"I shall tell you whatever you wish to know, these eyes of mine have seen many things."
Arkanos's eyes widened with shock, then suddenly he smiled slightly as he realized, 'This is a golden opportunity.'
"Mercy? You ask for mercy?!" Arkanos roared, his voice echoing through the battlefield.
"When you slaughtered my men, did you think to show them mercy? When they screamed for their lives, did you grant them mercy? No!"
He began stepping forward slowly, sword gleaming with holy power, his eyes ablaze with green mana. "What makes you think I would show you mercy now? I won't!"
Arkanos began increasing his pace as he charged forward. "This is for my men who fell in battle."
"For those who lie wounded!"
"For the strength and courage of those who still stand!"
"And… this... marks the beginning of my redemption."
His troops were slowly brought to tears by his words; they could all feel the sincerity and strength behind them, and it touched them deeply.
[The loyalty of your troops has increased by 6%]
Suddenly, Arkanos leaped into the air above the serpent, holding his holy sword before him. The blade was suddenly covered in a vibrant aura of holy power, and a massive aura blade made entirely of holy energy emerged from the tip of the sword, easily ten times Arkanos' body length.
Its radiance seemed to rival the sun's in that moment, and all, including Nythralis, looked up in awe.
Arkanos's voice seemed to echo through the fabric of reality as he yelled,
"By the power granted to me by the goddess of justice and purity, I shall now pass judgment!"
With a massive roar, Arkanos descended, his body a blur of holy power as he swung the massive holy blade.
"Judgment's Wrath!"
Nythralis, weakened and bleeding, attempted to retreat, but Arkanos was far too fast. The emperor's sword cleaved through the air with terrifying speed—a mighty slash.
The holy sword cut through Nythralis' neck, severing its head from its body, and leaving a massive blade mark on the earth that was now scorched from the holy strike.
The serpent's massive body collapsed to the ground, the impact sending a final shockwave through the battlefield as its dark blood soaked the earth.
Arkanos stood over the fallen beast, his chest heaving, the serpent's blood dripping from his body.
The holy sword in his hand still glowed with divine light, casting long shadows across the now silent battlefield.
The air was thick with the smell of blood and earth, but Arkanos stood victorious, his body battered but not broken.
[Notice! You have accomplished a legendary feat!]
[You have slain a mythical class monster!]
[Your level is increasing rapidly!]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Current level: 56!]
[You have obtained a King-tier title: Mythical Monster Slayer!]
[Title effects: Your presence is highly intimidating to monsters. Intelligent monsters of Mythical grade and below will take your words more seriously, and warriors with lower monster slayer grades will be more aware of your power.]
[Notice! Relic found. The player needs to dig into the neck of Nythralis and obtain a legendary relic.]
The battlefield was still for a moment, as if the world itself held its breath after the emperor's decisive strike.
Then, like a wave crashing ashore, the troops erupted into cheers. Their voices rose in celebration, joy filling the air as they hailed Arkanos' victory.
"Glory to the Emperor!"
"Long live the Emperor!" they chanted, tears of relief and pride in their eyes. They beat their shields and raised their weapons, a roar of triumph echoing across the blood-soaked land.
Soldiers embraced one another, some falling to their knees in gratitude, while others lifted their arms to the sky in praise of their leader.
Arkanos stood over the corpse of Nythralis, his chest still heaving from exertion. He allowed himself a moment to close his eyes and bask in the feeling of victory. His holy sword, still glowing with divine light, hummed softly in his hand, as if also celebrating their triumph.
As he opened his eyes again, the system messages flooded his vision once more. He looked at the notification he had heard earlier.
[Notice! Relic found. The player needs to dig into the neck of Nythralis and obtain the legendary relic.]
His eyes moved to the serpent's massive corpse, now lifeless and sprawled on the ground before him. Without pausing, he approached the colossal neck of the beast, his boots sinking into the blood-soaked earth with each step.
"Time to see what treasures you've been hiding," he said to himself.
With a sharp motion, Arkanos drove his sword into the thick scales of Nythralis' neck, the blade cutting through the tough hide as though it were mere cloth.
He twisted the sword, splitting the flesh open with a sickening tear. Blood, thick and black, spilled forth, soaking the ground even further as he dug deeper.
The stench of the serpent's death was overpowering, but Arkanos remained focused, his hands steady as he carved through muscle and sinew. Finally, the dull glint of something metallic caught his eye.
Pinned in the wall of Nythralis' throat, nestled between its twisted veins and tendons, was a shining object.
Reaching in, Arkanos gripped it firmly and pulled it free, wiping away the blood to reveal a delicate, carefully crafted hairpin. It shimmered with a faint light, its silver surface covered in ancient elven engravings.
As Arkanos held it in his hands, a new system message appeared before his eyes.
[Item: Yelaina's Hairpin]
[Rank: Legendary]
[Description: This legendary relic once belonged to Princess Yelaina, a powerful elf princess who ruled over a vast woodland kingdom. During the Great War between the Elves and Dragons, Yelaina was devoured by Nythralis, the mythical serpent, during a battle. The hairpin, enchanted with powerful elven magic, has the ability to manipulate surrounding materials, allowing the wielder to build structures with their thoughts. This artifact is invaluable for creating fortifications, strongholds, or any structure needed in battle or diplomacy.]
Arkanos stared at the hairpin, his lips curling into a smile. The ability to build structures using his thoughts from the materials around him would be invaluable in the coming battles. It would also serve as a more logical explanation for the future when he decided to use the system to build more advanced structures.
"Perfect," he whispered, tucking the relic away safely. It was clear now that this victory had brought more than just glory—it had given him a powerful tool for the future.
Turning toward his troops, who were still cheering and celebrating his triumph, Arkanos began walking toward them, the weight of his exhaustion starting to settle in his bones.
As he approached, the soldiers who had been chanting and celebrating immediately fell silent. They all turned to face him, their gazes filled with awe and respect.
One by one, they knelt, bowing their heads in reverence. "Long live the Emperor," they greeted him, their voices unified.
Although covered in the monster's blood, Arkanos nodded at his men. His green eyes, still glowing faintly with mana, swept over the battlefield and the soldiers who had fought alongside him.
He then spoke, "We camp tonight, and by morning, we return home."