Chapter 220: The End – Avatar Dam (1)
Chapter 220: The End – Avatar Dam (1)
Flames surged upward.
Flames devoid of heat or pain.
Yet, those flames consumed everything with cold impartiality.
The sacrifices positioned nearby, and the powerhouses who had offered themselves as pillars to summon this being for the sake of revenge.
The containment wall that protected the Demon Train’s Core, and the mountain of materials surrounding it.
The experts who had gathered to stop the summoning, Al’shel, and even me.
The golden fire swallowed them all.
And then, it began to incinerate.
The flames left nothing behind.
No charcoal from burnt bones.
No ash from melting flesh.
No screams of life echoing in agony.
Not even the warmth of the heat gained at the cost of burning, sacrificing everything.
It left absolutely nothing.
Could this truly be called fire?
Could something that doesn't even generate heat as a byproduct of combustion really be called a flame?
This thing had abandoned the very duties a fire ought to perform.
It merely swallowed everything into its golden body.
The only thing it gave birth to was the golden light that proved its own existence.
A being that only consumes, unable to produce anything.
What was it called again?
Dam.
“…Hey. Al’shel.”
In a space where everything had been ruined by the mere aftermath of its descent, I spoke the name of the one I believed would still be alive.
“…Yes.”
I wondered if she really had the skill to back up her constant talk of getting revenge on The End.
Al’shel had endured the backlash of Dam’s appearance.
Even if it wasn't the Main Body, but merely an Avatar.
The powerhouses who had followed us to stop this summoning had been swept away, leaving not even ash behind in the wake of the summoning.
Of course, more survived than I expected—some lost limbs, others lost consciousness while blocking the initial strike. But they were all effectively out of the fight.
The only ones capable of participating in combat were likely Al’shel, Grix, maybe two others, and myself.
I really should have dragged Zess along.
What was that nonsense about ‘I’ll remain neutral because I don’t think this is the end of the Demon Train’?
The End itself literally showed up in person.
To top it off, that Zess fellow told me not to even think or speak about The End, yet here we are facing it despite doing neither.
If I make it out of here alive, I’m going to drench Zess in water and find a way to extinguish that Green Sun fire of hers.
Sarcastic thoughts about the absent woman filled my mind as I slowly observed Dam’s form.
A being nestled inside a creature’s body, with yellow flames flickering out of its orifices.
Perhaps something had gone wrong, for it did nothing but kneel, bowing its face toward the ground and raising its hands to the sky as if in prayer.
Thanks to that, we were able to buy time to get a handle on the situation.
While Al’shel and I kept a wary eye on the thing, those who could still move grabbed the incapacitated and retreated.
A few claimed they could still fight, but I could tell at a glance that their wills were broken. After they had all vanished:
“Al’shel.”
“Yes.”
I heard the sound of Al’shel swallowing hard as he spoke.
It meant that even Al’shel was that tense.
“That thing… which category does it belong to?”
“…Are you asking for its classification?”
“Yeah. Like the Modifiers or whatever you mentioned before.”
It was trivial information, unnecessary for the moment.
But I asked the meaningless question just to dig up even a sliver of the identity behind the massive sense of dread radiating from that kneeling figure.
“…It’s likely… a Spectator.”
A different category of The End than last time.
Knowing that didn't change anything, though.
“If we get back alive, teach me how to tell them apart.”
I had tried to mention them less, as Zess advised, but what was the point now that things had turned out like this?
“I will.”
A little more time passed.
In the atmosphere where ten seconds felt like hours:
“…The Core. Can you protect it?”
I squeezed the words out, trying to shake off the dread seeping into my body.
The being kneeling toward the sky wasn't doing anything, yet the intense pressure—as if the collapsed heavens were closing in—was steadily growing stronger.
“…We must protect it.”
Right.
We have no choice but to protect it.
In that sense, the summoner had chosen the perfect spot. The Demon Train’s Core was at our backs, and the entity of The End was directly in front of us.
Originally, the place where he attempted the summoning was merely near The Core, but the aftermath of the descent had stripped away numerous security devices at once, revealing its raw form.
The heart of the Demon Train, the final destination.
The Core, formed by the clustered heads of countless members of the Star Race.
Embedded there was a face I had only seen a few times, yet felt familiar.
Al’sophia’s face.
They must have given up even on having descendants, throwing their bodies into The Core one by one as their lives ended to improve its performance.
Even if their souls returned to the stars and they failed to fulfill their purpose, they believed that what they left behind in the world would carry on their will.
The hope created by sacrificing everything had almost crumbled, but it was narrowly restored.
By the coincidence of a departed being returning unexpectedly.
One who risked their life and reached out to grasp the hope of others.
If you don't call such a person a Hero, then who can be called one?
That is why, to protect the grave of a Hero who has already fallen:
Al’shel, I, and the other powerhouses stood between The End and hope.
Others might think differently.
Some might not know them and simply fight to protect their own kin.
Others might just be fighting to survive.
Whatever their thoughts were, what did it matter?
By the mere fact that they didn't run and remained here, we shared the same goal.
We were the final suicide squad left to protect the Demon Train.
Powerhouses who were of no benefit to society or the collective, but who had cultivated their strength solely for a moment like this.
It took about a minute for the incapacitated to flee.
The moment each of us took a combat stance and stared at the kneeling figure:
【Value of the Pillar. Low. Meaningless. Hunger. Boredom. Requesting vitality generation.】
Finally, it straightened its knees and lifted its head.
It spat out words that were forcibly etched into our minds.
And then, we saw its face for the first time.
It was a Charred Corpse.
A human cadaver, burnt to death, with all moisture evaporated and shriveled dry.
As if that wasn't repulsive enough, golden fire leaked from every orifice in its skin.
Its lips were completely burnt away, and from between the teeth that barely maintained their shape, fire resembling molten gold dripped down.
As if it were salivating from hunger.
However, that golden saliva was also incredibly dangerous; the moment it hit the floor, it erased everything it touched.
Perhaps because its footing had vanished, the entity of The End called Dam fell into the pit for a moment, but it soon walked back up through the air as if stepping on stairs.
A ghoul corpse burning from the inside.
That would be a good way to describe it.
But I instinctively felt that this being was absurdly dangerous.
“Aaaaaaaah!”
the moment that voice was heard, one of the five died.
Golden fire erupted from within their body.
Just from hearing the voice.
No, maybe they weren't dead. Their hand was twitching as they lay there.
Or perhaps it was just a post-mortem muscular reflex.
By the time I felt numbly that such sacrifices were to be expected:
【Hunger. Substantiation of existence. Gourmet. Dwelling.】
The being called Dam showed its first reaction.
It turned its head and looked at us.
No, that’s not it. It looked at the object behind us.
The Demon Train’s Core.
【Hunger. Resolution. Intent to eat.】
Dam began to walk toward it, neither hurried nor fast.
Composed, as if walking down the hallway of its own home.
“…Anyone know anything about The End?”
Silence fell.
So, I directed the question to the most knowledgeable person present.
“…Al’shel, that thing looks like it has no intelligence at all.”
Was it not just a being possessed by gluttony?
Its movements were entirely different from The Modifier I had seen before.
That being had ignored me as if I were an ant, acting out of the belief that I could have no impact on it.
But the being heading for The Core now didn't give us a single glance.
As if we, positioned between it and The Core, didn't even exist.
As if only it and The Core existed in the world.
“The most foolish and the most brilliant cannot be distinguished.”
“…Why the sudden philosophy?”
“That is the kind of being it is. It is difficult for us to comprehend.”
Right. In the first place, wasn't it the kind of being that released the supernatural phenomenon called 'stories' onto Earth despite possessing such power?
A being whose purpose for plotting such bizarre things was unknown.
So, it was actually for the better.
We needed to stop that thing, and that being didn't care about the likes of us.
Then, there was only one thing to do.
“We’re going to dump every ounce of power we have into that scarecrow. Any objections?”
No one argued against such a crude plan. Instead, everyone prepared the strongest attack they could muster.
Grix’s combined esper-magic infinite bombardment from a hundred eyes.
Iron Man’s Causality Reversal Absolute Severance, using power similar to a Martial Artist.
Al’shel’s Stellar Strike.
And my Space-Collapsing Hammer with all limiters released—the strongest attack I took pride in, second only to my Ultimate Technique shared with Un-ho.
Each person’s ultimate attack was sucked toward The Enemy.
These were techniques whose mere aftermath could obliterate the surrounding terrain, yet the powerhouses, including myself, were not caught in each other's power, focusing solely on the target.
Iron Man and I charged toward The Enemy through the raining attacks.
Countless light sources, enough to blind the eyes.
Each magic spell, the size of a raindrop, contained enough power to erase a small island.
And the weapons we carried as we pushed through them held power that far surpassed the sum of it all.
Yet, Dam still didn't care about us.
As if the light of the pouring magic and the metallic glint reflected by our weapons didn't exist in its world.
It simply moved forward, salivating golden fire.
Because of that, it was a perfect target.
“You’ll snap out of it once you get hit!”
Simultaneously with my shout, my hammer and Iron Man’s sword reached The Enemy.
The Hammer struck the head, and Iron Man’s swung sword hit the body.
I don't know about Iron Man, but I felt a distinct sensation of the impact.
It was hard, but not unbreakable.
So, I twisted my waist with everything I had.
Crack. Cra-crack.
The sound of my spine, shoulder joints, and elbow joints twisting vibrated through my bones and shook my skull.
“Aaaaaaaah!”
Because I had put all my strength into it, I converted the pain of my rupturing skin and muscles into rage and spat it out.
Thump.
Even though a tiny bit of leaked power that I failed to control shattered the floor of the Demon Train beneath my feet.
My will became a platform, maintaining my attacking posture.
All limiters were released.
I didn't have to worry about the surroundings being caught in the blast.
And I had a footing that would support me while absorbing all the shock.
This was, without a doubt, my strongest strike, excluding my Ultimate Technique.
【…?】
As if to prove it, The Enemy reacted to our attack for the first time.
Until just a moment ago, Dam had tried to move forward even as The Hammer dug into its skull, but now it stopped its pace for the first time and turned its burning gaze toward me.
But it was already too late.
All my power was concentrated in The Hammer, and it was already in contact with The Enemy’s body.
So, all that was left…
Was to release my twisted joints and arms and swing through The Enemy.
“Pashaaaaaaa!”
Letting out a kiai unlike my usual self, I swung my arms, and before I knew it, I was positioned behind The Enemy.
Pop.
A refreshing sound echoed from behind.
The sound of The Enemy’s face rupturing after taking The Hammer to the face.
It wasn't a sword, but The Enemy’s head must have completely exploded for The Hammer to pass through it.
The sensation in my hands proved it as well.
The feeling of an enemy’s bones and flesh exploding, a sensation I had felt countless times.
It remained clearly in my hands.
However, I had an instinct that the battle wasn't over.
I used my will to forcibly stop my body, which was trying to keep moving, and quickly spun around to face The Enemy.
The being with its head gone, leaving only a jaw, came into view. Unfortunately, Iron Man’s sword had only embedded itself and failed to sever the opponent; sparks merely hissed from the cut, with no sign of it being lopped off.
But that wasn't a big problem.
Because a barrage of countless attacks followed immediately.
Like raindrops, like a meteor shower.
Magic and espers simply hammered down endlessly upon the Charred Corpse.
Had it weakened because its head was gone?
The magic shook The Enemy’s body, and Dam’s form, which still seemed to want to move forward as it reached an arm toward The Core, was slowly chipped away.
Even as holes were punched through it and it crumbled.
Dam moved forward, step by step.
Golden flames filled the wounds, but under the continuous magical bombardment, the Charred Corpse eventually had its knees destroyed, losing its feet and collapsing.
Only the jaw, the right arm, and the torso remained, crawling along the ground.
…It’s insanely tough.
Each of those spells was a technique that could change the evening news if it dropped in a city.
Yet The Enemy only scattered fine dust.
Its extremely hard body showed no sign of shattering completely.
Of course, because they were pouring down like rain, its feet were blown off and its arm was broken.
But it wasn't enough to finish The Enemy.
So, I gripped my hammer and took my stance again.
To end The Enemy.
Grit. Gri-grit.
The sound of flesh and bone twisting echoed inside my body once more.
Just as it reached its limit.
The magical bombardment subsided.
From a torrential downpour to a gentle sunshower.
As if they had anticipated what I was about to do.
What, Al’shel, Grix.
You guys are perfectly in sync.
With a smile, I lunged forward.
Everything around me shattered into pieces from the aftermath.
But compared to losing The Core, it wasn't a big deal.
I didn't even attempt to control it; I simply leaped toward the front.
The Charred Corpse approaching The Core.
To completely destroy it.
And so, the moment I reached the top of it.
My hammer, carrying all my strength, struck down from above.
Boom. Zap.
Due to the aftermath of the impact, the power dividing the space of the Demon Train was destroyed, and the void spreading endlessly beneath my feet revealed itself. Simultaneously:
Crunch.
Leaving behind a pathetic sound, almost too easily.
Dam’s body shattered into pieces.
And with that, the battle ended.
It was natural, in a way.
With our defeat.