The Survival of the Third-rate Villain

The next day...

Zephyrus, Pyro, and I packed up our things and began our search for the boss monster.

-Do you know where to find the boss?

Zephyrus asked, glancing at me with low expectations. Pyro was just flying ahead, seemingly carefree and unbothered.

Anyway, this time...

"Yeah, I know where it is."

I answered plainly.

And as soon as those words left my mouth—

-What?!

Zephyrus burst out, clearly surprised. His voice cracked a little, which made me frown—not going to lie.

"..."

-Sorry for being surprised, but ever since we came here... we've just been wandering around without a clear plan, really...

Zephyrus mumbled as he quickly calmed down after seeing my reaction.

-You didn't know where the rift was when we first arrived, so we roamed the forest in the outside world for hours. Then, once we entered here, you told us there was a safe zone—but instead, we stumbled into the Glittermaw Ape's territory.

-And when we finally started hunting the mini-bosses... You didn't know their exact locations either so we searched for so long. That's why I'm surprised now, hearing you suddenly say you know where the boss is.

He followed up with a longer explanation, all while flapping steadily beside me.

"..."

I went silent at his words. He... had a point.

My frown deepened.

-Meep!

Pyro chirped brightly, glancing back over his shoulder mid-flight to check on me. His little expression told me to cheer up.

"Don't worry, Pyro. I'm not feeling down or anything."

I said with a casual shrug.

-Meep meep!

He nodded excitedly, then turned forward again, humming in his own way.

After that...

-So, where's the boss...?

Zephyrus asked again, this time more curious than doubtful.

"Hm?"

I looked at him as he flew to my right side.

Then, casually opening my mouth—

"We're already heading toward him. We just have to keep walking in the direction of the rising sun, and we'll eventually reach the boss's location."

I replied, my eyes lifting to the bright, green-colored sun above us, squinting slightly from its glow.

And with that...

Tap- tap- tap—

F W O O O S H—

We continued on our way.

*****

Yes, we know where the boss is.

The problem is—

-Haaaaaaah...

-Meeeeeeep...

He's too far away from our current location.

"Ugh... Let's settle here and camp for the night."

I mumbled.

-Meep.

-Yeah, let's do that.

Pyro and Zephyrus quickly agreed.

Fwish—

I immediately took out the tent, and the three of us began setting up everything we needed for the night.

It was already dark, and some monsters would be much more active at this hour.

And now that we no longer had the bodies of the mini-bosses with us, we had lost even that bit of passive protection—not even weaker monsters would hesitate to approach now.

Pat—

"Fuuuuuuu..."

I sat down inside the tent and let out a tired sigh.

-We still have stock monster meat. Pyro and I will cook it outside for dinner.

-Meep.

Zephyrus and Pyro said that before heading out.

"Mhm, thanks."

I told them, and they immediately got to work.

It was their turn to cook—it's something they do once a week.

"..."

I silently watched the two from inside the tent, resting. Then, with my brows furrowed slightly...

'This is a big ass dungeon rift.'

I grumbled that inside my head.

Zephyrus, Pyro, and I—the three of us...

We've been walking in the direction of where the sun is rising for over a week now!

And no sign of the boss!

'In the game... There was just a cutscene and after that—they plopped Leon right in front of the boss' temple. No traveling, nothing.'

What a load of bullshit. I wish that happens to us too right now.

Though... I do remember a time skip was mentioned. And if I'm remembering it right—

'It took Leon roughly half a month to reach the temple.'

Meaning...

"Just a few more days and we'll reach it too."

I whispered to myself. Hoping that that's really the case.

...

Anyway...

Zephyrus and Pyro finished roasting the monster meat not long after. And as soon as they got back in the tent—

We started eating.

I also told them that it'll take a few more days of traveling before we reach the boss. And they seemed pretty cool with that.

And so, after dinner...

We trained a little bit—just to keep our bodies in shape—and then we rested for the night.

...

...

*****

It's been 8 months since the three of us entered this dungeon rift.

And finally... after traveling for over two weeks—

T A P—

Zephyrus, Pyro, and I arrived in front of the temple where the boss resides!

It took us longer than we expected because we stopped for days to train and hunted for our food, fighting off monsters along the way.

-Phew, finally...

Zephyrus said, gazing up at the towering ancient temple in front of us.

Weird, multi-colored vines and moss were growing all over its crumbling stone walls, the old carvings and designs already fading with time.

'Still cool looking though.'

I thought.

-Meep...

Pyro let out a relieved sigh too, then turned to look at me.

-Meep?

He asked me what we were doing next.

"Hmm..."

I looked around the area. Then I looked down at myself.

I'm pretty tired from all the walking, but aside from that... I feel good.

And so, opening my mouth—

"Let's rest for a while and recover our stamina. We'll enter later."

I said that.

And at my words...

-That's nice, I need a good rest.

-Meep!

Zephyrus and Pyro immediately agreed.

...

If I had to guess, it was only afternoon, so—we cooked some monster meat for lunch after setting up the tent.

We rested, but truthfully, the three of us were actually meditating, regaining our stamina while continuing our training.

Too bad I already hit my limit on getting stronger just by training... I can't feel any more changes in my body.

...

...

And then finally, after a couple of hours—

"Everyone, ready?"

-Meep!

-Yeah, let's do this.

The three of us were good to go.

Tap—

I stepped into the temple without further ado.

Fwoosh~

Zephyrus and Pyro flew around me, checking the surroundings for any incoming trouble.

Pyro was giving us light too in this dark temple, no sunlight was getting inside here.

Tap— tap— tap—

We moved forward—slow and steady.

We were heading straight ahead.

We stayed vigilant, eyes sharp, ears open, ready for anything.

...

...

...

But—

Tap-

We encountered nothing along the way.

And now...

"..."

-...

-...

We're standing in front of a massive double door made of solid rock. It was obvious that behind it was the boss.

-That's weird, there's nothing on the way.

-Meep...

Zephyrus and Pyro murmured, weirded out by how quiet the approach had been.

"That's true."

I simply replied. I already knew that it would be like this.

I'd encountered nothing on the way here either back when I played the game as Leon.

I would've thought I was cursed if that changed.

(That's why Raye stayed alert the whole time—even knowing the path was supposed to be clear. He was prepared for any unexpected deviation.)

Moving on...

"I'm going to open the door now, get ready."

I declared that, placing my hands on the doors.

-I'm ready.

-Meep.

Zephyrus and Pyro answered in a resolute tone.

"Mhm."

I nodded at them.

And with that—

GRRRREEEAAAAK—!

I pushed the double doors made of stone!

It was loud as fuck!

B O O M—!

Then they opened with a thunderous rumble!

'Stealthily getting inside was never an option, huh.'

I thought.

"..."

I saw a massive, circular chamber behind the doors, and unlike the hallway... It was properly illuminated with never burning torches.

And in the center of this all—

-...

There stood a humanoid monster, made entirely of green wood, motionless and silent.

Swish~

Its jewel-like red eyes began glowing brightly—staring directly at me.

It's the boss... [The Hollowed].

Tap—

With a slight move, the boss turned his whole body to face me.

And with its mouthless face—

-Come.

It spoke, preparing to fight!