Finale #3

 

The power of El, the goddess of death, spreads across this land, using me as a vessel.

I felt the power of life and death flowing through my breath. An omnipotence that made me feel capable of anything.

But my heartbeat is calm and my head is clear.

Camula also wrote “The Image of the Grim Reaper,” but compared to my current power, it was nothing more than a crude imitation that only imitated the appearance.

‘So that’s what it felt like.’

It was on a different level from the ‘skills’ that are activated by clicking the mouse button in a game.

Beyond simply increasing stats and adding powerful traits, your perspective on the world itself has changed.

The life of all things, like the sand in an hourglass, waning with each passing moment. I could see the predetermined fate of all of them.

This Hall of the Sun, the shining sun, and Michael will all one day return to nothingness.

The only one who escapes that law is me, Estelle, the one who takes life.

“I guess you’ve regained your strength.”

Michael said. Michael didn’t approach me hastily and kept his distance.

That’s right.

If you get caught by me now, even if you are Michael, you won’t be able to save your life.

“Instant Death.” The power of the one who gathers ignores all defenses and resistances.

However, in order to cast “Instant Death”, the target must directly touch my hand, and although it does not activate quickly, it would be a huge threat to Michael.

“Funny. Even in that state, you lost to me. Don’t you remember?”

“That’s right.”

I readily admitted it. Michael and the warrior party were victorious against the Lich who had cast “Shape of Death.”

Afterwards, Michael was held up as a ‘hero’, and Richie was slaughtered hundreds of times and lost all his powers.

That was my situation when I first fell into this world.

Level 1, the puffer fish itself, which died without being able to properly deal with even a single deer.

The “Shape of Death” is powerful, but by no means invincible.

However, there is something that Michael also overlooked.

“I taught you that strategy. Michael, you’re mistaken.”

A strategy that greatly weakens Lich with the Sun Knight’s ultimate skill, “Proclamation of Light.”

Michael, without a shred of doubt, put the strategy into practice again.

“The light of the sun will illuminate the whole earth.”

The midsummer sunlight, piercing the skin like needles, illuminated the hall.

Under the realm of the “Proclamation of Light,” I cannot fully exert my power.

The ability value reduced at this time is a whopping 75% of the original strength.

Moreover, the power of “Instant Death” disappears. It was the most powerful counter that defeated Lich.

“Michael, you are still strong.”

I wasn’t nervous.

It’s an effective strategy, but it’s one I devised. Naturally, the means to destroy it have long been prepared.

“And there is no progress.”

I snapped my fingers. The small bird tattoo my orc shaman friend had carved long ago glowed.

The little bird flew freely through the hall, dipping into the sunlight. Michael and I both stared blankly at the bird’s fluttering wings for a moment.

The light disappears. The power of anti-magic that nullifies all magic.

The gap in light created by the Demon’s Tattoo doesn’t last long. However, it’s only a fleeting moment, and this moment will determine the outcome.

“No matter how many times you beat me, it’s just a result of the past.”

I didn’t miss the momentary opportunity and unleashed the power of the “Shape of Death.”

My darkness came in and filled the void left by the sunlight.

Saaaa—

The pillars of the Hall of the Sun, the walls and the floor, everything that was once brightly shining is consumed by darkness.

Now, this is my realm, where no god can interfere.

“⋯!”

Michael’s eyes widened. His face seemed to intuitively sense that things weren’t going his way.

That’s a good expression. Even a flustered face is still handsome.

If you are a fan of Michael, this might be a rare face you would like to see at least once.

“Doing useless things⋯.”

Darkness tried to crawl up Michael’s legs. Michael quickly jumped back and dodged.

There is darkness all around.

Michael swung his sword as if to blow away the swirling sword wind.

Of course it’s useless. There’s a saying that goes, “cutting water with a sword,” but these days, it’s like cutting darkness with a sword.

The darkness traced the scratch marks left by Michael’s sword, then slowly rose again.

“Throw away your petty tricks. This kind of clowning, even if repeated a hundred times, won’t even scratch me.”

“You are right.”

I watched Michael leisurely.

Now Michael is practically swallowed in the palm of my hand.

You can turn darkness into a sword and stab it, or turn it into black flame and burn it, but as Michael said, it won’t cause much damage.

Michael’s body, which is like the body of a god who came down to this earth, will resist all attacks.

So I didn’t do any pointless shows from the beginning.

Only attacks that penetrate thoroughly are carried out. Michael doesn’t know, but that attack is still in progress at this very moment.

“Ugh⋯.”

Michael stumbled for a moment. He stumbled in place, barely holding onto his knees that were about to break.

“It looks like it’s starting to take effect.”

If we were to assume that darkness would only attack when it has a physical form, we would be lacking imagination.

A huge question mark seemed to appear in Michael’s eyes.

“You thought you were perfect, Michael, right? But you weren’t. There’s something you lack, too. What is it?”

“⋯.”

“You’re only human, after all. You can’t survive without breathing. What if that air is mixed with something that destroys you?”

Only then did Michael seem to notice, and he held his breath.

But it was a futile effort. Sure, Michael’s lung capacity was far greater than that of an average person, but he couldn’t hold his breath forever in this darkness.

And I’ve already had a lot to drink anyway. It’s like locking the barn door after the horse has bolted.

“You seem to have realized it now. Yes, it’s poison. The poison is now spreading through your body.”

I continued speaking leisurely, like a teacher explaining something to a child, without rushing.

“You’re near perfect in every way, but your poison resistance is only average for an average adventurer. That’s understandable. Until now, your party had Eden, the best healer. Akasha, a master of all poison knowledge. Anna, who could teleport you to the village at any moment.”

Michael was always surrounded by dedicated colleagues who filled in his shortcomings.

But now there is no one by his side. There is only empty darkness.

Michael brought this upon himself. He moved forward, recklessly discarding his “useless” colleagues.

If even one of my three party members were here right now, they would have found a way to counter my poison attack.

“That’s how I planned it. I didn’t calculate that you’d be the only one to achieve Musou. You could only be a hero if you had your companions by your side. But now, they’re gone. Sadly.”

“Don’t make me laugh⋯.”

Michael’s eyes gleamed like a wounded beast.

His forehead was damp with sweat, and his hair was sticking to it.

An excruciating pain would have coursed through his entire body. It would have been enough to make a normal person scream and faint.

The mental fortitude to endure that pain was truly worthy of being called a hero. He was no ordinary man.

Boo-woong—

Michael swung his sword again. The sword wind, cutting through the darkness, swept furiously.

However, the sword wind flew far away from me. I didn’t even need to dodge.

If I just stand here still, Michael won’t be able to touch a single hair on my head.

“Do I look like a stray dog? My voice sounds unpleasantly slurred.”

The “Shape of Death” can reproduce any tool that takes life.

One of them is a nerve-disrupting toxin that completely distorts the senses.

The match was decided at this point.

“Phew… phew….”

Michael gasped for breath. He couldn’t see properly, and his senses of smell, hearing, and even taste had all gone.

“I’ve been thinking about what would be the most appropriate ending for you.”

He opened the ring of storage and took out the last weapon stored inside.

The decisive blow that will take Michael’s life.

There were several options, but I was convinced that this was the most fitting ending.

“See? ⋯I guess not. My vision is blurry, so I might not be able to tell. Yeah, what is this—”

Three corpses.

With an ominous aura, the corpse came to life.

With the permission of the God of Death, for a brief moment these corpses are able to move once again.

“Your comrades. The ones who made you a hero.”

Eden, Akasha, and Anna.

Like Michael, these are the ones who were reborn as great heroes of the “Nine Stars” under my guidance.

The three heroes who had first departed for the world of the dead have now come to greet their friend who was left alone.

“⋯Huh.”

The color drained from Michael’s lips. His shoulders began to tremble.

Michael gripped his sword tightly as if it were his only lifeline and aimed it at his former comrades.

“Don’t come near me, I’m telling you to get out!”

The swordsmanship that had never been flawless had long since disappeared.

Michael just swung his sword wildly like a frightened child.

Khak—

Michael coughed up blood. Red droplets of blood flew and splashed onto the faces of his revived comrades.

“⋯.”

Eden stared at Michael expressionlessly.

Akasha crossed her arms and shook her head as if she was seeing something she shouldn’t see.

“Michael, it’s over now.”

Anna said to Michael with a sad expression.

“Let’s go. Together.”