The path beyond the stone door reeked of mold and ancient dust. Moss clung to the jagged walls, and the flickering torch lights embedded in sconces gave everything a warm, ominous hue. As the team stepped into the new chamber, the air turned colder. Not just cold—unnatural. Each breath left frost in the air.
Leon stared in awe. "What the—"
A circular arena stretched before them, pillars cracked and worn, with bones littering the floor like a battlefield long forgotten.
"This… doesn't feel like a place we should be in," Lucy muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.
Before anyone could respond, a heavy clang echoed. From the shadows, a headless armored knight emerged—towering, black armor stained with dried blood, its massive blade dragging behind it.
A Dullahan.
Senior Riven's eyes widened. "That's…
A-rank. Everyone, spread out! Don't let it corner you!"
Too late.
With speed that didn't match its hulking form, the Dullahan dashed forward. Its blade shimmered in its left hand.
Then crack!
Lucy was hit in the solar plexus and She fell down motionless.
"Lucy!" Connor shouted, stepping forward—but the Dullahan spun and delivered a brutal kick to his face, sending him skidding across the stone pillar.
Owen gritted his teeth. "Damn it—" He dashed in, sword raised. But the Dullahan blocked with ease, then backhanded him with the flat of its blade. Owen flew, smashing into a Wall.
Leon roared, leaping in with his hammer. "Eat this, tin can!" His weapon slammed into the Dullahan's chest—but the creature barely flinched.
Senior raised both hands, chanting fast. Wind surged through the arena, buffeting the Dullahan just enough to force it back.
Owen groaned, clutching his ribs. His body ached, but his mind was sharper than ever. This wasn't the snake… this was the dream. This thing… was the one.
He got up, one arm trembling, mana surging through his veins. His sword shimmered—its color deepening to a rich violet as mana flowed freely into it.
"I won't let it end like the dream," Owen muttered.
The Dullahan charged again.
Owen met it head-on. Their blades clashed—steel against magic-infused steel. Sparks flew. The force nearly knocked Owen's sword from his grip, but he held on.
Leon came from the side, hammer smashing into the Dullahan's head. Connor, blood running down his rib, dragged himself up and struck the Dullahan's leg with a cry of rage.
The creature staggered.
Senior launched a wind spear—it struck the Dullahan's chest, cracking its armor.
"Now!" Senior yelled.
He leapt—spinning mid-air, sword raised with both hands. Purple light engulfed the blade and his mana flowing from both hands,as he screamed and brought it down on the exposed gap in the armor. The blade sunk in deep. The Dullahan shrieked without a head, flailing violently.
Owen landed and dropped to one knee, his right hand bloodied and limp. "End it!"
Then Leon charged, letting out a beast-like yell as he swung with everything he had. The hammer connected—armor shattered.
The Dullahan twitching once. Then… still.
They panted. Lucy still wasn't moving, but her shallow breaths returned. Senior walked to the body and knelt, pulling off the iron helmet and tucking it under his arm.
"That… was proof," he said simply.
" No time to rest" senior announced.
The dungeon trembled.
A portal split open behind the boss chamber. As they went through the portal. They were infront of a group of goblins, green-skinned and armed with jagged blades, poured out. An ogre stomped in behind them, taller than any tree, with a club the size of a cow.
"Seriously?!" Leon yelled. "We just beat a headless nightmare!"
Connor limped forward, raising his sword again. "Let's go!"
The ogre roared and charged. Leon and Connor met it head-on—Leon's hammer slammed into the beast's leg while Connor struck from the other side, carving into its calf. It stumbled, and both boys continued attacking, chipping it down bit by bit.
Lucy finally able stand, her eyes wild. "I'm not sitting this one out."
Her fingers sparked—fireballs ignited and flew, incinerating two goblins.
Senior bleeding from the side of his head, and carrying owen on his shoulders skewered a goblin with a wind spear just as another stabbed at him. He stumbled, but remained standing.
Lucy was burning down a goblin charging her side as her site became normal.
Finally, the ogre let out a thunderous cry and collapsed as Connor plunged his sword into its back.
"We have to move to move fast, other orge due to the cry" senior shouted.
And they started to walk towards the exit portal.
The room grew quiet.
The portal shimmered infront of them.
"Time to get out of here," senior muttered.
They emerged into the clearing—sunlight hitting their exhausted faces. Other students were gathered, some injured, some smug. Among them stood the blonde from before—grinning like a king and he was in the first place.
Headmaster, Victoria, Edwin, and a few others stood at the front, evaluating returning groups.
Leon marched up to the headmaster, voice strong. "We took down a Dullahan. We found the secret boss room. Snake,Ogre and goblins too. Ask our senior!"
The blonde scoffed. "He's lying. They probably hid somewhere the whole raid."
Murmurs spread.
The senior sighed, stepped forward, and raised the helmet.
Silence fell.
Everyone stared.
"Dullahan's helmet" Edwin said. "Confirmed".
"A basilisk core, orge and goblin teeth and accessories" Edwin said "confirmed".
Gasps echoed through the crowd. Even the teachers looked surprised.
Leon stormed forward, fury in his eyes. He grabbed the blonde by the collar. " I know what you did, you scum—!"
Smack!
Leon's fist connected with the blonde's face, sending him reeling back.
"If it's get confirmed--" Leon moved towards him while clinging his first.
"Leon!" a voice heard,It was Edwin. He stepped in, grabbing him by the shoulder. "You're injured. Take a breath. Don't go hitting people just 'cause you're angry" "But.."leon pause and sighed
"Yeah, I get it" Edwin replied as he smiled.
As he turned towards the blonde, his face became pale and looked at the blonde with narrowed eyes. "you and I both know what you did."
Professor Ruth interpret them and started scolding Edwin.
"How dare your student hit my student 'Dylan'" Ruth asked to Edwin
He grinned at them and while his hands in pocket he left to infirmary.
The blonde swallowed and looked around the crowd
The crowd talking among themselves and some were giving him cold stare.
Dylan felt embarrassed and left to his dorm with his underlings.
But Owen, battered and quiet, couldn't help but to faint.