Dark Dragon: The Summoned Hero Is A Villain - Chapter 223

Chapter 223: Facing The Minotaur
Noah moved through the tunnel slowly, each step echoing against the stone.

His breathing was heavy from exhaustion and the lingering sting of his wounds.

The faint hum of mana still ran through his body, but his reserves were dangerously low.

Every few steps, pain flared in his ribs from the earlier fights.

Captain Roderick, and of course, the octopus which had nearly broken him, and now, he could feel his body’s limits creeping up like a warning bell.

But he didn’t stop.

The air grew warmer as he descended, and the faint smell of smoke began to tickle the edge of his senses.

The deeper he went, the more the temperature rose, until beads of sweat began to form on his forehead.

Then, the tunnel opened into a new chamber, one that took his breath away.

The cavern stretched wide and tall, the ceiling sealed and glowing faintly from the flickering flames that danced along the walls.

Fire burned in sconces made from dark stone, their light throwing long shadows across the rough floor.

The entire cavern seemed alive, glowing faintly with heat and the rumble of energy beneath its surface.

Noah took a cautious step forward, the soles of his boots crunching against charred rock.

That was when he saw it.

A low rumble echoed across the chamber. It was half a growl, and half a roar.

The creature stepped from behind a column of flame, each heavy footfall sending tremors through the ground.

The Minotaur.

It was colossal, easily seven feet tall, maybe more.

Its muscles seemed to have been made of stone. Its horns were pale white and curved backwards, and its eyes burned, glowing like dying coals.

Flames flared from its nostrils with each snort, wreathing its massive head in smoke and fire.

Noah froze, his hand automatically reaching for a weapon.

The creature tilted its head once, almost in acknowledgment, and then it charged.

It moved faster than Noah expected, an avalanche of muscle and fury closing the distance in the blink of an eye.

Noah threw himself sideways, rolling across the ground just as the Minotaur’s massive fist smashed into the spot where he had stood.

The impact shattered stone, sending shards flying.

“Fast,” Noah muttered, pushing himself up. “And strong.”

Aegis of Hades.

Black smoke erupted around him once again, crawling up his body and solidifying into armor.

The pressure in the room dropped, and his mana reserve dipped sharply, but the surge of strength that followed steadied his shaking limbs.

The Minotaur was already coming again, its heavy steps shaking the cavern.

Noah summoned a shadow sword into his hand and charged forward to meet it.

Their collision sent a thunderclap of energy through the air.

Sparks flew as his sword met flesh. The Minotaur’s hide was tough, and its arm caught the blade, forcing Noah back a step.

The creature’s other arm swung wide, faster than expected, and slammed into Noah’s chest.

The blow sent him flying backward like a ragdoll.

He hit the wall hard enough to crack the rock, his breath exploding from his lungs.

His shadow sword fell from his hands, dissolving back into shadow.

Noah coughed, his ribs burning, but he wasn’t done yet.

He teleported instantly, appearing behind the beast.

He formed another sword and brought it down in a vicious arc, slicing deep into the Minotaur’s shoulder.

The creature bellowed, its roar shaking the very ground.

From the wound, darkness began to spill.

The thick, writhing shadows took shape in the air, spearing towards Noah.

He twisted just in time, the shadows grazing his side.

His armor hissed as the magic scraped across it, leaving black scorch marks that pulsed faintly.

“What—?”

Before he could think further, the Minotaur was on him again.

Noah dropped low, spinning and kicking its legs from beneath it.

The monster’s balance broke for just a moment. But it was long enough.

“Pillar of Judgement!”

A column of blinding fire crashed down, engulfing the Minotaur where it had stumbled.

The beast screamed in agony, its body thrashing against the force of the flame. The ground beneath it glowed red-hot.

Noah didn’t hesitate. “Devour!”

Darkness surged from his palm, forming a massive vortex of pure consuming void that swept towards the burning Minotaur.

The spell roared like a black hole, tearing the air apart as it closed in.

But the creature wasn’t finished.

The Minotaur dug its hooves into the ground, muscles bulging as it fought back against the pull.

Its own darkness exploded outward, a torrent of shadow that clawed at the edges of Devour, holding it back.

The two forces collided, light and darkness thrashing in the air, neither willing to yield.

Noah felt the resistance in his spell.

He gritted his teeth. “You can resist that? Then, let’s see you resist this!”

He blurred forward, appearing beside the struggling Minotaur.

His sword flared as he brought it down in a clean, decisive motion.

The blade cut through flesh, severing both of the Minotaur’s legs in a single stroke.

The beast howled, crashing onto its knees, the ground trembling under its weight.

Noah stepped forward. “Stay down.”

He raised his sword high, then thrust it forward with all his strength, driving it straight through the Minotaur’s chest.

The creature’s roar turned into a gurgling scream as the blade pierced its heart.

And then, at last, its resistance began to weaken.

Devour surged forward, no longer opposed.

The darkness flooded over the Minotaur’s body, swallowing it whole.

When the darkness faded, nothing remained but scorch marks.

Noah stood there panting, his sword dissolving into smoke.

Then, the sound of a system alert filled the air.

Ding!

[Pure Abyssal Energy Detected]

[Would you like to upgrade Devour to S-Rank, or advance to E-Rank?]

For a moment, he could only stare, heart hammering in his chest.

His gaze lowered to where the Minotaur had once stood.

The ground still shimmered faintly, black veins of abyssal energy spreading outward from the spot, feeding the air with a dark, electric hum.

And so, he raised his hand and made his choice.