Danmachi : Ashen Knight

The monstrous figure's roar echoed through the chamber, shaking the very walls of the dungeon. Dust and loose stone rained down from the ceiling as the mutated creature stepped forward, its chitinous armor glistening under the eerie purple light.

Finn's sharp blue eyes flicked between the creature and the cultist still chanting at the ritual circle.

"Riveria, stop the ritual!"

The elven mage nodded, raising her staff. "O light, become a spear and pierce—[Arcs Ray]!"

A beam of concentrated light magic shot toward the cultist—

But the monstrous figure intercepted, its clawed hand swiping through the spell, scattering the light harmlessly.

Riveria's eyes narrowed. "Magic resistance…"

Bete clicked his tongue. "Tch. Then we just smash it to pieces!"

He dashed forward, feet pounding against the stone floor as he closed the distance. His fist cracked against the creature's plated hide—

Only for the monster to barely flinch.

Bete's eyes widened. "What the—"

The creature retaliated with blinding speed, its claws slashing through the air. Bete barely managed to leap back, the edge of the strike cutting into his arm. Blood dripped down his sleeve, and his scowl deepened.

"This thing's faster than it looks."

Finn's voice rang out. "Don't engage recklessly! Focus on breaking its defenses!"

Orcbolg observed the creature carefully from the shadows, his mind racing. He could tell at a glance—this monster was built differently. Reinforced plating, unnatural reflexes… a creation of modification, not evolution.

A manufactured predator.

He glanced at Ryuu. "We target the joints. Achilles tendon, under the arms, behind the knees."

Ryuu nodded, her emerald eyes flashing. "Understood."

The two of them moved in tandem—Orcbolg flanking left, Ryuu right—while the rest of the adventurers kept the creature's attention.

Ais danced around its claws, her blade flickering with wind magic.

"Tempest—[Ariel]!"

Her strike carved into the beast's armor but barely left a scratch.

Tiona and Tione struck from opposite sides, their twin blades clanging against its reinforced shell.

The monster lashed out, sending both Amazons skidding back.

"Damn it," Tione growled. "What is this thing made of?"

"It's not natural," Orcbolg muttered as he closed in.

He ducked under a wild swing, driving his sword toward the creature's knee joint. The blade bit into the softer tissue beneath the plating—

The monster roared, staggering slightly.

It could be wounded.

But it wouldn't fall easily.

Ryuu followed up, her wooden sword flashing as she struck at the tendons behind the creature's legs. The blow connected, making the beast stumble.

Finn's eyes sharpened. "Aim for the gaps in its armor!"

Gareth charged in next, swinging his massive axe at the beast's side. The heavy blade cracked against the plating, leaving a deep dent.

"We can bring it down!"

But the cultist's chanting only grew louder. The symbols beneath his feet pulsed brighter, filling the chamber with an oppressive energy.

Riveria's eyes widened.

"He's not summoning—he's merging the monsters with the spell!"

It was a ritual to create something far worse.

The air in the chamber grew thick with an unnatural force as the cultist's chant reached its climax. The pulsating symbols beneath him surged with an eerie glow, and the monstrous figure before them trembled violently.

Riveria's voice was sharp. "He's forcing a fusion! If we don't stop him now, we won't have a chance later!"

Finn reacted instantly. "Gareth, Tiona, Tione—stop that cultist! Ais, Bete, we'll hold off the monster!"

The battle split into two fronts.

—The Assault on the Ritual—

Gareth's heavy boots pounded against the stone as he led the charge toward the cultist.

"I'll smash that circle apart!"

Tiona leaped ahead, her massive blade raised high.

"You're not getting away with this, you creep!"

But just as she was about to strike—

The cultist grinned.

BOOM!

A shockwave of pure magical force erupted from the ritual circle, sending Tiona flying back. Gareth dug his axe into the ground to hold his position, his beard bristling.

Tione barely managed to shield herself, her eyes narrowed. "That bastard's got defenses!"

The cultist chuckled darkly, his hood fluttering in the energy storm around him. "You're too late."

The symbols began rearranging, shifting into a more complex structure.

Riveria's eyes widened. "He's not just fusing the monsters—he's reinforcing it with a dungeon-born core!"

Gareth gritted his teeth. "Then we'll just have to smash it before he finishes."

Hefting his axe, he charged once more, swinging for the ritual itself.

—The Battle Against the Monster—

Orcbolg and Ryuu remained in motion, striking at the monster's weak points.

Orcbolg ducked beneath a swipe, countering with a precise stab into the creature's side. The tip of his sword found a gap in its armor—black ichor sprayed out.

It shrieked but didn't fall.

Ais dashed past, her sword gleaming with wind magic.

"Tempest—[Ariel]!"

Her strike hit one of the creature's exposed wounds, sending a burst of pressure through its body. The monster staggered.

Finn saw the opening. "Everyone, focus fire!"

Bete snarled, dashing in at full speed. "Haaah! Take this, you ugly bastard!"

His fists smashed into the beast's exposed tendons. A loud CRACK echoed as its leg buckled—

But the cultist's voice rang out again.

"By the black abyss, I complete thee—!"

The symbols flashed blindingly bright.

The monster stopped moving.

For a brief moment, everything went silent.

Then—

A new power erupted.

The creature's cracked armor mended itself. Its eyes, once dim, now gleamed with an unnatural radiance. Its body expanded, bulging with raw strength.

A powerful shockwave burst outward, sending Ais, Bete, and even Finn skidding back.

Orcbolg dug his heels in, his grip tightening on his sword.

"This is bad," Ryuu muttered.

Orcbolg agreed. This wasn't just a strong monster anymore—

This was a dungeon-forged abomination.

(A/N : Next chapter would be the ending for this arc.)