Chapter 02

"Did she just come back from the fucking dead?" The gray-haired man chuckled, a sharp glint in his eye. "Ah, Gin, boy, now you've truly seen everything!"

Kaede stepped forward, her gaze steely. "Hydra!" she called, thrusting her hand out.

GGRRAAAH!

The chamber trembled as the three serpentine heads behind her surged forward, smoke seeping from their gaping maws. With a deafening roar, they unleashed a torrent of thick, purple liquid. The poisonous tide crashed into the room, tearing through pillars and ricocheting off the ancient stone walls as it surged toward Gin and the towering Lizardman.

Gin's eyes widened. "Well, damn. That's new," he muttered, leaping aside just in time. He watched, grimacing, as the Lizardman faced the oncoming flood alone.

GGRRAAAH!

The beast roared, hefting its massive cleaver. With a savage swing, it sent a concentrated wave of force slicing through the purple venom. The shockwave tore a deep trench into the chamber walls, splitting stone with an ear-splitting crack.

BOOM!

A sonic boom followed as the shockwave’s aftereffects rippled through the room. Pillars buckled and crumbled, crashing to the ground in a rain of debris.

Gin flinched. "H-Hey! That’s A-rank levels of bullshit!" His gaze darted to the collapsing chamber. "I’ve gotta get out of this dungeon."

As the Lizardman's gaze locked onto Kaede, the black-haired girl standing steadfast before her summoned Hydra, Gin made his move.

"Now's my chance to split," he whispered.

Activating his rune, a shimmer enveloped his body, and in an instant, he vanished.

He reappeared just outside the entrance to the chamber, his breath ragged. Around him lay the corpses of C-rank hunters head killed, their bodies still and cold. Further back, at the entrance, the remains of the other hunters lay scattered.

Beyond the entrance, mana waves pulsed from deep within the dungeon, sending a chill down Gin’s spine. His eyes narrowed. "Did she... reawaken?"

---

Back in the chamber, Kaede stumbled, her body trembling. Confusion clouded her gaze.

"Wha... what just happened? Where am I? Where's Sally?" She paused, her head throbbing. "Huh? What am I saying... Who's Sally?"

GGRRAAAH!

A deafening roar echoed through the chamber, but Kaede barely registered it. Instead, memories flooded her mind, snapping into place like broken shards. Her eyes widened in shock.

"I... I remember... everything."

Before the realization could settle, the towering Lizardman lunged forward, its massive cleaver slicing through the air in a brutal horizontal swing.

BOOM!

A sonic boom followed as the cleaver moved faster than sound, its sharpened edge slamming directly into Kaede's gut.

BLAM!

She was launched backward, crashing into the chamber's stone wall. The impact shattered the surface, spiderweb cracks radiating from where her body struck.

Her eyes, still wide, flared with a red tint as a scream tore from her throat.

"THAT BASTAAARD!!"

A red wave of force erupted from her body, blasting through the already fractured wall and sending shards of stone scattering across the chamber. She dropped to the ground, panting heavily, the rage boiling beneath her skin.

Across from her, the Lizardman narrowed its gaze, sensing the shift in power. Red lines glowed beneath its scaly skin as its body began to bulge, muscle tearing and reshaping. Its form grew larger, denser. Even the massive cleaver in its hand expanded, its edge thickening as it radiated dangerous energy. The creature staggered, dropping to one knee, its skin splitting as though shedding a layer.

Kaede gritted her teeth, her body trembling as she fought to keep control of her fury.

"I swear... I'll kill him. Kill that bastard."

Just as the words left her lips, a shimmer of light caught her eye.

A holographic screen blinked into existence before her, its surface glowing faintly in the dim chamber.

____________

NAME: Maple

HP: 2000/2000. MP: 230/230

STATUS

STR: 24. VIT: 20430. AGI: 19

DEX: 23. INT: 19

Physical Damage Resistance: 1700%

EQUIPMENT

New Moon (Dagger) +45 Atk

Night's Facsimile (Shield) + 13500 Vit

Black Rose Armor

SKILLS:

Hydra, Devour, Pierce Guard, Bomb Eater, Counter, Quick Change, Indomitable Guardian, Shield Attack, Sidestep Deflect, Meditation, Taunt Inspire, HP Boost (S), MP Boost (S), Heavy Body, Green's Grace, Great Shield Mastery X, Cover Move X, Cover, Absolute Defense, Moral Turpitude, Sheep Eater, Hydra Eater, Giant Killing, Psychokinesis, Fortress, Martyr's Devotion, Pandemonium, Heaven's Throne, Nether Nexus, Crystallization, Twisted Resurrection, Machine God, Lure of the deep, Bug Urn Curse, Zone Freeze, Cataclysmic Eruption, Unbreakable Shield, Earth Wielding X, Apex of Authority, Glow of Deliverance, Dark Rebirth

__________

Kaede chuckled darkly, her laughter echoing through the crumbling chamber as the Lizardman was consumed by swirling red smoke. The air trembled, the very walls of the dungeon cracking and splitting beneath the mounting pressure. From the fractures, molten lava seeped through, glowing ominously as it carved fiery rivers into the stone.

The cracks extended, creeping like veins of destruction all the way to the dungeon's entrance. There, the corpse of the red-haired boy, still and forgotten, teetered on the edge of a growing fissure. With a final tremor, his body slipped, falling into the molten depths below. The lava claimed him instantly, his form vanishing with a sickening hiss.

But the cracks did not stop. They spread, branching further until, eventually, they laced across the entire dungeon.

"Hahahaha!" Kaede's laughter grew wild, manic. Her body trembled, not from fear, but from something deeper, an unrestrained rage boiling beneath the surface.

With a violent burst, the red smoke that cloaked the dungeon boss exploded outward. In its place stood a monstrous figure.

The Lizardman, now towering at an immense thirty meters, loomed over Kaede. Its scales had darkened, glowing with veins of magma. It gripped a colossal bronze cleaver, the weapon’s edge dripping with molten lava that hissed as it struck the ground.

Gruagh!

The beast’s guttural breath echoed like thunder, shaking loose stones from the chamber ceiling. Slowly, it raised its six-meter-long cleaver, the weapon glinting with deadly heat.

Yet Kaede did not flinch. She didn’t cower. She only laughed harder, her body quaking with madness as though the sight of the towering boss only fueled her hysteria.

"Hahahaha!"

And then, with a roar that could split mountains, the Lizardman swung.

CLAAAANG!!

A thunderous, metallic crash split the air as the molten cleaver slammed into Kaede, the impact echoing like a war drum struck by the gods.

BOOOOM!!

The force rippled through the chamber, shaking the walls and splintering the stone beneath her feet.

SSSSSHHHHH!!

Lava hissed and sizzled as it splashed against everything, steam erupting in angry bursts.

CRACK-CRACK!!

Fissures spider-webbed across the entire chamber, the structure groaning under the pressure.

And then, silence, save for the slow drip of molten metal cooling against the rubble.

The dungeon boss's eyes widened, its massive arm trembling as it struggled to drive the molten cleaver deeper. Sparks erupted where the blade met its target, but the weapon refused to cut any further.

"Hehehehehe!" Kaede's laughter echoed through the chamber, wild and unrestrained. Buried knee-deep in the cracked earth, she stared up at the massive blade biting into her shoulder. The metal sparked and hissed, but her flesh remained untouched.

"You can't hurt me, can you?!" she roared, a maniacal grin splitting her face. Her eyes blazed purple as she threw her head back and screamed, "I'M FUCKING MAPLE!!"

Gah!

The dungeon boss gasped, its body shuddering as three colossal dragon heads lunged forward. With a thunderous crash, they struck, their fangs sinking into scaled flesh. The impact tore the creature from the ground, each head biting and tearing as it was lifted into the air, and into the ceiling.

The chamber shook with the force of the assault, cracks spider-webbing along the walls as Kaede stood beneath the chaos, her laughter ringing louder than the crashing stone.

GGRRAAAH!

With a furious roar, the dungeon boss wrenched itself free, tearing the massive dragon heads apart with sheer brute strength. The dragon head retaliated, spewing waves of poison, but it fought on, its body thrashing violently.

HSSSS!

The air hissed as the lingering poison splashed against its thick, armored scales, only to evaporate on contact, dissipating into harmless mist. The creature's resistance was monstrous, its body refusing to yield to the venom’s deadly touch.

Freed from its restraints, the dungeon boss plummeted from the ceiling.

BOOM!

The ground quaked as it slammed into the stone floor, the impact sending tremors rippling through the chamber. Cracks splintered beneath its massive bulk, dust and debris raining down as the beast rose.

Kaede stood unmoving, her shadow stretching beneath the crimson glow of the lava. Her laughter had faded, but her grin remained, sharp, dangerous. Her eyes, burning with madness, never left the towering Lizardman as it rose from the crater it had carved into the earth.

The beast snarled, its molten cleaver dragging across the stone floor with a deafening screech. Lava dripped from its blade, hissing and sizzling, leaving glowing scars in its wake.

Kaede tilted her head, crimson eyes narrowing. "Come on," she whispered, her voice low, dangerous. "Show me what you've got."

With an earth-shaking roar, the Lizardman charged. The ground trembled beneath its bulk, stone cracking beneath every step. It raised its cleaver high, magma spraying from its edge as it swung down with a force that could shatter mountains.

Kaede didn't move.

CLAAAANG!!

The impact struck her rectangular shield, Night's Facsimile, the force so tremendous it cratered the earth beneath her feet. Shockwaves rippled through the chamber, sending debris flying like shrapnel. Lava splashed in violent waves, licking at her armor, but Kaede stood firm, unmoved.

"That's it?" she taunted, her voice dripping with venom. "You're pathetic."

With a growl, she shoved forward, activating Shield Bash, the power of her shield sending the cleaver skidding back. The Lizardman staggered, just for a moment, and that was all she needed.

"Hydra!"

GGRRAAAH!

The summoning surged, and from behind her, the massive serpentine heads reemerged, purple smoke billowing from their open maws. They struck like lightning, jaws snapping, venom pouring in torrents. The chamber drowned in purple, the floor turning to slick, bubbling poison.

The Lizardman roared, thrashing as it swung its cleaver, the blade slicing through the haze, but this time, the poison clung. It hissed and steamed against its armored scales, seeping into cracks, filling its lungs.

HSSSS!

The air burned with the acrid scent of venom and molten rock. The beast stumbled, its footing faltering, but it didn’t fall. No, its resilience was monstrous.

Kaede’s grin widened. "Still standing?" she chuckled. "Good. Let's see how long that lasts."

The ground beneath her feet pulsed, cracks spider-webbing from her stance. Her body glowed faintly, a surge of mana igniting beneath her skin.

"Venom Burst."

The word echoed like a death sentence.

The chamber exploded.

Pillars shattered. Stone walls ruptured. Lava geysers erupted from the earth, spewing molten fire high into the cavern's ceiling. The very air trembled under the weight of her unleashed power.

And from that chaos, a shadow emerged. The Lizardman.

Its body bulged, twisted. Red lines carved into its scales, glowing brighter, deeper. Its eyes burned with fury, and with a guttural roar, it charged.

Kaede didn't flinch.

She surged forward to meet it, shield first.

Shield Attack!

Their collision shook the dungeon to its core.

BOOOOM!

The shockwave threw debris in every direction. A pillar collapsed, crashing into the floor with a thunderous crack. Poison splashed, lava spilled, but neither combatant yielded.

Kaede gritted her teeth, pushing back with every ounce of strength. The Lizardman's cleaver pressed down, heat radiating from its molten edge, but her shield held firm, unscathed.

"You think strength is enough to kill me?" she snarled, her voice a razor’s edge. "I don't die!"

With a roar, she shoved the blade aside and slammed her shield into the Lizardman's chest.

Shield Attack!

The impact echoed like thunder. The beast staggered back, claws scrabbling against broken stone.

And Kaede moved.

She lunged, faster than she should be, her dagger flashing. It struck deep, driving into the Lizardman’s thigh. The beast howled, swinging its cleaver wildly, but Kaede caught the blow on her shield. Sparks exploded from the impact. The ground split beneath her, but she stood. She always stood.

And then she struck. "Deploy!" She yelled, her dagger shattering to form a large blade so black that they seemed hewn from the darkest night sky.

With a scream, she drove her dagger into the Lizardman's gut, the blade piercing through scales and muscle. The beast roared, flailing, but it was too late. "Hydra!"

The Lizardman roared in agony as three colossal dragon heads erupted from its body, one tearing through its shoulder, another bursting from its back, and the last ripping free from its thigh. Flesh and scales split apart with a sickening crack, the serpentine heads writhing as they emerged, hissing and snarling, their maws dripping with venom.

"Die," Kaede whispered.

And with a pulse of mana, she detonated the hydra. "Venom Burst!"

BOOM!

The explosion tore through the Lizardman’s body, its flesh rupturing, magma bursting from the wounds in a spray of molten fire. The beast staggered, its form wavering.

And Kaede didn’t stop.

"Hydra!" Again, she plunged her blade. Again, she detonated. "Venom Burst!"

BOOM!

Scales split. Bones cracked. The Lizardman howled in agony, collapsing to one knee. Its breath came in ragged gasps, molten drool spilling from its jaws.

Kaede stood over it, shadowed in crimson light, her dagger dripping with molten blood.

"It's over," she said coldly.

And then, with one final strike, she drove her large dagger through the creature's skull.

Silence.

The Lizardman's body twitched, shuddered… then stilled.

It collapsed with a thunderous crash, molten blood pooling beneath its corpse.

Kaede stood over it, her body trembling, her breath ragged. The adrenaline, the rage, it burned in her veins. She stumbled, her knees hitting the cracked earth, and for a moment, there was only the sound of her labored breathing.

And then the screen appeared again.

---

BOSS DEFEATED

[EXP Gained: 45000]

[Item Acquired: Molten Cleaver]

---

Kaede stared, her eyes widening as the words burned into her vision.

And then she smiled.

A slow, dangerous smile.

"This is such bullshit," she whispered, her voice a rasp.

Kaede stood over the smoldering corpse of the dungeon boss, its massive form still steaming from the lingering heat of battle. The stench of charred flesh filled the air, thick and heavy. She wrinkled her nose in disgust, her gaze lingering on the beast’s lifeless eyes.

"Well... it's not like I haven't done worse," she muttered, stepping closer. Without hesitation, she knelt by the Lizardman's massive head, her shadow looming over it. She placed a hand on its scaly snout, her expression unreadable.

"Thanks for the meal," she said softly. And then, she opened her mouth wide.

---

An hour had passed.

The once-towering corpse was now reduced to a half-eaten ruin, Kaede already having devoured her way down to its torso. The taste was bitter, metallic, but she pushed through with mechanical precision, her movements methodical and unwavering.

Between bites, she scrolled through her system menu, her fingers idly swiping through glowing screens. Every twenty minutes, a notification flashed, another skill gained from the monstrous feast. The list grew steadily, a quiet testament to her patience and grim determination.

She paused for a moment, wiping a smear of blood from her chin, and glanced down at the fading remains. The Lizardman had been a formidable foe, but now, it was nothing more than sustenance, fuel for her growing power.

The skills she had gotten were as follows:

Lava Burst – Allows the user to expel a burst of molten energy from their body, burning nearby enemies.

Magma Infusion – Weapons and attacks can be temporarily infused with molten energy, increasing damage and adding burn effects

Stoneguard Hide – Increases physical defense and reduces damage taken by 35%

Molten Core – Gradually regenerates health when exposed to extreme heat or fire.

Volcanic Breath – Unleashes a short-range breath attack of searing, molten air.

"Hmm... there's a shop too, just like in the game. Looks like everything carried over." Kaede mused, a faint smile playing on her lips as she tore into a veiny piece of flesh. The taste was bitter, metallic, but she didn’t mind. She chewed thoughtfully, her eyes scanning the translucent screen hovering before her.

"Even the party function," she noted, tapping the icon with curiosity. "But... how would that even work here? Wouldn't they have to be a player?"

She chuckled lightly, still chewing as her gaze flicked over the screen. "Too bad there's no one to test this with..."

Suddenly, the interface flickered. Kaede paused, the meat halfway to her mouth, her breath catching as the screen shifted.

---

Would you like to add Vivi Hachibana to your party?

| Yes | No |

---

Kaede stared, the words sinking in, her mind racing. The name glowed softly on the screen, a ghostly invitation that made her heart skip a beat.

"...Vivi?" she whispered, her grip tightening around the half-eaten piece of flesh. The dungeon's silence pressed against her, broken only by the faint crackle of distant lava.

Slowly, her finger hovered over the option.

"How...?"