Then they found it.
The chamber ahead widened into an open expanse, the floor marred with deep gouges and scorched blackened stone. At the center stood a towering beast—massive, covered in thick, matted fur, its limbs bulging with raw muscle. At first, it seemed like just a monstrous bear, but the moment it turned toward them, the reality set in.
Twin biomechanical contraptions jutted from its back, resembling crude flame cannons, their interiors glowing a molten red. The creature’s eyes locked onto them, burning with rage. It reared back and let out an earth-shaking roar, the cannons whirring to life.
“Move!” Rhea shouted, already yanking Sael back as a torrent of fire spewed from the cannons, scorching the ground where they had stood just seconds before.
Sael barely managed to dodge, the searing heat licking at his skin as he stumbled backward. His grip tightened on his shield, heart pounding. “That thing’s insane!”
Rhea scowled. “We can’t fight this thing head-on, not like this. We need a plan.”
Another burst of fire erupted behind them, forcing them to retreat down one of the ruined corridors. They ran until they were certain they weren’t being pursued, finally stopping in a partially collapsed chamber. Dust rained from above as they caught their breath.
Sael leaned against the wall, shaking his head. “Yeah… no way we’re taking that thing on right now.”
“Agreed,” Rhea said, crossing her arms. “But if we leave now, someone else will probably come through and claim the dungeon’s chest. We should camp out, rest up, and figure out a way to bring that thing down.”
Sael exhaled. He wasn’t sure how they were supposed to handle something like that, but returning to town empty-handed didn’t feel right either. “Fine. Let’s set up camp.”
They found a defensible alcove near one of the ruined walls and set up their supplies. Rhea gathered some dry wood, and with a bit of effort, Sael managed to light a fire using a few embers from his fingertips. He stared at the small flickering flames, frustration creeping in. If he had more control over his magic, maybe he wouldn’t feel so outmatched.
Rhea must have noticed the look on his face. She nudged him with her elbow. “Thinking about magic?”
He sighed. “Yeah. I can barely do anything with it right now. If I could actually wield proper spells, maybe we’d stand a chance.”
She smirked. “Then now’s a good time to experiment. You need to figure out what works for you.”
Sael nodded. He took a deep breath and let his mind sink into that sensation of mana within him. He had sparks of fire, sure, but maybe he could do more. He focused on different elements, different styles of magic, letting the energy shift and take form in various ways.
He started with flame enchantments, trying to channel his fire into his club like he’d seen warriors do in games back in his old world. The weapon flickered with heat for a moment before the flames sputtered out.
Next, he tried something different—earth augmentation, focusing on reinforcing his shield. He envisioned a solid weight, unmovable stone. The mana flickered along the surface of the shield but refused to take hold.
“Try something else,” Rhea suggested. “Some casters use light or dark magic. Maybe you have an affinity for those.”
Sael furrowed his brow. He imagined light—pure, radiant energy—forming in his hand. A dim glow pulsed in his palm before fading.
Darkness? He focused again, thinking of shadows, the space between flames, the absence of light. The mana stirred but didn’t solidify.
He clenched his fists. Nothing was clicking.
Rhea watched him closely. “Most people spend years learning to shape mana. You’re already ahead of the curve. Keep at it.”
Sael exhaled and tried one last thing. He reached for the sensation of fire again, but this time, instead of trying to force an effect, he let it flow. He let the warmth build, feeling for something natural.
A slow ember lit at his fingertips, more stable this time.
Rhea’s tail flicked. “That looks better.”
Sael grinned despite himself. Maybe he wasn’t going to master magic overnight, but he was learning. Bit by bit, he was getting closer.
As the fire crackled in the camp, the two of them sat in quiet contemplation. Tomorrow, they’d face the boss again. This time, they wouldn’t just run—they’d fight.
New Skills Unlocked:
[Shield Mastery Lv.1] Increases proficiency with shields. Slightly reduced the force of impact.
[Basic Mana Manipulation - Lv.2]
[Novice Crafting - Lv.2]
Sael sat by the crackling campfire, his frustration from earlier weighing on him. No matter how much he experimented with magic, he couldn’t get anything to click. His fire spells fizzled out before they could take proper form, and his augmentation attempts barely did anything noticeable. Rhea had done her best to guide him, but even she had to admit that forcing magic wasn’t going to be the best use of their time right now.
With a sigh, Sael stood up and dusted off his hands. "Magic’s going to take longer than I thought. For now, I’ll stick to what I know. Crafting."
Rhea grinned. "Now you’re speaking my language."
Pulling the monster hides and materials from his inventory, Sael started to lay them out, mentally forming a plan for their use. He ran his hands over the blink cat hides. Their texture was smooth, unnaturally cool, and carried a faint shimmer that distorted light when moved. An idea formed in his mind.
"Rhea, I’m making something for you first."
She tilted her head. "I'm finally getting something made by you? Exciting!"
"You do most of the fighting. If I can help you survive, we’ll last longer in a fight."
He worked with steady hands, layering the hides and weaving them together with reinforced stitching. He combined the shimmering fur with additional strands of silver spider thread to add durability and flexibility. When he was done, the vest shimmered in the firelight, its surface subtly shifting with an illusionary effect.
"Try it on," Sael said, tossing it to her.
Rhea slipped it over her usual outfit and moved experimentally. With each step, her form blurred slightly before stabilizing, making her movement unpredictable. "This… this is incredible," she breathed. "It feels natural, like it reacts to my movement. This will make dodging so much easier."
Mirage Vest crafted. Increased chance to dodge attacks.
Rhea grinned, twirling once to see the full effect before giving him an approving nod. "You’ve outdone yourself."
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Encouraged by the success, Sael turned to his own gear. He needed something sturdier—something that could take a hit. Using the rest of the steel-jaw hides and some of the mithril, he carefully crafted a set of armor. The design was a hybrid between leather and plate, ensuring it remained flexible while offering significant protection. The mithril plates were woven into key areas, reinforcing his chest, shoulders, and shins while leaving room for maneuverability.
Milthril Half-Plate crafted.
For the finishing touch, he used some of the opal to craft a pair of gloves. He set the stones into the knuckles and shaped them into small, curved claws before fixing them securely into reinforced leather. When he handed them to Rhea, she inspected them with clear admiration.
Opal claws crafted.
"Opal claws? Fancy. What do they do?"
Sael shrugged. "Figured they’d give your strikes a little extra edge."
Rhea slid them on, flexing her fingers and testing the grip. "Stylish and deadly. I like them."
"One more thing might help us out." Sael said. He used the steel jaws from the beasts, and made some small chain links out of mithril. Piece by piece he assembled his contraption into a bear trap.
With their new equipment ready, the two of them stood and faced each other. The campfire flickered behind them, casting long shadows.
"Time to go bear hunting," Rhea said with a sharp grin, adjusting her new vest.
Sael nodded. "Let’s end this."
They made their way back into the ruins, their footsteps light as they retraced their path toward the chamber where they had first encountered the bear. When they stepped into the room, the creature was waiting.
A massive humanoid bear, its body covered in thick, singed fur, stood at the far end of the ruined chamber. Two metallic cylinders protruded from its back, their interiors glowing with a deep, molten light. The beast’s eyes locked onto them, and with a guttural growl, it stomped forward, fire beginning to churn in its back-mounted cannons.
"You ready for this?" Sael asked, gripping his shield tightly, and readying the bear trap.
Rhea cracked her knuckles, her opal claws glinting in the dim light. "Let’s put your new gear to the test."
With a roar, the beast lunged, and the battle began.
The battle began with a decisive move. Sael hurled the bear trap, its mechanisms whirring as the chain-bound jaws spun through the air like a bolas. The steel clamps snapped shut, catching onto the beast’s forearm and hind leg. The bear let out a furious roar as it staggered, momentarily thrown off balance. The trap’s grip dug deep into thigh muscle, forcing the creature’s movements to become more erratic.
Rhea seized the opening, dashing in from the flank with deadly precision. She weaved through the beast’s furious swings, her movements swift and fluid. Every dodge flickered, leaving behind shadows and was followed by a slash—her blades carving into its hide, leaving behind deep, bleeding wounds. But the creature was far from done.
Sael, gripping his shield tight, focused his mana into the earth beneath his feet. He called upon his augmentation magic, willing the strength of stone into his defenses. The mana pulsed through his limbs, reinforcing his stance, fortifying his shield. With a deep breath, he charged forward, aiming to get within striking range.
Before he could close the distance, the bear’s cannons flared to life. A deafening blast filled the chamber as molten fire spewed toward him. Sael barely raised his shield in time, the cannon fire slamming into him with tremendous force. The heat-resistant barrier held, the augmentation giving it the durability to withstand the onslaught—the bear focused hard on him, shelling him unrelentingly.
Shot after shot, the beast’s cannons rained hell upon him. Each impact sent him skidding back, his arms trembling from the force. His breathing grew ragged, his body aching under the sustained punishment. The mana fueling his augmentation flickered, and he could feel his reserves dwindling. The shield was holding—barely—but his body was reaching its limit.
Rhea continued her assault, cutting into the bear with rapid, precise strikes. She moved like a specter, always just out of reach of its massive claws, her claws carving wounds all over its body. Yet despite the damage, the beast refused to fall. Its eyes burned with relentless fury, and its flames roared even louder.
Sael’s knees buckled. His body, battered by the cannon fire, finally gave out, and he collapsed to the ground. His vision swam, the taste of iron filling his mouth. He had nothing left. No more strength to stand. The augmentation on the shield failed, and a direct cannon blast knocked him back. His shield broke into pieces as he was thrown against the wall of the chamber.
The beast turned toward him, sensing weakness.
No. Not like this.
With the last dregs of his energy, Sael forced his trembling hand forward. He had one last chance. One last spell.
Darkness.
He reached for it, for the void beyond the fire, the absence of light. His mind screamed with the effort, but then—something clicked.
A pulse of black mist coalesced, engulfing the beast’s head. The bear roared in fury, its massive form staggering as blindness overtook it. It swung wildly, unable to see, its balance thrown into disarray.
That was all Rhea needed.
She lunged, her body a blur as she closed the gap. With a final, precise strike, she drove both blades deep into the beast’s exposed throat. The opal claws sunk inches deep in its neck, her gloved hands pushing it as far as she could. The bear let out a choked snarl, its body convulsing—then, finally, it collapsed.
Silence filled the dungeon.
Sael gasped for breath, his limbs heavy, his vision swimming. He was alive. They had won.
Rhea stepped back, panting, her skin and fur slick with sweat and blood. She glanced at him, a relieved grin spreading across her face. “That… was way too close.”
Sael let out a weak chuckle. “Yeah… we might’ve bit off more than we could chew.”
She reached down, offering him a hand.
He took it, letting her pull him to his feet. His body ached, but the weight of victory made it all worth it. They had conquered the dungeon’s boss. They had survived. And as exhaustion settled in, he realized he couldn’t actually stand. His legs buckled beneath him, and before he could stop himself, the world tilted. Darkness rushed in, and he collapsed, unconscious.
“Sael!” Rhea’s voice barely reached him before everything faded to black.
A gentle warmth pressed against his forehead. Slowly, his eyes fluttered open to the soft glow of their campfire. His head rested against something warm and soft.
Rhea’s lap.
She looked down at him, relief evident in her golden eyes. “You’re finally awake,” she said, embarrassed. “You scared me for a second there.”
Sael groaned, his muscles aching as he shifted slightly. The massive form of the slain bear lay a few feet away, its body still and unmoving. The smell of blood and soot lingered in the air. “Did we… really win?”
Rhea smirked. “Yeah. We did. Barely.”
He exhaled a weak laugh, letting his head sink back into her lap. “That was reckless.”
She let out a chuckle of her own. “Maybe. But we made it.”
Sael groaned as he stirred, shaking himself awake. His entire body ached, but the warm weight against his head told him he was still resting on Rhea’s lap. Blinking up at her, he saw the smirk tugging at her lips.
“You’re gonna love this part of the dungeon,” she said, her tail flicking excitedly. “The loot.”
That got his attention. Forcing himself to sit up, he followed her gaze to the large chest sitting against the far wall of the chamber. It was ornate, reinforced with dark metal bands, and practically radiated the promise of rewards. Rhea strode over, dragging it open with little effort.
Inside, a satisfying gleam met their eyes. Stacks of gold coins lay piled together, nestled among a few pristine chunks of mithril. But what truly caught Sael’s attention was a thick, ancient tome bound in strange, flexible metal plates. The title, written in a flowing, almost alien script, was still readable: A Guide to Monster Biomechanical Crafting.
Rhea whistled. “Now that looks important.”
Sael picked up the book, running his fingers over the cover. Even without opening it, he could feel the weight of knowledge inside. He glanced at the gold, then at Rhea. “Take the money. You probably need it more than I do.”
Her ears twitched as she looked between him and the loot. “You sure?”
He nodded. “I’ll make up for it with what I craft.”
She chuckled. “Fair trade.” She gathered up the coins while he turned his attention to the real prize—the bear’s corpse. With a thought, he summoned his inventory screen and willed the massive beast inside. In an instant, the boss’s body vanished, stored safely within his dimensional space.
Once the loot was secured, they both took a moment to steady themselves. Sael glanced at the book in his hands and smirked. “I think I’ll make good use of this.”
Rhea grinned. “I don’t doubt it.”
As they left the dungeon, his system chimed to life:
Skills Updated!
-
[Shield Mastery - Lv.2] - Improved defensive technique and endurance when using shields.
-
[Novice Crafting - Lv.3] - Greater understanding of material fusion and durability.
-
[Basic Earth Magic - Lv.1] - Ability to manipulate and reinforce objects with earth-based energy.
-
[Basic Shadow Magic - Lv.1] - Limited control over darkness for minor offensive and utility spells.
The notification left him feeling accomplished. He was growing—slowly but surely.
They made their way back to town in relative silence, exhaustion catching up to them. By the time they arrived at the tavern, the promise of a proper bed was nearly as exciting as the loot itself. Sael collapsed onto the mattress with a relieved sigh.
Before sleep could claim him, he flipped open the biomechanical crafting book. The moment his fingers touched the pages, the words pulsed with energy—and then, like a consumable item, the book dissolved into golden motes of light, flowing directly into his mind.
A flood of information filled his thoughts: techniques for integrating monster parts into functional equipment, ways to preserve biological components while enhancing them with technology. It was overwhelming, yet exhilarating.
His system chimed once more:
New Knowledge Acquired: Monster Biomechanics
As his mind settled, he checked the egg incubator’s status. The timer, once marked with ???, had updated.
Time remaining: Long
Progress.
"I'd like to rent a crafting tomorrow space to use these materials."
She mumbled something incoherent but waved a hand in acknowledgment.
Glancing across the room, he saw Rhea curled up on her own bed, already drifting off. He smiled. “Good night, Rhea.”
As he closed his eyes, his last thought was simple: Tomorrow, after they turned in their quest, he’d need a proper workshop. He had something in mind—something Rhea had never seen before.