Chapter 199: New World (3)

A horrifying creature born from the word “destruction.”

Every time its breath touched the ground, lava erupted everywhere.

The heat surged violently.

Moreover, the black smoke flowing from its breath was rapidly consuming the battlefield.

This creature possessed all the tricky patterns for players.

As time passed, the land we could stand on became narrower, and the attacks of the enraged Apocalypse Dragon were choking us.

I calmly surveyed the battlefield while keeping my feet fixed on its body.

Out of the 40 raid members, only two had died.

Two long-distance dealers exposed to the toxic gas had died, but it was still manageable.

The tanks hadn’t died yet.

Most of the healers’ healing was focused on the tanks, and the tanks were effectively pushing back the Apocalypse Dragon while receiving a shower of heals.

After the first annihilation attack, the Apocalypse Dragon’s power, having been provoked, was noticeably stronger than in phase 1.

The attack range had widened, and deadly structures were appearing all over the battlefield.

A true hellscape.

But the raid members didn’t panic.

It was a situation they had seen many times during rehearsals and had overcome countless times to slay the Apocalypse Dragon.

“Hosu!”

“I know.”

After quickly syncing with Hosu, we responded to the fourth annihilation attack.

From phase 2 onward, it was hard for me to cover alone.

In the past, I had blocked it with Sae-rin noona, but this time it was Hosu instead of her.

Hosu was one of the few players I recognized in .

While Sae-rin noona was undoubtedly an excellent dealer, she fell short compared to Hosu.

Hosu, meeting my eyes, immediately unfurled golden wings and soared into the air.

, usable only by Dragon Knights.

Hosu flew toward another provoked spot of the Apocalypse Dragon that appeared in phase 2, and I too slid toward the nearest provoked spot.

-Vermin.

Guardians emerged from various parts of the Apocalypse Dragon’s skyscraper-sized body, and meteors began to fall from the sky.

The top-tier magic .

The end of the world brought by the Apocalypse Dragon was unfolding.

During previous raids, many raid members had sacrificed themselves to that .

But this time was different.

“Tanks, spread out!”

“Mages, stop attacking and focus only on intercepting meteors!”

“Calculate coordinates and only deal with the meteors falling on our side! Only two grounded tails are left!”

Under Dong-su hyung’s simple and clear orders, the raid quickly overcame the meteors.

The surviving 38 moved as one.

It was the combat power they could display because they had perfectly internalized the prearranged strategies.

“Kim Chan-sik!”

“Got it!”

Thanks to the steady aggro drawn by the raid members, Hosu and I soon reached the provoked spots and simultaneously thrust our weapons into them.

-Kraaaagh!

Once again, the Apocalypse Dragon’s roar echoed in all directions.

And finally.

[Phase 3 begins.]

[The Apocalypse Dragon draws upon all the world’s power it has devoured so far.]

-Damn insects, within my body reside countless worlds and the power of the dimensional gods who governed those worlds. Once I draw upon this power, your souls will be obliterated! РΑŊо𝐁Êṧ

The dreadful phase that had erased the game records of all rankers who challenged the Apocalypse Dragon.

True to its setting of devouring worlds and gods, the final phase unleashed overwhelming power.

Phases 1 and 2 could be cleared without much trouble as long as one was careful of the annihilation attacks.

But phase 3 was on a different level from phases 1 and 2.

Moreover, phase 3 was the only phase our raid had made a mistake during rehearsal.

Annihilation attacks emerging as if they were breathing.

In addition, the flowing from its body created an environment where we couldn’t focus solely on the Apocalypse Dragon.

It seemed like a phase designed to be unbeatable.

A terrifying phase created with the desire for the players’ defeat.

A final phase befitting the name of ’s worst boss.

We were almost there.

If we could just get through this phase and cut off its head, all our plans would be accomplished.

Kwaaaaang!

As soon as phase 3 began, Hosu and I were violently thrown back from its body.

This was due to the dark mana surging from the Apocalypse Dragon’s entire body.

A horrifying force that repelled all enemies of the Apocalypse Dragon.

Hosu and I quickly rejoined the main force, hiding behind the tanks.

As soon as we joined the main force, Dong-su hyung nodded and spoke.

“We’ve reached here smoothly.”

“This is the most dangerous part, right?”

“The part where you betrayed us. Do you remember, you bastard?”

The end of the hellish phase 3.

The moment we were on the verge of a successful Apocalypse Dragon raid, I had stabbed my comrades in the back.

…Yeah, it’s a memory I can’t forget even if I wanted to.

I nodded with a bitter smile.

“Yes, I remember.”

“What do you mean ‘yes’? Hey! I’m busy, so I won’t say it twice.”

Dong-su hyung summoned a giant shield to block the purple breath of the Apocalypse Dragon flying from afar, then spoke to me in a more relaxed voice than ever.

“Isn’t this the opportunity you’ve been waiting for?”

“…That’s right.”

“Since it’s the opportunity you’ve been waiting for, I’ll let you take it this time too, Chan-sik.”

Kwaaaang!

Dong-su hyung blocked the enemy’s attack once more and spoke to me.

“Go finish it. We all know you won’t let us down.”

This raid was drawing the world’s attention.

It also held great significance for our streaming careers.

If we failed this raid, all the attention that had poured onto us would turn into hostility.

For a streamer, such hostility was as fatal as deadly poison.

Despite the risk of everything he had built so far collapsing easily, Dong-su hyung once again entrusted everything to me.

I bit my lip and looked at Dong-su hyung.

But Dong-su hyung just smiled and nodded.

“Kid, we’re holding on. Go finish it.”

How joyous it was to be able to end this with my own hands.

I slowly turned to face the Apocalypse Dragon.

Its body was now surrounded by dozens of layers of barriers.

It looked like a perfect defense mechanism that no one could easily break through.

I slowly walked forward.

The reason the game company had requested me, setting aside other raid members.

There could be many reasons, but there was only one definitive reason.

Because my presence was the greatest variable the game company couldn’t control.

A different life I had devoted my school days to and lived more fiercely than anyone else for my family.

This world had saved my younger sibling and allowed me to meet people.

A world that was once everything to me.

How dreadful it was to remember that I had destroyed that world with my own hands.

Wuuuuuung.

“Metamorphosis.”

A considerable amount of time had passed.

Even if I corrected that mistake here and now, the past wouldn’t change.

But at least I could change the future, couldn’t I?

[The dragon-slaying energy inherent in your body awakens to its full potential.]

[The trait is activated.]

[The skill is activated!]

As I cast the skill, the mana flowing from my entire body turned black.

Black mana spread across my entire body, engulfing the swords in my hands.

The final awakening skill, .

A skill that sacrifices the character’s level and stats to draw out extreme power for a short period.

“I’ll be back, hyung.”

Dong-su hyung simply smacked my back with his fist in response.

The end of the raid was finally in sight.

6.

I slashed and slashed again without end.

Shrrrrk!

Countless tails, nearly impossible to count, stretched out to pierce my body.

Puuuuck!

However, the tails were tightly blocked by Hosu’s spear, which supported me from behind.

Kwooooom!

The surviving mages squeezed out their remaining mana, desperately trying to draw the Apocalypse Dragon’s aggro.

The healers had long since run out of mana.

As the long battle neared its end, the tanks, having fulfilled their roles, charged forward with their shields.

Raid members who had held out steadfastly until now threw themselves into the fray for this final moment, and I trudged forward, stepping over their sacrifices.

[The tragic deaths of your comrades awaken your power.]

Trait .

A horrifying trait that absorbs the power of fallen comrades, growing stronger as more allies die.

Our raid’s strategy centering on me wasn’t a mere gentle metaphor.

I was our raid’s first and last strategy.

And the ace in the hole our raid could choose.

In the past, this strategy had failed due to my betrayal, but this time was different.

I advanced endlessly, fueled by my comrades’ sacrifices.

“Kid! You handle the rest!”

“We’re going ahead!”

“The noonas are doing their part too, okay?”

Raid members smiled brighter than ever as they threw themselves forward.

The looks of shock and resentment from my past betrayal were long gone.

They created a path for me with smiles.

Some raid members with self-destruct skills deeply penetrated the swarming Guardians, maximizing efficiency.

How much time had passed like this?

By the time all the comrades, except Hosu and me, had disappeared from the battlefield, I finally reached the Apocalypse Dragon.

The Apocalypse Dragon’s remaining health was just 9%.

But the dragon, with its yellow eyes gleaming, only looked down at me.

-Insect, how do you feel now that all your comrades are dead! Hahaha! How pitiful Gaia, who revived your souls, is! To place hope in such insignificant creatures! I will enjoy your world for a long time inside my belly!

As its arrogant voice echoed in my ears, a red message window appeared before my eyes.

[The ominous power enveloping your body seeks a deal.]

[What will you sacrifice?]

The ominous power that had been trying to consume me since I cast ‘Metamorphosis’.

It was a power whose price was unknown, so I couldn’t easily use it during normal gameplay.

Levels and stats represent a gamer’s ‘history’.

But right now, I didn’t care about that history.

If I couldn’t end it here, the world would cease to exist.

The company had a contingency plan, but that couldn’t happen.

The world I had betrayed and destroyed.

If the nourishment needed to rebuild that world was merely my history, I would gladly sacrifice it.

If I couldn’t end the Apocalypse Dragon here, not only my history but that of all our raid members would be denied.

I made my decision without a moment’s hesitation.

No matter how I thought about it, this was a profitable deal.

It was also the conclusion our entire raid had reached for this damned raid.

“All levels and stats.”

[The ominous power accepts your deal.]

[You have obtained the special title .]

[A powerful force engulfs you.]

This was the final act.

Feeling the vivid, living power coursing through every part of my body, I slowly spoke to the Apocalypse Dragon.

“Did you have fun?”

-……You.

“I came here again, sacrificing my comrades, but I can’t make the same mistake again. Right?”

Puuuuuck!

A tail suddenly shot up from the ground to attack my body, but Hosu, who had been waiting behind me, threw himself to block it.

Before logging out, Hosu looked at me and said,

“Since you’re taking my power too, you owe me one.”

“See you soon.”

I was the last one left on the battlefield.

Finally, having inherited Hosu’s power as well, I gripped my sword tightly and faced the Apocalypse Dragon.

An evil dragon that had destroyed countless worlds.

The starting point that had made ‘Shia’ be called the worst villain.

There couldn’t be a place more fitting for ‘Shia’s’ tomb than here.

Raising one corner of my mouth slightly, I looked at the Apocalypse Dragon.

And spoke to that damned AI.

“You think a pathetic creature like you is the final boss?”

-Insolent wretch!

The Apocalypse Dragon, enraged, gathered the remaining mana and opened its jaws at me.

The final breath meant to annihilate everything.

But I, looking at the mana gathering in its maw, merely sneered and said,

“Don’t be ridiculous. It wasn’t your destruction. It was a world I destroyed.”

-You insignificant insect…

“Now, let’s finish this.”

The breath spewed from the Apocalypse Dragon’s jaws.

I just swung my sword forward, looking at the breath.

A massive black crescent of energy surged from my sword, slicing through the air.

And finally,

Puuuuuck-!

Everything was over.