Chapter 261: The Castle’s True Ruler

Chapter 261: Chapter 261: The Castle’s True Ruler

The other two teams had already begun clearing the remaining sections of the castle, their movements coordinated as they advanced through the enormous corridors and eliminated the monsters stationed along their respective routes.

The creatures guarding the castle were far more dangerous than the ordinary beasts they had encountered throughout the dungeon. Each possessed a humanoid body covered in coarse fur, powerful limbs capable of crushing stone, and the unmistakable head of a lion, complete with a thick mane and a mouth filled with razor-sharp fangs. Their long arms ended in enormous claws, while their muscular legs allowed them to accelerate with frightening speed, making it difficult for even experienced Awakeners to predict their movements.

These were A-Rank monsters, and their physical capabilities were sufficient to threaten most Awakeners who encountered them unprepared.

A deafening roar echoed through one of the corridors as a group of lion-headed beasts charged toward the expedition members, their claws scraping against the stone floor as they closed the distance in an instant. Several Awakeners immediately spread out, avoiding a direct confrontation while their companions prepared their abilities, and the narrow corridor erupted into a fierce battle.

One of the monsters lunged at an Awakener, its enormous claws sweeping toward his head with enough force to shatter his defensive equipment. The man twisted aside at the last moment, allowing the attack to pass dangerously close to his face before retaliating with a concentrated strike that severed the creature’s arm. Before the beast could recover, another Awakener appeared behind it and drove a weapon through the back of its neck, bringing its massive body crashing to the ground.

Nearby, two more lion-headed monsters attempted to break through the formation by attacking from opposite directions, forcing the Awakeners to coordinate their movements carefully. A barrage of magical projectiles intercepted one of the beasts, slowing its charge long enough for the frontline to surround it, while the other was met by a powerful strike that sent it crashing into the wall.

The battle continued for several minutes, with the lion-headed monsters displaying a level of aggression that left little room for error. Their speed allowed them to evade many attacks, and their strength forced the Awakeners to remain constantly alert, but the creatures were eventually overwhelmed by the team’s coordinated assault.

When the final beast collapsed, the corridor finally fell silent.

One of the Awakeners lowered his weapon, breathing heavily as he examined the corpses scattered across the floor.

"Those things were considerably more troublesome than I expected. Their movements were difficult to read, and their physical strength was almost absurd for monsters of their rank."

"That is precisely why we cannot afford to underestimate anything inside this castle," another Awakener replied, wiping the blood from his weapon. "They were only the guards stationed along this route, yet they forced us to use several of our stronger abilities. If the creatures deeper inside are even remotely comparable, we will need to remain on our guard."

A third Awakener glanced toward the dark passage ahead, his expression growing more serious.

"Then let us hope the other teams are making better progress. We cannot afford to waste too much time here, especially if the dungeon boss is waiting for us beyond these walls."

With that, the team resumed its advance, leaving the bodies of the fallen lion-headed monsters behind as they ventured deeper into the castle.

---

At the opposite end of the structure, the second team had also finished dealing with its first group of enemies.

The final lion-headed monster staggered backward before collapsing onto the stone floor, its massive body trembling briefly before becoming motionless. A nearby Awakener watched it fall, then turned toward his companions, who were checking their surroundings to ensure that no additional monsters were approaching.

"That should be the last of them in this section. I have to admit, their speed is genuinely troublesome. Even when you know an attack is coming, reacting quickly enough to avoid it is another matter entirely."

"Fortunately, their movements become more predictable once you understand their fighting patterns," another member replied. "They rely heavily on their physical superiority, which means their attacks tend to follow a fairly straightforward approach. The problem is that a single mistake can leave someone seriously injured."

A third Awakener glanced at the enormous windows lining the corridor, through which the pale desert light filtered into the castle.

"Let’s not forget why we’re here. These monsters are merely obstacles, and we still have a dungeon boss to deal with. If the castle’s outer defenses are already this dangerous, we should prepare ourselves for something considerably worse inside."

Nobody disagreed.

After allowing themselves a brief moment to recover, the team continued toward its assigned destination, unaware of the terrifying battle that was about to unfold in the heart of the castle.

---

Meanwhile, at the main entrance to the central chamber, six Awakeners stood before a pair of colossal doors that towered over them.

The five S-Rank Awakeners had gathered around Ares, their expressions considerably more serious than before. Even without entering the chamber, they could sense the oppressive presence lurking beyond the doors, a pressure so overwhelming that it seemed to seep through the thick stone itself.

The massive doors were covered in elaborate carvings depicting ancient warriors, monstrous beasts, and a crowned figure seated upon a throne. Deep scratches marred their surface, while the surrounding stonework had been reinforced with enormous metal plates, suggesting that the chamber beyond had been constructed to contain something exceptionally dangerous.

Kang Ji-hoon stood at the front, studying the doors with a measured expression.

"This must be it," he said, his voice carrying through the otherwise silent corridor.

Yoon Ha-eun, who stood beside him, narrowed her eyes as she examined the entrance.

"Such a terrifying presence... I’ve never felt anything like this before. Even among the most dangerous monsters I’ve encountered in the past, I have never experienced pressure this overwhelming without even seeing the creature responsible for it."

Her words caused the others to exchange serious glances.

As an S-Rank Awakener and the Guild Master of the Horizon Guild, Ha-eun was hardly someone who would be intimidated by an ordinary dungeon boss. Her reaction alone was enough to make the atmosphere considerably heavier.

Lee Min-jae crossed his arms, his gaze fixed on the doors.

"If someone with your experience is feeling this much pressure, then we should assume that whatever is waiting inside possesses abilities beyond the usual standards of an S-Rank monster. We cannot rely on the information gathered from the outer sections of the castle to determine how dangerous it really is."

"Agreed," Choi Soo-jin replied. "The presence we’re sensing is unusually concentrated. It almost feels as though the entire chamber is being used to suppress and contain its power, which makes me wonder how much stronger it would feel if we were standing directly in front of it."

Park Tae-hyun rolled his shoulders, his expression remaining composed despite the pressure.

"Then we’ll find out soon enough. We came here expecting a dangerous opponent, and there’s no point in standing outside the door trying to frighten ourselves with possibilities. As long as we work together and don’t act recklessly, we should be able to handle whatever is inside."

Ares listened to their discussion without interrupting, his gaze resting on the enormous doors.

The others were right to be cautious, but the presence beyond the entrance was not what concerned him.

Through his True Sight, he had already obtained a glimpse of the creature waiting within the chamber. Its appearance had been unmistakably different from that of an ordinary dungeon boss, and the enormous structure surrounding it only reinforced the impression that this creature was something far beyond the ordinary limits of the dungeon.

More importantly, he knew that the monster possessed a second awakening that would trigger when its health fell to one percent.

At that point, its strength and defense would rise to a terrifying level, comparable to those of the Calamity Behemoth.

Considering the threat it would pose once that transformation occurred, Ares had no intention of allowing the others to discover its full capabilities through a disastrous exchange.

"There are A-Rank monsters inside as well," Ares said, finally joining the discussion. "How about I deal with the weaker ones while you handle the dungeon boss? That way, you can focus on the main threat without having to worry about the surrounding monsters interfering with the battle."

Tae-hyun immediately nodded.

"Sounds good to me. If those creatures are anything like the ones we encountered outside, keeping them away from the main fight would certainly make things easier."

"I agree," Ha-eun added, although her expression remained thoughtful. "However, please contact us immediately if the situation changes or you find yourself in trouble. Even if the creatures are only A-Rank, we shouldn’t assume that their numbers or abilities will be insignificant once we’re surrounded by them."

"Understood," Ares replied.

Ji-hoon looked at him for a moment before speaking.

"Make sure you don’t get carried away. We don’t know the exact number of monsters inside, and if they’re positioned strategically, they might attempt to surround you as soon as we engage the boss. Don’t hesitate to request assistance if you need it."

"I’ll keep that in mind."

The conversation continued for another minute as the group finalized its approach, discussing their respective roles and the possibility that the dungeon boss might possess abilities capable of affecting the entire chamber.

Soo-jin emphasized that she would provide support as soon as the battle began, while Ha-eun assured the others that she had a powerful summon capable of strengthening their defenses. Min-jae, meanwhile, suggested that they avoid concentrating all their attacks on a single point until they understood how the boss responded to their abilities.

Once everyone had agreed on the plan, Ji-hoon stepped forward and placed his hand against one of the enormous doors.

"All right. Stay alert, everyone. Whatever we’re about to encounter, we should assume that it is considerably more dangerous than anything we’ve fought so far."

With a powerful push from the Awakeners, the colossal doors slowly began to open.

A deep rumbling sound rolled through the corridor as the enormous stone panels moved apart, revealing a vast chamber illuminated by rows of ancient braziers. The interior was considerably larger than the castle’s outer structure suggested, with towering pillars extending toward a ceiling so high that its upper reaches disappeared into the shadows.

The floor was made of polished black stone, its surface decorated with intricate patterns that converged toward an enormous throne positioned at the far end of the chamber.

And standing throughout the hall were more than thirty A-Rank monsters.

Every one of them possessed the same humanoid build and lion-like head as the creatures encountered outside, but their appearances were far more imposing. Their bodies were covered in thick fur, their muscular frames towered over ordinary humans, and their enormous claws gleamed beneath the flickering light of the braziers.

Unlike the monsters outside, however, these creatures were not moving.

They stood in orderly formation on both sides of the chamber, their expressions motionless as they faced the entrance. Their weapons remained lowered, yet the oppressive aura radiating from their bodies made it clear that they were prepared to attack the moment they received an order.

At the very end of the chamber, seated upon the enormous throne, was the creature they had come to defeat.

It was a colossal humanoid monster whose height approached fifteen meters even while seated, its enormous frame making the throne beneath it appear almost insignificant. Its body was covered in dark, bronze-colored scales that resembled ancient armor, while thick muscles stretched beneath the overlapping plates, giving it an appearance of overwhelming physical strength.

Unlike the lion-headed creatures surrounding it, its head possessed a more terrifying resemblance to an ancient draconic beast, with a long, angular snout, a crown of backward-curving horns, and a pair of enormous eyes that burned with a deep crimson light.

Its broad shoulders were adorned with jagged protrusions that resembled natural blades, while its massive arms rested against the sides of the throne, each hand large enough to crush a human in a single grip. A heavy mane of dark, coarse hair extended from the back of its head down to its shoulders, partially concealing the thick scales that covered its neck.

Even without moving, the creature radiated an overwhelming sense of authority, as though every monster in the chamber existed solely to serve it.

Its appearance alone was enough to make the six Awakeners realize that they were standing before something far removed from an ordinary A-Rank creature.

Kang Ji-hoon stared at the colossal figure, his expression growing increasingly solemn.

"So that’s the dungeon boss."

Lee Min-jae slowly exhaled, his gaze sweeping across the rows of monsters before settling on the creature seated upon the throne.

"More than thirty A-Rank monsters serving as its personal guards, and the boss itself is nearly fifteen meters tall. I suppose the dungeon designers wanted to make certain that nobody could reach it without first overcoming an entire army."

"Whatever the reason, we should be grateful that we have enough firepower to deal with this," Tae-hyun remarked, his expression gradually shifting into a confident smile. "Although I have to admit, I’m rather curious to see how much punishment that enormous thing can take."

Ha-eun shook her head slightly.

"Don’t underestimate it just because we’re S-Rank Awakeners. The pressure coming from that creature is unlike anything I’ve encountered before, and I doubt its size is the only reason for that. We should proceed carefully until we understand what we’re dealing with."

"She’s right," Ji-hoon said. "We cannot afford to make careless assumptions. We’ll eliminate the surrounding threats where necessary, but our priority must remain the boss."

Min-jae gave a small nod before looking toward Tae-hyun.

"Shall we get started?"

"I was waiting for you to say that," Tae-hyun replied, a confident grin spreading across his face.

Ha-eun immediately turned toward the others.

"I’ll summon my guardian first. Its defensive abilities should give us an advantage against an opponent of this size, and it can reinforce our bodies while helping to stabilize the protective barriers around us."

She raised one hand, and the air beside her began to ripple.

A complex summoning circle appeared beneath her feet, its intricate markings glowing with a pale silver light. Layers of magical symbols rotated around one another as a powerful aura emerged from the circle, gradually taking shape into a towering armored creature.

The summon stood nearly four meters tall, its body covered in silver-white armor that resembled the overlapping plates of an ancient guardian. A pair of enormous wings extended from its back, each feather formed from condensed magical energy, while a massive shield materialized in its left hand.

Its head was concealed behind a smooth helmet, leaving only two luminous blue eyes visible beneath the visor. Runes covered its armor, and every movement released a faint pulse of protective energy that spread throughout the chamber.

The creature lowered its shield before kneeling briefly before Ha-eun.

"Guardian, reinforce our defenses and strengthen our bodies. We are about to face an opponent whose power may exceed our expectations."

The summon rose to its full height, and a wave of silver light expanded outward from its body.

The moment the light passed through the six Awakeners, they felt a remarkable change. Their bodies became lighter, their senses sharpened, and a protective layer of magical energy settled over their skin, forming an invisible barrier that responded to their movements.

The pressure emanating from the dungeon boss remained overwhelming, but the defensive reinforcement made it considerably easier to withstand.

Soo-jin stepped forward immediately afterward.

"I’ll provide additional support. Ha-eun’s summon has already strengthened our defenses, but I can reinforce those effects and enhance our physical abilities at the same time. With both layers working together, we should be able to withstand a much more powerful attack than we otherwise could."

She closed her eyes, extending both hands as a warm golden radiance spread from her body.

Unlike Ha-eun’s silver light, which formed a protective layer around each person, Soo-jin’s magic flowed directly into their bodies, strengthening their muscles, accelerating their reactions, and improving the efficiency with which they controlled their mana.

The two abilities intertwined, creating a powerful support field that enveloped the five S-Rank Awakeners and the A-Rank member alike.

The effect was immediate.

Tae-hyun clenched his fist, feeling his strength surge as the reinforced mana coursed through his body.

"That’s impressive. I can feel the difference already. My physical strength has increased considerably, and the mana circulating through my body feels much more stable than before."

Min-jae flexed his fingers, watching the faint currents of energy moving around his hand.

"I feel it too. My reaction speed has improved, and the amount of energy required to maintain my abilities seems to have decreased. Combining your support with Ha-eun’s summon has produced a much greater effect than I expected."

Ji-hoon nodded in agreement, his expression remaining focused as he tested the stability of the defensive barrier surrounding him.

"The defensive reinforcement is particularly useful. If the boss possesses enough power to break through our initial defenses, this additional layer should give us a better chance of surviving the impact. We must still avoid taking unnecessary hits, but at least we won’t be entering the fight without adequate preparation."

Even Ha-eun appeared satisfied with the results.

"Good. My guardian’s protection should continue to strengthen as long as it remains close to us, and Soo-jin’s support will further improve our combat effectiveness. With these abilities working together, we should have enough room to adapt if the battle becomes more difficult than expected."

However, as the others discussed their enhanced capabilities, Soo-jin’s expression gradually changed.

She had been maintaining the support field across the entire group, yet one person remained completely unaffected by her magic.

Ares stood several steps away from the others, looking as composed as ever.

The golden radiance that surrounded the other Awakeners had never settled around his body. Whenever Soo-jin attempted to direct her power toward him, the magic seemed to dissipate before making contact, as though an invisible force had rejected it entirely.

She frowned and tried again, carefully adjusting the flow of mana.

Nothing changed.

"My buff..." Soo-jin murmured, staring at Ares in confusion.