A blinding flash tore through the darkness as the massive bolt of lightning crashed down.
Aurora's voice rang in his mind with urgency, "Alex, it's about to attack!"
Alex reacted instantly, twisting his body and leaping back, narrowly avoiding the deadly strike. The air where he had stood just a second ago crackled with residual energy, the heat prickling his skin. He hadn't expected a sudden attack—his instincts had screamed at him the moment the Hobgoblin's markings flared along with Aurora's warning.
Alicia, on the other hand, moved with effortless grace. With a simple step to the side, she evaded the attack as if it were nothing more than a passing inconvenience.
Alex's gaze snapped back to the Hobgoblin. Wasting no time, he raised his hand and fired
The dark spear shot forward, slicing through the air before abruptly vanishing into the void—only to reappear mere inches from the Hobgoblin's chest.
The monster barely had time to register its presence before the spear detonated on impact. A violent shockwave erupted, sending arcs of lightning surging outward.
Dust and debris flew in all directions, but as the smoke settled, Alex's expression hardened.
Despite the devastating hit, the Hobgoblin was still standing.
The strange markings on its body pulsed with renewed intensity, crackling with residual lightning as if absorbing the attack's energy. Its yellow sclera glowed menacingly, and for the first time, its lips curled into a grin.
Alex clenched his jaw. "Tch. That wasn't enough?"
Alicia folded her arms, her gaze locked onto the Hobgoblin as she spoke calmly, "Boss monsters are always stronger than their lesser counterparts. They're not just more powerful—they're enhanced versions, a step above the rest. Each one possesses unique traits that set them apart, making them far deadlier than the monsters outside."
The Hobgoblin raised its blade, lightning arcing across its body.
The boss monster swung its short sword in a sharp, deliberate motion, carving an X-shaped trajectory through the air.
A split second later, arcs of chain lightning erupted from its blade, crackling as they struck the ground in rapid succession—each impact leaving behind scorched craters that spread outward in a deadly pattern.
Alex weaved between the strikes, narrowly avoiding direct hits. However, even the proximity to the attacks made his skin prickle with residual electricity, a gradual accumulation of damage that threatened to wear him down.
"Be careful! It's not just aiming for direct hits." Aurora warned.
Alex gritted his teeth. 'It's not moving—is there a delay between its lightning manipulation and its next attack?'
He wasn't about to waste an opportunity. Without hesitation, he dashed forward, closing the distance in an instant, and unleashed another
The black spear of nothingness hurtled toward the motionless boss, flickering in and out of existence before reappearing just inches from its torso. Victory should have been assured.
'Damn it!'
The moment his attack was about to land, the Hobgoblin's form crackled violently and dispersed into pure lightning, vanishing before his eyes. But—something was off. His spear hadn't just passed through empty space.
A second later, he saw it—blood.
Despite transforming into lightning, the monster had still taken damage.
Its playful smirk vanished, its eerie yellow eyes narrowing with fury. It clenched its jagged teeth and let out a monstrous, guttural roar, its entire body trembling with rage. Sparks erupted from its skin, surging wildly, and then—It raised both arms high into the air.
"No, you don't!" Alex growled, forcing his exhausted body forward.
With a burst of speed, he closed the distance in an instant. The Hobgoblin barely had time to react before his sword was already in motion.
A deep gash tore across its neck, dark blood spraying into the air as the monster staggered backward, its hands instinctively clutching the wound. A choked, guttural snarl escaped its throat, mingling with the sickening sound of it spitting blood onto the barren ground.
Alex didn't hesitate.
His palm was already outstretched, the spell already cast—
Then—he fired.
The projectile tore straight through the boss monster's chest.
Its body convulsed as the attack obliterated its heart, the sheer force sending it crashing onto its back. For a moment, it twitched, its wide eyes filled with disbelief—then, with one final, shuddering exhale, its body went limp.
==============================
[The Host has killed a C rank Boss Monster]
[+2500 XP and +125 SP]
==============================
----------------------------------------------------
[The host has completed a Quest]
[Main Quest: Clear Dungeon]
[+1000 XP and +50 SP]
----------------------------------------------------
Alex was pleasantly surprised to find that killing the boss monster had rewarded him with much more experience points and system points compared to the quest for exploring and clearing the dungeon.
'Well, this dungeon was only E-rank, but the boss was two ranks higher… was that the reason?' he mused, contemplating the unexpected bonus.
Alicia appeared beside him, a proud smile gracing her lips. Without warning, she gently patted his head before ruffling his hair in affection.
"Not bad, my disciple." she praised, her tone laced with both amusement and approval.
Alex, still catching his breath, reached down and retrieved the boss monster's core. It shimmered with an intense glow, pulsating from within like condensed lightning, crackling softly in his grasp.
His gaze then shifted to the short sword the boss had dropped. The blade still crackled faintly with residual sparks of lightning.
==============================
[Magic Artifact]
Name: Thunderfang
Grade: D
Type: Short sword
Description:
- A D-rank artifact of the highest quality
- Has minor lightning properties, enhancing agility and sharpness
==============================
As Alex had suspected, the short sword was an artifact. There was no need to waste time appraising the Hobgoblin Boss's core—Aurora had already informed him of its value.
"That core," Aurora spoke, her tone laced with intrigue, "will fetch a far higher price than the artifact. It has inherent lightning properties. For someone with a lightning affinity, it could prove incredibly beneficial."
Alex stood still, the core resting in his palm, its crackling energy pulsing softly against his skin. He currently had only a Dark attribute affinity, and while the system's help he'll awaken others in the future, one thing was certain—this core held no use for him at the moment.
But selling it wasn't an option. He already had another plan in mind.
Turning to his side, Alex met his master's gaze. With quiet resolve, he extended the core toward her. "Master, this is for you," he said, his voice steady yet carrying an unspoken depth of gratitude.
Alicia's eyes widened ever so slightly, and for a brief moment, hesitation flickered across her face. She had always been the one giving—guiding him, providing everything he needed to grow stronger. But this? This was unexpected. The first real loot he had earned from a dungeon, and he was handing it to her.
Her fingers brushed against the core, and instinctively, she pulled it closer. A warmth spread through her chest, something unfamiliar yet undeniably profound. She could feel it—the weight of his gesture. His trust. His affection. A smile tugged at the corner of her lips, small and controlled, careful not to betray the surge of emotion rising within her.
Internally, Alicia was elated. This core—this precious treasure from his first dungeon encounter—would never leave her side. She would cherish it, guard it as she did Alex himself. It was his first gift to her, and to Alicia, it meant the world.
"Thank you, my disciple." she murmured, her voice softer than usual, reserved for him alone. "I will treasure this... as I treasure you."
For the briefest moment, her eyes glinted with something deeper than mere gratitude—something possessive, something unmistakable. A love that could not be questioned or ignored.
Alex, unaware of the storm his simple act had stirred within her heart, simply nodded, satisfied that his gift had been accepted. He didn't notice the way her gaze lingered, the silent emotions flickering just beneath the surface.
Curiosity still bubbling within him, Alex couldn't help but ask, "So, other than what the Boss Monster dropped, are there any more treasures or artifacts hidden around here?"
Alicia shook her head, a wry smile touching her lips. "Low-rank dungeons like this rarely yield artifacts. Just getting one from a Boss Monster is already a stroke of good luck."
"You should consider yourself fortunate, Alex. You were the first to clear this dungeon, and it was on the verge of a breakout." Aurora added.
Alex glanced around, the adventure had come to an end, but one lingering thought surfaced in his mind.
"Then… how do we get out of here?" he asked, his voice tinged with practicality. "There's nothing left to do, right?"
Alicia's expression shifted to one of mild amusement. "Oh, we go back the way we came."
Alex's gaze swept the dungeon once more. He had expected some kind of exit portal to appear—something he had read about in stories. But there was nothing. Just the long, winding path they had traversed earlier.
'Guess we don't get to take the easy way out this time.' he muttered to himself, already bracing for the journey back.