The deeper Kairo went into the mutated dungeon, the louder the world became.
Pipes hissed.
Metal groaned.
The walls shuddered like something enormous was breathing behind them.
Zero and the new phase-shadow soldier followed silently, their gazes fixed forward.
Kairo scanned the map the System projected in front of him.
The boss room was close.
Too close.
And the dungeon wasn't stabilizing.
The System confirmed his suspicion.
[DUNGEON INSTABILITY: CRITICAL]
Structural Collapse Imminent
Risk Level: HIGH
Recommended Action:
Evacuate immediately.
Kairo wiped metal dust from his cheek and shook his head.
"Not happening."
Zero stepped beside him.
"Master. Remaining inside could be fatal."
Kairo stared down the trembling corridor.
"If this Gate breaks… the city gets hit first."
He tightened his fists.
"I'm not letting that happen."
Zero bowed without hesitation.
"Then we stand with you."
The phase-shadow flickered, silently agreeing.
Kairo pushed forward.
---
The Core Chamber
The corridor opened into a massive factory chamber—
a cavern of steel platforms, conveyor belts, and broken machinery. Sparks rained from overhead pipes, illuminating the room in stuttering flashes.
At the center, suspended above a pit of molten metal, was the Gate Core.
Or… what was left of it.
It pulsed erratically, glowing red-hot—
like a heart moments away from exploding.
Kairo's eyes widened.
This wasn't normal.
This wasn't just mutated.
This was on the verge of becoming a Gate Break.
Behind him, Zero spoke gravely.
"A catastrophic release of monsters is imminent."
Kairo nodded.
"What kind of creatures would come out?"
Zero paused.
"Everything the dungeon has ever consumed."
Kairo felt his stomach drop.
If he didn't stop this…
Mint City was finished.
---
The Boss Awakens
A rumble shook the entire chamber.
Then another.
Then—
metal plates tore open from the far wall.
Something enormous crawled out.
A towering creature assembled from broken machinery, steel plating, and glowing furnace coils. Four burning eyes ignited across its chest.
A Forge Titan.
Rank: B+
Maybe even A-.
The System exploded with warnings.
[FINAL BOSS DETECTED]
Forge Titan — Dungeon Sovereign Construct
Rank Estimate: B+ / A-
Threat Level: EXTREME
Weakness:
— Overheat Core
— Shadow Consumption
WARNING:
Do not engage alone.
Kairo smirked under his breath.
"Guess I'm not supposed to be here."
The Titan roared, the sound shaking metal from the ceiling.
Zero stepped forward.
"Master. Permission to attack?"
Kairo flexed his fingers, shadow energy swirling around him.
"Permission granted."
---
Battle in the Furnace
The Titan charged, each step cracking steel platforms.
Zero leaped forward, clashing with the monster in an eruption of sparks and smoke.
Meanwhile, Kairo sprinted along the outer walkway, keeping his eyes on the Titan's glowing core.
Every swing of its arm could cut him in half.
Every stomp could turn him into paste.
He didn't care.
He was learning something important today—
He wasn't afraid of monsters anymore.
The Titan lashed out, its massive furnace-arm smashing into the walkway where Kairo stood.
He jumped, shadow-stepping midair, landing on the creature's back.
"Zero, pin it!"
Zero's tendrils shot out, anchoring the Titan's legs.
The phase-shadow appeared behind its head, slicing through wiring with phasing blades.
The Titan roared in agony, shaking violently.
Kairo slammed his palm into its overheated spine.
"Shadow Burst!"
A black explosion detonated, cracking the Titan's armor down the middle.
Its core flickered—
then overclocked, burning dangerously bright.
The entire chamber trembled.
Zero shouted:
"MASTER! CORE OVERLOAD!"
Kairo grinned.
"Perfect."
---
Stopping the Break
The Titan staggered toward the Gate Core—
its dying body acting like a catalyst.
If it reached the core, the entire Gate would rip open and unleash everything inside the dungeon into the city.
Kairo's heart hammered.
"ZERO! HOLD IT DOWN!"
Zero materialized behind the Titan, tendrils of shadow wrapping its arms and legs, straining against its massive weight.
The phase-shadow soldier flickered in and out of existence, weakening the Titan's joints.
Kairo sprinted along a suspended platform overhead.
He had one shot.
He leapt high above the Titan—
shadows swirling up his legs, coiling around his arms—
his body turning into a falling spear of darkness.
"SHADOW—"
He pulled every ounce of energy from within, feeling the Shadow Crest burn on his chest.
"—IMPACT!"
He crashed down onto the Titan's core.
A burst of black energy tore the creature apart from the inside.
The Titan exploded in a shockwave of metal and molten light.
Kairo's vision blurred—
—and the Gate Core finally collapsed into a harmless puff of ash.
Silence.
Then—
[DUNGEON CLEARED]
[Gate Stabilized]
[Boss Conversion Eligible]
Convert Forge Titan Remnant?
[YES] [NO]
Kairo grinned tiredly.
"Yes."
A new shadow soldier rose from the ashes—
a towering, armored silhouette with glowing furnace eyes.
Zero bowed to it.
"Welcome, brother."
Kairo collapsed onto the platform, staring up at the broken ceiling.
He'd done it.
Alone.
He'd prevented a city-level disaster.
But relief didn't last long.
The System chimed again:
[NEW THREAT DETECTED]
A-Level Gate forming in Mint City.
Source: Unknown.
Time until manifestation: 3 hours.
Kairo sat up slowly.
"…You've gotta be kidding me."
Zero looked toward the exit.
"Master… the city needs you."
Kairo stood, shadows rising around him like an army.
"Then let's move."