Raiden Arakawa, standing off to the side, summoned another thunderstorm above the battlefield. Bolts of lightning crackled and shot down, searing through the monsters in its path, but for every one that fell, two more took its place.
"We need to finish this fast," Raiden muttered, his voice strained as he wiped sweat from his brow. "This is only going to get worse."
The Abyssal Spawn were relentless, but they were starting to slow down. The hunters' attacks were becoming more efficient, cutting through the creatures like a hot knife through butter. Yet, something felt off.
The air was charged with an unnatural heaviness, as if the dungeon itself was aware of their presence, pushing back harder the more they advanced.
I stood outside, stationed with the A-ranks, watching closely. My mind wasn't just on the fight happening inside the dungeon, but on the strange sensation that had settled over the entire area.
The shadows around the dungeon seemed to stir unnaturally, and there was an eerie quietness between the violent clashes.
Something was coming. And I couldn't shake the feeling that this was far from over.
"Stay alert," I muttered to myself, glancing toward the entrance where the combat raged. My Shadow Familiar was still feeding me information, its movements hidden in the darkness as it silently observed the chaos unfolding inside.
The monsters seemed endless, yet the real battle hadn't even begun. I couldn't help but notice the peculiar lack of higher-level threats. There were no Elite Abyssal Beasts yet. No signs of the true power behind this dungeon. It was almost as if the dungeon was holding something back, waiting for the right moment to reveal its true nature.
Just then, a rumble shook the ground beneath me. The walls of the dungeon trembled, and the air around the entrance grew thick with an oppressive energy. The S-rank hunters inside paused, their expressions grim.
I could feel it too—a shift, something heavy was moving inside. The Abyssal Spawn were retreating now, their numbers dwindling as if they were being driven back by some unseen force.
I wasn't sure what was coming, but I knew one thing for certain: the real fight was still ahead.
Leon and the others were still pressing forward, not realizing the scale of what awaited them. The walls seemed to pulse with power, and then, from deep within the dungeon, a strange, resonant hum began to echo. It was unlike anything I'd ever felt before.
I didn't know what was causing it, but it was as if the dungeon was calling something, something far more dangerous. And from the looks of the S-rank hunters inside, they were in for a fight that would test their very limits.
The ground shook violently, a tremor so deep that it rattled the walls and reverberated through the very air itself. The S-rank hunters, poised for the next wave, momentarily paused, feeling the energy pulse through the dungeon.
Something was wrong. Something massive was stirring beneath the surface.
A faint, rumbling noise echoed, gradually growing louder and more distinct. And then, as if the very earth was giving way, the floor cracked open with a resounding crack, splitting apart like a shattered mirror.
From the depths, something huge began to rise—an unnatural, swirling black mass that seemed to pulse with malevolent energy.
The air thickened, the pressure around them building as the massive form continued to break free from its prison beneath the earth. Shadowy tendrils reached out from the abyssal mass, dragging the stone and dirt with it, creating a swirling vortex of darkness. And finally, as the dungeon trembled in anticipation, the creature fully emerged.
A towering Abyssal beast, its form both monstrous and otherworldly, appeared. Its body was a combination of pure shadow and sinewy, muscled limbs, stretching out with every movement.
Eyes glowing with an eerie, abyssal light stared at the gathered hunters, and its presence alone crushed the air from their lungs.
It was an S-rank creature. The kind of being that made even seasoned S-rank hunters think twice.
The national-level hunters, unaffected by the shock, shifted into action. These were the pinnacle of strength—those who had spent years cultivating their power, capable of facing even the most terrifying beasts without flinching.
Raiden Arakawa, the "Storm Emperor" from Japan, stood tall, lightning crackling at his fingertips as he surveyed the beast with focused intensity.
His blue eyes locked onto the creature as a surge of electricity sparked around him. "This is no ordinary Abyssal beast. Stay sharp, everyone."
Gabriel Dela Cruz, the "Radiant Sovereign" from the Philippines, his golden armor glowing with radiant energy, raised his hands in preparation. "We don't know its full capabilities yet, but one thing's certain: it won't be easy."
In a nearby corner, Ji Seong-Ho, the "Celestial Blade" from South Korea, stood with his katana gleaming under the dungeon's dim light, his presence calm but ready. He spoke in a soft voice that carried across the room. "I will keep the backline secure. We need to focus our efforts."
Amidst them all stood Alexander Graves, the "Titan of Calamity" from the United States, his sheer presence sending tremors through the air. The largest and most imposing of the national-level hunters, he was a living force of nature.
He eyed the Abyssal creature warily, his voice booming across the chamber. "Whatever it is, we'll crush it before it becomes a threat. No hesitation."
The Abyssal creature let out a deep, resonating growl, and the ground trembled beneath it once more. Its dark tendrils lashed out like whips, cracking through the stone as they reached for the hunters.
With a roar, the shadowy mass grew in size, as if feeding on the very darkness of the dungeon. Its void-like aura seemed to absorb all light, leaving only the horrifying glow of its eyes in the center.
And then, in a terrifying display, the creature summoned a swarm of shadow minions. Smaller but still deadly, they emerged from the cracks in the ground, crawling and writhing in the shadows. They surged forward, closing in on the S-rank hunters like a swarm of locusts.
Raiden Arakawa immediately raised his hands, the air crackling with electricity. "Cover the front! I'll handle the swarm!"