Chapter 129 Future



Gazing at the battlefield from the bird's eye view high above, I could see countless lifeless bodies littering the blood-soaked ground, their uniforms bearing the unmistakable emblem of Fragmental, the continent inhabited by humans, elves and dwarves.

Strangely, all of the fallen soldiers shared the same allegiance, fighting on one side.

It was as if a merciless horde of monsters had swept through the ranks, leaving behind a trail of torn and mangled corpses.

However, there was not a single trace of the enemy amidst the chaos. Not a single carcass or sign of their presence.

It was as if the Soldiers fought against Shadows...

"Tell... me why did you betray us?!"

My gaze was drawn toward Drake, who was currently beneath the Demon's ominous shadow. 

I shouldn't call him Demon, should I?

No... he was a Fallen Angel.

The massive wings that sprouted from his back were towering over him, their jet-black feathers shimmering in the faint light.

"..."

The Fallen Angel remained silent for a moment, his gaze fixed upon Drake.

Swish...

With a swift yet graceful motion, he reached behind his back, his fingers gliding over the cold hilt of his weapon. As his hand closed around it, he pulled it forth from its sheath.

I could feel my mind going blank for a second as I identified the weapon held in the Fallen Angel's hand.

The blade gleamed with an otherworldly radiance, casting an eerie glow across the desolate battlefield. Its surface seemed to shift and swirl as if infused with the very essence of shadows itself.

The sword was slender and elegant, its form honed to perfection. It was forged from a mysterious dark metal, bearing intricate engravings along its length. The hilt was wrapped in supple black leather, offering a firm grip to its wielder.

As the Fallen Angel held the sword aloft, it hummed with an ethereal resonance, the sound vibrating through the air. Its blade seemed to drink in the faint light as if hungering for more power. The edges were razor-sharp, glinting with a malevolent gleam.

It was Shadowbane, a weapon that possessed an immense power sealed within, rendering it impossible to wield effectively in the game.

I can vividly recall my countless attempts to break the seal and unlock its true potential, but every effort was in vain. The power remained elusive and beyond my grasp.

Nevertheless, even with its seals intact, Shadowbane was a formidable sword, capable of inflicting devastating damage upon any enemy it encountered, particularly during the early to mid-game stages.

I primarily relied on its strength to vanquish formidable boss monsters, as the sword's unique property was the ability to inflict Soul Damage. With a mere scratch from its blade, the target would be afflicted with a persistent status effect, causing continuous Soul Damage over time.

...

Indeed, my strategy often involved sneaking in a quick strike on a formidable Boss before running away.

Hey, you try beating the same fucking game for 5 years! 

It's all about shortcuts and strategies, right?

I don't care if it might seem like I was a coward. 

Cowards live the longest...

Click...

The Fallen Angel pointed the tip of the Shadowbane toward Drake's throat, causing him to stiffen in fear.

"Don't worry..."

The Fallen Angel whispered, his voice very similar to that of a human, strangely gentle and... guilty?

"It will be quick."

He channeled Mana into his weapon, making Dark Mana engulf the blade of the Shadowbane completely. 

The blackened blade radiated an unsettling aura as if it were infused with the very essence of shadows itself.

"Why..."

Drake on the other hand wasn't even looking at the weapon pressed to his throat anymore. His green eyes were fixed on the Fallen Angel's face, filled with a hint of sadness.

"Why!?"

He repeated again this time yelling at the top of his lungs, the words catching in his throat.

"Why did you kill them? She loved you, you fucker!?"

Drake thrashed on the ground but not much could be done with the tip of the Sword still pressed against his throat.

"I'm sorry, my friend..."

The Fallen Angel whispered, his voice filled with genuine regret as he looked down at Drake with a somber expression.

"I never wanted things to turn out this way..."

Pluck...

The Shadowbane sliced through the air with a swift and precise motion, severing Drake's life in an instant.

"..."

For a moment the entire scene fell silent, even the wind paused its howling.

It was as if the world stood still in the presence of such an event.

The time seemed to stop.

Reality began to bend.

Was this the end of the world?

My eyes were locked onto the figure of the Fallen Angel, kneeling before Drake's lifeless body, his frame slightly trembling.

"It was for the best..."

I could hear him whispering, however, before I could react or make sense of his words, the scene abruptly faded out.

Swish...

Suddenly, my body was engulfed in the darkness once again but this time I couldn't feel the pull that previously brought me to the elegiac scene.

Whoosh...

The very next moment, the world around me shifted and faded back into focus.

I was finally transported to hell...

"What the fuck was that."

However, there was no way, I would simply forget what just happened.

There was no fucking way I will just brush off the death of one of the main characters.

"Calm down..."

Looking around, I quickly sat on some random boulder, taking deep breaths to calm my racing heart and collect my thoughts.

The scene I've just seen...

Was it a dream? 

No, it was too detailed to be a dream... it felt too real...

"..."

Closing my eyes, I tried to recall every detail of the vivid scene I'd just witnessed.

It's the future!

Suddenly, my eyes flickered open as I connected the dots together.

Drake was wielding Balmung, a sword he could only acquire near the end of the game.

What I saw was probably just a glimpse of a future event in the game or in my case, the reality.

However, this realization left me feeling confused.

Who was the Fallen Angel?

Usually, the Protagonists were overrun by Demons or killed by the Demon King, but the ending I've witnessed wasn't done by any of those usual suspects.

It was done by a Fallen Angel, not a Demon King, but someone who was not in the original game.

"..."

I crossed my hands together, trying to piece the puzzle together.

I also recalled that Drake said something about the Fallen Angel killing them, which I suppose were the other protagonists.

He also mentioned 'her' loving the Fallen Angel, but I couldn't make sense of who 'she' referred to. 

One thing was certain, though, Rose or Tess, wasn't 'she', who was mentioned by Drake. 

There was simply no way they could be the ones who would love a Demon.

"Hahh..."

This is getting complicated. 

I am seeking for the extinction of the Demon Race and suddenly another individual with a power similar to that of the Demon King appears...

How should I fucking feel?!

Ruffling my hair, I breathed a heavy sigh.

It was my job, no... it was a must to protect the protagonists until they fully grow and become powerful enough to face any challenges that come their way.

It is, probably, up to me to find out who this Fallen Angel is and eliminate him before the future I've just seen could occur.

"Oh, yeah..."

Anyways, only now did I snap out of my thoughts and realize that I had been sitting on this boulder for quite some time.

It was time to get moving!

Well, I should look around first...

I quickly scanned my surroundings, taking in the sights and sounds of the world around me.

I was currently standing on an island that was around half a mile in diameter with nothing but a few lava pools and stone structures scattered about.

It was the same as described in the HoloLink, barren and desolate.

I could also see a chain connected to a stone structure on the west side of the island, leading to what appeared to be another landmass in the distance.

"The obsidian chain..."

Observing the massive black vine swaying above the massive ocean of Lava that awaited those who fell into its depths, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.

These islands were levitating in mid-air, separated from the Lava Ocean by a couple of miles of free fall.

Oh... I almost forgot the most important thing...

These Islands can fall, like literally!

In the report it was written that if the islands can plummet to the ocean of Lava randomly, dragging all the other islands connected to them together. 

Basically, if one of the islands were to plummet to the Lava Ocean, others would follow after it, until one of the obsidian chains would shatter, ending this cycle.

I don't even want to know how they even got this information but it sure gave me goosebumps...

This was the reason why I applied my explosion rune to my sneakers.

If my island is plummeting to the Lava, I could escape with its activation.