Reincarnated With The Degenerate System

Too late. The beast erupted, jagged molten rocks from its back blasting into the air like a hail of missiles.

"Scatter!!" I shouted, although it mattered a little.

BOOM!

BOOM!

Every shard detonated on impact, cracking the floor, igniting flames, and reducing anyone caught in the blast to nothing more than ash.

Even those with defensive skills weren't safe from it's one-sided onslaught.

One fool tried to summon a flood of water, thinking it would protect him, only for it to instantly vaporize in the searing heat, scalding him to death in a cloud of superheated steam.

By the time the first wave of explosions ended, more than half our team had fallen.

Not even me would've survived an attack like that if it had been aimed straight at my face. No amount of Qi, shadow tricks, could block such a force.

'So this is a boss battle… Damn, I really do feel like I've been isekai'd,'  I muttered, low enough that only my own nerves heard it.

My grip tightened around the spear until my knuckles throbbed. Every instinct I had—every little warning bell that usually meant "duck or die"—was going off at once.

And the terrifying part? We were only at a lower floor. I didn't even want to picture whatever freak was waiting on fifteen or twenty.

No wonder high rankers avoided climbing towers if not necessary —the difficulty increased was not worth it.

"Sir, we need your help!" Adam's shout jolted me out of my thoughts.

The ape's eyes locked on me, sharp and murderous.

"Thanks, Adam, for practically putting a target on my head!" I yelled, sprinting as chunks of exploding rock arced toward me.

He scratched his head, realizing that he had made a mistake.

"Come at me!" he activated his skill, trying to draw the boss's attention again, but it was too enraged for that to work.

BOOOM!

BOOOM!

BOOOM!

Each one hit the floor like napalm grenades—flaring, sticking, burning through the ground. No way in hell I was letting any of that kiss my skin.

I bolted sideways, kicked off a half‑melted pillar, and hurled weaker Extended Strikes at the ape's legs. Each hit chipped away, joining the barrage the others were already focusing on the back of its knee.

"Don't stop! If we give up now, we're all dead!"

My words resonate with their survival instinct.

Whatever fear had been dragging their feet a moment ago? Gone. They threw themselves back into the fight with everything they had left.

Bit by bit, the limb buckled.

Then—with a groan like a landslide—the giant finally dropped to one knee.

My cue.

"Adam—shield up."

He didn't hesitate. The guy snapped his shield into position like he'd been waiting his whole life for me to use him as furniture.

"Shield Bash!"

The kinetic blast fired, launching me upward.

The world flipped—ape below me, darkness above me—and I twisted my spear until my muscle fiber crack from exertion.

"Moon Cycle Downward Strike—Shadow Overload!"

BOOOOM!

I came down on its skull like a falling star. The impact slammed its head into the ground, jaw-first, cracking the stone and sending teeth skittering across the chamber.

"I'm not done yet, you fucking ape!"

I spun midair, shadows rippling down my weapon again.

"Moon Cycle Thrusting Strike- Shadow Overload!

BOOOOM!

The same spot—struck with such force the skull caved in. Gray and red fluids erupted, sizzling and hissing as they met the scorched floor.

My eyes glinted at the hole in its head. The soft tissue of its brain lay exposed—proof that no matter how tough its exterior, its insides were still a weakness.

"It's time to end this," I murmured, feeling the air tighten in my lungs.

I leveled my spear mid air, drawing every last ounce of Qi, letting the shadows around me writhe and roar.

"Moon Cycle Burrowing Strike—Shadow Overload!"

BOOOOM!

The spear tore through skull, drilling deep into brain tissue and nerves, ripping a clean, decisive hole with a violent, bone-shattering force.

It convulsed violently, a monstrous spasm that shook the chamber floor. Dust and rock tumbled from its jagged back as the massive body jerked once—twice—then collapsed, limbs splaying outward like a fallen mountain.

HISSSS!

Its heat radiated into the air in a wave of scorching temperature.

"Retreat!" Adam shouted.

Everyone scrambled back, desperate to put distance between themselves and the hot air that could easily fried their lungs.

As for me, I merged with Shadow Veil, letting darkness cloak my body, and leapt away, landing far enough to avoid the worst of the aftershock.

Everyone stared at the fallen giant, half-expecting it to rise again. A full minute passed.

Nothing.

Slowly, some dared to move.

Then a voice cracked through the silence

"WE WON!"

The cry sparked a chain reaction—cheers, laughter, even tears. Some clung to each other, shaking from adrenaline and relief, just happy to still be alive.

Against impossible odds, with more than half our team lost, we had toppled a being that should have killed every last one of us.

We had survived a feat only a Tier One guild could achieve.

I allowed myself a sighed of relief, leaning on my spear for support. That fight had drained me more than I wanted to admit.

Each of my boosted attack was devastatingly powerful, but the cost on my body was enormous—no ordinary meditation could patch it up. I needed rest, and I deserved it.

But before I could even take a proper breath, my vision changed. The world went stark—black and white, every color drained, everything froze, suspended mid-motion.

I adjusted my stance, bracing for any sudden attack. Pretty sure none of this was covered in Seeker 101.

'System… can you hear me? What the hell is happening? Isn't going from fire‑breathing ape to time‑stop a bit too much?'

Silence. No response.

clang!

clang!

A series of sounds echoed through the chamber—metal striking stone. I turned toward the noise, eyes narrowing as I tried to make sense of it.

There, sitting atop the ape's massive head, was a figure.

My throat went dry, and I swallowed hard as that pressure hit me. It wasn't huge, not like the Ape, but every reflex in me screamed to:

Run.

Hide.

Disappear.

This… this was the same gut‑twisting fear I felt after meeting that demon woman for the very first time.

'What is that thing?'

It was humanoid, but with a monkey's face. Brown fur, shimmering almost golden, covered its body. In this black-and-gray world, it was the only splash of color so its impossible to miss.

Looking closer, intricate armor hugged its torso, engraved with patterns that spoke of both elegance and ancient origin.

The creature's golden eyes met mine, burning with power, and in that instant, I realized: this was no ordinary opponent.

"Human…" it chattered, sharp and teasing, like a trickster circling its prey. "Hmm… I can smell the essence of a superior lifeform, Who gave you that power?"

I said nothing.

Instead of anger, it only grinned wider, teeth flashing in this dull colored world.

"Human, do you enjoy tempting fate?" it asked. Its gold eyes blazed brighter with every passing heartbeat, casting streaks of light across its face.