The battlefield was quiet for a moment, the dust and smoke from their devastating attack still swirling in the air. As it began to settle, the colossal dragon came into view—its other wing torn, one leg shattered, and its horns blasted clean off. Despite its grievous injuries, the beast stood tall, its fiery gaze locked on the group.
The shield bearer stared in disbelief, his shield trembling slightly in his grip.
"No... it can't be..."
The knight clenched his sword, frustration tightening his jaw.
"Even our strongest strike didn't finish it..."
Vemp, however, remained calm, his trademark smirk creeping across his face.
"Not true," he said smoothly. "Look closer. The dragon's missing parts—its wings, its minions—everything we've done has weakened it."
The dark mage gritted his teeth, gripping his depleted staff.
"That doesn't change the fact that we're out of mana. We've got nothing left..."
Vemp crossed his arms, tilting his head slightly as if chastising a child.
"Incorrect," he replied coolly. "There's still one person who hasn't fought yet."
The healer frowned, scanning the group.
"Who? Who's left?"
The elf's eyes narrowed as she looked around.
"I don't see anyone else."
The beastman scratched his head, his wolf ears twitching.
"Same here."
Vemp sighed, shaking his head in mock disappointment.
"Me. I haven't fought yet. Geez, you guys never pay attention."
The shield bearer's eyes widened in shock.
"But you're just our strategist!"
The dark mage shot Vemp a sharp look, realization dawning on him.
"Wait... are you telling me you've been holding back this whole time?"
Vemp's smirk widened.
"I told you when we first met—I'll only fight when I'm needed. And it looks like now's the time."
The dragon let out a guttural growl, blue and white sparks crackling in its maw as it began to charge another energy blast. The orb of unstable energy grew larger, the intensity making the air around it shimmer.
"Watch out!" the dark mage shouted, his voice panicked. "It's firing again!"
The dragon unleashed the blast, a blinding beam of energy roaring toward the group. The ground shook violently as dust and debris exploded everywhere, swallowing them in chaos.
The knight blinked, his heart pounding. When the light and tremors subsided, he realized something extraordinary: they were unharmed.
"We're... still alive?" he whispered.
The healer squinted through the lingering smoke, her staff clutched tightly.
"But how? I can't see anything..."
As the dust cleared, the answer became clear. A shimmering crimson barrier stood before them, pulsating with a dark, otherworldly energy. It was made entirely of blood. At the center of the shield stood Vemp, his figure outlined against the glowing red. His hand was raised, one finger pointing toward the dragon.
His voice was low and cold.
"Time to die... Blood Arrow."
The barrier shuddered violently before condensing into a single, glowing arrow of pure crimson energy. The arrow floated in the air, its tip pointed squarely at the dragon.
The dragon, though visibly weakened, roared defiantly. It began charging yet another blast, the light in its maw flickering erratically as it fought against its own injuries.
Vemp's smirk returned as he gave the final command.
"Now... shoot."
The Blood Arrow launched forward, streaking through the air like a meteor. It met the dragon's energy blast head-on, slicing through it effortlessly. The blast shattered into shards of light, disintegrating in the air, while the arrow continued its deadly path.
The arrow struck the dragon's skull with devastating precision. For a moment, the battlefield fell silent. The dragon let out a final, soul-shaking roar before its massive body crumbled to the ground with an earth-shaking crash.
The beastman let out a low whistle, his eyes wide with awe.
"That was... amazing..."
Vemp lowered his hand, wiping sweat from his brow as though the effort had been minimal.
"And that's game," he said nonchalantly.
Cheers erupted from the group as the reality of their victory set in.
The shield bearer laughed, leaning on his massive shield.
"That dragon was no joke! One hell of a fight."
The rogue grinned, flipping one of his daggers in the air.
"Longest raid we've ever done, hands down. Six months, man!"
The healer beamed, her pink hair catching the light.
"And we still beat it just before the expansion drops!"
Vemp crossed his arms, his smirk turning almost conspiratorial.
"I saw the announcement," he said. "The best part? We'll pick up exactly where we left off—same characters, same progress."
The knight raised an eyebrow, curiosity getting the better of him.
"It's probably too late to ask, but... what level are you, Vemp?"
Vemp shrugged, his tone almost bored.
"99."
The entire group froze, staring at him in disbelief.
"No way!" the beastman exclaimed. "That's the max level!"
The rogue let out a low whistle.
"You really are something else, man."
But Vemp's smile faltered slightly as his thoughts drifted.
Not really... You see, this is an MMO game called Mythos Reborn. It's the number-one ranked MMO out there, updated every year with massive expansions. Players all over the world are obsessed with it. And me? I'm not as cool as I look in this game.
In reality... I'm just one of those guys running away from the real world.
Out loud, Vemp spoke with his usual casual tone.
"Alright, I'm logging out."
The healer pouted, stomping her foot.
"What? Already? We still need to loot the dragon for its drops!"
Vemp's grin returned as he glanced at the necromancer.
"That's unnecessary for me. Besides... the necromancer already claimed the best reward. Right?"
The necromancer smirked smugly, crossing her arms.
"Right."
Vemp closed his eyes, letting the world around him dissolve. The vibrant battlefield dimmed, the triumphant cheers of his teammates fading into silence. Darkness surrounded him as the screen faded to black.
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