The serpent charged forward, destroying the frozen ground of the ancient underground city.
The impact caused massive cracks to spread across the surrounding structures as huge blocks of ice fell from the dungeon's ceiling. The creature's colossal body slithered between the ruined buildings as though the place were far too small to contain it.
I tightened my grip on my sword as I analyzed the creature's movements.
It was fast.
Far too fast for something that size.
"Break formation!"
My voice echoed throughout the frozen area.
Everyone moved immediately.
The serpent opened its mouth and unleashed a freezing blast in our direction.
The air instantly turned white.
Lyannis raised several magical barriers at once.
The attack slammed into them, causing cracks to spread across the surface of the mana.
Even so, part of the ice broke through.
I rolled to the side as the ground behind me froze solid.
Scarlett created explosions of fire to keep the temperature from dropping even further.
The contrast between fire and ice illuminated the entire dungeon.
Rai'kanna charged first.
Draconic mana covered her arms as she leaped toward the creature.
Her punch struck the side of the serpent's head.
The impact was powerful.
But not enough.
The creature merely turned its head aside and answered with a brutal charge.
"Rai'kanna!"
Elara used wind to pull her back before the colossal jaws could reach her.
The serpent crashed into a frozen tower after missing the attack.
Stones and ice rained down everywhere.
Vespera had already taken position atop a partially ruined structure.
She fired three arrows in succession.
The arrows struck the creature's eyes.
The serpent let out a violent roar.
But its crystalized scales protected most of its body.
"It's too durable."
Lyannis kept her eyes fixed on the creature.
"The scales are absorbing part of the mana."
I frowned.
"Then ordinary attacks won't work very well."
Liriel began channeling holy magic.
Golden light slowly spread throughout the area.
The demonic mana within the serpent began to waver.
The creature noticed immediately.
It turned its head toward Liriel.
"It's going after the priestess!"
I ran before I had even finished speaking.
The serpent charged, destroying everything in its path.
I activated physical enhancement at full power.
My body shot through the frozen rubble.
The golden sword shone brilliantly.
At the last second, I leaped.
My slash struck the creature's jaw, deflecting the attack by only a few meters.
The impact explosion sent snow and ice flying everywhere.
The serpent stared directly at me.
Its blue eyes glowed with a terrifying light.
Then it roared again.
The pressure of its mana increased violently.
The entire ground began freezing even faster.
Even breathing became difficult for a few moments.
Scarlett appeared beside me.
"This thing is getting angry."
"I noticed."
She smiled faintly.
"Good."
The crimson flames surrounding her grew larger.
Scarlett unleashed several consecutive explosions toward the serpent's head.
The fire began melting part of the frozen scales.
"Takumi!"
I looked toward Vespera.
She was pointing at a specific spot on the creature's neck.
Cracks were beginning to form there.
I understood immediately.
"That's its weak point!"
Rai'kanna smiled.
"Finally."
She charged alongside me.
The serpent noticed our movement and slammed its enormous tail into the ground.
The explosion of ice destroyed half of the nearby buildings.
Elara used wind to propel us into the air.
I passed over the creature's tail while Rai'kanna came from the side.
Vespera continued firing arrows to distract the serpent's head.
Lyannis strengthened her magical support.
Circles of mana appeared beneath the serpent, reducing its speed.
Liriel maintained the purification spell to weaken the demonic energy covering the creature's body.
Everyone was fighting together perfectly.
Without hesitation.
Without confusion.
The serpent roared again and created dozens of ice spears around its body.
"Defensive formation!"
Liriel raised barriers.
The spears slammed violently against the golden defense.
Even so, several partially broke through.
One nearly struck Elara.
Vespera pulled her back at the last instant.
Another passed close to Lyannis.
Scarlett destroyed several with explosive fire.
I continued advancing.
The mana within my sword began to increase.
My body felt lighter.
Faster.
I leaped onto a ruined building and reached the creature's neck.
The serpent tried to throw me off by crashing into the surrounding structures.
I held on tightly as I advanced across the frozen scales.
Then I felt it.
The demonic mana concentrated at that point.
"Now!"
Rai'kanna appeared beneath the creature and delivered a brutal blow to the side of its body.
The impact caused the serpent to lose its balance for a moment.
That was enough.
I concentrated mana into my sword.
The golden blade shone brilliantly.
Then I attacked.
The slash pierced through the cracked scales.
The serpent roared in pain.
But it still wasn't enough.
The creature began to go berserk.
It crashed into everything around it, completely destroying part of the underground city.
Massive blocks began falling from the ceiling.
Lyannis widened her eyes.
"The dungeon is collapsing!"
"Finish this quickly!"
I jumped back before the serpent could bite me.
Scarlett appeared above, gathering an enormous amount of mana.
The flames surrounding her became gigantic.
"Takumi!"
I understood what she wanted.
I channeled draconic fire into my sword.
Golden flames completely enveloped the blade.
Scarlett unleashed her spell.
A colossal torrent of fire struck the open wound on the serpent's neck directly.
The creature let out a violent roar.
I charged at the same instant.
My body crossed the frozen battlefield at tremendous speed.
Then I focused all my strength into the final strike.
The sword sliced completely through the serpent's neck.
Silence.
For a few seconds, everything seemed to stop.
Then the colossal body of the serpent slowly began to fall.
The impact destroyed the remaining nearby structures.
Frozen snow scattered through the air.
I took a deep breath as I looked at the motionless monster.
It was over.
Scarlett landed beside me.
"That was a fun fight."
Rai'kanna crossed her arms while catching her breath.
"It was strong."
Vespera climbed down from the ruined structure.
"But not strong enough."
Liriel slowly walked toward the creature's body.
"The demonic mana is still here."
Lyannis nodded.
"That means someone or something is influencing these dungeons."
I looked once more at the defeated serpent.
Something about it bothered me.
The monsters were growing stronger far too quickly.
And it didn't seem natural.
Elara approached me.
"Takumi."
"Hm?"
"The ceiling."
I looked up.
Enormous cracks were spreading throughout the entire dungeon.
Stones began falling once again.
Lyannis spoke immediately.
"We need to leave now."
None of us argued.
We started running through the ancient frozen city as the dungeon collapsed behind us.
The ground shook continuously.
Entire sections of the ancient structures disappeared beneath tons of ice.
The serpent had probably been sustaining much of the mana within that place.
And now that it was dead...
Everything was collapsing.
We ran through the frozen corridors as the cave-in followed us.
Scarlett destroyed blocks of ice that blocked our path.
Elara used wind to increase our speed.
Liriel maintained barriers to keep falling rocks from hitting us.
Rai'kanna literally carved a path through several areas by smashing apart frozen walls.
After several minutes, we finally saw the dungeon's exit.
We leaped outside almost simultaneously.
The very next moment, the entire entrance collapsed behind us.
A massive cloud of snow rose over the mountains.
Silence slowly returned.
I took a deep breath as I looked at the buried dungeon.
Vespera let out a quiet sigh.
"That was close."
Scarlett shrugged.
"I've been through worse."
Lyannis stared at the mountain with a serious expression.
"The mana is still increasing."
I frowned.
"Even after the creature died?"
"Yes."
Liriel tightened her grip on her staff.
"It's spreading."
The icy wind swept across the mountains once again.
I looked up at the gray sky.
The uneasy feeling in my chest returned.
The monsters were changing.
The dungeons were changing.
And in the north...
The demonic army was still waiting.
I slowly tightened my grip on the sword.
Then I started walking back together with the group.
But one thing became clear in my mind as we left those mountains behind.
The war hadn't even begun yet.
And even so, the world was already beginning to change.