Chapter 7

    Meanwhile, Alan was dealing with an S-rank spider-type sub-boss, which was proving to be quite a challenge. The situation was further complicated by the cramped space, making it difficult to dodge effectively. Using skills was out of the question, as each attack echoed throughout the area, alerting the nearby monsters and drawing them in hordes.

    They were currently in a sewer, with moss and grime clinging to the pipes, and water seeping out. As for the smell, it was beyond description.

    Seeing the monsters approaching, Alan managed to stun the sub-boss and quickly grabbed Claudia, running in the opposite direction. The spider sub-boss and the monsters were close behind. If they stayed where they were, they would surely perish.

    After running for a while, they stumbled upon a drainage hole leading to the lower level. The water wasn't too deep, so they decided to jump down immediately.

    The environment changed to a spacious underground dungeon, surrounded by darkness and gloom. Cells lined the walls all the way to the end. Inside, there were no monsters, only piles of human-like skeletons.

    The area they stepped into had water up to their shins. If the water level were any higher, attacking would be difficult. Soon, they heard noises from the pipes above. Alan didn't wait for them to come down, he immediately used his skill to attack.

    Boom!

    The monsters fell dead in droves, leaving only the sub-boss that managed to follow them down. Alan didn't give it a chance to attack, swiftly lunging in to cut off all eight of its legs, rendering it immobile and bleeding out.

    The protagonist, being generous, offered Claudia the chance to finish it off for the experience points. Claudia didn't refuse and swiftly dealt the final blow. Alas, the S-rank sub-boss yielded only two percent experience, leaving him inwardly disappointed. At present, his rank was unknown, and it took defeating more than fifty monsters to level up even once.

    After dealing with the sub-boss, they continued exploring and discovered that this was the final level. This wide-open area was undoubtedly meant for the boss.

    Before long, the boss appeared before them. The water, which was only ankle-deep, suddenly revealed a massive boss about four meters tall emerging from the murky depths. Upon its appearance, Alan quickly used his skill to gather information.

    Monster Information: Santus, the Guardian of the Sewer Prison (Dungeon Boss)

    Type: Giant Squid

    Rank: S+

    Description: Santus, the Guardian of the Sewer Prison of Athenos, resembles a Kraken. Its outer shell is rough, with high defensive strength. It attacks indiscriminately and possesses the ability to heal itself.

    Weakness: If the monster is afflicted with a bleeding status, its power significantly decreases.

    Alan launched a probing attack at the boss in front of him, observing its movements. The giant squid swept its tentacles across the ground, sending water splashing forward in an attack. Alan dodged to the side and circled around to the back, slicing at its rear tentacles, only to find that it healed itself in an instant.

    The boss retaliated with its rear tentacles in a swift attack. Alan leaped high into the air, shifting his target to its head instead, noticing that its health bar decreased. However, while Alan was focused on attacking, he failed to notice a tentacle sweeping towards Claudia. He saw it but couldn't reach him in time.

    Claudia, seeing the tentacle coming at him, instinctively used the Instant Movement skill to dodge to the other side. He was surprised at how agilely he managed to evade it.

    Claudia felt his blood pumping with excitement. He could clearly see its movements, which made him feel both thrilled and strangely familiar with the situation.

    After leaving this dungeon, he needed to prove himself. For now, he didn't want to interfere with the protagonist's attack, especially since the protagonist seemed to be handling it with ease. Intervening would only complicate things.

    Seeing this, he shouted to the protagonist that he was fine, so there was no need to worry about him.

    "I'm fine, Brother Alan, don't worry," Claudia shouted, prompting Alan to nod in acknowledgment and unleash a powerful attack.

    Alan used a wide-area attack skill, landing a critical hit. Spotting a weakness, he leaped upward and executed a combo, repeatedly stabbing the center of its head, causing it to bleed. He continued his assault without pause.

    As the health bar depleted, the boss fell still. But moments later, it suddenly regenerated, its health bar refilling completely, entering its second phase. Its outer shell peeled away, revealing purple flesh inside, and its suction cups transformed into sharp spikes.

    Ding!

    Monster Information: Santus, the Guardian of the Sewer Prison (Dungeon Boss - Phase Two)

    Type: Mutated Giant Squid

    Rank: SS

    Description: Santus, the Guardian of the Sewer Prison of Athenos, resembles a Kraken due to absorbing power from monsters within the prison, evolving into its true form.

    Weakness: Vulnerable to fire, attack the head.

    'Phase Two? Impossible!' Claudia was momentarily stunned by the revelation. As it launched an attack, he narrowly dodged. He tried not to overthink and instead focused on the immediate threat.

    The boss was now several times stronger, and as time went on, Alan found himself struggling. He made a misstep and was struck by the creature, sending him crashing violently into the prison wall, causing the stone ceiling above to collapse.

    Just before it could bury him, he used his last ounce of strength to escape to the other side.

    "Brother Alan!"

    Seeing Alan get attacked, Claudia was alarmed. He quickly moved towards Alan, summoned a potion, and without concern for manners, supported the larger man and poured it into his mouth immediately.

    The boss didn't allow any respite, its tentacles launching an immediate assault. Unfortunately for it, the attack failed. Claudia, with one hand supporting Alan and the other casting a fire skill, managed to defend just in time, causing the tentacles to burn and then regenerate once more.

    "Brother Alan, rest here for a moment. I'll protect you," Claudia said, carefully propping Alan against the wall before turning away, unaware of the expression on Alan's face.

    Claudia used the elixir to boost his speed and attack power, a gift from Jonathan. Then, he aimed a fire skill at the creature's weak spot on its head. Its tentacles rose to block just in time, and another tentacle lashed the water, drenching him completely. As it attacked again, he dodged to the other side. Spotting an opening, he summoned a dagger, infused it with a fiery aura, and plunged it right into the center of its head.

    Alan, having recovered, quickly joined in, worried that the smaller man might be in trouble. When seeing Claudia was fine, he breathed a sigh of relief.

    The two of them took turns in the fight, one distracting while the other attacked. Once again, they were surprised at how well they worked together, as if they'd fought side by side hundreds of times. However, there was no time to dwell on that. When the boss lost its rhythm, Alan didn't hesitate and swiftly decapitated it in one strike. Blood spurted out, turning the water a deep crimson all around.

    After defeating the dungeon boss, an item suddenly appeared in Alan's large hand.

    Item: Renaf (Twin Daggers)

    Rank: SS

    Attributes: Weapon Skill: Eternal Devour (Absorbs the enemy's life force upon a kill *usable without limit*)

    Details: Renaf is the signature weapon of the Lord of Athenos, the ruler of this mysterious prison. Renaf not only deals massive damage with regular attacks but also grants excellent critical damage bonuses and can easily inflict a bleeding status on enemies.

    One dagger is glossy black, resembling sharp bones fused into a blade. The other dagger is blood-red, identical in every way.

    Claudia looked at Renaf with a serious expression. Alan, who was supposed to receive a Rank S Renaf, unexpectedly got the twin daggers, which were Rank SS. The boss, which should have died in the first phase, mutated into a second phase.

    What was the cause of this? Was it because he entered the novel, causing the story to change?

    No, that couldn't be it. He merely took on someone else's body. How could that affect the dungeon?

    Alan gazed at the weapon for a moment before turning to see Claudia staring at Renaf without blinking. He seemed to like it.

    Alan, who was already planning to give the weapon to Claudia, offered it without a second thought.

    Claudia, who was lost in thought, widened his eyes in surprise. He brushed aside the serious matters and immediately refused the protagonist.

    “Brother Alan, you should keep it. It suits you better.” How could he dare accept something meant for the protagonist? It was something the protagonist was supposed to receive from the start.

    “Don’t you like it?”

    “I don’t, actually. I prefer using swords,” Claudia replied instinctively, without realizing it.

    “Swords? But I saw you staring at it without blinking,” Alan thought the other was just being polite, so he asked again.

    ‘Huh? He likes swords? Why would he like them when he’s never even used one before?’ Claudia wondered to himself, but soon dismissed the thought, realizing that people often like things for no reason at all.

    “Oh, I was just looking at it because its stats are really good, and I think it suits you perfectly. You should keep it, Brother Alan.” The protagonist must have thought he liked it and wanted to give it to him.

    ‘He was looking at it because it suits him, huh?’

    “Alright, thank you very much,” Alan gave him a slight smile and stored the weapon away.

    Before leaving the dungeon, Alan checked himself and the person in front of him. As he looked over the smaller man, he noticed how soaked and vulnerable he appeared.

    His sharp eyes darkened as he took in the sight of the wet, clinging dark shirt, revealing everything from the flat stomach to the curved waist and even the roundness of his backside.

    Alan glanced away and immediately pulled out a long black coat from his inventory, offering it to the person in front of him.

    "You're soaked, put this on. It's cold here."

    "Oh, thank you," Claudia replied, feeling a chill at the mention of the cold. He expressed his gratitude sincerely, noting how Alan always seemed kind to him.

    Was the protagonist this kind to everyone?

    Claudia quickly donned the coat, catching the familiar cool scent of its owner, which inexplicably comforted him. He thought to himself that he would return it next time.

    Little did Claudia know, Alan was only kind to him. He never paid any attention to anyone else.

    "There are people entering the dungeon. Hold my hand," Alan heard the noise of a large group coming from the pipe above, seemingly heading their way. He quickly activated the 'Shadow Cloud Concealment' skill to become invisible.

    "Uh, okay!" Claudia grabbed the large hand, confused at first, but understood immediately once the skill took effect.

    Shadow Cloud Concealment Level SS

    Description: Allows invisibility for one hour

    Cooldown: 24 hours per use

    *The skill affects both living and non-living things upon contact*

    The effect of the Shadow Cloud Concealment skill made them vanish, and before the outsiders arrived, they walked hand in hand, leaving the dungeon immediately.

    The environment shifted back to the present. It was now six in the morning, and the sky was not yet fully bright. However, they could sense a great deal of commotion.

    Reporters were waiting in front of the Gate, eager spectators were watching the situation unfold, and the Hunter Association was there to oversee everything.

    Alan walked past them indifferently, leading the smaller person to the parking lot where his beloved big bike awaited. Claudia thought to himself, why does the protagonist have to be so cool and handsome? Damn it, is he going to take him for a ride?

    Lost in his silly thoughts, Claudia snapped back to reality when the protagonist placed a helmet on his head. Alan noticed him jump and chuckled softly, tapping the helmet twice to tease Claudia affectionately.

    Before getting on the bike, the protagonist didn't forget to send a message to the Hunter Association, suggesting they interview him later to avoid keeping them waiting.

    "Brother Alan, what about them?" Claudia asked, glancing at the bustling crowd.

    "Don't worry, I've informed the Association. Get on the bike," the protagonist reassured him, dispelling any doubts, and called Claudia to get on.

    "Hold on tight."

    Claudia hesitated to embrace the person in front of him as instructed, so his slender hands awkwardly reached out to grab the edge of the tall man's shirt.

    "Ah!" Seeing Claudia's hesitation, Alan swiftly grabbed his slender hands and wrapped them tightly around his own waist. The two of them were now pressed closely together, almost as if they were one. Claudia, who was embracing the larger man, could feel the taut muscles of Alan's abdomen. His face flushed a deep red, spreading down to his neck. Luckily, the protagonist couldn't see his face; otherwise, Claudia wouldn't know where to hide.

    However, Alan was seemingly aware of it. He couldn't help but smile widely for the first time, both with his eyes and mouth. Sadly, Claudia didn't get to see it.