The eye looked down on us from above. For the first time in my life, I truly understood what it meant to be an ant.
Name: Dweller-in-Darkness
Codename: Fear, He Who Dwells in Darkness
Rank: A3
The crack in reality had begun to widen, slowly but steadily.
"Is this the end?" Matthias asked, his voice heavy with resignation.
The question only deepened the already oppressive atmosphere.
"No, it's not," Miao Song said with firm conviction. We all turned to him with questioning eyes.
"The ritual was indeed completed," Miao Song continued, unfazed by our stares. "But because of our interference, the gate is only partially open. We can still close it."
I honestly thought he was about to suggest calling the Sorcerer Supreme. Clearly, he had other plans.
Miao Song turned to Zephyra. "It was Zhered-Na who banished Dweller-in-Darkness in that dimension. I believe you should have the spell, Ms. Zephyra, as her inheritor."
Is this about the prophecy?
"I do have it," Zephyra replied, "but it's too advanced. I alone am not capable of casting it."
"What if Mr. Zoro and I lend you our strength?" Miao Song suggested.
Zephyra thought for a moment. "Then… yes, I think it's possible."
"Then we can still close the gate," Miao Song said confidently.
As if to validate his words, a new system notification appeared before me.
Mission: The Half-Opened Eye
Description: The Drowned Lantern Pirates completed the summoning rite to manifest Dweller-in-Darkness within the material plane. But, due to various interferences, the gate is only partially open. Seal the crack before He enters this reality.
Time Limit: Until the gate opens completely
Reward: Staff of Raging Tides (DnD), Necronomicon (3 Pages) (Cthulhu Mythos)
Failure Conditions: The gate opens completely
Failure Consequences: Death
"I will check if there is any method to speed up the closing in these texts," Matthias said, walking toward a thick book resting on the altar.
"Good," Ulysses grinned. "Leave your protection to me in case of any unforeseen situations."
"I will help you, Mr. Ulysses," Sebastian said, moving to the other side of the perimeter to keep watch.
Zephyra, Miao Song, and I approached the idol on the altar.
Zephyra began chanting in a foreign language. Magic circles appeared above and below her, but soon she started sweating heavily, her face twisting with strain. The circles flickered.
"Now it's our turn, Mr. Zoro," Miao Song said, placing a hand on one of Zephyra's shoulders. "Put your hand on her other shoulder. I will help channel your mana into her."
I did as he instructed. I considered using Second Wind to restore my mana, but I still had some left, so I decided to save it for when I was closer to empty.
The magic circles stabilized, and Zephyra's expression eased. The strain didn't disappear, but it was now shared equally among the three of us. More circles appeared as our combined mana flowed in, this time hovering above the idol.
The idol began to shine with bluish energy. A small beam of blue light emerged from it, growing stronger each time it passed through a magic circle until it became a thick pillar. The pillar struck the crack in reality, and slowly but surely, the fracture began to heal.
If we kept this up, we might actually close the gate and go home with smiles on our faces.
But how could things ever be that easy?
The eye above us filled with unmistakable anger. The oppressive weight on my chest grew even heavier.
For a few moments, nothing happened. Then the darkness around us seemed to come alive. Silhouettes began to form within the shadows. The tied-up prisoners grew restless, shifting and murmuring as the figures drew closer.
When they finally stepped into the torchlight, we saw what they were.
Humanoid shapes, bluish-black in color, were completely faceless. Thick tentacles writhed where their mouths should have been.
Name: Shade-Thrall
Rank: F2
Name: Shade-Thrall
Rank: F3
Name: Shade-Thrall
Rank: F2
Most were F2s, with occasional F3s mixed in. The F3s looked almost identical to the F2s, only slightly larger and more imposing.
"If that eye thinks it can stop us with these weaklings, then it is sorely mistaken," Ulysses laughed arrogantly.
He cut them down with single, sweeping strokes. Each swing reaped one of the monsters. Sebastian, despite his injuries, handled them with relative ease. The two of them positioned themselves on either side of us, forming a living wall so that not a single creature could slip through to distract the casters.
The eye in the sky grew even angrier. The number of Shade-Thralls pouring out of the darkness increased dramatically. Ulysses still looked nonchalant, cutting them down with effortless grace, but Sebastian was beginning to struggle. His serious injuries were clearly slowing him down.
I pulled four handleless throwing knives from my inventory and hurled them toward Ulysses. They embedded themselves in the ground near his feet.
"Use them with your telekinesis," I called out.
Ulysses glanced at the knives, then at me with mild suspicion. "How did you know about that?"
"I saw you levitating a rum tankard toward yourself that day," I replied.
He gave a short, careless laugh. "I was feeling particularly lazy. Didn't realize anyone noticed."
He lifted one knife with his mind. It hovered for a moment, then shot forward like a bullet, piercing straight through a Shade-Thrall's head and returning to him. Ulysses whistled appreciatively.
"I never thought to use my power like this."
Soon, he was controlling all four knives. His face showed clear strain from managing four at once, but the results were devastating. The knives streaked through the air like living projectiles, each one punching cleanly through a monster's head before returning for the next target.
With Ulysses's knives clearing the majority of the threats, the pressure eased significantly. Sebastian now only had to deal with the occasional creature that slipped through.
Of course, things couldn't stay that easy for long.
A rage-filled scream erupted from beyond the veil. For a moment, I thought my eardrums might burst. The spell faltered as we all clutched our ears in pain. But the scream wasn't an attack — it was only a precursor.
Black smoke poured out of the rift and drifted downward.
"Flames of the Faltine!" Miao Song chanted urgently when he saw the smoke heading straight for Elias.
Mystical flames burst from his hands, trying to burn the black smoke away. A sharp sizzling sound rose where the flames met the darkness, as if the smoke itself was being consumed. However, Miao Song's mastery seemed limited. The flames quickly faded, barely scorching a small portion of the smoke. The rest reached Elias unimpeded and poured into his body.
Elias began convulsing violently. His body started changing again—not as drastically as before, but clearly enhancing the previous transformation. His frame grew bulkier, his skin turned a deep blue-black, and he gained half a foot in height. His head morphed into something resembling an octopus, dark blue and glistening. The sword fused to his arm fell away. His claws lengthened and sharpened, reflecting the flickering torchlight. Slowly, he rose to his feet.
The hidden boss of the game had finally revealed itself.
Name: Dweller-in-Darkness (Clone)
Codename: Fear, He Who Dwells in Darkness
Rank: D3
Fuck!
The clone was the same rank as the transformed captain, but I had a strong hunch it was significantly more dangerous.
Finally, it opened its eyes. The gaze was identical to the massive eye in the sky — cold, emotionless, and utterly superior. It looked at us the way a human might look at ants beneath its feet.
A powerful shockwave suddenly erupted from its body, spreading outward.
The greenery around us instantly wilted. The tied prisoners began screaming, then one by one lost consciousness. But it wasn't just them. My companions also cried out in terror, as if they had witnessed the most horrifying entity imaginable. They dropped to their knees, covering their ears and closing their eyes.
I watched in confusion, unable to understand why they were reacting this way.
Then the system notification appeared and answered my question.
Fear Domain Detected
Source: Dweller-in-Darkness (Clone)
Effect: Induces intense fear, reducing rank by one grade.
Nullified by Gamer's Mind
My eyes widened at the information. I hurriedly looked at my companions.
Name: Matthias van Helsing
Rank: F2 (E2)
Name: Sebastian Wolfhound
Rank: F3 (E3)
Name: Ulysses Bloodstone
Rank: E3 (D3)
Name: Miao Song
Rank: E1 (D1)
Name: Zephyra Abyss
Rank: E1 (D1)
Fuck!
They slowly got back to their feet after adjusting to the domain, but their faces were deathly pale. The rank reduction remained.
"I don't think that's the pirate captain anymore," Matthias said weakly.
"No, it isn't," Miao Song replied, his tone grim. "Dweller-in-Darkness has turned his champion's body into a clone."
"Can't we do anything?" Ulysses asked, frustration cracking his voice.
"We can," Miao Song answered, conviction burning in his eyes. "The champion is dead. This clone was created from a corpse, not the living captain, so it's flawed. It's stronger than the transformed version we fought earlier, but not by much. If we close the gate, it will sever the clone's link to the primary body. Its power will weaken, and the Fear Domain should collapse as well."
"But," Miao Song added after a brief pause, his expression turning somber.
"But that thing won't let us," Matthias finished.
"Exactly," Miao Song nodded.
"Then let me fight the clone," Ulysses said, stepping forward. The four throwing knives revolved around him in a deadly orbit. "You all focus on closing the gate as quickly as possible."
Before anyone could respond, I placed a hand on his shoulder, stopping him. He turned to me with clear confusion.
"Let me do it," I said seriously.
"You're already under the effect of the Fear Domain," I continued before he could ask. "Who knows if he can use something similar again? What will you do then?"
I pointed toward the swarm of Shade-Thralls that had paused when their master's clone appeared. "There's still a huge number of them ready to tear us apart. Only you can protect the others so they can focus on closing the gate."
"Besides," I added, "I'm the only one unaffected by the Fear Domain. So let me handle this abomination."
"But you might die if you fight him," Ulysses said, frustration clear in his voice.
"Don't worry," I laughed. "I have my ways."
I pulled out the Deadwater Cutlass I had obtained after killing the Demon Sword Pirate Captain. The moment I gripped the hilt, a deep, bone-chilling cold spread through my body. The sword had boosted the previous captain from F3 to E2. It should at least push me from E1 to E3.
"Let's not waste any more time," I said, my expression turning serious. I could already feel the sword slowly siphoning my vitality. The drain was negligible for now since I had just drawn it, but if I dragged the fight out too long, the damage could become permanent.
Ulysses looked unwilling, but after a moment, he nodded. He placed a heavy hand on my shoulder. "Make sure you don't die, brother."
I laughed, neither agreeing nor denying.
Ulysses's face fell, but he took a deep breath and turned back toward the others, ready to protect them.
"Mr. Zoro," Miao Song called. I looked at him questioningly.
Without a word, he took out a red gemstone from his pocket and began chanting in a foreign language. The gem glowed brightly, then shattered into sparkling dust. A thin layer of white light briefly covered my body before fading.
Physical Boost Spell Applied
All physical stats are boosted by two minor ranks.
"Be careful, Mr. Zoro," Miao Song warned. "The spell will only last fifteen minutes."
I nodded. "Is fifteen minutes enough for you to close the gate?"
I glanced upward. After the Fear Domain appeared, the spell had faltered, and the tear in reality had begun widening again. But while we were talking, Zephyra had managed to stabilize it. The rift was still around more than half a meter wide.
Miao Song didn't answer. Instead, he looked toward Zephyra.
"Enough," she replied in his place, offering me an encouraging smile.
I smiled back. But that smile once again brought the prophecy to mind. I shook my head and turned away.
I walked toward the clone, Deadwater Cutlass in my right hand and the Damascus sword I had bought at the auction in my left.
Bullets would be useless against his thick hide, and my offensive spells were far too low-leveled to matter. That left only close combat.
My muscles swelled as I activated the Brutal Strike skill. With my normal constitution, I could barely use it a few times. But with the multiple boosts, my Constitution had temporarily reached D-rank. It was more than enough to handle the continuous 50% strength increase instead of using it in short bursts. Combined with Miao Song's spell, the cursed sword, and the skill, my rank was now temporarily pushed to D2.
"Thanks for waiting," I said with a smile.
The clone had stood motionless the entire time we prepared, watching with complete indifference. I wasn't sure if it was confidence or pure arrogance.
"You are interesting, mortal," the clone spoke for the first time. Its voice echoed directly inside my head, cold and ancient. "Unaffected by my Fear Domain despite being so weak. You hold far more potential than Elias ever did."
"You flatter me too much," I replied shyly.
"Why don't you become my champion?" it continued. "If you perform satisfactorily, I could even elevate you to the rank of Fear Lord—forever in my service."
"It would be the greatest honor you could ever receive," the clone added, as if granting me a tremendous favor.
I laughed. Hard. Then I stopped abruptly.
"Idiot."
Faint anger flickered across the clone's monstrous face. "Foolish mortal."
The clone towered over me, its bulbous, tentacled head glistening under the flickering torchlight. Its presence alone made the air feel heavier, thicker, like breathing through tar.
I didn't wait for it to make the first move. I charged forward and swung a powerful diagonal slash at its neck. The clone barely moved. One massive claw lazily rose and blocked my cutlass with a deafening clang. The force of the parry traveled up my arms and almost made me lose my grip. I held on barely and stepped back to put some distance between us.
Danger Sense screamed at me before the clone even moved.
I turned sharply to the left. A huge clawed hand struck the ground where I had been standing, creating a crater in the moss and sending dirt flying. The impact caused the nearest kapok trunk to shake.
I didn't retreat. I charged in low, slashing upward with the Damascus sword toward its exposed side. The blade bit deep, carving a shallow gash across its ribs. A few drops of black ichor dropped, hissing where they hit the ground.
The clone didn't roar in pain. It simply backhanded me with terrifying speed. I tried to block with the Deadwater Cutlass, but the force was overwhelming. The impact sent me flying backward. I crashed hard into a silk-cotton buttress root, the ridged wood digging painfully into my spine. Something cracked in my ribs.
I gasped, tasting blood, but forced myself upright immediately. Danger Sense flared again — a sharp warning at my left shoulder. I dropped low just as a thick tentacle whipped through the air where my head had been, slicing through several vines.
The clone was already advancing. Its movements were deceptively fluid for something so massive. I met its charge with a slash aimed at its arm. The Deadwater Cutlass connected, opening a wound that oozed dark fluid. The clone finally reacted — it swung its clawed hand in a wide arc. I tried to dodge, but the edge of the claw caught my left shoulder, tearing through muscle and flesh.
Pain exploded down my arm. Blood poured freely.
I staggered back, breathing hard. My left arm was growing weaker, but I refused to drop the Damascus sword. Danger Sense kept screaming warnings — left, right, above. I weaved and dodged as best as I could, using the uneven forest floor and the massive buttress roots for cover.
Every time I saw an opening, I attacked. I scored another cut across its thigh, then a shallow slash along its forearm. Each hit drew more ichor, but the clone barely seemed to notice. Its regeneration was already closing the wounds I had made earlier.
It responded with brutal efficiency. A tentacle whipped out and wrapped around my right ankle, pulling me off balance. I slashed downward with the Deadwater Cutlass, cutting the tentacle free, but the clone immediately followed with a sweeping claw strike. I raised both swords in a desperate cross-block. The impact lifted me off my feet and slammed me into the ground.
I rolled away, coughing up blood. My ribs were definitely broken now. Every breath felt like knives stabbing my chest. My left shoulder was a mess of torn muscle and bleeding gashes. My vision was starting to blur at the edges.
Still, I pushed myself up.
Danger Sense flared again—stronger this time. I threw myself to the side just as the clone's foot came down, cratering the earth. I used the momentum to slash upward with both blades in a desperate double strike. The Deadwater Cutlass cut deep into its chest while the Damascus sword sliced across its abdomen.
More black ichor poured out. The clone actually staggered back a step.
For a brief moment, I allowed myself a grim smile.
Then it retaliated. Its hand slammed into my chest like a battering ram.
The blow sent me flying. I crashed hard into a fallen log, the wood splintering under the impact. Pain erupted everywhere. Blood filled my mouth and spilled down my chin.
I tried to stand, but my legs gave out. I collapsed onto one knee, breathing in shallow, ragged gasps. My body was screaming at me to stay down. But through sheer willpower, I stood up.
The clone slowly walked toward me, its tentacles writhing, grey flames dancing along its corrupted form. It looked down at me with those cold, emotionless eyes.
Since the clone took its sweet time to walk towards me, I gave myself a small moment of respite. I used the opportunity to see how the others were doing.
Ulysses was carving through the Shade-Thralls with brutal efficiency, while Sebastian occasionally cut down any that slipped past. Matthias was hunched over the thick book he had found earlier, reading frantically. Miao Song stood behind Zephyra, one hand on her shoulder, as he channeled his mana into her. Zephyra remained focused on maintaining the spell.
I was about to turn back to the fight when something strange caught my eye. I thought I saw white hair on Zephyra's head. At first, I shook it off as a trick of the torchlight, but when I looked again, there it was—unmistakable strands of white mixed into her dark hair. Not many, but they were there.
As I stared, a few lines of the prophecy surfaced in my mind.
Yet the broken gate demands living flame.
And the sea will take the heart that mends it.
My eyes widened with a terrible premonition.
"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING, ZEPHYRA?" I screamed at the top of my lungs, my voice filled with rage.
Zephyra flinched and hesitatingly turned to look at me.
I was stunned by what I saw. She looked aged. Her face, which had appeared barely in her early twenties, now looked closer to her early thirties. For someone with her lifespan, the actual change was at least double what it looked like.
Is she using her lifeforce to run the spell?
"WHY?" I screamed again, failing to control myself.
Tears streamed down her face. "It is the only way. We don't have enough mana to close the gate before the clone kills us all and opens it completely."
A guilty look crossed her features. "The spell can also be powered by lifeforce… but the lifeforce must belong to someone with a certain mastery in White Magic."
"And among us, only you have that mastery," I said, my voice tight with barely suppressed rage.
A smile worse than crying appeared on her face as she nodded. Then her eyes suddenly widened in alarm. "Watch out, Zoro!"
I had forgotten I was in the middle of a life-and-death fight. The moment she warned me, Danger Sense screamed as well, but I was a fraction too slow. I ducked at the last possible instant as a massive claw tore through the air above my head.
The clone didn't give me a moment to breathe. It pressed forward, its tentacles lashing out like living whips. Danger Sense screamed constantly now, a nonstop alarm in my skull. I twisted, dodged, and parried desperately, but each movement sent fresh agony through my broken ribs and torn shoulder.
I managed one more counter—a desperate upward slash with the Damascus sword that carved a shallow gash across its thigh. Black ichor sprayed. I again made some distance.
"Tell me the real reason, Zephyra!" I screamed as the clone came to me.
Zephyra didn't say anything.
I ducked under a claw swipe, but the other clawed hand slammed into my side like a sledgehammer. I felt more ribs crack as I was hurled backward. I crashed into the ground, rolling several times before slamming against a fallen log.
I gasped and vomited blood. "Tell me, Zephyra."
Pain exploded through my body. I tried to push myself up, but my left arm refused to obey. Blood poured from the deep gashes across my chest and shoulder. My vision blurred, and every breath felt like fire in my lungs.
The clone advanced slowly, its tentacles writhing, grey flames flickering along its corrupted form. It looked down at me with those cold, emotionless eyes, as if I were already dead.
"TELL ME!"
"I loathe my life." At last, Zephyra broke. Sobs tore from her as tears streamed down her face. "My whole life, I've been punished for something that was never in my control."
"I loathe my bloodline. I loathe being used as a pawn. I loathe being given as a sex slave to some prince." Each confession came out heavier than the last, her voice trembling and cracking under the weight of her pain.
"But most of all…" She fell quiet for a moment, as if forcing herself to say the words. "I loathe myself. I loathe my very existence. I'm nothing more than another member of this cursed bloodline."
I dodged one after another claw strike as I listened to her. My speed was slowing due to my mounting injuries.
"If this is all my existence amounts to, then isn't it better to die doing one good thing?"
Isn't it better to die?
Isn't it better to die?
Isn't it better to die?
These words hammered my mind as I slashed the clone's arm and rolled to dodge the claw strike from the other arm.
Fuck that shit.
I ran towards the nearest kapok tree and ran up its trunk. After reaching the point I could no longer go up, I jumped back and somersaulted in the air. The clone had already arrived near the tree. When I was just above it, I hit it with a kick enhanced by Rankyaku.
The kick connected squarely with its head. The clone screamed in pain for the first time and staggered, momentarily disoriented. I landed on my feet, dropped both swords, and tackled it to the ground. I mounted its chest and started punching its face with everything I had left, pouring out all my rage.
I didn't even know who I was angry at anymore. The clone for nearly killing me so many times? Myself for being beaten so badly? Or Zephyra for talking such bullshit?
"Do you really want to die?" I asked, raining punches down on the clone's face. "If you really do, I won't stop you. But you'll have to tell me the truth first."
"What is the purpose of living?" Zephyra replied, her eyes dim as a few more strands of her hair turned white, faint lines etched around her eyes. "What is the use of a life in which no one wants the real me?"
"No one wants the real you?" I landed a heavy blow that cracked the clone's jaw. "Do you want the real you?"
"Why should someone accept the real you when you yourself are afraid of accepting your real self?" I asked. The clone tried to raise its hands to stop me, but my continuous blows kept them weak and limp.
Zephyra looked stunned.
"I dare to accept the real you," I said, looking directly into her eyes. "Do you dare accept your real self? Do you dare accept your real legacy?"
As I kept watching her face, I could see her aging in real time. She now looked to be in her mid-thirties.
"You will accept the real me?" Zephyra asked, her voice low and uncertain.
"I will," I answered with conviction.
"You will not feel disgusted with me?" she asked hesitantly.
"I will not," I said sincerely.
"But you're missing a step here, princess," I added with a bloody smile. "Before asking others to accept you, you have to accept yourself first."
"Will you accept me if I accept myself?" Zephyra asked, a spark of renewed hope in her voice.
"I will," I stated plainly.
"So tell me, Zephyra," I asked, still raining punches on the clone, "Do—" Punch "—you—" Punch "—accept—" Punch "—yourself?" Punch
Zephyra's eyes turned completely pitch black, like vast swirling darkness. A thought suddenly flashed through my mind.
If you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.
"Do you accept me?" Zephyra asked. This time, her voice resonated directly inside my head. It no longer sounded like she was using her life force. Instead, darkness poured out of her, fueling the spell.
"I do," I said with a smile, punching the battered clone again. Tears fell from those dark pools.
"Now," I asked, still striking, "do you still want to die?"
"I don't," Zephyra cried. "I want to live."
I started laughing. "That's what I wanted to hear."
I felt so relieved that I forgot to keep punching for a moment. The clone seized the opportunity. It grabbed both my arms and tore them off my shoulders with brutal force, then hurled me away.
"ZORO!" Zephyra screamed.
"Mr. Zoro!" the others shouted.
I slammed into a tree trunk, vomiting a mouthful of blood. But I still laughed through the pain. "You'd better not go back on your words now."
"I won't," Zephyra said, still crying.
"It is an unexpected revelation that the girl is related to the Abyss," the clone said, slowly getting to its feet. Its face was mangled, many tentacles torn, but they were already beginning to heal. "But so what? You are already at death's door. Once I kill you, I will kill the rest and open the gate completely."
"Are you sure about that?" I asked, wincing.
"What do you mean?" the clone asked suspiciously. "What can you even do in such a state?"
"You might be right," I said, a smirk forming on my bloody lips. "But…"
It was time to use the skill I had just earned.
"Second Wind."
A strange itch spread through my body. In less than a second, everything regenerated — bones, muscles, torn flesh. My stamina and mana surged back to full. Even the mental exhaustion I felt after using the Curved Bullet skill was gone.
"How is that possible?" the clone asked, eyes widening. "You are but a mere mortal."
I stood up slowly, cracking my neck.
"Time for round two, bitch."
"So what if you regenerated? I defeated you once. I can do it again," the clone growled. "I don't believe you can pull that move a second time."
I smirked and rushed toward him. I slashed again, aiming for his neck. The clone's wounds were healing rapidly. All the older injuries I had caused had already closed, leaving only the fresh ones on its head. Because there were so many, they hadn't healed yet. That slight delay made its claw a fraction slower, allowing me to land a small cut on its neck. The moment the blade connected, I backed off to create distance.
Right after the cut, two new notifications appeared.
Brutal Strike Level Up (Novice-> Apprentice)
Sword Mastery Level Up (Novice-> Apprentice)
I smirked internally. The apprentice-level Brutal Strike increased my strength by 100%. My body was beginning to feel the strain, but it was still manageable for continuous use.
I glanced back at Zephyra and the others. They were too stunned by the sudden changes to react.
"Hey, Zephyra," I called.
"Huh?" she said involuntarily, still confused. Then she snapped back to reality. "Y-yes?"
"How about a little match?" I said with a smile.
Zephyra looked puzzled.
"Let's see if you close the gate first… or if I kill this abomination first," I proposed.
Zephyra laughed. Tears still streamed down her face, but now she no longer looked sad.
"Sure," she replied, still laughing.
I turned back to the clone, which was charging at me like a raging bull.
We fought for more than five minutes. Miao Song's fifteen-minute spell was almost up. Both of us were covered in injuries. The clone's body was riddled with cuts—small and large—from head to toe. Many of its tentacles had been severed, and it had lost one arm. Its speed had noticeably dropped.
On my side, I had broken several more ribs. Deep gashes covered my abdomen, back, and arms. One of my legs was barely hanging on by a strip of flesh at the thigh—the result of a claw strike that had also cost the clone its arm.
I stood on one leg, swords in both hands. Both blades were chipped in multiple places. I hopped back to dodge a hammer-fist strike. The clawed fist slammed into the ground, scattering mud everywhere.
As I prepared to close in for another strike, a loud, rage-filled scream erupted from above. I clamped my hands over my ears and looked up. The scream came from the Dweller-in-Darkness as the gate finally closed. The night sky returned to normal.
"No, no, no, nooo!" the clone bellowed. "I was so close!"
Time to end this.
I hopped forward. The clone was much weaker now that its connection to the main body had been severed.
"It's all because of you!" the clone screamed at me.
"You're absolutely right," I smirked.
I slashed both swords horizontally at its neck in one fluid motion. It was too slow to react. The blades cut cleanly through, and its head rolled across the ground.
I noticed the Deadwater Cutlass in my hand rusting rapidly before turning to dust. I remembered one of its properties—it cursed the souls of those it slew. I laughed quietly. Even as a clone, Dweller-in-Darkness wasn't someone a mere cursed sword could touch.
The clone's body began rotting at an alarming rate. Soon, its flesh was gone, and even its bones turned to dust.
Mission: The Half-Opened Eye
Description: The Drowned Lantern Pirates completed the summoning rite to manifest Dweller-in-Darkness within the material plane. But, due to various interferences, the gate is only partially open. Seal the crack before He enters this reality. (Completed)
Reward: Staff of Raging Tides (DnD), Necronomicon (3 Pages) (Cthulhu Mythos)
Hidden Objective 1: Zephyra survives (Completed)
Reward: Fishman Arts (Fishman Karate + Fishman Jujutsu) Training Manual (Upgraded) (One Piece)
Hidden Objective 2: Rest of the Defenders survive (Completed)
Reward: Willpower Level Up, Charisma Level Up
Hidden Objective 3: Defeat the Dweller-in-Darkness clone before the gate is closed (Failed)
Reward: Water Bending Training Manual (Avatar)
"Zoro!" Zephyra cried as she ran toward me and hugged me tightly.
I screamed in pain.
Zephyra immediately pulled back. "Sorry," she said, looking guilty.
"No problem," I laughed lightly through the pain.
She gently held my uninjured arm to help me balance and began healing me.
"Don't worry, they'll be gone after a good night's sleep," I said carelessly.
I looked at her. Her eyes had returned to normal, but the years she had lost wouldn't come back. She looked in her mid-thirties. She had sacrificed at least three or four decades, or maybe more, of her lifespan.
Soon, everyone gathered around us.
"Is it done?" I asked weakly, turning to Miao Song.
"Yes," he replied with a happy, relieved smile. "Yes, it is."
"Good," I said, my voice fading. "Then… good night."
I lost consciousness.
—
I woke up and noticed the sunlight coming from the window. I found I was in a bed. Looking around, I realized I was in my room in the tavern.
"You really did heal completely in a single night," Zephyra said softly. She was sitting beside the bed.
"Hey, Zephyra," I greeted with a smile.
"Is everyone all right?" I asked, sitting up on the bed.
"Yeah, they are making preparations for the return journey," she said.
We sat in a comfortable silence for a few moments.
"Do you hate me now that I look older?" Zephyra asked, her voice small and insecure.
"No, I don't," I said gently, caressing her cheek. "The mature charm actually suits you even more."
Her cheeks turned a shade redder, and a happy smile appeared on her lips. She hummed happily.
"Is it time for you to leave?" Zephyra asked, again looking sad.
I looked at the timer in my system, counting down how much time I had left here. It was less than fifteen minutes.
"Yes," I said in a low voice.
Zephyra looked down, then suddenly asked, "Can I call you Kevin till then?"
"Yes," I agreed readily and pulled her towards the bed. She got up and sat with me on the bed.
"Thank you, Kevin," she whispered, resting her head on my shoulder. "Thank you for believing in me… for accepting me."
I didn't say anything. We sat together in silence.
I checked her relationship stats. Her affection and loyalty were both at 99.
I pulled out the copies of Rokushiki and Seikuken manuals I had created earlier. Then I also pulled out the Fishman Arts manual I got as a reward. There was no time to copy it, so it was the original one. Truthfully, I wasn't much interested in it, and it would shine much brighter in her hands.
"There are for you," I said, putting the books down on the bed. "They should be able to help you."
Zephyra looked at the Rokushiki and Seikuken manuals first, curiously. Her eyes widened as she first read the intro text for the books. Then she opened the Fishman Arts manual. Her hand literally shook as she read its introduction.
"Kevin," Zephyra said hesitatingly. "These are too precious."
"Won't you accept my gift?" I asked, holding her chin and looking in her eyes.
"But—"
"Won't you?" I repeated softly.
"I will," she relented.
I smiled and pulled her in for a kiss. She didn't kiss me with passion like she normally did; instead, this time her kiss was filled with longing and sadness.
Soon, the kiss ended, and we separated.
We again sat in silence on the bed with her head on my shoulder.
Time passed quickly, and it was my time to leave.
A rectangular platform appeared above the bed, similar to the one that brought me to the past. It shone with a bright light.
"Goodbye, Zephyra," I said.
And then I disappeared.