The ocean roared.
Gigantic waves crashed against the cliffs as the Abyssal Gate expanded above the dark water.
Black energy spiraled out of the dungeon like a storm.
Hundreds of Hosts stood on the massive floating platforms created by the System. Guild leaders from every continent had gathered.
Elite fighters.
Veterans of countless raids.
Yet none of them looked confident.
Because the dungeon before them was the one place no one had ever survived.
The Abyssal Gate.
And now it was opening wider than it ever had before.
Andrian stood near the edge of the platform, staring down at the swirling vortex in the ocean.
"…You know," he said quietly, "this is definitely the worst dungeon entrance I've ever seen."
Steni stood beside him, her glowing Administrator Interface hovering in front of her.
Her eyes scanned the massive dungeon structure forming beneath the waves.
"It's not a normal dungeon," she said.
"It's a System Vault."
Andrian glanced at her.
"Meaning?"
"It was designed to protect a System Core."
He sighed.
"So the boss is basically the System's security guard."
Steni nodded.
"And the strongest one on Earth."
The Abyssal Warden Awakens
Suddenly, the ocean exploded.
A massive column of water shot into the sky.
Hosts jumped backward as the sea split apart.
Something enormous rose from the depths.
First came the shadow.
Then the armored head.
Then the gigantic body.
The creature was easily the size of a mountain.
Its body was covered in black crystal armor.
Six glowing eyes opened along its skull.
Its massive wings spread, sending waves crashing across the battlefield.
The System analyzed it instantly.
ENTITY DETECTED
THE ABYSSAL WARDEN
Guardian of System Core Fragment
Threat Level: Overseer-Class
The creature released a roar that shook the ocean.
Several lower-ranked Hosts collapsed instantly from the pressure.
Andrian stared up at it.
"…Yeah."
"That's definitely a boss monster."
The Raid Begins
A system announcement spread across every Host's interface.
[WORLD RAID EVENT STARTED]
Dungeon: ABYSSAL GATE
Boss: ABYSSAL WARDEN
Objective:
Retrieve SYSTEM CORE FRAGMENT
Guild leaders immediately began shouting orders.
"Frontline tanks move forward!"
"Mages prepare ranged attacks!"
"Healers stay behind the barrier!"
Hundreds of Hosts launched forward at once.
Energy blasts filled the sky.
Firestorms crashed against the Warden's armor.
Lightning bolts struck its wings.
The monster barely reacted.
Its eyes glowed brighter.
Then it moved.
Its massive claw slammed into the ocean.
A shockwave exploded outward.
BOOM!
Half the attacking Hosts were thrown backward.
Several platforms shattered instantly.
Andrian jumped into the air, dodging the attack.
"…Okay that's ridiculous."
He landed beside Steni.
"You sure this thing is just a dungeon boss?"
Steni frowned.
"No."
"This creature isn't a monster."
Her interface displayed more ancient data.
"It's a construct."
"A guardian created by the System itself."
Steni Joins the Fight
The Abyssal Warden unleashed its next attack.
Dark energy gathered inside its chest.
Then it fired a massive beam across the ocean.
Entire platforms were erased instantly.
Hosts scattered desperately.
Andrian shouted.
"Steni!"
"Now would be a great time for some Administrator powers!"
She raised her hand.
White Creator energy exploded outward.
A massive shield formed across the battlefield.
The Warden's attack crashed against it and shattered.
Every Host stared at her.
One whispered,
"…She blocked that?"
Another said,
"That was an Overseer-level attack."
Steni stepped forward calmly.
Her voice echoed through the System network.
"Everyone listen."
"Attack the joints in its armor."
"Those are the only weak points."
The System instantly highlighted glowing areas on the Warden's body.
Guild leaders reacted immediately.
"All units focus the marked points!"
Hundreds of attacks launched at once.
Explosions covered the creature's wings.
Several armor plates cracked.
The Abyssal Warden roared in fury.
Andrian vs the Warden
The creature's massive tail swung across the battlefield.
Dozens of Hosts were thrown into the ocean.
Andrian dashed forward.
"Hey ugly!"
He jumped onto the Warden's arm.
His sword flashed.
SLASH!
A crack appeared in the monster's armor.
The creature reacted instantly.
Its massive hand grabbed him.
Andrian's eyes widened.
"…Well that's bad."
Before the Warden could crush him—
White light flashed.
The monster's hand exploded apart.
Andrian fell onto a nearby platform.
Steni stood behind him.
"…Thanks."
She didn't look away from the monster.
"Don't get caught again."
He grinned.
"No promises."
The Guardian's True Power
The Abyssal Warden suddenly stopped moving.
Its glowing eyes focused directly on Steni.
The System alarms began screaming.
[WARNING]
GUARDIAN PROTOCOL ACTIVATED
Andrian frowned.
"…What does that mean?"
Steni's expression turned serious.
"It means the dungeon recognizes me."
The Warden's voice echoed across the ocean.
Not a roar.
Words.
Ancient.
Mechanical.
"IDENTITY CONFIRMED."
"CREATOR DETECTED."
Every Host froze.
The massive guardian slowly bowed its head toward Steni.
Then the next message appeared.
"CORE ACCESS REQUIRES FINAL TRIAL."
Andrian blinked.
"…Wait."
"Did the boss just challenge you personally?"
Steni nodded slowly.
"Yes."
The Warden spread its wings.
Energy began gathering around its entire body.
The ocean started rising like a massive wall.
The System delivered a new announcement.
[FINAL RAID PHASE ACTIVATED]
Boss Power Level:
MAXIMUM
Andrian looked at the enormous wave forming behind the creature.
"…I think it's about to wipe the entire raid."
Steni stepped forward.
Her eyes glowing brighter than ever.
"Everyone retreat."
Guild leaders protested immediately.
"But we can still—"
"RETREAT."
Her command echoed through the System.
Hosts began withdrawing.
Only two people remained on the battlefield.
Steni.
Andrian.
He looked at her.
"…You know this is insane, right?"
She nodded.
"Yes."
Then she looked at the Abyssal Warden.
"But it's the only way to unlock the Core."
The monster lifted its massive claw.
The ocean rose like a wall behind it.
Andrian sighed.
"Well."
He raised his sword.
"Guess we're fighting a mountain."
Steni smiled faintly.
"Together."
Just before the battle began—
Steni's Administrator Interface flashed.
A new warning appeared.
[INTRUDER DETECTED]
Location:
Inside the Abyssal Gate
Andrian frowned.
"…Wait."
"There's someone else in the dungeon?"
The system revealed the intruder's identity.
And Steni's eyes widened.
ENTITY IDENTIFIED
Former Overseer
Threat Level:
Unknown
The Overseer had entered the dungeon.
And it was heading directly for the System Core.
Andrian looked at Steni.
"…Please tell me we're not fighting two bosses."
Steni clenched her fists.
"…We might be too late."