Chapter 52: Abyss Dungeon VI
The group gathered at the edge of the tenth floor, their spirits weary but unbroken. Each member had grown stronger, their new abilities complementing the group dynamic.
Leon addressed the team, his voice steady. "This is it. The final floor. It's going to be entirely different from the previous ones—we have no prior knowledge of what lies ahead." His words carried a sense of caution, and the others solemnly nodded.
Up until now, no one had been able to access this floor. The key to its entrance had remained a mystery, but with Leon's efforts, they finally had the means to open it.
Leon turned to the pitch-black door towering before them. "This is the final boss chamber. After defeating what's inside, we'll clear the dungeon once and for all," he said firmly, and the group nodded in unison, their resolve solidified.
Leon then produced the Abyssal Beads, holding them carefully as he approached the door. Embedded in the surface were nine grooves, each shaped to hold a bead. He began placing the beads into the grooves, one by one.
As he placed the first bead, a sudden sliding sound echoed through the cavern. The group tensed momentarily, but Leon raised a hand, signaling them to stay calm. "It's just the locks disengaging," he explained, continuing his work methodically.
Bead after bead was inserted, each triggering another resonant click, as though the door itself was awakening. When the final bead was placed, a deep, final click reverberated through the air. With a rumble, the enormous door slowly began to open, revealing a dark, foreboding passage beyond.
The group exchanged glances, steeling themselves for what was to come. "No turning back now," Leon said, stepping forward into the unknown, with his team close behind.
*****
The door creaked open, revealing a massive chamber bathed in an eerie crimson glow. The air was thick with oppressive energy, and the faint sound of something breathing echoed through the cavern. The group stepped inside cautiously, weapons drawn, their senses heightened.
The floor beneath their feet was a mosaic of blackened stone and glowing red veins that pulsed rhythmically, as if alive. Stalactites hung from the ceiling, dripping a glowing liquid that hissed when it hit the ground. The heat was stifling, more intense than even the volcanic fourth floor.
At the center of the chamber, a hulking figure emerged from the shadows. It stood nearly twenty feet tall, its body encased in jagged black armor. Its eyes glowed a malevolent red, and in its hand, it wielded a massive, molten axe that radiated searing heat. The creature's aura was suffocating, pressing down on the group like a tidal wave.
Leon's voice was steady but commanding. "Stay focused. This is the Abyssal Tyrant, It seems to be the dungeon's final guardian. Its power will test everything we've learned."
The Abyssal Tyrant let out an earth-shaking roar and raised its axe, slamming it into the ground. A wave of molten fire erupted, racing toward the group.
"Kara, shield!" Leon shouted.
Kara planted her shield into the ground and activated Flame Ward. A shimmering barrier of energy enveloped the group, deflecting the fiery wave. "I've got this!" she yelled, holding steady under the immense pressure.
"Spread out!" Leon commanded, and the team moved in coordinated precision.
Lyric darted to the side, firing arrows aimed at the creature's glowing joints. "Its armor's too thick! We need to find a weak spot!" he called out.
"Leave that to me," Roselia said, vanishing into the shadows. She reappeared moments later on the creature's shoulder, plunging her daggers into the exposed flesh near its neck. The Abyssal Tyrant howled in pain, swatting at her like a fly, but she was too quick, flipping back into the shadows.
Marian summoned her Magma Knight, directing it to engage the Tyrant head-on. The elemental warrior clashed with the creature, its molten blade sparking against the Tyrant's axe. "Keep it busy!" she urged, channeling Mana Infusion to keep the Magma Knight fighting at full strength.
Leon activated Gravity Flux, creating a localized field that slowed the Tyrant's movements. "Aim for the exposed areas!" he shouted, charging forward with his sword glowing with Eldritch energy.
Dren moved in tandem with Leon, using his new Stone Shard skill to create sharp projectiles that pierced the creature's softer spots. The Tyrant staggered under the combined assault, its movements becoming more erratic.
The fight dragged on, each strike and counter leaving the group more drained. The Tyrant unleashed devastating area attacks, forcing them to adapt and rely on one another's strengths.
"Kara, brace for impact!" Leon warned as the Tyrant swung its axe in a wide arc. Kara blocked the blow, her shield glowing as she absorbed the impact. The energy released in a shockwave that staggered the Tyrant.
But within a second it was back to normal as it glared at them as if mocking them.
The massive chamber's oppressive air felt like a silent warning, each pulse of the glowing red veins beneath their feet syncing with the dread looming in their chests. The Abyssal Tyrant stood at the center, its molten axe raised high, staring at them with a malevolent intelligence. Its roar echoed through the cavern, shaking the very ground as it charged.
Leon held his sword firm. "Kara, shield the group! Everyone else, move!"
"Don't falter despite it acting strong it was affected" Leon said to bring their Morale back as they all nodded.
The Tyrant's axe came crashing down, splitting the floor and sending a wave of molten fire surging toward them. Kara slammed her shield into the ground, activating Flame Ward. The fiery torrent collided with the barrier, crackling and hissing, but her face twisted with strain. "This thing's no joke! It's draining me fast!"
"Switch tactics!" Leon ordered, sidestepping the collapsing rocks as the chamber trembled. "Lyric, aim for the glowing joints! Roselia, find a way to blind it! Marian, summon the Knight!"
Lyric rolled to the side, drawing his bow and loosing an arrow at the Tyrant's knee joint. The projectile hit true, causing the massive creature to stumble slightly. "I don't think it likes that!" he called out, firing more arrows to keep its attention divided.
Marian's staff flared with fiery light as her Magma Knight materialized, its molten form radiating intense heat. It clashed directly with the Abyssal Tyrant, matching the creature's strength blow for blow. But the Tyrant roared and swung its axe with incredible force, shattering part of the Magma Knight's arm. Marian staggered from the backlash of the connection. "It's too strong! My summon won't hold much longer!"
"We'll make it hold!" Roselia shouted, emerging from the shadows and landing gracefully on the Tyrant's back. With quick precision, she plunged her daggers into the exposed joints near its neck, causing it to thrash violently.
The Tyrant suddenly let out a guttural snarl, and the veins beneath the floor pulsed brighter. Without warning, black spikes erupted from the ground in random patterns, forcing the group to scramble for safety.
Kara barely managed to deflect a spike with her shield. "It can control the arena! Watch your step!"
Leon growled in frustration, his mind racing. "Dren, use Stone Shard! Block the spikes!"
Dren slammed his hands into the ground, summoning jagged barriers to intercept the emerging spikes. But the Tyrant wasn't done. With a chilling roar, it swung its axe horizontally, sending a wall of molten energy racing toward them.
Marian reacted quickly. "Flame Ward won't hold! Everyone, move behind the Magma Knight!"
The team dove behind the summon as it absorbed the brunt of the attack, its molten form flickering. It retaliated by launching a torrent of lava at the Tyrant, momentarily staggering it.
Leon saw an opening and activated Gravity Flux, anchoring the Tyrant to the ground. "Focus your attacks now! Go for its core!"
Lyric's arrows began glowing as he infused them with mana, piercing deeper into the cracks of the Tyrant's armor. Roselia darted in and out of the shadows, slashing at weak points. Even Kara, with her shield in hand, charged forward to deliver a crushing blow to the Tyrant's leg, destabilizing it.
But the Abyssal Tyrant wasn't going down easily. It released a deafening roar, and the molten veins in its armor surged with power. A shockwave of energy erupted, sending the group flying backward. Marian collapsed to one knee, her breathing ragged as the Magma Knight flickered and dissipated.
The Tyrant now glowed with an intense crimson light, its strength seemingly renewed. "It's entered its berserk state!" Leon warned.
Roselia reappeared beside him, blood dripping from her arm. "What now, Captain?"
Leon's grip on his sword tightened. "We hit it with everything we've got."
The Tyrant raised its axe again, this time summoning molten meteors that began falling from the ceiling. The group scattered to avoid the fiery bombardment, their movements frantic but calculated.
Lyric's voice cut through the chaos. "I'm down to my last arrows! Make them count!"
Marian raised her staff, channeling her remaining mana. "I'll support you! Magma Infusion—one last push!"
With Marian's boost, Lyric's arrows glowed with an intense fiery energy. He loosed them at the Tyrant's exposed chest, the projectiles exploding on impact and cracking the armor further.
"Now, finish it!" Leon shouted.
Marian's Magma Knight delivered a crushing blow to the Tyrant's chest, cracking its armor. Seizing the opportunity, Leon leaped forward, channeling every ounce of his mana into his blade. With a powerful strike, he drove the sword into the creature's core, unleashing a burst of energy that erupted through the chamber.
The Abyssal Tyrant let out a deafening roar as its body began to disintegrate into ash. The ground trembled, and the crimson glow faded, leaving behind only silence.
The group stood together, panting and bruised, but victorious. At the center of the chamber, a shimmering golden core floated, radiating an aura of immense power.