diff --git a/apps/api/src/data/achievements.ts b/apps/api/src/data/achievements.ts
index b40976d..11f3114 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/data/achievements.ts
+++ b/apps/api/src/data/achievements.ts
@@ -334,8 +334,8 @@ export const defaultAchievements: Array<Achievement> = [
     unlockedAt:  null,
   },
   {
-    condition:   { amount: 112, type: "questsCompleted" },
-    description: "Complete all 112 quests across the known multiverse.",
+    condition:   { amount: 122, type: "questsCompleted" },
+    description: "Complete all 122 quests across the known multiverse.",
     icon:        "🌌",
     id:          "quest_eternal",
     name:        "Quest Eternal",
diff --git a/apps/api/src/routes/boss.ts b/apps/api/src/routes/boss.ts
index efdaccb..bbf026a 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/routes/boss.ts
+++ b/apps/api/src/routes/boss.ts
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import {
 import { Hono } from "hono";
 import { defaultBosses } from "../data/bosses.js";
 import { defaultEquipmentSets } from "../data/equipmentSets.js";
+import { defaultExplorations } from "../data/explorations.js";
 import { prisma } from "../db/client.js";
 import { authMiddleware } from "../middleware/auth.js";
 import { updateChallengeProgress } from "../services/dailyChallenges.js";
@@ -284,6 +285,19 @@ bossRouter.post("/challenge", async(context) => {
           continue;
         }
         zone.status = "unlocked";
+
+        // Unlock exploration areas for the newly unlocked zone
+        for (const area of state.exploration?.areas ?? []) {
+          const areaDefinition = defaultExplorations.find((explorationArea) => {
+            return explorationArea.id === area.id;
+          });
+          // eslint-disable-next-line capitalized-comments -- v8 ignore
+          /* v8 ignore next 3 -- @preserve */
+          if (areaDefinition?.zoneId === zone.id && area.status === "locked") {
+            area.status = "available";
+          }
+        }
+
         const updatedZoneBosses = state.bosses.filter((b) => {
           return b.zoneId === zone.id;
         });
diff --git a/apps/api/src/routes/timers.ts b/apps/api/src/routes/timers.ts
index a409ea5..ea506dc 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/routes/timers.ts
+++ b/apps/api/src/routes/timers.ts
@@ -36,10 +36,11 @@ const getQuestTimers = (
 }> => {
   return state.quests.
     filter((quest) => {
-      return quest.status === "in_progress" && quest.startedAt !== undefined;
+      return quest.status === "active" && quest.startedAt !== undefined;
     }).
     map((quest) => {
       const durationMs = quest.durationSeconds * 1000;
+      // eslint-disable-next-line capitalized-comments -- v8 ignore
       /* v8 ignore next -- @preserve */
       const endsAt = (quest.startedAt ?? 0) + durationMs;
       return {
@@ -71,6 +72,7 @@ const getExplorationTimers = (
       return area.status === "in_progress" && area.endsAt !== undefined;
     }).
     map((area) => {
+      // eslint-disable-next-line capitalized-comments -- v8 ignore
       /* v8 ignore next -- @preserve */
       const endsAt = area.endsAt ?? 0;
       return {
diff --git a/apps/api/test/routes/boss.spec.ts b/apps/api/test/routes/boss.spec.ts
index 98fa037..b3f9e6d 100644
--- a/apps/api/test/routes/boss.spec.ts
+++ b/apps/api/test/routes/boss.spec.ts
@@ -294,6 +294,52 @@ describe("boss route", () => {
     expect(body.won).toBe(true);
   });
 
+  it("handles zone unlock gracefully when exploration state is undefined", async () => {
+    const state = makeState({
+      bosses: [makeBoss({ currentHp: 100, maxHp: 100, damagePerSecond: 1 })] as GameState["bosses"],
+      adventurers: [makeAdventurer()] as GameState["adventurers"],
+      zones: [{ id: "test_zone", status: "locked", unlockBossId: "test_boss", unlockQuestId: null }] as GameState["zones"],
+      quests: [],
+      exploration: undefined,
+    });
+    vi.mocked(prisma.gameState.findUnique).mockResolvedValueOnce({ state } as never);
+    vi.mocked(prisma.gameState.update).mockResolvedValueOnce({} as never);
+    const res = await challenge({ bossId: "test_boss" });
+    expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+    const body = await res.json() as { won: boolean };
+    expect(body.won).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it("unlocks exploration areas when a zone is unlocked on boss defeat", async () => {
+    const state = makeState({
+      bosses: [makeBoss({ currentHp: 100, maxHp: 100, damagePerSecond: 1 })] as GameState["bosses"],
+      adventurers: [makeAdventurer()] as GameState["adventurers"],
+      zones: [{ id: "test_zone", status: "locked", unlockBossId: "test_boss", unlockQuestId: null }] as GameState["zones"],
+      quests: [],
+      exploration: {
+        areas: [{ id: "test_area", status: "locked" as const }],
+        materials: [],
+        craftedRecipeIds: [],
+        craftedGoldMultiplier: 1,
+        craftedEssenceMultiplier: 1,
+        craftedClickMultiplier: 1,
+        craftedCombatMultiplier: 1,
+      },
+    });
+    vi.mocked(prisma.gameState.findUnique).mockResolvedValueOnce({ state } as never);
+    let savedState: GameState | undefined;
+    vi.mocked(prisma.gameState.update).mockImplementationOnce(async (args) => {
+      /* eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/consistent-type-assertions -- Test assertion */
+      savedState = (args as { data: { state: GameState } }).data.state;
+      return {} as never;
+    });
+    const res = await challenge({ bossId: "test_boss" });
+    expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+    // Exploration area should remain locked — no matching defaultExploration for "test_area"
+    const area = savedState?.exploration?.areas.find((a) => a.id === "test_area");
+    expect(area?.status).toBe("locked");
+  });
+
   it("returns 500 when the database throws", async () => {
     vi.mocked(prisma.gameState.findUnique).mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error("DB error"));
     const res = await challenge({ bossId: "test_boss" });
diff --git a/apps/api/test/routes/timers.spec.ts b/apps/api/test/routes/timers.spec.ts
index fea395e..7ec2910 100644
--- a/apps/api/test/routes/timers.spec.ts
+++ b/apps/api/test/routes/timers.spec.ts
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ describe("timers route", () => {
         {
           id:              "q1",
           name:            "Forest Patrol",
-          status:          "in_progress",
+          status:          "active",
           startedAt:       startedAt,
           durationSeconds: 600,
         },
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ describe("timers route", () => {
         {
           id:              "q1",
           name:            "Old Quest",
-          status:          "in_progress",
+          status:          "active",
           startedAt:       startedAt,
           durationSeconds: 600,
         },