The Vault Tyrant growled as smoke poured from its armor vents, molten cracks dancing over its plated limbs. The air itself warped from its sheer presence.
Zen's grip tightened around his sword. He stepped forward, unblinking, as Lyra and Sylvia flanked him with matching resolve.
[SYSTEM]: "Three vs One. Technically unfair… for the boss. Let's gooo!"
Sylvia muttered, "On your mark."
Lyra grinned, "Try not to blush this time, Zen."
He didn't respond, but his ear tips turned red anyway.
[SYSTEM]: "Confirmed: embarrassment level—critical. Cute."
The boss lunged with a slash of both swords—lava-imbued arcs of flame roaring toward them.
Sylvia dashed forward, her ice blade dragging against the stone as a frozen wall erupted, blocking the first wave. Zen burst through the mist as the wall shattered behind him.
"Now!" Sylvia shouted.
Zen moved like a ghost—Sword Slash cutting across the Tyrant's leg, then pivoting into Piercing Fang directly at its exposed side.
CLANG.
The boss staggered, armor chipped.
It howled and brought both swords down in an X-shaped strike—aimed to cleave the trio.
Lyra stepped forward with both arms raised—Aether Barrier erupting into a radiant dome, absorbing the impact and blasting the team backward but alive.
She skidded to a stop beside Zen and whacked his shoulder. "You could say thank you, you know!"
[SYSTEM]: "Zen.exe has stopped functioning. Try flirting again later."
Zen, recovering: "Thanks."
Lyra smirked. "Was that a smile? Write it down, Sylvia, we got a smile!"
Sylvia: "Noted. Rare phenomenon."
The Tyrant roared again, slamming both fists into the ground. Lava veins burst upward, creating a fiery hazard zone.
But Sylvia wasn't done.
She lifted her sword.
"Ice Bloom," she said quietly—and spikes of frost exploded beneath the boss's feet, locking it mid-animation.
Zen stepped forward calmly.
Sword in both hands.
Just pure intent.
He slashed upward—Silent End. A clean, quiet, terrifyingly efficient arc that tore open the Tyrant's chestplate.
The boss dropped to one knee, fire spewing from its exposed core.
[SYSTEM]: "It's weak! Finish it, you glorious menace!"
Zen's eyes flickered crimson.
Sylvia launched a freezing blast to lock its legs, and Lyra unleashed a Frigid Chain, binding its arms for mere seconds—but enough.
Zen leapt.
Spun in the air once.
And drove his sword through the monster's core with a final cry.
B O O M.
The Crimson Vault Tyrant convulsed—its molten body beginning to crumble, burning from within.
With a final roar, it exploded into ash and glowing fragments, raining embers across the battlefield.
Silence.
Then a faint sparkle of light, as the dungeon's corrupted aura began to lift.
[SYSTEM]: "DUNGEON CLEARED! Loot unavailable due to plot purposes. Also, congratulations, you overpowered disasterpiece."
Zen stood over the remains, breathing softly.
Lyra walked up, brushing ash off his cloak.
Sylvia sheathed her sword and stretched. "Well… that was fun."
Lyra: "Still mad I didn't get the final hit."
Zen, blinking: "You helped—"
Lyra leaned close, nose nearly touching his. "You owe me dessert."
He blinked again.
[SYSTEM]: "ALERT: Romance Level creeping toward awkwardness. Initiating casual-exit protocol."
Sylvia rolled her eyes and walked past them. "I'll be waiting outside. Try not to flirt too hard."