Ambiguous Metal and the Dragon Guardian

"A property that becomes harder the more heat it absorbs? That's pretty ambiguous."

The iron gate that had staunchly blocked even the flames hot enough to melt Vulcan's gear was primarily made from a special metal called Flame Arc. It was already astonishing that such a rare material had been used in such quantities to forge the gate, but even more surprising was the fact that its only notable trait was growing harder with absorbed heat.

For something ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠so rare, the ability was disappointingly underwhelming. No gear worth crafting immediately came to mind. It might have some use, but for now, Vulcan decided to stash it away in his sub-space and ponder potential applications later.

—You don't necessarily have to make gear out of it. You've already seen it, right?

—There are ways like building structures, like this one. You need to broaden your thinking.

With no need to worry about the weight once stored in sub-space, Vulcan moved on to the next area. Already stage 4. Tud hadn't revealed how many stages lay ahead or spoiled what traps awaited, cackling to himself about the fun of it all, so Vulcan entered with a touch of tension, wondering what would pop out next.

—This time, you'll have to work for it.

"……?"

Leaving the flame-heated zone behind and venturing deeper, Tud muttered with smug confidence. Vulcan had no idea why his incarnation was so eager to torment him, but it only sparked his competitive fire. Steeling himself, he quickly scanned the surroundings—and spotted something odd.

"A workshop? We couldn't have reached the end already, could we?"

A spacious area opened up, and in one corner sat a fully equipped workshop—not some makeshift setup, but a proper one. The forge blazed with flames like those from before, the anvil and workbench gleamed without a single scorch mark, waiting for him. There were even preserved rations, a bed, and other living quarters. For a moment, Vulcan wondered if this was the dungeon's end.

Tud's words suggested more traps ahead, but this looked like a hideout built just for him to stay in.

—As if. Take a good look.

—Heh heh heh!

"Hm?"

Those ominous words prompted a closer inspection. The space was divided into two main zones. One was the workshop and living area he'd first noticed; the other held a single, massive statue standing alone. But its form felt familiar.

"Lord Tud?"

—Ahem. That's right. It's this body's true form.

The statue was a dragon—Tud's shape from his days as Onyx. Now a cute SD character hovering over Vulcan's head, this was a scaled-down replica of the original. A pedestal altar separated the two zones.

As he approached the altar, the inscribed text caught his eye. At the same time, a quest window appeared before Vulcan.

"What the fuck."

A curse flew from Vulcan's lips upon reading it. Offer 100 Rare-grade or higher items? Even junk ones would fetch a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fortune sold off. The conditions were absurd, and the reward? Silencing the guardian just meant passage to the next stage?

"The guardian's that thing?"

Glancing sharply at Tud, Vulcan turned his gaze back to the statue, activating Dragon Eye.

"Some kind of gargoyle, huh……."

Like a dragon heart, its core sat at throat level. Gargoyle or golem, it didn't matter—the path behind it was clear, but crossing would surely wake it for a fight.

—If this body's incarnation had grown properly, this would be a breeze, no? Don't worry, though. As long as it's Rare grade, it doesn't have to be gear. That's why this body told you to stock up on materials…….

But before Tud finished, Vulcan acted. If the guardian was the issue, just destroy it. Silencing it meant no need for tributes, so he nocked an arrow.

Gargoyle-types didn't activate or counter unless approached, making them easy if spotted early. Snipe from afar, then approach the wreckage.

Pheew—!

What he loosed was a Shattering Arrow. Forged from adamantium reforged from the destroyed Arrow of Judgment, an Epic-grade arrow. Gargoyles and golems often had magic barriers, but this would pierce straight to the core. He prepped telekinesis as backup, eyes tracking the shot.

Thung?!

"Huh?"

—Hmph. Useless.

—No physical or magical force can cross that boundary.

Vulcan's trick failed this time. A barrier or shield from the altar divided the zones—the arrow bounced off before reaching it.

'Adamantium, though…….'

Adamantium crushed all magic, so this was a spell surpassing its properties.

"Whatever."

Vulcan didn't give up easily. Recalling ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the bounced arrow by hand, he leaped across the boundary himself.

"My move first!"

The moment he crossed into its domain, golden eyes blazed as the crouching dragon-shaped guardian rose. No level check needed—his body tingled, sensing its overwhelming power.

"Strength Enhancement, Judgment Strike!"

He knew. A head-on fight was suicide. But it needed time to fully awaken and move. Vulcan poured everything into the Shattering Arrow: tripling strength temporarily, then adding a strike proportional to that power.

All or nothing. Pierce the core in one shot, silence it.

—Well, feeling it firsthand isn't bad.

As the arrow left the string, Tud smirked meaningfully, even watching it fly true toward the core.

Craaang!!

"?!"

The arrow struck the throat—but instead of shattering through, it merely smacked and bounced off.

"Grrraaawr!!!"

The failed attack only enraged it.

"How—no wound…… Gah?!"

No time to panic. Confirming the arrow useless, he telekinetically recalled it and turned to flee—but in a blink, the guardian was behind him, swatting.

Kwaang!!

He whipped his shield-arm forward. Its damage-halving option on direct hits helped, but his body screamed.

"Urghhh!"

He bounced across the floor multiple times, HP chunked away, legs buckling.

—Tricks have their limits.

"Nngh, shouldn't you help your dying incarnation?"

—You should've listened.

Tud's vengeful cackling for past traps was infuriating, but Vulcan had chosen combat over advice—no retort.

At least the guardian wasn't pressing immediately after the hit.

"Grr rumble."

Like its master's nasty temperament, it toyed with him, slowly closing off escape while blocking the path.

'No running anyway, huh.'

No other exits; the next door was somewhere, but locked until the guardian was silenced. Its leisure stung his pride, but bought time.

'Head-on is certain loss. Evasion nearly impossible at that speed. Good thing is crossing the boundary might work…….'

It blocked retreat despite power and speed—likely designed that way.

'A way to trick and shake it…….'

Dodge it, cross back—survive. But no ideas; specs made it impossible, and his skills weren't combat-heavy. Situation dire.

"Fine. Let's do this."

No quitting. Respawning was an option, but fury-boiled Vulcan clenched his teeth, facing it squarely. Bracing his core, he opened sub-space.

"Power Throw!!"

Out came massive items, hurled wildly. Not weapons—building materials. Heavy stone bases, split rocks, crafting and construction items flew chaotically.

"Grng?"

They couldn't hurt it. It swatted and shattered them with its tail like annoyances.

"Hyaah!!!"

Using the debris to obscure vision, Vulcan swung a full 1-kan tower extension.

"Kyaaak!!"

Kwa-duk!!

But the sword-like swing never connected. It bit first, crumbling the tower like a snack mid-air.

"Whoa!"

Follow-up paw strike. Casual like swatting flies, but devastating—heavier, more destructive than any attack yet.

"Shadow Step."

Boot skill activated: teleport via shadows to where they touched.

"Kra?"

Whoosh!!

Its space-rending paw smashed empty air. He'd thrown big items and swung the tower to create this moment: angling a torch to stretch his shadow behind the debris for cover.

'Light Refraction.'

It whirled, but Vulcan emerged from shadow into light, gaining advanced stealth.

'Just get out……!'

Huaaaang!!

One leap to boundary freedom—but a horrific whoosh from behind.

"!!"

Instinct screamed: dodge or be shredded, crushed. He dove, abandoning the boundary, rolling on the floor.

Kwa-gwang!!!

The spot exploded. Not even full power, yet the shockwave lifted his rolling body.

"Scroll of Space, activate!"

Exposed, he pulled the Scroll of Space from inventory, teleporting to his saved spot: pre-Shadow Step standoff position.

"Krehng!!"

Dungeon rules might invalidate it on re-entry, but better than death. Runes couldn't, but the scroll overwrote saved spots.

Back to square one—except now it charged to rip him apart, no waiting.

"Alright, for real now."

Despair loomed. Yet hope flickered in Vulcan's eyes. The closer to impossible, the more his warrior blood boiled.