At this point, Ethan didn’t have time to think—he gathered every ounce of strength in his body and launched a brutal strike.
The Infernal Flame Crawler, Vulkrith, charged in at the same moment, slamming into Ethan with full force.
It was a raw, no-holds-barred clash of physical power. Both of them went all out, but Vulkrith clearly had the upper hand. The impact sent Ethan flying through the air like a ragdoll.
There was no denying it—Vulkrith was on a higher level. Going head-to-head was a losing game.
Suddenly, a swarm of flame-infused insects burst out of the lava. Each one radiated intense heat, their bodies practically made of fire. And they weren’t just one kind—some flew through the air like burning wasps, others scuttled across the ground at terrifying speed.
But they all had one thing in common: they were fast. Blisteringly fast.
Seeing this, Cicero didn’t hesitate. He rallied the remaining troops and charged into the fray.
The battlefield erupted into chaos as both sides clashed in a brutal, all-out war.
Ethan took a moment to steady his breath.
Then—whoosh—he became a blur of lightning, darting around Vulkrith, looking for an opening. He struck again and again, fists slamming into Vulkrith’s body with sharp thuds.
But it was useless. His punches didn’t even leave a scratch.
Vulkrith wasn’t just physically powerful—his magical strength was off the charts too. Every time he countered, Ethan was forced on the defensive.
They were locked in a stalemate.
Ethan couldn’t find a single weakness.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Just then, 800 Kirin burst onto the battlefield, unleashing a massive wave of Water Magic.
In an instant, tidal waves surged forward, crashing down like a divine flood.
That’s when it hit Ethan—if Vulkrith and his minions thrived on fire magic, then Water Magic was the perfect counter.
He immediately ordered a shift in formation, splitting his forces into 800 squads, each led by a Kirin.
No matter how strong the enemy was, elemental advantage would weaken them. All they needed was that one opening to strike.
Ethan had brought two Kirin of his own, and the Water Magic they unleashed visibly dimmed the flames surrounding Vulkrith.
Seizing the moment, Ethan, Cicero, and Seraphina launched a relentless assault.
The tide of battle began to shift—slightly. But it wasn’t enough to turn things around completely. Vulkrith and his army were still overwhelmingly powerful, with thick defenses and massive health pools.
If they wanted to win this, they’d have to grind it out.
Ethan’s heart sank. They were deep inside the dungeon. If they didn’t take Vulkrith down soon, The Dark Sovereign might send reinforcements.
And if that happened, they’d be screwed.
RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE—
Suddenly, Seraphina unleashed a surge of raw power that exploded from her body like a shockwave. She slammed into Vulkrith with such force that it knocked the beast off his feet.
In that split second, Ethan saw it—Vulkrith’s underbelly was stark white, the skin thin and unprotected, with no flames covering it.
"That’s his weak spot—his belly! Hit him there, now!" Ethan shouted.
Cicero didn’t hesitate. He charged in, fists raised, aiming straight for Vulkrith’s exposed gut.
But Vulkrith was fast—faster than they expected. He rolled away just in time.
"You bastards actually figured it out," Vulkrith growled, his voice low and menacing. "Too bad you won’t get the chance to use it!"
A strange, dark energy erupted from his body. All around them, the flame insects shrieked in unison, as if answering some primal call.
Ethan could feel it—every single one of them was powering up, their strength skyrocketing in seconds.
This was it—Vulkrith’s berserk mode.
"He’s got a berserk mode too?!" Ethan’s brows furrowed hard. He hadn’t expected Vulkrith to have a trump card like that. He took a sharp breath, then unleashed a surge of power that exploded from within him, lifting his body into the air.
In an instant, a tidal wave of raw energy swept across the battlefield, blanketing the sky in a suffocating pressure.
RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE...
The sheer force of Ethan’s aura rolled out like a storm, shaking the heavens.
"You think you’re the only one who can go berserk?" Ethan’s eyes were now glowing blood-red, his voice low and dangerous.
The energy swirling around him condensed into a massive, glowing greatsword—pure power forged into a weapon—and with a roar, he brought it crashing down.
Vulkrith’s howl echoed across the battlefield, louder and more furious than ever. His minions began to swarm toward him, drawn by his rage.
"Kill him! I want him dead!" Vulkrith bellowed.
But instead of attacking, the flame creatures surged toward their master, clustering around him.
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They fused together in a blinding flash of fire and fury—and moments later, a new, even larger Infernal Flame Crawler emerged from the blaze. Its power was monstrous, maybe even greater than Vulkrith’s original form.
"Oh, you’ve got more? Then bring it on!" Ethan shouted, not a trace of fear on his face. If anything, he looked thrilled—his fighting spirit burning hotter than ever.
The massive energy greatsword he’d summoned came crashing down again.
RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE...
At the same time, Cicero and Seraphina unleashed everything they had, their power erupting like twin volcanoes.
The collision of forces shattered the air itself. The space around them cracked and twisted, as if reality couldn’t handle the pressure.
Ethan clenched his jaw, then let out a furious roar.
Another wave of berserk energy exploded from his body.
The sky trembled. The earth groaned. It was as if the entire world was crying out in pain.
In a flash of lightning, he disappeared from sight, only to reappear beneath Vulkrith’s massive body.
A surge of brutal force erupted from him, punching straight through Vulkrith’s exposed underbelly.
A blood-curdling scream tore through the air.
Vulkrith’s massive frame convulsed violently, his legs buckling beneath him. The overwhelming power he’d just summoned vanished in an instant.
Even the fused flame creatures that had formed his new body scattered and fell apart.
Cicero and Seraphina didn’t waste a second. They rallied their forces and launched a full-scale assault. The battlefield turned into a slaughterhouse as flame bugs were cut down by the dozens.
"You filthy insects... You dare outsmart me?!"
Ethan was already inside Vulkrith’s body, tearing through him from the inside out. With a final, explosive burst of power, he ripped through the creature’s back and burst out in a spray of fire and gore.
"Congratulations, player Valkarion! You’ve leveled up—now Level 83!"
"Congratulations, player Valkarion! You have successfully slain The Infernal Flame Crawler Vulkrith. Victory is yours! This is a legendary triumph!"
"Congratulations, player Valkarion! You have won the war against the Infernal Crawlers’ army. Rewards granted:
Dungeon Reputation: +300,000
Basic Resources (x6 types): 6 million each
Legendary Units (Tier 13, designated or random): 600 units"
"Congratulations, player Valkarion! Your Hero Unit, Green Dragon Seraphina, has reached Level 83!"
"Congratulations, player Valkarion! Your Hero Unit, Green Dragon Cicero, has reached Level 83!"
Ethan’s eyes widened in disbelief. He hadn’t expected this much loot from taking down Vulkrith.
As he suspected—the deeper into the dungeon they went, the stronger the enemies became... and the greater the rewards.
But this victory hadn’t come cheap. He’d lost nearly a third of his forces.
Just as Ethan was about to call for a regroup and recovery—
A terrifying new energy suddenly surged up from the distance.
It was close. And it was powerful.