Chương 384: Chapter 374 - One Last Step

Alonso studied his reflection in the polished surface of his blades. Not as bad as he had expected. He had swapped the leather vambrace for the Sky Giant's Gauntlet, and from the loot he had picked up a leather belt to round out the mismatched "set." Seven items in total. 11% in stat gains. He could feel every bit of it. The 3% increase in physical strength was an unexpected bonus, although it forced him to adjust his wave output slightly to compensate.

The body getting stronger than the Pillar meant his style shifted off-balance, subtle but there, and he did not appreciate imbalance. Still, the discrepancy was small enough for him to adapt. Anything higher and it would start to disrupt the core of his movement. Going forward, he would need to focus on gear that aligned with his path. Balanced pieces… or items suited for the Fusion States. This gauntlet, for instance, was clearly designed for someone on the Body Path.

Yet even so, it unmistakably made him stronger. He curled his fingers inside the smooth pale metal, feeling the way it settled around his hand. He would put it to use. The red orb from the boss, however, had been a mild disappointment. The only real difference from a normal orb was that it granted a flat 0. 5% increase in Stage Progress and restored their stamina. He glanced at the others as they adjusted their own gear.

They had discovered that no one could equip more than seven pieces, and that the items from the last stage counted toward that total. Even the Wyvern's Mark. Something he should have anticipated.

"Well, that was quite the haul," Lukas said, hands on his hips as he surveyed the scattered loot.

"14 Grade 1 pieces, one Grade 2, and 20 tempering materials, three of those Grade 2," he added with a quick grin toward Leonie.

"If our captive bandit is to be believed, Grade 1 pieces go for at least 500 Coppershards. Selling four or five should cover the three Silvermark entrance fee for another Dungeon run." He tapped his chin.

"We also need to set aside the adventurer registration fee. Two Silvermarks. And probably another two or three for whatever we need in the settlement, like tempering or tools or who-knows-what." He sighed.

"Which means we're probably selling most of this anyway. Let's not get too attached."

"I can guarantee I won't miss it," Chiara said dryly, staring at her gear as if it personally offended her.

"Same here," Ayu added with a grin. Leonie glanced toward the gauntlet on Alonso's arm.

"A Grade 2 item will probably fetch a great deal of coin, but its value as combat power is more important at the moment. We should keep that one. And we should keep all tempering materials until we understand how the process works and where the limits are." Imani nodded. Tempering interested him more than anything else. Part of him wondered whether the knowledge he had gained from the past stage's forging and shaping methods would actually matter here.

Even if the systems were different, principles often carried through. He turned to Alonso.

"That additional benefit you gained… the strength bonus. Does it feel different from the increase in physical aptitude?" Alonso nodded. He had checked that first, and discussed it with Houston.

"Yes. Physical strength feels very direct. The force each fibre produces, their baseline tension, the efficiency, and the load they can carry… it has all increased." He paused, assembling the next part in his mind.

"But the effect of physical aptitude, as you all may have noticed, is broader. It includes that, and more. Reaction speed. Coordination. Motor control. Balance. Circulatory efficiency. Even sensory acuity. It is like an overall enhancement of every physical aspect we have." Lukas raised a brow.

"So physical strength is basically one branch of a much bigger tree called physical aptitude." Alonso nodded.

"If it only affects one part of the body's architecture, would that not throw the internal balance off?" Chiara asked, folding her arms as she analysed him with clear curiosity.

"Not exactly," Alonso replied.

"It feels as if The Tower adjusts the entire biological system just enough to keep everything stable. In my case the imbalance only shows up in the Pillar–Body ratio, but that is a different matter." Chiara narrowed her eyes as she studied his frame. If what he said was true, then the biological canvas must have shifted. She compared his proportions to the previous instance she had stored in memory, overlapping both.

"Your muscles… they are slightly bigger… right?" Alonso coughed, mildly embarrassed.

"Well… yes. But only by a very small amount."

"Really?" Ayu's eyes widened as she leaned in shamelessly, wearing a grin that promised trouble. She gave his arm a poke, then another, clearly enjoying herself far too much. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. A quick flicker crossed Leonie's gaze, something unreadable, but she turned away before anyone could catch it. Lukas clapped his hands once, drawing everyone's attention back.

"Right, that settles it. We keep track of how these bonuses work. I'm sure we'll find far stranger effects than slightly bigger muscles before long." Alonso chuckled, unable to deny that was probably true. They moved on, stepping into the inner quarters where the giant boss had emerged. The chamber beyond was carved from massive stone blocks, walls lined with crude iron sconces and oversized tables littered with shattered clay and scraps of bone. A faint draft rumbled through the space, tugging at loose dust.

At the far end, hovering just above the floor, was a human-sized blur of white light. The same shifting haze they had stepped through to enter. The Dungeon's exit.

"Well, I guess this is it," Lukas said.

"Easy run. Took us less than 15 minutes. If this world's mechanics allow it, we might as well repeat it a few times and stockpile gear and materials after selling the first batch."

"I doubt it will be that simple," Chiara replied.

"If we could gain such benefits every 15 minutes with no risk, we would outpace what The Tower has allowed so far. It does not fit the pattern."

"We will see soon enough," Lukas said as he and the others stepped toward the exit after giving the inner courtyard one final look-over. Ayu walked with them—until she noticed Alonso wasn't moving. She turned. He stood rooted to the spot, posture relaxed but eyes locked onto something across the chamber. Ayu followed his gaze. Atop a broad stone fire pit sat a statue of a golden goose, roughly 2 meters tall. Torchlight danced across the polished surface, making its metal plumage shimmer.

Its expression was blank, its body rigid. Nothing about it looked alive. But Alonso wasn't staring at it the way one stared at an object. He was staring the way he stared before a fight. Ayu's brows pulled together. She felt it rolling off him—battle intent.

"What's the matter?" she asked. Alonso didn't respond at first. A faint light flickered in front of his eyes as he stared at the prompt above the 'statue'. Golden Goose Power Index: 7000 Such a high value… His estimation of the seven-tails' Power Index placed it around the same value. Given The Tower's obsession with the number seven, he was almost certain that figure was accurate. Which meant… whatever this 'goose' was supposed to be, it was comparable to it.

"There's one last enemy," he said, voice calm and slow as he studied the unmoving form. He sensed no hostility from it. No pressure. No intent.

"Feels like an optional boss."

"Huh?" The others turned, finally noticing the massive golden bird perched over the fire pit.

"Oh. The golden goose," Lukas murmured.

"Right, the treasure in the fairy tale. Makes sense there'd be something on with it. And I'm guessing you're seeing more than we are." Alonso nodded.

"It feels as strong as the seven-tails."

"What!?" Chiara's eyes widened. The others stiffened. Imani's fingers tightened around his shield, a cold ripple running down his spine. Ayu's grin faded into something sharper, her stance lowering ever so slightly. The playful spark vanished, replaced with the quiet readiness of a hunter. Leonie felt her stomach dip. She had seen the visual replay of Alonso's fight with the seven-tails, but there was only so much one could get from a collection of frames.

How much stronger was it compared to the giant she had just pushed herself against? Pablo kept his eyes fixed on the golden goose, searching for any trace of life within it, yet he found nothing. There was no breath, no pulse, no warmth, only an unnerving stillness that sat above the firepit like something waiting for a reason to awaken.

Alonso's gaze never left the statue-like form, and although his expression stayed composed, there was a quiet shift in his stance, as if his thoughts were gradually aligning into place. He studied the creature for several more seconds, letting the silence settle before he finally voiced the conclusion forming inside him.

"I want to fight it," he said, keeping his voice even.

"Alone." Ayu reacted instantly. She stepped forward, clearly preparing to object, but she froze before a single word left her mouth. A wave from Alonso reached her, one carrying the full spectrum of what he felt. She sensed the fierce desire to confront something worthy of him, the hunger to push himself, the pull toward a challenge that matched the weight of his growth, and beneath all of it a certainty that resonated through the link. The unwavering belief… that he will not lose.

Her shoulders sank as she exhaled the air she had held in. A faint ache stirred inside her, one born from the familiar frustration of standing aside during the moments that tested him most. She knew the gap between them had grown large once again, and accepting that still tasted bitter. Yet the warrior in her recognised the truth. She understood his need to face this alone, to sharpen himself against something dangerous enough to force him forward.

She stepped back with a slow movement that carried both pride and resignation. When she offered him a small smile, it conveyed far more than any attempt at argument ever would. Alonso returned her look with a warmth that softened the resolve in his eyes. He then turned toward the others and sent a series of concise, controlled pulses, each one carrying clear intent.

He told them he was confident, that he would not push beyond his limits without regard for the consequences, and that if anything turned against him unexpectedly, he would disengage so they could finish the fight together. The group responded in turn as the message settled. With mixed expressions—concern, trust, anticipation—they all pulled back, spreading out toward the far side of the giant-sized quarters. When Alonso faced the golden goose again, the room felt as though it tightened around him.

The fire snapped quietly, shadows bending as if the Dungeon itself recognised the shift in intent. He stepped forward and drew his blades. With each pace the air wavered, the EM field distorted, fraying at the edges until his silhouette began to blur in the torchlight. The twin swords magnetised in his grip while his microcapacitors fired in controlled rhythm, resonance building through muscle and bone as wave and body aligned. By the time he lifted his blades, his presence filled the chamber. His intent was clear.

And in answer, the eyes of the golden statue… Flickered to life.