Live Dungeon! Chapter 368: Not My Corroded Elder Dragon

"This layer's Boss is pretty twisted, huh?" one noblewoman murmured.

"I still think the Corrupted Shell was more disturbing," another replied, cradling her child. "Maybe because it looked human."

Several mothers sat together before Monitor #1, soothing their frightened children as the monstrous image on the screen continued its grotesque transformation. The Corroded Elder Dragon, initially not much more than a heap of bones, was now morphing into something more sinister and alive. Their light chatter reached Tsutomu's ears, but he paid them no mind. He was too busy suppressing the overwhelming urge to scream.

[There’s no way that’s the Corroded Elder Dragon! That thing is something else entirely!]

The Corroded Elder Dragon that Tsutomu knew did regenerate, but never like this. In Live Dungeon, it remained true to its name, which was a creature of rot and ruin, unable to truly heal its decaying body no matter how many times it rose again. It would claw its way toward Explorers in a desperate bid for life, its corrupted essence reducing weapons and armor to scrap, spreading lethal poison as it went. An undead-type layer Boss, it could be manipulated through healing and resurrection-type skills, making support-based Jobs particularly effective against it.

But the version now playing out on the monitor had taken a different turn. Its behavior had matched Tsutomu’s expectations at first… until its heart regenerated. Then, it began manipulating blood. Its once-hollow chest now bore an exposed, pulsating organ, and other viscera showed signs of returning as well.

Tsutomu could not help but think of a Raid Boss from Live Dungeon, a golem-type monster known as the BFG, created by the devs with one simple goal: make it freaking big. It began as a shell and gradually formed organs, all constructed of magical machinery. Its blood was not blood, per se, but magical fluids; its organs were not flesh, but mechanical components. These were measures taken in accordance with CERO’s age rating guidelines. As the organs regenerated, the Boss gained new abilities, and players had to adapt strategies on the fly, prioritizing organ destruction depending on their party’s strengths.

The BFG was introduced some time after the opening of the Secret Dungeon, and it became a popular event for mid-tier players. Tsutomu himself had tackled it with friends more than once. He knew its patterns and tells, knew how to prioritize organ destruction, and adapt to the shifting mechanics.

But never, not even in his wildest dreams, did he imagine that knowledge would become useful here, in the hundredth layer of a fantasy world’s Dungeon.

[Why are they changing even the monster’s core mechanics at this point!? Even the Corrupted Shell just got a few new attack patterns, nothing this drastic!]

If this had happened on another layer, Tsutomu might’ve accepted it. It wouldn’t have been different from the Mutated Shell Crab, for instance or the Fire Dragon, which rumors said had started changing too. And that would’ve been fine. But here, on the hundredth layer… this felt less like a challenge and more like a direct insult.

Still, Tsutomu could not afford to look away. No matter how much he wanted to bury his face in his hands, his eyes stayed glued to the divine pedestal.

The rest of the Absolute Helix Clan, however, seemed thrilled. Even as the Corroded Elder Dragon transformed before them, their excitement only grew. Some spectators recoiled at the visceral imagery, but the true Dungeon Maniacs watched with glittering eyes.

And as the Dragon’s other organs: its liver, lungs, began to form, its abilities evolved further.

The liver brought with it enhanced detoxification, rendering poisons nearly useless and accelerating the Dragon’s regeneration. The lungs expanded the range of its corrosive breath and increased its overall speed. Though the Absolute Helix party had thus far survived the onslaught, they were forced into a reactive posture, unable to keep pace with its escalating aggression.

"If even Diniel and Leleia can’t destroy it, that heart’s got some serious durability," one watcher muttered.

"I’ve got no clue what the other organs even are. Isn’t there anyone here who knows this stuff?"

"I know a guy," someone replied. "But he’s with a patient right now. Still, we should probably send him some sketches… see if he can make a reference sheet or something."

"Dammit, I wish we had cameras…"

Due to general education’s low coverage of biology, hardly anyone knew much about internal anatomy. And even among those who could identify organs, they couldn’t exactly explain what they did in real time. Among the Dungeon Maniacs, only a rare few could speak with any authority.

"…"

"Hannah! Switch in!" Korinna called.

"On it!"

With the Corroded Elder Dragon’s vital organs – its heart, lungs, and liver – now fully operational and unleashing a barrage of new blood-based assaults, Xeno found himself pushed onto the defensive. A searing blast of corrosive breath forced him to retreat and replace his compromised gear. He found himself instinctively raising a hand to shield the lower half of his visage, or what was left of it.

Hannah had no other recourse but to intervene. As the Dragon's offensive capabilities surged with its regenerated organs, the responsibility fell upon her to buy precious time. Though her specialization as an evasion-based Tank made her ill-suited for frontal assaults against unfamiliar adversaries, her low VIT meant any direct strike could prove fatal. Nevertheless, she charged forward, unleashing a [ as she moved. The assembled spectators gasped in unison.

Observing from the crowd, Amy leaned in, her white tail giving a subtle twitch as she softly commented,

"She seems fine. She's maintaining her composure."

"Perhaps," Amira grumbled beside her. "But she also has a tendency to get herself killed needlessly."

"Hannie only falters when she's overly stressed," Amy countered. "But when she carries that look, she's perfectly alright."

Amy had accompanied Hannah when she settled her outstanding debts, and it was during that time she discovered the extent of the girl's anxieties. A single point of pressure was enough to send her into a tailspin, whether it was witnessing another Tank's demise or being forced to utilize unfamiliar Magic Stones for her Magic Fist. Such strain would inevitably morph into panic, and panic, in turn, courted disaster.

"However, I'm certain Korinna is aware of this. She wouldn't have deployed her if she lacked confidence. Besides, Xeno requires time to recuperate. That entity is still undergoing evolution. It's wiser to introduce a stable combatant now than to push him beyond his breaking point."

"Do you truly believe so?" Amira inquired, skepticism lacing her tone. "What's your assessment of the situation, Tsutomu?"

"Well, Korinna is not one to act without careful consideration," Tsutomu responded. "And keep in mind, if anyone can accurately gauge who is most likely to perish, it is she. Surely she understands the inherent dangers and has thoroughly evaluated them."

Tsutomu, who had been watching the spreading acidic mist with an increasing sense of unease, finally let out a breath and directed his gaze toward Korinna, who was proactively cycling through her available skills.

"Buying time is the objective!" Hannah declared.

Despite harboring a multitude of abilities she was eager to experiment with, particularly after Korinna's instructive explanations regarding organ functionality, her primary mission was to secure sufficient time for Xeno's recovery. She shattered an auto-tracking blood spear with a [, transforming the projectile into combo fodder without ever losing sight of the colossal Dragon.

Although the frequency of blood-based attacks had escalated, their initiation sequences remained unchanged. Each movement the Corroded Elder Dragon made resulted in ruptured veins, the resultant spilled blood being weaponized. Hannah meticulously observed these tell-tale signs, her eyes constantly scanning for indicators of impending danger, ensuring she would not be caught unawares.

She understood the critical importance of remaining composed. Not now. If she avoided surprise attacks, there was little that could truly threaten someone with her capabilities – a combatant whose aerial agility and kinetic perception drastically surpassed that of the average warrior. The Corroded Elder Dragon's rudimentary blood constructs and predictable charge attacks were incapable of even grazing her. Fighting solo, she artfully maneuvered through a tempest of crimson projectiles, annihilating the homing spears mid-flight with precisely aimed punches and kicks. The crowd erupted in a wave of cheers, captivated by the sheer intensity of her performance.

"Shall we suspend operations on the heart?" Diniel inquired calmly, her bow still taut.

"...Indeed. Our intention was to destroy it, but it appears futile," Leleia conceded, casting a brief look toward the massive heart that continued to pulse defiantly. "Let us redirect our efforts toward the other two organs."

While their persistent assaults had managed to impede the regeneration process, the heart stubbornly refused to be destroyed. Despite the palpable frustration of abandoning their objective after reaching such a stage, Leleia reasoned that concentrating on the lungs, which were likely the source of the Corroded Elder Dragon's amplified breath attacks, was the more prudent course of action.

"Excellent! We are back in the fray!" Xeno's voice boomed, clear and resonant without any external amplification. "Hannah! I am ready to re-engage at your signal! Leleia, Diniel – a wise decision! That breath attack was a formidable threat! If you can neutralize those lungs, it would be an immense service! Korinna, please continue providing support and facilitating recovery!"

Having recuperated sufficiently to articulate his thoughts, thanks to a series of successive [ abilities, Xeno resumed his duties with his signature boisterous enthusiasm. Hannah let out a laugh at his unreasonably loud voice, while Diniel merely offered a scowl as she loosed another arrow.

"Then, I shall commit myself fully!"

With Xeno back in the fight, Hannah amplified her combo count by pulverizing incoming blood spears, steadily accumulating power for her ultimate skill. She crushed an additional Magic Stone within her grasp as she propelled herself towards the Corroded Elder Dragon’s exposed heart. Crimson constructs materialized to impede her advance, but she powerfully flapped her wings, adjusting her trajectory with calculated precision to evade their interception.

"Time for a bit of cardiac resuscitation! [!"

Hannah plunged beneath the colossal, thrumming heart, unleashing a potent strike augmented by her [ with Magic Fist. The movement, though resembling a comical slap, was perfectly timed. Heeding Korinna’s counsel, she had precisely synchronized her blow with the heart’s rhythmic beat. The impact landed squarely as the organ contracted, causing the heart to momentarily falter in its relentless rhythm.

The effect was remarkably swift: the torrent of blood coursing through the Dragon’s massive form diminished. The projectiles pursuing Hannah dissolved mid-flight, splashing harmlessly onto the ground.

[…What the actual hell?]

Tsutomu's eyes widened in disbelief as he observed through the Monitor. In Live Dungeon, the BFG counterpart would indeed halt its blood manipulation temporarily and suffer a substantial power reduction upon its heart's destruction. However, achieving this critical blow during the initial stages of the battle was an almost insurmountable feat, typically only becoming feasible in the fight's climactic phase.

Yet, here, with a single, well-aimed strike and a dash of strategic brilliance, Hannah and Korinna had managed to temporarily neutralize the Dragon’s primary offensive mechanism. The assembled spectators erupted, invigorated by the sudden dramatic shift in the confrontation. Even Hannah herself appeared momentarily astonished by her own accomplishment.

"That was absolutely wild! You think they’ll actually beat it on their first try!?"

"Hannah is seriously fierce!"

"That coordinated attack is insane when it actually connects!"

[It truly was an incredible moment. But… that didn't obliterate the heart.] Tsutomu’s initial admiration gave way to a growing unease. [If this creature has fully inherited the BFG’s operational mechanics, allowing its other organs to mature completely will be disastrous. They absolutely must destroy the liver next, before its regenerative capabilities accelerate even further…]

"The heart was just too resilient, wasn't it?" someone nearby muttered.

The intense battle continued unabated. With Diniel and Leleia executing their synchronized maneuvers, the Corroded Elder Dragon was momentarily subdued, experiencing a temporary cardiac and pulmonary arrest. Nevertheless, even as its heart lay still, other vital organs relentlessly pushed forward with their grotesque process of reformation. The pancreas, the stomach, the intestines… and then, to Tsutomu’s escalating dread, a dark, viscous pulse of blood began to coalesce within the one organ that absolutely could not be permitted to regenerate fully.

[Once the brain is complete, their chances will evaporate entirely. It seems they might not achieve victory today…]

However, Korinna and her companions, facing this formidable foe for the very first time, possessed no foreknowledge of this dire consequence. The party was still riding a wave of momentum, and the crowd maintained its fervent hope. Even the other Clan members, despite their palpable unease regarding the incessant organ regeneration, had not yet fully comprehended the terrifying magnitude of the peril.

"…Huh?"

The transformation was as sudden as it was deeply unsettling. The instant the brain achieved full regeneration, a surge of black blood flooded into the skull, seeping into the empty eye sockets. In mere seconds, two obsidian spheres materialized! Eyes ignited with a malevolent, cunning intelligence! They swiveled with unerring accuracy, fixing their gaze directly upon Korinna.

"[! [!" Xeno bellowed, already surging forward in a desperate charge.

Hannah echoed his cry, bolstering the aggro, attempting to divert the beast’s attention. They had executed their strategy flawlessly. They had managed to hold the Dragon’s focus. But it proved utterly futile. Now reanimated with a fully functioning brain, the Corroded Elder Dragon locked its hate-filled gaze onto Korinna… and its stare never wavered.

"Ah—!"

Trapped near the arena's perimeter, Korinna found herself with no time for even a guttural cry. The Dragon’s massive claw descended with brutal force, crushing her instantaneously.

From that crucial moment onward, the concept of aggro became irrelevant. The Tanks could no longer intercept attacks. With its heart’s function completely restored, the Corroded Elder Dragon’s speed now rivaled that of the formidable Devourer Dragon. It relentlessly pursued the Attackers with chilling focus; Diniel narrowly managed to preserve her own life, but at the devastating cost of her left arm. However, this incapacitation rendered her unable to wield her bow. Leleia, caught directly in the path of the corrosive exhalation, was instantly vaporized.

Its attention then turned to Xeno, who, being the slowest, was relentlessly pursued with terrifying speed. He stood no chance whatsoever. The newly sentient monstrosity, disregarding all established aggro mechanics, battered him unceasingly until his body could endure no more.

Even Hannah, though she continued to fight with desperate, unwavering valor, could not withstand the onslaught indefinitely. A single, glancing blow from a blood-forged spear mangled her wings, sending her plummeting earthward… and with that devastating impact, her valiant battle concluded.

Only Diniel remained. Her arm now a grievous severing, the wound hastily cauterized with a Green Potion, she could do little more than methodically gather the scattered belongings of her fallen comrades. Yet, she did not cease her efforts. Gripping a lightning arrow in her remaining hand, she scaled the colossal form of the Corroded Elder Dragon, relentlessly stabbing at its hide.

Naturally, this desperate act was far from sufficient. A colossal strike sent her hurtling through the air, and she slammed violently against the Ancient Castle’s imposing wall with a sickening thud, succumbing to her injuries upon impact.

[Naturally, it targets the Healer, exhibiting a disturbing logical progression… But still, isn't this level of brutality excessive? It's supposed to be a Boss monster, for crying out loud!]

Tsutomu let out a heavy sigh as a wave of disappointed murmurs rippled through the assembled crowd. He deliberately averted his gaze from Amy, whose face was contorted in frustration, her eyes still transfixed upon the Monitor’s unfolding tragedy.

In silent, grim contemplation, he commenced a thorough reassessment of all his prior knowledge concerning the Corroded Elder Dragon.