Talis stood motionless before the colossal statue.
His gaze was heavy.
— A divine monster… here? he murmured.
Vaelis stared at him, stunned.
— A what?
She shook her head.
— Divine monsters are myths. Stories meant to scare children or fill old books.
Talis slowly turned toward her.
— They exist, Vaelis.
— And the statue standing before us is the remains of one of them.
Her breath caught.
— You're saying… that thing was real?
— Not was, Talis replied calmly.
— Is.
Before Vaelis could ask anything else—
BOOM.
A violent explosion echoed from the east, shaking the ground beneath their feet. A shockwave rolled across the ruins, sending debris into the air.
Vaelis's eyes widened.
— That direction…!
— The Rank B team, Talis said instantly.
He clicked his tongue.
— They've run into something far beyond their level.
He turned to Vaelis and extended his hand.
From the shadows, a new sword materialized.
The blade was dark, its edge faintly glowing with crimson runes.
— Take this, he said.
— It will resonate with your flames—and with you.
Vaelis hesitated only a second before gripping the weapon.
The moment her fingers closed around the hilt, she felt it.
Power.
Warmth.
Acceptance.
— I'm placing a mark on you, Talis continued.
A faint sigil burned briefly on her wrist, then faded.
— You'll always know where I am.
— Now go. Help them.
Vaelis nodded.
— Don't die.
Talis smirked.
— I don't plan to.
She turned and sprinted toward the east, flames trailing behind her.
To the west, Helio and his team advanced efficiently.
— Clear the area! Helio shouted.
Monsters fell one after another under their coordinated attacks. Crystals were harvested, materials secured.
— This dungeon is abnormal, Helio muttered.
— But manageable.
Not far from them, Baccus was fighting on a different front.
— These things are tougher than expected! he growled.
His team struggled against monsters far stronger than what a Rank C dungeon should contain. Blood stained the ground as Baccus crushed an enemy with brute force.
— Something's wrong with this place…
Meanwhile—
Talis moved alone.
He raised one hand.
Dark mana condensed instantly, forming a dense sphere of shadows. As it expanded, the red mist surrounding the ruins was violently pushed back, torn apart by his presence.
— Disperse.
The fog vanished.
The land ahead became clear.
And there—
It stood.
Not a statue anymore.
A towering creature made of molten earth and living fire.
Its body was formed from cracked stone plates, lava flowing between them like veins. Flames burned within its hollow eyes, and each step it took caused the ground to melt and reform.
Talis exhaled slowly.
— So you've awakened after all…
The creature's head turned.
The land trembled.
— Ignivar, Sovereign of Ash and Stone, Talis said aloud.
— This is not your domain.
The divine monster let out a low, grinding roar, like mountains collapsing.
— Why are you here? Talis asked calmly.
— This world is not your habitat.
Ignivar answered not with words—
But with violence.
The ground exploded beneath its feet as it charged.
Lava erupted in its wake.
Talis's eyes narrowed.
— I see.
A black grimoire appeared in his hand, pages flipping on their own, ancient symbols glowing faintly.
— Then let's settle this properly.
The divine monster swung its massive arm, fire and stone crashing down toward him.
Talis raised the book.
— Contract confirmed.
The air screamed.