The door to the boss chamber slid open, and the seal of the room broke as Ethan and Reyna stepped inside. The temperature dropped instantly.
A thick mist clung to the air. Glowing red mana orbs pulsed across the walls, casting a sharp crimson glow over the massive chamber.
In front of them stood a raised platform, and on it, the boss.
A massive wolf-like creature loomed before them, nearly the size of an oak tree. Its silver-gray fur shimmered unnaturally, dark veins spreading across its face. Its golden eyes glowed with menace, and black rune-like markings wrapped around its neck as if burned into the flesh.
"That's one big damn wolf," Reyna whispered. "Looks young, runt maybe. But don't underestimate it. That corruption's probably given it some nasty tricks."
Ethan stared at the beast. His lips went dry.
'What the fuck... That's not a normal wolf. That's a fucking descendant of Fenrir.'
He quickly checked his mana bar. Less than fifty percent. He'd already used most of it on the earlier fights.
The creature snarled, eyes locked onto them, then it lunged forward.
Reyna moved first, her reflexes sharp. She raised her sword and intercepted the charge with a loud CLANG, sparks flying on impact.
Ethan ducked to the right, muttering under his breath,
"I don't have a lot of moves, but this'll work."
"Dark Bind!"
Tendrils of black magic burst from the ground, wrapping around the beast's legs and halting its momentum.
"Nice timing, Ethan!" Reyna barked.
She dashed in and slammed her blade into the beast's side. Thick blood gushed from the wound.
The creature howled in pain, struggling violently against the bindings.
"Shadow Pulse!" Ethan shouted.
A wave of dark mana surged forward, striking the beast and throwing off its balance. Reyna seized the moment. Her greatsword tore through one of its ribs. The Shadowfang Pup shrieked in pain, blood splattering across the stone floor.
"Now!" she shouted.
Ethan used the last of his mana to send a concentrated blast of energy into the beast's chest. Reyna moved like lightning, so fast only afterimages remained. Her sword came down in a single, final stroke, piercing straight through the creature's skull.
The boss let out one final, hollow scream before collapsing.
Silence followed.
A soft blue light emerged from the beast's body. The dungeon was cleared.
[Boss Defeated: Shadowfang Pup – Mutated Fenris Bloodline]
[EXP Gained: 120]
[Mana Core Acquired: x2 Minor Dark Beast Cores]
[Bonus Loot: Rusted Knightblade (Uncommon), 3x Lesser Healing Potions]
Reyna approached the corpse and crouched beside it, picking up a glowing fang.
"Nightglass Shard," she muttered, slipping it into a pouch that looked like a dimensional pocket. "Rare stuff. Hard to find outside, mostly comes from corrupted bloodlines like this."
Ethan exhaled slowly, eyes still locked on the beast's body.
"Not bad for my first boss battle."
He glanced over at her.
"It worked out 'cause of you, Reyna."
"Ya didn't die. That's the best thing for a beginner," she said with a crooked smirk. "That's step one to makin' it in this world."
Ethan smiled back.
"Thanks for boosting my confidence, Reyna."
He collected the potions and sword, sliding them into his inventory. His heart was still pounding from the battle, but now, it wasn't fear. It was excitement.
The thrill of clearing his first dungeon.
For once, he wasn't some loser stuck behind a screen. He was alive. He was touching grass. He had real strength.
The thought made his chest feel lighter.
But then—
A sudden ding echoed in his mind. A golden screen blinked into existence.
[New Side Quest Unlocked!]
[Quest: Break the Ice]
[Objective: Kiss Reyna Nightveil]
[Reward: ???]
[Note: Consent Required. Timing is Key.]
Ethan stared at the screen.
"You've got to be kidding me…"
He glanced over at Reyna, who had already sheathed her sword and was stretching her shoulders. She didn't look like the romantic type. She looked like the kind of woman who'd punch you straight in the gut if you even thought about flirting.
Ethan coughed awkwardly, trying very hard not to blush.
"Uh… ready to head back already?"
Reyna gave him a quick nod.
"Alright. Let's get yer loot appraised and my relic registered. Ya did good in there, Rookie."
Ethan gave a small smile.
"I did good… I've never heard that from anyone in my whole life."
He looked again at the system screen.
"Why do you want me to kiss her?"
He crossed his arms and sighed deeply. He stared at the quest window, heart beginning to race again as he slowly turned to approach Reyna.