The color drained from Daisuke's face as he looked up at the Lizardman whose aura made him seem like a towering skyscraper, hundreds of feet tall. The oppressive energy radiating from the creature was so suffocating that Daisuke felt he might pass out at any moment. Yet, he refused to give the beast the satisfaction of relishing his fear.
Mustering every ounce of courage he could find, Daisuke brandished his daggers, sinking into a battle stance as he took a steadying breath. But, no matter how he strategized in his mind, each scenario led to a single conclusion—his imminent death.
According to Thalia, Unique Monsters belonged to a special class, each existing as a singular entity. For instance, the chimera that Reginald had created using his mother as a host—it was the only one of its kind. Unlike average monsters, which could respawn after a set period when slain or captured, Unique Monsters would never return once defeated, for they were the sole representatives of their species in the entire world. Each one bore an individual name and title, and they were far more powerful and autonomous than their common counterparts.
Named Monsters, however, existed in an entirely different league. Much like Unique Monsters, each Named Monster was one of a kind, but the System implemented measures to ensure they were significantly more powerful than the majority of the game's populace. This balance was crucial, as Named Monsters were designed to wield considerable influence over the world and shape its narrative. Essentially, allowing them to be easily defeated would be a colossal waste of potential content, undermining the intricacies of the game's lore and the challenges it presented to players.
Daisuke's eyes narrowed as he scrutinized the creature's reptilian visage. For a Named Monster, he expected a bloodlust and hatred for humans that would surpass all other tiers of monsters combined. Yet, instead of the expected hostility, the beast almost seemed… civilized—
The moment the thought solidified in Daisuke's mind, the Lizardman unsheathed its swords and vanished from its perch. In the next heartbeat, the tip of a blade whizzed perilously close to Daisuke's bulging eyeball. But instead of slashing through his neck, the sword's trajectory was aimed at something else—something lurking behind him.
KEEERIIICK!
A monster's shriek pierced the air like a war horn, its brilliant, fiery aura illuminating the dark dungeon. The creature—a colossal bird the size of a large house—descended, each flap of its wings unleashing a torrent of embers and heat that distorted the very air around it.
"What the heck is that—a monster?!"
[Raash'vir | Lvl 257 | Giant | HP: 34795/34795]
Daisuke squinted, raising an arm to shield his face from the broiling gusts and blinding light. Each powerful beat of the creature's wings sent waves of hot ash cascading down, scorching the earth below. As the flaming beast loomed overhead, the Lizardman surged forward with an agility that defied belief, wielding its twin dadao swords that glinted menacingly against the bird's blazing aura.
Mid-air, he twisted like a spinning top, bringing one of its massive blades down with a force that could have effortlessly shattered stone. The strike cleaved straight through the bird's wing, and a deafening screech filled the dungeon as the severed limb plummeted, scattering molten feathers across the floor.
The fiend staggered, thrashing as it tried to stabilize itself with its remaining wing, and with a vengeful fury, unleashed a torrent of fire upon its loathsome foe. But the Lizardman didn't flinch. Its powerful tail struck the ground, propelling it forward in a blur. Closing the distance, it unleashed a relentless series of strikes, its blades slicing through the bird's defenses, matching flame with raw, unstoppable force.
Embers clashed with armored scales as the Lizardman maneuvered its hulking form, weaving past talons and blasts of searing heat. Each move was precise, calculated—until, with one final, thunderous swing, it brought both blades crashing down onto the beast's neck, cleaving its head in a dazzling blaze of sparks and fire.
The massive body collapsed in defeat, flames guttering out as they met the cold dungeon floor. Daisuke stood frozen, speechless, heart racing. But just as he steadied himself, a deep rumble echoed through the cavern. The battle wasn't over yet.
KWOOOOAR!
Another ear-splitting shriek reverberated through the dungeon, shaking the very walls as an enormous boar—its size rivaling even that of the fallen bird—charged forward. Each thunderous step sent bones scattering, splintering under its massive hooves as it barreled through the skeletal remains littering the floor, eyes gleaming with fury.
[Tuskanthos Swine | Lvl 242 | Giant | HP: 48251/48251]
Sensing the boar's approach, the Lizardman unleashed a skill eerily similar to Magic Chains—but far more lethal. These chains extended like serpents, each tipped with barbed arrows that embedded deep into the bird's fallen carcass. With a guttural roar, the Lizardman's muscles tensed and bulged, and with impossible strength, it flung the massive corpse as if it were a mere leaf.
Daisuke could only stare, utterly dumbfounded, as the surreal sight unfolded before him. It was like watching a praying mantis effortlessly toss a hummingbird, a feat that defied any logic or sense of proportion.
The headless carcass hurtled toward the boar, a dead weight with lethal momentum. But the beast was unfazed. With a sinister grunt, it lowered its head, its thick neck braced and jagged tusks gleaming, ready to gore and shatter anything in its way, and not necessarily in that order.
As soon as the corpse collided with it, the boar jerked its head upward with ferocious power, like a raging Minitaur at full charge. The bird's body sailed through the air, arcing high over the boar's massive frame. Unfortunately for the savage beast, it had fallen into a deadly trap.
Seizing the opportunity as the boar's vision was momentarily blocked, the Lizardman lunged forward with blinding speed, a streak of silver flashing in its wake. Its sword arced in a radiant path, slicing cleanly through two of the beast's thick, muscular legs with surgical precision. The boar let out a thunderous roar as it buckled, its stocky frame collapsing as blood splattered the cold dungeon floor.
The Lizardman's movements were fluid, precise—one moment holding twin swords, and the next, one weapon twisted and elongated, morphing seamlessly into a spear. Without a second's hesitation, he hurled it with astonishing accuracy, the spear slicing through the air in a graceful yet menacing arc.
The monstrous boar barely had time to register the threat before the spear plunged into its forehead with a sickening crack. Its roar died in its throat, eyes rolling back as the life drained from them. The beast's massive body teetered before crashing to the ground, the echo of its fall reverberating through the dungeon, leaving a heavy silence in its wake.
Daisuke stood frozen, rooted in place. He patiently awaited his own demise, but it never came. Instead, the reptile slowly approached, its movements measured and deliberate, as if it were calculating its next move rather than simply succumbing to primal rage. There was an unsettling intelligence behind its piercing gaze, a flicker of awareness that made Daisuke question whether he was facing an instinct-driven predator or a sentient being that understood the stakes of their encounter.
DING!
[The title «Congenial Denizen» has taken effect.]
Wait, what? That's strange—shouldn't that only correlate with people and not monsters? What's going on?
DING!
[The hidden class advancement quest «????» has been received.]
[????]
[Quest Difficulty: Unknown
[…]
Clear Conditions: ????
Rewards:
▪︎ ???
▪︎ ???
Quest Failure:
▪︎ ???
▪︎ ???]
Daisuke was torn between fear, excitement, and bewilderment, but before he could collect his racing thoughts—
"Fascinating," the Lizardman rasped, his voice a strange blend of hoarseness and eloquence. "Humans, as I have known them, are oft consumed by greed. I find it curious that you did not seek to slay me at once in your quest for glory and all that it entails."
Daisuke's jaw fell open. "Y-You can talk?"
"Of course," the reptilian responded, deftly flicking the crimson stain from his blades before sheathing them in one fluid motion. "I am called Kaizyreus—and, much like you, I too possess a home and a family."
Daisuke's brow knitted in contemplation as the creature's gentle cadence, reminiscent of a bygone era, washed over him like a soothing balm. Now that I think about it, the Goblin Shaman could speak as well, but he was an anomaly. Named Monsters… could they be closer to NPCs than mere mobs? That would certainly explain why the Congenial Denizen title reacted the way it did.
"My name is Haxks," Daisuke said politely, a sense of reassurance washing over him as he realized he was no longer in danger. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Kaizyreus. If you don't mind my asking, what brings you to this place when you have a home and a family? Is there really no way to leave?"
The reptilian turned his gaze toward a large skeleton that was reminiscent of a long-dead dinosaur, his eyes gleaming as a memory stirred within his mind. "A demon, wielding the might of a vast army, laid siege to my home."