Episode 9 — The Last Gatekeeper
Cold Open — The Mountain of Beasts
[Recap Montage]
— Xavier's rise from Level 1 → 15, flashes of each lieutenant's defeat.
— The triple-lieutenant battle (Ep. 8) ending with Arc Storm Cleave.
— The Cloaked Hunter's challenge:
Defeat the final lieutenant… or die trying.
AERIAL SHOT — Jagged black mountains under a storm-filled sky. Lightning forks across the clouds, illuminating a massive cave mouth carved into the mountainside.
Guild Master's voice (over comms):
Xavier… this is it. Defeat the last lieutenant, and nothing stands between you and the dragon.
The sound of a deep, echoing dragon roar rolls over the mountain.
Act 1 — Enter the Serpent
INT. MOUNTAIN CAVE
Molten rivers glow deep crimson, casting flickering light on jagged stone pillars.
From the shadows, the Titanfang Serpent uncoils — its armored scales harder than steel, gold eyes locking on Xavier with predatory calm.
HUD: Threat Level: 50 — Highest Yet.
Perched atop its head — the Cloaked Hunter.
If you fall here… you were never worth the dragon's time.
He leaps into the darkness — vanishing — leaving Xavier alone before the towering beast.
Act 2 — Phase One: The Coil
The serpent lashes forward — BOOM — stone explodes where Xavier stood a heartbeat earlier.
He counters with Volt Breaker Overdrive — CLANG — sparks scatter harmlessly as his blade skids off armor.
Beast Sense HUD: faint mana pulses along the underbelly… hidden each time the serpent twists into a protective coil.
Xavier (smirking):
Guess I'll have to make you move.
He unleashes Arc Storm Cleave — multiple arcs of lightning slashing in different angles. The serpent recoils, uncoiling enough to expose its glowing weak points.
Act 3 — Phase Two: The Molten Arena
The serpent smashes through the cavern walls — molten rock floods in, hissing and bubbling. The battlefield becomes a boiling lake of lava.
Xavier leaps between sinking stone platforms, each one disappearing into the lava seconds after landing.
He's forced into Primal Instinct Mode — pupils narrowing, every movement hyper-precise. His gaze follows the serpent's shape moving beneath the molten surface.
Suddenly — WHOOSH — the Titanfang erupts upward, smashing into Xavier mid-leap, launching him skyward before slamming him into the stone floor.
HUD: HP: 8% — CRITICAL CONDITION.
Act 4 — The Awakening
FLASHBACK MONTAGE —
— Every battle.
— Every level-up.
— Every moment he nearly died.
Xavier grips his Hunter's Core — gold and blue light twisting until they merge into a blinding white.
HUD UPDATE: Apex Hunter Mode (Lv.1) — Unlocked.
From the shadows, the Cloaked Hunter's voice:
Now… that's the power I've been waiting for.
Act 5 — Phase Three: The Execution
In Apex Hunter Mode, Xavier becomes a blur — the serpent's eyes struggle to track him.
Volt Breaker Overdrive chained directly into Arc Storm Cleave — massive gouges tear through the serpent's armor.
Final strike: Apex Fang Sever — Xavier spins mid-air, blade wrapped in a cyclone of lightning, and slices clean through the serpent's neck.
SFX: SHHHHHH-BOOM! — The cavern shakes as the beast's body dissolves into light.
Act 6 — Victory & Rank Up
HUD EXPLODES:
LEVEL UP! 15 → 20
Apex Hunter Mode (Lv.1) unlocked permanently.
Xavier (panting, blade dripping molten steam):
Dragon… you're next.
Ending Cliffhanger
EXT. MOUNTAIN PEAK — NIGHT
The Sky Tyrant Dragon spreads its colossal wings, blotting out the moonlight.
Standing atop its head — the Cloaked Hunter, arms crossed:
Your final hunt begins… tomorrow.
CLOSE-UP — Xavier's eyes glow pure white under the storm, lightning reflecting in the rain.