From what the others told Leon, the forsaken minotaur was not supposed to be here, not in this part of the city, not anywhere near their base.

It usually roamed close to the [Forsaken Castle], guarding it like a silent executioner waiting for anyone foolish enough to approach.

So why had it come here?

And more importantly, how had it found them so directly, as if it had been guided straight to their location without needing to search at all?

That single words it had spoken, "FOUND... PLAYER...", echoed in Leon’s mind, carrying a weight that made the situation feel far more dangerous than it already was.

Then the minotaur roared.

The sound was deafening, a deep and violent bellow that shook the air itself as it lifted its massive axe.

Its towering figure stretched over ten meters tall, casting a shadow that swallowed the ground beneath it, its dark skin and fur marked with streaks of crimson energy that pulsed like veins of raw power, while its long white horns curved forward with enough force behind them to pierce straight through buildings as if they were nothing more than paper.

Leon didn’t hesitate.

Appraisal!

---

[Forsaken Minotaur (Boss)]

[Level: 75]

[Talent: Embodiment of Darkness (A-Level), Mega Strength Enhancement (A-Level)]

[Combat Power: 2,100,000]

[Details: Currently sent by the "Forsaken King" to kill the players, one of the three bosses that protect the king.]

---

"So the king finally decided to act," Leon thought, a faint grin forming despite the situation, because everything was starting to make sense now, the destruction of the [Forsaken Legion] and the death of the [Spider Mother] had clearly pushed things too far, forcing the one behind all of this to respond directly.

"Fine," Leon muttered under his breath, tightening his grip on his weapon, "I was going to come for you anyway."

He was just about to move forward, ready to clash head-on with the massive beast in front of him, when something unexpected happened.

"Human..." the minotaur spoke again, its voice low and heavy as it looked down at Leon, lifting its axe slowly as if preparing to strike, "Destroy..."

BOOM!

Without warning, the creature suddenly turned away from Leon and slammed its axe straight into the building beside it, the very structure that the group had been using as their base.

The impact shook the ground as cracks spread instantly through the walls and foundation.

"What?"

Leon’s eyes widened as he watched the minotaur continue its assault, striking again and again with relentless force, each blow tearing apart the building faster than the last, reducing it to rubble within seconds before stepping back and charging forward, its horns smashing through what remained of the lower structure.

The entire building collapsed.

Dust and debris filled the air as the base crumbled completely, leaving nothing but ruins behind.

"...Alright," Leon muttered, his expression tightening slightly as he turned his gaze back toward the minotaur, which had now finished its task and was looking at him once again.

"...DEAD... PLAYERS..."

Leon glanced briefly at the destroyed base, his mind running through possibilities, but no one emerged from the rubble.

Still, it didn’t worry him as much as it should have, because he knew the others well enough by now to understand that they wouldn’t go down so easily.

Not Violet, not Godrick, and definitely not Oasis or Alicar, all of whom had already proven they had ways to survive far worse situations than this.

Which meant the minotaur’s goal wasn’t simply destruction.

It wanted them to come out. It wanted to face them one by one.

And if that was the case, then Leon had no intention of letting it play things out on its terms.

If he wanted to win, he needed to end this quickly.

Fwoosh!

In a single burst of speed, Leon closed the distance between them, his figure blurring forward as the minotaur reacted instantly, swinging its massive axe downward with crushing force.

Leon met the attack head-on.

CLANG!

His sword collided with the axe, the impact sending a shockwave through the air as Leon was pushed back several meters, his feet digging into the ground to stabilize himself as he slid to a stop.

"...Strong," Leon admitted quietly, though his grin returned almost immediately.

But not unstoppable. And more importantly... Not as overwhelming as he expected.

"My combat power really did skyrocket," he thought, rolling his shoulder slightly as he steadied himself, "Good."

Then, without hesitation—

CELESTIAL’S MIGHT!

A sudden pressure exploded outward from Leon’s body, his eyes turning a silvery white as the overwhelming force of the skill descended upon the minotaur, hitting it directly as it stepped forward.

The creature reacted instantly.

Its massive frame trembled slightly, its hooves scraping against the ground as it released a heavy breath, the air around it distorting under the sudden suppression.

---

[Forsaken Minotaur (Boss)]

[Combat Power: 1,470,000]

---

Leon didn’t need to check his own numbers to know that the gap had closed significantly, because even if the minotaur was still stronger, the difference was no longer something impossible to overcome.

ROOOOOOAR!

The minotaur roared again, its fury intensifying as darkness surged around its body, its muscles tensing before it slammed its hooves into the ground and lowered its head, positioning its horns forward.

It was going to charge. And with its size, that charge would cover almost the entire street.

Leon’s eyes narrowed. He had no intention of taking that hit.

So the moment the minotaur launched forward at full speed, he raised his staff.

Vines of Torment!

Dozens upon dozens of vines erupted instantly from the ground and nearby buildings, thicker, stronger, and faster than ever before thanks to Leon’s increased Spirit, wrapping around the minotaur’s limbs in rapid succession.

The effect was immediate. The charge stopped. Completely.

The minotaur froze in place, its massive body locked mid-motion as the vines tightened around it, restraining its movement despite the sheer power behind its muscles.

"COWARD, HUMAN!" it roared, struggling violently against the restraints, its strength pushing against the vines as they creaked under the pressure.

Leon knew it wouldn’t last. But it didn’t need to. Three seconds was enough.

Fwoosh!

Leon dashed forward again, closing the gap instantly before leaping upward, his body rising toward the lowered head of the minotaur, placing him directly within striking distance.

This was it. His chance.

He took a deep breath, steadying himself as energy gathered around his blade, crimson and white aura intertwining as it grew stronger and stronger, building toward a single decisive strike.

The minotaur’s eyes locked onto him.

And for the first time... There was something else there.

Not just fury. But recognition. Danger.

Leon didn’t hesitate.

"Let’s see you survive this," he muttered.

Then he swung.

ECLIPSE SLASH!