The Volcanic Chimera sensed its imminent destruction. It pulled all three of its forms—magma, bull, and steam—into one centralized attack: a massive, body-slamming lunge, intending to crush me into the obsidian floor.
This was the Chimera's desperation, relying on brute force over elemental strategy. This was the moment I planned for.
I let the Chimera charge. I didn't use Shadow Step to flee; I used it to reposition.
Just as the massive hooves were about to crush me, I executed a micro-teleport—a Shadow Step maneuver that moved me only three feet to the left—placing me precisely under the Chimera's massive underbelly.
---
My Epic Gauntlet pulsed with overwhelming Lich Soulfire and Gorgon kinetic force. I didn't strike the skin; I drove my entire arm deep into the creature's softest junction—where the bull torso met the magma tail—and delivered a full-power, internal kinetic pulse amplified by the corrosive Soulfire.
The combination was apocalyptic.
The Gorgon kinetic force violently disrupted the Chimera's internal bone and muscular structure, while the Lich Soulfire immediately began consuming the elemental nexus that bound the creature's three forms together.
There was no sound of impact, only a deep, subterranean THUD, followed by a violent, multi-colored internal explosion.
The Volcanic Chimera shuddered once, its three heads collapsing simultaneously, and its massive body crashed onto the floor, scattering dust and dissipating heat.
The battle was over. Total clear time: 57 minutes.
---
A deep scarlet Epic Essence floated from the monster's remains, radiating immense, refined energy—the purest reward of the Volcanic Chimera.
I bypassed the absorption and immediately placed the essence into a containment vial from my Shadow Locket Ring. The essence was too valuable for immediate consumption; it was the ultimate bargaining chip, the material evidence of my Epic status.
As I moved to collect the essential Chimera Scale material, a sound echoed from the entrance of the chamber—not the scraping of a monster, but the rhythmic, heavy footsteps of a heavily armored human.
The Guild Master had been more cautious than I expected. He hadn't sent an assassin; he had sent a spy.
A solitary, Rank A hunter—one of Commander Salazar's highest lieutenants—stood framed in the chamber entrance, his face masked in shadow, his eyes fixed on the massive, defeated Chimera.
He saw the dead Epic boss, he saw my Rank C clothing, and he saw the empty space where the Epic Essence should have been.
"You cleared the Chimera," the Lieutenant whispered, his voice incredulous. He then glanced at his chronometer. "In less than an hour. Commander Salazar's clear was scheduled for tomorrow."
The Lieutenant immediately reached for his communication artifact. This was the critical moment. He would summon the entire Guild.
My final move had to be flawless. I didn't need to fight him. I needed to prove my leverage.
I activated Specter Sight and saw the faint, tell-tale energy signature of a hidden comms device in the Lieutenant's collar.
"I wouldn't do that," I said, my voice cutting through the heavy air. I took out the meticulously cataloged smuggling route map and the vial of the powerful Lich Essence I had just bottled.
"You can call the Guild," I continued, holding the vial aloft. "But you should know that I secured the entire inventory of your Guild Master's private smuggling operation in the Vigan Water Tunnels last night. I also hold the map showing its destinations, and the key that opens Commander Salazar's secured liquor cabinet—the one that contains the paralyzing agent that has him asleep in his bed right now."
The Lieutenant froze, his hand hovering over his comms device. The sheer weight of the secrets—betrayal, blackmail, and overwhelming power—crushed his resolve.
"Tell the Guild Master that the Volcanic Chimera was a suitable test," I stated, my Epic Gauntlet pulsing with cold, triumphant scarlet energy. "Tell him that Dax Jackal is ready for the next phase. He doesn't control the Red Gate anymore. I do."
The Lieutenant remained silent, his mind reeling. I had won. I had the power, the resources, and the leverage. The conquest of Vigan had officially begun.