Chapter 358: War Unfold
The peaceful atmosphere of the lake continued until the sun completely disappeared behind the horizon.
The golden light slowly faded, replaced by the quiet darkness of the night.
The group decided to stay there until morning.
After traveling through countless dangerous floors, this was the first time they could sleep without worrying about monsters suddenly appearing from the shadows.
No footsteps.
No killing intent.
No terrifying creatures waiting to ambush them.
Only the gentle sound of the wind passing through the trees.
The lake reflected the moonlight beautifully, creating a scene that looked almost impossible to exist inside a dungeon.
A place like this should not exist.
At least, that was what Ethan thought.
While the others rested, Ethan remained awake.
He sat alone near the edge of the lake, his eyes staring at the reflection of the stars on the water.
His hand rested on Bloodblade Ashura, the sword beside him.
Even in this peaceful environment, his instincts never relaxed.
Too peaceful.
Too perfect.
A place like this inside a dungeon was suspicious.
The dungeon had never given them anything without a price.
Every safe area they discovered before had hidden dangers.
Every treasure had been protected by deadly traps.
Every opportunity came with a risk.
So why was this place different?
Ethan slowly narrowed his eyes.
The silence itself felt wrong.
Suddenly—
A small ripple appeared on the surface of the lake.
Ethan's gaze instantly sharpened.
His body moved before his mind even finished processing.
He stood up and grabbed Bloodblade Ashura.
The gentle wind stopped.
The birds that had been resting on the trees suddenly flew away.
The peaceful atmosphere disappeared.
Something was there.
Under the water.
For several seconds, nothing happened.
The lake remained completely still.
Too still.
Ethan stared at the surface without blinking.
Then—
SPLASH!
Something moved beneath the water.
A massive shadow appeared below the surface.
The next moment—
The entire lake exploded.
BOOOOM!
Water surged into the sky like a giant wave.
The beautiful scenery they had admired moments ago was completely destroyed as something enormous emerged from below.
A giant creature jumped out from the lake.
Its body was covered in transparent scales that reflected the moonlight.
Each scale looked like crystal.
Two long blue horns grew from its head, and its golden eyes glowed like ancient flames.
Its body was similar to a dragon, but far larger.
The pressure coming from it made the entire area shake.
The noise immediately woke everyone.
"What happened?!"
Serena rushed out of their resting area with her weapon already in hand.
Kael followed behind her, holding his greatsword.
Gareth quickly put on his armor.
Meanwhile, Milo looked at the giant creature with a pale expression.
His entire body froze.
"Wasn't this place safe?!"
Nobody answered.
Because everyone was staring at the monster.
The creature lowered its head.
Its golden eyes looked directly at Ethan.
Then it released a terrifying roar.
ROOOOAR!
The entire floor trembled.
The trees around the lake bent from the pressure.
Small rocks on the ground floated slightly before falling again.
Ethan calmly raised his sword.
"So it was hiding."
Kael frowned.
He carefully observed the creature.
"A hidden guardian?"
Ethan nodded slightly.
"Most likely."
Serena looked at him.
"Most likely?"
Her expression became serious.
"You don't sound very confident."
Ethan did not answer.
Because he already noticed something strange.
The creature's presence was different from normal monsters.
It wasn't simply waiting here to kill intruders.
It was observing them.
Studying them.
The creature suddenly opened its mouth.
A massive amount of energy began gathering inside.
The temperature around them changed.
The lake started boiling.
Serena's expression changed immediately.
"Everyone move!"
The group instantly reacted.
They jumped away in different directions.
The next moment—
BOOOOOOM!
A massive beam of water energy shot forward.
The attack passed through their previous position and completely destroyed the area behind them.
The ground shattered.
Trees were erased.
The peaceful lake that looked like paradise moments ago was now covered in destruction.
Water fell from the sky like rain.
Gareth gritted his teeth.
"So much for a peaceful floor."
Kael smiled faintly while holding his greatsword.
"I was starting to think something was wrong."
Milo looked nervous.
"That thing was pretending to be harmless this entire time?"
Ethan continued staring at the monster.
"No."
Everyone looked at him.
"It wasn't pretending."
The monster's golden eyes moved slightly.
"It was waiting."
The group became silent.
The creature slowly sank back into the lake.
Its massive body disappeared beneath the water.
The surface became completely calm again.
No movement.
No sound.
Nothing.
Too quiet.
Ethan tightened his grip.
"Don't let your guard down."
The others immediately understood.
The monster was waiting for an opening.
Then—
WHOOSH!
The lake suddenly exploded again.
The creature attacked from beneath the water.
Its enormous claw moved directly toward Gareth.
The armored man barely reacted.
"Gareth!"
Before the attack reached him—
CLANG!
Ethan appeared in front of him and blocked the claw with Bloodblade Ashura.
The impact created a shockwave.
BOOOOM!
Ethan's feet slid backward several meters.
The ground cracked beneath him.
The force was enormous.
Kael's eyes widened.
"That power..."
Ethan pushed the claw away.
"This isn't a normal floor guardian."
The creature stared at him.
For the first time, there was interest in its eyes.
A low voice suddenly echoed throughout the area.
"You are different from the others."
Everyone froze.
The monster had spoken.
Serena's eyes widened.
"A talking monster?"
The creature slowly raised its head.
"I have watched countless humans enter this place."
Its voice was deep and ancient.
"Most of them come seeking power."
"Some seek treasures."
"Some seek glory."
Its golden eyes focused on Ethan.
"But you..."
The creature paused.
"You carry hatred."
The air became heavy.
Ethan's expression remained unchanged.
"And?"
The monster smiled.
A strange smile filled with curiosity.
"You are the first human I have seen who looks like he would destroy the entire dungeon itself if it stood in your way."
Nobody spoke.
Because the monster was right.
Ethan's hatred toward the Telmarians was something everyone could feel.
Even without him saying anything.
Even without him explaining.
His entire journey was driven by that hatred.
The monster continued.
"Tell me, human."
"Why do you climb?"
Ethan remained silent.
The question was familiar.
Too familiar.
Everyone had asked him the same thing.
Serena.
Kael.
Even himself.
Why did he continue climbing?
For revenge?
For power?
For answers?
Ethan looked at his companions.
He saw Gareth, who was searching for his missing brother.
Milo, who wanted to find a cure for his dying hometown.
Serena, who wanted freedom from the life forced upon her.
Kael, who wanted to discover what existed at the top of the dungeon.
Everyone had their own reason.
Their own burden.
Their own dream.
Then Ethan looked back at the monster.
"At first..."
His voice was calm.
"I climbed for revenge."
His hand tightened around his sword.
"I wanted to find the Telmarians."
"I wanted them to pay for what they did."
The monster remained silent.
"But now..."
Ethan looked toward the endless sky above.
His eyes became sharper.
"I climb because I want to reach the top."
"To find the truth."
The monster stared at him.
Then suddenly—
It laughed.
"Hahaha..."
The sound echoed across the lake.
"A human seeking truth."
"Interesting."
The creature's aura suddenly erupted.
BOOOOM!
The entire lake began shaking violently.
Waves rose into the air.
The ground cracked beneath everyone's feet.
The monster lowered its body.
"Then prove yourself."
The next moment—
It charged.
Ethan disappeared.
SWOOSH!
The two figures collided.
CLANG!
A massive shockwave spread across the entire floor.
The others watched from a distance.
The battle between human and guardian had begun.
And for the first time...
They realized something.
Ethan was no longer fighting only because of revenge.
He had found another reason to continue forward.
A reason beyond hatred.
A reason beyond anger.
And that made him far more dangerous than before.