Two weeks had passed.
Cid flexed his fingers. Faint sparks of lightning danced across his skin like restless fireflies.
"I've got basic control," he said, voice steady but measured. "But once I fully release it… my energy drains fast. We'll need to end this quickly."
Ria placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry," she said softly. "I'll support you. Healing… buffs… whatever you need."
Cid nodded.
"The boss," he said, eyes sharpening. "A giant wolf, right? Crystal in its head—like a horn?"
"The Dire Wolf," Ria confirmed. "It relies mostly on brute strength. No tricks."
Cid smirked.
"Then this should be easy."
Ria shook her head.
"Be careful. It took all of us to defeat it last time."
Her voice faltered.
"…We weren't as strong back then, but still."
She quickly wiped her eyes.
Cid noticed.
"You sound sad."
Ria forced a small smile. "…Just remembering."
A pause.
"…Let's go."
The massive doors loomed before them.
Ancient. Carved with faintly glowing runes. Heat bled from the seams, thick and suffocating.
Cid exhaled.
"Well… not intimidating at all."
Ria gave a quiet nod.
They stepped up to the levers.
"On three," Cid said.
"One… two… three."
They pulled.
The doors groaned open.
Mist spilled out.
Heat followed.
They stepped inside.
The chamber was vast.
Magma veins crawled along the walls like rivers of fire, casting flickering shadows across the stone.
Cid scanned the area.
"…Where is it?"
Ria frowned. "Last time… it was waiting in the center."
A low growl echoed.
Deep.
Violent.
From the shadows—
It emerged.
Black fur.
Crimson eyes.
A massive frame that dwarfed memory itself.
A heavy chain dragged from its left leg—
And from its forehead—
A glowing red crystal pulsed like a cursed star.
Ria's breath caught.
"…It's bigger."
Cid tightened his grip on his blade.
Lightning crackled faintly.
"Then I'll just have to be stronger."
He moved first.
"Forest Grove!"
Ria slammed her staff down.
Roots erupted from the ground—massive, twisting, coiling around the Dire Wolf's legs.
"Go for the head!"
Cid launched forward.
"This is easier than—"
The Dire Wolf howled.
The sound exploded outward.
A shockwave.
Cid flinched—
Too late.
The wolf tore free.
Its paw slammed into him—
BOOM.
He crashed into the wall.
Stone shattered.
"CID!"
A single petal drifted down.
Then—
A massive tree erupted into existence, swallowing the Dire Wolf whole.
"Get out of there!" Ria shouted.
Cid staggered to her side, breathing hard.
"…It's strong."
His eyes locked onto the tree.
"…And it knows we're targeting the crystal."
"Do you have a plan?" Ria asked.
Cid wiped blood from his lip.
"…Yeah."
A pause.
"How many large spells do you have left?"
"…Two."
"Then we end it in two."
Ria hesitated.
"…Cid."
Her voice lowered.
"…It hasn't attacked unless we do."
"I noticed."
The tree exploded.
Flames scattered.
The Dire Wolf stepped out—
Unharmed.
Watching.
"…Now."
Cid moved.
"Floral Bloom!"
Roots surged again—slamming the wolf backward, forcing its head upward.
Cid leapt.
Lightning burst from his legs.
"This ends now!"
The wolf howled again.
"RIA!"
"Forest Grove!"
Three massive vines snapped into place—pinning its throat, forcing its head skyward.
The crystal blazed.
Cid felt it—
The surge.
Too much.
His vision blurred.
Lightning crawled up his arms like living serpents.
"Cid—your aura!" Ria shouted. "It's too unstable!"
"I know."
His voice dropped.
"But this is it."
The wolf thrashed.
Vines snapped.
"It's breaking free!" Ria cried.
Cid didn't hesitate.
BOOM.
The ground shattered beneath him as he launched upward.
Time slowed.
The wolf's eyes locked onto him.
Its mouth opened—
Another howl building.
Cid smiled.
"…Too slow."
He twisted mid-air.
Blade drawn back.
Lightning spiraled around it—bright, violent, alive.
"Nature's Bind — Full Bloom!"
The world answered.
Vines erupted everywhere—
Walls. Floor. Ceiling.
They wrapped around the Dire Wolf—locking its body, its jaw, its head.
One perfect moment.
Cid's aura exploded.
⚡ "Sword Art — Thunderbreak Slash!" ⚡
He vanished.
A streak of lightning tore across the chamber—
A single, blinding arc—
CRACK.
The blade struck the crystal.
Fractures spread instantly.
The howl died.
Cid landed behind it.
Knees buckling.
Lightning flickering weakly.
Silence.
Then—
SHATTER.
The crystal exploded.
Light burst outward.
The Dire Wolf collapsed.
The ground trembled.
Then—
Stillness.
Cid exhaled.
"…That was too close."
Ria rushed forward, catching him before he fell.
"You idiot," she whispered, tears in her eyes. "You pushed too far."
Cid smirked faintly.
"…We won."
The magma dimmed.
The heat faded.
The dungeon recognized their victory.
Ria held him tighter.
"…Next time, don't scare me like that."
Cid closed his eyes.
"…No promises."