Grand Finale #2

 

An eye for an eye, sword for sword.

And the article is an article.

Death Knights, no different from heavy, pitch-black chariots, advanced without hesitation toward the headquarters of the Sun Knights.

“Damn it… Someone stop this!”

A knight hurled an uncharacteristically harsh curse, but no one rebuked him.

Anyway, I think they are all feeling the same way right now.

The Knights of the Sun are certainly strong and each and every one of them is a warrior worth a hundred,

The fighting skills they have honed are only for use against fellow humans.

Why do you say things like this?

Even if a boxing champion punches a bear with all his might, the bear just thinks he’s playing and wants to play with him.

If the weight classes are so different, there’s no way a fight can happen.

The knights’ swords couldn’t even scratch our Death Knights, and on the contrary, the knights’ shields were torn apart like cardboard.

“Good job, good job. Right.”

I followed along, carrying my backpack on my back and leisurely watching the fight.

I thought there might be a situation where I would have to exert myself, but I was worried for nothing.

The Sun Knights were completely destroyed by four Death Knights.

‘Thanks to you, I saved my strength.’

The final battle awaits me soon. I’m glad I didn’t waste my energy unnecessarily in anticipation of the fight with Michael.

But Michael is also a really great guy.

Even in the Hall of the Sun, the highest floor of headquarters, this commotion must have been vividly heard. Yet, despite the din of screams, he remained silent.

‘So, the Sun Knights were just disposable tools after all.’

Michael may not have had the concept of colleagues or subordinates from the beginning.

I didn’t want to criticize that attitude as being wrong. It’s clearly a leadership style.

Besides, it was I who made Michael into that kind of guy.

Michael’s life, his thoughts, and his ruthless way of thinking were not directly determined by him.

“It’s my responsibility. So I’ll finish it myself.”

It’s time to wrap things up.

The path of a fallen and twisted hero.

***

Hall of the Sun.

This hall, meticulously designed by dwarven craftsmen, is exquisitely illuminated by sunlight that changes with each hour of the day, creating a breathtaking view.

When is the Hall of the Sun at its most beautiful? The connoisseurs are at a loss on this topic.

Is it a morning when the rising sun shyly brightens the hall?

Is it lunchtime when the sun rises high in the sky and illuminates all things magnificently?

My thoughts are as follows.

Ironically, the most beautiful time in the Hall of the Sun is when the sun sets. That means right now, at this very moment, I’m watching.

The sky is dyed crimson, the bright light is slowly fading, and it is time to calmly prepare for our farewell.

A beautiful, yet somehow sad time.

Michael stood by the window, looking at the setting sun.

He wasn’t defenseless. He was clad from head to toe in the continent’s finest artifacts.

The armor is the famous “Grace of Talos”, the sword on the waist is the “Eternal Light”, a sacred object bestowed directly by the sun god, and the greaves are⋯

Okay. If I keep reciting these one by one, I won’t stop until the sun goes down.

There’s no need to explain how great this guy is.

Since a while ago, my skin has been tingling as if electricity is running through it.

I didn’t want to be nervous, but since it was my opponent, I couldn’t act like I usually do.

Step, step.

The footsteps of our intruders echoed through the marble hall.

I stood in the center of the Hall of the Sun. The Death Knights silently approached me, guarding me with their constant vigilance.

Michael slowly turned his head.

His appearance, with the sunlight covering his entire body, was more reminiscent of an incarnation of the sun than a human being.

“Are you here..”

Finally, Michael opened his mouth.

“You think everything’s going your way. You’ll think you’re sabotaging me, Richie.”

“⋯No?”

“You were wrong. The destruction of the capital was what I also hoped for.”

Michael looked at me intently, his eyes showing neither the slightest hint of anger nor confusion.

“To establish a new order, you must first destroy the existing one. Ultimately, you acted for me from beginning to end.”

I laughed out loud.

“What is that? Is it a mental victory?”

“Think as you wish. I will use this opportunity to claim the title of hero who defended humanity from the undead. So, I don’t hold any grudges against you.”

Certainly, Michael’s words weren’t entirely without basis. However, they were only a possibility to be considered if Michael won this war.

“Michael, can I tell you a fun fact?”

Is it my turn this time?

I’m also an expert on trash talk. I can’t stand to see that guy fighting while completely drunk on his mental victory.

“I don’t blame you either. I pity you.”

Hot fire.

Michael’s eyes flashed with a fierce gleam. A single word of sympathy seemed to pierce his ego more effectively than cursing and swearing.

“You feel sorry for me? You? Me?”

“Yes. Looking back on your life, it can’t be helped. You were born in the slums, lost your parents at a young age, and your only blood relative, a sister, was brutally murdered by bad guys. It’s truly heartbreaking.”

“You⋯.”

As Michael’s life story, which he had never told anyone before, came out of my mouth, Michael began to become visibly shaken.

“It must have been really hard. But in the end, you became a hero on your own. You should be proud.”

“Shut your mouth! What do you think you know about me?”

Kwajik!

Michael screamed. It was just a cry of rage, and the floor cracked and the stained glass shattered and fell.

But I didn’t even blink. I continued speaking, unintimidated by the momentum.

“What do you know? I know everything. Because I created you. Your birth, your rise to hero—all of it.”

“gibberish!”

“It’s time to step off the stage. Your role is over.”

Michael pulled out his knife fiercely as if he couldn’t stand it any longer.

Is this just the beginning? The decisive battle that will decide everything—

The final battle- uh-

‘Fuck. It’s too fast!’

Sasasak—

Michael disappeared. And when he reappeared, he was already right in front of me.

“Teleportation? Nope. Just his movements are ridiculously fast!”

There are people in the world who can move faster than teleportation.

That’s Michael.

A human whose stats have been pushed to the limit of what can be achieved in the game.

That is, the highest level of physicality permitted by the laws of this world.

Crunch—!

The Death Knight blocked Michael’s path, but it was no use.

Michael cut the Death Knight in half with one swing, without any effort, as if he was struggling.

If it weren’t for the precious few seconds my loyal Death Knight saved me, my body would have been cut like that.

I don’t expect to be able to defend or dodge every one of Michael’s attacks. That would be overestimating myself.

‘We must attack even at the risk of death.’

The best defense is a good offense.

I cast the highest level attack magic, “Spear of the Soul.”

Thanks to the extreme level of the command magic and the assistance of the artifact, dual casting with both hands was now possible.

wedge—

The window slammed into Michael, cutting through the air.

Michael dodged with his usual foul-like movement, but he had already taken that into account.

“The Soul Spear tracks your soul, not your body. It won’t chase you even if you run to the other side of the planet.”

The two spears, twisted in a spiral shape, missed Michael several times, but each time they circled in the air, readjusted their trajectory, and flew back to Michael.

Michael backflipped, kicked off the wall, and continued to dodge the window.

“Yeah, keep doing those tricks. I’ll give you two more.”

I caught Michael in my gaze and reloaded the soul spear.

At the same time, the three remaining Death Knights blocked Michael’s path and drove him into the wall.

“joy.”

Even in a moment of crisis, a mocking smile crossed Michael’s lips.

Michael landed on the floor and stepped back, then gripped his sword with both hands.

A chill ran down my neck.

It’s dangerous.

That technique is definitely-

No, it’s not that dangerous-

‘I’m dying.’

months-

Michael slashed his sword from right to left.

As I witnessed the invisible storm and sword wind being released along its trajectory-

My premonition came true.

The whole world seemed to move slowly.

Floating dust, pieces of stone shattered and flying up.

And one Death Knight is torn to pieces by Michael’s sword wind.

It’s my turn next. This time, there’s no meat shield to block it.

Following the Death Knight, my body was also torn to pieces and scattered in all directions.

“He’s dead.”

Consciousness rolled endlessly down the dark slope, and a familiar silence enveloped me.

But now is not the time to leisurely indulge in the world of death.

Without hesitation, I grabbed the lifeline again.

“The interval between resurrections has shortened.”

Michael placed his sword on the ground and frowned.

“But you’re not the god of death. That swift resurrection will inevitably come with risks.”

“Well, what do you think?”

“Don’t show off. It’s unsightly.”

Michael wasn’t at all flustered.

As expected from someone who had cut me down hundreds of times, it seems like the fact that I would be resurrected was a variable he had already anticipated.

“He’s a boring guy. What good will it do if he’s even a little surprised?”

Michael is right.

“Instant Resurrection” deals damage to my reliquary. If the damage accumulates beyond the limit, the reliquary will eventually be destroyed, bringing my life to an eternal end.

‘I have to see it through. I’ve come this far.’

I felt a heavy pressure, as if my heart was being kneaded by cold hands.

Until now, my enemies had not been prepared for my “Resurrection”, so I was able to defeat them without difficulty with just this powerful trait.

But Michael is different. He’s more used to dealing with me and Richie than anyone else.

“Shall we go?”

You can’t win if you don’t fight with all your might. Now is not the time to worry about the aftermath.

I finally took out my beloved book, “The Harvester of Life,” which had returned to my hands.

“It’s been a while since I wrote.”

A black aura began to cling to the Life Harvester.

The black aura spread out in all directions like fog, obscuring the sunlight illuminating the Hall of the Sun.

“The Shape of a Grim Reaper.” From now on, things will be a little different.