"Oh, this damn rift… I haven't felt this kind of cold in over 700 years."
Bahang stomped the ground, shaking off the snow clinging to his body.
"Enough complaints. At least we've found Tishachar's lair."
Kangkai's sharp gaze swept over the deep cave before them. It was a grotto carved into the cliffside, shrouded in darkness due to its backlit position. The entrance was massive, but the depth could only be described as bottomless.
"Hey, Punk, are you really sure that damned Tishachar lives in a place like this? She's supposed to be a 'goddess,' right? Doesn't she need to find a man? Heh, heh…"
Bahang snorted, shaking off more snowflakes.
Punk ignored the dwarf entirely, focusing on his spellcasting. However, his attempts at divination yielded poor results.
The legendary energy permeating this canyon already interfered with prophecy spells, and inside the cave, the interference only intensified. Given Punk's current level in prophecy magic, he couldn't extract any useful information.
This realization made him frown.
There was no doubt—Tishachar was monitoring the entire cave, yet they had no insight into her movements. It was a terrible position to be in before entering a dungeon.
To make matters worse, since Punk's brief exchange with Tishachar, that crazed spider had been projecting illusions nonstop. While it helped restrain Bahang's fiery temper, it also deprived them of a potential source of information.
Finally, after exhausting all possibilities, Punk turned to Kangkai and admitted:
"It's unfortunate, but I'm not a master of prophecy. I won't be able to gather much intel here."
He was straightforward about it. Cooperation was necessary for the upcoming battle, which meant sharing some level of information.
Besides, both of them had their own reasons for seeking a fight with Tishachar. Punk wasn't worried they'd back out due to fear.
Just as expected, after hearing that divination spells wouldn't work, Bahang didn't care and continued wiping down his warhammer. Kangkai, on the other hand, remained unwaveringly resolute. With a serious expression, he said:
"No way to gather intel? Then we'll have to be extra cautious."
His words were mostly directed at Bahang, but the impatient dwarf clearly wasn't paying much attention.
"Exactly," Punk agreed. "So, I suggest we form a triangular formation—me in the center, with Kangkai, Bahang, and Golem One forming the three vertices. The vanguard position should go to my golem."
He laid out his plan methodically. While there was a tactical advantage to using the other two as meat shields, this formation was genuinely the most effective for exploration. A triangle ensured that no matter which direction enemies attacked from, they'd always face flanking attacks from at least two combatants. The mage at the center could unleash spells freely, and Golem One at the front could absorb damage, minimizing casualties.
Kangkai examined the cave's terrain. Though deep, it was spacious enough to accommodate their formation. After careful consideration, he nodded.
The arrangement made sense. In a properly coordinated team, it was natural for fighters to act as shields for a spellcaster. Plus, Punk was sending his own asset—Golem One—into the most dangerous role as the vanguard. Even Tyre, the god of justice, couldn't call that unfair. Kangkai had no objections.
As for Bahang… He only cared about killing Tishachar. Everything else was irrelevant.
The dwarf's hatred for Tishachar was practically overflowing.
With their formation set, the trio and the golem ventured into the abyssal depths of the cave.
The only source of light? Punk's Dancing Light spell… a rather poor excuse for illumination.
From the moment they entered Tishachar's surveillance zone, the sensation of being watched never faded. Punk knew that, from deep within the cave, Tishachar was likely observing them with venomous eyes. However, none of them paid it any mind. It was clear—she couldn't afford to leave her lair.
For a dungeon boss, watching players slowly infiltrate their home must be a frustrating experience.
Of course, dungeons take time to clear.
"Punk, there's a massive magical fluctuation ahead. Likely a monster or a golem. Definitely at the formal level."
Halfway in, Kangkai suddenly spoke up.
Punk didn't respond immediately—he had noticed it much earlier. His analysis, enhanced by his systematic approach, was even clearer. The source of magic was undoubtedly a construct puppet.
He wasn't sure where Tishachar had gotten her hands on a formal-level construct, but he wasn't about to underestimate it.
The reason he hadn't mentioned it earlier? He was testing Kangkai's perception skills.
Now, he had his answer—Kangkai's detection wasn't as sharp as his own, and his analytical ability was nowhere near the system's level.
That meant it was time to deal with the creature ahead.
"If this construct didn't attack alongside the rock worms earlier, it's probably a range-type. Try to sever its energy supply when the fight begins."
Punk made a quick hand signal to Kangkai, who nodded in understanding.
Range-type constructs, as the name suggests, cannot stray far from their energy core. Their main power source and processing unit are usually hidden elsewhere, while the external "puppet" acts as a remote-controlled body. It's similar to an earthbound spirit or a formation spirit—powerful in its designated area but useless outside of it.
The advantage? A massive energy reserve and enhanced processing power. The downside? A severe range limitation.
While the distance wasn't large, it was more than enough to cover the cave. If Punk wanted to deal with Tishachar, this construct had to be eliminated first.
Stepping over the moss-covered cave floor, Punk cast a Night Vision spell on Bahang and Kangkai, ensuring they could see even outside the radius of his Dancing Light spell.
Kangkai wiped his dagger, then made a "ready" gesture to Punk. With a burst of qi, his body seemed to lose weight as he floated toward the cave ceiling.
At the same time, Punk silently began forming the kinetic suppression spell. Golem One stood poised, prepared for the first wave of attacks. Bahang, despite his usual crudeness, also began gathering his battle aura with a rare display of focus.
The enemy was closing in.
The vibrations in the rock wall grew stronger, like the rising tide of an earthquake. If not for the cave's sturdy structure, a collapse would have already begun.
Then, before they could see it—
"ROOOOAAARRRRR!!"
A deafening roar echoed through the cave.
Standing behind Bahang and Golem One, Punk clutched his kinetic suppression spell and muttered dryly:
"A proper dungeon boss, huh? Even comes with its own dramatic BGM…"