It was a peaceful and uneventful night, a stark contrast to the chaos that awaited us today. The cheerful atmosphere had vanished, replaced by determination etched on every face.
Everyone stood firm and ready, bracing for the harsh battle ahead. It was a fight to the death – kill or be killed – and my companions faced it head-on, undaunted despite being surrounded.
The enemy forces were still in the distance, but closing in fast. Their army was a twisted menagerie: small reptilians, medium-sized beast-like creatures, and towering, grotesque monsters. They came in all shapes and sizes, stretching as far as the eye could see.
As I glanced at my companions, my friends, I saw no fear or hesitation. Instead, there was a somber acceptance. Today, our last battle, would be our grave. No one would walk out alive – it was a grim certainty.
I'm burdened by countless regrets and unfinished business. My parents passed away without a proper burial, my sister's life slipped away in my arms, and friends I can barely recall vanished long ago. Yet, I persisted, fighting on despite the relentless losses. Time and again, I formed new bonds, only to watch them fade away. Today, I face the same cruel fate – all my remaining friends, companions, and family will perish, and I'm powerless to stop it.
As I gaze at my hands, worn and scarred from decades of battle, they tremble slightly. Twenty years of relentless fighting have taken their toll. Tonight, it all ends. Finally, I'll find rest alongside my loved ones. A weight that has long pressed upon my shoulders, weighing me down, has lifted. For the first time in ages, I feel light, unencumbered by the burden I've carried for so long.
In this fleeting moment, I'm young again, full of vitality. The weight of my years, the accumulation of grief and loss, has vanished. For one last time, I feel alive.
I unsheathed my sword, a symbol of humanity's last stand. My companions followed, unveiling their arsenal.
Shields, swords, bows, and staffs – the finest humanity had to offer.
Kate and Mi-Sun grasped staffs, Chris readied his bow, Albert donned shield and sword, and Dimitri wielded dual blades.
We were humanity's last hope, armed to the teeth.
Kate stood beside me, her presence accelerating my heartbeat.
Our eyes locked, conveying a thousand emotions: worry, love, passion.
No words were needed; our gaze spoke volumes.
I closed the distance, our lips meeting in a tender, desperate kiss.
It might be our last.
"I'll stay by your side, 'till the end," Kate whispered, breaking our kiss.
Her promise thawed my frozen heart.
Emotions flooded me, and my eyes welled up.
I hugged her tightly.
A lone tear escaped.
Albert's voice cut through the moment.
"The hell? Are you crying?!"
Everyone turned.
I froze.
My gaze locked onto Albert.
"You talking to me?"
Mi-Sun intervened.
Smack!
"Awwww, that hurt!" Albert yelped.
"Dumbass," Mi-Sun said.
Albert protested.
As everyone laughed, the tension slowly dissipated.
I held Kate close, savoring our fleeting moment.
"Rawwr!!"
The monsters closed in, an unstoppable wave.
I glanced at Kate, assessing her readiness.
She nodded.
I nodded back.
Mana surged through my sword, blue flames erupting.
I compressed my energy.
400 meters... 300 meters... 200 meters...
"KILL THEM ALL!!" My voice shredded the air.
With a sweeping arm motion, I unleashed a horizontal slash ingulfed in blue flames.
The earth shattered beneath my feet.
The slash met the horde head-on.
Striking them 1 kilometer away.
A bloody trail of bodies left in its wake.
Thousands fell.
But it was far from enough.
One side cleared, temporarily. We were still surrounded from the other sides.
My companions stood strong.
"Descend!!"
Dimitri's thunderous voice unleashed the skies' fury.
Dimitri's Warhammer, crackling with lightning.
Clouds convulsed, electrified.
A lightning dragon seemed to ravage the heavens.
Thunder boomed.
"Shields." Ivan, Dimitri's little brother, warned.
Luis's purple barrier encased us.
Ivan, dual swords at the ready.
Dimitri's lightning finally struck, disintegrating all monsters around us.
Dimitri's power far surpassed mine.
Some bolts hit our barrier, but Luis's shield held firm, unscathed.
Pleased with the result, Dimitri smirked at me, his gaze proud and condescending. "Even at the end, I'm better than you." He dropped the Warhammer and drew his swords, a fluid motion that betrayed his mastery.
I smacked my lips in disgust, refocusing on my side of the battle. Dimitri, a weapon's master, possessed an astonishing amount of mana, rivaling some of our mages. However, he lacked control over his spells, or perhaps he simply chose not to bother. His thoughts were a mystery, driven solely by an insatiable hunger for combat and victory over stronger foes.
The monsters swarmed forward relentlessly, drawn to our position like moths to flame, utterly disregarding their own mortality. Thousands fell, yet the horde pressed on, unflinching. The clashes were incessant, screams echoing through the chaos. Our defensive perimeter held firm, impenetrable despite the overwhelming numbers.
We fought tirelessly, swords rising and falling in rhythmic precision, while our mages provided crucial support from the rear. Mi-Sun's spells proved particularly devastating, clearing swathes of monsters with ease, surpassing Dimitri's and my combined efforts.
However, our greatest concern remained mana depletion. Once exhausted, our mages would be defenseless, and we lacked the means to replenish their energy.
Time lost all meaning as the battle raged on. Minutes blurred into hours, hours into days. As the second night descended, our stamina and mana waned. The monsters continued to arrive, their numbers unabated, with stronger variants emerging. Yet, we held our ground, our battle-hardened resolve unbroken.
The relentless battle raged on, denying us rest, food, or sleep. Our sheer willpower sustained us, but on that fateful night, something unprecedented occurred.
"Riiiiiiiiiiip!"
A spatial tear ripped open, unsettlingly close.
Monsters were classified by humanity to facilitate strategic responses, ensuring hunter and civilian safety. Initially, no guidelines existed; instead, they were forged through trial and error, with each battle-tested entry in the monster catalog bought with countless lives.
The ranking system – F, E, C, B, A, S, SS, and SSS – was designed to accommodate the unknown invaders. The strongest recorded monsters were ranked A+, while S, SS, and SSS classifications stood as contingency measures for potential behemoths.
Tonight, that contingency became reality.
A humanoid monster with two horns emerged from the rift, clad in armor and wielding a sword. Its intelligent gaze swept across the battlefield. With its first step, an overwhelming pressure emanated from its presence. The air thickened with tension.
"Rank S?" Albert ventured, shield at the ready.
"First of its kind," Mi-Sun replied, eyes narrowed.
Dimitri's eyes blazed with excitement. "JA!!! Finally!! A worthy opponent!!"
I sensed the monster's power, my instincts screaming warning. "It might be SS."
Albert's voice laced with concern. "What?? We're skipping a level?"
I gritted my teeth. "My instincts tell me to run, but that's not an option we have."
Our discussion was hushed, yet urgent, as we remained surrounded by countless monsters. Dozens more horned beings emerged from the rift, their presence shattering our fragile hope.
The manageable B and A-ranked monsters now seemed insignificant compared to this unprecedented threat. Our gazes met, acknowledging the dire reality.
The scale of the battle had shifted too suddenly, too drastically.
Kate's determined stride brought her to my side, her hand grasping mine. Her face set, ready for the end. The others began to prepare for the worst, their farewells a mix of sorrow and resolve.
Albert knelt, his lips brushing Mi-Sun's hand. "I hope I see you in hell, my lady."
Mi-Sun's tough façade cracked, tears welling despite her words: "You dumb gorilla, it's not that easy to get rid of me. I'll kick your ass even in hell!"
Luis and Lucia entwined, their silent embrace speaking volumes about their love.
Chris and his companion shared a passionate kiss, their urgency palpable.
Dimitri and Ivan, fueled by adrenaline, cleared a bloody path through the monsters. "Brother, we must kill as many as we can! Those horned devils must die!" Ivan exclaimed.
Dimitri nodded proudly. "You said it, let's see who claims more!"
The group's acceptance of mortality hung in the air, their bonds and resolve forged in the face of overwhelming odds.
For a fleeting instant, I lost myself in Kate's captivating blue eyes. Then, the horned beings charged, their tremendous speed closing the distance.
"WATCH OUT!!" Albert bellowed, his shield absorbing the impact of a horned being's attack. The force nearly buckled his knees.
"Damn! Double S, no question!" he gritted, teeth clenched.
In an instant, our group resumed the battle, unleashing every ounce of strength. Clashes resounded, each fighter giving their all, no quarter asked or given. Yet, within seconds, the tide turned ominously against us.
We were 20; they were dozens, with more pouring from the rift. Low-ranked monsters continued to harass us, complicating our struggle.
Casualties mounted in the rear, but focus wavered at peril. Any mistake or distraction invited annihilation.
These horned warriors were fast, powerful, and disciplined. Each strike targeted vulnerabilities, maximizing destruction.
I alone held three at bay, but more loomed, poised to exploit any misstep.
My gaze locked onto the enemies before me, yet my awareness encompassed the entire battlefield. I mentally mapped the chaos, witnessing friends fall. The skilled ones were pinned down, helpless to aid others.
Our encirclement shrank as comrades dropped, maneuvering space dwindling. Desperation set in; some resorted to burning their life force, a last-ditch effort for a fleeting strength surge.
This final gamble came at a terrible cost: once begun, demise was inevitable, measured in mere minutes or seconds. Life force exhausted, the body would disintegrate, reduced to wind-swept ashes.
Less than half our number remained, their survival precarious. I reeled, my assaults ineffectual. Even when I landed hits, the horned warriors' armor remained unscathed.
Vital strikes were impossible; they wouldn't yield an opening.
Amidst the chaotic battle, a colossal rift tore open in the distance, its sheer scale breathtaking – approximately 500 meters tall. A gargantuan hand emerged, grasping the rift's edge and widening the chasm. Then, a titanic being stepped forth, unleashing crushing pressure.
"Impossible."
My words trailed off as coherent thought shattered. Reality warped, defying comprehension. I stood frozen, shock seeping into my soul.
My mind went blank.
I'd heard tales of survivors overwhelmed by unforeseen attacks, their minds and bodies paralyzed. Some acted on instinct; others remained catatonic.
I was the latter, and I finally understood how it felt.
The monsters momentarily faltered, but swiftly regained their composure. Seizing the brief opening, they attacked. A sword swung toward my head, mere inches away.
Suddenly, Kate tackled me to the ground, jolting me out of my stupor. Her blood-stained lips curved into a smile as she gazed into my eyes. "I'll be waiting for you," she whispered, her voice barely audible. Her lips brushed against mine.
My body reacted instinctively, arms yearning to envelop her. But a monster tore her away, suspending her mid-air. Our locked gazes defied the chaos.
Kate's lips moved, soundless words lost to the mayhem. Time froze. Only we existed.
In that eternal moment, I realized Kate was my everything – the reason I persevered.
How many times had I thought, "This is enough"? Yet, I pressed on. Now, I understood why.
Kate's body began to disintegrate into ashes, her life force exhausted. Her kiss had transferred all her energy to me.
Tears swelled as I reached for her, but it was too late. The horned being stabbed her in the heart, its smirk twisting my agony.
In that moment, I felt that my world shattered.
"NOOOO!!!!" I screamed, helpless.
Kate's life ebbed away, her body dissolving into ashes.
The horned being tossed her remains, but the wind swept them away, leaving nothing.
A switch flipped within me.
Nothing mattered anymore.
My reason for existence, gone.
Unleashing a primal roar, I gripped my sword.
Tears streaming down, I burned my life force to the maximum.
A blinding white light erupted from my sword.
"I will kill them, I WILL KILL THEM ALL!!"
With a single step, I closed the distance and struck, slicing the horned being in half. My attacks now carried unparalleled strength, speed, and lethality. Armor and shields proved useless; swords shattered against mine. I became an unstoppable force, albeit fleeting – five minutes, six at most. This boundless power came at a terrible cost, my life.
Every second counted as I slaughtered the horned beings with ruthless efficiency. The colossal monstrosity loomed closer, its footsteps shaking the earth.
Finally, I halted, surrounded by the mutilated bodies of my enemies. Albert and Dimitri joined me, gravely injured. Dimitri's right arm was gone, and he supported Albert with his left. Albert's leg was destroyed, his arms badly mangled.
I surveyed the carnage, assuming our fallen companions had turned to ashes after burning their life force. Luis, Mi-Sun, Chris, and Kate – all gone, forever.
Unbridled anger ravaged my soul, radiating intense murderous intent. Even Albert and Dimitri recoiled, overwhelmed by the sheer fury emanating from me. No ordinary human could withstand such hatred.
"How long?" Dimitri asked, struggling to speak.
"Two minutes, at most," I replied, knowing he sought the duration of my enhanced state.
Albert and Dimitri exchanged a weighted glance. The colossal being loomed, mere seconds away.
"We can't fight anymore," Albert said, "but we can help you, one last time."
With labored breaths, they began burning their life force. Albert's aura shimmered light green; Dimitri's, light blue. They channeled their energy into one hand and placed it on my bracelet.
The artifact absorbed the energy in an instant, filling to capacity for the first time in history. It radiated an intense glow.
"Never seen it do that before..." Albert marveled.
"First time it's full," I said.
"No time for chatter," Dimitri interrupted, eyes fixed on the approaching enemy.
"Right," I agreed.
Unspoken questions lingered, but time had run out.
"See ya."
With a burst of speed, I shattered the sound barrier, leaving a sonic boom in my wake. "BANG!!"
Albert and Dimitri stumbled back, overwhelmed by the shockwave.
I accelerated to incredible velocities, focus solely on delivering one decisive blow. My life force fueled my speed, bypassing strength enhancements.
Zigzagging through the horned beings, I withstood crushing G-forces that would incapacitate any human.
My target: the colossal being.
As I closed in, the giant sensed the threat and swung a massive fist.
I leapt upward, landing on its shoulder.
The colossal punch struck the ground, unleashing a cataclysmic shockwave. The impact resembled a meteor crashing into Earth, obliterating everything in its path.
Albert and Dimitri watched from a distance, Dimitri supporting Albert with his arm. Both slowly disintegrated into ashes.
"Nice knowing you," Dimitri said, unfazed by the approaching shockwave.
"I stole your vodka once... or twice," Albert confessed, a mischievous glint in his eye.
"What?!" Dimitri exclaimed, confusion etched on his face.
"Had to confess before I die," Albert said, beaming a smile.
"WHAT!!" Dimitri bellowed, daggers in his gaze.
"YOU SON OF—"
The shockwave engulfed them, sweeping them away.
The colossal being noticed me on its shoulder and was taken aback. Upon seeing the glowing bracelet, it swiftly condensed energy in its mouth.
"No, you don't," I said, recognizing its intent.
Despite my body breaking apart from the extreme deceleration, I pushed forward, fueled by unyielding will.
For humanity's suffering, for lives lost, for friends, family, and Kate.
I stood face-to-face with the colossal being, its energy nearly condensed.
"This is for Kate, you piece of shit!" I shouted, unleashing a punch fueled by my remaining energy and the bracelet's condensed mana.
The clash of energies created a cataclysmic explosion, reaching space and forging a towering mushroom cloud.
The shockwave enveloped the world, clearing the skies, and killing everything in it's path.
Years passed, and sunlight illuminated the barren landscape.
A new day dawned, with a radiant sky.
Yet, amidst this beauty, life was extinct.
One thing remained: the glowing bracelet, still pulsing on the ground.
It released a resplendent light, engulfing everything.
All that existed was brilliant radiance.
And then...