Galaxy's First Ruler

There was a theory that had circulated after many observations of Crawler's spawning. It stated that the Crawlers spawned within a Dungeon were based on the local myths of the Dungeon's country.

The first challenge to this theory was about to present itself.

*

Countless boulders rained down over Aldrich and Boomie like a shower of meteorites. It wouldn't be much if it weren't for their size. The smallest was of the size of a truck, and the largest among them had yet to have a limit. But even deadlier was the tsunami of hot ash and lava coming straight towards them.

"How did the other Dreamers survive this?" Boomie shouted, flipping over a boulder.

"Apparently, one can hide within the Squonk's holes. They had covered them up using the Snallygaster's hide," Aldrich replied, remembering a passage from the data on the Dungeon.

Aldrich didn't think that even with their Skills and powers they could survive being drowned in that ocean of ash for long. Aldrich's face got smashed by the scorching hot air and he saw the outer reaches of the eruption plume was only a mile away. Boomie approached Aldrich, worried about the entire situation. At the same time, one of the enormous boulders impacted a few hundred meters ahead of them.

Aldrich saw the opportunity he had been looking for and his muscles squirmed with tremendous power within them.

"Change."

[…

Strength: 125 (+90)

…]

Aldrich, emanating an ethereal red aura from his body, arrived at the rolling boulder and stopped the boulder's movement with a single wave of his hand. Boomie became agape at the display of this unimaginable strength. Neither any Skill nor any Item in the current world could justify this power. But an even stranger scene was yet to be displayed.

To the amazement of whoever watching Aldrich, he crouched down under the boulder and lifted it like a mere pebble. Boomie had only seen this scene once before while learning about the different statues. The sculpture of Atlas holding the heavens on his shoulder got replaced by the current image of Aldrich's actions.

But even then, it wasn't the end of surprise.

Aldrich changed the two-handed grip on the boulder and, using only one hand, he threw it towards the volcanoes. Boomie looked at the boulder, which looked like a projectile, in disbelief when Aldrich grabbed him. As the ash plume was about to burn them alive, both of them vanished from their spots.

[…

Agility: 162 (+90 +37)

…]

Change + Target Lock

The 30% increase in Agility was becoming overpowered spam with every spike in Aldrich's Perception. By the time Boomie could distinguish his surroundings, they were already riding the boulder. Aldrich had bypassed the most dreadful threat that had kept almost all Rare Dreamers from approaching the volcanoes.

Amid their trajectory, Aldrich saw the volcanoes had lined themselves in a triangular shape. And there was a vast rocky plain between them. Aldrich couldn't see the entire plain even after enhancing his visibility using the Skill-3 Miles Shot. He finally found out the location of Boss's chamber, at least if not the Elite's resting place.

The boulder made an impact on the settled dust particles on the slope of the volcano. Aldrich and Boomie came down and the first thing that they saw was a gigantic cave spanning almost all the footing of the volcano. The cave's mouth looked like the jaws of a beast and it must have run deep into the volcano, for hot lava was spewing out of it in streams.

The appearance and weirdness of the cave wasn't the only thing that had caught Aldrich's and Boomie's attention.

Low and deep growls were coming out of the cave, seeming to beckon them towards the depths of darkness. The pair of Dreamers looked at each other and got to know where they needed to go now. The notification of completing the second Quest was still flashing in front of them. But before heading into the cave, Aldrich and Boomie both wanted to do one thing that they had been postponing since their level up.

Aldrich opened his Stats window and assigned the piled-up Attribute points. And leaving behind the required Skill point to upgrade his Class-specific Skill, he assigned them to one other Skill that was upgradable. A wave of freshness washed over him as he saw the change in his Stats.

[…

Record of Aldrich

Time Left: 22 hrs

Status: Healthy

Level: 19 (43500/45000 ExPs to next level)

HP: 779/779

SP: 800/800

MP: 1455/1455

Rank: Rare

Class: Generalist, Blessed Scholar

Title: Enemy of the Crawler (2)

Attributes -->

Strength: 40

Defence: 37

Agility: 40

Vitality: 40

Perception: 180

Correspondence: 15

Unassigned Attribute Points: 0

Active Skills -->

1. Metacreativity: Lvl Max (Rare)

2. Target Lock (Common)

3. 3 Miles Shot (Common)

4. Banish: Lvl 2 (Common)

5. Flaw Detection (Rare)

6. All Proficient (Rare)

7. Summon (Rare) [Bonds: 1]

Skill Points: 5

Passive Skills -->

1. Shared Vision

2. Intimidation

3. Beginner's Dagger Proficiency

Inventory --> (2.4/20)

…

Equipped Items -->

1. Oldest Change

2. Shadow Homunculus

3. Buckey's Cigarettes (4)

4. Health Potions (10)

5. Stamina Potions (10)

…

Skill: Banish (Common)

Nature: Active, Upgradable

Lvl: 2 (0/5 Skill Points to level up)

Cooldown: 5 minutes

…]

Aldrich didn't know what changes the Banish Skill had undergone after getting leveled up. The cooldown hadn't changed and Aldrich didn't think that without ranking it up, there could be any substantial change within it. Aldrich observed Boomie smiling and looking at his Stats. Aldrich noticed that Boomie only needed a few thousand ExPs to level up and become a Baron.

"Let's go," Aldrich said.

Aldrich felt tiny compared to the vast opening of the cave but didn't feel weak at all. As they made their way into the cave, walking on the bank of lava stream, the surrounding growls became madder with every step. Aldrich and Boomie walked for an hour before they could see another opening. As they entered it, an immense shock greeted them.

It was a big cubical chamber, and vast enough for Aldrich's Divine Sense to not see within it from outside. In their direct front, there was a raised rocky platform. And behind the platform, there was a red and orange waterfall that gathered in a pool on the ground. But it wasn't colored water, as told by the incredible heat coming out of it. It was a Lavafall.

Aldrich and Boomie hadn't got a shock after seeing it, but the thing that was sitting on the platform like a king.

"How can this be?" Boomie said, taking the Pole out of his Inventory almost involuntarily.

The Crawler in front of them had a lion's body. The lion's mane glowed the same as the lava behind it. There were two huge eagle-like wings on his back and with every flutter the lava pool under them rippled with high waves. But that wasn't the only thing on its back. A disfigured goat's head with two curved horns had protruded out of its back, too. And as Aldrich looked into their red eyes, he chanced upon its tail. It was a snake, baring its fangs and slithering in madness.

This was a Chimera. The Divine Beast that got slain by Bellerophon and made his name resounded through all humanity.