"You have crossed the line, human," the Goblin King growled, his voice thick with rage. The air around him seemed to tremble with his fury. "Don't expect a peaceful death."
I chuckled, the sound hollow yet unwavering. "Ha… I already know my fate." I lifted my sword, embers still flickering along the edge. "But I'm here to change it."
His eyes burned with hatred. "This time, you die, human!"
With a thunderous roar, he charged—his massive frame surging forward like an unstoppable force. The ground cracked beneath each step, his greatsword gleaming in the dim light as he swung with bone-crushing power.
I stood firm, blade raised, but something felt… off.
Is he—slower?
My eyes narrowed, analyzing his movements. No, it wasn't just an illusion. His speed had dropped ever so slightly. His reactions weren't as sharp.
Realization clicked in my mind.
The battle wasn't just wearing me down.
He's feeling it too.
The Goblin King swung, his sword a blur of steel and death. I dodged—barely. Sparks erupted as his blade scraped against the stone where I had just stood.
He growled, eyes flaring with frustration.
"Is that all you've got?" I taunted, tightening my grip. "Because from where I stand… you're slowing down."
His rage exploded into another reckless charge.
And this time—I was ready.
I readied my stance, both feet planted firmly against the cracked stone floor. Flames danced along my blade, now brighter than ever—like a second sun forged in fury and resolve.
Then it happened.
The world slowed.
As if time itself bent to my will, each heartbeat echoed like thunder in a hollow chamber. The Goblin King charged, rage carved into every muscle of his face, yet to me… he moved like a sluggish beast trapped in honey.
My senses sharpened, every detail seared into clarity—the heat radiating from my sword, the trembling walls, the dust suspended midair.
I moved.
Each step was precise, fluid, and graceful. The light from my blade illuminated the room, casting long shadows as I dashed forward—my golden hair gleaming, catching even my own attention.
Wait… since when was my hair this color?
Questions for later.
"DIE, HUMAN!" the Goblin King roared, swinging his massive greatsword with every ounce of his brute strength.
"Slowpoke," I muttered, lips barely parting as our blades met.
CLANG!
The impact rang out like thunder, flames and sparks erupting from the clash. I had parried it. Not dodged. Not deflected. I met his so-called fatal strike head-on.
"RAGHHH! IT CAN'T BE—"
He stumbled, wide-eyed.
Sure, I could've dodged, I thought, but where's the fun in that?
With a swift pivot, I drove my foot into his gut.
GAH!
The force sent him staggering. I seized the momentum, stepped in—and with a brutal uppercut backed by the fire of my will, I launched him into the air like a ragdoll.
"GREUUUK! Ha… foolish human!" he coughed mid-flight. "You had your chance to finish me… and you wasted it!"
I exhaled, calmly drawing my blade into a poised stance—its tip aimed skyward, aligned perfectly with my eyes. The polished steel shimmered like molten gold, reflecting strands of my radiant hair.
"True Sun's Swordsmanship… Fifth Form."
From above, the Goblin King's laughter faltered. He plummeted, still mocking, still clinging to pride.
"Wait—wait! Human, we can negotiate! I can grant you power! Comfort! Just… let me go this once!"
But I heard nothing.
I saw only purpose.
"NO! I CAN'T DIE LIKE THIS! I WAS MEANT TO REIGN THIS NEW WORLD!!"
Now.
He entered my range.
My eyes flared with burning resolve. My blade erupted with divine fire. And then—
I struck.
A storm of slashes tore into him mid-air. Each cut precise, brutal, unrelenting. Time seemed to stall again, as though the world dared not interrupt the execution. The Goblin King hung suspended, a puppet undone by the very threads of fate.
Then silence.
I turned away. In a single, smooth motion, I slid my blade into its sheath.
"Dawning Sunrise."
BOOM!
The chamber quaked as a deafening explosion of light and fire consumed the air behind me. A shockwave rippled outward. When the flames cleared, only ash and silence remained.
"Yo, System—did you see that? I did that shit."
[System]: Pretty c̶o̴o̷l̴...
I paused, narrowing my eyes. "You good?"
[System]: D̵̖̕o̴̯̽n̵͚̈́'̸͍̑t̴͉͋ ̶̘́w̸̟̚o̴̪̚r̸̹̐r̷͕̾y̵͚̾ ̶̤̑a̶̝̎b̶͚͘ò̸̤u̷̳̕t̶̫̃ ̴̲͝m̴̡͂ḛ̶̚.̷͎̊.̷̰͂.̴͓̀ ̴̦̍j̵͙̈́u̴̠͘s̷͎̓t̴̠̍ ̵̝͗a̴̹̓ ̴̰̈́m̷͚̅i̵̯̾n̶̪͂o̶̢͑r̴̯͗ ̷͕̒g̷̞̚l̸̰̈i̴͖̋t̷̺́c̶͈̿h̸̻̎...
My grin faded slightly. "Uh-huh… that doesn't sound minor."
"Please… help me…" someone cried faintly in the distance.
My ears perked up. That voice—hoarse, weak, but unmistakable.
I turned, eyes scanning the scorched battlefield. Amidst the smoke and flickering embers, I saw him—Cypher, sprawled on the ground, clutching his side, blood trailing beneath him as he groaned in pain.
His body trembled, one eye barely open.
Without hesitation, I stepped forward—slow, steady. Each footfall echoed like thunder in the eerie silence, embers floating in the air like dying fireflies.
I approached him, my blazing sword dimming as I sheathed it.
"...Cypher," I muttered.
His eyes barely met mine. "You… bastard. Took you long enough…" he coughed with a faint grin.
I knelt beside him. "You always were dramatic."
"Let me ask you something…" Cypher mumbled, his voice barely a whisper. "Am I… in heaven?"
I stared at him for a second, then—SMACK!—my palm met his cheek with a sharp clap.
His head jerked slightly, and he blinked in confusion, the haze in his eyes clearing.
"Ow—what the hell was that for?" he groaned, squinting up at me.
"You're not dying on me just yet," I said. "Save the heavenly nonsense for when I'm not around."
Cypher coughed, then chuckled weakly. "Tch… I guess I'm still alive, then."
"Unfortunately for me," I muttered with a smirk, offering him a hand.
.
.
.
.
.
Meanwhile, on the other side…
Riiiiiing… Riiiiiing… Riiiiiing…
Bzzz… Bzzz… Riiiiiing…
A dull silence follows—then, a cold, automated voice crackles through the line:
"We're sorry, the person you are trying to reach is not available at the moment. Please leave a message after the tone."
Beep—
"…Luke… where are you?"
A tremble laced the voice—strained, worried, broken.