Before the boss could react, Asher dashed forward, conjuring a blood spear in an instant. With a precise strike, he pierced the Phantom King's chest—only for the spear to pass through like mist.
The Phantom King chuckled. "Clever. But not clever enough."
The illusionary copies vanished, and suddenly, Asher wasn't standing next to Serena anymore. He was alone in an endless white void.
Serena was gone. The dungeon was gone.
"You think your blood magic can see through my domain?" The Phantom King's voice was softer now, almost inside his head. "You're wrong. You can't escape from what isn't real."
Asher didn't reply. He simply closed his eyes.
Then, he stabbed himself.
A thin line of blood ran down his arm as he reopened his eyes. The void shattered like glass, revealing the true battlefield once more.
Serena was fighting off copies of the Phantom King, struggling to keep up with their erratic movements.
Asher smirked. "I don't need to escape illusions. I just need to remind myself what's real."
Blood was real. Pain was real. His control over it couldn't be faked.
He flicked his wrist, sending hundreds of thin blood needles into the air. They spread like a storm, targeting every single Phantom King. The fake ones dissolved instantly.
The real Phantom King staggered back, hissing.
Serena took her chance. She dashed forward in a blur, flames igniting on her daggers. "Let's see if you can trick me when you're burning!"
She slashed downward, and fire erupted around the Phantom King. He howled as the flames engulfed him, his form struggling to maintain shape.
"No… this is my world… my rules—"
Asher stepped forward, his expression cold. "Then I'll break them."
With a sharp motion, he extended his hand, and the blood from his previous attacks wrapped around the Phantom King's body like chains.
He tightened his grip.
The Phantom King screamed as the blood constricted, pulling him toward Asher.
Serena didn't hesitate. She leapt forward, driving both her daggers straight through his chest.
The Phantom King let out one final distorted scream before his body exploded into mist, fading from existence.
The dungeon trembled. The illusions flickered, breaking apart.
The Phantom Labyrinth… was collapsing.
Serena wiped her forehead. "We killed him… but the dungeon's falling apart!"
Asher nodded. "Then we leave. Now."
A glowing exit formed in the distance. Without hesitation, they sprinted toward it.
As the last remnants of the Phantom Labyrinth crumbled, Asher and Serena leaped through the portal, landing back in the real world just as the dungeon behind them vanished.
Jumping out of the portal, they landed on the ground outside. A stone slab lay beneath them, marking the dungeon's entrance.
Both of them burst into laughter, looking at each other.
"Haah… that was insanely fun," Asher said, still catching his breath.
Serena nodded, grinning. "You know… I think I'm starting to get addicted to all your craziness."
Before Asher could reply, a voice interrupted them.
They turned around to see a beautiful girl standing nearby, accompanied by a group of soldiers in solid armor.
Asher raised an eyebrow. "What does it look like?"
The girl crossed her arms, unimpressed. "Like you two have lost your minds."
Asher smirked, shaking his head. "Maybe."
The girl sighed, then gestured to the soldiers behind her. "Come with us. The knights need to hear about what happened in that dungeon."
They followed after the girl, who introduced herself as the daughter of Earl Leo, the noble overseeing the territory where the Phantom Dungeon had appeared. She led them to her estate, which, like any noble house, was grand and lavish. New novel chapters are published on Novel~Fire. (n)et
As they stepped inside, Asher glanced around before smirking. "Would you be mad if I said mine was a thousand times better than this?"
The noble girl rolled her eyes. "Don't try to impress me. We come from completely different worlds. I am not going to lower myself to love someone like you—a mere commoner." Her voice was filled with arrogance and disdain.
Asher tilted his head slightly but said nothing. He briefly considered teasing her but noticed that the knights accompanying her were already glaring at him. Deciding it wasn't worth the trouble, he simply straightened himself.
"Believe it or not, I wasn't talking to you." Asher said nonchalantly.
Serena, walking beside him, just smiled. "I believe you, when we found you, you were wearing very nice clothes"
Asher nodded in agreement. "You really are the best."
Serena just smiled, while the noble girl scoffed and turned away, leading them further inside.
The noble girl led them through the grand hallways of her estate, her heels clicking against the polished marble floor. Servants and knights stood at attention as they passed, their gazes lingering on Asher and Serena, clearly wary of the outsiders.
Finally, they arrived in a luxurious sitting room adorned with fine velvet curtains and a chandelier that shimmered in the dim candlelight. The girl gestured for them to sit, while she gracefully took her own seat on an ornate chair.
"Let's get straight to the point," she said, folding her arms. "The Phantom Dungeon that has appeared near my father's territory is unlike anything we've seen before. It's unstable, dangerous, and—most importantly—it wasn't there before. We suspect it's an anomaly."
Asher leaned back in his chair. "An anomaly? You mean a dungeon that doesn't follow the usual rules?"
The girl nodded. "Correct. Unlike normal dungeons that are formed naturally, this one seemingly appeared out of thin air. It distorts space and has an incredibly powerful illusion-type monster as its boss. Many skilled adventurers have already attempted to clear it, but most of them never returned."
Serena frowned. "What about the ones who did return?"
The noble girl's expression darkened. "They came back either mad or broken—some completely lost their minds, others couldn't even recognize their own families. The healers say it's not a curse, but something far worse. A nightmare they can't escape from."