Arios walked deeper into the cavern, his wooden sword still in hand, the same simple weapon he had been using since the beginning of this illusion dungeon. His breathing was steady, though his body ached from fighting off packs of dire wolves and the other monsters that had filled the twisting paths behind him. Sweat clung to his back, but his eyes remained focused. Every step he took echoed against the rocky walls, bouncing back at him as though the dungeon itself was mocking his persistence.

He had already sensed something ahead. The mana density in the air was far stronger here than in any other chamber he had passed through. It pressed down against his skin like a physical weight, slowing his movements just slightly. His fingers tightened around the sword's handle as he forced himself forward.

The tunnel finally opened up into a massive chamber. Arios stepped through the narrow entrance, his eyes widening at the sight before him.

The cavern ceiling stretched so high it disappeared into darkness. Jagged rocks jutted upward like fangs, and molten veins of glowing red lava split across the floor. The heat rolled out in waves, thick and oppressive, burning against Arios's skin. He lifted an arm instinctively to shield his face, his body already sweating more heavily in the sudden shift in temperature.

Then he saw it.

Curled in the far corner of the cavern was a massive shape. The creature's body was coiled, wings folded against its sides like a fortress of steel and scales. Each breath it took sent a low rumble through the floor, dust falling from the cavern walls as though the entire place trembled in fear of it. The scales shimmered faintly in the glow of the lava, black with streaks of crimson that seemed to pulse like veins of fire. Its claws, sharp and long as swords, dug into the stone ground beneath it. Its tail twitched once, heavy enough to crack the rock where it landed.

Arios swallowed, his throat dry. He had fought monsters since stepping into this illusion, but nothing compared to the sight before him now.

The dragon's head lifted slowly. Its eyes opened, glowing like pools of molten gold. A deep, guttural roar rolled out from its throat, shaking the entire cavern. Arios gritted his teeth, stepping back unconsciously as the dragon unfurled its wings. The gust of air that followed sent dust and shards of stone whipping across the chamber, forcing Arios to plant his feet firmly just to keep his balance.

A system notification rang in his ears.

[Sub-Quest Triggered!]

[Illusion Beast – Infernal Dragon]

[Objective: Survive or Defeat]

[Warning: Enemy strength far exceeds user's level.]

Arios cursed under his breath. "Figures it wouldn't be that easy."

The dragon lowered its head, its eyes locking onto him. The beast snorted, smoke pouring from its nostrils, filling the air with a suffocating heat. Then, with a roar that split the cavern walls, the dragon charged.

Arios barely had time to move. He rolled to the side as the dragon's claw came crashing down where he had been standing. The ground split apart, chunks of stone flying into the air from the sheer impact. Arios came up onto his feet, wooden sword raised defensively. He knew one hit from those claws would crush him instantly.

The dragon swung its tail, the movement so fast Arios almost didn't see it coming. He leapt back, but the sheer force of wind pressure knocked him off balance, sending him skidding across the ground. He dug his heels in, stopping himself just before reaching the edge of one of the molten cracks. Heat blasted against his face, and he quickly turned his eyes back toward the dragon.

"Fast… too fast," Arios muttered, adjusting his grip on the sword.

The dragon's chest expanded, a low rumble growing louder in its throat. Arios's eyes widened. He threw himself forward just as the beast released a massive blast of flame. The fire engulfed the space behind him, turning stone to ash and lava into an explosive spray. The sheer heat burned at his back, even though he had avoided the direct hit. He gritted his teeth, pushing himself to his feet again.

The dragon roared, stomping forward with heavy steps that shook the ground. Arios rushed in, slashing at its leg with his wooden sword. The blade struck against its scales with a loud crack, but barely left a mark. The rebound force sent shocks through his arms, nearly making him drop the weapon.

"Tch. That's not going to work."

The dragon raised its claw again, and Arios barely managed to dodge to the side. The ground shattered where the claw struck, creating another deep crack in the stone. Arios sprinted forward, **circling the beast** to keep moving. Standing still meant death.

He jumped onto a nearby rock ledge and launched himself toward the dragon's shoulder, swinging down with all his strength. The wooden sword struck hard, but again, the scales were like armor. Sparks flew from the impact, but the dragon only turned its head, snapping its jaws toward him.

Arios let go of the sword at the last moment, rolling across the beast's shoulder before leaping down to the ground. His weapon clattered against the floor below, but he quickly retrieved it, panting as he glared at the monster.

[Warning: Enemy resistance exceeds weapon durability.]

He ignored the system message. He couldn't afford to hesitate now.

The dragon reared back suddenly, its wings spreading wide. The gust of air blasted Arios back, forcing him to shield his face. Then, with another ear-splitting roar, the dragon unleashed a stream of flame that swept across the cavern floor in a wide arc. Arios sprinted, the fire barely missing him as it incinerated everything in its path.

Chunks of molten stone rained down from the ceiling, and Arios dodged between them, his body moving on instinct. His heart hammered in his chest, but his expression remained calm.

"This thing isn't just strong—it's overwhelming. But every beast has a weakness."

He activated **Nether Eyes**, his vision shifting. Shadows of **mana flows** appeared across the dragon's body, weaving like rivers beneath its scales. The resonance was powerful, turbulent, but Arios noticed irregular patterns. The flow around its **left wing** seemed unstable, flickering more than the rest.

"That's it. The wing joint. The anchor of the illusion's strength."

The dragon stomped again, its tail sweeping across the cavern. Arios ducked under it, rolling forward and rushing toward the weak spot he had identified. He swung with all his strength at the base of the wing, and for the first time, his strike left a faint crack in the scales.

The dragon roared in pain, its massive body twisting as it tried to swat him away. Arios leapt back just in time, the tail slamming into the ground where he had stood. Dust exploded upward, and Arios shielded his eyes.

"Good. It can be hurt," Arios said, determination hardening his gaze.

But the dragon was far from done. It lifted its head, and the heat in the chamber suddenly spiked to unbearable levels. Flames gathered in its throat, brighter than before, mana swirling violently. Arios realized what was coming a second before the dragon unleashed it.

The flame breath this time was massive, covering the **entire chamber** in a sweeping torrent. Arios sprinted desperately, **diving behind a rocky outcrop** as the fire consumed everything. The stone shielded him for a moment, but even then the heat was enough to burn his skin. He gritted his teeth, forcing himself not to cry out.

The flame continued for several long seconds before finally dying out. Arios slowly pulled himself from behind the rock, his clothes singed, his face dripping with sweat. He stared at the dragon, which was glaring down at him with fury.

"First blood's mine," Arios muttered, gripping his sword tighter. "Now let's see if I can keep up."

The dragon roared again, stomping forward, the ground shaking with every step. Arios straightened, shifting his stance, eyes locked on the beast.

The fight was only beginning.

The dragon recovered quickly from the pain, its golden eyes narrowed into slits of primal rage. It let out another guttural shriek and lashed out with its massive, razor-tipped tail. Arios sprinted, pushing his weary legs to their absolute limit as the tail swept across the cavern floor, pulverizing the stone outcrop that had just saved his life. He saw the opening—the creature's momentary imbalance—and rushed back towards the wounded wing joint.

He met a new torrent of flame not by dodging, but by diving *through* the edge of the heat, shielding his face with his free arm. The intense blaze seared the skin on his arm and shoulder, but he closed the distance, ignoring the burning pain and the smell of his own singed uniform. He jumped high, planting his feet on the dragon's foreleg, using the height to add gravity to his desperate strike.

Arios slammed the wooden sword down with all the strength he had left, aiming for the crack he had made. The sword connected with a bone-jarring, tearing sound, and the faint crack widened into a clear, bright fissure in the black scale. Mana erupted violently from the wound, scattering the surrounding air.

The Infernal Dragon let out a piercing, agony-filled scream that echoed off the cavern walls, shaking loose stalactites from the ceiling. Its massive body writhed, its wings thrashing wildly in uncoordinated pain, sending Arios skidding across the molten floor. He scrambled back to his feet, eyes locked on the beast as its colossal form began to visibly flicker, the black scales peeling away into swirling motes of red light, signaling the inevitable end of Garron's grand illusion.

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