A deep, guttural growl rumbled through the grassland expanse, thick with the scent of tall yellow aged grass and blood-soaked earth. The very ground trembled as the Bladed Tiger Boss unleashed a roar so thunderous that it sent jagged vibrations rippling through the dungeon, shaking loose debris from the ground. The sheer force of its bellow reverberated in their bones, a primal declaration of dominance that made even the seasoned fighters instinctively brace themselves.
Looming before them, the Rank 2 beast was a sight that could freeze lesser warriors in their tracks. Its massive feline frame, coated in sleek, dark-striped fur, rippled with raw power. Yet, what truly made it monstrous were the deadly keratinous blades sprouting from its shoulders, gleaming like obsidian scythes in the dim dungeon light. They weren't just for show—each movement of the beast sent them slicing through the air with a deadly hiss. But what made it even more fearsome was the hardened plating covering its front limbs, a natural armor that extended down to its massive paws. Thick, segmented layers of keratin, as sharp as glass, encased its forearms like the gauntlets of an executioner, designed to slash, crush, and deflect in equal measure. It made it look more like the defense of an Armadillo.
As the monster charged, its thunderous steps caused the ground to tremble beneath them.
Garrick, standing at the forefront, didn't hesitate. His sharp, commanding voice rang out over the battlefield. "Elara! Barrier—keep the Rank 1s out! Roran, anyone that gets too close—shoot them down! Renji, back him up! No surprises! Kaelin…" His gaze hardened as he looked toward the swordsman, who silently unsheathed his blade, the cold steel whispering against its sheath. "Take this fight seriously."
Kaelin merely smirked, eyes glinting with anticipation.
The Bladed Tiger Boss let loose another snarl and lunged—lightning-fast for something its size. The air whistled as its bladed shoulders slashed downward in a brutal arc.
Garrick was faster.
With a ground-shaking step, he surged forward, his colossal shield slamming into the beast with earth-rending force. The collision sent a shockwave through the battlefield, forcing the Bladed Tiger to skid back several meters, claws tearing trenches into the ground. But it wasn't deterred—its molten-yellow eyes gleamed with unbridled fury as it rebounded, its armored forearms already poised to counter.
Korrin and Denwen saw their chance.
Moving in tandem, the two brawlers darted in from opposite sides. Korrin, the stronger of the two, launched a devastating hook aimed at the beast's ribs. His fists, wrapped in dense layers of reinforced essence, struck like hammers against the monster's hide, sending ripples across its thick muscles. Yet, the Bladed Tiger twisted at the last second, its plated forearm deflecting the blow with a sickening clang.
Denwen, taking advantage of the opening, shot low with precise footwork, driving an iron-clad punch toward the beast's underbelly. He felt the impact rattle through his arm as his essence-charged gauntlet met the beast's natural armor. But instead of tearing through, the plating absorbed most of the damage, sending a numbing shock up his bones.
Before they could disengage, the Bladed Tiger retaliated.
Its shoulder blades lashed out with blinding speed. Korrin barely managed to weave back in time, but not before a shallow gash was carved into his arm. Denwen wasn't as lucky—a razor-thin cut burned across his side, warm blood trickling beneath his torn tunic.
Still, he kept his focus.
As he stepped back, Denwen's mind raced, analyzing every detail: "This thing isn't as strong as the Iron Hide Chief… something's off" A realization clicked into place. It's Rank 2, but it feels weaker… closer to Early or Mid-Rank 2 at best.
His pulse quickened: "Maybe… I can take a chance"
Korrin, unaware of Denwen's thoughts, continued pressing the beast, throwing wild, brutal strikes. The Bladed Tiger locked onto him, recognizing him as the greater threat. That was a mistake.
Denwen struck.
Gathering his essence into his gauntlet, he tightened his stance, every muscle coiling with precision. Then, with a controlled burst of power, he propelled himself upward, launching a devastating uppercut straight into the beast's jaw. A deep, resonating CRACK filled the chamber as the blow connected. Though it didn't break through, it snapped the beast's head back just enough—just enough for Kaelin to move.
The swordsman took a single breath.
His aura flared—Peak Rank 2 essence surging through his veins like a raging current.
Then he was gone.
To the untrained eye, Kaelin vanished.
A sudden shockwave cracked the air, the only sign of his blinding speed. Even Renji, seasoned in battle, found himself wide-eyed in disbelief wondering if he was still the speedster of the group. Garric smiled as he thought: "Seems like someone had a successful breakthrough"
Kaelin reappeared below the beast, under the exposed part of its neck, sword raised, essence crackling along its edge like a living force.
In one perfect motion—he sliced.
A gleam of silver.
A whisper of wind.
A clean, precise cut.
The Bladed Tiger's head slid from its shoulders.
A heavy thud echoed as it struck the ground, rolling to a lifeless stop. Its massive body swayed—then collapsed in a heap of striped fur and muscle.
Silence.
The battlefield stood still, the air thick with the scent of blood and sweat.
Garrick let out a slow breath, lowering his shield. "Elara, cancel the spell."
The mage nodded, the shimmering barrier dissolving into specks of light. But as she raised her hands to cast recovery spells, Garrick shook his head. "Don't bother. We didn't spend much on this fight." He turned to Denwen, a rare look of approval in his eyes. "Ren… you've grown stronger."
Denwen, caught off guard, acknowledged with a simple nod.
Kaelin, sheathing his blade, walked up to Denwen and clapped him on the back. "You know, kid… that was quick thinking. Not bad."
Denwen didn't respond immediately. His brows furrowed, an unease creeping into his mind.
'Something didn't feel right' he thought with his eyes scanned the now silent grassland.
"Wait…" He looked around, scanning the battlefield. His eyes darkened. "I know we cleared the dungeon, but doesn't it feel like something is… off?"
Garrick's face hardened. "So, you noticed it too."
Before he could say more, Renji suddenly pointed. "Boss… the dungeon boss is decomposing."
All heads turned as the Bladed Tiger's corpse began to wither. Its striped fur dulled to ash, its flesh collapsing in on itself as if being consumed by an unseen force. The other fallen disasters—Rank 1s littered across the battlefield—began to suffer the same fate.
Their bodies disintegrated.
"What the hell?" Korrin breathed.
"Quick! Get the cores—we can't lose them!" Garrick ordered.
The team scrambled, rushing toward the nearest corpses, hands reaching for the essence-rich cores embedded in their chests.
But the moment they touched the remains—
Dust.
The bodies collapsed into nothingness.
One by one, the fallen disasters crumbled, their forms unraveling into fine gray powder that scattered like mist in the dim dungeon light. Even the surviving Rank 1s, still breathing moments ago, spasmed—then vanished into the wind.
A heavy silence settled over the group.
This… had never happened before.