The Boy Who Walks Beyond The End-Chapter 55: Beneath the Ember Veil

The ground trembled.

Far from the seared corridor where Arisella's team fought, Zen, Lyra, and Sylvia advanced deeper into a vein of crystal-laced caverns. Pale-blue ice crept along the walls where Sylvia passed, cooling the air around them.

╎> [SYSTEM – DUNGEON PHASE: ╎ACTIVE]

╎Current Team Status:

╎Zen – [HP: 165 | MP: ∞]

╎Lyra – [HP: 142 | MP: 96]

╎Sylvia – [HP: 138 | MP: 121]

Environmental Effects: Mild Mana Pressure, Elemental Drift Detected

Warning: Proceed with caution. Something smells spicy and aggressive.

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Zen narrowed his eyes. "Spicy?"

╎> [SYSTEM]: [Don't question my phrasing. I have ╎impeccable senses.]

╎[Also, that last boss gave me boss envy. I demand ╎we find something epic.]

Lyra snickered, brushing her hair over her shoulder. "Well, Don't forget our promise zen"

Zen sighed. "When did I promised you "

Sylvia, ever quiet, glanced between them. "Should I freeze the ground behind us?"

╎> [SYSTEM]: [Ooo, Sylvia going full Frost Princess

╎Mode. Do it. Do it.]

Sylvia said nothing—just tapped the hilt of her ice-forged sword, "Hibernail." Behind them, spikes of frozen mist bloomed across the path, sealing their trail.

Lyra leaned toward Zen, lips curved in a sly smile. "So... how do you want to die today, oh brave prince? Sliced, burned, eaten?"

Zen kept walking. "Preferably none of those."

> [SYSTEM]: [Incorrect. He'll die blushing—if you keep leaning like that.]

Zen coughed, face lightly tinged red. "We should stay alert."

Sylvia turned ahead sharply. "Movement."

In the darkness ahead, flickers of flame began to spark—and a shadow emerged.

A Flamehorn Grux. A mid-tier beast with bronze scales, molten eyes, and curved horns trailing steam.

Then—two more joined it.

Three enemies.

╎> [SYSTEM]: [Triple Threat Detected. No known ╎weak spots. Charge meter rising. Showtime,baby.]

Zen stepped forward, sword pulsing faintly.

Sylvia moved right. "I'll suppress their movement."

Lyra stood left, staff glowing. "I'll play support. And if you two show off again—I'm definitely stealing the next kill."

╎> [SYSTEM]: [Mood: Competitive Sibling Energy. ╎Strategy: Approved.]

The Grux roared—and they charged.

Battle erupted.

Sylvia's blade clashed with one of the beasts, her strikes followed by ice pulses that slowed its limbs. Her calm demeanor never wavered.

Zen ducked a horned charge and unleashed "Sword Slash – Triple Line!" The air cracked as three energy arcs collided with the center Grux, tearing its armor.

One of them leapt toward Lyra—only for Zen to appear mid-air above it, blade glowing sky blue.

╎> [SYSTEM]: [New Skill Activated!]

╎Skill: Skystep Cleave – Level 1

╎Effect: Temporarily shifts gravity for a flash step. ╎Enhanced vertical slash. Cooldown: 1 minute.

"Skystep Cleave!"

He slammed down onto the beast's neck with a surge of force, throwing dust and flame across the room.

Lyra raised her hand, glowing with Aether Mend, patching Zen's shoulder from a grazing burn.

"See? I'm useful too," she teased, smiling up at him.

Zen landed beside her. "Thanks."

"Anytime," she said—and poked his cheek.

╎> [SYSTEM]: [ALERT. UNAUTHORIZED ╎PHYSICAL ╎CONTACT.]

╎[...Just kidding. Proceed.]

Sylvia impaled the last beast into a crystal spike she summoned from the ground, ice shattering and steam hissing.

All three beasts lay defeated.

Zen exhaled. "That it?"

The dungeon rumbled in response.

From the cracked wall ahead, a massive figure burst through. Twice the size of the Flamehorns, wearing obsidian-black armor. Its arms were fused with molten blades, and glowing runes pulsed along its chest.

Its name appeared in the system, blood-red:

╎> [SYSTEM – DUNGEON WARNING]

╎Mid-Boss Detected: Infernal Goliath

╎Type: Brute Class, Flame Core Reinforced

╎HP: 4,600 / ???

╎Resistances: High Physical, Medium ╎Magic

╎Weakness: Unknown

╎[Estimated Pain Rating: 9.5/10. Strategy: Don't get ╎stepped on.]

Zen's grip tightened on his sword. "Stay back."

Lyra smiled. "Too late."

Sylvia's breath fogged the air. "Let's go."

╎> [SYSTEM]: [Alright, Team Overpowered. ╎Let's ╎light this place up.]

╎[Achievement Unlocked: Welcome to the ╎Mid-Boss Club.]