The monster moved.
certain.
Its claws descended toward Tia's throat like a verdict that had already been written.
Tia twisted.
Barely.
The claw tore past his neck—close enough to feel the wind of death.
He stumbled back.
"…I dodged it."
For a fraction of a second, something flickered in his chest.
Relief.
Then—
The monster vanished from his sight.
Tia's pupils shrank.
"…Huh?"
A sound behind him.
Too late.
ZWAAK—
Pain exploded through his ribs as something
invisible slammed into him.
The world shattered sideways.
BOOM!
His body hit the wall so hard the air left his lungs instantly.
"—GHK!"
Dust filled his vision.
His body slid down the cracked surface like it had forgotten how to stand.
"…What… was that…"
He tried to breathe.
Couldn't.
Blood slipping out through the corner of his lips.
Get up…
His fingers twitched against the cold floor.
But his body refused to respond.
"Tch…!"
He forced himself up.
His legs trembling.
Suddenly—
From the corner.
he caught sight of the monster.
Running his way.
Tia's breath hitched.
I can't dodge this.
I can't fight this thing.
…Move.
…Move, Tia.
Move.
But his body… won't listen…
A sharp pain shot through his ribs.
Again.
"—ahh…!"
He collapsed.
Then he remembered—
The pen…
Where is it…?
His hand searched the ground blindly.
I should have pressed it…
Damn it…
Why didn't I just call for help…
THUD!
The monster closed the distance.
Before he could react—
BAM!
Tia's body was slammed.
"—GHK!"
Pain exploded through his body.
The world spun.
His body rolled helplessly across the floor.
Like trash.
Hopeless.
The monster stepped closer again.
Slow.
Certain.
Tia lay there.
Unmoving.
His vision dimmed.
My heart racing.
" If this continues I might just die again.
Maybe I should just stop and —
His fingers twitched.
…No…
Not yet.
I still don't have my answers.
I'll find them no matter what.
His lips parted.
No sound came out at first.
Then—
"Ha…"
A dry breath slipped out.
"Heh…"
It caught in his throat.
"…heh…"
His shoulders shook.
"Hah… hehe…"
Hehehehe.
Warm liquid slid down the side of his face.
He didn't wipe it.
His fingers slowly curled—
nails digging into the ground.
Hard enough to hurt.
Slowly, he pulled himself up—
with the last bit of strength left.
His body trembled.
"Nnh…"
His breath hitched sharply.
Then his hands moved.
Wiping the blood at the corner of his lips
"…What a joke…"
A faint grin tugged at his lips.
His eyes scanned the ground for anything he could use—
a weapon.
Anything.
Then he saw it.
A black stick…
lying carelessly on the ground.
He grabbed it.
Ding!
[Final Main Boss Detected]
[Unknown Item Synchronizing…]
[Warning: Host Compatibility < 1%]
Tia blinked.
That wasn't important.
Not at a time like this.
The footsteps drew closer.
A shadow fell over his body.
Slowly—
Tia raised his head.
The monster stood above him.
Its claw lifted.
the final strike that would end his life.
His fingers tightened around the stick.
Ready to attack.
He knew he couldn't escape.
Death was just around the corner.
His grip tightened.
"Tch…"
"What an ending.
His eyes locked onto the monster.
A crooked smile slowly formed on his lips.
Not confidence.
Something closer to madness.
" even if I die today…"
He exhaled.
"… we go down together."
"…. if it's the last thing I do."
[Condition Fulfilled]
[Reanalyzing Host…]
*********
"Guide 13, we have successfully managed to neutralize the gate."
"You have twenty minutes to bring that kid out."
"If you fail…"
"…both of you will be trapped there forever."
A pause.
"Do you understand?"
"…Yes."
Mr. Lee lowered the communicator slowly.
His gaze fixed on the white gate.
Then—
He moved forward.
The dungeon air wrapped around him instantly.
Thick.
His eyes narrowed.
Quickly, he moved through the narrow passage.
Then stopped.
"…This…"
His gaze locked ahead.
Another passage.
One he didn't recognize.
"…I've raided this dungeon several times…"
"…Was this passage always here?"
His expression hardened.
"…No."
Without hesitation—
He moved forward
*******
Tia stood before the monster.
The claw descending upon him—
Then —
It stopped
Mid-air.
Frozen.
Tia's breath hitched.
"…What?
RUMBLE—RUMBLE!
The dungeon shook violently.
Cracks spread across the walls.
Pieces of the dungeon… fading.
Disappearing.
Like an illusion collapsing.
His vision blurred.
"…What is this…?"
DING.
[Entity Classification Failed]
[System Conflict Detected]
[Main Structure Instability Increasing]
Tia's knees buckled.
Blood slipped from the corner of his mouth.
His grip loosened slightly.
The black stick remained in his hand.
Unmoving.
Silent.
Then—
DING.
[Dungeon Core Located]
A pause.
[Final Boss Located]
Another pause.
Longer this time.
Then—
[ERROR!]
[Unable to Execute Elimination Protocol]
Tia's eyes widened slightly.
"...What?"
The screen flickered violently.
[Final Boss Status: Active]
[Final Boss Status: Inactive]
[Final Boss Status: Active]
[ERROR]
[ERROR]
[ERROR]
Cracks spread through the dungeon.
The walls began to disappear.
Then—
A final message appeared.
[The Dungeon Cannot Be Cleared.]
Silence.
Tia stared at the words.
The black stick slipped from his fingers.
DING.
[Emergency Measure Activated.]
A pause.
[Dungeon has been neutralized.]
[Host Survival Confirmed.]
The message lingered briefly.
Then—
Tia's vision faded.
The last thing he saw—
Was the black stick.
Then—
Darkness swallowed him whole.
Isolation's note:
Hold on.
What the hell.....
A wooden stick?
System, are you sure you're okay?
How can a random wooden stick possibly be a Legendary Item?
Come on.
And that's not even the worst part.
How could they send an unranked kid into a dungeon?
Just because it's been raided a few times.
For what?
Do they think he'll suddenly reawaken?
At this point they're not testing Tia.
They're trying to kill him.
Those wicked people.
Absolutely shameless.
Poor Tia.
Turn the page.!!!!!!!