PILLAR OF FLAMES!
A continuous jet of fire burst from Ethan's hands, crossing the hall and striking Amun-Rael's exposed chest. The fire flooded the armor, superheating the core.
The light in the solar eyes flickered erratically.
Amun-Rael tried to raise the spear to unleash a final attack that would kill everyone in the hall.
— I WILL DESTROY THIS PLACE WITH YOU INSIDE!
But Marcus was already there.
The swordsman ran, using Jay's shield as a step, and leapt. He did not aim for the boss. He aimed for the weapon. That cursed spear that had taken Dalia's life and Akashin's sanity.
— This story ends now! — Marcus shouted.
He brought his longsword down with all the force of gravity and hatred, not aiming at flesh, but at the shaft of the golden spear, right where the metal was already cracking from Ethan's fire.
CLANG—CRACK!
The sound was deafening.
Marcus's steel sword shattered into a thousand pieces on impact.
But it fulfilled its duty.
The Conqueror's Spear split in half.
The tip, the murderous blade, hit the ground with a dull thud, separated from its owner.
Amun-Rael stared at the broken shaft in his hand, disbelieving. The tool of his power. The weapon that killed the Queen. Destroyed.
— My… order…
Marcus landed in front of him, hands empty and bleeding.
— It's over — Marcus said. — Bring him down!
Five frontline warriors, led by Krog, advanced together and slammed their shields into the boss's legs simultaneously.
COLLECTIVE IRON CHARGE!
The golden giant, disarmed, blinded, and with his core exposed, could not endure. With a sound like a building collapsing, Amun-Rael dropped to his knees.
The impact shook the hall. The light in the solar eyes began to fail.
— You… — the boss whispered, voice full of static, looking at the fifty mortals surrounding him. — You are chaos…
Marcus met his gaze.
— We are consequence.
Elenya drew her final arrow.
This time, it wasn't an attempt. It was a signature.
She released.
The arrow pierced through the opening in the helm and struck true, as if Amun-Rael's forehead were still flesh.
The core in Amun-Rael's chest cracked and went dark.
The golden body slumped forward and collapsed, dissolving into millions of soft light particles that rose toward the ceiling.
[SYSTEM: SECOND FLOOR GUARDIAN DEFEATED]
[CONGRATULATIONS, PLAYERS]
Absolute silence filled the hall.
Jay collapsed into a sitting position, clutching his injured arm, breathing hard.
— Is it… over? — he asked hoarsely.
Ethan lowered his hands, smoke drifting from his fingers. He looked around, checking if everyone was alive.
— It's over.
The raid erupted in shouts. Warriors threw helmets into the air. Healers hugged mages. It was the sound of pure relief.
Marcus remained standing where the boss had fallen. Amid the fading light particles, the loot glimmered on the floor.
First, the massive solar shield Amun-Rael had carried on his left arm throughout the battle. The golden metal pulsed with heat, yet felt inviting. Jay limped over and touched it. The item magically shrank, adapting to a human arm.
[LEGENDARY ITEM OBTAINED: SOLAR SHIELD]
Description: The absolute defense of the Conqueror. High thermal resistance and the ability to reflect magical projectiles.
— It's yours, Jay — Marcus said. — You held his blow. You earned it.
Jay nodded, fitting the new shield onto his good arm. It felt heavy, but right.
Beside the shield lay what remained of the boss's weapon. The broken spear tip, now like a short golden blade, impossibly sharp. Marcus knelt and picked up the fragment. It was hot to the touch.
[RARE ITEM OBTAINED: CONQUEROR'S SPEAR FRAGMENT]
Description: The blade that took royal life. Broken by justice.
Marcus stored the fragment in his inventory. He had no sword now, but he knew Taiga would know what to do with it.
Ethan stepped forward to collect the other glowing items scattered across the floor, as if fallen from a broken star. Strange materials radiating powerful energy.
[Tery Angelic Thread]
A thin cord, nearly invisible, yet impossible to break.
[Luminaris Solar Core]
A small pulsing sphere that seemed to contain a dwarf star.
[Nebulite Arcane Ore]
A heavy, dense stone of purple and gold.
— High-level crafting materials — Sienna analyzed, peering over Ethan's shoulder. — Maybe Taiga can make something useful out of these.
Ethan carefully stored the items.
— Let's keep them. Something tells me we'll need them for what's coming.
Suddenly, the sound of grinding stone drew everyone's attention. Behind the throne of light, a false wall opened, revealing a secret chamber.
— What's that? — Elenya asked.
The group entered cautiously. If the main hall was a war room, this was a trophy room. Piles of gold coins covered the floor. But what drew the eye were the racks along the walls.
Weapons from every era the Conqueror had defeated. Curved blades, infantry spears, assassin daggers, reinforced leather armors from forgotten kingdoms. The treasure of a kingdom thief.
— Damn… — Krog whistled. — Enough gear here to outfit the whole raid.
Marcus smiled, exhausted.
— Take what you need. Upgrade your gear. The Conqueror won't be using any of this anymore.
While the raid players rushed into the treasure chamber, celebrating and equipping new weapons, the main group stayed behind, staring at the staircase opening at the back of the main hall.
The path to the Third Floor.
Ethan looked at his friends. Dirty, wounded, but victorious.
— We did what we came to do. We cleared the path. And cleaned the history.
Marcus glanced one last time at the spot where the spear had broken.
— Rest in peace, both of you — he whispered to the air.
They left the temple as warriors who had defeated something great, but not as tyrants abusing loot. A perfect balance.
SAHARIM erupted in celebration, but not only there. On the First Floor, in the village where everything began, players saw the notification shining in the sky:
[THE SECOND FLOOR BOSS HAS BEEN DEFEATED]
Children ran through the streets.
Adults embraced.
Some cried.
Players who feared climbing began to find courage.
— The game continues!
— They're advancing!
— There is still hope!
People who feared dying and leaving their families behind now breathed easier. And many decided:
"I will train more. I will climb. I want to fight too."
It was like reigniting a flame long extinguished.