Chapter 12: Griffin vs. Kennith – The Demon's Last Stand
Kennith, now fully merged with Dantanlian, sat in his carriage, his mind racing.
I need to find a way to possess that bastard Sebastian… or I'm screwed!
His fingers tapped impatiently against the seat.
Then—
THWACK!
The driver's body slumped forward, a dagger lodged in his throat.
Kennith's eyes widened. What?!
The carriage, now uncontrolled, veered off the road, heading toward a cliffside.
Just before impact, Kennith leapt out, rolling onto the dirt road as the carriage plummeted into the abyss.
From the shadows, a voice rang out—calm yet sharp.
"You dare ambush me, Sebastian?"
Kennith's eyes darted toward the approaching figure.
Sebastian Greta's.
The young warrior stood before him, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword.
"So, you followed me all the way here?" Kennith sneered. "Does that mean you know who I truly am?"
Sebastian's expression didn't change. "That's right."
Kennith smirked. "You're quite bold."
Then—he vanished.
Sebastian barely had time to react before—
BAM!
Kennith appeared behind him, delivering a devastating kick to his spine.
Sebastian's body lurched forward, crashing into the dirt.
Shit—how is he this fast?!
Kennith's figure blurred again, appearing above him, his hand coated in dark mana.
"Die, Sebastian!"
The Battle Begins
Sebastian twisted his body just in time to dodge Kennith's clawed strike.
WHOOSH!
The ground exploded as Kennith's attack tore through the earth, sending shockwaves across the battlefield.
Sebastian gritted his teeth. He's even stronger than before… but I can't back down.
He activated Sword Mastery (A+), his blade glowing with divine energy.
CLANG!
Their swords clashed, sending sparks flying.
Kennith grinned. "Not bad."
SWOOSH!
He disappeared again, reappearing at Sebastian's side.
Sebastian barely dodged the dark blade aimed at his neck, countering with a rapid thrust.
But Kennith simply tilted his head. "Too slow."
SLASH!
Blood splattered across the battlefield.
Sebastian stumbled back, clutching his bleeding shoulder.
Kennith smirked, licking the blood off his blade. "You're outmatched."
Sebastian exhaled, gripping his sword tighter. No. Not yet.
He charged forward, unleashing a rapid flurry of Sword Mastery techniques.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Their blades clashed in a deadly dance.
Each swing from Sebastian was countered with perfect precision.
Kennith wasn't just fast—he was reading his every move.
Dammit… he's overwhelming me.
Kennith's smug expression sent rage coursing through Sebastian's veins.
"You look tired," Kennith taunted. "Let me end your suffering."
BOOM!
Kennith's dark aura erupted, forming a massive black sphere of destruction.
Sebastian's body tensed. Shit, I can't dodge this in time—
Kennith hurled it forward.
"DIE!"
The Awakening of the Blessing Sword
Just as the attack was about to hit—
A notification flashed before Sebastian's eyes.
[Sword Mastery has reached (S).]
[Blessing Sword Awakening: Complete.]
A sudden surge of power erupted from within him.
Sebastian's eyes glowed gold.
His blade transformed.
The once simple sword now pulsed with divine energy, its edges radiating an ethereal glow.
Kennith's attack made contact—
BOOOOOOM!
A massive explosion shook the battlefield, sending dust and debris flying.
For a moment, nothing could be seen.
Then—a figure emerged from the smoke.
Sebastian stood tall, completely unharmed.
Kennith's eyes widened. Impossible.
Sebastian's voice was calm but firm.
"Your tricks end here, Kennith."
He raised his newly awakened blade.
"Now… it's my turn."
The Fall of Dantanlian
Kennith charged forward, unleashing his dark mana at full power.
But—
Sebastian's movements were different.
Faster. Sharper.
He sidestepped effortlessly, his sword flashing like lightning.
SLASH!
A deep gash appeared across Kennith's chest.
"GRAGH—!" Kennith stumbled back, his eyes filled with shock.
Sebastian wasn't done.
FOOM!
In an instant, he appeared behind Kennith.
Kennith barely had time to react before—
SHIIING!
A single slash.
Blood sprayed through the air.
Kennith's body collapsed to the ground.
His vision blurred. How… did this happen?
A notification appeared before Sebastian's eyes.
[Battle Complete: Dantanlian Defeated]
Rewards Gained:
• Strength +10
• Agility +13
• Dark Mana +11
• Stamina +18
• 200 Gold Coins Acquired
• New Skills Unlocked:
• Identity Master (A)
• X-ray Vision (S+)
• Foresight (S)
Sebastian blinked as he absorbed the newfound power.
Then, another notification appeared.
[System Alert: Coins Automatically Acquired.]
Sebastian frowned. "Wait… I never told you to take the coins."
[System Response: Coin acquisition is automatic after battle.]
"What?! Then why is this the first time you're alerting me?"
[System Error: System is incomplete. Glitches may occur.]
Sebastian's face darkened. …Incomplete?
"Alright, whatever. Then tell me—what are these coins even for?"
[Gold coins can be converted to currency in the user's original dimension.]
Sebastian's eyes widened. "Wait. How much is 1120 gold coins worth in Seoul currency?"
[Converting…]
[Total: 11.2 billion won.]
Sebastian's jaw dropped. "11.2 billion won?!"
He clenched his fist, a smirk forming on his lips.
"This… feels just like a game."
His golden eyes gleamed.
"Now, let's have some fun."
The Emperor's Grand Ceremony & The Truth Behind Virenna
A New Emperor Rises
The Imperial Capital was alive with celebration.
The streets overflowed with people, their cheers echoing throughout the city.
"All hail the Emperor!"
"All hail the Emperor!"
"Long live Emperor Sebastian Greyat!"
Inside the royal palace, the air was heavy with expectation and honor.
The grand hall was adorned with golden banners, and nobles from all over the empire watched in anticipation.
At the center of it all, standing before the throne, was Sebastian Greyat(Griffin).
His expression was calm, yet his heart raced.
This… is really happening.
Arthur, dressed in ceremonial robes, approached him. In his hands was the Imperial Crown.
Arthur smiled. "You did well, son. Without you, we never would have made it this far."
He gently placed the crown upon Griffin's head.
"Thank you, Griffin. Because of you, I experienced something I never could in my real life."
Griffin's body tensed.
What?
He slowly turned to Arthur.
Their eyes met.
Arthur's smile was soft… yet there was something strange about it.
Griffin's gaze then shifted to Elizabeth.
She sat beside Arthur, watching him with warm, loving eyes.
Then—she spoke.
"We believe in you."
At that moment—
Everything around Griffin began to fade.
The palace.
The people.
Even Arthur and Elizabeth.
"Wait… what's happening?!"
A notification flashed before him.
[Quest Completed: Virenna Dimension Saved.]
[Rewards Granted:]
• User's Third Blessing Progress has increased.
• Elixir of the Fountain of Youth – Increases physical growth, enhances regeneration, and prevents aging.
• The User Can Now Return to the Real World.
Note: Skills obtained from this trial cannot be used in other trials, and only one blessing can be activated at a time.
Return to Reality & The System's Secret
Griffin's eyes snapped open.
He was back.
He felt different.
Stronger. Taller. More… powerful.
He stood up, walking to the mirror.
His reflection stared back—
His body had changed.
He was now taller and more muscular. His once lean frame had transformed into something incredibly powerful.
"Not bad…" he muttered.
I guess spending three months in the dream world, completing trials and training with Arthur, really paid off.
I can't believe that only three days have passed in the real world.
Who on earth built something so ridiculous?
And why was I even born with this? Not to mention, it only awakened after all these years…
Could this mark on my forehead be related to it?
But… I could have really died.
I barely managed to defeat Kennith—how am I supposed to handle the next trial? The thought alone makes me uneasy.
Everything that happened made me realize something: if Virenna was once a real world, then the people in this world are incredibly weak in comparison.
This is bad… What if what happened to Virenna happens here?
Then, the system's voice rang in his mind.
[The Truth Behind Virenna Has Been Revealed.]
Griffin's breath hitched. The truth…?
The True History of Virenna
The war against the Demon Lords…
The warriors of Virenna never won.
The Demon Lords at the top were simply too strong.
Instead, they sealed them away along with the remnants of the war—locking them inside the dungeons.
But some lower-ranked demon lords escaped.
And among them… was Azaroth,Canine,Ruse,Kiltrize and Kennith.
After Kennith became Emperor, the seal on the Demon Lords weakened—leading to Virenna's destruction.
The world had already been doomed.
And Arthur knew it.
That's why—everything that happened… had happened before.
Arthur's final words echoed in Griffin's mind:
"Because of you, I experienced something I never could in my real life."
Griffin's fists clenched.
Arthur… did he already know?
Were Arthur and Elizabeth… nothing more than the lost souls of a doomed world?
[Item Acquired: Elixir of the Fountain of Youth]
[Would the User Like to Consume It?]
Griffin smirked.
"Why not?"
He drank the elixir.
Immediately—a searing pain exploded through his body.
"ARGHHHHHH!"
His muscles burned.
His bones stretched.
His entire body transformed.
After a few moments—it was over.
Griffin stood up, feeling… reborn.
He flexed his fingers, testing his enhanced strength.
Then, he smirked.
"Well then… I guess it's time to register as a Hunter."
Status Update
[User Information]
• Name: Griffin Ashcroft
• Blessings: Sword God, Infinite Void, kaidos blessing( boss devourer)
• Level: 2
The second trial will open soon.
Countdown: 20 days until the second trial begins.
[Stats]
• Strength – 568
• Agility – 407
• Stamina – 375
• Intelligence – 321
• Dark Mana – 810
[Skills]
• Regeneration (A)
• Dark Flame (S)
• Fire Resistance (B)
• Nightmare Domain (A)
• Black Lightning (B)
• X-ray Vision (S+)
• Foresight (S)
• Identity Master (A)
• Mana Resistance (A)
• Stabbing (A) – Can evolve into the Blessing Sword Blast.
(TO BE CONTINUED.....)