Chapter 90: Straight Toward the Rank-D Dungeon’s Final Boss
The roar was still echoing among the swamp trees when Liam adjusted Owen’s unconscious body in his arms.
The man had barely moved since they defeated the giant carnivorous plant. His breathing was calm, but he remained completely unconscious.
Liam looked at Chuck and Emily.
"Do you think you’re ready to face the final boss?"
Emily and Chuck looked at each other for a few seconds before smiling.
"Of course,"
Emily replied.
Chuck raised a hand and yawned.
"It’s already getting late for dinner. If that boss wants to fight, I hope it’s quick."
Emily stretched and looked up at the cloudy sky.
"And I already want to get home and take a shower. I’m covered in mud."
Lydia looked at Owen.
"Honey, don’t worry about him. I can carry him."
"No need, honey. I can..."
Before Liam could finish his sentence, something moved at his feet.
The small green slime that had been serving as a cushion began to rise. The gelatinous mass stretched, taking the shape of legs, a torso, arms, and finally a face.
In just a few seconds, another Lydia stood in front of them.
The copy approached and extended her arms.
"Leave him to me."
Liam handed Owen over, and the copy held him as if he weighed absolutely nothing.
Liam let out a small laugh.
"I’m still not used to that power."
Lydia’s copy smiled.
Chuck watched the scene with a grin.
"I wish I had a wife who could clone herself. It’s every man’s dream."
Liam raised an eyebrow.
"What can I say? I’m a lucky man."
Lydia and Emily burst out laughing.
"That is true,"
Lydia replied.
The group began moving in the direction from which the roar had come.
◇◆◇
The terrain became increasingly difficult.
After fifteen minutes of walking through trees, roots, and enormous mud puddles, all four hunters were completely covered in mud.
Chuck looked at his pants.
"I’m going to need to buy new clothes."
Emily burst out laughing.
"That’s what you get for coming into a swamp dungeon wearing such expensive clothes."
"Expensive clothes can get dirty too!"
Liam barely paid attention to their argument.
The terrain ahead of them had begun to change.
The ground was gradually disappearing.
The mud was turning into water.
An enormous green, disgusting-looking lake stretched out before the group.
There didn’t appear to be any solid ground on the other side.
Chuck put his hands on his hips.
"Well... looks like this is where the dungeon ends."
He looked at the lake.
"The rest is just dirty water."
Liam stared at the surface.
For a few seconds, everything seemed completely calm.
Then a message appeared before his eyes.
[Danger ahead.]
Liam stopped smiling.
"I think we’re in the right place."
Emily looked around.
"The boss is there?"
"I don’t know. But my system seems pretty convinced that there’s something ahead."
Lydia approached the edge of the lake.
"I don’t see anything strange, but I have a bad feeling."
Liam nodded.
"Me too."
Behind them, Owen began to move.
The copy of Lydia carrying him lowered her gaze slightly.
"I think he’s waking up."
Owen slowly opened his eyes and blinked several times.
The first thing he saw was the face of a woman.
Then he realized he was being carried.
His eyes suddenly widened.
"What...?"
Liam smiled.
"Good morning, sleepyhead."
Owen looked around.
The swamp.
The trees.
The lake.
And Lydia.
"Is a woman carrying me?"
"Yes."
Owen looked around again.
"I guess, luckily for me, I missed the worst of it."
Chuck burst out laughing.
"Don’t speak too soon."
Owen looked at him.
"What?"
Then the water began to move, and everyone fell silent.
At first, it was just a small vibration.
Then an enormous wave rose in the middle of the lake.
Something was moving beneath the surface.
Emily took a step forward.
"What the hell is that?"
The water began to part.
A massive elongated jaw appeared in the distance.
It was gigantic.
Its skin was covered in mud and hardened plates, while several long teeth protruded from its massive jaw.
The creature opened its mouth and roared.
The sound made the entire swamp tremble.
The tree branches shook.
The water vibrated.
Owen began trembling in the arms of Lydia’s copy.
Liam stared at the creature.
"We found the final boss."
Emily narrowed her eyes.
"That looks like a caiman."
Chuck pulled out one of his knives.
"An enormous caiman."
"And pretty ugly, too,"
Emily added.
Lydia looked at her husband.
"What’s the plan?"
Liam looked at the monster, then at the lake, and finally back at his wife.
"For now..."
He paused dramatically.
"We don’t have a plan."
Chuck began laughing.
"Sounds perfect to me."
Owen’s eyes widened.
"Is that some kind of joke?"
Liam looked at him.
"Owen."
"Yes?"
"Haven’t you learned yet?"
Owen went pale.
"Oh, hell."
He looked toward the lake.
"So now comes the worst part."
And he fainted again.
Emily stared at him.
"This guy is a joke."
Lydia sighed.
"Don’t worry about him. My copy will protect him."
The Lydia carrying Owen nodded.
"I’ll take care of him."
Liam looked at his wife.
"We’re counting on you."
The enormous jaws closed again.
For several seconds, the creature remained motionless.
Then it disappeared.
It sank completely beneath the water.
The lake became silent once again.
Liam frowned.
[Danger.]
Another message appeared.
[Danger.]
And another.
[Danger.]
Liam felt a chill run down his spine.
"Pix... we get it. Thanks for the warning."
The response appeared immediately in his mind.
[Pix: The dungeon boss is approaching rapidly.]
[Pix: Be careful!]
Liam slowly raised his pistol.
"Yeah... we’ve noticed."
Emily positioned herself beside him as a small current of electricity began running along her arms.
Chuck spun one of his knives between his fingers.
Lydia stepped forward.
"Where is it going to come out?"
Liam looked at the lake.
"I don’t know."
The water began bubbling in one spot.
Then another.
And finally, the entire lake began to churn.
Liam felt his heart beginning to race.
’All right. No plan.’
He smiled.
’I guess we’ll have to improvise again.’
The surface of the lake exploded.
An enormous shadow passed beneath them.
And from the depths, two yellow eyes opened.