69 – Princess, Alice Tantalota 11 –
A pure white space with nothing visible.
There were only two existing entities.
The fallen angel, no longer an angel.
And the second princess of the Empire.
The two of them were seated in that place.
“It will take quite a long time. If you ever want to give up, it’s okay to give up.”
“There’s no need to give up. So… let’s get started.”
“Alright. Although I don’t really know how you possess that power, it is similar to the power of a celestial god.”
“The power of a celestial god…?”
“It’s not really surprising. The divine power that priests use is also the power of a celestial god. It’s just that it’s unclear why that power is passed down through bloodlines…”
The sacred power is no different from other techniques in that it is activated based on faith.
However, the aura of domination was clearly strange.
Why did it become the power inherited through blood?
Why can’t other people use it?
“Abraqsas might know about that… We should focus on the present for now.”
Such things were not particularly important to the angel.
What was important was the present moment.
The truth that saving the princess was necessary to save Abraqsas was even more important.
[Well, it depends on how you do it… But in the worst case, it could take over 100 years. Are you prepared?]
“Of course.”
[Good attitude. Shall we begin then?]
The princess closed her eyes and imagined a person.
The man who brought her here.
“You were my savior of life…”
Alice Tantalota recalled the past when Abraqsas had tried to kidnap her.
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And she also recalled what he had said to her at that time.
“This time, I will become your savior of life.”
To repay life to the savior of life.
It could be said to be the greatest gratitude.
“Then please take care of me!”
The princess replied forcefully, similar to what soldiers sometimes shouted.
In order to protect the one she loves.
Perhaps the princess and the soldiers resemble each other.
—-
After leaving the princess, the situation outside came into view.
It was the headquarters of the evil cult, or a place similar to it, where many people were indeed waiting.
A place that looked like an old church.
However, it was filled with a gloomy and ominous feeling.
Although it was clearly filled with people, it felt more like physical structures.
It felt like being alone in that vast room.
“You’ve escaped… I knew you would.”
The woman welcomed me as if she had expected me to appear.
However, there was no time to greet her.
We already knew everything.
“If it’s come to this, you must admit it too. Just accept it. Your actions are highly irrational and free-spirited. You are a talent that suits the demonic cult.”
“…If the demonic cult were to dominate, a terrible future would await, wouldn’t it?”
“It wouldn’t be for you. And besides, aren’t there already many people who have experienced terrible things?”
It is said that if people are under the rule of the demonic cult, a terrible world will unfold.
Women are raped and men become slaves.
Various crimes run rampant in such a world.
But such a world already exists.
Even if it’s just a slum in the empire, rape, slavery, violence, and fraud already exist.
They are just being executed under different names like prostitution, labor, corporal punishment, and unfair contracts.
She is pointing out these things.
Since it won’t be much different from the present anyway, she is telling me to just come here.
Under the rule of the demonic cult, I am just an ordinary person. I am not a strange person.
“I refuse.”
But I had no choice but to refuse.
If I were to listen to just this passage, would I give up morality and live comfortably?
Or would I uphold morality and live a difficult life? But to me, it had a different meaning, knowing all the truth.
The reason I cannot devote myself to the demonic cult.
The fate of the demonic cult can only be defeat.
Because the current demons are not in a state where they can immediately fight the gods when the seal is released.
The demons are not on the side of the demonic cult, so they would not have mentioned that fact.
This world is not a world that will inevitably perish just because I am not here.
The demonic cult will not become the victor just because I am not here.
Even if I am not here, the lion legion will not become immortal.
Even though I haven’t seen the incarnation of evil… I will eventually succeed in destroying it with my own abilities.
World’s Final Stand is not a genre where the protagonist takes it all.
WFS is an MMORPG online game. In that game, the player character may be one of the strongest, but… they are not capable of a one-person show due to the game’s settings.
They have to participate in a 40-person raid, even though they are much weaker than the boss of a single episode due to the setting.
Even in some instances, it’s said that NPCs weakened their strength and could win.
“There were entities in the game world somewhat akin to boss-level characters, but they weren’t in a state to engage in political struggles.”
Of course, there were formidable individuals.
Just like you can’t casually pull out nuclear weapons in the international arena.
It’s because of the inability to effectively utilize them that such incidents occur.
Unless it’s something happening at a central political level, it can be perceived as a military provocation against another nation.
Like conducting military exercises near the border.
The reason I believed I could do something alone was that I could seize opportunities that were meant to be given to other NPCs in the storyline.
WFS can’t just grant something to a single player that’s only meant for one person.
If it were a web novel or webtoon, there would be an uproar, but it’s different in WFS.
The game just needs to be fair and enjoyable.
“So… if I were to throw myself into the faction… there’s a high chance I’ll lose… since there are quite a few entities I need to surpass to stand out…”
Imperial Swordsmaster, Republic’s Warlock, Saint of Prosperity, Guardian of the World Tree, even the Ancestral Vampire…
What I’ve been trying to prevent all along is to minimize the damage that will occur in this world.
Korea didn’t crumble even after experiencing the IMF financial crisis.
But if we could erase the IMF from existence, everyone would try to do that.
In this world, there’s only one existence that cannot be overcome by one’s own power.
That would be the incarnation of sin and evil.
According to ‘him,’ the leader of the Salvation Alliance, in the case of the incarnation of sin and evil, they could only be stopped when only 10% of all sentient beings remained.
“Fortunately, there seems to be one strong-looking guy… he might not be dying just yet.”
As he spoke, the opponent’s tracking was more or less concluded.
At least there’s only one strong person here.
The other people who had come to meet me don’t seem to be visible.
I should consider that somewhat fortunate.
If they all attacked at once, I wouldn’t have lasted long and would have died.
“Well, I suppose… I’ll have to acknowledge your determination, at least.”
The people’s words continued, and she closed her eyes.
It seemed like she was about to use some kind of mysterious power.
“I. Erzabeth Antonio. I was trying to tell you…”
But her words went unfinished.
She was simply cut off before she could continue.
This world is not a game.
You can’t strike back immediately without suffering when you’re hit.
That’s why, even if your opponent is strong, launching a preemptive strike increases your chances of winning.
And even if your opponent is weak, launching a preemptive strike makes them more comfortable.
“Coward!”
“Judging by the way you’re bleeding… I guess you’re not one to move your body directly, are you? Based on your appearance… a noble, perhaps?”
Except for knights, noble mages often crumbled in real combat.
Mages prioritize avoiding attacks from fighters like knights over building physical strength.
But in reality, avoiding all attacks is next to impossible.
Those without resistance to pain, if hit even once, crumble in an instant.
“Your rank is high, but you lack real combat experience… Well, now that I think about it, as a member of the Cult of Darkness, you wouldn’t have had any real combat experience.”
Legitimate status means incompetence.
To duel as a member of the Cult of Darkness, you had no choice but to attack your own organization.
So, I needlessly kept talking.
In real combat, there’s no room for such things.
“Oh, it’s not over yet…! Ugh…”
She tried to say something to me, but it was meaningless.
My hand, like a dagger, had pierced her chest.
The difference from a dagger was that it had really penetrated her body, reaching her heart.
“Ah… ah….”
Tears welled up in her eyes, sensing her impending death.
I gave her a very simple gift.
“Here. This is your heart. Since hardly anyone gets to see their own heart, you must be a very special person.”
Naturally, those words didn’t provide her any comfort.
She accepted her death, achieving nothing.
Boom—
This place is the Cult of Malevolence.
I shattered my heart because malevolence’s sanctity can also heal others.
Just in case I might survive.
“Maybe if I’m really good… we could both make it out together…
But that’s unlikely. Even if they’re filled with those guys, it’s impossible to win against two or more without any harm.”
Of course, luck might work for one or two.
I saw the Cult of Malevolence in WFS.
Even if the system is well established because adults were born, their power doesn’t change.
So… they must also exist at this moment.
Those dreadful folks who pushed their way into the Cult of Malevolence as the worst.
“Um, over there! Archbishop!!”
Not long after I knocked down the woman named Erzabeth and left.
The people who had gathered when I came out were all scattered, spreading my news to others.
And the man called the Archbishop appeared before me.
With several others.
And when I saw them, I smiled.
Not because I was delighted.
It was because the chances of surviving had become slim.
“…You really are something. I can’t count how many times you’ve surprised me.”
He knows me.
I know him better.
He was a man who served as the right hand of the Resurrected Adult of Malevolence, and although his name was never revealed, his status is clear.
The Archbishop of the Cult of Malevolence, a man who was the right hand of the Resurrected Adult of Malevolence.
And the people behind him are all strong.
If they all attack at once, I have no chance of surviving.
‘If I activate the Awakening Device… I’ll find a way somehow. Luckily, they’re all here, so the plan shouldn’t go wrong.’
There’s no need to kill them.
If I make them strong enough for Alice to control, she will eventually be able to kill these guys on her own.
My skills can at least do that much.
“Can we kill them this time?”
“I would recommend not killing them if possible. After all, they’re the only one who knows the source of the Dragon Heart.”
“They probably won’t speak anyway, right?”
“It was only two weeks ago, wasn’t it?”
Fortunately, it seemed they didn’t want to kill me.
But that didn’t help.
My strength remained the same.
In order to defeat them, I would have to use aura awakening anyway.
“Stop talking and come quickly. Who knows? Maybe I’m as strong as the Empire’s sword saint?”
Upon hearing this, they nodded their heads.
Not long after, they began using immense power against me.
The Archbishop, with an unknown purple aura emanating from his fist, caused me great pain.
A Bishop, who looked like a child, suddenly transformed into a wolf and charged at me.
The woman who seemed to be the child’s guardian began summoning skeletons from the ground and manipulating them.
And instinctively, I knew.
I couldn’t endure this.
This aura would push me into pain and cloud my judgment.
If I tried to approach, that wolf-transformed bastard would threaten me.
And I couldn’t attack from a distance either.
If that woman kept sending those corpse troops, my aura would run out eventually.
So, I needed to create a variable.
‘As expected… Is endurance my limit? Then… what I need to do is clear.’
Aura awakening is twisting the world with aura to achieve the impossible.
I molded my will to leave a mark on the enemy, even if it meant sacrificing one of my arms.
So, I slightly modified the technique.
Not to leave a mark on the enemy by sacrificing one of my arms but to inflict irreparable damage to the enemy, even if it cost me my life.
A tremendous power flowed out of my body.
The intense force pouring into the heavenly sword soon sent shivers down its spine.
‘At least the end is going spectacularly. At least it’s better than my previous life.’
All preparations were complete.
Others had made their own thorough preparations to respond to the upcoming awakening in their own ways.
Now, everything is over.
Just when I was about to wield my sword.
“Abraxas Eungshik… Do you want to live?”
Someone spoke to me.
Who could it be?
A familiar voice.
But it couldn’t be that voice.
So, it must not be that voice.
With uncertainty in my heart, I turned around.
Keeping a glimmer of hope.
And as I turned my head to look behind me.
“Princess Hwang…?”
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Behind me stood Princess Hwang.
A golden aura emanated from her body.
Above, there was Petro, whom I had rescued.
Within the aura’s range were numerous followers of the cult of demons.
Their actions were submissive, kneeling with utmost loyalty.
“I’ll say it one more time. Abraxas Eungshik. Do you want to live?”
The Second Princess of the Helium Empire, Alice Tantallota.
She appeared here to save me.
God