The Taur's axe cut through his opponent as if his bones were made of air. Blood squirted into the air, drawing a bloody curtain as it arced back towards the ground. For Krimor, becoming a Jotaur was set in stone.

Name Krimor Race Taur Class Axesinger Level 24 Physique King Minotaur Spirit Spirit Speaker HP 604/604 MP Full

With his King Minotaur physique, all existences were beneath his. He was destined to conquer not only this dungeon, but the world itself.

"Spirit of Lament, ferry this soul across the eternal river," Krimor roared out as he raised his axe once more. Though he had cut several opponents to shreds already, the axe never seemed to lose its edge or form cracks. Then the axe smashed down onto the skull of another Taur, and split it wide open.

"Krimor! Krimor! Krimor!" Voices chanted in the distance, all things singing his valorous name. Like an ode to victory, it carried throughout the dungeon.

However, each time Krimor slayed another one of his opponents in this chaotic melee, the chants became quieter and quieter. This worried Krimor. Eventually, Krimor began to suspect that he was not showing off his skill enough. Simply slaying an opponent was not the same as putting on a flamboyant show for his peers and future subjects.

With a health pool above 500, he could afford to even get hit a few times. Unless a dragon roasted him, or a giant crushed him, he would be difficult to kill.

Then Krimor saw something that scarred his soul. His rival, Torer, fell on the ground in square-like chunks of blood and gore. Torer, who possessed the Steel Mountain Physique, was reduced to a pile of bite sized chunks, and the creature that did it now stood before Krimor.

Krimor could only describe it as something that resembled a scorpion with metallic skin. He had never seen a creature like it, and his first thought was: "Adventurer?"

"Conqueror," the creature replied in a voice that was beyond something a living being would possess. Like a God descending from the heavens, the creature spoke with a volume and tonal quality that shook both spirit and mind.

The creature stomped forward, each motion carving chunks out of the stone floor and sending them flying into the air. It walked with the cadence of a furious litany, subjugating courage and letting loose the demons of fear. Who would dare resist?

Krimor stepped back.

"Bring me tribute," the creature roared, stomping one of its legs and sending cracks through the stone floor.

There were no more chants in the chamber. Deathly quiet settled and not even a breath could be heard. In that moment, the age of strife ended. There were no more enemies among the different tribes. In that moment, there was them and this creature. With only a few words, the creature described what existed beyond that moment: Extinction or vassalization. The foolish dream of Taur supremacy was but a distant memory now.

Krimor thought carefully about his next words. Just the mere presence of the creature intimidated Krimor. If someone had asked him what about it intimidated him, he would not be able to explain. One had to see it to truly understand. The way the light seemed to shy away from its skin. The way its form followed strange contours. Its lack of any facial features. Most importantly, the dominating air that shrouded the creature. Krimor felt like a guillotine hanged above his head, attached to a thin strand of horse-hair which was ready to snap at any moment.

"What Tribute does master desire?" Krimor asked, bending his knees until they touched the floor. Even kneeling, Krimor was still taller than the creature. Yet his heart still trembled.

You have become smarter.

A tear rolled down Krimor's cheek, as even the world recognized the wisdom in his decision to submit.

Alessia stood over the pile of bones and pondered the remains.

"It was a Dracolich," Rium said. "I will send in the report."

The group had tracked this creature for days now, thinking it was a Calamity.

"We were lucky we had a Hero on our side," the female trainee said. "I suppose they don't call you Alessia the Lightning Sword for nothing."

"When it raised those Taurs, I thought we were dead," the male trainee said.

Still, Alessia didn't even acknowledge their words. She continued staring at the pile of bones, the only thing that remained of the Dracolich. It wasn't difficult to kill, and that is what bothered her. The creature she was tracking gave off an ominous and sinister air. Ever since she saw that pile of discarded gear, and salt, she knew something was off.

"You don't seem pleased, Alessia," Rium said.

Alessia glanced at him and pondered for a moment before replying. "Do you really think this is what we came to find?"

Rium nodded. "I do."

"It is true that the Dracolich uses salt in the necromancy rituals, but this one did not have a Calamity rank," Alessia said.

"So the Calamity is somewhere else. Frankly, we are lucky it was a Dracolich and not a Calamity," Rium said.

"I think the Calamity is here. No, I know it is here," Alessia said.

"There hasn't been a Dracolich boss in this dungeon in a decade. Can you even imagine the coincidence it would turn out to be that a Calamity and a Dracolich moved into the same dungeon, at the same time? It is unthinkable," Rium said, slightly raising his voice.

"Can you look the guild leader in the eye, and honestly tell him this, knowing the things you saw? They don't add up," Alessia said. "Wishful thinking is avoiding responsibility. We need to investigate further."

"We will need an invasion party to go beyond this level, Alessia," Rium said. "Not even a Calamity would be so foolish to go beyond this point."

Alessia nodded. "A Calamity below the rank of F would not be. Those above would find the depths below to be quite hospitable."

Rium swallowed. "A Calamity above that rank is a nation destroying threat!"

Alessia closed her eyes. "That is precisely why we must go deeper. This is our mission," she said. "My instincts tell me that we are dealing with something that is not just a nation destroying threat. They tell me it swallows continents whole. Maybe even entire worlds."