After what felt like an eternity of fighting, we had finally reached the final stretch of the battle.

"Don't let your guard down," I warned, panting. "This is when it gets the most dangerous."

"Yeah, I'm aware," Darwyn replied, eyes sharp. "Let's split up."

We immediately scattered, gulping down healing potions while Orugg was still writhing in pain. Its guttural croaks echoed across the battlefield, rattling the very air as it struggled to roll over from its back.

"What the hell is that?!" Darwyn blurted. "That's the single most disgusting thing I've ever seen."

Orugg finally managed to flip itself over, its back now facing us. Dozens of small holes opened along its spine, and from each one, transparent eggs began to emerge, each filled with a sickly yellow-green fluid.

"HRRKGH!" Orin doubled over and vomited on the spot, gagging as the stench rolled off her body in suffocating waves.

Even I felt my stomach twist. My legs went weak, and a horrible unease crawled over my skin. I wanted to shut my eyes and run.

Without warning, Orugg launched the eggs toward us. These were much larger than the ones it usually spat from its mouth.

Darwyn screamed as one of the massive eggs splattered against him. The acid was far more potent than before, his skin sizzled on contact, smoke rising from the burns as the stench of scorched flesh mixed with the already nauseating air.

The same thing happened to Orin and me. I collapsed, my legs no longer responding.

"Erynd! What are you doing?! Get up!" Muradin shouted, trying to drag me to my feet.

The Glutton's body began to swell rapidly as it turned to face us again, making the monster look even more grotesque. Its stretched, slimy skin ballooned outward like a toad filled with too much air.

It crouched low, then boom! A thunderous stomp shook the ground as it launched itself high into the air.

I cast Galestride toward Muradin, who yanked me clear just in time.

Orin and Darwyn scattered too, running from the enormous shadow that grew wider and darker above us.

The monstrous frog slammed into the ground with devastating force, far more powerful than its usual Croak Leap.

BAAAAAAAAAM!

The shockwave was immense. Mud and dirt exploded in every direction, a massive crater forming where it landed. Even Orin and Darwyn were knocked off their feet, unable to keep their balance.

Its new skill, Belly Bloat, had made it twice as massive and gave a huge power boost to its jump, increasing the impact of Croak Leap dramatically.

"Get up, now!" I shouted at them.

Luckily, Orugg needed a few seconds to recover before launching another attack.

Its deadly Tongue Lash missed Orin by inches, thanks to Darwyn, who managed to fire off another Lightning Bolt, stunning the monster mid-motion.

Frustrated at missing its target, Orugg shuddered violently.

"It's gonna shoot more of those damn eggs from its back!" Muradin warned.

"Not so fast!" Darwyn shouted, launching his newly recharged Sticky Bomb at Orugg's back.

The explosion interrupted Orugg's movement, bursting several of the eggs before they could even be fired.

Furious now, Orugg inflated again.

"Crap, it's going for another jump," Orin whispered, already backing away.

"Keep an eye on the shadow!" I ordered. "Avoid it at all costs!"

We ran like lunatics.

BAAAAAAAAAAAAM!

Another quake rippled through the battlefield as its titanic body slammed into the earth once more.

This time, though, we were ready. All of us had managed to dodge in time, spreading out in different directions.

Darwyn seized the moment and loosed another arrow, once again amplified by Thunderlash Vial. It struck the monster right in the eye, just as it was still reeling from its fall.

Strangely, instead of going into a rage like usual, the creature looked... calm.

"Cover your ears!" I shouted, noticing the shift in its behavior.

The monster let out a dreamlike croak, soft at first, almost a whisper. But it grew louder and clearer, a hauntingly melodic sound that echoed through the battlefield.

The effect was immediate.

Before I could react, my limbs turned to jelly, my eyelids grew heavy. The ache and fatigue in my body seemed to melt away, replaced by a floating, weightless calm. Then, darkness.

I vaguely heard Muradin's voice just before everything went quiet.

***

"Sir Erynd! I've been accepted into the Wizard Academy!" Sam's ever-eager voice rang out.

"Get up, City Boy," said Luther, shaking my shoulder.

I was lying comfortably on a bed of soft green grass, lazily trying to sit up. In the distance, Elena was running toward me with someone else beside her.

Wait… was that Gia?

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"Rin-rin! We've been waiting for you forever. Where've you been?" Gia waved both hands excitedly, hopping as she ran, dressed in an all-pink outfit.

"We've prepared a party for you!" boomed Muradin, laughing heartily as he clapped me on the back.

"What's with that blank look? You spaced out or something?" Darwyn appeared behind me. "The other druids are arriving soon. You might want to wipe that drool off your face."

I struggled to remember what had happened before this. My memories were foggy, but I felt… warm. Happy.

Then I saw them, an approaching group with antlers crowning their heads.

The Archdruid led the way, flanked by Val'darion, the Druid Shaman. Right behind them walked Vallen, confident and composed, her face sharp with focus. Surrounding her were Riven, Fenric, Alton, and Sable, laughing and chatting excitedly.

High above, Orin soared gracefully, showing off her flight skills as the druids below cheered and pointed in awe.

"What's going on?" I asked, confused.

"Don't you remember?" Luther looked puzzled. "You defeated a powerful secret boss and got a royal commendation."

"We made it into the Hall of the Unconquered Suns again!" Muradin clapped me on the back once more. "Can you believe it? My old man's finally proud of me!"

"Don't overthink it," said Darwyn, smirking. "You deserve a break after everything you went through. So, let's enjoy the party."

"We even made a special cake just for you," Elena added, presenting a gorgeous tiered cake with my name elegantly written on it. "I baked it myself."

My emotions tangled. I couldn't remember ever receiving a cake, let alone one this grand.

Seeing everyone gathered like this, just to celebrate me, was overwhelming.

"I always knew you were the chosen one, Leafshade," the Archdruid said kindly as he reached me. "Like I told you before, you've got that hero spark."

"As a reward," added the Druid Shaman, "you're free to access the Sanctum of Trials anytime you wish. I'll prepare Mana Stones and all the ingredients you need."

"I also stocked up on high-rank items and Soul Fragments for you," said a voice.

I turned, startled. "Sir Alistair… It's been ages. I'm honored."

"The pleasure is mine, Erynd," he said. "And Bishop Malven here has something special for you."

"Eryndor Leafshade! How've you been?" Bishop Malven adjusted his glasses, his round face beaming beneath a neatly trimmed beard. "I've mastered a very special spell. I figured you'd want to meet them."

I froze.

I saw them, and tears streamed down my face before I knew it.

"Mom… Dad…" My voice trembled as I rushed forward to embrace them.

They pulled me in. It felt real. So warm. I even caught the familiar scent of home. It had been so long.

"I heard you've made lots of friends here," said Mom softly, running her fingers through my hair.

"I'm so proud of you," said Dad, chuckling as he gave my shoulder a light punch, the way he always used to. "My little boy's grown into someone important."

"H-How are you here? Are you both okay?" I asked, desperate to hear more.

"We are, as you can see, healthy and happy," Dad replied, pulling something from his pocket.

"Do you remember this?" he said, handing me a knight chess piece.

I wiped my tears. "Of course I remember. I believe I can beat you now."

"How arrogant of you," Dad said, laughing.

We chatted for a moment, one of the most precious moments of my life, making me wish time would stand still so I could cherish it forever… when it happened.

"Well, we—"

Suddenly, her voice faded, her form flickering and distorting like smoke in the wind.

No… no no no.

The world around me began to dissolve, fading away piece by piece. One by one, everything vanished, until all that remained was a single voice echoing through my mind:

"Eryndor, wake up. Please!"

It was Orin. I could hear her voice, clear and desperate.

And then it all came rushing back. The battle with Orugg, the trap of False Serenity, its soothing lullaby that lured me into that blissful dream.

"Are you crying?" Orin asked, her voice laced with concern.

"I'm fine. Just… dust," I mumbled.

Still only half-awake, I summoned an item from my inventory.

[Mournbite Tonic used]

The potion's bitterness jolted me fully awake. A foul taste clung stubbornly to my mouth, sharp and lingering.

I furrowed my brow, struggling to swallow the bitterness as I heard him.

"BLAAARGH! I swear I'm never drinking that cursed thing again!" Muradin groaned, spitting onto the ground.

"Focus up. Pay attention," snapped Darwyn, already alert and on his feet. His eyes locked onto Orugg, whose belly was swelling again… it was preparing another leap.

If it weren't for the Murmurmoth Pendant, we'd all be dead by now.

False Serenity, the Glutton's ultimate move, only triggered when it was desperate. Anyone caught in its dreamspell was left helpless for its next devastating strike.

Luckily, the pendant increased resistance to mental debuffs. Orin had shaken off the illusion quickly and used its special ability, Cleanse, a spell that reduced debuff effects for everyone nearby.

[Galestride cast]

I sprinted, dodging the looming shadow above just before Orugg crashed down where I'd been.

"Hey, stinky ass! Over here!" Muradin yelled to Orugg, shield raised. Darwyn followed up with a flurry of arrows, backing him up.

It worked.

Orugg whipped around and fired acidic eggs from its back. Muradin braced himself.

[Bastion Strike cast]

A pulse of energy burst from his shield, striking back at Orugg. It wouldn't kill the monster, but it'd keep it busy for now.

Frustrated, Orugg lashed out again, this time launching its sticky tongue at Muradin.

Darwyn had already anticipated it. Moments earlier, he had chugged down his last Thunderlash Vial and now unleashed another barrage of lightning-infused arrows.

Orugg croaked in rage again, but something had changed. Its usual tantrum, where it smashed its head violently into the ground, seemed weaker, less devastating.

But so were we.

Darwyn, who was usually swift and agile, now moved sluggishly. Sweat streamed down his face, and his breathing had turned ragged.

"Shit, the potion's effect has already worn off," Darwyn groaned, frustrated. "My arrows aren't doing jack anymore," he added as yet another one deflected harmlessly off Orugg's slimy, slippery skin.

The electric sparks that once danced along his arrows faded, leaving his attacks weak and ineffective. "My Soul Power is also used up."

I wasn't doing much better. My Mana reserves were nearly dry, and although I hadn't taken any serious hits, my arms and legs ached. Fighting in this sticky, uneven terrain while constantly dodging deadly attacks was draining the last of my stamina.

Meanwhile, Orin had already begun charging her Mana Bomb again.

"How much longer?!" Muradin shouted, parrying another one of Orugg's crushing blows.

"Let her concentrate!" I snapped, quickly casting Rejuvenation and Tempest Shield in his direction.

After dodging yet another round of acid eggs, launched both from Orugg's grotesque back and that foul mouth of its, finally, the moment we'd been waiting for arrived.

I cast Ethereal Form the second I heard Orin's signal, making the boss monster turn green and transparent again.

"I really hope this is enough!" Orin yelled as she hurled the Mana Bomb forward. She had poured nearly every drop of her remaining Mana into that single, final strike.

"Take that, you motherfucker!" Muradin bellowed, sprinting backward to avoid the blast radius.

"I swear, this better be over," Darwyn muttered, wiping the sweat from his brow and resting both hands on his knees, completely winded.

We stood frozen, watching the blinding blue explosion erupt across the battlefield.

And then…

"FUCK!" Muradin roared.

Orugg was still standing.

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