CHAPTER 78: INTO THE 10TH FLOOR PART VIII - THE BOSS

Final Arena — Boss Approaching

The ground beneath each arena quaked, veins of glowing red energy crawling outward from the central platform. Mana surged like a living tide, distorting the very air. Above, a circular gate spiraled open, revealing the abyssal heart of the 10th Floor — a hollow sky swirling with cosmic flame and void ash.

—

[WARNING: BOSS ENTITY INCOMING]

[Synchronizing Arenas: 3/3]

[Initiating Final Boss Encounter: "Tri-Soul Behemoth, Korr’Thal"]

—

Noel’s Arena

Noel dropped to one knee, his breath still uneven despite the victory. He popped open a large mana-rich potion and drank it in a single gulp, the bottle trembling in his hand. Steam rose off his body as the last embers of his Astral Overdrive faded.

His voice was hoarse. "Damn... I’ve got nothing left but a prayer."

But the potion stabilized him — enough to stand, enough to grip his sword again.

—

Astraia’s Arena

Astraia’s radiant form dimmed, her Divine Form dissipating like golden feathers scattered by the wind. She was soaked in sweat, her breathing shallow. Cuts lined her arms and sides.

She uncorked a gleaming crystal vial, drinking down the contents in one fluid motion.

[Status Restored – Partial Recovery]

But even then, her reserves were dangerously low.

"...No more retries," she muttered. "That was everything."

She looked up, her sharp eyes burning with renewed resolve.

—

Blank’s Arena

As the system thrummed and the dimensional seals aligned, I stood alone — scarred, cracked armor smoldering from the fight.

But I was still standing. And I wasn’t done.

I tapped the side of my mask, activating the communicator rune embedded beneath.

A thin static connected us all. I could hear their breathing, heavy but stable.

"We have no more time," I said calmly. "This thing won’t let us out unless it dies."

A beat passed.

"Then what’s the plan?" Noel asked, his tone urgent.

I narrowed my eyes as I saw the growing silhouette begin to descend into my arena — three converging manifestations of a massive, triple-headed monstrosity.

"As what I have mentioned, this boss splits its form between all three arenas," I explained quickly. "But it shares one soul. The moment we deal a finishing blow in sync, the soul destabilizes and it dies."

Astraia coughed once, then steadied her voice. "So we have to hit the killing strike at the exact same time?"

"Exactly."

"Fine," she muttered. "Call it. When the time comes, call it."

I clenched my fists, crimson embers reigniting around my knuckles.

The ground split open before me — and the full form of the Tri-Soul Behemoth, Korr’Thal rose, all three of its bodies manifesting in our arenas like a divine punishment.

Its roars harmonized — echoing across dimensions.

I took one slow breath, then spoke again:

"We’re going to end this."

"Noel. Astraia."

"Get ready to kill it together."

—

Floor 10 — Final Boss Encounter[

Boss: Tri-Soul Behemoth, Korr’Thal]

[Arena 1: Blank]

—

The moment Korr’Thal fully manifested in my arena, the atmosphere thickened. Reality groaned around it — like the world was holding its breath.

A mass of abyssal sinew and molten armor. Three shifting heads sharing a singular core, flickering between realms like a glitching nightmare.

Its body towered over me, arms like collapsing meteors, each movement accompanied by spatial distortions.

The moment I stepped forward, it moved.

Fast.

Faster than anything that size should be.

BOOM—!

A massive arm swung like a hammer. I barely ducked — the aftershock alone cracked the arena floor behind me. My cloak tore, and my feet skidded several meters.

My body tensed.

"This thing... isn’t even close to the Apex-class Troll I fought before."

I ignited Emberfang Style, switching into Explosive Ember Stance. The flames surged, circling my limbs in a chaotic spiral.

I dashed forward, cloaked in heat distortion.

My fist met its abdomen — direct hit.

But instead of staggering... it twisted.

One of its heads snapped toward me, opened its mouth, and screamed.

My mana faltered.

The scream wasn’t sound — it was a pulse of spatial inversion.

The backlash sent me flying, slamming into the curved wall of the arena.

I coughed blood.

"Shit..."

[Burn Stack: 1]

[Burn Stack: 2]

I rushed again, weaving between its limbs. I struck its ribs, its shoulder, then ducked low — dodging a whip-like tail that shattered stone on contact.

[Burn Stack: 5]

It retaliated instantly — a low sweep of its clawed foot. I jumped — but a second limb speared upward. I twisted mid-air and redirected myself with a mana burst to land behind it.

Too late.

Its third arm, which had split from its spine, lashed me mid-dodge, cracking my shoulder plate.

Pain erupted in my arm, but I gritted my teeth.

[Burn Stack: 7]

[Warning: Internal Bleeding Detected]

My stamina was draining fast.

Its adaptive body was already figuring out my rhythm.

I switched into Precision Flame Stance, striking pressure points to disable limb articulation. I rained blows up its spine, fists glowing like magma.

[Burn Stack: 9]

[Burn Stack: 10]

[Burn Stack: 11]

Korr’Thal roared, one head lighting up with a violet glow — its core phasing partially into the wall.

It vanished—then reappeared behind me.

"—!"

I barely turned in time to cross my arms. The impact launched me across the arena. I rolled twice and came up gasping.

Even that was almost fatal.

’This wasn’t just a test of strength anymore — this was a fight of attrition, reflexes, and split-second decision-making.’

And this bastard was evolving every second.

"I need to reach fifteen burn stacks before we even have a shot..."

But my body wasn’t keeping up. Emberfang was draining me fast, and even with regeneration, the mana backlash from this prolonged exchange was brutal.

Still, I stood tall — blood running down my arms, eyes blazing beneath the mask.

"Let’s go again, you Rift-born freak."

-

[Switching Arenas — Astraia]

The divine light in her blade flickered. Her breathing ragged, her clothes torn, but her stance perfect.

"...I’m not letting him show me up."

-

[Switching Arenas — Noel]

Lightning arced off his skin. Blood on his temple. He grit his teeth, eyes locked on the hulking form in front of him.

"Blank... if you’re still going, then so am I."

-

[Boss Health Sync: 78% Remaining]

[Cooperative Kill Protocol – Pending]

-