The Maiden of Agony's grotesque mouth split open wider and wider until it nearly tore her head in half. Her eight glowing red eyes burned with murderous light as she hissed, every word dripping with venom.
"You're . . . next . . ."
Her arm—long, twisted, and tipped like a spear—snapped up and pointed straight at Ren.
With Leonel and Ragnar gone, there was no one left to tank the monster's attacks. The Maiden would automatically turn her wrath toward the highest damage dealer in the group—Ren.
Before she could move, Ragnar bellowed, "No, you don't!"
He dashed forward, axe gleaming under the flickering torchlight. His boots thundered against the stone floor as he took the vanguard, swinging his massive weapon with all the strength his Orcish body could muster.
The blow cut through the air with a sharp whoosh—but the Maiden twisted with an inhuman grace, her spider legs bending unnaturally as she vaulted upward into the air. Her body was nothing but a blur of grey flesh and black shadow.
At that exact moment, Ren's lips curled into a small grin. "Perfect."
He activated [Multiattack], and four blazing rows of fire erupted from his hands. The fiery barrage streaked upward, lighting the cavern like a dawn breaking underground.
The Maiden, still midair and unable to maneuver, took the full brunt of the attack.
–1224 Critical Hit!
[Maiden of Agony suffered from BURN]
–5% HP every minute
–250 (BURN)
A thunderous shriek tore from the creature's throat, shaking loose dust and webbing from the ceiling.
"Ha! It's working!" Isolde shouted, her face brightening when she saw the monster's HP bar flashing red and sinking halfway down.
Just two more attacks, and they'd win. The reward was so close she could almost taste it.
Ragnar grunted, stepping back as the Maiden hit the ground with a heavy thud, her charred limbs scraping against the cobblestone. "Don't just stand there—help out!"
Isolde snapped out of her daze. "R-right!"
She drew her revolver and unleashed a storm of bullets toward the beast as Ragnar rushed in again to intercept it.
But it was no use.
Her shots bounced harmlessly off the creature's hide. The Maiden didn't even glance her way.
For the monster, Isolde was an insect—a minor irritation at best. The real threat was Ren. The fires he cast had done what no blade or bullet could. She would crush him first.
–5
–2
–4
–3
Isolde clicked her tongue in frustration. "Seriously?!"
Seven shots. Seven wasted bullets. The cylinder of her revolver spun empty, and she ducked behind a stone column to reload.
Meanwhile, Ren's [Fire] had finished its cooldown. He raised his hand to cast [Multiattack] again—when the lights died once more.
Fwoom.
Darkness swallowed the chamber.
"Ren! Be careful!" Isolde called, her voice echoing off the stone walls.
Ragnar immediately moved closer to Ren, his instincts sharp. "Stay behind me," he said, planting himself like a wall. "If you die, it's over for all of us."
Ren nodded, but his mind was already working several steps ahead.
"Cast fire!" Ragnar ordered. "If you relight the torches, she won't be able to sneak up on us again!"
Ren didn't respond. His expression hardened.
If he used [Fire], he'd have to wait another two seconds before casting again. Two seconds where the Maiden could strike—plenty of time for her to kill Ragnar or even him.
But if he used the monster's own passive skill—[Shadow in the Night]—he could hide in the darkness instead, becoming untargetable just like her.
And that would make Ragnar the next target.
It wasn't a noble plan. But it was effective.
The corners of Ren's lips twitched.
Ragnar's eyes widened when Ren vanish in the dark. "Ren . . . you're not—"
He didn't get to finish.
Pain exploded through his chest before he even registered what happened. The torches flared back to life, and Ragnar found himself impaled midair, a spear-like limb bursting through his torso.
–277 Critical Hit!
[You have suffered from POISON]
–10% HP every minute
–15 (POISON)
[You have DIED!]
Ragnar coughed, a harsh bark of laughter escaping his lips. "Tch . . . you . . . bastard."
Ren didn't respond. His eyes were locked on the Maiden as her two spear arms retracted, dripping with black venom.
Now was his chance.
He triggered [Multiattack] again. Four blazing streams of fire shot forward, engulfing the Maiden in flames.
–1024 Critical Hit!
[Maiden of Agony suffered from BURN]
–5% HP every minute
–250 (BURN)
The monster shrieked again, staggering back as her skin blistered and cracked. She crawled backward across the floor, desperately shaking her limbs to extinguish the fire eating away at her body.
"Yes!" Isolde cheered from the sidelines. "One more hit! Just one more!"
Her joy was contagious—except for the dead Orc currently faceplanted on the stone floor.
Ragnar groaned, his body already breaking into particles of light. He managed to glance at Ren one last time. The man wasn't even pretending to look sorry. If anything, there was that same quiet grin tugging at his lips.
"You . . . ," Ragnar muttered, sighing heavily. "You better kill it . . . or I'll haunt you."
With that, his body shattered into glowing fragments and vanished.
Ren exhaled slowly. He could tell from the monster's movement that it was running low on MP. Its [Multiattack] was off the table, but [Snuff Light] only cost –20 MP, and it could still turn the darkness against him.
Before he could prepare another spell, the Maiden opened her mouth and let out a piercing, vengeful cry that echoed through the cave. The entire room vibrated with her rage.
Then she lunged—straight for Ren.
"Don't worry, Ren! I'll protect you!"
Isolde jumped in front of him, her revolver raised high.
Ren blinked. ". . . What?"
The sight would've been heroic—if not for how tiny she looked compared to the hulking monster bearing down on them. Her back was straight, her long black hair shimmering like silk under the flickering firelight. She stood like a guardian angel.
If only there were some wind to make her hair blow dramatically, it would've been perfect.
Ren coughed into his hand to stifle a laugh. "I'm counting on you."
"Understood!" Isolde said proudly. "With me here, that spider won't even touch you!"
"Ah . . . about that . . ." Ren started, but it was too late.
With a battle cry that sounded braver than it probably felt, Isolde dashed toward the Maiden. Her movements were quick—elegant even—thanks to her Elven agility boost. She fired as she ran, emptying her freshly loaded revolver.
But the Maiden was far faster. She jumped from wall to wall, weaving between the bullets like a phantom. Every shot missed by a hair's breadth.
"Annoying . . . bugs!" the creature hissed.
Its fury was palpable now. When [Snuff Light] failed to blind Ren and its MP for [Multiattack] was spent, the Maiden switched tactics.
Her mouth opened wide—revealing a long, slick tongue. Her arms raised, and the flesh began to twist, spiral, and then detach.
With a wet snap, her two arms shot forward like living javelins.
"Ren!" Isolde screamed.
Ren didn't move. His eyes tracked the incoming projectiles, calm and unflinching. His DEF was twice the Maiden's STR—he could tank two, maybe three hits. If they didn't crit, he'd live. If they did . . . well, he still had [Phantom Clock].
The plan was simple: let her hit him while he cast [Multiattack] one last time. While she regenerated her arms, she'd be wide open.
Only, things didn't go as planned.
A shadow loomed over him—a small, fast-moving blur.
"Isolde?!"
Before he could react, she shoved him to the side with surprising force.
Ren hit the floor hard, landing flat on his backside. The sound of impact followed—the wet, heavy sound of something sharp sinking into flesh.
When Ren turned, he saw Isolde lying face down on the cold stone floor. Two spear-like arms were buried deep in her back.
–317 Critical Hit!
[You have suffered from POISON]
–10% HP every minute
–14 (POISON)
[You have DIED!]
"R-Ren . . . ," Isolde rasped, her voice trembling. "If we're . . . wiped out . . . I'll be back to square one again."
Her breathing wasn't labored—this was a game, after all—but her cheeks flushed as her gaze lingered on Ren's arm. Memories of her palm brushed his bicep before she managed a faint, silly grin and raised her fingers in an "OK" sign.
"No pressure," she said weakly, laughing at her own joke.
Then she dissolved into light.
Ren stared at the spot where she'd been, his hand still half-raised. ". . . Ugh. I really don't know what to say to that."
He stood, dusting off his clothes.
Thanks to Isolde's sacrifice, his window of opportunity had closed. The Maiden's limbs had already regrown, and her eyes gleamed once more with bloodlust.
Her body hunched low, legs twitching in eerie unison. She hissed—a sound that was less rage and more satisfaction. Her next prey was ready, and this time, there would be no interruptions.
Ren sighed, rolling his neck. "Alright," he muttered under his breath. "Guess it's just you and me now."
He glanced up, locking eyes with the monster.
And then he smiled.
The flames reflected in his gaze burned just as fiercely as the ones in his palms.