Arden laid on the rough mat, one hand behind his head, the other limp at his side.
He stared blankly at the ceiling — not looking at it, more like looking through it.
His mind was louder than any sound in the house.
So far… I've understood something, he thought.
"My powers… they move with my intention.
The difference between mine and the boss's poison… is because mine became stronger."
His brows tightened as memories crawled back — the screaming, that desperate moment.
It wasn't stronger before. Not until I— screamed that I wanted more. I wanted more power. More strength. More everything.
His eyes softened but darkened inside.
Which means… this power truly works according to my intention.
He sat up slow — the mat creaked beneath him.
Verona slept soundly on the bed.
He turned his head, staring at the dim lantern glowing weakly beside the bed.
It flickered like a heartbeat — fragile and annoying.
Arden walked out of the room.
—————
Outside. Night crawled cold across his skin.
Arden sat on the lonely wooden chair like someone awaiting judgment.
The wolves stood in front of him — silent, disciplined shadows.
Their red eyes flickered like dying candles but more dangerous.
He exhaled. "I should try it out."
Arden brought his hand forward, slow and deliberate. He took a deep a breath.
His eyes glowed gold. So did his palm.
The wolves' bodies began glowing gold — faint at first, then rising, like embers remembering they once were fire.
He withdrew his hand quickly — like the power bit him.
The golden light faded from his eyes.
"No," he muttered, barely a sound. "This is not the right time to use this."
He stood up, still quiet.
He turned to the wolves — eyes steady.
"Keep your guards up."
Then he walked inside — shadows closing behind him.
—————
Present Day
Selena was buried — swallowed and devoured in a swarm of wolves.
Her scream tore through the dungeon as fire erupted violently from her, blasting wolves off her like she was detonating her own fear.
Two wolves burned mid-air — ash falling like black snow.
She stood — blood streaking her arms, her legs shaking, her clothes torn in humiliating ways a fighter never wants to feel.
"I won't lose!" she roared, throat burning. "I'll kill you and those cursed beasts!"
She slammed her staff so hard veins showed through her hands.
The ground cracked — a glowing red circle burned alive — heat crawling through the earth like hell's veins waking up.
Two molten arms clawed upward — pulling a towering fire golem from the pit like a god being birthed in suffering.
Stone stitched with magma — breathing steam — eyes a furnace.
She yelled like someone possessed, "FIRE GOLEM!"
The monster roared . The walls shook . Debris rained.
Selena grinned with wild breath — a manic smile curled on her face as if madness tasted like victory.
"This is my strongest!! Now what will you do, healer?!"
Arden didn't flinch.
"You don't have to yell to use a spell," he said flatly, like he was correcting grammar, not facing death.
"Huh?! What are you talking about?"
"Here," Arden said. "I'll show you."
His eyes shifted. Purple drowned away, gold took its throne.
A shimmering star-like glow pulsed in the center of his palm.
The wolf in front of him began glowing.
Arden's voice came low and calm.
"Heal."
But it wasn't healing.
The wolf grew.
Bones cracked , stretching . Claws lengthened, growing like nature fed steroids to hunger itself.
Its once two eyes became four red eyes that burned brighter like four bloody moons watching only her.
The wolf stood on two feet, towering, monstrous. It's howl thundered.
A pressure slapped Selena. Her knees nearly bent.
That pressure… her mind screamed.
Th—this same pressure. The Dungeon Boss. Why… why do I feel the same fear?
She tried controlling her breathing — it came in broken pieces.
Her staff grip tightened.
The glow faded from the wolf, but Arden's golden gaze still burned.
Selena chuckled — the broken kind, pretending confidence while drowning in panic.
"It doesn't matter if you make it taller. A puppy is still—"
She froze.
Because all the other wolves now glowed gold.
"Tell me, Selena," Arden said. "Do you want all of them to attack you… or not?"
Her smile died quickly .
"You… you must be joking. You can't possibly turn all of them—"
"What's the matter?" Arden answered softly.
"I believe you were about to say… a puppy is still a puppy."
She trembled, thoughts falling apart like paper in rain.
" I can't beat that many. I barely have mana left. How— how do I get out? HOW?!"
Arden turned away slightly.
"Forget it."
The glow died and was resolved back by his purple glow.
Relief almost broke her knees.
"Amplifying too many would be overkill," Arden said casually. "One should be enough."
Selena grit her teeth.
"How dare you underestimate me, you prick!"
She swung her staff — the golem leapt — the earth shattered beneath.
Its fist came crashing down—
BAM!
Only to meet the wolf's claw.
Wind exploded — dust spiraled.
SLASH!
The golem's hand flew off — lava gushing like blood spraying from a god's wound.
"I don't think your golem fights well with one hand," Arden said.
Selena's grin returned —crooked .
"I wouldn't call it my strongest spell for nothing!"
Rocks floated and stitched back to the golem. Lava filling the gaps.
Steam hissed aggressively. The monster snarled renewed life.
"Don't count me out so soon."
"Kill them!" she commanded.
The golem charged — the wolf charged . Their fists collided.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Shockwaves rippled . The dungeon walls trembling — like the earth itself feared being collateral.
Selena smiled hopeful.
"They're on equal level. I better finish this quickly before I run out of mana."
Arden watched calmly.
"End the fight now," he said. "I don't want her dying of mana exhaustion after the fight."
Selena froze."What are you—"
Her voice cut itself as punches rained faster and faster. The wolf's speed doubling— tripling.
Purple aura lit its fists as it hammered the golem.
The golem's arm shattered. Then the other.
A punch to the gut. Stone cracked — it folded like paper and slammed into the ground.
The wolf stomped on the golem again and again— merciless without rhythm just pure cruelty.
The ground spiderwebbed with each stomp.
Selena's eyes widened in horror no spell could hide.
"Th—That's my strongest spell… this can't be…"
Arden walked forward calmly.
"The simple way to destroy your golem," he said.
The wolf lifted its leg—
BAM!
The head shattered — gone . Dust, nothing but regret.
"Is to destroy the whole body."
The wolf howled victorious.
Selena's staff slipped from her fingers. She collapsed trembling like her bones knew fear before her brain did.
"The only way to win… is to kill you."
She raised her staff — last hope clinging to her breath.
"DIE!"
A circle opened above Arden glowing red — fireballs rained like hell celebrating.
Smoke and dust devoured sight.
Selena laughed— broken and wild.
"It doesn't matter if the golem fell — no one survives that!"
But then—
Through the smoke , two purple glowing eyes were visible.
The smoke cleared.
The giant wolf shielded Arden with its entire body.
Arden stared, expression unreadable. Purple death in his eyes.
"A spell cast out of desperation," he said. "Give it up. You've lost."
He walked slowly.
Selena's mind splintered.
"What do I do?! I have no mana. No defense. No escape."
"Yes… I must run," she whispered to herself.
"If I run, I survive."
She turned, shaking with fear.
But Arden was already in front of her — presence cold and heavy.
"You're not thinking of running… are you?"
She froze.
His silhouette, his eyes, his voice — death borrowing flesh.
Why do I feel that same presence? The dungeon boss. Why?! Just who is he—
Arden knelt near her. Close and calm.
"Do you want to know who I am?"
Her breath stopped.
He leaned close, lips near her ear . His voice a whisper sharpened to a blade—
"Does the name Rain ring any bells?"
Selena's soul shook.
"R… Rain…"
Arden stood straight, shadows clinging to his shoulders.
"Yes. Rain. My face changed, so you wouldn't recognize me. But I recognized you. Your deceit. Your betrayal."
Selena spiraled , mentally falling — denial clawing at sanity. She muttered to herself.
"Rain is dead. He died there. Didn't he? Then… then… is he really—"
She smiled, desperate salvation illuminating her lie.
"Rain. You're alive."
Tears cascaded down her eyes .
"Thank goodness. I thought i lost you…"
She lowered her head to his feet.
"Please Rain... forgive me. I tried to stop them from killing you, but they threatened me . I never wanted to be part of this. I swear."
She lifted her head , eyes glassy — fake innocence polished like glass over venom.
"Please believe me . Why would I want to harm you? You're my friend. Part of the Crimson Owl guild. I'm sorry I couldn't stop what happened to you."
She smiled tears glistening in her eyes ." I'm glad you're alive... Rain."
Inside her mind, she smirked .
"This is the only way. If he's really Rain, he'll believe it. The Rain I know was stupid, naive, gullible. I will let him drop his guard and when he does I will get rid of him and run from here."
Arden extended his hand , gentle and soft.
"Take my hand and stand. You don't have to kneel at my feet."
Her heart leaped, not with hope but with calculation.
Deep within she smiled widely.
"I knew it… foolish Rain."
Selena smiled sweetly ." Thank you ."
She grabbed the hand—
—but the hand fell off into her palm.
Blood followed.
Her mind shattered.
Her hands shook violently as she stared at the severed limb.
"This… hand…"
She slowly, painfully lifted her gaze.
Arden smiled wickedly . His eyes curved upward, savoring the moment, like someone tasting the despair of a soul cracking in front of them.
His voice lowered . Soft, playful, taunting almost laughing but without sound:
"Oi, Selena…"
The smile widened, delighting in her trembling.
"Who do you think this hand belong to?"
He tilted his head — eyes glimmering.
"Can you guess?"