Final Confrontation (7)
We teleported to our destination—a cave deep underground. The spatial coordinates placed us at the far northwestern edge from the imperial capital. We'd come a long way.
The cave interior was pitch black, without a single speck of light. I couldn't see a thing. First, I extended my senses. Nothing around us.
"Ugh, it's so dark...."
Cloi's voice came from beside me, laced with complaint. She cast a light spell, illuminating the cave in bright clarity.
"Tch, why is it always places like this?"
With her face revealed, Cloi wore an expression full of irritation. Ignoring her, I spoke up.
"Cut the chatter and lead the way. Why drag us to a dump like this if we just need to head straight ahead?"
"I had no choice~. He's such a shady bastard, he bolts if you try anything flashy."
Cloi took the lead, still grumbling as she guided me forward.
"Look at him even now. Hiding in a cave like this? Normal? He could be out in the light, but nooo, has to skulk in the dark. That fucking prick...."
"Watch the language."
"Senpai~, I'm pissed for real. You have no idea how much I hustled to find this place. While you were grinding away, I was busting my ass running around~."
Cloi wiped her forehead dramatically to emphasize her "hardship." No sweat came off, of course.
"What's so hard about chasing that thing down?"
"You say that 'cause you don't know the bastard, senpai. Check this out."
Cloi pointed straight ahead. At the tip of her finger, a hazy mist filled the passage. She reached into it, and it attacked her like a living creature. It didn't work, of course—she flicked her hand casually, dispersing the mist that lunged at her.
"He sets up crap like this, and you think it's easy to find him?"
"Yeah, fair enough."
The mist wasn't just aggressive; it was laced with all sorts of spells that scrambled intruders' senses and minds. Getting tainted by that would kill an ordinary human on the spot.
Traps too, looks like.
The cave floor and walls were rigged with trap magic as well, meant to kill or repel intruders.
"Not that it works on me."
Cloi spread her mana confidently, enveloping us in a mana barrier. The mist vanished the instant it touched it.
"Alright, let's go!"
We pressed on, but even without the mist, progress wasn't smooth. Traps everywhere, and the terrain was a nightmare. Cloi rearranged it with annoyed grunts, clearing paths somewhat. Each time, echoes and unpleasant noises filled the cave.
"Keep it quiet. You wanna get spotted?"
"Senpai, you think I didn't account for that? Relax. Evan's got their attention by now—no time to check here."
She got even louder as she said it. I sighed at the sight.
After a bit more, Cloi halted abruptly.
"Oh, senpai. A few warnings before you meet the guy."
She looked at me squarely.
"First, don't listen to a word he says when you meet. His voice packs power—you could end up mind-controlled before you know it."
She cupped my ears with her hands, mana flowing out to seal them like plugging them tight.
"This should block it fine."
Her voice sounded muffled. She dispersed the mana and continued.
"Don't trust what you see either. He operates from the shadows, masters illusions better than me, probably."
That wrapped up the warnings.
"Not that it'll faze you, senpai. If it could, he'd be mine already."
Cloi flashed a grin, no worry in her eyes or tone.
But she wasn't done. She placed a hand on my cheek.
"And don't die. If he kills you, it won't end well."
It sounded concerned, but the emotion underneath wasn't.
"More than that, I won't let anyone take what's mine. If that happens, I'll lock you in a room where no one can steal you away. Got it, senpai?"
Her possessiveness, unchanged by time. I slapped her hand away hard.
"Who said I'm yours?"
She just giggled like it was nothing.
"Still so prickly~. But I get it. I like your tsundere side too. That's love, right?"
I grimaced at the nonsense.
"Shut up. And if you're gonna backseat drive, do it yourself. Don't pawn it off."
"Aww, don't be like that~. You think I wanted to sit it out? I'd have handled it solo if I could."
She sidled up, whispering in my ear.
"Do I seem like the type who'd let you see me struggle, senpai?"
"...No."
One thing was sure—Cloi never let her own losses slide.
"So please? The rules say we can't fight each other, so I'm really out of options~."
"Haa...."
I sighed and kept walking. Even without her request, this guy needed dealing with.
The cave's end came into view. Beyond, a massive cavern with an impossibly high ceiling, sealed by a barrier at the entrance.
Cloi clicked her tongue at it.
"Tch, thorough bastard. Sorry, senpai. Can't go further with you. It's set to block just me. I could break it, but it'd take too long."
"Fine, wait here. I'll go alone."
I stepped forward. The barrier swallowed me.
"Senpai~! Kick ass!"
I ignored her and proceeded.
Inside the colossal cave, every direction assaulted me with energies on entry. Illusions from mana dazzled my eyes, black magic eroded my mind, demonic miasma invaded my flesh.
Domain Declaration
My mana dominated the surroundings, repelling the attacks. Mind and body eased.
I headed straight to the center without delay. About five minutes in, I spotted someone.
The mastermind behind this monster season. I took in his form.
Over two meters tall, long limbs. Dressed in a white-based suit mixed with black—a modern style out of place here.
I memorized it and crept closer, minimizing noise.
"Hmm... this isn't the outcome I wanted."
A soft mutter. The androgynous voice sounded deeply troubled.
"Causing this little damage. I expected at least half destruction. Oh well...."
A screen appeared before him, showing someone—Evan.
"Even excluding him, variables persist. Should've factored in even this backwater. My mistake."
In his attack range, yet he didn't turn. He kept muttering and gesturing alone, then said:
"And she's no pushover. Same goals, yet she won't let it slide. So persistent. Annoying personality. Don't you think, intruder?"
His voice dripped leisure, unafraid of me. He turned slowly, like out for a stroll.
I stretched Domain Declaration wide, pulling him in. Simultaneously, I unleashed the power etched in my soul.
Kwagagak!!
God-slaying energy wrapped my sword. Power to shatter worlds raged in the cave.
Cough—gut-wrenching agony twisted me. I spat blood. Penalty for wielding forbidden power at my level.
But I didn't stop. Enduring pain, I swung—and recalled an old man's face, channeling the essence closest to true martial arts.
Heavenly Demon Extinguishing Sword
Hwaaak! Black light streaked. Energies and debris blocked the sword's path—but futile. The Heavenly Demon's technique erased space as it advanced.
He vanished—teleport. I deployed coordinate seal magic across the domain. No more teleporting.
Senses locked on his position—synced with Domain Declaration. I redirected the surging sword qi.
Not far from where he vanished. He reappeared. Sword qi followed.
The instant his body fully manifested, god-slaying sword cleaved both eyes precisely. A 2cm horizontal line. Eyes gone.
Head split—upper half ashed away, lower sagged.
"Hoo...."
I exhaled held breath. Needed to finish, but back-to-back forbidden power use slowed me. Caught my breath, then surged energy again.
As I swung—
"Huhu, didn't expect her to bring someone who could hurt me. Unforeseen."
He spoke, face halved.
"Which world are you from? Never mind—whatever promise she made, I'll compensate tenfold. Doesn't matter what you heard; we don't die easy."
He tried negotiating. I ignored, swinging.
"Get lost."
"Hm?"
Whoong—!
God-slaying energy lashed out. But consecutive use missed the mark. Body cleaved, soul not fully.
Half his mouth moved.
"A native, huh? Resistance possible, but killing one? Unbelievable variable."
I endured body-wide pain, swung again. But—
"Kuhk...!"
Heart-crushing agony halted me. Meanwhile, he rose—torso diagonally severed, partial head.
"Pushing too hard, looks like. I'd love to end you now, but this body's tapped from the plan. Farewell...."
He bolted opposite.
"See you later, nameless native."
"Stop!"
Couldn't let him escape. Who knew what havoc next. I withdrew energy, pursued.
"Haha, as tenacious as her!"
Magic bloomed behind him. Destruction targeted me.
Srrek!
Sliced the spell. Mere magic was easy.
"Impressive. Rare to reach this level here. Who are you? If eyes intact, I'd know."
"None of your business!"
Sliced arms and legs simultaneous. Legs partial. No god-slaying power—regenerated instantly.
No choice.
He'd escape at this rate. Had to overextend. Maxed ring's power for Domain Declaration. Stretched beyond him.
"Haha, thrilling magic! Makes me more curious."
I tuned out his grating laugh.
Kwang!
Magic clashed midair. Fragments scattered. I fired sword qi in gaps. He dodged easily.
"No good."
"......"
Kept firing. Ground scarred.
He addressed me:
"Body hurting, yet persist? Give up, rest. Eyes sealed, but other senses fine. Your ragged breath—you're collapsing soon."
He stopped dead. No fear of pursuit.
"Hahk, hahk...."
"No need to run now."
"You really... think... that?"
Facing him, his torso fully regenerated. Neck now.
"Yes."
As he stepped toward me—
"But what about this? Caught in my trap."
Activated the magic carved into the ground scars. Mana surged, forming a massive sphere.
Thirty layers of sealing magic. Each barrier variant blocked specific intruders. Sage-taught spell that sealed even gods.
He laughed.
"Huhu, you underestimate me. This magic's nothing."
Chik!
Flicked hand—seals unraveled. He fled through.
I chased.
"Hmm, this game's getting boring."
Suddenly, he muttered. Teleported.
Reappeared opposite our path. Ten teleports minimum to catch up. But—
"Knew it."
Fought your clones enough. I spoke to his back.
"Your moves are predictable."
"Hm? How?"
"None of your business."
Simple, really. Applied Perspective Regression and Domain Declaration.
"Die."
Unleashed god-slaying energy, swung. Dozens of sword qi rent flesh and soul.
Obliterated traceless. Withdrew power, lowered arm.
"Hooo...."
Long sigh. Forced forbidden power again—agony surged, but done, so bearable.
His energy in the cave faded. Checked remains anyway. Burned fragments one by one.
Last chunk lifted—his head emerged. Barely eyes, nose, mouth.
His eyes met mine.
"Huhu, you of all people."
Clone laughed.
"Thought mistake at first. No human but him can face us."
"......"
"Now it clicks. You could kill us. But...."
Eyes and mouth curved.
"You've fallen. You, once beloved by the world, reduced to this."
"Shut up."
I growled, pressuring with energy. He laughed unfazed.
"Haha, threats won't work like that."
Eyes pierced me, transparent pupils.
I roared, swung. Eyes gone.
"Don't look at me with those fucking eyes. Disgusting."
"Temper intact. Understandable. Non-mortals react same."
"......"
I glared silently.
"Something to say?"
"...Warning. Stick to script, no funny business. Unless you want me intervening."
"Hahaha!"
He burst laughing—huge.
"With that pitiful fate and weak body? Stop me?"
"Yeah. Whatever it takes. So...."
I paused, voicing his name.
"Stay out of my turf. Get lost, Nyarlathotep."
"Huhu, few humans utter my name like you. This clone unworthy, though."
Clone, far below true body.
"Answer?"
He laughed again.
"Fine... humans say this then."
Mouth-side hand regenerated. Middle finger up.
"Fuck off. Won't happen, for your dumb dad anyway."
"Then...."
I drew god-slaying power. Final swing.
"Die, cockroach."
Cockroaches—existing everywhere, timeless. Fitting.
"Still underrate me. But... looking forward to next meeting."
As sword fell—
"You, loved by the world...."
Farewell greeting. Face ashed away.
"Hoo...."
Clone's death confirmed. I collapsed.
Emotions poured out.
"Fucking bullshit."
Fucking bullshit. Nothing else fit. Why eyes first? To hide from him. Soul unchanged despite body—he recognized instantly.
"Haa, fuck...."
No strength left for more—just sighed in place.