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The Goliath swung its fist, creating a gale of wind that nearly blew Bell and Welf off their feet.
They tried to rush forward to help, but Elias raised a hand.
"Stay back,"
Elias ordered.
"If you get close, you will die."
Bell hesitated, looking at the monster's massive size.
"But Elias, it is too fast!"
"Watch,"
Elias said.
Elias leaped. He didn't run; he launched himself straight at the monster's chest.
The Goliath swung its heavy arm, a blow that could shatter stone, but
Elias didn't dodge. He met the fist with his own shoulder.
*BOOM.*
The sound of the impact echoed like a thunderclap.
The Goliath actually stumbled backward, its massive stone body shaking.
Elias didn't even slide an inch. His body was harder than the dungeon's ancient iron.
"My turn,"
Elias whispered.
He drove the butt of his Naginata into the monster's knee, shattering the crystals.
The beast let out a pained howl, falling to one knee.
Dee moved in like a shadow.
She didn't use any fancy techniques.
She simply walked up to the Goliath's thick, armored arm.
She held her rusty, dull blade with two fingers.
She tapped the steel against the monster's skin.
*Snip.*
The rusty sword cut through the thick armor like it was warm butter.
She carved a perfect line across its arm, and the limb fell to the ground with a heavy thud.
"This isn't fun yet,"
Dee said, yawning.
"Try to hit him, big guy!"
The Goliath tried to crush Dee with its remaining hand, but Elias was already there.
He caught the massive hand with his bare palm, stopping the monster in its tracks.
He looked like a giant standing against a titan.
"Is that all?"
Elias asked.
Bell, Welf, and Lili stood frozen in the corner. Their mouths were wide open.
"He... he is blocking Goliath with one hand,"
Welf breathed out.
"What kind of monster is he?"
The Goliath roared, its eyes burning brighter as it gathered energy for a final attack.
Elias grinned.
He pushed off the ground, spiraling into the air, his Naginata glowing with a sharp, silver light.
"It is time to finish this,"
Elias said.
Elias opened his eyes wide.
A strange, cold light filled his pupils.
Suddenly, the world changed.
He did not just see the monster anymore.
He saw thin, black lines running across the Goliath's body.
He saw lines on the floor, the walls, and even the ceiling.
He saw the "death" of everything in the room.
"Everything has an end,"
Elias whispered.
He jumped. In a single, fluid motion, he swung his Naginata along a glowing black line on the Goliath's chest.
There was no sound of impact. No blood flew. The monster simply froze.
A deep, jagged crack appeared where Elias had sliced.
Then, the entire body of the Goliath crumbled into fine grey sand.
The room fell into an eerie silence.
Then, a low, rumbling sound echoed from deep within the walls.
The dungeon itself was shaking, not from a fight, but from fear.
It sounded like a long, high-pitched scream.
The stone walls pulsed with a dark, panicked energy.
The dungeon was terrified.
It realized that the man in front of it could end its existence with one more swing.
"Elias, wait,"
Dee said quickly. She put a hand on his arm.
Elias blinked, and the black lines faded from his sight.
He breathed out, feeling the exhaustion of using such power.
Dee looked up at the ceiling.
She spoke to the darkness as if the dungeon were a living person.
"Relax,"
Dee said firmly.
"We are not here to destroy you."
The shaking stopped instantly.
The walls seemed to let out a long, shaky breath.
The fear in the air vanished.
Bell, Welf, and Lili ran over to them.
They were still shaking from what they had seen.
"What was that?"
Bell asked, his voice trembling.
"That spear... it didn't even touch the skin, but the monster just died."
Elias leaned on his Naginata. He looked at his shaking hands.
"I have a strange talent,"
Elias said simply.
"I can see the weak spots in reality."
"That wasn't just a weak spot,"
Welf said, staring at the pile of sand where the boss had been.
"You erased it."
Lili looked at Dee, then at Elias. She felt smaller than ever.
"Are we safe now?"
Lili asked.
"Yes,"
Dee answered with a happy smile.
"The dungeon is on our side now. It will let us pass."
Elias looked at the empty room.
He could still feel the heartbeat of the dungeon under his feet.
He knew he could end it, but he had no reason to.
They walked toward the exit.
The air grew warmer as they climbed the stairs.
When they finally pushed open the heavy dungeon doors, a massive crowd was waiting.
Hundreds of adventurers stood there, many with their weapons drawn.
When they saw Elias, the crowd went silent.
"It is him,"
Someone whispered.
"The Twilight Reaper,"
Another said, stepping back in awe.
People pointed. Some had tears in their eyes, remembering how he had cleared the path and saved them from the monster wave.
Elias looked at them, his face unreadable.
He felt uncomfortable with all the attention.
A high-ranking adventurer stepped forward.
He looked at Elias's status board, then up at his calm face.
"He is only Level 2,"
The man said, sounding confused.
"How is that possible?"
"Look at the way he carries his weapon,"
A woman replied.
"He must be strong before he ever receives a blessing from God."
Bell stood close to Elias, feeling the weight of the crowd.
"They seem scared of you, Elias,"
Bell said softly.
"They are not scared,"
Elias answered.
"They are relieved. That is why they are quiet."
An old man walked up and bowed low to Elias.
"Thank you, Reaper,"
The old man said.
"You saved my son today. We will not forget this."
Elias nodded at him.
He didn't want a reward or a speech.
He just wanted to go back to the church and eat a meal with his family.
"I just did what was necessary,"
Elias told the man.
He started walking, and the crowd instinctively parted like water around a stone.
They didn't cheer; they simply watched him pass with deep respect.