Chapter 205
Chapter 205
“Sss, what now?”
Even now, he could feel that tingling sensation near his heart.The “Death Suspension” effect placed upon him was still active—he could feel it all too clearly.
And with the status window’s verification to confirm it, he couldn’t ignore the fact even if he wanted to:his life was hanging by a thread.
“…I can’t receive Saintess Rene’s blessing here either.”
Without the only antidote capable of neutralizing the Calamity’s poison, he was practically a dead man walking.
“Tsk. Still, I can’t just sit here waiting to die.”
Even when the sky collapses, there’s always a crack to slip through.
This was the area that, in the third phase, inevitably forced one of his allies into death—but it was also where the Calamity of Death’s fourth phase began.
If I can clear the third phase quickly, and just hold out long enough, maybe I can survive long enough to be cured.
And with the Nameless King, a Grand Archmage, fighting on the outside,this wasn’t a completely hopeless gamble.
“The problem is… me.”
Knowing exactly what kind of gimmicks this place held made his jaw clench hard.It wasn’t just the poison that threatened his life here.
If that were all, a companion with higher health and magic resistance wouldn’t have died here before him.
“…Looks like it’s starting.”
As dizziness clouded his vision, he bit his lip hard.
“I hereby pronounce your immediate execution, Frost Mane.”
And there she was, appearing before him as his sight refocused—his beloved, his ultimate favorite—Luciana.
She held her sword high, the tip pressed against his throat.
“…Hell, this hallucination feels way too real.”
He could feel the cold kiss of steel against his neck.The chill sent shivers crawling up his spine.
As befitted the Calamity of Death’s name,the monster drove its victim to their death by crushing them mentally.
The instant of death itself became a hallucination.
“Sadistic bastard. Who even plans a death like this?”
From the looks of it, this illusion replayed the moment when he—as Frost Mane—was discovered and slain by Luciana.
“Any last words?”
“…Heh. Sorry, but I’m not ready to die yet. I’ve still got work to do.”
Though he knew it was just an illusion, he smiled gently at the phantom Luciana—her beautiful white hair and pale blue eyes rendered with unnerving precision.
I haven’t even managed to save you completely yet. How could I die now?
There were still too many walls left to climb for her sake.
That cursed engagement with the half-blind bastard wasn’t fully annulled yet,and even after dealing with this Calamity, three more remained to destroy the world.
Could Luciana bear all that alone?
…No. Of course not.
Even in the original story, her ending was tragedy—gradually isolated politically, stripped of her position as Student Council President,and dying alone on her way home.
I refuse to see that happen again.He would cling to her side with every ounce of strength he had, ensuring such a future would never come to pass.
“Don’t worry. I’ll eliminate every last thing that dares threaten you.”
A declaration of war—not only against the Crown Prince, but against every Calamity that would ruin the world she lived in.
“…Nonsense. Enough talk. I’ll hear no more excuses from a criminal. Die.”
As if mocking his conviction, the hallucinated Luciana swung her sword without hesitation.
Shhk—
He could feel the cold edge slicing through his throat.The vile sensation made his entire body tremble.
“Ggh—cough!”
…Was his head still attached?
The sensation was so vivid he instinctively reached up to touch beneath his jaw.
Thankfully—or terrifyingly—it was just an illusion.His neck was perfectly intact.
I have to go through this… several more times?
Before he could even recover from the shock, another vision crashed down.
“How dare a mere insect interfere with my meal? You’ve got quite the nerve.”
This time, another familiar face appeared.
Blond hair. Red eyes.A hallucination of Batory.
If not for the bloodlust gleaming from her fangs, she might almost have looked adorable.
“Well then. It’s a shame I couldn’t taste the blood of the Great Warrior’s descendant,but you look strong enough. I’m sure you’ll taste just fine.”
“…You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Bound by magic, he was drained to death through his neck within moments.
No time to even check for punctures—the next hallucination began immediately.
“…That’s what happens when you oppose the noble faction. You won’t be hearing this now, of course.”“I dissected one of the vampire kind, but the results were disappointing. The specimen died too soon.”“I’ll make sure you pay dearly for trying to seduce my daughter.”
One death after another.Each vision replayed the fates of those who had once turned against him—people who had become his enemies down diverging paths.
The illusions showed no end,as if determined to grind him down to the brink of madness.
“Hans!”
Seeing that the man who had been right beside her had suddenly vanished,Camilla spun around in panic.
Nothing.
He wasn’t beside Mira, who had been leading the charge.Nor near Lady Frontal, who was bombarding from afar.Even Saintess Rene and the elf, who were only now catching up—none of them saw him.
There was no trace of Hans Byron anywhere.
Hah… to think it would take him instead of me.“What happened?! Where’s Hans?!”
Can’t you see? The plan’s been thrown off completely.
They’d expected the Nameless King, as the greatest threat, to be taken instead—
“Ha-ha! That arrogant fool will now pay for mocking death itself!No mortal can escape fate! The ultimate death shall consume him!”
To think a few taunting words could provoke that monster into unleashing its most dreadful art…
The Nameless King grimaced.He remembered it well—the Ultimate Death.
Hans Byron’s analysis had been correct, even if his wording was eccentric.And he, the King, knew all too well that it was no exaggeration.
Because I’ve experienced it myself.
Beheading.Burning at the stake.Drowning.Aging to death.
Every conceivable human death.
Trapped within the Calamity’s domain, he’d been forced to experience them all.
Illusions, yes—but the agony had been very real.
And that wasn’t even the worst part.
What truly tormented him came afterward.
He could still remember it vividly—
“My lord, please—help!”“Father!”“Your Majesty, we must flee at once!”
Wife.Children.Mentor.Friends.Loyal retainers.
All dying miserably before his eyes.
Their voices, their warmth—so real that “illusion” didn’t even seem an adequate word.
Perhaps the Calamity’s choice this time had been correct after all.
“Hans will die? Then what about our engagement…?”“W-what do we do? He’s the only one who knows the Phase 3 patterns!”“That can’t be… I still haven’t told him what I wanted to say since he became Duke.”“Our journey isn’t finished… I didn’t even get to thank him properly…”
Hans Byron—their anchor, their strategist, the one who steadied the entire group—his sudden disappearance threw everyone into disarray.
“Do not worry. Soon, you will all join him.”
The Calamity’s bony hand crackled with black mana—a spell that, even at a glance, radiated overwhelming power.
A wide-area annihilation spell, then.
Normally, the mana and time required would make such a spell useless in combat.But the Calamity, with its near-limitless mana, could cast it effortlessly.
And those people—too stunned to react—won’t even have time to dodge.
The Nameless King stepped forward.
Calamity… you may have been sealed, but your power remains trapped in the past.
The mana drawn from his skeletal hand spread outward,taking the form of a vast protective dome enveloping all his allies.
The essence of a shield lies in precision.
Too little mana, and the barrier would shatter.Too much, and the backlash would trap or even harm allies.
He had to gauge the opposing spell’s level perfectly, adjusting his output.
Clang!
The two spells collided—canceling each other out in a blinding flash.
The Calamity’s empty sockets widened in disbelief.“Impossible!”
Did you think I sat idle in the realm between life and death?
No—after being cast into that limbo, he had trained harder than ever before,driven by a single purpose:
to end this curse,to face the Calamity again,and to win.
I may not yet have reached the realm of the Calamities… but this will suffice.
Unlike before, he wasn’t alone now.
At his side were powerful, chosen heroes gathered by his proxy.And among them—the Calamity’s natural nemesis, the Saintess herself.
Listen, all of you!
He hadn’t known them long,but one thing he was sure of—
The proxy still lives! But the longer we delay defeating this Calamity, the slimmer his chances become!
As his words rang out, determination rekindled in their eyes.
“Then…”
Yes. The only way to save him now is to slay this Calamity.
…Whether Hans could endure inside depended solely on his own strength.
So move! Even now, with every passing second, he’s dying! Your fight determines his life!
His tattered, mummified wrappings fluttered as the skeletal King advanced once more.
Calamity… this time, I’ll put an end to our wretched fate.“Arrogant mortal king! You defied death once—you dare again?!”
Nonsense. I should have returned to the sands long ago.
Centuries—far too long for any human.
His wife, children, and friends were long gone,leaving him to suffer endless solitude.
No one could ever understand that pain.
And so, it wasn’t defiance of death that drove him—but acceptance.
But I’ll be damned if I let you end me.
The being that had scorched his kingdom and slaughtered his people—the source of all his hatred—stood right before him.
I’ll destroy you… and claim my true death.
Just as Hans Byron had said—what better way to end his life than with the greatest triumph imaginable?
With that conviction, the Grand Mage—blessed by the Saintess—began his chant,and the words echoed from his jawbone.
At the same time—
“…Gghk! Impossible…!”
Well? This is the culmination of centuries of refinement—a spell crafted solely to strike down you and you alone.
A massive hole tore through the Calamity’s chest—right where its heart of death-miasma pulsed.
You shouldn’t have wasted your power on that young man.
The King who had honed his vengeance for centuries gave his spell a name:
Imaginal Barrier — Shared Death.
As his own form began to fade,he looked upon the mortally wounded Calamity with grim satisfaction.
The King’s jawbone clattered in joy.