Chapter 97: The Grand Finale #2

Chapter 97: The Grand Finale #2

An eye for an eye, a sword for a sword.

And a knight for a knight.

The Death Knights, like massive obsidian chariots, advanced unhindered through the Sun Knights’ headquarters.

“Damn it… Someone stop them!”

A knight uttered a coarse curse, unbecoming of a knight. But no one reprimanded him.

After all, everyone present likely felt the same way.

The Sun Knights were undoubtedly strong, each a warrior capable of fighting a hundred men, but

The combat skills they had honed were, after all, meant for fighting other humans.

There’s a saying, isn’t there?

Even if a boxing champion throws a punch at a bear with all his might, the bear will simply perceive it as playful teasing and an invitation to play.

When the weight classes are so vastly different, the fight simply cannot commence.

The knights’ swords couldn’t even scratch our Death Knights, and conversely, the knights’ shields were torn apart as if they were made of cardboard.

“Well done, well done. That’s right.”

I followed leisurely from behind, with my hands clasped behind my back, watching the fight.

I thought there might be a situation where I’d have to intervene, but it was a needless worry.

The Sun Knights were cleanly annihilated by the four Death Knights.

‘Thanks to them, I saved my strength.’

A decisive battle awaits soon. It’s fortunate that I didn’t waste unnecessary energy before facing Michael.

But Michael is truly something else.

Even from the top floor of the headquarters, the Hall of the Sun, this commotion must be clearly audible. Yet, he hasn’t shown himself amidst the clamor of shouts.

‘The Sun Knights were ultimately just tools to be used and discarded.’

Perhaps Michael never had the concept of comrades or subordinates from the beginning.

I don’t want to criticize that attitude. It’s a valid leadership style, after all.

Moreover, it was me who made Michael the way he is.

Michael’s life, his ideology, his ruthless way of thinking-none of it was his own decision.

‘It’s my responsibility. So, I’ll be the one to end it.’

The time has come to bring it to a close.

The path of the corrupted and twisted hero.

***

The Hall of the Sun.

This hall, intricately designed by a dwarven artisan, creates a breathtaking spectacle as the sunlight, changing with the time of day, exquisitely illuminates the interior.

When is the Hall of the Sun most beautiful? Connoisseurs have never reached a consensus on this topic.

Is it in the morning, when the rising sun shyly brightens the hall?

Or at noon, when the sun hangs high in the sky, magnificently illuminating all things?

My opinion is this.

Ironically, the Hall of the Sun is most magnificent at sunset. That is, at this very moment, as I see it now.

The sky is dyed crimson, and the clear light gradually fades, calmly preparing for its farewell.

A beautiful, yet somehow melancholic time.

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

He wasn’t in a defenseless state. From head to toe, he was clad in the continent’s finest artifacts.

His armor was the renowned “Talos’s Grace,” the sword at his waist was the holy relic “Eternal Light” personally bestowed by the Sun God, and his greaves were…

Enough. If I were to list each one, it would take until sunset to finish.

There’s no need to further explain how formidable he is.

Ever since earlier, my skin has been tingling as if electricity were flowing through it.

I didn’t want to be nervous, but given who my opponent is, I can’t help but feel uneasy.

Thump, thump.

The footsteps of our intruders echoed through the hall, resonating on the marble.

I stood in the center of the Hall of the Sun. The Death Knights silently approached my side, maintaining their guard as if to protect me.

Michael slowly turned his head.

Bathed in the fading sunlight, his figure resembled not a human, but the manifestation of the sun itself.

“You’ve come…”

Finally, Michael opened his mouth.

“You must think everything is going according to your plan. You must think you’ve successfully disrupted me, Lich.”

“…Haven’t I?”

“You are mistaken. The destruction of the capital is something I also desired.”

Michael gazed at me with eyes that showed neither anger nor surprise.

“To establish a new order, one must first dismantle the existing one. In the end, you have been working for me from beginning to end.”

I burst into laughter.

“What is that? Is that self-consolation?”

“Think whatever you like. I will use this opportunity to claim the achievement of being the hero who protected humanity from the undead attack. Therefore, I do not resent you.”

Certainly, Michael’s words weren’t entirely without basis. However, that was only a possibility to consider if Michael won this war.

“Michael, shall I tell you an interesting fact?”

Is it my turn now?

I’m quite skilled at trash talk. I can’t stand to see him fight while completely immersed in self-consolation.

“I don’t resent you either. Rather, I pity you.”

*Grumble.*

Michael’s eyes flashed with a sharp light. It seemed that a single word of pity struck Michael’s ego more effectively than any profanity or curse.

“Pity… you say? You? Me?”

“Yes. If I look back at your life, I can’t help but feel that way. Born in the slums, orphaned at a young age, and your only blood relative, your sister, was killed by bad people after suffering unspeakable things. It’s truly regrettable.”

“You…”

As Michael’s life, which he had never spoken of to anyone, flowed from my lips, Michael began to show noticeable agitation.

“It must have been very difficult. Yet, in the end, you became a hero through your own strength, didn’t you? You have every reason to be proud.”

“Shut your mouth! What do you know about me to be spouting such nonsense!”

Crackle!

Michael roared in anger. Though it was merely a cry of rage, the floor cracked, and the stained glass shattered, raining down.

But I didn’t even flinch. I continued speaking without being intimidated by his momentum.

“What do I know? I know everything. Because I created you. Everything from your birth to your becoming a hero.”

“Nonsense!”

“It’s time for you to leave the stage. Your role is over.”

Michael drew his sword menacingly, as if he couldn’t bear to hear any more.

Is it starting now? The decisive battle that will determine everything-

The decisive battle- Uh-

‘Shit. That’s too fast!’

Swish-

Michael disappeared. And when he reappeared, he was already standing before me.

‘Teleportation? No. His physical movements are just unbelievably fast!’

There are humans in this world who can move faster than teleportation.

That is Michael.

A human who has maxed out his stats to the limits allowed in the game.

In other words, the peak of the physical body permitted by the laws of this world.

Screech-!

A Death Knight blocked Michael’s path. But it was futile.

Michael, as if bothered by the obstruction, effortlessly cleaved the Death Knight in two with a single blow.

If it weren’t for those precious few seconds bought by the loyal Death Knight, my body would have been cut in half as well.

I don’t expect to block or evade all of Michael’s attacks. That would be overestimating myself.

‘I must attack, even at the cost of my life.’

The best defense is offense.

I cast the highest-level necromantic offensive spell, “Soul Spear.”

Thanks to the peak level of necromancy and the assistance of artifacts, I could now dual-cast with both hands.

Whoosh-

The spears, cleaving through the air, hurtled towards Michael.

Michael evaded them with his usual unfair movements, but I had already factored that into my calculations.

‘Soul Spear tracks not your body, but your soul. Even if you run to the other side of the planet, I will chase you.’

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

Michael performed backflips and kicked off walls, constantly evading the spears.

“Yes, keep showing off like that. I’ll give you two more.”

I locked my gaze onto Michael and reloaded another Soul Spear.

Simultaneously, the remaining three Death Knights blocked Michael’s path, cornering him against the wall.

“Hmph.”

Even in this moment of crisis, a condescending smile flickered across Michael’s lips.

Michael landed on the ground and retreated. He then readjusted his grip on his sword with both hands.

A chill ran down my spine.

This is dangerous.

That technique is definitely-

No, it’s not just dangerous-

‘I’m going to die.’

Swish-

Michael swung his sword from right to left.

And as I witnessed the formless storm, the sword aura, emanating along its trajectory-

My premonition became reality.

The entire world seemed to slow down.

Floating dust, fragments of stone scattering as they were shattered.

And then, one of the Death Knights was sliced into pieces along with Michael’s sword aura.

Next is me. This time, there’s no meat shield to protect me.

Following the Death Knight, my body too was torn into gruesome pieces and scattered in all directions.

“You have died.”

My consciousness rolled down a dark slope, and a familiar silence enveloped me.

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

I grasped the thread of life again without hesitation.

“The interval between resurrections has shortened.”

Michael lowered his sword to the ground, narrowing his brows.

“However, you are not the god of death. Such rapid resurrections must come with a corresponding risk.”

“Well, who knows.”

“Don’t bluff. It’s pathetic.”

Michael was not the least bit flustered.

As expected from someone who had cut me down hundreds of times, my resurrection was a variable he had already anticipated.

‘Boring guy. What’s the harm in being a little surprised?’

Michael is right.

“Instant Resurrection” takes a toll on my reliquary. If the accumulated damage exceeds the limit, my reliquary will eventually be destroyed, and my life will come to an eternal end.

‘I have to finish this. Since I’ve come this far.’

I felt a heavy pressure, as if my heart were being squeezed by cold hands.

My previous opponents hadn’t even prepared for my “resurrection,” and thus, I could easily defeat them with this powerful trait alone.

But Michael is different. He’s more familiar with fighting me, the Lich, than anyone else.

“Shall we go.”

I can’t win if I don’t fight with all my might. This is not the time to consider the consequences.

I drew out my cherished weapon, “Life Reaper,” which had finally returned to my hand.

“It’s been a while.”

Black energy began to swirl around Life Reaper.

The black energy spread out like mist, obscuring the sunlight illuminating the Hall of the Sun.

“Form of the Grim Reaper.” From now on, things will be different.