As he gathered his breath, Nol took a detailed look at his attribute window after a long absence—
[Demon King[?] – Lv.105]
[HP: 100/100 [Permanently Locked] | MP: 100/100 [Permanently Locked]]
[Strength: 89,327 [-99.35%] | Agility: 42,361 [-99.35%] | Intelligence: 562,610 [+260%] | Physical Defense: 70,884 [-99.35%] | Magic Defense: 107,964 [-99.35%]]
[Status: Curse "Physical Destruction [Indissoluble]" permanently effective; "Staff of Sacrifice" is in effect; "Guardian Oath" skill is in effect; Transcendence of the Law[?]]
Nol took a loud, deep breath.
He finally made it through.
Aside from the intelligence that wasn't diminished by the curse, which was absurdly high, and his permanently locked health and mana, his other attributes were nearly identical to those of a prime young dragon—balancing strengths and weaknesses, his panel was on par with, if not superior to, the dragon leader Subelbot.
At the same time, he truly realized how merciful those three compatriots had been… even in their delirious and weakened state. If they had fought this battle with a full intent to kill, the chances of him and Teest winning were slim to none.
Nol sighed, leaning his head back against Teest's bare chest. The latter blinked and also brought up his own attribute window.
[Doom Knight[?] – Lv.105]
[HP: 6,890,051/6,890,051 | MP: 415,213/415,213]
[Strength: 92,215 [+30%] | Agility: 82,667 [+30%] | Intelligence: 18,816 [+30%] | Physical Defense: 185,643 [+30%] | Magic Defense: 80,546 [+30%]]
[Status: Curse "God's Forsaken [Indissoluble]" permanently effective; "Betrayal Overture" skill is in effect; Transcendence of the Law[?]]
Nol tensed up. "Your name…?"
"Gone, as you can see." Teest's arms wrapped around Nol's waist. "Congratulate me, honey. The system has marked me as a 'monster'. I'm completely yours now."
Nol's gaze lingered on the "?" provided by the system for a few seconds. Indeed, it offered no additional explanation. Previously, he thought the question mark in his "Dracolich[?]" title was due to his unique personal situation. Now Teest had become the same…
His fingertips brushed over the words "Transcendence of the Law" in the status bar.
Kando had said, the system is the absolute law of this world, and even the so-called gods must yield a bit. Now that they both had obtained professions not existing within the system, that inexplicable "god-like" pressure might be related to this status.
A pressure similar to that of the gods…
Thinking of this, Nol suddenly realized something. He quickly fiddled with the skill bar, finding that one skill that had never been activated—
[Breath of a False God: You possess the authority above all beings, invoking the innate fear of all species.]
It was somehow activated. The original note "Your power has not reached the standard. This skill is a weakened version adapted to you." had disappeared without a trace.
Nol: "..."
He tentatively used the skill, and sure enough, that peculiar pressure could be turned on and off.
"How did you do it?" Teest tightened his grip in surprise when he noticed Nol's pressure dissipated instantaneously.
"…It's a long story," Nol said dryly. "How about you? How do you control it?"
"Controlling technique is similar to controlling killing intent." Teest shrugged. "And my aura isn't as strong as yours."
Nol grunted twice, deciding to swallow back the words, "It seems we've turned into some sort of strange False Gods." After all, he didn't yet know what the system defined "False God" and "God" as.
He turned around, deciding to change the subject. "The [Breath of a False God] has leveled up. I just turned it off. What about you? Does the Doom Knight have any special moves?"
"It's rare for you to ask me." Teest took the opportunity to bite Nol's earlobe with considerable force. "I've retained all the Death Knight's skills. There's only one more… um, I don't know if it's magic—the system didn't explain at all."
Nol forgot to rub his ear, staring intently at Teest.
The latter stretched out his hand, and thick darkness oozed from his skin, climbing and entwining along his fingers. It emitted a rich scent of decay, and the temperature slowly dropped.
The Demon King's corruption.
…Wasn't it supposed to have disappeared?
"I'm as surprised as you are. Let's talk while getting dressed."
With one hand playing with the corruption and the other taking out two sets of new clothes—including the succubus costume and "Drake's" specific outfit—placing them on the sandy ground.
Nol nodded seriously, then casually made a gesture to remove the soundproof spell near the backpack. He fumbled in the bag for a bit, pulling out the candle, which was in perfect condition yet rolling its eyes.
"I'm blind." Seeing the two undressed, it sent a friendly greeting. "Fuck, I knew this day would come. Tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk."
"You can close your eyes. Just listen to what's next," Nol responded just as kindly.
Kando looked at them warily, its gaze as if looking at a pervert.
"I mean, the origin of this thing."
Nol helplessly pulled Teest's hand over, showing the corruption to Kando, whose eyes quickly squinted. Its tears crinkled into a ball, as if its eyes were stung by the stench of a foul-smelling toilet.
"I might as well listen," it said reluctantly.
Five minutes passed.
"Isn't that obvious?" Kando said with disdain.
Nol resisted the urge to pinch its tears. "How so?"
"From what you've described, the system has assimilated the authority of the Demon King. The system's power has strengthened, but the unique power traits of that Demon King have disappeared. It's like how pigs eat wheat, but what grows is pork, not wheat on their bodies."
Kando sneered coldly. "That Demon King's traits were very precious. Before reclaiming its authority, the system allowed that kid to steal a bit of the loop, as a way to keep a sample… The system has found a successor for the 'Power of Destruction'."
"Why me?" Teest raised an eyebrow. "Shouldn't the system prefer its own dear dad?"
"Because that one has already become a pig and planting it in the ground won't turn it into wheat." Kando glanced quickly at Nol.
A vein throbbed on Nol's forehead.
The black candle had been "soundproofed" for most of the night, and it clearly had a lot of grievances saved up, so its mouth was even fouler than before.
"You don't seem too surprised about these things." Facing a friendly party, Nol still chose to be tolerant. "Your erudition surprises me more and more."
Kando averted its gaze. "Can't help it. Who made it my mission to assist you?"
After saying this, it flicked its tears, quickly crawled back into the backpack, and even considerately pulled the drawstring closed. As soon as the topic deepened, it would slip away. This guy was really cautious in situations that might "breach the contract".
Nol watched the bulging backpack, both annoyed and amused.
…Although Kando spoke unpleasantly and obscurely, the ideas it provides are indeed very interesting. Nol couldn't really muster any hostility towards this creature that was like a foul-mouthed college roommate.
…He just hoped that the "mysterious existence" he was dealing with and the four eyeballs in the sky had nothing to do with each other.
Nol fastened the last button of his cloak and brushed off the fine white sand.
"Let's go, Teest." He hesitated for two seconds, but still bent down and kissed the top of the knight's hair. "It's time to meet up."
...
Not long ago, at a nearby elite group camp.
Eugene didn't see those four eyes.
When the anomaly appeared, the pressure was terrifyingly strong, comparable to the divine might projected by the Goddess of Life. Eugene, skilled in sacrifice, naturally knew how to handle it at this moment.
One absolutely couldn't look directly.
If such high-level beings bore no malice, one might barely keep their life after peering. But if they were unbridled, those who were rude could only expect a brutal death.
The moment the corruption disappeared, Eugene kneeled on one knee. He bowed deeply, kissing the ring that bore the holy symbol, praying devoutly to the Supreme Goddess of Life.
He was somewhat surprised by the outcome, but not shocked.
The mysterious origin of Drake aside, Painter was lured here from miles away—well-known, this rebellious former Pope who defected was most skilled in purification magic. Had Painter not defected in his prime, he would have been in charge of suppressing the Demon King's front.
The Goddess guided him here. This meant his destiny must have been arranged.
Near Eugene, Abandon and Solo dared not lift their heads.
They didn't understand the intricacies of the sacrifice, but the power that was cast down was strong, cold, and full of malice—if one carelessly looked at something dirty, they might get hit with some mysterious negative effect—"instant death" being a possibility.
Since arriving in Tahe, Abandon had never felt such a terrifying pressure. He was like a small animal when a ferocious beast passed by, only able to lie on the ground and play dead, pretending to be nonexistent.
Eugene consciously deployed a protective shield, covering the two Players crouching on the ground. He himself continued to pray with a composed expression.
Abandon glanced at Eugene from the corner of his eye.
It was hard for anyone to truly dislike Knight Eugene, who had never slackened in protecting the Players along the way, and his demeanor was never haughty. If this guy wasn't a zealot certified by the Temple, Abandon might almost feel a brotherly affection for him.
He tried to observe Eugene's armor—when the filthy moonlight on that armor disappeared, they could lift their heads again.
In the murky moonlight, the young and handsome knight murmured praise, his voice warm and soothing. It was like some kind of calming magic. As Abandon listened to it, his heartbeat calmed down involuntarily.
This thought lasted from dark until dawn.
As the dawn light shone, the evil moonlight, like miasma, was dispersed by the morning breeze. Without the Demon King's corruption, Brick Shadow recovered its usual appearance—cold in tone, dark in environment, yet possessing its own kind of withering beauty.
Lying in the mud all night, trembling, Abandon felt as if a road roller had run over his back; the pain almost made him want to scream. Noticing Abandon wriggling in the mud, Eugene ended his prayer, gracefully stood up, and extended his hand towards Abandon.
Abandon felt a sense of tragedy. God knows how Mr. Eugene managed to kneel and pray all night long. Weren't his legs numb?
Just as he was about to reach for that hand, the notification of [Demon King Subjugation] hit his head.
Abandon's hand froze, instinctively looking at Solo. Solo looked even more shocked than him. Eugene's gaze swept between the two, and a smile appeared on his face. "Another 'server-wide announcement', or a unified new quest?"
"No worries. You don't have to tell me. Stand up first."
Solo had been following Hermitage, and Abandon was a fringe member of the Saints Guild, so neither knew how to deal with the higher-ups of the Temple. They were at a loss for whether to speak or remain silent, which only made the awkward air freeze to the point of solidifying. Until—
"Why are there only a few of you left?" Anakin's voice came from not far away.
A group of five, not one less. They looked each weak in their own way, but fortunately, all were whole.
"Sister—!" Solo dashed forward. Anakin looked like she wanted to dodge, but in the end, she forcibly stayed in place, catching the family member who threw himself at her.
Abandon quickly glanced at Eugene, seeing that he didn't intend to speak, he stepped forward. "Uh, everyone suddenly stopped moving earlier, and Hot Ash… I mean, Mr. Hot Ash took the whole group out of Brick Shadow."
"We stayed here to meet up with you all. That's about it."
After saying that, he proudly pulled over the undead knight. "Look! It's still in good shape, no damage at all!"
"You've worked hard. I'll write it in the mission report." Anakin nodded.
Abandon clenched his fist, silently making a celebratory gesture. Was this the legendary victory by lying down? The process was thrilling enough… Speaking of the process…
He stole another glance at Eugene, hesitating to speak. "About that Demon King…"
He didn't receive team experience points. Presumably, it wasn't Anakin who had taken action, being a healer.
That left only the possibility of the Master of Paradise and his succubus, Fischer from Paradise, and that "Mr. Painter" whom he roughly guessed who it was but refused to think too deeply about.
All were NPCs from Tahe.
Judging by the numbers, was it Paradise that made the move? It seemed quite reasonable, given they were the first organization to issue a server-wide announcement to start a new main quest.
As soon as the keyword was mentioned, Eugene's gaze shot over like an arrow.
"If it were said to be the doing of This Villain, the mercenary business would be much better, wouldn't it?" Painter said cheerfully. He shifted slightly, blocking Eugene's line of sight. "How about Sir Eugene help to promote it?"
"Don't talk nonsense. If it were you, your oracle wouldn't be so simple." Facing the traitor, Eugene's voice suddenly turned icy.
"Why do you always bring up such disheartening matters?" Painter shook his head.
Eugene's gaze moved past him, once again looking at the remaining three. His eyes scanned the two Paradise members covered in cloaks, finally settling on "Drake".
"…Perhaps it was a certain hero who inherited dragon's blood, fulfilling the legacy of their ancestors," he implied meaningfully.
Nol faced Eugene's scrutiny head-on—having formally ascended to Demon King, his attributes could easily overpower Eugene. It's said that "all fear comes from insufficient firepower". His confidence now needed no pretense.
"I've only preliminarily fulfilled my ancestor's wish, not yet their legacy." Nol spoke the truth, emphasizing each word. "After all, new enemies have emerged. I believe you know."
Eugene smiled faintly. It was hard to tell if he believed or not.
"I see." He casually changed the subject. "Speaking of which, Paradise is stronger than I imagined."
The two cloaked figures, tall and short, had never revealed their true faces in front of him. Without the Players' immortality privilege, their ability to survive the Demon King battle spoke of their strength.
"Thank you for your acknowledgment, all for my Lord."
Fischer stepped forward, taking the initiative to bow to Eugene, deliberately revealing a bit of siren fine scales on the back of his hand.
The High Priest's speech lacked the wavering sorrow and confusion of before, sounding effortless. His acting had returned to how Nol first met him.
"Now that everyone has safely returned, we too are relieved." Eugene stopped there, stepping back twice. "What plans do you have next?"
Anakin sensed the tension in the air and quickly stepped forward. "Haha, now that the corruption is gone, we need to complete the quest."
"I understand. Then please allow me to go back alone." Eugene smiled.
...
At the quest's end.
"Eugene is quite polite, knowing his presence makes everyone uncomfortable." Abandon gazed at the glittering sea surface.
The sun had fully risen, and the sky was bright and clear. The blue water churned like silk satin, desolate yet beautiful. Abandon almost forgot about the dark red, filthy environment.
Painter glanced at Abandon, showing a look of pity as if listening to a child's babble. He sighed quietly, saying nothing.
The undead knight slowly walked to the seaside. The foamy sea water covered his metal boots. He still carried that comical umbrella, casting a long shadow.
The quest was about to be completed. As long as it sank into the endless sea, everything would end.
"Wait." Nol suddenly spoke up.
The undead knight turned around stiffly.
Nol pulled out Kando, immediately creating a rift. His figure disappeared for a moment, and when he reappeared, he had a small ghost by his side.
The ghost appeared very weak, looking like a boy under ten years old. On his semi-transparent head, he wore an oversized crown.
The blue fire in the knight's eyes shook violently and became much more powerful.
After death, everything would only fade slowly.
Knowing the past of these brothers, Nol made a special trip back to the War King's dungeon the night before they set off. Using most of his knowledge about undead monsters, he successfully turned the dead giant monster into a ghost.
Similar to the knight's situation, during the two hundred years of struggle, the War King also lost most of his sanity. His memories were fragmented, with only a tiny, fragile part of his humanity remaining, able to appear only in such a form.
The thin ghost looked up at the knight. After a brief moment of confusion, it smiled, letting go of Nol's hand—it directly floated towards the knight, flying onto the knight's shoulder.
It happily sat there, taking the somewhat miniature umbrella from the knight's hand, shielding against the brilliant sunlight.
The knight turned solemnly, giving Nol an awkward knightly salute. The ghost's face peeked out from under the umbrella, looking towards the blazing sun.
A few seconds later, it smiled and hugged the knight's skull. The knight took steady steps, slowly walking towards the depths of the Endless Sea.
The sea gradually swallowed the crimson cloak. It floated on the water surface, first like a bloodstain, then sinking deeper and deeper. In the end, the ghost's small hand emerged from the sea surface, waving at them.
Sunlight cast fragmented gold on the sea surface.
[You've done this too.] Teest poked Nol mentally.
[Being alone isn't pleasant. They should rest together.] Nol looked towards the calm and vast sea—recently, it had also swallowed his three compatriots.
"It will take some time before the knight is completely sunk." Painter coughed twice. "Just waiting is not ideal. I have something to say."
"Please." Nol anticipated this—they had only paid Painter for the [Ancient Knight's Last Wish], and incidentally defeated a Demon King; the former Pope probably wanted to renegotiate the payment.
It seemed quite reasonable, Nol was just waiting for the other party to name his price.
Unexpectedly, when Painter spoke again, it was a completely different matter.
"By now, Eugene has definitely reported the situation." He frowned and shook his finger. "The Temple of Life will surely search extensively for the 'heroic team'."
"Have you all thought about how to conceal your identities?"
The author has something to say:
Here we go!!! Starting a new arc, focusing on the gods! (???