"RUN!!!"
The formation collapsed instantly. They scattered forward, pushing and shoving each other, not caring who fell or was trampled. Weapons slipped from grips. Shields were tossed to the floor. Only one thought remained in their minds: get away from the sound of those claws.
Behind them, the giant rats pursued. They moved faster. Far too fast.
A Nagawira tripped, falling face-down, and before he could scream, his body was dragged into the shadows. The sound of teeth gnashing mixed with a short scream that was immediately muffled. The others glanced back—just long enough to see a hand being pulled into the darkness—then ran harder, their breathing turning into panicked sobs.
The corridor was filled with the smell of fresh blood and torn flesh. The air felt thicker, harder to inhale.
Up front, Shiki did not look back. Her pace remained steady. Her breathing didn't change. She ran with the same rhythm, as if the screams behind were merely empty echoes unworthy of notice.
"Hurry," she said flatly. "Do not stop."
There was no hint of empathy. No hesitation. Only the command.
Johan, in the front, continued to follow Shiki's directions at every turn, while behind them, one by one, the sound of footsteps vanished—replaced by screeches and wet sounds that made the stomach turn.
As the sound of claws drew closer, Shiki suddenly yelled, "Right!"
Without thinking, they turned. And before them, the corridor opened into a different space—a massive door stood towering, its surface covered in old gashes and dark stains, as if something had repeatedly tried to claw its way out from behind it. Behind them, the final screams were cut short. Shiki did not look back.
Before them stood a colossal door, rising almost to touch the stone ceiling. The wood was jet black, covered in carvings like ancient roots that crawled and intertwined, as if the door had grown directly from the dungeon walls. In the center, a three-headed dragon emblem made of golden metal reflected the lantern light with a dull sheen; those three pairs of metallic eyes seemed to stare back at anyone who approached.
The door handle was a dragon's claw gripping a blue crystal ball. The light inside the crystal pulsed slowly—bright, dim, bright—like the pulse of a living being.
The Nagawira's steps slowed. Some instinctively swallowed hard. Some tightened their grip on their weapons; others took half a step back. The narrow corridor felt even more constricting in the face of that door.
Shiki stopped in front of them. Her gaze flickered briefly from the carvings to the dragon emblem, then to the pulsing crystal. A door like this was nothing new to her—every dungeon in the City of Beginnings always had a similar gate—but the emblem in the center made her brow furrow slightly.
In their memories of the old world, dragons only ever had one head. Whether it was a dragon of fire, ice, or poison, they all had one body, one face. But what stared at them now… had three.
However, this was no time for historical speculation.
The screeching of rats from the corridor behind suddenly surged, sounding like a rain of nails scraping against stone. Shiki snapped back instantly.
"Johan, open the door. NOW!"
The burly man jolted from his trance. Johan and several other Nagawira threw their weight against the giant door. The hinges let out a long groan before finally swinging open, revealing a vast chamber beyond.
Shiki stepped inside—
And the world seemed to stand still.
In the center of the room, a colossal monster dominated their vision. Its body was as large as a warhorse, covered in coarse black fur that glistened like steel wire. Parts of its fur appeared layered like small scales, giving it a formidable yet bizarre appearance. Its deep, heavy breathing echoed, filling the room with an intimidating rhythm.
Its muscular legs ended in razor-sharp claws, long like knives. Atop its head, a black horn jutted out majestically, adorned with dark red streaks like dried blood. Its tail, long and resembling a pointed spear, coiled around its body like a vigilant shield. Every slight movement of that tail created a rasping sound that made skin crawl.
A foul stench wafted from the creature's body—a combination of rotten eggs and putrefying meat that made the Nagawira wrinkle their noses.
Then the creature opened its eyes. A pair of lights burned red in the darkness.
Several Nagawira stepped back. Someone sobbed. Someone else dropped their sword unconsciously.
The creature rose. The floor trembled.
"ROOOOOAR!"
A deafening roar erupted from its maw, shattering the silence and vibrating through the floor and the knees of the Nagawira standing frozen in place. The sound hit them like a wave, filling the chamber with an echo that seemed endless. Without anyone needing to explain, they all knew: before them stood the Dungeon Overlord.
Several Nagawira reflexively turned toward the door. Shiki growled.
"Rose, Roady! Two hundred people—close the entrance! Do not let a single rat inside!"
She turned to Johan, who was still frozen, and struck the back of his head.
"MOVE! You want to die here?! Form three lines! Encircle it from three sides! Shields up!"
Shiki's shout was like a whip. As if their consciousness buttons had been pressed simultaneously, the Nagawira scrambled toward their positions. The formation began to take shape; shields were raised, and sword tips pointed forward.
Too slow.
The Mutant Rat lunged. It wasn't a run—it was a strike like a bullet.
"ATTACK—!"
The monster lowered its head, its sharp horn gleaming like a spear. In an instant, it charged. The Nagawira standing in its path didn't even have time to raise their shields. The giant horn pierced through his chest; blood sprayed violently, drenching the face of the Nagawira behind him, who could only stare at the horror with wide eyes.
But the horror was not over. With a brutal motion, the monster's horn tore through the victim's body, tossing shreds of flesh and blood into the air.
A flash of a sword swung from the side, attempting to strike the beast, but the monster moved too fast. The head of one Nagawira who tried to resist was sent flying, his body collapsing as blood geysered out.
The formation shattered. Screams replaced orders. Several Nagawira dropped their weapons and fled.
"HOLD THE LINE!" Shiki roared. "RAISE YOUR SHIELDS! DO NOT RETREAT!"