The three of us ran while I held Mira's arm.
"You need to find a secure place and stay there," I said firmly. "I'm going to defeat the Dungeon Boss, but I need your full cooperation if you want to get out of here alive."
They nodded vigorously, desperation written all over their faces.
I led them to a nearby room I had already cleared and checked thoroughly, then shut the door behind them.
"Once I leave, don't open this door for any reason," I instructed. "After I defeat the Dungeon Boss, a notification will appear. Accept it, and you'll be able to leave safely."
"Stay quiet and stay hidden. No matter what happens."
The two of them nodded.
"Stay safe, mister!" Mira said.
I patted her gently on the head. "I will."
Then I moved.
[System]
[The hunters of Chrono Guild have entered the dungeon]
Damn. They're here already.
I need to finish this before they catch up.
I activated the skill my sponsor had granted me earlier, and my speed surged.
I have to find the Dungeon Boss… but where?
The mansion was massive, and all I had encountered so far were ordinary monsters, none of them worth slowing down for. I cut through everything in my path as I searched.
Think, Xavier. At this rate, the other hunters will reach the boss before you.
Wait…
An idea sparked.
Right. This place looks like a noble's mansion.
Which means…
Wouldn't the Dungeon Boss be the master of the house?
I shifted my search, looking for a room that fit the head of the household's office.
And I found it.
Inside was a grand office, with shelves lined with books along the walls. At the center stood a massive desk facing a tall window.
Seated behind the desk was a massive man with a thick, unkempt beard. His body was broad and muscular, but his flesh had begun to rot. The skin was dark, cracked in places, and sagging as if it could no longer hold together.
His eyes were empty.
Not just lifeless, but hollow. Blood poured from them in slow, heavy streams, running down his face and dripping onto the desk.
He wore what remained of formal clothing, now torn and soaked with stains. It looked like the uniform of an official, once a symbol of authority. A massive sword rested in his arms.
On his arm, just above the sleeve, a small bite mark stood out. The flesh around it was swollen and blackened.
His lips moved slightly before any sound came out. When he finally spoke, his voice was low and broken, like something caught between life and death.
"The goddess has abandoned us..."
Blood continued to fall from his eyes as he spoke, each drop landing against the table.
He did not look at me.
But he knew I was there.
He slowly stood up.
"The Vallion Empire has fallen..."
He spoke unconsciously, as if he didn't know what he was doing.
"I must defend this mansion..."
His words were clear, but empty of awareness.
Then his hollow eyes turned and locked onto me.
In the next second, he lunged forward and swung the massive sword.
I managed to react in time and blocked the attack.
The impact was heavy as hell. The monster's strength was overwhelming.
I pushed him back, and we continued to clash.
He was fast and strong, like a veteran soldier. It was hard to keep up.
While fighting, he kept murmuring, but I could no longer clearly understand what he was saying.
Unlike the other zombies, he didn't act wildly or try to bite me. He moved with purpose, like a corpse replaying what it used to be.
Then he swung again.
I barely dodged, the blade slicing through a strand of my hair.
This isn't good.
If I keep this up, I might end up dead.