‘I’m at my limit too…’

But I couldn’t show it.

Taking Pria with me, I entered the next illusion.

Again, it was a variation of a mission I had previously completed.

A mission to survive against thousands of corrupted goblins for five minutes. A mission to reverse the odds of an overwhelmingly one-sided war. A mission to defend a fortress on the verge of collapse.

Just as the saintess had boasted, it was a terrifying magic.

If I hadn’t awakened Dragon Soul, I would’ve been pushed to the brink of death.

‘But…’

It was too late.

In my mental world, I had dueled with Halkion countless times.

Over ten thousand times, in fact. As a result, I had nearly been torn apart and slaughtered thousands of times, but I had gained strength to match.

‘I’m not invincible.’

No one knew that better than I did.

Among the top-tier ranked heroes, there were monsters with powers far stronger than mine.

No matter how much I amplified the weight of my sword by billions of times, if the enemy neutralized physical force itself, it wouldn’t work. If Ridigion had been my opponent, he could have dismissed my swordplay like a child’s toy.

Even Black Dragon Scales had its flaws.

Top-ranked heroes had at least one “special means” like that.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t be able to challenge the 80th floor.

Even as I am now, if one of the top parties from Niflheimr were to go all out, I’d be a corpse within a minute.

But that was a tale of the highest echelon.

Snap.

I clenched my hand.

A displeasing sound of bones snapping echoed as the broken black dragon’s neck hung limply.

The final illusion was on the 20th floor.

As if trying to make a last stand, three black dragons had appeared at once, but their matchup was simply too poor.

The being that had imbued me with its power was their ancestor.

‘There was no chance.’

I dusted off my hands.

Squelch. Black blood gushed from the bodies of the black dragons.

This was the 20th-floor arena. The dragons hadn’t lasted three minutes against me.

“Think of it as a dream. Forget about it once we leave.”

I spoke to Pria, who was sitting behind me.

Pria alternated between looking at me and the corpses of the black dragons.

“Han.”

“What?”

“You’ve really gotten stronger. Truly.”

“It’s been three years.”

It had been three years for her.

At my gesture, Pria nodded with a grim expression and entered the vortex of light.

With this, it was over.

Ding!

[Hero ‘Han (★★★★★)’ has cleared the special mission.]

[Special NPC will return to the field.]

Only then did I take a deep breath.

[‘Han (★★★★★)’s Demonization has been deactivated.]

The scales that had covered parts of my body receded into my skin.

The crimson lightning that had surrounded me vanished as if it had been washed away.

I clenched my still-tingling hand.

‘The situation outside…’

It seemed almost over.

I couldn’t fully discern it, but by watching Antyng’s control panel, I could assess the battlefield.

The number of enemies left in Delhive, the holy city, was fewer than 500.

It was an overwhelming victory.

‘I’ve done my part. Now, it’s your turn.’

I looked up.

Anytng immediately opened the menu.

[Gift Shop!]

[For 300,000 gold, purchase ‘Horse Statue (X60)’!]

[‘Horse Statue’ has been gifted to ‘Han (★★★★★)’!]

[‘Horse Statue’ has been gifted to ‘Han (★★★★★)’!]

[‘Horse Statue’ has…]

Good.

I’d earned my reward.

<How absurd. Why are you so fixated on those useless trinkets?>

“They’re not useless trinkets.”

<Then what?>

“A healthy hobby.”

Give and take. That’s how it works.

I smirked and looked ahead.

The illusion of the arena gradually distorted, revealing familiar scenery.

<…>

Before I knew it, I had returned to the top hall of the temple.

Before me, the saintess stood, gazing at me with a stern expression.

The illusions had ended.

Step.

I took a step toward her.

This time, no invisible wall blocked my way.

<With the power you had before… this wouldn’t have been easy.>

“It’s the result of hard work. I haven’t been idle.”

<I didn’t realize the power of the ancient species was this formidable. It’s truly impressive.>

Irene murmured in disbelief.

“Is there more? Something that could kill me in one blow, like your ultimate eye attack?”

<If I had something like that, I would’ve used it already. If you know of such a thing, do tell me. I’ll give it a shot.>

Irene covered her mouth and laughed.

I drew my sword as I approached her.

<The ancient statue, the water dragon of the deep sea, the head of the Halkion family… they were nothing more than specks of dust to you. I suppose I’m no different.>

“…”

<Is the princess still alive?>

“Can’t you see for yourself?”

I glanced beyond the terrace.

Pria stood at the entrance of the holy city, looking up toward us.

The pair of eyes that had once floated in the sky were gone, and only the triumphant cheers of mercenaries echoed in the air.

<You once told me.>

Irene clasped her hands together.

<Not to take out my anger on the princess. That she was merely used by the goddess.>

“…I did.”

<I see, you know a bit, then.>

I remembered it clearly.

When the witch, the king of beasts, and the saintess had attacked the camp in Assinis.

Just before I was surrounded and attacked by them, I had said those words before leaping off the cliff.

“The goddess entered Pria’s dreams and lured her. She was deceived by sweet words…”

<Is that what you think?>

What was she talking about?

I frowned.

<When you dream, can you realize that it’s not reality?>

“…”

<Even if you speak in a dream, if it’s spoken with sincerity, the contract with the goddess is valid. In other words… the princess truly intended to sell all of us and Townia to gain another chance.>

“That kind of nonsense won’t work anymore.”

The scene from back then replayed in my mind.

The end of the world, the 4-star promotion ceremony.

Tel had declared it in front of everyone.

「Even if it means staking everything around me, I want to try again.」

I could still hear Tel’s voice echoing as she declared it in front of everyone.

「I, Tel, the Goddess of Purity, swear on my soul. This is the undeniable truth.」

I spun my sword.

「Admit it. You sold them out.」

Pria had protested, but Tel had finally spoken.

「You said it in your dream.」

She had said they made a contract in the dream.

That contract gave the goddess the excuse to intervene, and Townia had ended up in its current state.

But that contract had been made when Pria hadn’t known all the facts. Once she understood, she had abandoned the contract.

‘Wordplay.’

Cheap attempts to shake me wouldn’t work.

I had reviewed the events countless times.

There was no falsehood.

<The human heart is truly unpredictable.>

Irene stepped back.

Before I knew it, her back was against the railing.

<In any case, thanks to the princess, this is our fate. Unable to live or die, suffering endlessly, and now we are destined to become your prey. I look forward to the day she learns the truth and sees the look on her face.>

“…”

<Please, savor it.>

Irene pushed herself forward.

I didn’t even have time to strike.

The saintess’s body slowly tipped backward, disappearing from my sight.

A short while later.

Amidst the cheers of victory, I heard a faint, distant sound, as if something had shattered.

Hyung_Otaku

I'm currently Translating the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon!

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