< strong >598. [STAGE 35] Struggle (4)< /strong >
“…..”
I stood in a daze for a moment in front of his absurd question.
How would you like to die?
[You are not mortal. That life will eventually decline, and the will you cherish will weather and die.]
The Night Bringer was chattering like he was genuinely curious.
[It is an established fact that the end is coming. If so, what kind of end do you want to meet?]
“…..”
[Tell me, the final player. As you fight to prevent the end of the world, what kind of death do you wish for?]
what kind of death do you want?
Instead of answering, I slowly took out the will that was in my arms.
After inhaling, I waved it around in front of him.
“This is the will I wrote before going into this battle.”
[Hoo.]
A different color passed through the gold of the black dragon.
and i,
Bu-wook.
I tore the will in half.
The Night Bringer’s gaze filled me with wonder, but I ignored it and did my job.
Boouk, Boouk, Boouk-
In half, in half, in half- I tore the will to shreds.
My hands trembled just from tearing the overlapping paper. However, I tore up all the suicide notes and roared, scattering the pieces to the floor.
“This is my answer.”
[…..]
“There is no such thing as wishing for death. I only want one thing.”
I chewed it up and spit it out.
“It is life.”
[…..]
“A life that all of my people… and all life up this front will carry on, each with their own potential.”
[…..]
“I don’t know what the ending will all lead to. But, just, I just want to see. everything that leads to it.”
The Night Bringer shook her head slightly.
[What is the meaning of all that mortality? The ending is decided anyway, and it is destined to fade in the end.]
“so? Because all the living die anyway, and the world eventually perishes. Are you telling me to lie still in bed and wait for the last leaf to fall?”
[Wouldn’t a peaceful end like that be bad?]
“Maybe it is. but.”
– brother!
suddenly.
Lying on a bed in a hospital room, in a coma… the image of a young boy flashed through my mind.
“…but I want to see him smile.”
I spat out incoherently.
“I want to see that kid get up on his own two feet in this world, and he comes alive. In this hellish world where no one but an iron man can survive…”
[…..]
“I want to see that child who chose to live despite that, smile at the end.”
The Night Bringer stared blankly at me.
After meeting his shining golden eyes, I spoke with strength.
“So, live. Night Bringer.”
[….what?]
“Go away. Give us one more chance.”
I straightened my back and begged for my life proudly – without shrinking at all.
Black Dragon was genuinely taken aback, as if he hadn’t expected me to come out like this.
[why me? Even if I just snap my finger now, you’re all dead.]
“Don’t you know, the king of nightmares?”
I raised my hands and pointed at the men behind me.
Even though they were extremely exhausted and covered in blood, only their eyes were burning…. My heroes preparing for battle again.
“The last game this world can give you is us.”
[…!]
“We are the guardians of public interest. When we fall, what’s left is ugly. The public interest will perish pointlessly, and that’s how it will all end.”
A slow, amused smile appeared on the black dragon’s face.
I don’t know if it’s because my words are not good enough, or if it means something else.
but.
“We are the last enemies you can face as the King of Kings. Wouldn’t it be too futile if we just pointed our fingers at each other and disappeared?”
I just struggle
Even if it’s ugly, stupid, stupid.
Anyhow, one more time. To continue the game-do anything
As a responsible player, somehow.
“Isn’t that kind of ending too tasteless?”
[…..]
“Go away. and take your time Time for us to prepare for the final battle…”
I didn’t lower my head or bend my back.
As if asking for something very obvious, I asked him shamelessly, looking into his eyes.
“As the same King of Kings, as a great player against you, for a great match.”
[…..]
Silence passed.
Eventually, the corners of his mouth opened wide in a smile, and the Night Bringer shook his head slightly.
[You are a selfish king.]
“…..”
[If you wished for a peaceful death, I would have given it to you this time.]
The Night Bringer continued as he looked around at his people who were leaning against each other, hugging their wounds.
[You and all of your people, as if dreaming, escaped from this life of pain… You would have been able to meet a comfortable end in a quiet night. That was my greatest mercy.]
“…..”
[But you chose to fight. Fight as you wish and let me die painfully.]
The King of Monsters tapped the scepter on the floor with a thumping sound. And he raised his voice.
[Proposes a truce.]
“…!”
[Previous attack. And before this attack. Everyone in our camp has committed a rule violation. Either the two corps sortied separately, or they sortied together as one.]
The Night Bringer nodded her head.
[If there had been a former King of Kings, he would have given a reasonable punishment to the sortie corps. But the guy is now confined. Even the execution of the punishment was stopped.]
“…..”
[Instead, let me impose punishment on our faction. Until the next great flood, we will not invade Inse. How is it?]
I nodded.
“Accept.”
[Whoops, don’t be too relieved.]
Perhaps I was unknowingly relieved, when the Night Bringer saw my face, it chuckled.
[The one who goes out during the next great flood is me.]
“…!”
[Anyway, then this world will perish.]
round-
The Night Bringer turned back. Long black hair wavy and flowed along the trajectory of his body.
[Pinch his body. heal the wounds Think of a way to kill me, and struggle in vain. Like a mortal… burn your whole body and soul, confront me.]
“…..”
[You said you wanted to see the child smile. Guardian of the world.]
The Golden Eyes of the Night Bringer, who slightly tilted his head back, shimmered with terrifying heat.
[I miss you too, seeing you cry…]
….what?
[When your simple hopes are trampled and burned, when your vain hopes are destroyed, even your strong heart is broken, and destruction finally arrives before his eyes…]
“…..”
[How nice to see the tears you will shed. It would be fun just to watch.]
I was just trying to stay still and listen.
I couldn’t stand it and spat out a word.
“This sadist bastard…”
[Haha.]
The guy calmly moved his steps forward and replied.
[Is there any king who does not enjoy sadism?]
The Black Dragon, who was walking along, suddenly stopped and looked back at him.
Dusk Bringer was standing there.
Her dress was torn and covered in blood from the fierce battle, and her long black hair was a mess. The prized silver crown was covered with soot.
Not paying attention to that, Dusk Bringer stood tall and glared at Night Bringer with ferocious eyes.
[…..]
“…..”
The black dragon, who had been revived from the nightmare, and the half dragon, who had inherited the blood of the red dragon, stared at each other for a moment.
[….Right. Was the blood of that dragon still alive?]
The Night Bringer murmured and began to move his steps again. Against his back, Dusk Bringer shouted.
“Are you ignoring me, Black Dragon? Don’t you have anything more to say?!”
[…..]
“My ancestors burned you and chewed you up! You, too, will make me face the same end!”
[Don’t get me wrong, half dragon.]
Hwaaak-
The Night Bringer cocked his chin and widened his eyes. A different level of Dragon Fear from what Dusk Bringer had sowed so far swept the area.
[Your ancestors were so great that they couldn’t even be compared to four bloody lumps.]
Thanks to my [Indomitable Commander], the allied heroes did not fall into fear, but for a moment, soldiers who couldn’t breathe and grabbed their necks and choked one after another.
“Kuh…?!”
Even the Dusk Bringer of the world, his complexion turned pale, hesitantly stepped back behind him.
Night Bringer, who sneered at Dusk Bringer, took the dragon fear and started walking again.
[The reason you can preserve your life right now is only thanks to the ceasefire declaration I declared with my mouth. Because the king cannot change his words.]
“…..”
[Don’t fret too much. Anyway, at the time of the next big flood…]
The Night Bringer lightly snapped his fingers.
[Including you, even the history of your ancestors. I will destroy everything.]
Quadduk!
The silver crown that was placed on Dusk Bringer’s head, symbolizing the dominion of the Principality of Bringer… it was distorted and fell to the floor.
pop. pop. pop.
Blood dripped from Dusk Bringer’s forehead down his tiny face, as if he had been swept away and wounded.
Dusk Bringer stood still with a bloodstained face, glaring at Night Bringer as he walked away.
[See you again, mongrel.]
The Night Bringer, sneering, walked down the southern plains and into the rolling dust.
[I expect you to perform at least one tenth of the feat your ancestors accomplished.]
Eventually, the back of the black dragon completely disappeared.
“…..”
A long silence fell.
Even though the long battle was over, everyone was frozen in place.
Looking back at my men who had stopped at a loss, I managed to open my mouth.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s a fluke. It doesn’t matter if it’s luck It can be coincidence, it can be servile, anything or any form is fine.”
I spoke desperately.
“We survived.”
“…..”
“It is the responsibility of this front to survive and fight until the very end. And today, each of you did an excellent job with your responsibilities. that is enough.”
that is enough.
For those of us who survived, with that…
After lowering my head and catching my breath, I ordered.
“…Ring the bell, light up the city. The battle is over. One by one, step by step… let’s do what we have to do again.”
My heart is heavy, and there are a lot of stories I want to spit out.
There are so many things to do right now.
“Send a dispatch to the temple. Since the combat situation is over, the first priority is to transport the wounded… No, set up a field treatment center right here.”
“yes….!”
“Because it was dark, there must be many injured people who have not been rescued yet. Those with relatively light injuries receive simple treatment and join the rescue.”
“All right!”
When I gave the order mechanically and methodically, the helpless subordinates quickly began to move.
People who panic from shock, people who weep with sadness, people who let out the screams they endured in the pain of injury…
Everyone made their own expressions, let out their own voices, and ran to various parts of the city covered in blood and dust.
“…..”
After sending a hand gesture to the main party members who were looking at me with worried eyes.
I stumbled and leaned against the flagpole, looking back south of the ruined Crossroads.
‘sick.’
Can we restore a city that has collapsed so mercilessly?
Can we heal the wounds in people’s hearts today?
This deep pain, scars that are embedded in everything, everyone…
And the blood that will continue to flow from this place in the future.
How should I touch you?
It was stuffy and I couldn’t breathe well.
‘so painful.’
For each collapsed building, the faces of the people who died today were young, one by one.
I hurriedly closed my eyes. I closed my mouth to let out a moan.
‘Why are you doing this again…’
It’s a position I need to soothe. It is a position that needs to encourage and lift everyone up.
Why can’t I be brave again?
Also… it keeps getting weak like this…..
“Kuh…..”
it was the limit
I hurriedly went behind the collapsed building and sat down, covering my face with my hands and suppressing my tears. I desperately muffled my voice and sobbed.
Fortunately, the night was dark and there was no moonlight.
People pretended not to know even though they knew I was hiding and holding back my tears.
halfway through the third year.
The monster’s invasion was in full swing,
The World Defense Front suffered the most damage since its foundation.
Destruction was steadily rushing toward us.
It was a late summer night, with autumn approaching.
***
[STAGE 35 – CLEAR!]
[STAGE MVP – Ash (EX)]
[Level up character]
– Ash (EX) and 109 others < Expand the list >
[deceased character]
– Skuld (SSR)
– Kellison (SR)
– Burnout (SR)
– 52 others < Expand list >
[injured character]
– Yun (SSR) and 197 others < Expand the list >
[Acquisition item]
– Lord of the Flies magic core (SSR): 3
– Variant entity magic core (SR): 188
– General Individual Mana Core (R): 519
– Individual Barrier Creation Artifact (SR): 44
– Paris Legion Manastone: < counting >
[Stage clear reward has been paid. Please check your inventory.]
– SSR grade reward box: 5
– SR grade reward box: 20
– R grade reward box: 100
> > Get Ready For The Next STAGE
> > [Next STAGE: If the world was ending]
