Ren and the Maiden of Agony faced each other in the dimly lit cavern, the flickering torches reflecting off the monster's slick, ashen skin.
Silence filled the air — the kind that only comes before a kill.
Ren's eyes were cold, focused, calculating. Every muscle in his body was still, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. He had already run the math in his head. Every outcome. Every risk.
If everything went as planned, he'd reduce the Maiden's HP low enough to trigger her [Berserk Mode], just like when he fought the [Midnight Phantom] before. Then he'd let the [Burn] status slowly eat her alive while keeping his distance. Simple, efficient, doable.
And if something didn't go as planned?
Ren wasn't too worried. His stats had grown absurdly high after clearing multiple dungeons. Even without relying on tricks or DoTs (damage over time), his raw ATP could finish the fight — as long as the Maiden didn't land a critical hit.
Which, in his opinion, was impossible.
He had her [Shadow in the Night] skill copied already, granting him invincibility in darkness, nullifying her advantage. The only way she could win now was through a straight-up fight — and in a direct battle, she had less than a 1% chance of success.
But Ren wasn't arrogant enough to take her lightly. There was still one glaring problem:
All his meat shields were gone.
Leonel, Ragnar, and Isolde — all dead. That meant there was no one left to block her movements, no one to absorb aggro or distract her. If she dodged his attacks, even once, his chances of missing his seventy-percent hit rate would drop dangerously low.
It was a race to see who could strike first.
Ren adjusted his stance, slipping on his [Phantom Cloak] for an added DEF bonus. His mind was calm. His breathing, steady.
The Maiden stood at the far end of the hall, her spider-like legs twitching with agitation. Her once beautiful elven face, now a mask of sinew and twisted flesh, glared at him with eight burning eyes.
Her MP was almost depleted — that much Ren could tell. [Multiattack] was off the table. She had only one offensive option left: [Long Bow], where she detached her own arms and launched them like living spears.
Ren grinned. Perfect.
If she used [Long Bow], she'd be stationary for at least a second while casting. That was more than enough time for him to unleash [Multiattack] and land a decisive blow.
He crouched slightly, fingers tingling with mana, ready to cast the instant she moved.
And then—
The Maiden's body tensed. Her muscles rippled under her ashen skin as she raised both arms.
This is it.
Ren moved.
At the same moment the Maiden fired her two spear-arms like javelins, Ren activated [Multiattack], sending four blazing waves of fire cutting through the air.
The spears reached him first.
Thuck! Thuck!
They struck his shoulder and side, tearing through his cloak and dealing modest damage before dissipating into particles.
–27
–25
[You have suffered from POISON]
–10% HP every minute
–16 (POISON)
Ren grimaced but didn't flinch. The poison ticked at his health bar, but he ignored it and immediately drank a [Health Potion] mid-cast. His focus never wavered from the Maiden.
All four of his [Fire] spells hit their mark.
–1324 Critical Hit!
[Maiden of Agony suffered from BURN]
–5% HP every minute
–250 (BURN)
The blast lit up the cavern like a miniature sun.
The Maiden shrieked, her body writhing violently as flames danced across her skin. The high-pitched wail echoed through the dungeon, shaking dust loose from the ceiling. Her tongue lashed out, her entire body convulsing in agony.
And then—
Her limbs began to twist. Her skin pulsed like molten tar. Veins of dark energy crept along her body.
Ren's eyes narrowed.
[The Maiden of Agony entered BERSERK MODE!]
HP: 5,000
MP: 500
STR: 30 → +15
DEF: 25 → +12
MDF: 20 → +10
INT: 25 → +12
AGL: 30 → +15
LCK: 15 → +7
[All status effects were nullified!]
[BURN removed!]
"Tch." Ren's tongue clicked in mild irritation.
Bosses. Always cheating death.
She should've died right there — his last [Multiattack] had definitely overkilled her HP. But bosses were designed with a cruel mechanic: +1 HP before entering Berserk Mode. A safety net for drama, or in this case, hell.
The Maiden of Agony's transformation was immediate. Her body became leaner, sharper, her legs stabbing the floor with each step like blades. Her entire being radiated power.
"Let's end this," Ren whispered.
With a spine-chilling shriek, the Maiden lunged, moving so fast the air cracked around her.
Ren didn't budge. He was ready.
The Maiden's arms rose, their tips gleaming wickedly. Her smile widened grotesquely, eight eyes squinting in manic delight.
"DIE!" she screamed.
The arms came down—
—and sliced Ren clean in half.
For half a heartbeat, it looked like she'd won.
Then Ren's body flickered, glitching like static, before disappearing entirely.
The Maiden froze.
Behind her, Ren reappeared — calm, unscathed, the faint afterimage of [Teleportation] fading around him.
Her eight eyes darted toward him, disbelief flickering in all of them.
Ren didn't waste time. He swung his staff and struck her squarely from behind.
–2 Critical Hit!
The last sliver of HP vanished.
The Maiden of Agony screamed one final time — a sound that wasn't pain, but pure frustration — before her body disintegrated into countless shimmering fragments of light.
REWARDS:
❶ 10,000 EXP (Divided within the Group)
❷ 50,000 Gil (Divided within the Group)
❸ Platinum Chest ×1
❹ Gold Chest ×1
Ren sighed and tapped
If he wanted to make a name for himself as a mercenary, he needed recognition. Getting First Blood achievements in dungeons like this would make sure his name spread fast.
His long-term plan was already forming in his head — two separate identities.
His Mercenary self would handle public contracts, dungeon carries, and boss raids for money.
His Merchant self would stay hidden, selling the rare items and loot he gathered under an alias.
Two lives. One profit stream.
It was perfect.
[CONGRATULATIONS to player Ren from the group, SLAYERS, for getting FIRST BLOOD in clearing GARGANTUAN CAVE!]
[CONGRATULATIONS to player Leonel from the group, SLAYERS!]
[CONGRATULATIONS to player Isolde from the group, SLAYERS!]
[CONGRATULATIONS to player **** from the group, SLAYERS!]
[GARGANTUAN CAVE (HARD, NIGHTMARE, SADISTIC) MODES UNLOCKED!]
Ren blinked.
So Ragnar didn't announce his name, huh? Typical. Probably didn't want the fame. That confirmed it — the Ragnar in the leaderboard really was him.
‖ WORLD CHAT ‖
AMemberOfPoisonViper: You dare steal our boss?!
PoisonViper4ever: Assholes! We remember your faces! Don't think you can leave alive — we have this place surrounded!
WeRPoisons: You'll regret this, Slayers!
PoisonVipersRock: We'll hunt you down and kill you every time we see you!
PosionViperIsStrong: Those were OUR loots, thieves! Give them back!
SharingIsLoving: Can someone share the Gargantuan Cave Boss info, pwetty pwess?
RichGuyRick: I'll pay $5,000 in real money for the info — team comp and item list included. DM me.
IcanBuyYou: I'll double that offer. Message me first.
WhoseYourDaddy: Wow, rich people problems.
ImPoor: Plz gib money, oh great lord.
IamBeautiful: I am beautiful.
EXPisLife: EXP is love. EXP is life.
ImPoor: Plz gib EXP.
. . . and then the chat devolved into chaos.
Ren chuckled softly. Same old world chat.
Meanwhile . . .
Before Ren's finishing blow, the rest of his party — Leonel, Ragnar, and Isolde — were floating as glowing wisps in Venezia Village, waiting for resurrection.
Leonel: So . . . how'd you die?
Ragnar: Pierced through the chest. Because your "good friend" decided his fireballs were more important than helping me.
Leonel:nods Yeah . . . sounds like Ren.
Ragnar: Thought so.
Leonel: Still, he's not a bad guy. Just . . . you know. Efficient.
Before Ragnar could answer, a cheerful wisp zoomed into view.
Isolde: Hey guys!
Leonel: Oh hey. You died too?
Isolde: Hm-hm! But it was a noble death! Listen — Ren almost died if not for me. I pushed him out of the way and took the hit myself.
Leonel: . . . Cool.
Ragnar: Are you sure you didn't just trip and fall into him?
Isolde: Of course not! I'm not a klutz!
Leonel stared for a second . . . then quietly floated backward.
[Leonel has left the group.]
Back in the dungeon, Ren pocketed his loot, glanced once more at the shimmering space where the Maiden had died, and grinned.
"That's that," he murmured, stretching his arms.
Another victory. Another name carved into the world announcements.
And somewhere in the village, three little glowing wisps were probably arguing about who was the real MVP.
Then, as the dungeon light dimmed behind him, Ren walked calmly toward the exit — already thinking about his next target.