He rounded the last corner of the corridor leading to the 41st floor just as the earth itself seemed to scream. A towering golem‐spawn, its lion-like head carved from obsidian and veins of molten rock pulsing through its shoulders, loomed over a battered dwarf in dented armor who fought desperately beneath its thunderous blows. Two of his comrades lay broken or pinned; the others covered in ruble beyond reach to help their comrade.
Caelun paused in the archway, assessing. The golem's club-like arm lifted for the killing strike, an impact that would have sundered any un augmented mortal's bones to dust. In that instant, Caelun's blood ignited. He stepped forward losing his previously soft step as he thundered into battle, every movement a display of raw power.
First, he slammed a fist into the golem's knee. Stone cracked like fortress walls under catapult fire. As the boss stumbled, Caelun's other arm whipped upward, smashing into its flank and shattering rocky armor into dust. The golem roared, but its massive form teetered.
Borrik looked up, eyes wide, as his would-be executioner faltered. Caelun took advantage of it's faltering position, he ducked a swipe that cleaved a boulder from the floor, then drove a shoulder into the golem's midsection, driving it back. The thing groaned like the earth before a quake "ününün!"as the golem winded up a desperate attack with all the might it could muster, grinning like a madman, Caelun stood in place, like he had promised he wouldn't do again after the Dez debacle but he had to as his strange friend would say 'aura farm.' As the stone implement rocketed forward and hit him square in the jaw, Caeluns head snapped back but his body didn't move more than an inch, smirking as a single drop of black blood ran down his lip, caelun reached forward with and open hand, dug his fingers into rock like it was balsa wood and proceed to tear a chunk out of the golem before smashing it into the living boulder's chimeric visage, he repeated this action 2 more times just for the hell of it, watching was surely the apex of this floor flounder against his might, on the 3rd time, he wondered if dungeon rock had any special flavor or properties and took a bite of the rock in his hand, his teeth easily cleaving through stone, 'eh still just rock, a little salty though, wold make okay seasoning if it wouldn't turn to ash' Finally, without any further hesitation or flourish, Caelun swung both fists in a driving arc that punched through brittle stone to the steamy heart beneath. The golem's mighty form collapsed into a thunderous tumble of rubble.
Borrik dared to rise as the dust settled. The corridor lay silent except for the distant drip of cooling magma. Caelun stood amid the ruin, blood and stone dust quickly turning to ash covering his skin, breathing evenly. He offered no word or token, spared no glance for gratitude. He simply turned, cloak billowing like a dark tide, and strode away.
Behind him, the Hellhound which he hadn't noticed was chasing after him during his swift barley announced departure, now called Arson, emerged from the shadows, padding silently at his side. Together, they vanished into the Dungeon's depths, leaving Borrik and his party to stare after them in stunned awe.
Later, when Borrik told the tale in taverns, he would call that phantom savior a walking myth, a barbarian demon crowned in rune-fire. But in that fleeting moment, he was simply Caelun- Unstoppable, savage, and already gone.
Caelun's return was heralded only by the soft scrape of stone and a faint gust of stirred dust. He stepped into the torchlight, cloak swirling, Arson padding at his heels. Carmine was the first to catch sight of him.
"Where in the Nine Hells did you run off to?" she demanded, voice half‐relieved, half‐annoyed.
He offered a crooked grin, shoulders rolling. "Apologies for leaving you all vulnerable," he rumbled, "but I was bored- and there was a big stone golem thrashing about. Figured I'd play with it for a minute." He shrugged one massive shoulder. "Fun diversion. Took under two minutes to dispatch it. Just a few swings, a little dissapointing."
A stunned silence fell. Yvette's jaw dropped. Hiria stopped mid‐potion. Thena and Lera exchanged wide‐eyed glances. Daz's lips curled in fury. Only Carmine's cheeks flamed pink as she processed the revelation, that Caelun had literally been tossing a floor‐boss golem like a toy, on impulse, for amusement.
Carmine found herself imagining the raw strength required to shatter obsidian and magma‐veined stone with bare fists. Only Freya's legend‐bound adventurer Ottar could rival such power… and he wielded a Falna. Caelun had none.
Sensing her awe, Caelun's expression shifted to one of unabashed pride. He thrust his chin upward, sporting a wide prideful toothy smile, crossed his arms over his broad chest, and struck a pose so absurdly triumphant that it might have been lifted from the antics of a rowdy tavern boy.
Carmine couldn't help it- she giggled, a light, musical sound that set Arson's tail wagging. The rest of the party- except Daz, who ground his teeth and glared- regarded the display with bemused deadpan.
Caelun's cheeky smile faltered and an expression that wouldnt be out of place on a frazzled peanuts character took its place. He felt heat tugging at his own cheeks. Clearing his throat loudly, he uncrossed his arms and adopted a mock‐stern look. "Right. Enough theatrics. We've got floors to climb." With that, he turned and strode onward, Arson trotting beside him, leaving Carmine's soft laughter echoing behind.