The number of monsters I faced went down as I climbed the dungeon. Instead, they got individually stronger. It was a weird way to balance things and I wasn’t exactly sure if it was normally supposed to happen. One didn’t need to complete all the floors to get out unless the dungeon didn’t allow that. That’s why many beastkin that entered before me usually climbed to the second or third floor before quitting. That way they could reap the rewards and avoid facing against the strongest monsters. While the strongest monsters gave out more rewards most people weren’t like me, an actual lunatic.


    When B?rü gave me permission to enter Chimera Garden he tried to direct me to a shop that sold essentials for the dungeon expedition. At first, I thought that he was trying to advise me to buy camping gear, but I now realize that it wasn’t the case. That shop probably sold antidotes or\and lightning-resistant gear, two things crucial for getting through the first two floors. Since most of the floors were documented well, the types of monsters one would encounter were well-known. Most people probably stocked on the items sold to combat against specific monsters. That’s why they were limited to conquering only 3 floors at most since even a bag of holding wasn’t enough to carry all that.


    Anyways. That’s why I couldn’t be sure what kind of monsters we were about to face or if the monsters we were facing were normal even though they were the most normal monsters I was fighting ever since I entered this place. Well, as normal as monsters could be.


    Ever since I entered this place I was fighting against monsters formed by weird combinations of normal monsters. I guess they were also chimeras but I didn’t meet a traditional one until I entered the last floor.


    And oh boy, would I meet with a lot of them. Even though their numbers were nothing like the hive of the first floor or herd of the second floor after we killed that chimera and manticore we faced a lot more of them.


    A small pack consisting of 5 members tried to surround us. They were two-headed wolf-like chimeras.


    While their size was nothing impressive, even smaller than the first chimera we killed, the constant growling and barking of their head really caused a headache. One of them feigned attacking us, probably hoping that we would run away or overreact to give them an opening. The only thing it got from its attack was an arrow from Elandris in the middle of one of its foreheads. G?kb?rü yawned on my shoulder, clearly unimpressed with canine attacks.


    The head shot by the elven archer went slack even though the other one kept barking and growling. I wasn’t sure if it was unfazed by the loss of its companion or if it got angrier because of it. Well, it doesn’t matter as I will send the other one to its side. Manifesting my hammer, I swung it to the closest one. To my surprise, it managed to avoid it with an agile jump of its scaled legs. The other closest one didn’t miss the opening created by my missed attack and tried to bite my throat with both of its mouths open. Despite my surprise with the creature’s agility and reflexes, just like always G?kb?rü got my back and sent two ice spears through the creature’s open mouth, piercing its internal organs.


    I swung my hammer several times more, missing all of them. Did they have a skill related to dodging bigger attacks? They weren’t able to dodge Elandris’s arrow or G?kb?rü’s spear but none of my attacks hit.


    “Annoying.”


    I muttered as I dodged their claws and fangs. The fact that they couldn’t catch me also put credit to the theory of them having some kind of specialized skill the dodge bigger attacks and not superior speed and agility. I sighed. They really had to make me think, didn’t they? With my constant dodging, I managed to gather 3 of the ones I was dealing with into a line. After that, I slammed my hammer into the ground and activated Gaia Burst. The shockwave of Gaia Burst rippled through the ground, sending rocks and dirt flying towards the creatures. While they tried to jump out of the way, I purposely channeled large amounts of mana to increase the range of my attack since I knew they would try to dodge. They whimpered in pain as rocks slammed into their body but I knew that it wasn’t enough. I ran towards them and finished them off while they were stunned.


    “Even though I have seen it before, it is still an impressive sight.”


    Elandris praised me as he pulled his arrows from the creature’s corpse.


    “I don’t think so. I probably alerted every monster in our vicinity. I think they had some kind of evasion skill to dodge bigger attacks.”


    I said, discontented with my own performance. Elandris eyed the corpses for a second.


    “It is a possibility. Some weaker monsters evolve specific skills to not get eaten by stronger ones.”


    I wasn’t sure if Elandris was actually saying the truth or trying to console me. I didn’t really care and I didn’t have the time to think as I heard trees getting toppled and turned to the direction where the sounds were coming from.


    “Elandris, I think we found the stronger monster you were talking about.”


    “Roar!”


    Standing easily 7 meters in height and holding a tree log as thick as my torso like a twig, it was impossible to not recognize the monster in front of me even though it was the first time I had ever seen one. A minotaur. Its white-black fur was littered with scars and marks, evidence of previous conflicts. Enormous, curved horns extended from its head, giving me unpleasant flashbacks to my fight against the second floor’s boss seven though their shapes were different. In contrast to its fully bull-like head, its chest, and arms were of a human’s except gigantic and covered with fur. Its digitigrade legs looked muscular and its hooves were digging deep into the ground, no doubt due to its weight.


    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    “Foul beast.”


    Elandris muttered under his breath. He sounded angry which was surprising. He seemed to be tolerant of monsters we fought and didn’t speak ill about them except Nidhogg but he looked genuinely angry. When I looked back at the minotaur I realized that it wasn’t looking at me, it was looking at Elandris. It roared once again and I managed to get a good look at its fangs. Those things were nothing like a cow’s. I knew cow teeth. I had my hands and clothes chewed on by cows all the time when I stayed with my grandparents. Those things looked like they belonged to an angler fish. I was surprised it could close its mouth at all.


    The minotaur, towering over us with an intimidating presence, let out another thunderous roar. Elandris, visibly angered, tightened the grip on his bow and drew an arrow, his eyes fixed on the massive creature before us.


    (You resisted Brutish Domination.)


    Minotaur started to run towards us as both of us resisted its status effect. It was faster than what its size suggested, just like every fucking monster I met before! Elandris released his arrows, aiming for its eyes yet it used its boulder shoulders to block them. Arrows barely managed to pierce its thick hide. It reached us and swung the massive log to us. We spread to avoid it as the dust rose from where its attack landed.


    I was ready to face it but the creature started to chase Elandris, ignoring me completely.


    “This son of a bitch.”


    I shouted as I chased the creature. It really ignored me! I am offended right now! What Elandris had that I didn’t! The adrenaline surged through me as I sprinted after the minotaur, determined to catch up and draw its attention away from Elandris. The beast had a surprising agility for its size, but I was still faster. With a burst of mana, I closed the distance between us. With a powerful swing, I aimed the hammer at the minotaur''s legs, aiming to either disable the creature’s leg or gain its attention. The impact sent shockwaves through its fur-covered frame, but the creature remained steadfast, continuing its relentless pursuit of Elandris.


    “Okay, I am really getting irritated.”


    I never imagined that I would be angry at a monster for not paying attention to me. As the minotaur closed in on Elandris, the elf continued to fire arrows at its eyes, exploiting whatever vulnerabilities he could find. I could see the frustration in Elandris''s eyes, matching my own. This monster had a peculiar focus on him, and it seemed immune to my attempts to divert its attention. It also wasn’t even breathing heavily despite chasing Elandris for some time now. I ran beside it, aiming to find something when I noticed something. Something in its groin area.


    Ewwww.


    What is this, some fucked up hentai?


    I really didn’t have to see that.


    I melted into the minotaur’s shadow and exited just in front of it. It was hard to do that in a moving target but I managed to pull it off. The creature let out a surprised growl when it saw me. I already knew that it was using its log to shield its groin area and forearms to shield its eyes. I channeled large amounts of mana into my hammer and knocked that log to the side. G?kb?rü didn’t miss that chance and sent a massive ice lance into the creature’s groin.


    “Roar!”


    Unpleasantly, the blood would have come to my face if it wasn’t for my helmet. The creature stumbled back several steps while holding its groin area. Seizing the opportunity, Elandris shot a precise arrow into the creature''s exposed eye. Its eye literally exploded, a trick I should ask Elandris later. The creature let out another angry roar.


    (You resisted Brutish Domination.)


    It turned towards me, its remaining eye filled with rage. I prepared for its retaliation, knowing that the fight had now shifted. It swung its log to me. I could take this chance to destroy it by taking it head on but that would require us to use Howl of the War Beast to gain hyper armor. Since we would have to face the actual boss less than a day later, it was better to save it. Instead, I infused mana into the shield I was carrying, gigantifying it. The edges of the shield dug into the ground and stayed erect even without me. I instructed G?kb?rü to bind the shield to the ground using his ice.


    The minotaur''s log crashed into my shield, creating a shockwave that reverberated through the air. The ice-binding from G?kb?rü held firm, preventing the creature from pushing through. The impact did, however, send me sliding backward on the dusty ground.


    With a quick recovery, I retaliated, manifesting my hammer and striking the creature''s leg. The shock of the blow echoed through its frame, but it stood firm. Elandris, seizing the opportunity, unleashed a barrage of arrows at the exposed areas around the minotaur''s eye.


    (Monstrous Strength is activated. Strength is increased by 30 for 150 seconds.)


    The ground was all muddy due to the creature’s blood. Despite losing enough blood to fill an adult human’s body, the creature was still as lively as ever. It tried to grab and bite me its horrifying teeth. Today was the day he would learn that not everything was meant to be eaten however, the moment I was his open mouth I projected and sent a sword flying to its open mouth. It stumbled back again choking, trying to pull the sword out of its mouth. However, its fangs which were curved toward the inside didn’t allow it.


    The minotaur, now visibly wounded and disoriented, faced a coordinated assault. Despite its resilience, it couldn''t withstand the relentless attacks. The combination of physical blows, icy piercings, and precise arrows gradually wore it down.


    Finally, with a mighty swing of my hammer, I delivered a finishing blow to the minotaur''s head. The creature collapsed to the ground, defeated. The echoes of its roars faded away, leaving only the sounds of our heavy breathing and the settling dust.


    (You collected Soul of Brute Minotaur.)


    I shook my head at the weirdness of it.


    “Ugh, will you give an explanation or should I just shut up and we’ll never speak about it?”