Memoir (5): Overwhelming the Flame Giant
1. The Kingdom of Fire wasn't a castle at all—it was a flame giant shaped like one. When we realized the blaze we'd mistaken for a fortress was actually a dungeon boss the size of a castle, everyone including me was stunned. But surprisingly, it wasn't that tough once we faced it. Or maybe I was just that strong.
The boss of the S-rank dungeon Kingdom of Fire was the first opponent worthy of my full power since we'd entered. I'd barely lifted a finger until now, but I unleashed all the pent-up frustration on it with my snowflower magic. The giant couldn't withstand the onslaught of chill and was utterly overwhelmed.
Me, single-handedly dominating a flame giant the size of a castle. It was exactly the epic, chest-thumping battle I'd always dreamed of. In that legendary clash, I realized something: I was far stronger than I'd ever imagined. Strong enough to crush an S-rank dungeon boss with ease.
And so, the S-rank dungeon Kingdom of Fire's boss—tentatively dubbed the Colossal Flame Giant—only rattled us with its size at first. After that, it was relentlessly dominated until it finally crumbled powerlessly.
Ku-gu-gu-gu-gu...
"To take down an S-rank dungeon boss this easily... It's impossible."
Just like that unconscious mutter from one of my teammates, overwhelming an S-rank dungeon boss is no small feat. Even seasoned S-rank awakeners can't face them head-on. That's why conquering an S-rank dungeon demands meticulous planning and grueling teamwork to unite as one.
But I'd ignored all that and crushed the Colossal Flame Giant solo because I was on a whole other level.
"No big deal. Even a giant the size of a castle, blazing with fierce blue flames, is just a matchstick before my frost."
It might sound arrogant to outsiders, but it was undeniable fact, so even Team Leader Exy Train had nothing to say. She just let out a disbelieving chuckle and voiced her agreement.
"...Haha, yeah. Normally I'd chew you out as team leader for talking like that. But after you pulled off something this insane so casually, I got nothing. Looks like I'll drop a spot in the world awakener rankings after this."
"Hmph."
I liked that she faced reality head-on. Even as the youngest who carried the team, she praised my efforts without petty jealousy. Exy Train might actually be a decent person.
As I pondered cutting the number of petitions and reports I'd planned to submit upon return from four to one, an ominous sound emanated from the crumbling Colossal Flame Giant.
Hwarururuk!
It was the death throes of the S-rank dungeon boss, the Colossal Flame Giant. Squeezing out its last dregs of power, it hurled a brilliant blue flame torrent toward us—a pathetic last-ditch effort to take at least one of its tormentors with it.
With my back turned, chatting, Exy Train was the target as the flames gaped wide to swallow her.
"Team Leader!!!"
Amid the desperate cries, as Exy Train was about to be engulfed, a white snowflower shield intercepted the flame storm.
Pang!
The moment it touched the shield, the world-splitting blaze fizzled out pathetically. It was the giant's final, desperate attack, but even at full strength it wasn't my match—let alone in its death throes.
Suuu...
With its last gambit failing miserably, the Colossal Flame Giant fully extinguished into a handful of ash. Watching it, Team Leader Exy Train thanked me in a dazed voice.
"Whoa... Thanks for the save. That could've hurt bad. Man, if you get promoted to S-rank, most S-ranks won't even be able to touch you, huh?"
She clapped my shoulder to match my mood, but it didn't magically lift my spirits. Saying I'd outclass most S-ranks post-promotion was just stating the obvious.
Still, it wasn't enough to sour my mood, so I quirked my lips ever so slightly.
"Well, we're teammates. Saving a teammate is just natural."
"Haha... Hearing that in your tone should feel obnoxious normally, but from you, it's not unpleasant. Kinda refreshing, even. Is this the Julie family heir aura?"
Exy Train was top-tier at sucking up. At that level, I couldn't help but lift my lips a bit more.
"Hmph."
"Anyway, if the roles were reversed, I'd save you for sure. I pay back favors double, y'know? So if anything tough comes up, hit me up anytime. Got it?"
"Doubt it'll happen, but if it does, I'll consider it."
"Ahahaha! You're so consistent, it's even more likable! Sit next to me at the afterparty later, yeah?"
Before entering the boss room, Exy Train had just been annoying. But this chat showed she wasn't all bad. Sitting next to her at drinks... maybe occasionally playing along wasn't awful. Building team rapport boosts morale, after all. I'd soon take a team leader spot at Liar's Trap anyway—good practice.
"Fine, just this once..."
As the warm atmosphere enveloped us, one teammate at the back pointed to where the Colossal Flame Giant had rampaged moments ago.
"Stairs appeared over there!"
"Stairs? Whoa, for real."
"Think they're fake?"
"Dude, talking smack to the team leader? Savage."
With the giant gone, the flames that had obscured them cleared, revealing stairs. Looking up, a small altar at the top held a crimson orb embedded there.
It radiated intense heat at a glance. That had to be...
"The Dungeon Core."
As Exy Train said, it was the heart of this S-rank dungeon, Kingdom of Fire—our final objective, the treasure that would make me an S-rank awakener.
I gathered mana, thinking I'd just smash it.
"Then I'll destroy it now."
"Hold up, kiddo. Breaking that summons the Dungeon Lord right away. I faced one once with the guild master—insanely tough. Unreal. So don't rush; let's plan first..."
"A plan? What kind? I can just sweep it like before."
Truth be told, Exy Train seemed decent, but she still underestimated my power. I'd nullified the giant's flames before they reached the raid team, severed its limbs, pierced its chest, and blocked the final blow—all solo.
I didn't need plans against foes I toyed with, even S-rank bosses. Any "plan" would be everyone distracting it while I struck—no challenge. And S-rank Dungeon Lords were Ska Rate's solo level anyway. If she could, so could I.
That was the Julie family way, and I'd lived by it. This time too.
"Lapis Julie, you're strong. Probably stronger than our whole second team combined. But S-rank dungeons are unpredictable mazes of peril. Even foes beyond your imagination could appear. So stay calm and cautious..."
Yet Exy Train still doubted my strength. Despite firing useless arrows from the back while I soloed the boss.
I cut her off, stating the reality she overlooked.
"Team Leader, I toppled a castle-sized flame giant with ease. Dungeon Lords are strong, sure, but their mana is just 2-3 times a boss's on average. Think a 2-3x bigger version of that last one could handle me?"
"...Lapis."
"Watch from behind like before. I got this solo."
Objectively, my words might sound like cocky pup bravado. But I was no ordinary pup—I was the freak that could kill a tiger.
Thus, my confidence stemmed from rational judgment, not recklessness.
But Team Leader Exy Train saw it as pup bluster. She furrowed her brow slightly and turned away.
"Fine, do it your way. And whoever can contact Paster, be ready to signal anytime!"
Paster? Why him now?
I faltered at the irrelevant name, but realized it was Exy Train's ploy to rattle me into caution—using Paster after he'd thrown me off earlier.
If so, disappointing. Facing the Dungeon Core, it was too late anyway. I'd freeze the Lord instantly.
I'd thought her above jealousy toward a superior junior, but apparently not. Oh well. Post-dungeon, I'd be S-rank, claim a Liar's Trap team leader spot, and lead another team.
Whether Exy Train was decent or not didn't matter much. Paster, her, the second team—they'd soon fade from my life.
Their opinions meant nothing now. Only smashing the final gateway to S-rank—the Dungeon Core.
I converted gathered mana to frost, preparing the strike to awaken the Dungeon Lord.
"Huuu... Hup."
Crack.
Palm open toward the altar's Dungeon Core, the snowflower shield that saved Exy Train bloomed before it.
Focusing power at its center, it folded like a closing umbrella—forming the snowflower spear that had blasted a massive hole in the Colossal Flame Giant's chest.
The Julie family's secret technique: freeze on contact, then pierce clean through.
Hovering above my palm, the spear chilled the air, snuffing nearby flames. I intoned the activation.
"Freeze and pierce."
Snow Flower - Berkana
Paaang!!!
The frost-concentrated snowflower spear froze and shattered the air as it rocketed toward the Dungeon Core.