The memory surfaced as I stared at those dozens of gleaming eyes; nights spent poring over ancient tomes in the Academy library, searching for information about the creatures that stalked these depths. Dragons weren't a singular species, but rather a classification of monsters that shared one terrifying trait: they actively sought out the strongest prey.

Unlike other monsters who were mindless beasts that attacked anything that moved, dragons displayed a cruel intelligence in their hunting. They'd bypass weaker creatures, tracking the most dangerous opponents they could find. Each kill made them stronger, deadlier. Some texts even suggested they absorbed abilities from those they consumed, though I'd dismissed such claims as scholarly speculation.

Until now.

The Platinum Dragon's crystalline horn pulsed with familiar energy, the same type I'd sensed from the Void Stalker we'd killed yesterday. Its metallic hide rippled like liquid mercury, reminiscent of the Metallic Mantis's carapace. Even its movements echoed the fluid grace of the Cave Stalkers we'd encountered.

This wasn't just a dragon. It was an apex predator that had grown strong by devouring every powerful creature in these depths. And now it had found us, possibly the most challenging prey in its territory.

My auric steel tendrils twitched as I processed this revelation. We couldn't outrun it. We couldn't hide. This monster had specifically tracked us down after sensing our victories over the other denizens of the deep tunnels. It wanted to test itself against prey worthy of its attention.

Hold formation, I commanded through Mind Speech, my mental voice steady despite the gravity of our situation. This isn't a mindless beast. It's hunting us because we're strong. Because we've proven ourselves deadly. Let's show it why that was a mistake.

The Platinum Dragon's maw split in what almost looked like a grin, as if it understood my words. Perhaps it did. After all, dragons were anything but simple creatures.

Our formation held as the beast stalked forward, its metallic body a grotesque fusion of insect and reptile. Blue-green eyes tracked our every movement while its crystalline horn caught and reflected the fungal light.

Chonsey's sensors picked up a surge of energy from deep within its throat. Move! I projected through Mind Speech. We scattered just as white-hot flames erupted from its maw, turning the stone floor into blackened ash where we'd stood moments before.

The dragon's head snapped toward me, dozens of eyes focusing with predatory intensity. It recognized the strongest threat, just as I'd feared. The beast lunged, its massive form barreling past Genta and Sven as if they were beneath its notice. Its singular focus was locked on me.

I struck out with an auric steel tendril, aiming for its eyes. The blow connected but skittered harmlessly off its platinum hide. Cursing inwardly, I regretted modifying my combat chassis for the tournament. The blunted tips were useless against this armor.

Its jaws gaped wide, rows of crystalline teeth gleaming. I fired all three tendrils into the ceiling, yanking myself up as those teeth snapped shut where I'd been standing. The force of its bite sent shockwaves through the tunnel.

I swung in an arc, bringing my full weight down as I struck at its head with another tendril. The impact rang out like a bell, but left not even a scratch on its metallic carapace. This creature's hide was unlike anything I'd encountered; the thick layers of platinum could hold off even the blows from my auric steel tentacles.

The dragon's head tracked my movement, those dozens of eyes calculating. It wasn't just trying to kill me. It was learning, adapting, analyzing my capabilities just as I studied its defenses. This wasn't a simple battle of strength. It was a deadly game of strategy between two intelligent predators.

And I had a sinking feeling it was just getting started.

Annes and Yulios struck at the dragon's flank, their new auric steel weapons ringing against its metallic hide. The beast didn't even flinch, those dozens of eyes remaining fixed on me as if my companions were nothing but insects.

Run! I projected through Mind Speech. It's after me. I can keep it occupied while you-

"No!" Annes's voice cracked. She slashed wildly at the dragon's leg, her blade skittering off its armor. "I won't do it again. I won't-" Her next words dissolved into a sob as she hacked at the creature's scales. "I watched them die in the Highlands. I ran like a coward while the Six Blades fell. Never again!"

The dragon's throat pulsed with building energy. I fired my tendrils into the wall, launching myself sideways as white-hot flames scorched the air where I'd been standing. The heat was intense enough to make my scout spiders' sensors crackle with interference.

I swung in a wide arc, drawing the creature's attention away from my companions. Its massive form pivoted to track my movement, completely ignoring Yulios as he brought his battle axe down on its tail. The blade didn't even leave a mark on its platinum hide.

"We're not leaving you!" Annes charged forward, tears streaming down her face as she struck again and again at the dragon's leg. Her sword arm blurred with desperate speed, each blow precise yet futile against its impenetrable armor. "I won't lose another friend! I won't run while you die!"

The dragon's head snapped toward me, its crystalline horn glowing with gathered energy. I barely managed to dodge another gout of flames, the heat so intense it warped the stone walls. The beast pursued relentlessly, stepping over my companions as if they weren't even there.

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Its singular focus on me might be the only thing keeping them alive. I had to lead it further away, give them a chance to escape whether they wanted to or not. But as I launched myself deeper into the tunnel, I heard Annes's anguished cry echo behind me: "Not again! Never again!"

A blast of flame caught me as I swung between pillars, my mechanical reflexes a fraction too slow. The inferno consumed my robes and heated my regular steel components to a dangerous red glow. Only the auric steel parts of my frame withstood the intense heat without damage. I retracted my tendrils and dropped to the ground, wisps of smoke curling from my scorched form.

The dragon paid no attention to my companions' continued assault, their weapons bouncing harmlessly off its metallic hide. Then Annes, face contorted with desperate determination, channeled her mana perfectly. Her blade blazed with energy as she executed a flawless Mana Shell technique. The enhanced sword bit deep into the dragon's leg, drawing first blood. Gouts of molten gold spilled out of the wound, staining the cavern floor in expensive essence.

The beast's screech of pain echoed through the tunnels, rattling loose stones from the ceiling. Its massive bulk whirled toward Annes, who stood rooted in place, eyes wide with disbelief at having actually wounded the creature.

No! My mental shout pierced through the chaos as the dragon's head plunged toward her frozen form.

Loland burst forward, slamming into Annes and sending them both tumbling across the stone floor. The dragon's crystalline teeth snapped shut on empty air where she'd stood moments before.

Those dozens of eyes now tracked my companions with deadly focus, recognizing them as genuine threats for the first time. The creature's horn pulsed with gathered energy as it prepared to unleash its flame on my friends.

I fired all three tendrils into the dragon's face, the impacts ringing against its armored hide. Over here! I projected my mental voice as loudly as possible, trying to recapture its attention. When that failed, I swung myself directly between the beast and my companions, blocking its line of sight.

The dragon's head snapped toward me, but its eyes kept darting back to Annes. It had marked her as dangerous prey after that successful strike. I needed to prove myself the greater threat, and quickly.

I kicked myself for not dedicating more time to mastering the Mana Shell technique. It had the potential to turn the tide of battle, but I'd allowed myself to get lost in crafting auric steel and perfecting my war frame. Now, as I strained to channel that power into one of my tendrils, I realized it was too late. The formation came slowly, almost reluctantly, as if my very essence knew the danger closing in on me.

Then the dragon struck.

In a flash of movement that left me breathless, it lunged forward. Its jaws gaped wide, ready to snap down on whatever prey lay before it. I pushed off the ground, leaping away with all the speed I could muster. But it wasn't enough. Its powerful jaws clamped around one of my tendrils before I could fully escape.

The sensation was jarring; teeth scraped against my metal limb with a viciousness that rattled through my core. Thank the stars for auric steel, the material held firm under pressure, but I was ensnared now, trapped in a grip that threatened to crush even the strongest of constructs.

I thrashed with my other tendrils, battering at its face in a frantic attempt to free myself. Each strike landed like a dull thud against its armored head, but the beast didn't flinch. It was too intent on holding me fast. With a sudden twist of its massive neck, it sent me spiraling through the cavern tunnel like a rag doll caught in a storm.

My body collided violently with the stone walls, each impact reverberating through my frame and sending shards of pain coursing through me. The auric steel resisted but couldn't shield everything; internal components crumpled beneath the force of each crash.

Finally, it released me with a violent flick of its head that sent me smashing against another wall where I lay still for a moment, dazed and struggling to assess my condition. My systems flickered warning signals as I analyzed the damage. I felt the numerous components inside me that had failed from being flung around like some broken toy.

Focus, I urged myself through the chaos swirling in my thoughts. With great effort, I engaged Assembly to initiate repairs while scanning for any immediate threats.

As I worked feverishly to mend what had been broken inside my war frame, my gaze fell upon the dragon turning its attention away from me and locking onto my friends instead. Panic surged as I realized they were now in its sights.

No! My voice erupted out loud despite knowing it would do little good against such a creature's focus. They needed time, time to regroup or escape before this monstrous predator unleashed its fury on them like it had done on me.

I pulled myself upright as best as I could manage, straining as damaged mechanisms gradually restored themselves to functionality. Internal hydraulics whirred back into action and damaged joints began reestablishing their range of motion. The dragon raised its massive head high and let out an earth-shaking roar that echoed off the cavern walls like thunder.

Annes fought valiantly against her fears as she charged at it once more, her sword glinting fiercely in defiance despite her previous terror after losing her friends in battle long ago. Genta followed suit alongside Yulios and Loland; they stood united even when faced with such insurmountable odds.

"Together!" Annes shouted over her shoulder at them.

They can't do this alone, dread settled deep within me as I saw how fear gripped their hearts beneath bravado. They were brave, braver than anyone gave them credit for, but bravery wouldn't be enough against this apex predator who could dismantle us piece by piece without so much as breaking a sweat.

My companions spread into a loose formation, abandoning our usual tight groupings that would make us easy targets for the dragon's flames. Their weapons gleamed in the fungal light as they positioned themselves around the beast.

"Remember what we learned," Annes called out, her voice steadier than I expected. "Just like practice."

Loland twirled his rapier with practiced grace. "It's merely an oversized insect. We've handled worse in our training."

"Time to squash this bug!" Sven's daggers flashed as he dropped into a fighting stance.

Genta's laughter rang through the cavern, and Yulios's enthusiastic "Squish!" echoed off the walls. Their forced cheer tore at something deep within me. Behind their brave faces and gallows humor, I saw the truth: the desperate acceptance in their eyes, the slight tremors in their hands. They knew death approached and chose to face it with defiant smiles rather than terror.

No. I wouldn't let it end like this!

The dragon's roar shook loose stones from the ceiling as it charged, its massive form a blur of liquid metal and crystalline death. My companions stood their ground, weapons raised against the inevitable. I tried to move, to help, but my damaged frame wouldn't respond fast enough.

Then everything changed.

A dark shape materialized between the charging dragon and my friends. There was a thunderous impact as boot met metallic skull, sending the massive beast staggering sideways. It crashed into the tunnel wall with enough force to crack the stone.

Professor Langdon Hassel landed in front of my companions, his usually disheveled appearance replaced by deadly grace. Gone was the drunken instructor who could barely stay awake during morning classes. In his place stood a warrior whose mere presence made the air crackle with tension.

He raised his blade toward the recovering dragon, his voice carrying an authority I'd never heard before.

"Don't you dare touch my students."

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