[No title provided]
Because I'm a world boss, Kim Dae-gon bellowed, his face streaked with tears and bruises.
"You think you'll get away with this?!"
The girl dragged over the battle-incapacitated people and tossed them into the massive crater like trash bags. A pit formed by the impact of Apocalypse Meteor. Not a single one among them was unscathed—bones broken everywhere.
"How dare you touch the Government Alliance! If they find out...!"
"Find out what?"
The girl replied coldly. Kim Dae-gon clamped his mouth shut, cowed by her presence.
"That they'll kill me or something?"
Kim Dae-gon's face twisted at the girl's mocking tone. He was usually brimming with pride, his nose held high to the heavens. But for some reason, in front of this girl, he kept shrinking back. As if against his will, like some instinct compelling him. That fact infuriated him more than anything.
No, fuck this. Do I really have to cower before some punk kid?
She messed with us in the end. She's doomed to die at the Government Alliance's hands someday. No reason to lose my nerve to a corpse-to-be.
...Even in death, I won't bend my pride.
"No one can fight thousands of players and win. You'll be torn to shreds!"
Moreover, he'd been utterly crushed in this battle, confirming it: this monstrous girl was the culprit behind the string of disappearances.
At this rate, the Government Alliance could probably seize control of Korea within a month, at the earliest.
That was the punk's lifespan. And then, this damn bastard right in front of him would die too.
"...You really think so?"
The girl asked. Again with that! Always this cryptic tone. Meaningful bullshit. He was sick of even having to think up a response.
If you're gonna end it, just fucking end it already.
"Or what, you fuck?"
"I'll kill them."
"Huh?"
"The Government Alliance. If they touch my guildmates, I'll kill them all."
Kim Dae-gon blinked for a moment, then sneered, twisting his lips.
"Ha, you retard. What's that udon strainer on your head, decoration? How the hell do you take on the Government Alliance?"
"I can."
"What, you gonna drag out a world boss or something? You think thousands of players are a joke?"
Kim Dae-gon let out a mocking laugh, then grimaced in pain, clutching his abdomen.
The girl nodded slightly.
"Mm. Half right."
"What?"
One of Kim Dae-gon's eyebrows shot up in confusion.
The girl took a step back.
"But I don't need to drag one out."
In that brief instant, a flash of light swept over her, transforming her entirely. The doll mask vanished without a trace, and silver-white hair cascaded down like rippling waves. The white sleeveless dress, streaked with blood-red patterns, emanated a serene glow.
"Wha...?"
Kim Dae-gon's face hardened. His comrades were the same.
An all-too-familiar existence. A nightmare they never wanted to face.
The End of Life, Sertina, looked down upon them with disdain and spoke.
"Because I'm the world boss."
They could only gape like stunned goldfish, their faces drained of color.
Sertina said,
"If the Government Alliance wants to challenge me... let them. As many thousands as they want. I'll crush them all."
It was a declaration. An absolute decree backed by irresistible force.
Despair settled over their defeated faces. Kim Dae-gon glared with terrified eyes, grinding his teeth.
He clung to his pride to the end and shouted,
"Even a world boss can't handle thousands of players!"
Sertina crossed her arms. Her icy gaze pierced Kim Dae-gon like it would freeze his heart solid.
He had a point, sure. In the game, a thousand top players could take down a world boss.
But that didn't apply to Sertina in reality.
"Yeah. I've already roughly gauged Korea's military strength."
"Wh-what?!"
"I've fought tons of players so far, accumulating combat data. Their fighting styles, techniques, skills and specialties by class."
An earthquake shook Kim Dae-gon's pupils. Ferocity faded from his face, replaced by creeping terror.
"Why do you think I bothered wasting time on you guys?"
Sertina was evolving continuously. Even as an overwhelmingly powerful world boss, she meticulously observed and analyzed this Earth.
Preparing for any potential variables based on precise intel. Astonishingly cautious. Never relying solely on brute force.
Chills raced up Kim Dae-gon's spine.
This is on another level from other world bosses!
Hope plummeted into the abyss in an instant.
Sertina's profound eyes scattered bloodthirsty murder.
"At least Korea's forces can't stop me."
She wasn't some puppet strung along by the game's system. Upon descending to this land, she'd been reborn far stronger.
The moment he realized that, helplessness and futility crushed his mind.
"Wh-what kind of monster...?"
In that instant, an immense aura erupted around the enraged Sertina. The landscape tinted blood-red and darkened.
Darkness. Only Sertina's blazing eyes glowed in the void, radiating intent to rend life apart.
"I'll show you... true despair."
As she declared and extended her hand—
Rumble...!
A colossal pressure slammed down like a hydraulic press, crushing Kim Dae-gon and his comrades.
"Gaaahhh!"
Screams and wails mingled as limbs twisted. Agony like blood turning to thorns in their veins, corroding organs.
In that excruciating torment, Kim Dae-gon realized how fragile he was. A worthless insect.
No tears came. Breath seized by the transcendent, awe-inspiring power. Even as vision darkened and eyes closed.
He couldn't tear his gaze from Sertina, the End of Life.
The overwhelming pressure hit like a storm, freezing Yoo Tae-han in place, trembling uncontrollably. It had nothing to do with his will. He knew she wouldn't attack him. Knew she'd protected him.
Yet his terror-stuffed heart pounded like it would burst from his chest. As if facing some higher-dimensional predator beyond mere predator-prey.
What the hell did I just see...?
Death.
Yoo Tae-han could only describe the scene that way. An aura that could shatter the heavens crushed the area, and in a moment, it was over. No survivors.
Even from afar, the horrific killing intent pierced skin to marrow.
She hadn't been that strong when she saved him, right? Or was even that not her full power?
Ah, I get it.
Yoo Tae-han realized. Sertina hadn't held back because facing all of Korea was too much.
She