I blink at the demon general.
He stares back, expression dead serious, like he just told me my execution date has already been scheduled.
My brain is not processing fast enough.
I just woke up, I might or might not have lost my virginity last night, and now some deep-voiced demon is telling me I'm about to die in two hours?
No. No way.
This has to be a dream.
I take a deep breath, lifting my hands—and freeze.
My arms are huge.
Thick, muscular, wrapped in ornate black armor that gleams under the dim light.
I glance down and see the same thing: a massive, heavily-armored body sitting on an obsidian throne, with a flowing, nightmare-black cape draped over my shoulders.
The realization slams into me.
This isn't a dream. I've been transmigrated.
And not just anywhere—I've been dumped straight into the body of a final boss.
A massive status screen slams into my face with an obnoxious DING!
[STATUS SCREEN]
Name: ???
Title: Demon Overlord – Final Boss
Race: High Demon (S-Class)
Level: ??? (LOCKED)
HP: 999,999/999,999
MP: 999,999/999,999
Strength: ??? (LOCKED)
Magic: ??? (LOCKED)
Agility: ??? (LOCKED)
Endurance: ??? (LOCKED)
Skills:
[Abyssal Domination] (LOCKED)
[Reality Break] (LOCKED)
[Apocalypse Call] (LOCKED)
[Final Boss Mode: Auto-Defeat Script] (ACTIVE)
Wait.
Wait, wait, wait.
What the hell is that last skill?!
I squint at [Final Boss Mode: Auto-Defeat Script], and a smaller text box pops up with a condescending beep.
> [Final Boss Mode: Auto-Defeat Script]
As the final boss, you are destined to be defeated by the Chosen Hero. Your actions cannot alter this outcome. Upon the hero's arrival, all major attacks will miss, all defenses will fail, and all critical weak points will become exposed.
Warning: Resistance is futile. Accept your fate.
---
…
…
I shoot up from my throne so fast that my cape dramatically billows behind me. The demon general gasps, his eyes widening in surprise.
"My Lord?" he asks hesitantly.
I ignore him, slamming my fist into the notification window like an idiot. The text doesn't move. I try swiping it away. Nothing happens.
I mentally scream "Disable!" No response.
The game is actually forcing me to lose.
This is bullshit.
More text slams into my face.
> [NEW QUEST: DIE WITH DIGNITY]
Objective: Perish at the hands of the hero like a proper final boss.
Reward: A cool death scene.
Failure: Embarrassing death.
OH HELL NO.
I whip around to the demon general, who's watching me with his usual sinister, unwavering gaze.
"Alright," I say, trying to keep my voice calm. "What happens if I win?"
His eyes narrow slightly. "My Lord?"
"You said the hero is coming. If I defeat him, what happens?"
The demon general frowns, like I just asked him to do calculus in his head. "I… do not understand, my Lord. The Chosen Hero cannot be defeated."
I inhale deeply.
Exhale slowly.
Then I grab the nearest object—which happens to be a massive golden goblet—and hurl it across the throne room.
It shatters against a pillar with a loud, echoing CLANG.
The demon general doesn't even flinch.
I press my fingers against my temples, trying to think. This is a game, right? And if it's a game, it has mechanics.
And if it has mechanics… then it has loopholes.
"Who wrote this dumb script?" I mutter.
[DING!]
A new notification pops up.
> [WORLD SYSTEM NOTICE]
The "script" was written by the gods to ensure balance. Do not question it.
…"Balance," my ass. This is a rigged fight.
But if the gods set this up, that means the world runs on rules—and rules can be bent.
The hero is already clearing the 98th floor of my dungeon, which means he'll be here soon. I don't have the time or power to break the system outright.
But I can stall.
I whip around to the demon general. "Tell me about the hero."
The general bows slightly.
"The Chosen One, Sir Leon of Evercrest. A noble warrior blessed by the Goddess of Light. He is accompanied by a powerful party—a saint, a battle-mage, and a rogue. He has already slain the Dragon of the Abyss and wields the Divine Sword: Fatebreaker."
I barely hear the rest.
Because the name "Sir Leon of Evercrest" hits me like a truck.
I KNOW THIS GAME.
This is Shadow of Ruin, an RPG I played to death back on Earth.
And Sir Leon? That shameless bastard is an S-tier protagonist with maxed-out plot armor.
I groan. This just keeps getting worse.
If I follow the game script, I'll die pathetically. But if I can break just one rule—just one little mechanic—I might have a chance.
I crack my knuckles, grinning for the first time.
Alright, game. Let's see who can bullshit harder.