Rosario was standing, her figure erect and firm as a statue, holding a crimson sword that radiated an imposing power. He used his weapon to maintain a magical barrier around the base, protecting it from the hordes of beasts that were tirelessly besieging. As time passed, his mind wandered. Where were the others? Why were they taking so long to get back? But to understand what was happening, we must go back two weeks ago, in the Valley of the Dwarves.
This place, located in the lower left corner of the neighborhood, had been claimed by the dwarf blacksmiths and necromancer warriors, who had established a small fortified settlement there. At that time, the settlement was under a fierce attack from flying beasts and monsters of all kinds, forcing the defenders to deploy all their skills to repel the onslaught.
Dwarf King: We must throw the cannon balls! We have no choice but to show our arsenal.
Necromancer King: If we do that, the enemy will discover our defenses and attack our weak points!
Dwarf King: So what do you suggest? That we stand idly by waiting for a miracle while our people fall? The walls won't hold forever!
At that moment, one of the necromancer warriors arrived in a hurry, his face a mixture of worry and surprise.
Necromancer Warrior: Something is approaching at high speed along one of the most monster-covered roads! But he is not a beast, because... it shines and is destroying everything in its path!
The kings, intrigued and somewhat skeptical, went outside the walls to see with their own eyes what their soldier was describing. Armed with magic binoculars, they looked towards the horizon. What they saw left them speechless.
A young man, riding an old motorcycle but rebuilt with magic, was moving at full speed. The bike glowed crimson red, cutting through the air like a flaming arrow. But what really amazed the kings was the incredible feat that the young man performed. Standing on the seat of the motorcycle, with an expression that mixed concentration and pure adrenaline, he stretched out his hands creating two machine guns out of nothing, loading them with a magical ability of igneous fire. The bullets he fired not only pierced, but exploded in a shower of flames, reducing the monsters to ashes before they could react.
Dwarf King (with eyes as wide as his binoculars): But what kind of human can do that? To create a weapon out of nothing and use it with such skill?!
Necromancer King (without looking away): And that's not the best thing. Look what he's about to do!
The young man, known as Pato, had no time to waste. He knew that his ability to keep the bike in that state only lasted ten minutes, and that time was about to run out. Noticing the presence of the low-level dungeon boss, a colossal monster standing in his way, Pato smiled sideways. Charging the bike with magic power and turning it into an improvised bomb seemed the only logical option.
He concentrated his energy, accelerating the bike to the maximum while charging it with magic. The engine was roaring like a raging beast, and Pato was shooting at the legs of various monsters, using them as ramps to propel himself towards the dungeon boss. He jumped in at the last second, letting the bike, now a gleaming bomb, crash straight into the boss's face.
Pato (after a graceful somersault in the air and landing right in front of the kings with a playful smile): Hi, my name is Duck. I hope I'm not interrupting something important.
The young man made an exaggerated and mocking bow, as if he were a nobleman greeting the court. The explosion behind him resounded like a background melody, as the dungeon boss disintegrated in the air. The remaining monsters, seeing their leader annihilated, soon retreated in a hurry, leaving Pato standing between the astonished kings and a ruined battlefield.
Somehow, that bow and arrogant smile did nothing but increase the confusion of the kings. It's not every day that a human would appear out of nowhere, save the day with a magic motorcycle-bomb and then act as if he had just gone to the store to buy milk.
Dwarf King (with a raised eyebrow): This one... boy... is he really a human?
Necromancer King (looking at Pato, who was still smiling nonchalantly): If it is, we are dealing with a type of human that I have never seen before...
But the surprise did not end there. A window of the system appeared in front of everyone, visible to every inhabitant of the settlement. It said that Pato had obtained a unique achievement: Friend of Dwarves and Necromancers. This achievement was so rare that even the kings gasped.
Pato (reading the window with a smile): Oh, how nice! A platinum-ranked metal called mithril. Not that I'm complaining, but... something brighter, maybe?
After a celebration that consisted of a party with the dwarves, where Pato drank and had the time of his life, he was summoned to the meeting room. The kings were waiting for him there, still not knowing exactly how to deal with someone so... peculiar.
Dwarf King (trying to keep his composure): I guess we owe you our thanks, Duck...
Pato (interrupting him with a smile): You're welcome, I'm just doing what I do best. Besides, who can resist a good explosion? Isn't that right?
Necromancer King (unable to help but smile): To tell the truth, what you did was impressive. Although, is there anything else we can offer you besides mithril?
Pato (thinking for a moment): Well, they could let me choose the music at the next party... and maybe a box to store the mithril. It's not too much to ask, is it?
And so, Pato, with his carefree charisma and amazing feats, not only saved the settlement, but also earned respect, friendship and, of course, a good amount of mithril. The kings, for their part, couldn't help but wonder what more surprises this daredevil young man could bring, who seemed to combine the skill of a legendary warrior with the humor, irreverence of a court jester and elegance of a noble king.
After the humorous little chat, the two kings became more serious, aware of the seriousness of the situation. With a firm tone, they began to explain that their small village had only resisted so far thanks to the imposing walls that protected them. However, they knew that these would not last forever, and moreover, they lacked the necessary weaponry to properly fight against the ferocious beasts that were stalking them. The use of heavy weaponry was a risk, as it could attract even more powerful and devastating attacks.
Pato, noticing the tension in the air, decided to intervene with his characteristic humor. With a relaxed smile, he told them:
Pato: If they keep this up, they're going to end up destroyed by something bigger or uglier than the boss I just pulverized. Why don't we just stop living in fear and use everything we have? After all, they had better be afraid of heavy weaponry, and not the other way around!
The kings exchanged glances, pondering over Pato's words. Despite his nonchalant attitude, they knew he was right. They decided to accept his proposal: to leave fear behind, equip every warrior with the best possible weapons, and transform the walls into fortresses with hidden compartments for cannons, traps and heavy weaponry. The dwarves, with their unparalleled metal working ability, would have to triple their efforts, and Pato would use the mithril he had obtained to create much more powerful armor and weapons.
The kings, satisfied with the plan, decided to show Pato a mine that they had discarded long ago, believing it to be obsolete. Upon entering the dark cavern, Pato activated one of his innate abilities, obtained through his experience in creating and modifying objects. With this ability, he could see the value and the name of every material that was in his field of vision. What he discovered shocked him.
Pato: Wait a minute! This is not just a dusty old mine... They are sitting on a mountain of mithril and white gold!
White gold, as Pato discovered, was even stronger than mithril. This revelation changed everything. The kings, excited and full of new hopes, decided to use both materials to reinforce their troops, improve weapons and further strengthen the walls. Pato, for his part, asked for a workshop where he could sleep and work, as he planned to create his own armor and weapons using those materials and others he had collected from the monsters he had defeated.
Pato(with an enthusiastic smile): Time to play blacksmith! I hope you have good coffee, because this is going to take me a while.
He spent the first week training the troops with the new weaponry. Now, every warrior was equipped with submachine guns, high-precision pistols, high-density shields, white gold swords as hard as the scales of a baby dragon, and mithril armor that was as tough as it was durable.
Pato (winking at a soldier while adjusting his armor): With this armor, you will not only be more resistant, but you will look like a real legend hero! Although, of course, the epic beard is optional.
The soldiers, inspired by Pato's humor and skill, trained with renewed vigor, knowing that they were now better prepared for whatever the enemy threw at them.
During the second week, the focus was on the maintenance of the walls and the construction of heavy weaponry. Magic pipes, heavy machine guns, and a rail gun were in the process of being installed. The railgun, although not yet functional, promised to be one of the most devastating weapons in his arsenal once completed.
Dwarf King (watching Pato work in the workshop): I never thought I'd see someone enjoy creating weaponry as much as you do. Don't you get tired?
Pato (still hammering a piece of mithril): Tired? Nah. This is better than a video game! Besides, who needs to sleep when you have all this wonder of materials to work with? And hey, if we need a working railgun, leave it to me!
With each passing day, the settlement was transformed. What was once a village in constant danger, was now becoming an impenetrable fortress, ready to face any threat. The kings, once worried, now saw a brighter future, knowing that thanks to Pato and his influence, they were better prepared than ever.
But deep down, while Pato was joking and working, he also knew that difficult days were coming. And although he used humor as a shield, he couldn't help but feel a small burden of responsibility. Because even if he didn't openly admit it, protecting this place and its people was something he was starting to take very seriously.
It was at that precise moment when an intense and divine energy began to fill the air, spreading from a point close to the neighborhood and resonating in every corner like an echo of immeasurable power. Pato, absorbed in his work in the workshop, immediately felt this disturbance and quickly left, his eyes fixed on the sky, following the trail of that energy. The origin of this emanation was unmistakable: the school. Pato's heart raced as he realized what was happening. "They are attacking the school... and here I am, wasting time," he reproached himself mentally, while the urgency enveloped him.
Without wasting a second, he rode his new bike, a masterpiece that he had created with his skill, similar to the previous one but improved. He opened the big doors of the workshop in desperation, ready to rush to the aid of his companions, but as he looked ahead, his blood froze.
In front of him, beyond the town wall, was a vast army of enemies, beasts of all kinds that spread out like a dark and endless sea. In the background, an imposing figure stood, a gigantic creature, his silhouette slim but imposing, with his arms crossed, as if he were waiting for the right moment to act. It was a chilling sight, and for an instant, Pato felt the pressure of the situation, as if the fate of the village rested on his shoulders.
With an almost supernatural speed, he returned to the interior of the village and addressed the kings, conveying to them the gravity of the situation. There was no time to lose. Alarms sounded throughout the settlement, and within minutes, the village's 300 best-trained soldiers were preparing for battle. They knew that they were facing an army of more than 6,000 monsters, but they were confident in their abilities and the preparation they had made over the past few weeks.
The monsters began to advance, and Pato, together with the kings, climbed to the roof of the wall. From there, with a determined expression on his face, he took control of one of the heavy machine guns.
Pato(with a half smile, adjusting the sight): "Well, guys, time to make it rain lead!"
He gave the order to open fire, and a hail of bullets began to sweep the battlefield. The monsters were falling in waves, their bodies being shattered and crushed by the shields of the knights who were fighting with a mixture of skill, strength and magic. The massacre was brutal, the enemies were falling in heaps, and it seemed that the resistance of the soldiers would be enough. However, soon, the real challenge became apparent.
From the sky, flying reinforcements of the monsters began to descend, attacking with ferocity. The soldiers, overwhelmed, were forced to divert their attention, firing into the heavens, which allowed the ground hordes to advance closer to the walls. Gradually, fatigue began to take its toll on the defenders, and the situation became desperate.
Pato was the first to run out of ammunition. Tight-lipped in frustration, he realized his men were on edge. The hours of combat had drained their strength, and the endless amount of monsters threatened to overcome any strategy. He made a difficult, but necessary decision.
Pato (in a firm voice, although full of frustration): "Retreat! Everyone inside the walls, now!"
The kings, incredulous at the order, looked at Pato as if he had lost his sanity. But before they could protest, they saw him take off his long trench coat, the one he always wore, and jump from the wall, a fall of more than 20 meters. He landed nimbly on the ground, getting up without hesitation, and ran to his workshop.
Dwarf King (shouting from the wall): "Duck, damn it! What are you planning?"
But Pato did not answer. He only asked the kings to resist inside the walls and not let the monsters through the floodgates. He disappeared inside the workshop, leaving all the soldiers and the kings worried, but with no choice but to obey.
As the monsters kept pressing, more and more soldiers were outgunned. The battle cries turned into cries of despair, and finally, the defenders were forced to retreat back to the castle. With tears in their eyes, the few remaining ones raised their shields, trying to keep the monsters at bay, while their companions closed the walls behind them. However, the much more powerful mid-range monsters mercilessly slaughtered the soldiers left on the other side of the barrier.
The sound of the screams of agony echoed in the ears of the 150 soldiers who managed to retreat, who, filled with pain and anger, held the castle gate with all their strength, struggling to keep hope, although it was getting more and more difficult. The doubt settled in their hearts: had their savior abandoned them? Had Pato escaped, leaving them to their fate?
Necromancer King (in a broken voice): "Could it be that... is he gone?"
Just at the moment when everything seemed lost, the doors began to creak, about to break under the pressure of the monsters. But before they could give in completely, something extraordinary happened.
Suddenly, a gust of wind and energy tore through the battlefield, and in a single blink, more than 1000 monsters were cut into pieces, their bodies falling to the ground like leaves in autumn. The soldiers, stunned, watched as Pato returned, but not as before. He was completely transformed, wearing a shining armor, forged from mithril and white gold, fitted to perfection, and in his hands, two huge glowing swords were ready for combat.
Pato (with a nonchalant smile, raising his swords): "Sorry for the wait, guys. Did they miss me?"
Relief and disbelief mingled on the faces of the soldiers and kings. He had come back, and not only that, he had come back more powerful than ever, just at the moment when he was needed the most. The doors, which were about to give way, now seemed irrelevant, because Pato was there, ready to face anything that dared to cross them.
In the midst of chaos and horror, Pato stood as an imposing figure, a beacon of hope and deadly danger for his enemies. His armor, made of white gold refined with magic, shone with a blinding, almost unreal intensity, as if the very sunlight had melted into it. Despite being surrounded by thousands of monsters, his expression remained calm, serene, and his eyes flashed with a mixture of determination and a touch of his characteristic sarcastic humor.
The monsters, stupid but dangerous in their great numbers, were attacking him from all directions. Their jaws full of fangs and their sharp claws were hurling themselves at him with an animal ferocity. But Pato was not an easy prey.
With a fluid and almost imperceptible movement, he unleashed his Slasher Move skill. In the blink of an eye, their swords moved at impossible speeds, slashing the monsters in milliseconds. It was as if the very air split before him, and in a matter of moments, a dozen monsters fell to pieces, their dismembered bodies slumped to the ground like empty sacks.
Pato (with a mocking smile, as he swiped the sword to remove the blood from the blade): "Is that all they have? Come on, guys, I'm not even sweating yet."
But the monsters did not stop. More and more of them were charging towards him, relying on their numbers to overwhelm him. However, Pato showed no signs of concern. He activated his next skill, Atomic Footsteps, and suddenly, his speed multiplied. With every step he took, the ground beneath him cracked and sank, as if a meteor had hit the earth. His legs, now imbued with explosive power, moved with inhuman agility, launching devastating kicks that tore the monsters apart as if they were mere rag dolls.
Each kick was a hammer blow, sending monster bodies flying in all directions. Pato was moving like a unleashed storm, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake. The monsters were disintegrating in an explosion of flesh and blood, and soon, the battlefield was covered with corpses piled into a grotesque mountain that only grew with each Duck attack.
His hair, originally white, was now soaked in blood, dyed a deep red that contrasted with the pure shine of his armor. The blood of the monsters splattered on his face and body, but Pato simply wiped himself with a wave of his hand, without missing a beat.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of frenzied violence, only one monster was left standing. This one was not like the others. This was a low/medium level floor boss, but much stronger than the others Pato had faced before. His appearance was more human, but grotesque: a disfigured face, full of scars and with eyes that flashed with a dark intelligence. His arms were huge, full of muscles that flexed and twisted with every movement, while his legs, long and grasshopper-like, suggested an unusual speed and agility.
The monster stood looking at Pato from a distance, evaluating him, looking for a weakness. Pato, on the other hand, took a moment to observe his new adversary, and then let out a soft, mocking laugh.
Pato (with a sarcastic smile, raising an eyebrow): "Wow, has anyone told you that you have a face for radio? Although of course, I guess you don't talk much, do you?"
The monster, unable to understand the taunt, but smart enough to feel the provocation, let out a deafening growl and, in an instant, both of them launched into the attack. But it was not a simple clash of strength; it was a clash of pure speed.
In the blink of an eye, both of them disappeared, moving at such a speed that to the eyes of an observer, it seemed as if they had teleported. The Duck swords and the sharp claws of the monster collided again and again, creating flashes of light and sparks in the air. The sound of metal against metal echoed on the battlefield like constant thunder, as each strike tried to overcome the other.
The monster, with its outsized strength, managed to land a few blows, and although the Duck armor was almost impenetrable, each impact created cracks on its surface, signs of the brutality of the battle. Despite the pain he was starting to feel, Pato wouldn't stop smiling, even as he was pushed back by the monster's force.
Pato (with a chuckle, as he blocked a particularly hard punch): "Come on, buddy, is this the best you've got? I still have plans for tonight."
The monster didn't understand the words, but his anger grew with every Duck joke. With renewed fury, he attacked with more force, forcing Pato to retreat even further. But despite the advantage that the monster seemed to have, Pato did not lose his composure.
The battlefield had fallen silent, broken only by the sound of Duck's heavy, aching breathing. His armor, which until a few moments ago shone with an almost divine intensity, now lay in pieces around him. The impact of the monster's claws had been brutal, breaking his armor and violently throwing him against the village wall. The sound of the crash resounded like thunder, as Pato, bleeding from his eyes, mouth, and with his body covered with wounds, slowly got up, forcing a smile despite the situation.
Pato (smiling faintly, his voice choked with pain): "Wow... now that was a good blow. I think I felt it even in the teeth."
With an unwavering strength and will, Pato came out of the crater he had generated when he hit the wall. His steps were heavy, wobbly, but his determination was still intact. He used Atomic Footsteps to lunge towards the monster, looking to cut off its head in one fell swoop. However, the floor master, with a grotesque smile that only increased his terrifying appearance, stopped the Duck sword with ease, as if it were a toy. The strength of the monster was overwhelming, and Pato felt it in the depths of his being when that monstrous smile filled him with a terror that he had rarely experienced.
Pato(thinking, as his smile faded): "This... it can't be happening..."
Before he could react, the monster counterattacked, using his powerful legs to deliver a devastating blow. Pato's sword shattered upon receiving the impact, and he was violently thrown against his own workshop. The pain that ran through his body was almost unbearable, his vision became blurred as he felt how life was slowly slipping away from him. In his mind, only one idea remained: he should get up, he should keep fighting. But his body was not responding.
While the kings watched in horror what was happening, they did not stand idly by. They activated all the long-range weapons they had, throwing a rain of projectiles at the monster to keep it at bay, preventing it from getting any closer to the village.
In the midst of his agony, Pato just wanted to get up, but his body wouldn't respond to him. He looked around, looking for some way to continue the fight, when his eyes fell on the railgun, still unfinished. The large weapon, intended to fire a beam of condensed energy, was unusable. There was no way to charge it with enough energy... or so he thought, until a system notification appeared in front of him.
The message said that the gods were watching him, and invited him to join them. Hephaestus, the god of blacksmithing; Brunhild, the queen of the valkyries; and Ratsum, the lord of healers, offered him their protection and power. Despite the seriousness of the situation, Pato couldn't help but smile.
Pato(with a slight touch of humor, despite the pain): "What do I have to lose? It's not every day you get invited to join a gods club."
With his characteristic humor, he accepted all three invitations. Immediately, his body was bathed in a divine energy that surrounded him like an incandescent whirlwind. The workshop was illuminated with a blinding glow as the essence of the gods merged with that of Pato, granting him a power he had never imagined.
The monster, the soldiers and the kings watched in amazement as Pato emerged from the workshop, wearing a new armor, completely black and made of adamantite, a material stronger than any other. The armor had a dark hue, which seemed to absorb the light around it, and two huge wings emerged from its back, giving it the appearance of a fallen angel. The image of Pato was imposing, a manifestation of pure power, but despite his new appearance, he was still bleeding from his eyes and mouth, signs that his body, although slightly healed, was still suffering from the effects of the battle.
Without a word, Pato took the railgun, now loaded with Brunhild's magic. The weight of the weapon seemed insignificant compared to the power he felt coursing through his veins. With a heart-rending scream, Pato lunged at the monster, the cannon aimed straight at his heart.
Pato(shouting, as he loaded the cannon): "Come on, you bastard, it's time to see who has more power!"
The monster, surprised by the speed and ferocity of Duck's attack, barely had time to react before the condensed energy beam hit him squarely. A flash of blinding light enveloped the entire battlefield, and the lightning, bigger and stronger than any other, completely consumed the monster, pulverizing its body and turning it into dust.
The lightning continued on its way, destroying everything in its path, leaving a huge scar on the ground behind the monster. When he finally vanished, Pato fell to his knees, exhausted, with his new armor beginning to disintegrate. The railgun, having exhausted all its power, crumbled into dust that was blown away by the wind.
With a last smile, Pato looked up at the sky, his body still bleeding, but with the satisfaction of having protected those who depended on him.
Pato (looking up at the sky, with a faint smile): "I hope that was enough... Now... you can rest easy."
And so, at the end of that day, the battlefield fell silent, as the sun set on the horizon, covering the place with a golden light that contrasted with the darkness Pato had left behind. He had won the battle, but he knew that the war was not over yet. However, at that moment, the only thing that mattered was that everyone was safe, at least for now.
The scene was full of laughter and hugs as everyone welcomed Pato, who, although exhausted, managed to put on a smile. However, from a distance, a dark silhouette watched the reunion from the top of a building's roof. Her erect figure was silhouetted against the sky, and a sinister smile was drawn on her lips as she whispered to herself.
(a silhouette in a low voice, with a mocking tone): "I see that I was not needed. I hope they get stronger, because worse things are coming..."
As his words floated in the air, the silhouette vanished like smoke, leaving behind a feeling of uneasiness. Pato, feeling a shiver run down his back, looked around, but saw nothing. Only the joy of his friends and the warmth of their hugs enveloped him.
Duck (thinking, confused): "Was it just my imagination?"
Yet the haunting presence lingered in his mind, like a dark shadow he couldn't ignore. As the celebration continued, the laughter of his companions echoed around him, but Pato knew that something else was hovering over them.
The echo of the silhouette's voice repeated in his mind, urging him to be prepared for what was to come. The laughter of his friends was mixed with a deep sense of responsibility. At that moment, Pato understood that he had to strengthen not only his own spirit, but also that of everyone around him, because darkness still lurked, and the real challenge was yet to come.