Rachel stepped into the courtyard and froze.

The floor beneath her boots was smoother than the winding paths behind them. It was solid, slate-gray stone that radiated residual heat, as if the sun had passed by not long ago. Thick ivy crept around the edges of the walls but stopped short of the open circle at the center, as though even the plant life feared to encroach here.

Across the courtyard, seated on a throne carved directly from the stone itself, was a creature that could only be described as a living nightmare of muscle and malice.

A behemoth.

It slouched with an air of lazy confidence, one massive arm draped over the side of the throne, the other resting on a stone knee. A thick-handled club, easily the length of a grown man, leaned against the chair. Its head was crudely shaped from solid obsidian, with jagged metal shards embedded along one end like crude teeth. The weapon alone radiated menace, but it was the beast that held her attention.

Rachel narrowed her eyes.

It had the frame of a bull and the posture of a man. Towering, easily twelve feet tall even seated, with rippling slabs of muscle layered over its broad frame. Its fur was mottled gray and iron black, and curled horns coiled out from its skull like stone serpents, their edges jagged and chipped with old battle scars. It didn't roar. It didn't snarl. It just sat, watching them with eyes that glowed faintly gold, unblinking and ancient.

Behind Rachel, the team was still recovering. Cloth rustled as bandages were tightened, potion flasks clinked, and the wheeze of effort came from every movement. Even with Evelyn's last group heal, exhaustion clung to them like smoke.

Rachel never took her eyes off the throne. "Everyone get your shit together. Last boss is here," she called, her voice steady despite the tension growing behind her ribs. "Looks like it's a bit bigger than we'd hoped."

Footsteps approached from behind, steady and familiar. Nathan moved to her side, his axe already gripped loosely in one hand. His shoulder was stained from an earlier encounter, but his posture was straight.

"Any idea what it is yet?" he asked, following her gaze.

Rachel shook her head slightly. "Not yet. Can't get a reading from here. But judging by that horned skull, the build… looks like a minotaur. Which is fitting, I guess. Maze, beast, throne room at the center."

She snorted, a trace of dry humor sneaking in. "Too bad we didn't bring a ball of string."

Nathan chuckled softly. "You've got the weirdest references, you know that?"

Rachel only shrugged in response, lips twitching with the hint of a smile before the tension pulled it flat again.

Diana stepped up behind them, her expression sharp, eyes glowing faintly with the activation of Dawn Piercer. "Hold up. I can scan it from here."

Her pupils narrowed as she focused, threads of mana coiling around her irises.

New Monster: Minotaur King Drahz'kul

Level: 45

Description: Once a chieftain in the outer worlds of Thryssia, Drahz'kul fell in battle and was resurrected by the Tower's ancient magics. Cursed to stalk the innermost sanctums of the maze he once conquered, he waits upon his throne of stone, guarding the final seal. It is said that with every generation of challengers, Drahz'kul regains a fragment of his former glory and takes pleasure in crushing those foolish enough to test his domain.

Diana blinked, breath catching. "Level forty-five," she muttered. "That's the highest we've seen yet."

Rachel exhaled slowly, then glanced around at the rest of the group. George was checking his quiver, Felicity tying a fresh bandage around her thigh. Paul stood beside Evelyn, who sat propped against the wall nursing a fresh mana potion, her face pale but focused.

Rachel's fingers tightened around the hilt of her sabre.

"Alright," she said. "Ideas?"

George looked up, his expression thoughtful. "We're not going to win this by brawling. Not with something that size. We play to our strengths: mobility, coordination, and range. It's got mass, which means it'll be slower to turn, and its attack windows are probably huge. But it also means it'll have absurd reach and armor density."

He gestured at the club. "That thing could drop a tree, let alone a person. If it tags anyone, they're out. So we treat it like a fortress. Don't attack the walls, slip through the cracks."

Rachel nodded slowly. "Target weak points?"

"That seems like a fair assessment," she added, glancing over the assembled group as they took final stock of weapons and potions. "Action suggestions?"

George didn't hesitate. "Just like the Hill Giant on floor 82," he began, his tone confident and analytical, already dropping into the tactical mindset that had served them so well over the last dozen floors. "We start with ranged damage to test the waters and wear it down until it gets close. Nathan tanks it directly, he's the only one who can take the hits, and Paul runs support, drawing pressure when needed."

He shifted his weight slightly, eyes still locked on the hulking figure across the courtyard. "You, Charles, and Diana should circle the sides as soon as Nathan has its attention. Stay fast, stay clean. Felicity and I will keep shooting, aiming for the face and neck. The thing's so massive we shouldn't need to flank to hit around Nathan. We'll go for the eyes if we get the chance."

He paused, scanning their reactions before continuing. "Evelyn makes sure Nathan doesn't drop. The rest of us aim to sever the tendons or ligaments in its legs. Bring it down fast, then swarm it before it can rally."

Rachel nodded again, sharper this time. "Sounds great to me." She didn't bother hiding the quiet appreciation in her voice. The siblings had been a godsend. When they found George and Felicity after their old team had been wiped out, Rachel hadn't expected much more than survivors. Now, they were core to the group's success. "I'm glad we found you two when we did," she thought, pushing the emotion down beneath the moment's urgency.

She turned back to the rest of the group and raised her voice. "Alright, you heard our tactician. Spread out and prepare to do your job." After countless floors of George being able to pick out the right approach to so many floors and layouts, they had all come to trust his judgment. Rachel felt no jealousy towards his ability to figure things out like this. She just wanted everyone to go home safely, and if that meant listening to someone else regardless of age, she was doing it.

As they moved into position, Rachel noticed the minotaur begin to stir. There was a slight shift of weight, and a grinding flex of muscle beneath its thick hide. It was subtle, but something about how it leaned forward slightly, hand brushing the haft of its weapon, made her stomach twist. The casual malice in its posture was unmistakable.

They advanced into position, spreading out to their marks. Just as they crossed into optimal range, George took the lead.

He raised his bow, notching a regular arrow, no mana yet, just a test. "Testing distance," he muttered under his breath, and loosed the shot.

The arrow sailed cleanly through the air and struck the minotaur in the thigh. It embedded shallowly in the creature's flesh, enough to be noticed, but not enough to matter.

The beast didn't flinch. It reached down and brushed the shaft aside like it was clearing lint from its leg.

George clicked his tongue, half-smiling. "Oh, you want more, bullman?"

He reached for a different arrow, which was reinforced and engraved with fine etchings along the shaft for channeling mana. Taking a steady breath, he summoned energy into the projectile, pushing as much as it could handle without destabilizing the structure. The arrow hummed with tension, white light threading down its spine like a living thing.

"Let's see how you like this."

The arrow screamed through the air, striking the minotaur square in the chest. Upon impact, it detonated in a violent flare of force and fire. Stone cracked, and dust erupted from the throne, veiling the battlefield in a choking cloud.

They all shielded their eyes from the blast.

When the smoke cleared, the minotaur was on its feet. Blood leaked from a seared patch on its chest where the skin had blackened and peeled, and the hair burned away in a ragged ring. One massive hand was pressed to the wound, and the creature's eyes glowed now, not gold but deep, burning crimson.

It locked eyes with George.

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George grimaced slightly, exhaling. "Well… this is going to be tough."

His sister stepped up beside him and raised her bow without being told. Together, the two unleashed a flurry of arrows. They fired in tight rhythm, aiming for the face, the neck, the joints, anywhere that looked even remotely vulnerable. Shafts streaked through the air, hammering the behemoth in a coordinated hail.

The minotaur roared, a deep, visceral sound that echoed across the stone. It seized its club, hoisted it easily, and charged with earth-shaking momentum. Its hooves struck the ground like hammers. Each step brought it closer, fury building in its bellowing cry.

It charged straight at George.

Diana, positioned off to the side, saw it coming and stepped out from behind a broken column. Her crossbow, which she'd earned on Floor 54 and painstakingly upgraded since, was already raised. Runes along its limbs shimmered faintly as she squeezed the trigger twice rapidly.

Both bolts found their mark, one slamming into the minotaur's shoulder, the other into its upper bicep. It staggered slightly but didn't stop.

Then Nathan's voice broke through the chaos.

"Over here, ugly!"

His taunt echoed with a mana pulse, rippling outward in a wave of force and intent. The magical effect latched onto the beast's awareness like a hook, twisting its attention away from George just as it was about to reach him.

The minotaur's head snapped toward Nathan. Its roar turned into a bellowing scream, and spittle flew from its curled lips. Its body shifted direction mid-charge, now focused entirely on the armored warrior standing just ahead.

Rachel watched the exchange, her heart pounding. It worked. Nathan had its full attention.

When the Minotaur turned, Nathan lowered his stance and let out a guttural shout, bracing himself for the full weight of a charging beast three times his size. The creature bellowed and came on like a collapsing mountain, its massive hooves pounding into the courtyard tiles with enough force to send cracks beneath each step.

"Hold the line!" Rachel barked, moving wide left with Charles flanking beside her. Diana darted to the right, trying to angle for a clean side shot while the beast was focused on Nathan.

Felicity and George didn't let up. Arrows flew precisely, striking the Minotaur's shoulders, arms, and chest. Most of the shafts bounced off its thick hide, but occasionally one found a soft joint or grazed an already-damaged spot. Blood streaked its side, but it never slowed.

The Minotaur met Nathan in a thunderous collision. Its club came down in a blur,too fast for something so big. Nathan twisted, raising his axe crossways in front of him to deflect the hit. It worked partially, shunting some of the brunt of the blow, but the sheer impact threw him backward. He skidded across the stone, boots carving furrows in the ground before he stopped, chest heaving.

Paul was already there, intercepting the next blow with a glancing deflection that knocked his shield from his hand. "You alright!?"

"Not really!" Nathan growled, rising with a wince.

"Buy us ten seconds!" Rachel shouted, rushing in with Charles on her flank.

The Minotaur swung its club in a brutal horizontal arc, nearly decapitating Paul before he ducked. Charles slid in from the opposite side, his shield up to deflect the backswing, but it still rattled his bones and staggered him to one knee. Diana took the opportunity to fire another bolt,this one enchanted with a slowing rune. It struck the beast in the knee, and a pulse of magic rippled out.

The Minotaur faltered for a fraction of a second. Rachel dove in.

"Go for the leg!" she called. She ducked under a swipe of the beast's arm, sabre flashing toward the hamstring. Her blade sank in, severing the outer tendon. Blood sprayed across her arms, hot and thick. The Minotaur howled and twisted.

George called out from behind, "Another weak point,back of the right knee!"

"I've got it!" Charles slammed his shield into the leg, drawing its attention just long enough for Felicity to fire an arrow straight into the back of the knee joint. The arrow struck deep, and the Minotaur's leg buckled partially under its own weight.

With a roar that shook the air, the Minotaur backhanded Rachel with its free arm. She flew ten feet across the courtyard, armor scraping against the stone as she tumbled. Evelyn let out a cry and began chanting, golden light rushing from her staff as she healed Rachel mid-fall.

"Keep it down!" George shouted, loosing another arrow.

The Minotaur slammed its club into the ground, sending a shockwave that knocked Paul off his feet. The beast turned to crush Diana, but Nathan appeared in a flash, activating Momentum Burst and driving his axe into its side. The blade bit deep, blood splattering in a wide arc.

The creature screamed and spun faster than expected. It caught Nathan with the flat of the club and sent him sprawling.

"Stay with me!" Evelyn screamed, her magic flaring again as she pushed more healing energy toward him.

Charles intercepted the next blow with his shield, using Shield Charge to drive the beast back half a step on its knees. "We've almost got it!"

"No, we don't!" Diana shouted. "It's still at half health!"

"Then keep going!" Rachel was back on her feet, sabre clenched in a white-knuckled grip. Blood trickled from her temple, and her left pauldron was shattered, but her stance was solid.

She sprinted around the edge, using debris and fallen pillars as cover. While Nathan and Paul re-engaged from the front, Felicity laid down suppressing shots to distract the Minotaur. Diana landed another bolt in its side, and Charles slammed his shield into the beast's ribs to keep it turning.

Then Rachel saw her chance.

The Minotaur reared back, lifting its club for a killing blow. Nathan met its gaze and roared again, buying one last second of attention.

Rachel surged forward.

She leapt onto a half-toppled pillar, used it as a springboard, and launched herself onto the Minotaur's back. Her boots hit solid muscle. She slipped once, regained balance, and then drove her sabre down, right-handed, between its shoulder blades.

Steel pierced flesh. The spine cracked.

The Minotaur roared in agony, buckling forward as its legs gave out. It stumbled, fell to one knee, then pitched forward onto the stone tiles, massive horns gouging twin furrows into the ground.

Nathan didn't hesitate.

He charged forward as the beast hit the ground. Its face slammed into the stone, stunned. Nathan let out one final bellow, raised his axe, and with a downward swing powered by rage and exhaustion, buried the blade deep between the horns, straight into the creature's skull.

The Minotaur spasmed once… then went still.

Silence fell, thick and absolute.

Everyone stood frozen for a beat, waiting for it to move, twitch, and rise again.

It didn't.

Rachel slowly stepped off its back, sliding down the massive shoulder to the blood-slick floor. Her hands trembled, sabre still locked in a death grip.

Nathan stood panting, one hand resting on the haft of his axe, now wedged deep in the creature's head.

No one spoke.

Then George finally muttered, voice hoarse but resolute: "Boss down."

And at last… they allowed themselves to breathe.

They stood in a loose circle, surrounded by the stillness of victory and the lingering heat of battle. No one moved for a few long moments, their bodies too battered and their minds too numbed to immediately register that it was over.

Rachel turned slowly in place, taking in the battered faces of her team. Their armor was dented, their weapons nicked and dulled, and their eyes hollowed with fatigue. But they were all still standing.

Evelyn, standing slightly apart from the rest, trembled visibly. Silent and unchecked tears rolled down her cheeks. Her staff drooped in one hand, and her other hand was clutched tightly at her chest.

Charles noticed and was instantly at her side, his sabre clattering gently to the stone floor as he knelt to steady her. "You alright?" he asked softly.

"I'm fine," Evelyn whispered, voice trembling. "It's just… we're done. It's really over."

Rachel didn't blame her. They had all broken at one point or another, whether in spirit, body, or will,but Evelyn had been holding them together with her healing and quiet courage longer than anyone. The emotional toll had to come due eventually.

She walked over to where Charles knelt and leaned her forehead against his armored shoulder without a word. Her eyes closed. For just a moment, she allowed herself the luxury of stillness, belief, and peace.

The silence was shattered by the sharp pop of displaced air, and a voice far too cheerful for the scene cut through the quiet.

"Well, well, well," said a familiar voice. "Looks like congratulations are in order."

Rachel's eyes snapped open, and she turned to see a slender, elegant figure standing just beside the stone throne, taking in the carnage as though it were a particularly curious sculpture.

Virial.

The woman's robes were immaculate as ever, her hands folded neatly in front of her, her tone light. "I must say, it's been ages since anyone completed this particular tutorial trial. Honestly, I don't remember the last time it happened. Certainly not during my tenure. I think the farthest I've seen anyone make it was Floor 73."

Rachel spluttered, then stormed forward, disbelief and frustration vying for dominance in her chest. "This is a normal test? Are you insane? You put people through this on purpose?"

Virial tilted her head, her expression unbothered. "Technically, no. Most never unlock this trial at all. Your group just happened to meet the criteria early. Most stumble upon this dungeon after several weeks, not within the first few days. You simply got here before you probably should have."

Rachel clenched her jaw. It wasn't quite relief that bloomed in her chest, nor was it full-blown anger. Just a confused, seething fatigue made worse by the casual way this infuriating woman kept talking. "You mean to tell me this entire death trap was optional?"

"Optional, yes. But also incredibly rewarding," Virial replied with a smile. "Your skill growth, mental resilience, and team coordination have skyrocketed. And I daresay you'll find your efforts rewarded handsomely."

Rachel snorted, arms crossed. "We killed a half-dozen monsters that could snap us in half with one bad swing. And now you're saying all that was just… bonus content?"

"Well…" Virial tapped a finger to her lips. "That's one way to put it."

Rachel dragged a hand down her face and tried to keep her breathing even. "What comes next, then? Please don't say more trials. We've earned a break."

"Oh, you'll be happy to hear you're done for now. But," Virial paused, raising one perfectly arched brow, "you missed a few steps since you came here so early. Normally, new arrivals select their class before entering the Tower."

Rachel's brows shot up. "Wait. We could've picked classes before all of this?"

Virial waved a hand gently. "Oh dear, no. No one can choose a class before reaching level ten. But it seems you've all surpassed that quite handily. Congratulations, by the way. Nearly reaching level twenty in a tutorial zone is technically impossible. And yet here you are. Remarkable, really."

Rachel shook her head, trying to process the whirlwind of revelations. "Okay, so… we can pick our classes now. Fine. Then what? How long until we go back to Earth?"

Virial brightened. "Ah, that's the other reason I'm here. It's time. You've completed the tower, and the System is preparing to return you to your new starting zone."

Rachel stiffened. "New starting zone? You mean where we came from, right?"

Virial's expression turned almost sympathetic. "Ah, no. I'm afraid that's not how it works. When integrated into the System, a world undergoes complete environmental restructuring. Old buildings, familiar landmasses… they're all either gone, moved, or changed beyond recognition. You'll be assigned to a System-designated settlement."

Rachel's stomach twisted. She had prepared herself for pain, not for loss. Not like this. "So… how long do we have? Will we at least stay together?"

"Yes," Virial replied with a nod. "Teams are typically kept intact. And according to my interface, all of you are being sent to the same place."

She glanced to the side as if reading an invisible prompt. "So I'd recommend choosing your classes as soon as you arrive. The System doesn't like delays, and your next set of challenges will come faster than you expect."

Rachel's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean, not much time? How much is,"

Before the words finished leaving her mouth, a glowing message unfurled in her vision, stamped with the unmistakable sigil of the System.

System Message

Teleportation in progress…

A second screen blinked into place beneath it, and the words that appeared sent a fresh shiver down her spine.

New Location: Welcome to Wolf's Run.

Everything blurred to white.

And the Tower was gone.

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