Boss chamber,
The boss chamber rumbled again, dust falling from the fractured ceiling as Zane's calm voice echoed across the room.
"Now, all of you—back off a little."
The students exchanged puzzled looks.
Lia tilted her head, frowning. "What do you mean by that, Professor?"
Before Zane could answer, the floating dungeon core—which had been eerily quiet—began to glow once more. Its light pulsed violently, like a heartbeat that refused to die.
Zane's expression hardened. "When I separated the crystals, the one I let go absorbed fragments of the one I destroyed. Now…"
His purple eyes gleamed faintly. "…it's resummoning the boss, adjusting its strength based on everyone present inside the dungeon."
Jax's tired face twisted in disbelief. "Which means… it's going to be ridiculously strong."
Zane gave a small amused smile. "Exactly. That's why I said—back off."
Every student, from Class Arboris to Class Caelis, took several cautious steps backward.
