The Dire Alpha charged.
The ground split beneath its monstrous paws, trees shattering like brittle sticks in its wake. Its howl was not just sound but force, rattling Denver's bones as though his very soul was shaking loose.
His Magma Hound lunged forward, fire blazing brighter than ever, but even its courage looked small before the towering beast. Denver's breath caught. His legs wanted to run. His instincts screamed for flight.
But there was no escape.
And then Finnick moved.
"Left flank!" he shouted, his Mystic Beast surging with blinding speed, antlers gleaming with ethereal mana. The ground beneath it shimmered with faint frost, like the air itself bowed to its presence.
Denver snapped out of his paralysis. "Hound — with him!"
His Guardian responded instantly, flames bursting in a wide arc, clashing with the beast's corrupted vapor. Heat and shadow collided, spraying sparks across the field.
Arrows whistled overhead. Asmeria had already climbed onto a boulder, eyes blazing, bowstring taut. Her shots glowed faintly with Guardian-bonded energy, piercing into the Dire Alpha's side. Each hit barely seemed to sink through its thick hide, but it was enough to irritate the monster, drawing its focus.
Nathalie clutched her staff tightly, her Fairy hovering by her shoulder. Light blossomed around Denver's legs, warm and steady, giving his trembling knees strength. "Stay steady, Denver!" she called. "I've got you!"
He forced himself to breathe. "Right — okay. Together. We can do this."
The Dire Alpha swung its massive paw.
The world blurred. Denver barely managed to throw himself sideways, dirt exploding where he'd stood moments before. His Magma Hound leapt, claws sinking into the Alpha's leg, flames erupting in violent bursts. The monster roared, shaking itself wildly, but the Guardian refused to let go.
"Hold him down!" Finnick shouted. His Mystic Beast leapt onto the other leg, antlers stabbing with a piercing shriek of mana. The two Guardians worked in tandem, frost and flame entwining in perfect contradiction.
Denver's chest tightened — they were actually holding it.
Asmeria's arrows struck its exposed eye, making the Dire Alpha reel back with a furious cry. She grinned savagely. "Not so tough when you can't see, huh?"
"Keep it blinded!" Denver yelled. His Hound landed heavily, rolling before springing up again, growling furiously.
Nathalie's fairy fluttered, weaving shimmering threads of light that wrapped around Denver's wounds. The pain dulled — not gone, but enough. He clenched his fists, gripping the hilt of his crude blade.
They had momentum. They had a chance.
Then the Dire Alpha reared.
Its chains glowed, corrupted runes searing the air, and with a violent surge, it released a shockwave.
Denver's body slammed into the ground, breath tearing from his lungs. His vision blurred with static for a moment, like the game itself flickered.
When his sight cleared, he froze.
The Magma Hound was struggling to rise, whimpering. The Mystic Beast skidded back, frost flickering weakly. Even Finnick staggered, his cocky grin replaced by clenched determination.
And Asmeria…
"No!" Denver shouted.
She had been caught in the brunt of the shockwave. Blood stained her lips, her bow lying shattered beside her. Still, she forced herself upright, glaring at the Dire Alpha with fire that defied her broken body.
"Not… yet," she spat.
Nathalie gasped, rushing forward, her Fairy Guardian glowing desperately. "I'll heal you—!"
But Asmeria raised a trembling hand. "No. Use it… on them."
Denver's chest tightened. "What are you saying? We need you! We can't—"
The Dire Alpha charged again, cutting him off. Its colossal body smashed into the boulder Asmeria stood upon. She barely leapt aside, rolling across the ground, grabbing her spare dagger with bloodied fingers.
"Go!" she screamed. "Finish it! I'll cover!"
Her voice rang with fierce resolve — a warrior's farewell.
It happened too fast.
Asmeria lunged, driving her dagger into the Dire Alpha's leg with all her remaining strength. The beast roared, stumbling, leaving its chest open.
"Now!" Finnick bellowed.
Denver's Magma Hound erupted in flames, fire blazing so bright it illuminated the forest like dawn. Finnick's Mystic Beast struck with frozen antlers, piercing the beast's side. Nathalie's fairy wrapped them all in shimmering resilience, just enough to withstand the counter-force.
Denver roared, driving his blade forward, fueled by desperation, fear, and rage. His strike found a crack left by Asmeria's arrows, plunging deep.
The Dire Alpha screamed — a terrible, world-shaking sound — and collapsed. Its massive body hit the ground with an earthquake-like tremor.
For a moment, silence.
Then the system chimed:
[Dire Alpha – Defeated.]
[World Event Cleared: Floor One Overlord.]
[EXP Gained.]
[Rewards Distributed.]
Denver stumbled back, panting, hands trembling. His HUD blinked with rewards and messages, but he barely saw them. His eyes searched wildly.
"Asmeria!"
She was crumpled by the shattered boulder, chest rising weakly. Blood pooled beneath her. Nathalie rushed to her side, sobbing, her Fairy pouring every ounce of healing light it had.
But the wounds didn't close.
Denver dropped to his knees beside her. "No, no, no, stay with us—"
Asmeria's lips curved into a faint smile. "You're… such an idiot, Denver. Always doubting yourself…"
"Don't talk like that!" His hands shook as he tried to press against her wounds, as though touch alone could hold her together.
Her gaze softened. "You've got fire in you… don't waste it hiding."
Her hand fell limp.
The system's cold message followed instantly:
[Player Asmeria – Deceased. Avatar Permanently Deleted.]
Denver's heart stopped.
The silence was heavier than any roar.
Finnick stood frozen, his expression hard, though his hands trembled slightly at his sides. "So it's true," he muttered. "Permadeath. I suspected it… but seeing it…"
Nathalie sobbed openly, clutching Asmeria's lifeless body even though it began to fade into light. "It's not fair. It's not fair!" Her Fairy Guardian hovered beside her, its glow dimming in sorrow.
Denver couldn't move. Couldn't breathe.
It was supposed to be a game.
Just a game.
But the warmth of Asmeria's blood was still on his hands. The echo of her smile still burned in his mind. And the finality of the system message cut deeper than any blade.
His Magma Hound whined softly, pressing its head against his arm, flames flickering weakly. It felt her loss too.
Denver clenched his fists, the fire in his chest twisting into something sharper. Pain. Rage. Resolve.
"She died… because of this." His voice was low, trembling. "Because we thought it was a game."
Finnick met his eyes, for once without a smirk. His voice was steady, cold. "No. She died because this isn't a game. Not anymore."
Nathalie lifted her tear-streaked face, trembling. "Then what do we do?"
Denver looked at the fading light where Asmeria had lain.
Slowly, he stood.
His hands still shook. His heart still hurt. But deep within, something shifted. A seed of understanding, bitter yet undeniable.
"This world wants us to fight," he whispered. "Fine. Then we fight. But we don't forget the cost."
The Magma Hound growled in agreement, flames sparking brighter.
The forest seemed quieter now, as though mourning with them.
And as Denver stared into the horizon of Floor One, he knew this was only the beginning.