Labyrinth (3)

Kael hesitated, his breath caught in his throat.

He had come here to challenge the Skelvanith Wyrm, a powerful A-rank monster. But now, staring at the broken and charred corpse of the Wyrm sprawled on the ground, his heart sank.

The Wyrm hadn't fallen in combat with him—it had already been slain.

The beast that killed it stood before him: The Infernal Drake.

Its massive body was covered in scales that glowed like molten lava, veins of fiery orange pulsating with heat.

The Drake's glowing eyes turned toward Kael, and the cavern seemed to grow even hotter.

ROOOOAARRR...

The beast let out a deafening roar, its breath igniting the air in front of it.

Kael instinctively raised his sword, but his hands trembled as he gripped the hilt.

"This wasn't supposed to happen," he muttered, his voice shaky.

The Drake took a step forward, its claws gouging deep trenches in the stone floor.