Chapter 44 – Final Revenge
[KUTO – NOBLE CLASS DUNGEON, BOSS ROOM ]
The sound of footsteps echoed heavily.
Not just sound — physical presence pressing against eardrums, reverberating through bones, making hearts beat unevenly.
A vast corridor of polished black stone. Magical torches in cold-blue tones flickering along the walls, casting long, distorted shadows that seemed to move independently.
Cold air. Dense. Charged with silence broken only by distant dripping water — plop… plop… plop — a metronome marking time until the inevitable confrontation.
---
Selina and Sônia were kneeling.
Not from exhaustion — from processing.
Sônia staring at Thegg with pure fear — eyes wide, irregular breathing, hands trembling slightly even while holding the staff tightly.
Selina staring with absolute hatred — jaw clenched until it hurt, eyes not blinking, tears refusing to fall because crying would be weakness, and she could not allow herself weakness now.
Dimitri died here.
On this floor.
Because of me.
And Thegg is still SMILING.
---
Behind them, Romeu, Jack, Haru were awakening.
The effect of the Queen's spores finally dissipating — green mist leaving lungs in violent coughs, consciousness returning in waves.
Jack first — always the warrior, always waking ready to fight. Instinctively drew axe before opening eyes completely.
Haru second — materializing from shadows even before fully conscious, defensive positioning automatic.
Romeu last — groaning, rubbing temples, checking HUD:
[HP: 82/100]
[MANA: 95/120]
[STATUS: RECOVERED]
Alive.
All six alive.
But we were ten.
---
Kuto stood up.
Deliberate, controlled movement — not haste, but cold determination.
Walked forward — positioning himself between the group and Thegg, eyes half-closed studying the adversary, fist clenched over sword hilt until fingers turned white.
Last time here, I failed.
I promised to protect.
Four died.
Not again.
Never again.
Behind him, the other five followed in silence.
Each carrying identical weight — bitter memory of last time in this room.
It was on that floor that Dimitri fell.
There Célia was decapitated.
There Sensi was cut.
In that corner Gunja died instantly.
This place has a NAME: Thegg.
---
They reached the circular room.
The torch flames increased on their own — as if the dungeon recognized the moment, feeding off the tension.
And he was there.
Standing.
As if he had never moved since that day.
Three and a half meters of pure muscle mass. Grayish skin covered with scars forming a map of decades of war. Crimson runes glowing faintly, pulsing with a slow, powerful heartbeat.
Two axes — each the size of an adult — resting casually on his shoulders.
And the eyes.
Red as live embers. Focused. Amused.
Cold, cruel smile appearing beneath dark beard:
— You've returned… — deep voice reverberating. — Didn't expect to see you so early.
---
Something in Selina snapped.
Her heart raced — not fear, RAGE.
She rose violently, almost stumbling, raising staff with both hands:
— THEGG!!!
Sound echoed across the room — loaded with fury, pain, hatred distilled into a single word.
Hands moved — casting, channeling, attacking—
The glow of the staff faded.
What?
Looked at HUD:
[MANA: 0/120]
I spent everything on the Forest Queen.
Nothing left.
The air grew heavy — perception of vulnerability pounding like a hammer.
---
Thegg laughed.
Not a chuckle — deep, mocking sound making stones vibrate:
— Still as weak as before…
He moved his arm — casually, as if swatting a fly.
Axe flew.
Not a human throw. Projectile — spinning in the air like a flaming comet, creating a vacuum, thunderous sound following its trajectory.
Selina raised hand — pure instinct:
— BARRIER!
Translucent energy exploded from her — last reserve, draining life instead of mana.
CRASH.
Impact was brutal — floor cracking beneath their feet in a spiderweb pattern, shockwave throwing dust in all directions.
But the barrier held.
Selina collapsed to knees — body trembling, sweat covering face:
— I… I will recover mana… — voice gasping. — Fight with everything you have!
---
Kuto, Jack, Haru, Romeu exchanged glances.
No words. Just mutual nod.
And they moved simultaneously.
---
[HARU – SHADOW ASSASSIN]
Went first.
Two daggers materializing — curved blades gleaming in the blue reflection of the torches.
Disappeared.
Not metaphor. Literally — body turning to shadow, merging with darkness.
Footsteps echoed — but coming from all directions, impossible to track.
Then—
Appeared.
Five meters above — leaping from wall, body spinning, daggers slicing downward.
CLANG.
Thegg blocked — without looking, just sensing — axe intercepting strike.
Sparks exploded.
Haru ricocheted — using momentum to jump to opposite wall, then ceiling, then floor, always moving, never stopping.
Rogue Level 28.
Specialization: Phantom Combat.
Technique: Infinite Shadow.
Daggers sang through air — slicing wind, colliding with Thegg's axes in a sequence sounding like an accelerated war drum.
CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG.
— You are fast — Thegg murmured, dodging another strike.
Counterattacked — punch.
Not weapon. With fist.
Haru tried to retreat — but Thegg's speed was absurd for something so massive.
Fist struck chest.
CRACK.
Sound of ribs breaking — multiple, simultaneously.
Haru was launched — flying ten meters, rolling uncontrollably until hitting a stone pillar.
CRASH.
Air escaped lungs. Tried to rise — legs wouldn't respond.
Coughed blood — much blood, covering floor around.
— HARU! — Kuto shouted, stepping forward.
But Thegg was already spinning axes, advancing like a living wall of fury.
---
[JACK – COORDINATED FURY]
Charged.
Axe in right. Sword in left. Roar escaping throat:
— COME!
Both blades rotated in synchrony — not separate strikes, but coordinated dance where each movement of one weapon prepared the next of the other.
Clashed.
BOOM.
Floor shook — crack spreading radially.
Blades collided — clang, clang, clang — each impact more violent than the previous.
Thegg laughed — eyes burning:
— That's how I like it!
Pushed Jack with brute force — sending warrior five meters back.
Swung axe in horizontal arc.
Jack leapt — three meters vertically, barely dodging — counterattacked with full rotation in air, sword piercing Thegg's left shoulder.
Blood dark, thick like oil.
But Thegg just laughed and delivered brutal kick to chest.
WHACK.
Jack was thrown — dragging feet, breaking stone floor under boots, leaving ten-meter furrows before stopping.
But did not fall.
Wiped blood from lips, raised weapons:
— Not done with you yet!
Charged again — screaming challenge echoing through walls.
---
[ROMEU – ACROBATIC ARCHER]
Retreated — but not out of fear.
Strategy.
Hands moved:
[ICE RUNES ACTIVATED]
Blue arrows materializing — floating around, each emitting cold mist.
Fired — not at Thegg.
At walls.
THUNK THUNK THUNK.
Each embedded arrow became frozen foothold — ice spreading, creating platforms.
Jumped — using first arrow as step.
Then second. Third. Fourth.
Climbing his own ice staircase — ascending to dungeon ceiling.
From above, conjured new arrows:
[ELEMENTAL FUSION: FIRE + WIND]
Jumping from point to point — spinning in air, shooting without ceasing.
Arrows sliced space like meteors — when hitting Thegg, exploded in flames, leaving burn marks on thick skin.
Jack took advantage of distraction — struck flank, opening deep cuts.
But Thegg's fury only increased.
With roar, embedded axe in floor and began scaling wall — heading straight toward Romeu.
— Shit! — Romeu retreated over ice.
Thegg reached — arm extending.
Romeu leapt — over his head, somersault in air.
For a second, seemed he would fall.
— SÔNIA!
Sorceress raised staff:
[LEVITATION]
Romeu's body slowed — floating gently to floor.
— Whew, thanks—
Ceiling shook.
Thegg plummeted — like meteor, heading straight for Romeu.
— AGAIN, SÔNIA!
She smiled — waved staff:
[SPACE PORTAL]
Glowing circle appeared under Thegg's feet.
He passed through — reappearing in another corner of the room, colliding with stones.
CRASH.
Crater where he landed. Dust cloud. Floor trembling.
---
[SÔNIA – SUPPORT MAGE]
— My turn… — floated higher.
Staff glowed — not fire, not ice.
Metal.
Dozens of magical blades materializing around — floating, all pointing at Thegg.
Moved arm:
— SWARM OF BLADES!
Fired simultaneously — twenty, thirty, forty projectiles cutting air in coordinated sequence.
Thegg spun axe — defense impossible, dodging most.
But several hit.
Wounds multiplied. Dark blood gushed. Yet he smiled.
With animalistic leap, went to Jack — grabbed by leg, threw into air.
Straight toward Sônia.
Collided — CRASH — falling, hitting wall, collapsing on floor amid groans.
---
[KUTO – ADAPTABLE CLASS]
Floor shook as Thegg recovered axes.
Spun — making air hum.
Raised gaze.
Kuto was before him.
Two swords. Calm eyes hiding silent fury.
— So you've gathered courage, boy… — Thegg mocked.
No answer.
Only silence.
They lunged simultaneously.
---
Impact was devastating.
Swords vs axes — clash creating gale, wind rising, sparks illuminating determined faces.
Kuto alternated:
[CLASS: ROGUE] — precise, rapid strikes, appearing at the back.
[CLASS: WARRIOR] — frontal charges, brute force, impossible blocks.
[CLASS: ELEMENTAL] — magic at feet, boosting movements, tripling speed.
Spinning. Sliding. Appearing. Attacking. Disappearing.
But Thegg read every move.
Dodged. Defended. Counterattacked.
Axe struck floor — BOOM — crater.
Another grazed — tearing shoulder of Kuto's outfit.
Blood streamed. Body burned. Yet he did not retreat.
Jumped — spinning in air, channeling wind around blades:
— HURRICANE SLASH!
WHOOOM.
Impact made air vibrate.
Thegg staggered — half-step back.
For the first time.
Silence.
Two stopped — staring at each other, gasping.
Thegg smiled:
— Enough weapons. — Threw axes to floor. — Let's see what you're made of.
Kuto did the same.
---
Fists and kicks.
Dry, fast, brutal strikes.
Punch landed on Kuto's face — blood gushing, falling.
Thegg lifted foot to crush.
Kuto dodged — sweep knocking giant down.
Cross punch hit jaw — Thegg staggered, laughing even wounded:
— Fun… but over.
Bowed down. Picked up axes.
Single movement — struck Kuto in stomach.
CRASH.
Thrown against wall — blood gushing from mouth.
Fell to knees. Exhausted. Barely breathing.
Thegg walked slowly:
— Even with adaptable class… — voice cold — …you only copy others. What a waste.
Kuto raised gaze — surprised:
How does he know?
Thegg raised axe:
— Now die.
---
But before the blade fell—
Magic circle glowed beneath Kuto.
Body vanished — flash of light.
Reappeared with Sônia and Jack — both injured.
Thegg looked up — irritated:
— Damn sorceress…
And heard firm voice echo:
— Hey, Thegg… — Selina floating, staff in hands, tears in eyes. — This… is for my brother.
Single tear fell.
Staff glowed — intense purple light:
— PURPLE THUNDER!
---
CRACKKK.
Sound split the air.
Colossal column of energy descended — not fire, not ice.
Pure lightning in impossible purple-black tone.
Hit Thegg.
BOOOOM.
Purple explosion illuminated entire room — walls shook, floor split, ceiling cracking.
Light so intense everyone closed eyes.
When it ceased—
Only charred feet remained.
Body had vanished.
---
[System glowed]
[MISSION COMPLETED: GENERAL THEGG DEFEATED]
[LEVEL INCREASED: 28 → 40]
[NEW ABILITIES UNLOCKED]
[NOBLE CLASS DUNGEON: COMPLETED]
---
Selina landed — exhausted.
Staff fell — hitting floor, rolling.
Kuto approached — helping her:
— It's over…
She just collapsed — crying at last, body trembling.
— Dimitri… I… I did it…
---
[OUTSIDE THE DUNGEON – DAWN]
Sun beginning to rise.
Orange sky reflecting on stones. Gentle breeze swaying grass.
Zenk and Raimi waiting — tense, watching entrance.
Then they saw.
Six emerging.
Exhausted. Injured. But alive.
Raimi looked — counting:
Six.
But ten entered.
— Where are… the others? — voice anxious.
No one answered.
Only sad glances.
Selina stopped — tears began to fall.
Raimi ran — hugging her tightly:
— I… I couldn't save him… — Selina trembled. — He died because of me…
— Shh… — Raimi stroked her hair. — You fought till the end. He would be proud.
---
Sun fully risen — bathing group in golden light.
And for a moment, even though scars still ached…
…they felt peace.
---
But deep within the dungeon—
Beneath floor ruins—
Red glow ignited.
Fragment of energy.
Dark. Pulsing.
Thegg had not completely disappeared.
---
[THEGG: STATUS UNKNOWN]
[GROUP: 6 SURVIVORS]
[NEXT: ???]
[END OF DUNGEON ARC]