The fight between us had begun—but compared to what came next, the entire Mill was just child's play. The real nightmare was the boss Shukya.
A grotesque hybrid of human and dragon, Shukya towered before Ron. Ron unleashed the Blade of Vengeance (in Fire Mode). At first, Ron was winning—slicing him apart, scorching his flesh—but his ability The Infinite Adaptability kicked in.
The Blade of Vengeance could copy any sword skill, any elemental type—fire, ice, lightning. Ron slashed at him again and again, but the monster just kept regenerating.
Shukya soon pushed Ron back. His double-bladed sword clashed with mine, and just as he was about to land a blow—
Slash!
A red-colored strike came out of nowhere. It was DA.
He didn't say a word—just stood there like nothing happened. But his attack had split Shukya in half.
Shukya let out a monstrous scream. His body turned full crimson and began to expand. He doubled in size. DA turned towards Ron
DA and Ron exchanged looks.
Ron activated lightning mode, his body now glowing in intense blue energy. His speed, he was already very fast, but now it felt like he had become lightning itself.
Ron charged, unleashing countless slashes. But Shukya adapted to all of it. He punched Ron, Ron dodged, but another punch came out of nowhere and he sent Ron flying.
Ron was exhausted—we had been fighting for nearly six hours. Fire, water, lightning—he adapted to it all.
DA said, very calmly.
"Ron! His core! It's in the heart! I'll distract him. Give everything you have in one strike!"
DA launched a barrage of sword slashes, but Shukya had already adapted after the first one. Still, DA's strikes were fast and unpredictable, confusing Shukya.
Then DA did the impossible—he started fighting Shukya barehanded, dodging and trading blows. Despite being smaller, he overpowered Shukya. Somehow, DA was interrupting his adaptability by outsmarting him in microseconds—forcing Shukya to constantly switch tactics and leaving him vulnerable.
Ron whispered,
"Unbelievable… DA, you're a genius."
He yelled back,
"What are you waiting for?! Charge your final attack!"
Seeing an opening, Ron unleashed all his lightning energy, charged at Shukya, and stabbed the Blade of Vengeance deep into his core.
His body exploded.
Blood was everywhere.
A few text windows followed.
[You have obtained a new ability: Infinite Adaptability]
[You have obtained a new Fable: "—"] (blurred)
[The Ancient Mill is about to explode]
Ron grabbed DA and both teleported outside just before the entire Mill erupted into a massive explosion—visible from nearly every corner of the region. Ron also took Lia and Carter.
Nearby, Lia was already recovering—but Carter was still unconscious. Ron teleported both of them further away from the destruction.
Lia trembled.
"Because of me… he got hurt. He was protecting me… and now—"
Ron tried to calm her down. DA joined him, and together, they reassured her. Soon, others arrived and took Carter and Lia to the hospital.
Then Ron heard it—
"Hey, Ron."
Ron turned around. It was DA again.
"Congrats on the new ability… and the Fable."
Ron's narrowed my eyes.
Only I was supposed to see those messages.
"Don't worry. I didn't read them. But I knew you'd get one of his powers and his fable. And… I noticed something else. You can't use any of your abilities except teleportation." DA said.
"How did you figure that out?"
"Before we entered the final floor, I used my ability—Character Stats—on you. Most of your private attributes were censored. Only teleportation and two others were visible. What a waste… Infinite Adaptability, and you can't even use it."
He turned to leave but paused.
"One more thing. One of your hidden abilities is called 'The Copy.' With it, you can copy any technique, power—almost everything. And unlike the Blade of Vengeance, those copied abilities become yours, permanently."
"But my sword can copy abilities too…" Ron replied.
"Yes, but only while you're wielding it. The Copy is yours to use anytime, anywhere, as long as you want." He replied.
He smiled slightly.
"For now, master the full control Blade of Vengeance."
Then, in the blink of an eye—
he vanished.
Why would I listen to you, Ron thought.