"This is it," Leon said, his eyes locked on the shimmering crystal suspended above the lake. "The first-level dungeon’s core."
Before anyone could respond, the tranquil surface of the lake began to ripple violently. Waves churned, and a monstrous figure rose from the depths—a terrifying amalgamation of shadow and water. Its massive form was constantly shifting, as if its body couldn’t decide on a single shape. Writhing tendrils of liquid and dark energy surrounded it, coiling like serpents ready to strike. Its eyes blazed with an unnatural, piercing light, radiating malice and primal fury.
The creature let out a guttural roar, the sound reverberating through the cavern and shaking the ground beneath their feet. The air grew heavy with an oppressive aura, and the group instinctively stepped back.
Leon didn’t flinch. "Everyone, prepare for battle!" he commanded, his voice firm and steady. Though the guardian loomed like an unstoppable force, his unshakable tone inspired confidence, steadying the group amidst the chaos.
The guardian struck first, one of its massive appendages surging toward them like a tidal wave. Leon reacted instantly, stepping forward and casting Aether Shield. A translucent barrier materialized in front of him, glowing faintly with swirling energy. The monstrous appendage collided with the shield, sending shockwaves through the air.
The shield held but cracked under the sheer force of the attack. Leon gritted his teeth, bracing himself. "Stay behind me!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the cacophony of battle.
Before the creature could strike again, Roselia emerged from Leon’s shadow, her form slipping into view like an apparition. The sudden appearance startled some of the party members, who instinctively raised their weapons or prepared spells.
"Wait!" Leon shouted, raising a hand to stop them. "She’s with me!"
The group hesitated, their tension not entirely eased but their actions halted. Roselia, unfazed by the hostility, stepped forward with an air of confidence. Her eyes glimmered with dark magic as flames of void energy ignited in her hands.
"She’s an ally," Leon reaffirmed, his tone brooking no argument. "Focus on the real threat."
Understanding dawned on the group, and they nodded, redirecting their attention to the guardian.
The creature roared again, sending out a wave of dark energy that rippled through the cavern. Leon took command, issuing swift orders. "Spread out! Maintain your distance! Roselia, suppress its core while I pin it down. The rest of you, aim for its tendrils and distract it!"
He had also Roselia on his back calls, considering the Abyss Dungeon difficulty.
"Roselia, support the others! Focus on its core!" Leon barked as the rest of the team spread out. Roselia immediately began chanting, her hands glowing with the eerie light of Void Flame.
A deep hum filled the air as Leon activated Gravity Flux, forcing the creature to slow down, its movements hindered by the sudden weight pressing on it. "Now’s our chance—hit it with everything!" he yelled.
Tendrils of water shot out from the creature, aiming for Roselia and another summoned servant. With a flick of his hand, Leon used Hellfire Chain, ensnaring the creature’s limbs in blazing chains of dark fire. It roared in agony as the chains burned into its shadowy flesh.
"Keep at it!" Leon urged. He unleashed Eldritch Blast, a crackling bolt of dark energy that struck the creature’s torso, eliciting another agonized shriek. "Focus on wearing it down!"
The battle raged on, the air thick with the clash of magic and monstrous roars. Though the team fought valiantly, the dungeon’s guardian was relentless, each attack more ferocious than the last. Leon’s mind raced as he assessed the battlefield, searching for a strategy to turn the tide.
"Cherry, analyze its weak point," Leon thought as he dodged a sweeping strike.
[Host, its core is destabilizing due to repeated damage. A concentrated attack on its heart-like structure could end this quickly!] Cherry replied.
Leon shouted. "Roselia, concentrate your Void Flame on its chest! Everyone else, cover her!"
Roselia stepped forward, her hands engulfed in the ethereal glow of Void Flame, its darkly shimmering edges crackling with power. Her voice rose in an incantation, the cavern trembling with the weight of her magic.
The Guardian shot out many water spears like tendrils, as it aimed to disrupt Roselia.
While Leon also summoned the Lesser Cthulhu, it wasn’t the one who has formed a dark pact with him, but another one at tier II, though it gave another fright to his teammates as they all looked at Leon in wonder , and wondered just what class Leon has, that allowed him to summon dangerous creatures again and again.
Leon shouted, "Cover her! Don’t let those tendrils get close!"
The summoned Lesser Cthulhu lashed out with its Space Shattering Tentacle Strike, disrupting the water tendrils attempting to pierce Roselia’s defenses. At the same time, Leon fired another Aether Bolt, striking the creature’s limbs and forcing its attention away from her.
The guardian roared, its core pulsing erratically as its movements became increasingly desperate. The weight of Leon’s Gravity Flux pinned it further, while the Hellfire Chains sizzled against its liquid-shadow body, cutting off its ability to regenerate.
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Roselia’s chant reached its climax. "Consume in the flames of the void!" she roared, her Void Flame condensing into a brilliant orb of destructive energy. With a surge of power, she hurled it directly at the guardian’s exposed core.
The orb struck true, embedding itself into the chest of the monstrous figure. The creature froze mid-attack, its roar cut short as the Void Flame ignited within its core. For a moment, the dungeon guardian seemed to implode, the shadows and water recoiling violently toward the center of its body.
"Fall back!" Leon commanded, grabbing Roselia’s arm and pulling her to safety as the creature began to unravel.
With a deafening explosion, the dungeon guardian collapsed, a cascade of shadow and water collapsing into the lake. The once-raging cavern fell silent, save for the gentle rippling of the lake’s surface.
As the dust settled, a shimmering object floated in the air where the creature’s core had been. It radiated an eerie, pale-blue light, pulsating faintly like a heartbeat.