Chapter 15: The Leader's Demise
Kaelen didn't allow himself time to rest. Another notification echoed in his mind. [First Wave Creature Detected. Type: Leader. Level: 10.]Kaelen realized that the challenge was not over yet. Everything that had happened was just a prelude to the real fight.
The "Leader" was not just a larger version of the previous creatures. When it emerged from the shadows, Kaelen felt an immense pressure weighing on his chest. The creature was much larger, its bony armor denser and thicker, even glowing with a faint flicker of red energy. Its massive hands ended in long, sharp claws, and its red eyes gleamed with sharp intelligence and absolute ferocity.
The "Leader" possessed something unique: in its right hand, it held a massive, pulsating purple crystal, as if it were the source of its power.
[First Wave Creature Detected. Type: Leader. Level: 10.][Skill: Energy Shield]
"Energy Shield..." Kaelen muttered to himself. This was the first time he had seen a monster with a special skill. This meant that ordinary crystals wouldn't be enough to eliminate it. He had to find another way.
The "Leader" lunged at Kaelen with a powerful and swift blow; it wasn't slow like the other creatures. Kaelen barely dodged it, but he felt the immense pressure of the air wave. A single blow from this creature was enough to end his life.
Kaelen wasn't fighting to win, but to survive. He ran around the cavern, dodging powerful blows, searching for any opportunity, any weakness, anything he could exploit. The "Leader" relentlessly pursued him, and every blow it delivered caused the entire cavern to shake.
In a moment of desperation, as the "Leader" was about to deliver a final, fatal blow, Kaelen noticed something. The purple crystal in the "Leader's" hand glowed more intensely before each attack, as if it was boosting its power. This was its weak point!
Kaelen didn't think; he acted instinctively. As the "Leader" prepared for its final blow, Kaelen moved with lightning speed, not towards the creature's body, but towards the hand holding the crystal.
It was a desperate move, but it was the only possible one. Kaelen grabbed the "Leader's" massive claw with his left hand while using his right hand to stab the purple crystal directly.
The crystal exploded with immense energy, engulfing Kaelen and the "Leader" in a blinding purple light. The "Leader" let out a deafening roar that shook the entire dungeon. Kaelen fell to the ground, his muscles completely relaxed, while the massive body of the "Leader" collapsed and disintegrated into essence crystals.
[First Wave Creature (Type: Leader) eliminated.][Quest Completed: Dungeon Clearance.]
At the same time, in the shelter, Emily was sitting at a wooden table, trying to focus on an old book about plants. But her mind was elsewhere. She felt a growing anxiety, a vague sense of danger increasing with every passing minute since Kaelen left.
"Where did he go?" she muttered to herself, looking at the door Kaelen had disappeared behind.
Hours had passed since he left. Her heart clenched with every passing minute. She didn't know much about Kaelen, but she felt a sense of security in his presence, and she began to realize that he had become her only link to stability in this chaotic world.
Suddenly, the ground shook violently. Some books fell from the shelves, and panic filled the air. She heard the guards talking loudly. "The purple light above the subway station...!" one of them said, a worried expression on his face. "Do you think it's because of what's happening there?" the other replied.
Emily couldn't bear it any longer. Kaelen was outside, and that purple light was a sign that something dangerous was happening. She felt a faint prick in her healing arm, as if her new ability was urging her to move. She couldn't just sit and wait. She stood up and rushed towards one of the guards.
"I need to go to the supply room!" she said in a firm voice, pushing her fear aside. "I must prepare healing supplies now! If anyone comes back injured, we'll need everything ready! These are orders!"
The guard looked at her face, which was a mix of fear and determination. He remembered that the Commander himself had given orders to grant her priority access to supplies in emergencies.
The guard hesitated for a moment, then took a step back but didn't let her go completely. "Alright, but don't stray from the corridor. We don't know what's coming after this."
Emily didn't ask for permission again. She turned away from him and hurried towards the supply room. She opened the door with a special card and began to search with sharp eyes for anything that could help her. She had to do something, anything; she couldn't just sit and wait.