Sword Art Online: Moonlight Swordman.

When the boss disappeared into the darkness, it didn't simply fade away; it seemed to merge with the space itself, as if each part of its body was dissolving into the shadows.

In that moment, the air felt like it had frozen, leaving behind only the faint traces of the monster—the heavy breathing, the gusts of wind slipping through the gaps between its hard scales, and the subtle sounds that could make anyone flinch.

The boss hadn't left. It was lurking, blending into the darkness, leaving behind an eerie silence, like a warning of the danger hidden somewhere in the empty space.

All that remained were the frantic heartbeats, gasping breaths, and the trembling footsteps of the survivors. They knew the monster hadn't left; it was merely waiting for the right moment to reappear.

"He... he's moving to the center of the room..." The thought flashed through Ren's mind.

Ren felt his heart pounding so hard that he thought it might burst. He tried to take a deep breath, but the air in the room was thick and heavy.

He looked at Scholar, whose trembling hands were gripping his own, making Ren's body tense with anxiety.

The calmness Scholar once had was gone; his composure was crumbling...

The tension hung in the air like a rope on the verge of snapping.

Trembling footsteps moved closer to the center of the room. Scholar slowed his pace. Ren's eyes widened as he looked down...

Gold coins lay scattered across the floor.

Suddenly, in the suffocating silence, a sharp sound echoed.

The sound of gold coins rolling across the ground, each clink like a knife stabbing into the quiet.

Ren's eyes widened as the coins rolled toward his feet, reflecting faint light from the cracks in the walls.

The room's temperature seemed to drop, leaving only tiny sounds, the quickened breaths, the scales brushing against each other as if beating against the air, and the trembling footsteps moving toward the room's center, spreading fear among them all.

"Damn it." Scholar cursed under his breath and bolted toward the room's center.

Ren shivered, a cold tremor spreading from his palms to his neck.

A chilling sensation crept up his spine, as if someone were standing right behind him, sending shivers across his skin.

He couldn't shake off that feeling; it grew stronger, like death itself was lingering in the air.

A massive shadow suddenly loomed behind Ren, stretching out like a nightmare.

An icy aura emanated from it, freezing every muscle in his body, rendering him motionless.

It was as if the entire space had been swallowed by its presence.

"No, no no no no..."

A terrified scream pierced the air, but it wasn't Ren's.

He turned and saw one of Tarek's subordinates clutching a glowing crystal, the light flashing brightly like a beacon of hope in the darkness.

He swung the light behind him, but it only illuminated the massive shadow as it grabbed the last-standing tanker.

The monster gave a slight twist, tearing the tanker's body apart as if it were a cheap toy.

Ren's breath hitched, his chest tightening as a cold shiver ran through him.

There was no time to think. He just ran, his legs threatening to give out under the weight of his fear, chasing after Scholar's steps.

Running as fast as he could, like prey caught in the sights of a predator.

Tarek charged forward, seizing his subordinate's wrist as he gripped the crystal, fury contorting his face.

"Get out of my way," he snarled, shoving the subordinate aside like a worthless object. The man fell, his eyes wide with terror, desperately reaching out to grab Tarek's arm.

"No..."

The massive monster lunged, its arms as thick as pillars stretching out powerfully, snatching the tanker with a predatory grip.

The tanker didn't even have time to scream, only able to struggle helplessly as his body was crushed in the beast's fury.

Ren glanced back one last time, his vision spinning. In that fleeting moment, the darkness seemed ready to devour him.

The crystal's light dimmed, leaving behind haunting sounds—the monstrous roars, the tanker's desperate struggles.

'No...!' Ren screamed internally, but even his silent cry was swallowed by the monster's wrath.

The entire room fell deathly silent, save for the frantic footsteps of Tarek's group as they fled in terror.

Tarek kept his cold demeanor, but fear flickered in his eyes as he watched the colossal arm crushing the tanker amidst the dense darkness.

The monster wasn't just powerful, it was fast. Its claws, sharp as hooks, pierced the tanker's armor without resistance, leaving him to let out a final painful groan before collapsing.

Ren couldn't think; he could only chase after Scholar, fear and helplessness flooding his heart.

But then, a massive shadow suddenly slammed into the ground before him, a cold chill seizing his heart.

Scholar walked forward as if unaware of the surrounding danger, but Ren knew...

Something was wrong. Scholar's ragged breathing grew louder, anxiety and panic rising in Ren's chest. Everything was about to collapse.

"No! Stop!" Ren shouted at Scholar, not knowing if his words would make any difference.

But Scholar didn't respond. His body seemed frozen as he faced the monster.

Suddenly, a deafening roar shook the room, forcing everyone to hold their breath. The monster stepped forward with deliberate, unwavering movements, like a catastrophe drawing near.

The crystal's light had dimmed to a faint glow, casting eerie shadows, and then a massive shadow descended.

"Run! Run now!" Tarek bellowed, but his voice lacked the confidence it once held. No one had the courage to do anything but dash toward the room's center, sprinting across the gold coins scattered on the floor.

There was no escape—they could only flee into the darkness. Their legs felt heavy, but no one dared to stop. Each step meant survival or death.

The colossal monster did not relent, its massive arms crashing down with such force that the ground trembled, as if it were determined to crush everything in its path.

But then, suddenly, a sharp "clang!" echoed through the room. Everything shook, as if the space itself was collapsing before their eyes.

The crystal shattered under the monster's powerful strike, breaking with a resounding crack.

Sharp shards scattered, but what made everyone freeze was the blinding light bursting forth from the shattered crystal. The intense glow sliced through the darkness, illuminating the entire room.

The light was like a blade, piercing through the thick shadows, revealing everything within the room, but also stabbing deep into the hearts of those present, filling them with horror and a glimmer of hope.

For a moment, it seemed the blinding light would only enrage the monster, driving it to attack with even greater fury.

But no, it suddenly halted...

It suddenly halted. The monster was unprepared for the sudden burst of light; its eyes shut tightly as if trying to protect itself from the blinding glare. 

The furious roars seemed to get caught in its throat. 

That brief moment, fleeting as it was, became the only precious opportunity left. 

Ren, Tarek, and Scholar didn't hesitate. Their hearts pounded as if about to explode, and time seemed to come to a standstill. 

While the monster staggered, its senses thrown into disarray by the unexpected light, the three survivors dashed toward the hole in the floor. 

A wide hole. The very place the monster had shattered to emerge. 

It was the only way out—a hidden tunnel they hadn't had time to explore before. But now, it was all about survival and escape. 

With the advantage of being in front, Scholar jumped into the hole first, his hands scrambling to grip the wall to maintain balance. Tarek didn't look back, rushing in right after him. 

Though anxious, Ren couldn't afford to miss this one chance. He stumbled, pushed off the ground, and dived in right behind them. 

He only had time to feel the mouth of the hole swallow him whole. The cold wind rushed in, sending chills down Ren's spine. But now wasn't the time to think about that. 

The monster leaped into the hole immediately, its massive feet smashing against the ground with a powerful thud, shaking the entire surrounding area. 

Debris flew, dust filled the air, darkening the space even more, like an earthquake. 

It let out an enraged roar, as if declaring that the hunt had begun. 

But strangely enough, the monster didn't rush after them. 

It stood still, its cloudy eyes fixed on the fleeing trio. 

It seemed the light earlier had caused some kind of disruption, making it hesitate—whether from confusion or anger on the verge of eruption remained unclear. 

Darkness enveloped them as the three survivors continued to gasp for breath, their steps unsteady but hurried. 

Each step felt like it was extending their lives in this brief moment of respite. They didn't dare look back, didn't dare utter a word. 

Their labored breaths blended into the still air, but that very stillness was filled with suffocating tension. 

All three knew that if the monster regained its balance and charged at them, they would have no chance of escape. 

They could only run, fully aware that once the monster recovered, there would be no second chance.