Ch.86If You Want to Become the Final Boss

The crimson butterfly fluttered through the air, gliding smoothly through empty space. Despite its delicate, feather-like appearance, it moved so quickly that the ground seemed to stretch beneath it.

The spirit magic born from ruby-like eyes was the perfect guide. Responding to my urgent feelings, the butterfly accelerated as if challenging me to follow.

As I chased after the butterfly, a sudden wave of anxiety and helplessness washed over me. Though I was desperately searching for the leader, I doubted whether I could actually resolve the situation.

Could the gold-decorated sky ever return to its original color? The only fortunate thing was that the cracks in the sky were still minimal.

‘It’s inconvenient being cut off from the old man.’

I needed his assessment of the situation’s severity to clearly define my objectives. I had to find the right path to end this crisis.

Woong.

The butterfly’s form distorted. Not because it had failed, but because it had faithfully reached its destination.

The butterfly settled weakly and vanished into reddish steam. Looking at this landscape, I recalled a distant past.

An ordinary day when I sat in front of a computer, installing a game with anticipation. The sacred place from the prologue where the protagonist awakens outside a ruined world.

Red Sanctuary Altnia. Though there were some differences, its identity was clear.

A massive cave located beneath high, treacherous cliffs. Inside, the last fantasy creature in the world was hiding, waiting for its time.

‘Why here of all places?’

It was surprising enough that the first ritual took place in the Great Cavern. It was puzzling that the second was at Zikharun’s starting point. It shouldn’t have any connection to Feita.

‘There’s no reason Zikharun would introduce this place either.’

It felt like the starting location had become the final dungeon. I pushed aside my uneasy feelings and entered the Red Sanctuary.

The torch-lit passage was long. A unique energy that made my head spin filled the air with mystery. My cautious steps eventually reached the end of the cave, revealing a new world.

A vast space filled with crystal light. Underground palace-like carved structures and a ceiling as high as sheer cliffs created a magnificent scene.

Under the ceiling and crystals, I saw a familiar altar and humans in black robes watching me. All wore masks, except for one man with an eye patch who showed his bare face.

The man with the eye patch spoke first.

“Though we’ve never met, your face seems familiar.”

“Sorry to be rude at our first meeting, but could you hold your breath for about ten minutes?”

“Heh, who would have thought? You’re ‘that’ Marquess who once defeated Zikharun.”

“Huh?”

His words brought back memories. His voice was similar to the man I’d briefly spoken with through a communication stone after defeating Zikharun in the Great Cavern.

“Are you really Troph Feita?”

“Correct. If you’ve come this far, it means Zikharun has been defeated again. And he blabbed about our location too. That traitor…”

“What does it matter? This place is full of 400-year-old ungrateful children anyway.”

I’m making the already pitiful old man even more miserable. It’s time to untangle this mess with the loyalty of a vessel. It’s my turn to deliver tough love on behalf of the old man who can now no longer see the world.

I draw up a foul energy from my soul. The sudden pumping makes blood vessels rise to the surface. As I activate my Malice, the black-robed humans flinch. They’re taken aback by this manifestation of evil that makes any human shrink away.

Could they possibly guess that this Malice is the manifestation of Netionpiece’s malignancy and Lorian Feita’s malevolence?

“Please give your orders.”

“With Zikharun’s defeat, the fight between humans has come to an end. So… activate the final Lost Blood.”

“As you command.”

I notice a human dangling from the altar like a saint carrying a cross. Though their eyes are closed, making it difficult to discern their features, their hair is unmistakably red.

The person, displaying the distinctive characteristics of Astelnerca like an emperor of the era, groans as black powder is injected into them. At that moment, an anomaly occurs.

Keeeing-!

The sanctuary, previously filled with crystal light, begins spreading with the same golden hue as outside. In the twilight that distorts my vision, the air warps strangely. The twisting space exceeds its limit and cracks like fragile porcelain.

A localized Chainlich Phenomenon. Zikharun’s description fits perfectly. Soon, a monstrous cry filled with destructive impulses echoed from the broken void.

Whiooooooo!!!

“So this is what’s coming out.”

A howl with a distinctive character. Chainlich monsters typically emit screams mixed with noise. But occasionally, specimens appear that even a fool could clearly identify.

In the original work, specimens with special characteristics were called mutants. But reflecting on the old man’s memories, the theory that they are powerful entities that withstood dimensional resistance seems more convincing.

And the distinctive howl just now is the trademark of an unforgettable entity.

“Suddenly, it’s the final boss’s entrance scene from the main story.”

It was originally a monster that appeared from a dimensional gate opened above the ruined empire. Only the location is different; the signs of its appearance are strikingly similar.

Black claws and reptilian eyes exposed beyond the crack. Darkness that could swallow even the blazing sun seeps through with rough scales.

A vague shape steps into the sanctuary. A dragon-shaped omen tears apart the constricting crack and forcibly opens a passage.

Kwang!

Six branches of the omen suddenly extend and push me outward. Since I was facing the entrance, I was expelled outside through the long passage.

“Whiooooooo!”

The dragon’s roar echoes in the deep twilight world. Its body, ten times taller than a human, casts a wide shadow. The two-headed dragon with two pairs of eyes rolls them chaotically, seemingly trying to adapt to its expanded field of vision.

Otherworld Dragon Zahhakra.

The final adversary that blocks the protagonist who has reached the summit of the ending. A being from another world that burns the new sprouts in the ruined world.

Excluding Irefi, who comes as a bonus with DLC purchase, it was undoubtedly the strongest boss.

“Phew…!”

I exhaled all the breath remaining in my lungs. It was truly time to get serious. If something like this rampaged in a world devastated by Chainlich, it would collapse as fragile as the currently striped sky.

Without time to think, I slid between the two-headed dragon’s legs. Entering the blind spot of its massive body, I raised my Conqueror’s Sword to leave a clear wound. It was a posture meant to deliver massive force rather than an efficient sword path.

Netionpiece. I summon your entire life, which was an Easter egg. I swing the Conqueror’s Sword, carved as dark as the two-headed dragon, with all my might along the trajectory of your past life.

Crack! Crunch!

The massive Conqueror’s Sword pierces through steel-like skin and severs tough blood vessels. Sensing the limit of my strength, I used the elasticity of my waist to completely cut off the part where the sword was embedded. Then, sticky filth splattered in all directions and melted into the ground.

The filth, presumed to be the two-headed dragon’s blood, grew like baby snakes and bit at me. This was what I wanted. I had an effective counter for this too.

Black blood flowed from each wound where the baby snakes bit. The bubbling black blood transformed into insects and beasts that dealt with the minions. I just needed to focus on facing Zahhakra.

“Whiooooooo!”

At that moment, Zahhakra roared. It was a sound wave accompanied by fierce wind. The beasts born from my dark arts all burst apart. I too was caught off guard and unwittingly allowed Zahhakra’s attack.

Ringing dominated my hearing, and my vision whited out. Suddenly, I felt my abdomen being hollowed out. With my pain sensitivity lowered, I couldn’t grasp what was happening.

Crunch, crunch.

The sound of something chewing flesh and bone. I experienced firsthand how sound effects alone can induce disgust. I instinctively realized what was happening. My midsection was being entirely devoured by the creature. The horrific sound of meat being sliced prompted me to curse.

“You crazy thick-headed lizard…!”

Zahhakra’s pupils dilated upon seeing my body barely regenerated. It meant the creature possessed minimal intelligence. To make up for my mistake, I immediately closed the distance.

Six branches of the omen mimicked the appearance of an Eastern dragon to block me. As a countermeasure, I used the broad blade of my sword as a shield. I caught the tentacles that flexibly circled behind me with my other hand and crushed them with my grip. As the shadow cast by the opponent’s bulk deepened, I looked up. And hopelessly opened my mouth.

Because the path I had painstakingly opened had become useless.

“Acting like a dragon, are you.”

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Torn wings like those of an injured beetle created a storm. The massive body soared into the air, arrogantly observing the ground with four eyes. The next moment, the two-headed dragon’s mouths opened wide. A belch-like sound heralded the near future. It was the precursor to the boss’s breath pattern.

Acrid smoke shot like steam from its widely opened jaws. It wasn’t like fire. It was death smoke that petrified victims upon contact. I raised my Malice while swinging my Conqueror’s Sword. If it wouldn’t come down to the ground, I’d have to drag it down.

This is the path you’ve chosen. Die by evil and brute force.

“Ever-Changing Forms.”

The earth becomes damp with Malice. From the surface to underground, I infuse Malice to activate my versatile technique.

I assess the range of Malice released to its limit. Controlling it at will, I lift the ground. Debris, stones, damp soil, and buried rocks all take flight and unite into a single structure.

Reach for the sky. So that the dull eyes of the two-headed dragon will be driven into the ground. Become a massive hammer and smash this reptile that doesn’t know its place.

“Whiooooooooo!”

It was a roar that clearly conveyed panic. Seeing a giant hammer reaching the sky, it was understandable. The area of the hammer that agitated the earth already far exceeded the size of the two-headed dragon.

Controlling such mass is difficult even drawing on past life experience. So I’ll crush it quickly.

There’s no time. I don’t know when or where the striped sky might break. People will die and get hurt. I must stop this, even if I have to grab Troph Feita by the collar.

“Haa… Huu…!”

What’s a final boss anyway? Not even the strongest in the lore. A youngster who looks much younger than the 500-year-old monster. Don’t raise your eyes without respecting your elders.

Is it so pleasurable to express your superior presence through violence?

If you so desire to dance with blades like a mad clown…

Or if you want to become an almighty being persecuting an innocent world…

Even if a mere creature wants to live up to its name as a final boss, however awkwardly…

“At least come back when you’re qualified to be Irefi Justitia’s pet!!!”

“Whiooooooooo!?”

KWAAAAAAANG!!!

Violence of an earth-shaking scale was unleashed. Seismic waves matching the thunderous sound shook the earth, turning the landscape upside down. As a result of the massive mass bombardment, vast clouds of dust covered the sky, hiding the golden light.

I skipped confirming the kill and pushed through the scattered dust. I was in too much of a hurry to look at the flattened two-headed dragon. Feita inside the sanctuary would have roughly guessed the outcome of the battle. Losing him here would be disastrous.

I ran through the long passage again to reach the sacred place where Zikharun had awakened. Troph Feita was still there obediently. The only difference was that the black-robed humans had disappeared somewhere. His attitude remained composed, almost brazenly so.

“Ha… Damn bastard falling from nowhere and interfering with everything. Fuck, what an asshole.”

“What?”

Troph Feita clicked his tongue bitterly. Was it because I had overly identified with the old man? I bristled at his disrespectful cursing and rushed forward.

Troph hesitated but lacked substantial power. He must have had experience in the Dark Sky Corps, so his movements would have been excellent.

At least by human standards.

I leaped forward in one breath and pondered. I thought about what Netionpiece would have said to the leader of a faction that caused unnecessary chaos.

The answer came to me in the wind that whipped past my ears like a lash. My personal feelings representing the old man burst from my throat.

“I’m your father, you ungrateful bastard!!!”

And so I delivered a Miren Kick to a descendant who wasn’t even my direct bloodline.