The Vast Plain and the Dragon Lord
A vast plain stretched out in all directions, completely open. Standing there was a beautiful woman with golden blonde hair and golden eyes.
She wore a simple white dress, but her exquisite features made even that look luxurious.
"...Wow."
All that escaped Han Ji-woo's lips upon facing her was a single gasp of admiration. Her doll-like perfect face and the flawless figure visible beneath the dress made her seem like no human from this world. No, she felt more like a work of art in herself.
But then.
Grrrrr-!
Lucy, perched atop Han Ji-woo's head, huddled tight and growled, her body trembling violently.
"Lucy?"
Han Ji-woo had never seen her like this before and quickly scooped her into his arms. Lucy's eyes stayed fixed on the woman ahead, wide with obvious terror.
"Uh... uhhh."
It wasn't just Lucy reacting strangely. Pao had gone pale and collapsed to the ground right there. While Lucy glared defiantly at the woman, Pao couldn't even lift his eyes.
Squeeee-!
"Queeeeek!"
Thud!
Sasuri and Turkan followed Pao, crumbling one after another.
As Han Ji-woo checked on his suffering pets, his gaze turned to Seibier. Unlike the others, this one didn't look tormented at all. Instead, Seibier wagged its tail happily at the sight of her. But its expression held a hint of confusion.
Then the woman spoke again.
"You've worked hard to get this far."
She looked no older than her mid-twenties at most, yet she addressed him casually from the start.
"Uh... who are you?"
Han Ji-woo spoke politely. The aura emanating from her made something like physical age irrelevant.
She smiled at his question.
"Who do you think I am?"
"Answering a question with another just makes me even more clueless."
The woman raised a finger toward the sky above her head. Words materialized in the air.
Mini Dungeon Lowest Floor Boss Monster
<Ibelius>
"Ibelius? ...The Golden Dragon Ibelius? Dragon Lord Ibelius? You?"
Han Ji-woo's eyes went wide as he repeated the question four times over.
The woman who called herself Ibelius chuckled softly, clearly amused by his reaction.
"Yes. That's me, Ibelius."
Only then did Han Ji-woo understand his pets' reactions. She showed no hostility, but her sheer presence crushed them. All monsters in the world were destined to cower and submit to dragon fear. That's why they trembled at her voice, limbs shaking uncontrollably.
Being human, Han Ji-woo escaped that mental blow. And Seibier, meeting a kin, was thrilled instead—though puzzled by the different appearance.
Seeing that, Seibier must be growing up smart.
Back when it first hatched, Seibier had mistaken Han Ji-woo for kin just because he wore black hatchling shell armor. But no longer so simple.
Now knowing her identity, Han Ji-woo bowed deeply and respectfully.
"Thank you. Thanks to you, I've survived this long."
"I merely opened the door of opportunity. Your explosive growth was all your own doing."
Straightening up, Han Ji-woo tilted his head.
"But... are you really the lowest floor's boss monster?"
"Yes."
"The real Ibelius?"
"More precisely, it's Ibelius's lingering will. Not the true Ibelius herself."
She was just a manifestation of Ibelius's remnant thoughts. Yet even this form left his pets reeling—what if the real body descended?
I'd need diapers first.
As Han Ji-woo thought that, a soft glow emanated from Ibelius's body.
"I've talked too long with an enemy before me."
"...So it comes to this after all?"
"I am this dungeon's boss monster, after all. We have to fight."
"Weren't you helping me?"
"Pitiful?"
"People should be consistent. If you're gonna help, go all in like this till the end..."
"I'm not a person. I'm a dragon."
"Can I take that as dragons being fickle?"
"You just insulted dragons—mind if I get mad as their representative?"
"My bad. ...No, Lady Ibelius, there must be a reason for this."
"Curious?"
"Curious enough to go mad."
"Win this boss fight, and you'll know."
"Haaah."
Han Ji-woo sighed deeply and gripped his twin swords with reluctance. The Hidden Space was formed by Ibelius's will. Helping him there meant she had helped. Her lingering will had pierced even the Creator's mini dungeon, creating the synchronization system. Thanks to that, he'd reached the lowest floor without much struggle.
But why claim the role of boss monster now? He was dying to know, and the only way was to beat her.
He checked his pets. Excluding Seibier, the four were still tense but regaining control. Lucy's trembling eased, and the fallen ones rose shakily.
"Looks like you're all prepared. Then I should get serious out of courtesy."
"You don't have to bother with courtesy."
Ibelius chuckled lowly at his urgent plea. The laugh rumbled through his ears, growing louder.
Fwoooosh-!
The light from Ibelius exploded outward, taking form. When it faded, a massive golden dragon stood there—enormous wings, long tail, colossal bulk.
Just looking at it sent chills down his spine. Frozen at this first encounter, Han Ji-woo realized she had done nothing but reveal her true form. Yet he was utterly overwhelmed.
That's... a dragon.
He'd seen a hatchling in Seibier, but a full dragon up close like this?
"My neck's gonna snap."
It hurt. Her head was so high he had to crane his neck fully to meet her eyes.
Her true words choked the breath from his lungs. But Han Ji-woo endured. Her presence was immense, yet he'd faced worse just two days ago.
The Creator. Compared to that insane pervert, Ibelius felt almost comforting.
His pets felt it too. Against the Creator, they'd been helpless; now they burned with fighting spirit.
Probably because this isn't her true body.
The golden dragon before him was just a fragment of her will. That's why they could stand against her. And to think even this sliver held such power.
Anyway.
With those final words, the mini dungeon's ultimate battle began.
* * *
"...What the hell am I supposed to do?"
The words slipped out on their own.
Just 20 minutes into the fight with Ibelius. His pets lay unconscious, battered wrecks, and Han Ji-woo was one step from collapse. Sheer willpower kept him going.
Nothing pierced her overwhelming form. Worse, she'd only swung her tail.
Dragon Lord, sovereign over all dragons. No magic, no breath, no flight or fear aura. Just tail swings that pummeled them senseless.
He checked his status window. HP at a measly 17. No recovery potions left.
"Haa. Haa."
Panting, he was surrounded by chunks of shattered undead monsters. Mana potions exhausted—no more summoning his undead legion.
Pets' HP lingered below 10; one tail graze would kill them.
Han Ji-woo ground his teeth.
"You're the one who's ridiculously strong."
"Right now, sure. But you think they'll stay that way till the lowest floor?"
"...".
Han Ji-woo swallowed a sigh. He'd thought his aid had accelerated the 27th heroes far beyond previous batches. But even that fell short—draining.
Yet he wasn't one to slump in defeat. If prodded, he pushed back—that was his nature.
"Simple fix, then. I grow even crazier fast and aid them harder."
Ibelius stared down silently. Her face betrayed no emotion.
But somehow, Han Ji-woo sensed a faint smile. Her next words made him doubt it.
Her gaze shifted to the fainted pets. Sensing doom, Han Ji-woo dashed toward them.
Sure enough, a black shadow blotted the sky, immense pressure bearing down.
Grooooowl-!
Her tail descended to crush the pets. Reaching them just in time, Han Ji-woo spun, arms outstretched, teeth gritted.
It felt like the 63 Building plummeting toward him. The tail was that gigantic and terrifying. Untouched by his swings, now it cleaved space to pulverize everything.
Can't block it.
Obvious. Yet he wanted to protect his pets. His arms would snap on contact, body pulped after.
But if he bought even a split second!
"You bastards! Wake up and run!"
His shout snapped the five fainted pets awake like magic. But none had strength to flee.
Then, as the golden log-like tail bore down on Han Ji-woo's arms—
The Easter Egg triggered.