"Is this your plan? Wait for me until you can corner me with several ogres?" I try to stay calm given the situation. Looking around, I don't see more than sixty ogres. That's not enough to kill me in an open field—but here, where escaping costs mana? I'm not sure.

"You left me no choice. Prepare to die." I feel several constructions taking shape above me, where they're standing. Spikes of rock and something like small spheres of green liquid appear in front of me. Before I can analyze them, I have to move to dodge. The moment their magic hits the floor, the rest of the ogres charge.

Swords and ice spheres start forming at my sides. I grab one of the swords to replace the one I lost hours ago. I hadn't noticed before, but the spheres are forming faster now. I can also control more of them at once. I'll have to check my notifications after this is over.

Cuts open on different parts of my body, while ogres fall one after another, screaming in pain from my slashes and magic. Some of them are getting hit by their own allies' spells.

They don't care about friendly fire. Rock spikes pierce the backs of other ogres as they try to get to me, and the green balls are melting everything they touch. Apparently, one of these ogres has a rare acid affinity.

I use the bodies of fallen ogres as shields against the other spells. Sometimes, I have to take hits or slashes from enemies just to avoid the magic. Slowly but surely, I'm holding out, wearing down their numbers. Some are still fighting with amputated limbs, deep cuts, or embedded magic—they have no sense of self-preservation.

I need to focus on delivering perfect slashes, precise thrusts, and clean movements. I've already taken more damage than I'd like. Just as I'm thinking that, I dodge poorly, and two small rock spikes pierce into me—one in the arm, the other in my leg.

I'm forced to use a charge of my electrified steps to get to a relatively empty spot. I pull the spikes out and heal the wounds with vital synthesis. Just as I finish, a massive wave of acid comes crashing toward me. I leap to the side, but some drops land on my right foot and start melting it. My healing magic kicks in immediately.

I can sense something similar to a pseudo law within that spell. This ogre stands at the very base of the grade-three monster summit. Wielding a pseudo law proves his skill, and his judgment is sharp. His mana reserves far exceed the norm for monsters I've read about.

The acid keeps trying to dissolve my skin, muscle, and bone. My healing ability fights back, trying to regenerate it all at once. After a few seconds, I win out—at the cost of a large amount of mana. I haven't stopped moving or fighting during that time. My ice swords keep impaling ogres, and I launch a few spheres at the two magic-wielding ogres. They block my magical attacks with powerful acid spells, which gradually melt my spells down.

I grimace. I should've waited to fully recharge my mana. I know I can win, but the difficulties are stacking up.

I notice the ogres have stopped coming out of the doors. Only about forty remain within the range of my domain. Are they nearly all dead already? Feeling victory draw near, I begin forming a gravity well to give me the upper hand in the final moments.

The gravity interferes with their movements and reflexes. I make a mental note—I need to devise another gravity-based attack. I start dodging more frequently, but the mana cost rises. Their numbers dwindle quickly over the next few minutes. I can see the desperation in the attacks of the ogre mages. I'm hurling all kinds of spells as fast as I can.

Only three ogres remain near me, plus the two mages above. The ogre chief runs off through the door behind him, and now there are only five living beings left in this hall.

"Your leader abandoned you. It's time to finish this." The three ogres charge at me wildly. One is greeted with an ice sword to the stomach. With a quick step, I move in front of another and slash him from his abdomen up to his left shoulder. I reposition quickly and stab the same ogre in the thigh.

Amid all that movement, I manage to create a V4 sphere. I launch it point-blank into the chest of the last ogre, blasting him through the air until he crashes to the ground. I retrieve my sword from the dying ogre on the floor, cut off his head, and finish the one I'd impaled with ice by stabbing him through the heart.

The ogre mage charges his strongest spell in that moment—more than a dozen massive rock spikes come flying toward me. I could escape with a movement charge… but I don't.

I grip my sword and start by sidestepping the first spike. The second I deflect with a vertical slash. I dodge the next four, then parry and try to break the rest of the spell with my blade. The final two I catch directly with my hands, reinforced with fortified construction, my magic, Imra, and laws all working together.

That final attack shatters my construction, but the last spikes are destroyed. I did all this to show him the difference between us. I launch a V3 sphere at the platform. It breaks apart, and the ogre begins falling with the rubble.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

I don't go after him immediately. I wait for him to stand. We lock eyes. When he tries to conjure a stone armor over part of his body, I activate my skill, appear beside him, and sever his arm. He screams in pain, swinging his other arm to crush my skull. With a quick step forward, I move inside his guard, slash horizontally across his abdomen, then again across his left thigh.

He falls, beaten, glaring at me with hatred in his eyes. "Any last words?" My gaze turns cold as I wait for his final breath.

He doesn't answer—only his Imra rages, tinged with fear. "Then die." I create the strongest version of my ice sword and drive it through his skull, ending this bitter encounter that has stretched on for days. Now, there's only one ogre left.

I take the door the ogre chief ran through. At the end of the path, I find a staircase and ascend. I'm now on the same level he was. It's time to hunt him down. It takes me several long minutes to locate a room pulsing with a powerful amount of mana. Oddly, my domain can't detect anything inside—it feels like there's a wall blocking it.

I create a V4 sphere and hurl it at the door. To my surprise, the wood resists it slightly. I notice the walls and door are coated in a strange mana layer, likely constructed using rare runes.

Two V4 swords materialize beside me and strike the door. The mana layer wavers, weakening with each impact. After a few more hits, it finally breaks. Yet I still can't sense anything inside, as if it were a space separate from our reality.

I swing the door open and leap back at the same time—I'm not falling into a trap. In the center of the room, I spot the ogre chief guarding a massive orb nearly two meters tall. It must be the dungeon's core.

"This is the end." I approach slowly, activating every preparation I've got in case he attacks.

"What do you want? Why have you done all this?" he screams, completely out of control. His Imra floods the room with panic, fear, rage, and a tangle of other emotions.

"Someone asked me to complete this dungeon. If you'd let me finish it without killing anyone, I would've done so. We were only looking for something different." I speak with total honesty. There's no point in lying or dodging his questions—he's going to die, and I'm going to live.

He starts trembling, saying nothing. He doesn't argue, doesn't ask anything. He just shakes where he stands, lost in thought.

"Any last words?" I offer him the chance to speak, just like I did with the other two intelligent ogres I faced.

He lifts his gaze to meet mine. His body is far more massive than mine, nearly a meter taller. His arms are as thick as my waist, with powerful magic perfect for battle—and all of it, about to be wasted on a child.

"I won't die without a fight." He begins forming acid whips, acid spheres, and small acid spikes—all aimed directly at me.

I dart from side to side, dodging or blocking his mana attacks with my own. Right now, we're battling purely as mages. My spheres are smaller so I can generate and control more. His spells are as powerful as mine.

Bit by bit, the room fills with acid and electrified ice. Once my mana reserve drops below a certain point, I decide to end this. I leap forward, and upon landing, use a charge of my electrified steps to appear beside him.

I grab him by the neck with a fortified construction—thankfully, since my ability begins melting on contact. I have to keep rebuilding it so I don't touch his acidic skin. He tries to douse me in acid, but before he can finish his casting, I slice off one of his arms.

He doesn't give in to the pain. Even as he screams, I see him try to summon an acid wave. I stab him in the leg to break his focus. That was his final attempt.

"I… I should've been able to control this dungeon and escape with my ogre army. This is your fault. It's all your fault." His voice is soft, no longer shouting—just weak and dying.

"Fate chose this." With those words, I pierce his heart. I pull my sword out and let his body fall. As he drops, I sever his head and end it all.

Covered in dried blood, my clothes torn and tattered, and my mind filled only with the thought of returning home, I walk slowly toward the dungeon's core. I extend my mana and receive a notification.

"Congratulations on completing this dungeon."

"You finally did it, Maki." Sus's voice echoes in my mind. Those simple words nearly bring me to tears.

"I left this message for when you finished the dungeon. You must be so much stronger now. I bet you've become a very handsome teenager, too." I hear a soft giggle in the background. Small tears begin to trail down my cheeks.

"My will is always with you, and my daughter will always be by your side. Stay happy no matter the adversity. Enjoy life. It's not all about training, leveling up, or advancing in rank. Make good friends and companions. Find love along the way." Her words touch something deep within me, warming my heart and melting away the weight I've been carrying.

"All the accumulated energy from the dungeon will go to your right arm. That will quickly form my daughter. You'll probably get to meet her soon." I feel the energy slowly flowing into my right arm.

"I can't send you directly home, but when you leave this dungeon, you'll appear very close—only a day's walk away." A short silence follows. "By chance, I found something interesting during my search. You'll appear near another dungeon—a failed hero's dungeon. I recommend you don't enter right away. Make sure to study it thoroughly first. You can do it before heading to school. It's shrouded by a special veil—only you can enter. Think of it as my gift for completing this dungeon." Still helping me, even now that you're gone. Thank you for always supporting me.

"Don't forget you have another grandmother. I hope we can meet soon. And don't forget to look after your little sister. Siblings must love and protect each other." Her final words fully thaw my heart. Tears spill freely from my eyes. My voice cracks as I speak.

"Thank you, Grandma Sus." Those were my last words before the dungeon's energy surged into my right arm. Everything became brilliant light.

I don't know how much time passed in that light, but now I find myself in a new forest. In front of me is a cave I can't sense anything inside—it must be the failed hero's dungeon.

I think for a few minutes and decide to memorize its location. I won't enter it yet, not until just before I head to school like Sus advised. A direction appears in my mind, showing me the way home. Once I orient myself, the guidance disappears.

"Time to return to my family." A flood of emotions wells up in my chest. I can't contain them all at once.

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