The party moved deeper into the dungeon.
The field stretched endlessly ahead, dotted with rocky hills and trees.
Odessa walked at the front, relaxed and confident. "This dungeon's first layer is crawling with Wild Bulls. C-Rank, they are thiissssssss big!" Odessa said and she spreaded her arms apart. "size of buses, and mean as hell. But nothing we can't handle."
As if summoned by her words, a thunderous bellow echoed across the field, causing the ground to tremble.
From behind a cluster of rocks emerged a massive creature, a Wild Bull. Its body was indeed easily the size of a city bus, covered in black fur and rippling muscle.
Its horns were as long as Yuki was tall, curved and sharp as a blade as the tip. Steam huffed from its nostrils as its red eyes locked onto the party.
Then another appeared.
And another.
Six Wild Bulls in total, their hooves pounding the ground as they charged in a stampede.
"Positions!" Odessa called out, cheerfully.
Alfred moved first, he slammed his shield into the ground and translucent barrier expanded from it, surrounding the party just as the first Wild Bull crashed into it. The creature bounced backward, stunned and disoriented.
Garrick's Giant Komodo Earth Dragon lunged forward, its massive jaws clamping onto another bull's leg. The beast roared and thrashed, but the dragon's grip held firm, dragging it down.
Sera's Three-Headed Basilisk struck next. All three heads hissed in unison before spitting streams of venom at a third bull. The creature bellowed in agony as its body began to sizzle and smoke rose from where the venom touched.
Tomas's Wyvern took to the air with a powerful leap, its wings carrying it high before diving at a fourth bull. Its Razor-sharp claws raked across the creature's back, drawing deep cuts before the wyvern darted away, too fast for the bull to counter.
Odessa's Azure Sky Dragon moved gracefully, coiling through the air before wrapping around a fifth bull's neck. The serpentine dragon squeezed, constricting tighter and tighter until the massive beast collapsed, gasping.
Yuki stood frozen for a moment, overwhelmed by how seamlessly the B-Rank party worked together.
"Yuki!" Owen snapped telepathically. "The sixth one is coming at us!"
She snapped to attention. The last Wild Bull had locked onto her, charging with a murderous rage in its eyes.
Yuki didn't hesitate. She activated [Beast Shift].
Black scales rippled across her skin. Her eyes blazed golden. Horns sprouted from her headm and Her stats surged.
The Wild Bull closed the distance, its horns aimed directly at her chest.
Yuki caught the charge with her bare hands.
Her clawed fingers dug into the bull's skull, stopping its momentum entirely. The creature's eyes widened in shock as it struggled against her grip.
Then Yuki inhaled deeply, her chest swelling with heat.
[Dragon's Breath].
A concentrated jet of flames erupted from her mouth, engulfing the Wild Bull's head. The creature didn't even have time to scream before it was reduced to ash and scorched bones.
When the flames subsided, Yuki stood there, breathing heavily as her transformation faded.
The rest of the party had finished off their targets. All six Wild Bulls lay defeated.
Odessa whistled appreciatively. "Not bad for a C-Rank! You've got some serious firepower."
Tomas grinned. "Yeah, that was pretty badass."
Owen landed on Yuki's shoulder, looking thoroughly satisfied. "Told you we'd be fine."
---
Hidden behind a distant rocky outcrop, one of the hooded figures crouched low, observing the battlefield below.
The figure pulled out a small communication crystal, whispering into it.
"Target confirmed. The dragon tamer is here. Proceed with caution, the firepower is.....way more than we anticipated"
The crystal pulsed once in acknowledgment before going dark.
The hooded figure melted back into the shadows, following the party deeper into the dungeon.