Byrhemmoth stared at the light enveloping Val's body in surprise. "What is this!?" he exclaimed, taking a step back, his sharp gaze turning wary.
However, before Val could respond, a strange voice suddenly buzzed in his head.
Tring!
The voice stunned Val. In the midst of his inner turmoil, his eyes suddenly caught something unexpected. A blue hologram—a system information board that had become a daily sight for a Hunter—now appeared before him. Words floated in the air, sending an unexpected message.
[Pity moved the constellation's heart. Without a care for success, they reached their hand to the Hunter.]
Val was stunned. The message felt like irony amidst the death that awaits him.
'What is this…?' eyes focused on the message. 'Why is there a message at a time like this?'
[1 Unseen Message]
With bated breath, Val stared at the message floating in front of his face. His consciousness was suddenly filled with hope, a second chance that might be his only way of winning. Could this be of help?
'They are giving me a chance?' Val thought, remembering the despair that had just enveloped him.
He looked at Byrhemmoth, who was ready to attack at any moment. Time was ticking away. Without much thought, Val finally chose to open the message.
There was no time to question why or how this had happened. Val knew the only way out of this was to accept what was being offered.
"Yes, open message."
[Request Accepted]
Tring!
[Special Quest from Parade Constellation has been accepted
Use Tantrum, Roar, and Greed Lv. SSS Skill to kill Byrhemmoth, Lord of Darkness.
[Time: 00:10:30]
Warning! Failing the quest would result in a Penalty!]
Val's eyes widened. 'Ten minutes and thirty seconds? What the hell is this?!' he thought, panicking. That short time was like a postponed death sentence.
'This is crazy!? How could I possibly kill Byrhemmoth in that short amount of time!?'
But before Val could react further, another screen appeared in a flash.
Tring!
[Tantrum, Roar, and Greed Lv. SSS has been bestowed to Hunter Val.
Sponsor: Parade
"In the heat of a moment, a valiant warrior once defeated a Great Titan in one attack in his last breath."
Thy blade shall bear the power of the gods. Once thou strikest thine enemy, an explosion shall seize their life, and thou shalt win any battle wherein thou art engaged.
This skill can only be used once.]
Val's eyes widened, immediately coughing up blood from his surprise. 'SSS-level skill?'
He knew very well that a skill of this level was almost never given, even to the best Hunters. There must be a price to pay for such skill.
The sword he was holding could explode the moment it was touched by an enemy. "This… this is tantamount to suicide," he muttered.
Adrenaline rushed through him. But along with it, a bitter realization came.
With a gasp, Val opened his inventory. Another hologram screen appeared, showing the collection of weapons he had collected. Without much thought, he chose an ordinary sword, one of the weakest in his collection. The sword was now in his hand, as if he had just pulled it from another world.
Meanwhile, Byrhemmoth stared at him with a look of contempt.
"A bestowal from your sponsor? You think such a skill would save you from me!? From the lord of all that is dark!?"
Time continued to tick by. In the corner of his vision, the countdown continued to decrease.
[Time: 00:10:01]
He stabbed his sword into the ground. His badly wounded body leaned against the hilt of the sword. Blood still dripped from the corner of his lips, yet Val wiped it with his sleeve, dirtying the white shirt he was wearing.
"Too dirty," he muttered shortly with a chuckle, with irony in the midst of this life and death situation.
[Time: 00:09:40]
Byrhemmoth stared at him with scorn. "This is how you will avenge them? By joining these mangled flesh!? Come and join them then!"
Val growled, gritting his teeth. Memories of his friends flooded his mind again—they had all died horribly at the hands of Byrhemmoth.
"Yes," He coldly answered. "I am avenging them in my own way, to avenge those who are fallen by you, Demon."
He stood, determined, raising his sword high in the air. Time was ticking away.
[Time: 00:09:15]
"It's now or never."
Val stepped forward, ignoring the pain wracking his body. His hand trembled, preparing for the final clash.
[Time: 00:08:00]
The monster revealed a terrifying smile. "Oh, I wonder which sponsor would bestow a dying insect with a Skill."
Without another word, Val charged forward, attacking with all the strength he had left. The stakes were one: life or death, alongside those who were no longer there.
"Your death will be a beautiful gift for me, human! Hahahaha!!!"
[Time: 00:08:30]
Val looked up after hearing Byrhemmoth's words, with pity, he knew he already won. He stared at the time display above him, then threw a fierce glare at Byrhemmoth who was standing right in front of him.
"What do you care," Val replied.