CHAPTER 42: JAILER AND THE HOUND PART 1

The sound of approaching footsteps grew louder, each metallic clank echoing through the prison corridors like a funeral dirge.

Jack pressed himself against the cold stone wall, his wounded body protesting as he tried to control his breathing. His mana was slowly regenerating, but at 162 out of 300, he was far from full strength for what was coming.

’System, give me everything you can on these field bosses.’

[Scanning approaching entities...]

[WARNING: Limited data available]

[The Jailer | Rank: Dread.]

[The Chained Beast | Rank: Terror.]

[Both entities are close together.]

[Recommendation: Avoid direct confrontation until mana reserves recover]

’That’s not going to be an option,’ Jack thought grimly as the footsteps grew even closer. Through the phosphorescent gloom, he could make out shapes moving in the distance. One humanoid but impossibly tall, the other was low to the ground.

The Jailer stepped into view first, and Jack’s breath caught in his throat.

The creature had once been human, but centuries of exposure to the Spire’s corruption had transformed it into something far more terrible.

He stood nearly four meters tall, its frame gaunt but powerful, wrapped in tattered robes. Rusted chains hung from its arms and torso like ceremonial vestments, and in its skeletal hands, it carried a massive key ring that clinked with every step.

But it was the creature’s head that truly horrified Jack. Where a face should have been, there was only an iron mask welded directly to the skull, with glowing red eye slits that burned with malevolence.

"Ah, there you are, little bug. I felt you destroy one of my anchors. Such initiative. It’s been decades since someone showed such disrespect in my domain."

Behind the Jailer padded its companion, and Jack understood immediately why the God of Death had called this place a prison for things too terrible to remain free.

The Two-Headed Hell Hound was a nightmare, easily the size of a small dragon, with muscle that rippled beneath its hide.

[Enemy Detected: The Jailer]

[Rank: Dread]

[Level: 38]

[HP: 15,000]

[Abilities: Necromantic magic, Chain manipulation, Soul drain]

[Enemy Detected: The Chained Beast.]

[Rank: Terror.]

[Level: 33.]

[HP: 12,000.]

[Abilities: Dual flame breath, Flame Claws.]]

[WARNING: These entities have never been separated. They fight as a single unit.]

Jack’s heart sank as he processed the numbers. Nearly 30,000 combined hit points, and they worked together with the precision of lifelong partners. His strongest attack, Thundershock, would only deal 1,029 damage. Even if every single one of his attacks hit, he’d need to land over thirty strikes to bring them down.

’System, please tell me you have some tactical advice.’

[Analysis: Direct assault will result in 97.3% probability of death.]

[Recommendation: Use the environment, exploit their coordination, target structural weaknesses]

The Jailer raised one skeletal hand, and Jack felt the air around him grow thick and oppressive. Ancient magic crackled between the creature’s fingers as chains throughout the chamber began to rattle and move of their own accord.

"You’ve caused quite enough trouble for one day, little mortal. But I appreciate the entertainment. It’s been so terribly boring down here, watching the same prisoners for century after century. Tell me, before I add you to my collection, how did you manage to reach this place?"

Jack forced himself to stand straighter, lightning already beginning to crackle around his hands. ’Fate.’

The Jailer’s laugh was like the sound of grinding metal. "Fate is a cruel mistress. You have my sympathy."

The creature gestured sharply, and every chain in the immediate area suddenly sprang to life. They whipped through the air like striking serpents, forcing Jack to dive and roll as metal links crashed into the stone where he’d been standing.

But the chain attack was just a distraction. While Jack was focused on avoiding the animated metal, the Two-Headed Hell Hound had circled around behind him, both heads inhaling deeply as flames gathered in their throats.

[Incoming: Dual Flame Breath]

’Lightning Steps!’

Jack teleported just as the two headed hell hound let out fire from its mouths, the superheated air singing his hair even through his magical displacement. The flames were hot enough to turn stone red-hot, and when they struck the ground, the rock began to melt.

’Thunder Stomp!’

Jack brought his foot down hard, sending a bolt of electricity erupting toward the hound. The lightning struck true, but the massive creature barely flinched.

[-588 HP]

[Two-Headed Hell Hound: 11,412/12,000 HP]

’That barely scratched it!’

The Jailer’s metallic laughter echoed through the chamber. "Is that the best you can manage? How disappointing. I was hoping for more of a challenge."

More chains whipped toward Jack, but this time he was ready. He grabbed one of the attacking chains and channeled electricity directly into it, watching as lightning arced along the metal links back toward the Jailer.

’Thundershock!’

The electricity raced along the metal, striking the Jailer! The creature staggered, its glowing red eyes flickering as the lightning coursed through its undead form.

[-1,029 HP]

[The Jailer: 13,971/15,000 HP]

"Clever," the Jailer hissed, its voice carrying a note of approval. "But cleverness will only carry you so far."

The creature raised both hands, and Jack felt something terrible happening to the air around him. The temperature dropped twenty degrees in an instant, and wisps of necrotic energy began seeping from the walls.

The Jailer was drawing power from the prison itself, channeling the accumulated suffering of centuries into a single devastating attack.

But Jack wasn’t the only one who could use the environment to his advantage. As the Jailer gathered its power, Jack noticed something crucial.

one of the massive support pillars was directly behind the Two-Headed Hell Hound, and it was already weakened from the creature’s flame breath.

If I can bring that pillar down...

Jack feinted left, drawing both the Jailer and its companion toward him. The Hell Hound lunged at him, both heads snapping with jaws that could bite through steel. Jack waited until the last possible second, then used Lightning Steps to teleport directly behind the creature.

’Thunder Stomp!’

Instead of targeting the hound directly, Jack aimed his attack at the already damaged stone. Thunder cracked through the air as electricity struck the weakened support, and ancient mortar that had held for millennia finally gave way.

The massive pillar toppled with a sound like the end of the world, its multi-ton weight crashing down directly onto the Two-Headed Hell Hound.

ARGHH!!

YELP!!!

The creature’s yelp of pain was cut short as tons of stone pinned it to the ground, both heads struggling weakly beneath the crushing weight.

[-8,000 HP]

[Two-Headed Hell Hound: 3,412/12,000 HP]

The Jailer let out a roar of fury that shattered several nearby chains. "You dare harm my pup?!"

Necrotic energy exploded from the creature’s form, washing over Jack like a tide of liquid death. Pain beyond mortal comprehension coursed through his body as the dark magic tried to tear his soul from his flesh.

[Soul Drain attack]

[185 damage dealt]

[Temporary debuff: -20% to all stats for 60 seconds]

Jack was caught off guard, he could feel there energy leaving his body abruptly. He gripped his chest tightly like he was trying to grab his heart to ease the pain.