energy.

She wasn't just fighting.

She was adapting.

"I'll freeze the floor! Lure them toward me!" she shouted.

"Got it!"

With the pup now gently resting inside the corner alcove—hidden but safe—I turned my full focus to mobility.

My job wasn't to defeat the lions.

It was to disrupt them.

One of the snow lions—a younger one, maybe—lunged again, its maw wide open.

Ghoststep. Pivot. Kick.

I spun, placing my boot square into its jaw and sent it skidding across the icy floor toward Alice.

She didn't hesitate.

The moment it reached her range, she slashed—one clean, fluid motion.

The lion howled as ice bloomed from the wound, freezing part of its front leg.

Not dead—but slowed.

"That's one!"

"Don't get cocky!" I shouted, spinning past another swipe, then ducked under the leader's leap. His claws scraped against the ceiling before he landed with a thunderous thud.

He snarled, teeth bared.

His eyes locked on the girl behind.

On the Alice.

Oh no.

He wasn't going for the me anymore.

He was going for Alice.

He knew who the real threat was.

The strongest among us. The one who actually stood a chance.

His eyes, sharp and intelligent, locked onto her. His body lowered, tense with murderous intent.

I stepped forward instinctively.

"So you think you can just get to her without going through me first?"

I forced a grin, hiding the weight in my chest.

"Don't tell me you've forgotten… we've got a score to settle too."

Stopping him head-on?

That was nearly impossible. I didn't have the strength to kill this thing. Not even close.

But I still had to do it.

Letting him through would mean risking everything.

Not just the dungeon. Not just the reward. Not just my revenge.

But her.

For the growth and safety of my favorite character—

For Alice—

I had to try.

[Snow Lion Cave Strategy – Memory Fragment]

"…The difficulty of this dungeon depends entirely on the tank's skill level. Also—"

I remembered. I'd seen it somewhere—one of those strategy guides buried in the forums. A little-known trick.

I pulled out my dagger and made a shallow cut on my palm.

The pain grounded me.

Blood welled up quickly, warm and sticky. I held it for a second, letting the scent build in the cold air. Then I flung it, splattering droplets across the ground—right toward the boss lion's face.

His eyes twitched.

Even as a boss monster, he was still a beast. A predator.

And predators hunted by smell.

–RRAAWWWR!

His roar shook the cave.

Even Alice, elegantly slashing through the lesser lions, turned slightly at the sound.

The others backed away, wary. Even they recognized the fury of their leader.

But I didn't flinch.

Because deep inside, something stirred.

Not fear.

Excitement.

It was the same rush I'd felt when Alice—pretending to be Aleck—had pointed her blade at my throat during our duel.

That chilling calm in the heat of danger.

My heart thudded, but my mind cleared.

The beast charged.

Its right front paw lifted—a swipe pattern I knew well.

Roll left.

Its hind legs tensed. The classic forward lunge.

Sidestep now.

Its jaws bared, sharpening its fangs in a chilling snarl.

Neck. It's aiming for the neck. Dodge under.

I moved before I thought. Pure instinct.

But no—this wasn't instinct.

This was knowledge. I had seen this boss fight before.

Only now, it wasn't a screen.

It was real.

The floor beneath my boots. The humid breath of the monster. The sting of my bleeding hand.

Everything was real.

I slipped through every attack.

Awkwardly at first, but then smoother. Sharper.

My body finally caught up to my mind.

Claw—duck.

Charge—pivot.

Bite—drop and slide.

Over and over, the snow lion attacked.

And over and over, I dodged.

The leader began to change.

Its ferocity was still there—but its attacks were no longer precise.

It was getting frustrated. Tired.

The fury that once burned in its eyes was now mixed with confusion.

Why couldn't it land a hit?

Why couldn't it predict me?

"Stubborn one, aren't you?" I muttered, panting between evasions. "How long are you gonna keep this up?"

It growled in reply, but it was different now. Less confident.

The predator had been stalled.

And that was all I needed.

Because Alice—my ace—was readying her blade behind me.

And I just had to buy her a little more time.

But I don't know how much longer could I hold on.

My mana level is already low, so, by any minute now Ghotsteps effect would be gone.

I was gasping for breath, sweat already dranched my back.

I could collapsed any moment now.

"Well done."

At that moment Alice voice sounded behind me, it's seems that she has done with other snow lion as her armour was dranched in crimson red colour, like her eyes.

Even her pure silver-white hair was also mixed by red blood of snow lions .

"Now, Leave the rest to me."

I collapsed on the spot, unable to move back.

Exhausted and sprawled on the ground, I could still witness the end of the boss monster I had toyed with.