The bear roared, its massive form shaking with unrestrained fury, claws gouging deep into the cracked stone floor. The cavern trembled beneath the force of its rage, sending loose fragments of rock raining down from above. My heart pounded as I tightened my grip on my sword, my breath coming fast and sharp.
Then, suddenly, the air shifted. A strange energy pulsed through the cavern, and the beast lifted its head, eyes burning with a golden light. Something was wrong. I instinctively took a step back.
The ground beneath the bear rippled. Shadows stretched unnaturally, twisting in patterns that sent a chill down my spine. A deep vibration echoed through the chamber, and before I could react, smaller figures began emerging from the darkness.
Bear cubs.
But they weren't normal. Their eyes shimmered with the same unnatural glow as the mother's, their fur black and glossy, shadows clinging to their small yet muscular frames like living armor.
The massive bear lifted its head higher, releasing a deafening roar that sent waves of force through the chamber. My body tensed as the notification flashed across my vision.
The boss was invulnerable until the cubs were defeated.
I cursed under my breath. I had fought hard to whittle its health down, only for this new phase to change everything. My hands clenched around the hilt of my sword as the smaller creatures charged at me, their movements faster than expected, their sharp claws gleaming under the dim firelight.
The first cub lunged. I barely managed to sidestep before its claws tore into the air where I had been standing a moment ago. Another followed immediately after, forcing me to twist away, my body moving on pure instinct. My agility helped me reposition fast, but there were too many, closing in from every side.
I swung my sword, cutting deep into the closest cub, its body breaking apart in a burst of dark energy. It vanished instantly, dissolving into nothing. One down, but the others didn't hesitate.
One of them struck me from behind, claws tearing through my shoulder. A jolt of pain ran down my arm as I stumbled forward, my health dropping dangerously low. I cursed again, stepping backward quickly, forcing myself to regroup.
I reached into my inventory and pulled out a healing potion, crushing the glass between my fingers as the liquid soaked into my hand. My health began to recover, warmth spreading through my body as my wounds started to close.
The cubs didn't slow down. They came again, moving fast, calculating. I had seconds to react before they tore into me.
I surged forward, meeting their charge head-on. My blade flashed through the air, slicing through fur and flesh, breaking their unnatural forms apart one after another. My breath was sharp, my muscles aching, but I refused to falter.
Three cubs left.
I dodged a swipe, pivoted, and thrust my sword into another, watching its form dissolve just like the rest.
Two left.
I dodged again, using my agility to reposition faster than they could adjust. Another quick strike sent one more cub vanishing into smoke.
The final one lunged at me with everything it had left. I twisted at the last second, slamming the hilt of my sword into its skull before slicing downward, cutting through its body in one final move.
The cavern fell silent.
The mother bear let out a guttural growl, its golden eyes flickering. Its body trembled, and suddenly, the shimmering energy surrounding it faded. The notification appeared.
The boss was vulnerable again.
It roared in fury, its massive form shaking with rage as it charged directly at me. Its movements were faster, fueled purely by emotion, by the loss of its summoned cubs. There was no hesitation now. No holding back. It wanted me dead.
I barely had time to dodge. My body moved before my mind could process the motion, my instincts kicking in. The force of its charge shattered the ground where I had been standing moments ago. If I had been a fraction slower, I would have been crushed beneath its claws.
I spun to face it, my heart pounding.
The scar.
The weakness I had spotted earlier.
It was my only chance.
I positioned myself carefully, watching the way the bear shifted, how its muscles coiled before each attack. I had to time this perfectly.
It lunged again.
I dodged left, barely avoiding the crushing force of its strike. My grip tightened around my blade. This was it.
I stepped forward, twisting my body, using the full momentum of my movement to drive my sword directly into its scarred shoulder.
The resistance was brutal. Muscle, bone, layers of power trying to hold against the force.
I pushed harder, my arms trembling under the effort, my breath locked in my chest.
Then, the blade cut through.
The bear let out a deafening howl, its massive frame convulsing under the pain. Its golden eyes widened, flickering with something beyond rage.
Recognition.
It staggered, its strength failing, its limbs shaking under its own weight.
And then, with one final, violent shudder, it collapsed.
The impact sent a final tremor through the cavern, the battle finally over.
Silence filled the air.
The notification flashed across my vision.
Boss defeated.
Loot materialized beside its fallen form, glowing softly.
The core pulsed faintly, radiating energy, its surface smooth beneath my fingertips as I reached down to pick it up.
Another notification appeared.
Agro Skill acquired.
A passive ability designed to command the focus of enemies, forcing them to turn their attention toward me. A skill meant for strategy, for control over battle.
Before I could fully process the victory, another message filled my interface.
Floor 1 cleared.
Teleportation initiated.
The battlefield blurred, gravity twisting as the world around me faded.
My vision darkened.
When I opened my eyes again, the entire landscape had changed.
Floor 2 had begun.