A Champion's Fate


"Look alive, you two! We're close," rumbled an ancient, gravel-deep voice through the winding caverns. Blunt, the voice's owner, ducked beneath yet another jagged stalactite, muttering his umpteenth curse.

The cave system was far too tight for someone of his kind—even with [Reduce] nearly halving his size. The spell shrank him well enough, but not without cost: his strength and speed ebbed with every step while the enchantment remained active. That damned Emperor had better be right about this… How deep in the earth by this point? A few kilometers?

Thick, dark blue-gray skin etched with lines of veins, long wavy white locks, and a full white beard painted the image of an ancient and powerful Storm Giant. It was one of the strongest demihuman races—if not the strongest, in his opinion—to exist in Yggdrasil. Born into wealth back in the Old World, the concept of power had been drilled into his head from day one, so it was only natural that he chose such a race.

In keeping with that theme, Blunt wore near-indestructible black scale armor made from materials taken directly from the infamous World-class Enemy, the Devourer of the Nine Worlds himself. His weapon was also among the very best—a World Champion weapon granted by its namesake job class. Additionally, several more Divine-class items were equipped throughout his avatar, made real.

"How do you know? I can barely see anything except your ugly backside," the Loxodon remarked—a demihuman race that resembled bipedal elephants. He too wore black scale armor, but not of the Devourer. A black mask with a long veil covered his entire head, and when one looked at it, they would see the specter of a sadistic smile. "This better not be a complete waste of time, or I'm killing everyone in that city for leading us here."

"Now, now, let's not commit any mass murder while we're still new to this world," the mana Troll admonished, the third and final member of their party. He wore an intricate grey and silver robe. A golden wreath adorned his head, while a necklace with a lifelike stone heart hung around his neck. "I won't buff you if you keep being an ass, Nob."

No Bless "Nob" scoffed, not believing his teammate, "Shut up, Brick. You don't have the balls to do something like that, or you'll make the boss mad."

Bricked Wall, or simply Brick, sighed and remained silent.

Their time in the Beastmen Confederation had them on edge. Though they were demi-humans, many of the natives stared with distrust when they arrived in the capital city of Ookgaran. How they arrived in this world wasn't certain; they only came once the servers for Yggdrasil had shut down.

It had been a few months by now, taking up odd jobs here and there to support themselves. The gold they had on them was only worth something because of its weight, and the first merchant they met almost threw the gold back in their face when they tried to buy food.

They built a name for themselves as vagabonds, taking on any task regardless of the danger. Not that there was much danger anyways. Almost everything Blunt and his friends came across was laughably weak, to the point of being guaranteed one-shots. It would be sad if it wasn't so amusing.

Eventually, the ruler of the Confederation himself heard whispers on the wind of their arrival. The Emperor had been occupied with a war with his neighbors, so he never bothered to reach out before then. Something changed, as before long, the three were reluctantly kneeling before the opulent throne of a Dog-man, Emperor Oka'Nun III.

Prove to me your worth as warriors, the Emperor challenged cautiously, watching them with narrowed eyes. A pesky dragon has been sighted near the caves several kilometers west of here. If you are truly as strong as you claim, then killing it should be no problem.

Blunt snarled at the memory, but he knew they needed a permanent base of operations to hunker down. They did not have a guild base anymore. Thunder Applause, his former guild, did not transfer over. An inkling of why was currently resting in his inventory. One final prize from Yggdrasil that was his and his alone.

The Emperor would soon learn to fear them—assuming they let him live that long. But that wasn't his concern right now. He had more urgent matters to deal with.

Half a minute later, the group entered an expansive cavern that spanned as far as the eye could see. Stalactites ominously hung downwards, ready to impale whatever unfortunate soul might knock them loose. Multiple lava falls from the ceiling pooled into lakes, surrounded by stalagmites like jagged teeth.

The dim lighting and oppressive heat made the air murky, as what little moisture existed instantly evaporated into steam. The rocky floor had been worn smooth over years, if not decades, by some lumbering, slithering mass that defied comprehension.

However, there were signs that something had lived in the cavern recently. Small formations of rocks had been intentionally melted and molded into specific shapes resembling furniture. A slab of obsidian had been meticulously carved to resemble a bed, though glass shards replaced the bedding, and burnt fur made up the pillows.

Several daises held an assortment of alien artifacts, ranging from idols of worship to what appeared to be toys. At the base of each dais was precious metals and gems strewn carelessly about, with only a single diamond accompanying each artifact. On one particular dais was a portrait of a veiled woman, her features obscured by the mourning fabric.

"Brick, return my size and start buffing. That pathetic emperor told us a powerful dragon lived here, so let's start preparations," Blunt ordered his friend as Nob began scouting their immediate area.

"You got it, boss. [Delay Teleportation], [Earth Master], [False Data: Life], [Greater Resistance], [Draconic Power], [Dragonbane], [Greater Luck]…" Brick began casting spell after spell on Blunt, greatly enhancing his overall combat ability. His size also returned to normal—nine feet tall, towering over his friends.

Meanwhile, Nob carefully prodded every nearby item with a long stick from his Item Box, designed specifically to trigger traps and effects. After a while, he began spellcasting as well: "[Arcane Vision], [Detect Life], [Detect Magic], [Detect Poison], [Sense Enemy], [Sensor Boost]."

Several items pinged as magical, though they revealed no obvious traps—for now. Nob continued to take measured steps, focusing on prodding the magical items. Nothing jumped at him, nor did any alarms trigger, but that only made him more paranoid as years of gaming experience took over.

"There's no way a boss arena-looking room like this is safe and unguarded," Nob muttered to himself as he prodded the portrait of the woman. He startled when Brick shouted his name as he quickly turned around, his trusty scythe instantly in his hands.

"Nob, get over here so I can buff you too, you ass," Brick said, gesturing him over.

"You're the stupid-ass, Brick! Why are you screaming and alerting everyone and everything in here?" Nob retorted, one hand still gripping Dark Harvester as he walked over. "If you bring an army down on us, I'm gonna fill your brain with poison."

"You already do that every time you open your mouth," the Troll replied as he began buffing the Loxodon.

Blunt was fully buffed and ready. With his World Champion glaive, Approaching Storm, in hand, he began moving deeper into the cavern while his friends made their preparations. Each step he took seemed to echo throughout the area, amplifying its eeriness.

After some time, Brick and Nob gave him the signal to start, their preparations complete. Blunt grinned and inhaled deeply, before releasing it all at once, "[Rage], [Frenzied Roar]... LIZARD!"

The sound traveled far, as it echoed everywhere. Seconds passed and it quieted down. Yet, the air was different, something had happened.

A stalactite fell from the ceiling, sending all three of them into combat mode. The landing was loud as it shattered into a hundred pieces, each passing second absorbed by the nearby Players. Silence returned, and just when Blunt thought that was it, everything began to quiver and shake—something was coming!

Strong winds blew from the far side of the cavern, yet somehow, it disturbed none of the items on display. A deep growling began as they heard movement from afar.

"I hear you…" The voice rumbled, thick and suffocating, like the earth itself was speaking. "I see you, mortals… trespassing in the sacred silence of my lair. You awaken me from years of slumber... and for what? BAH! Speak, if you value your pitiful lives!"

What would normally frighten the inhabitants of this world, the three Players merely smirked at each other as Blunt took a bold step forward, slamming the butt of his glaive into the ground, cracking it. Meanwhile, Brick and Nob took their usual positions behind him. All three began to treat it as they would anything in Yggdrasil—with utmost confidence.

"Pitiful, you say? Bold of you to say that, because the only pitiful thing I see is you, you overgrown lizard. You will die here and now, and we will take every scrap of worth from this place. Then, we will harvest every drop of blood, every bone, and every piece of tissue in your body to help us kill even more dragons," Blunt grinned as his booming words had their effect. The dragon was moving closer. That portrait... time to provoke it further.

"I like the woman in your portrait. I will be taking it, and who knows? Maybe I'll find her and—INCOMING!" A blinding light flashed as all three of them instantly scattered, a beam of light piercing through the cavern. It was over five meters in diameter.

Suddenly, the beam's trajectory shifted, angling toward Blunt. He immediately cast [Wind Glide] from his Storm Giant repertoire, leaping over to evade the incoming beam.

It burned and carved through the wall behind them, smoke rising as the earth itself glowed red. Blunt bellowed another order, "Formation D, now!"

Since the beam only traveled in a straight line, the optimal strategy was to position themselves perpendicular to its source.

"Nob, your traps ready? Brick, your wards good?"

"Ready, boss!"

"All good, boss!"

"Perfect. Let's fucking kill this dragon."

"[Fly]," Nob cast, soaring in erratic patterns above to make it even more difficult for their enemy to hit him.

The tremors grew violent, shaking dust from the cavern ceiling as the monstrous silhouette surged closer. What emerged was no ordinary dragon—it was a serpentine nightmare clad in gleaming golden plates, its body stretching endlessly into the dark.

Hundreds of spiked, centipede-like legs churned along its sides, each thunderous step fracturing the stone beneath. Near its massive, angular head, five pairs of clawed arms writhed and flexed, as though eager to tear through flesh and steel. The beast was no mere dragon—it was a living cataclysm, forged to crush hope itself.

Atop its monstrous head, a dozen eyes glowed with dark, malevolent intensity, each one locking onto the intruders with predatory precision. They didn't merely see—they pierced, scanning every inch of their bodies, their gear, their souls.

From its upper jaws, eight long, jagged fangs jutted outward like the mandibles of some infernal insect, twitching ever so slightly as if tasting the air. The creature exuded not just power, but purpose—ancient and unrelenting.

"Wha… What the fuck?!" Nob whined, blowing his trunk in frustration. "That's not a dragon—that's a big-ass centipede!"

Their enemy charged but came to an abrupt halt as it struck an invisible wall. A golden barrier revealed itself between the Players and the dragon, cracking from the impact and now barely holding together.

"[Dome of Dragon's End]!" Brick yelled, as a blue, transparent dome materialized throughout the cavern.

"You dare... you dare insult my family... you dare fight me? I will tear you all to pieces—body and soul! BAH!" the dragon roared, its entire body glowing with a prism of colors. "Pray... pray to your makers, for you will never meet them! [WORLD-ANCHORING FIELD]!"

The centipede-like dragon conjured an invisible dome of its own, then slammed its glowing head against the barrier again, shattering it in a single blow. Without missing a beat, it lunged straight for Bricked Wall.

"[Drifting Master Mine]", Nob activated his trap, hindering the enemy. The spell nudged its aim slightly off target, giving Brick just enough space to sidestep as the dragon rushed past him.

Feeling ignored, Blunt leapt atop the dragon and began cleaving through its armored exterior. His glaive became a whirlwind of destruction, slowly tearing chunks from its plated armor.

Nob activated two traps—[Greater Magic Mine - Black Embrace] and [Greater Magic Mine - Blessing of the Rotting God]—unleashing swirling black and crimson mists that engulfed the dragon's head.

"[Spirit Call - Guardian: Hrungnir], [Ancestral Blessing], [Dimensional Slash]!" Blunt activated his skills, summoning the spirit of a warrior giant and the blessings of his ancestors to bolster his strength. Finally, he unleashed the devastating move every weapon saint unlocks, [Dimensional Slash], slicing through the dragon's armor like a hot knife through butter.

Dragon ichor splattered around him as their enemy roared in pain and turned to headbutt him with its still-glowing head. Blunt lined up his glaive, preparing to pierce its skull with another skill: "[Spectral Strike]!"

"[Greater Magic Shield]!" Brick shouted, conjuring a one-off shield that nullified the damage from the dragon's attack, but it couldn't prevent the knockback. Blunt was sent sprawling backward off the dragon.

The dragon reared its head in pain as the giant's attack drilled a hole in the center of its face, just above its mouth, spraying blood.

"Keep going, my dome is effective! That thing IS a dragon!" Brick informed them as he began casting another spell. "[Titan Chains]."

Thick, glowing chains snaked from his hands, wrapping around the dragon and impeding its movements. Their enemy began to glow once more, even brighter than before.

"[Detect Undead], [Withering Malediction]," Nob cast, unleashing a spell that delivered several severe debuffs on the area, further weakening it. His friends had already covered their ears, anticipating the signal and sparing themselves from its effects. "My [Black Embrace] didn't work, yet [Blessing of the Rotting God] did! I just checked, it's an undead dragon!"

[Blessing of the Rotting God] was one of the most effective toxic spells in Nob's arsenal that worked against all things. Not only did it weaken and slowly kill its targets, but it also lowered their resistances across the board. It even gave their immunities a 25% chance of failure for each attack they received, creating openings where there were none.

However, the spell consumed a significant chunk of his remaining MP, but it was well worth the cost.

"Die, dragon!" Blunt leap-dashed toward the dragon's head, aiming for the same spot to worsen the damage. "[Spectral Str—]!"

"[PRIMAL DESTRUCTION]."

The Storm Giant was cut off as the dragon unleashed a massive explosion directly from its body. All three of them were thrown back, the force sending them flying and dealing terrible damage to each of them.

The dragon's body dimmed as smoke vented between its plates, and the chains wrapped around it faded. It then closed its wounds with magic, slithering around to center itself once more, regaining its balance.

"I am... I am the Deep Darkness Dragon Lord," it began to monologue. "You lowly whelps stand no chance against a True Dragon Lord such as I. Perish."

The True Dragon Lord opened its mouth, gathering energy within. It glowed brightly as Deep Darkness Dragon Lord aimed it at the biggest threat—the World Champion. "[SOULBREAKER BREATH]."

Bricked Wall, slumped against the wall and bleeding badly, slammed his palm onto the ground and activated his skill: "[Pillar of Gaia]!"

The pillar rose directly beneath the dragon's maw, slamming it upward. The beam missed Blunt by half a meter as it carved its way upward. The earth quaked as stalactites began to fall, though they posed no threat to those below.

All three Players slowly stood up and readied themselves for round two. While Blunt was close to half his HP, having taken the brunt of the explosion, both his friends were already near death. It highlighted the sheer difference in HP between them.

Finally understanding the threat the True Dragon Lord posed, Blunt decided it was time to pull out all the stops—no more holding back. "[Ancestral Champion: Avatar of Ymir]!"

His body pulsed as large amounts of spectral energy wrapped around him, forming a massive glowing Avatar, fifteen feet tall. The skill essentially gave him an extra layer of HP. His weapon also grew with him, maintaining perfect proportions.

Elder Futhark runes appeared and disappeared in a constant flow around him. He could feel himself brimming with immense energy and power.

"That dome—it's blocking all forms of teleportation! And I've been tracking its HP and MP," Nob said, gripping his bloodied scythe tightly. "The dragon's burning through its own HP to power those beam and glow attacks, and it still has a decent chunk of MP it hasn't even touched. So far, it's only lost about a tenth of its HP, even after everything. Luckily, my debuffs and toxin are still active. Brick and I just need to avoid getting hit again and kite it from afar, boss."

The avatar merely nodded before dashing straight in to attack. From an outside observer, it looked as if he teleported, instead of moving. Blunt swung his glaive repeatedly, sacrificing accuracy for power as a wave of spectral light trailed behind it, crackling with electricity, "[Polearm Skill: Power Strike]!... [Strike of the Storm Giant]!... [Spectral Strike]!"

Deep Darkness Dragon Lord met the World Champion's last attack with a glowing tail. The collision of their blows cratered the ground beneath them, sending cracks rippling outward. The earth quaked from the blast, and stalactites, along with chunks of rock, continued to rain down from the ceiling.

"[Polearm Skill: Trip Attack]," Blunt used, wasting no time for a follow-up. The downward strike hit the dragon's body, its special knockback forcing it down to the ground.

The undead dragon lord snarled and struck with all ten of its clawed arms, each radiating dark power. The claws slashed through the air with blinding speed, crackling with raw energy.

"[Polearm Skill: Evasive Footwork], [Guile of the Storm Lord]," Blunt countered. His body blurred, as if covered in mists of clouds. He danced around the claws, slicing at every inch of the dragon, now targeting the gaps between its armor plates and its softer underbelly.

Meanwhile, Brick and Nob stood off to the side, executing their plan. They had already recovered with health potions and healing spells. Nob glanced at Brick and asked, "Ready?"

Brick nodded, "Ready!"

No Bless flew up, closer to the ceiling as he set off his prepared spells, "[Triplet Widen Magic - Explosion]!"

Three [Explosion] erupted all at once above the fight, causing the ceiling to collapse. Mountains of earth rained down on Deep Darkness Dragon Lord and Blunt.

"[Earth Bend: Control], [Cage of Gaia]!" Brick cast, thrusting his hands above. The falling rubble froze, then shifted under his command. With a burst of power, the debris reshaped into a dozen massive stone torii gates that crashed down along the dragon lord's body, pinning it to the ground.

The dragon thrashed, but the gates held—at least for now. That dragon managed to counter my [Titan Chains]... let's see how it deals with this.

Blunt wasted no time hacking away at the restrained dragon, giving him a clear view of its underbelly. He activated a Juggernaut skill that sacrificed accuracy for faster, stronger strikes. "[Hack & Slash]!"

Nob joined the onslaught, unleashing a barrage of offensive spells that rained down with relentless fury, "[Maximize Magic - Brilliant Radiance], [Maximize Magic - Vermilion Nova], [Extend Maximize Magic - Mist of Super Acid], [Triplet Maximize Magic - Reality Slash], [Triplet Maximize Magic - Blight Surge]!"

"It's vulnerable to holy and fire damage!" Nob confirmed, swiftly resuming his stream of spells to exploit its weaknesses.

Light shimmered across the undead dragon lord's body for several seconds as he let out a furious roar, shaking the air around him. Its razor-sharp legs lashed out again and again, striking the Avatar with relentless precision in a desperate attempt to hinder its attacks.

Blunt went for one final combo, "[Polearm Skill: Sweeping Attack], [Strike of the Storm Giant], [Spectral Strike], [Dimensional Slash]!"

Blunt's polearm moved in a misty blur. The first sweep cut off four of the dragon lord's legs, while the electrical strike severed another two. The third thrust pierced between its plates, and the final slash tore off a large piece of its golden armor.

"NOB, GET DOWN! [Pillar of Gaia]!" Brick yelled, slapping the ground. Another pillar snapped into place just as Nob dove behind it—seconds before the dragon lord unleashed another earth-shaking blast.

"[PRIMAL DESTRUCTION]."

The pillar stood firm against the blast of energy, but deep cracks split its surface, dust and fragments crumbling away with every passing second. It would not survive another attack. The same could be said for the torii gates pinning the dragon down, showing similar signs of damage but holding firm.

Off to the side, Blunt remained standing, but his Avatar form had vanished, drained of its HP. He glanced at his friends when he heard them call out to him.

Flying higher, a dome of magic circles erupted around Nob as he began preparing a super-tier spell. Nearby, Brick palmed the ground again, "[Land Shift]."

Suddenly, the stone beneath Blunt and Deep Darkness Dragon Lord shifted, quickly separating them. Blunt was pulled closer to his friends, while the pinned dragon was dragged further away.

Then, an hourglass was crushed beneath Nob's hand, skipping the wait, "[Dark Star]!"

A massive black sphere abruptly materialized around the True Dragon Lord, its edges unraveling the very fabric of light and plunging it into an all-consuming abyss of darkness. The Super-Tier spell pulsed with a deep, menacing thrum, its resonance sending waves of suffocating energy rippling through the air.

The undead dragon lord's immense strength faltered, flickering like a dying flame, as the oppressive force of the spell clawed at his essence. With each passing moment, his form began to deteriorate, the very core of his being unraveling, as if the sphere was feasting upon its existence, eroding it from the inside out.

A minute passed in eerie silence, the pulse of the spell fading into nothingness. As the black sphere slowly dissipated, its grip on the world slackened. When the darkness finally receded, a perfectly smooth crater remained in its place—an unnervingly clean scar on the ground.

The undead dragon lord, once a towering force of destruction, was nowhere to be found, as if he had been erased from existence.

Suspicious, Blunt asked, "Is it dead?"

Nob shook his head. "Impossible. It still had just under three-fourths of its HP when [Dark Star] started. There's no way that alone could've killed it."

"So it's still alive," Blunt replied, gripping his glaive, his eyes darting everywhere for any signs of the dragon.

"In that case," Brick said, his voice resolute as he began casting his own Super-Tier spell. Another dome of intricate magic circles bloomed around him, pulsing with power. Without hesitation, he crushed the hourglass cash item in his hand, forcing the spell to completion.

"[Mahābhūta]," he declared, as the space surrounding him trembled with primal force. The air shimmered as five Primal Elementals materialized in a flash of raw power: Fire, Water, Earth, Air and Star. Each one embodied their element, swirling with immense energy, their forms crackling with fury and grace.

The Primal Fire Elemental roared to life, its molten body swirling with flames that flickered like the heart of a raging inferno, heat radiating off it in waves.

The Primal Water Elemental formed with a fluid grace, its shape constantly shifting as it shimmered and rippled like a vast, endless ocean, exuding an aura of deep calm and destructive potential.

The Primal Earth Elemental rose from the ground, its massive form composed of jagged stone and dirt, each step it took shaking the very earth beneath its feet with unyielding force.

The Primal Air Elemental materialized in a sudden gust, a swirling vortex of winds and mist, its shape ever-changing as it moved with the speed and unpredictability of a storm.

The Primal Star Elemental glimmered into existence, its form a radiant constellation of swirling stardust and cosmic energy, shimmering with an ethereal brilliance that seemed to bend space and time around it.

"These should give that scaly bastard something else to worry about," Brick said, commanding the primal elementals to spread out while the dragon remained unknown. As he pulled out his rod, Himavat's Gift, he suddenly stopped.

His friends noticed the change and looked at him. Brick, deep in concentration, muttered, "My Tremorsense, it's…"

The Loxodon flew closer to the mumbling Troll, his voice tense with urgency. "It's what, Brick? It's what?"

Brick whipped around, his eyes darting wildly, as if searching for something unseen. His voice, once indecipherable, suddenly snapped into coherence. "It's in the walls… IT'S IN THE GODDAMN WALLS!"

Out of nowhere, the dragon lord shot down from above, its mouth glowing with intense energy. It let out a roar, as the power surged from its jaws, "[SOULBREAKER BREATH]!"

The beam shot out at the speed of light, and with no time to react, it turned No Bless into nothing but dust and ash. He was gone in an instant.

"NOB!" Blunt and Brick screamed in unison, their voices filled with disbelief and shock as they stared at the spot where their friend had been, unable to grasp that he was gone—just like that.

Without hesitation, Deep Darkness Dragon Lord kept descending, its immense head aiming to crash straight into Bricked Wall. But at the last second, the player sprang away, narrowly avoiding a brutal fate.

The undead dragon lord didn't slow down. When it hit the ground, it was like it had never been there at all—its body simply phased through the floor without a hitch. Blunt cleaved at the tunneling dragon lord with everything he had, striking as much as he could before the beast vanished completely into the earth.

Brick called back his elementals, opting for a tighter formation. When the dragon lord showed itself once more, it came from the side as another beam shot out immediately.

Anticipating the attack this time, Blunt moved ahead to dodge the incoming beam. It shifted, tracking its target, and in its wake, it obliterated the Primal Water Elemental, reducing it to nothing before finally dissipating.

Without wasting a moment, he and the elementals closed in to retaliate. Meanwhile, Brick cast a spell, hoping to slow the dragon lord's advance, "[Wall of Earth]!"

A thick wall of stone shot up from the ground, rising to block the dragon's path. But before it could even make contact, Deep Darkness Dragon Lord simply dived into the earth, disappearing beneath the surface. Moments later, its head reemerged on a different section of the floor, and without hesitation, it unleashed another [SOULBREAKER BREATH].

The beam tore through the air, disintegrating both the Primal Fire Elemental and the Primal Air Elemental in an instant. Brick barely managed to dodge, bending the ground beneath him to shove himself out of harm's way.

Once again, the dragon lord vanished underground, where none of them could reach it. Blunt cursed under his breath, frustration boiling over as he shouted, "You fucking coward! Stop hiding and face me!"

"Foolish mortal, I am no coward. It is not fear that guides my actions, but wisdom. You, who stand above, exposed and vulnerable, you seek to challenge a force far greater than yourselves." Deep Darkness Dragon Lord's response rumbled through the cavern, its words dripping with disdain. "Yet, you call me a coward for using the very advantage my power grants me. It is not I who am afraid to face you—it is you who are too weak to confront me directly. You send yourselves to your deaths, one by one, and dare to judge my tactics."

Brick used this chance to cast a higher form of his innate Tremorsense, "[Seismic Sense]."

"You hunt me for glory and to steal what you cannot earn. You want what's mine without understanding it, without deserving it. You're blinded by greed and arrogance, thinking you can destroy me for your own selfish gain," the dragon lord's voice echoed ominously, its true location still hidden from view. "You are nothing but fools, chasing what you can never have. BAH! When you fall, the world will forget you, just as it will forget your pitiful attempt to take what isn't yours."

"There!" Brick shouted, pointing in the direction where the dragon lord lurked. Moments later, the beast emerged, its mouth aglow with the deadly charge of another [SOULBREAKER BREATH]. Without hesitation, Blunt sprang into action, zigzagging toward it with lightning speed, closing the gap.

The beam narrowly missed Blunt but quickly shifted course, locking onto Bricked Wall. In an instant, the nearby Primal Earth Elemental hurled its summoner out of harm's way, stepping in to take the full force of the blast instead.

Deep Darkness Dragon Lord dove once more, and Blunt, alongside the last remaining Primal Star Elemental, struck at every vulnerable part of its body they could reach.

The dragon lord reemerged, its speed almost a blur. It skimmed along the surface, warping the earth beneath it to form an impenetrable wall. Then, it passed by Brick, quickly turning around and trapping him within the confines of the earth, its presence closing in from all sides.

"[Triplet Maximize Magic - Magma Sphere], [Maximize Magic - Vermilion Nova], [Triplet Maximize Magic - Terra Blade]!" Brick cast in quick succession, his voice tinged with desperation as he unleashed every spell he could to hinder the undead dragon lord's advance.

Once fully trapped, Deep Darkness Dragon Lord rose high into the air, its towering form looming over the Troll below.

Bricked Wall, helpless in the face of its overwhelming power, used his third and final [Pillar of Gaia]. It held off the inevitable for a moment before it finally gave way.

A blinding flash of light filled the air, and Blunt knew—his last friend was gone.

The nearby Primal Star Elemental went berserk, charging at the Dragon Lord in a desperate bid to fulfill its last order. It flew straight toward the dragon lord's face, releasing a breath of dark starlight that engulfed its head in a blinding, otherworldly glow.

Soon after, a beam of energy tore through the starlight, shattering the elemental into countless motes of light that faded into nothingness.

The dragon lord scanned the battlefield, its eyes landing on a Storm Giant leaping through the air, glaive shimmering in hand. Using the elemental as a distraction, Blunt seized the opening and delivered the most powerful blow in his arsenal.

"[WORLD BREAK]!" he roared, the impact reverberating through the air like a shockwave.

His glaive cut through Deep Darkness Dragon Lord's skull with a thunderous crack, but it didn't stop there. The force of the attack pulsed, sending violent ripples of raw power coursing through the dragon's massive form. The energy traveled like a storm, tearing through scales and muscle, traveling along the dragon's spine with unrelenting force.

The True Dragon Lord let out a roar of agony as the energy surged through its body, the shockwaves spreading from its head all the way down to the tip of its tail. Its entire form convulsed, the ground shaking as though the dragon itself was a living conduit for the devastation.

The tail whipped violently, its tip slamming into the earth as the dragon struggled to maintain its balance. Blood poured from multiple deep cracks along its body.

Though the creature remained standing, its power was visibly diminished, its once-imposing stature now trembling with the lingering pain of the devastating blow.

Blunt, breathing heavily, could see the dragon lord was still alive, but gravely wounded and at about thirty percent health. Its arrogance had been shattered, but the battle was far from over.

Reaching deep into his Item Box, Blunt pulled out a simple, unremarkable club from its depths. Despite its plain appearance, it was by far the most valuable item he possessed.

"You like that, you stupid lizard?" Blunt spat, walking closer with a dangerous calm. "I'll admit, you killing my friends wasn't part of the plan, but you really fucked up. Badly."

With each step, he activated every skill he had left, preparing for the final confrontation. Gripping both weapons tightly, he locked eyes with the dragon. "Wanna know why?"

The dragon lord slithered, its gaze locking onto the World Champion with a seething, intense hatred. It didn't respond to Blunt's question, instead, its mouth began to flare once more, charging with its soul energy.

"Because! I! Am! Blunt! World Champion of Jotunnheim! Slayer of the Devourer! Second strongest Player in Yggdrasil!" Blunt bellowed, stopping in his tracks and planting his feet firmly, ready for whatever came next. "And I… have NOTHING left to lose."

A flash of light erupted, but Blunt was already in motion. The beam trailed after him, yet he had already adapted, weaving with perfect precision to avoid its touch. As the ray faded, he closed in on the dragon lord.

Another leap brought Blunt closer to the dragon lord's head, but the creature, having learned, quickly moved it away.

Blunt didn't hesitate. He swung the club, slamming it against Deep Darkness Dragon Lord's plated exterior. The impact was stronger than his usual attacks, sending a satisfying shockwave through the dragon's armor.

Five pairs of clawed arms lunged to grab him, but Blunt leaped onto the dragon's back, charging along its length. With each step, he smashed the club into the beast, the force of the blows increasing with every strike, echoing through its armored frame.

"That item..." Deep Darkness Dragon Lord murmured, its voice filled with recognition. Its serpentine body began to shimmer with a familiar, ominous glow, "So you DO have one... I had begun to believe you didn't. BAH! No matter. [PRIMAL DESTRUCTION]!"

Blunt raised his glaive high and drove it deep between the dragon lord's armored plates, bracing himself for the inevitable blast. The world was suddenly engulfed in light as an explosion ripped through the air, consuming everything in its path.

When the Storm Giant opened his eyes, he found himself completely unscathed. He was already badly injured—his HP barely below half—but the blast hadn't touched him.

I should be dead right now, he thought, shaking off the confusion. Never mind. I'll figure it out later. Time to get back to killing!

Ripping his glaive free, Blunt surged forward, relentless in his assault. The club in his hand continued to swell, growing in both size and power with each passing strike, fueling his unyielding chaos.

"Impossible... how... THIS CANNOT BE!" The dragon lord roared in fury. "I REFUSE... I WILL NOT FALL TODAY, NOR ANY DAY! BAH!"

Deep Darkness Dragon Lord dove into the ground, sinking its massive body in one swift motion to deny the World Champion a target. It slithered through the earth, repositioning itself before erupting back to the surface.

When it reappeared, Blunt saw nothing but rows of jagged teeth and an open maw rushing toward him. The dragon lord was trying to devour him!

Blunt leaped to evade the dragon lord's jaws of death, but the creature had already anticipated his move. In midair, the Storm Giant's movements were limited, and he fell straight into the trap.

Five pairs of clawed hands shot out, grabbing him and pinning him in place. One of the claws seized his club, attempting to wrest it from his grip.

The World Champion tightened his grip, refusing to let go. To release the club would be like surrendering his very life. As the claws dug into him, he knew he faced a brutal choice—he would either die from the savage raking of the claws or from being deprived of his weapon, his only hope of survival.

Deep Darkness Dragon Lord's maw began to glow with soul energy once again, this time slowly, ominously. As soon as the club slipped from his grasp, the Storm Giant knew he would die. Once the weapon was lost, his soul was forfeit, waiting to be consumed by the dragon's devastating power.

Losing patience, the claws shimmered, growing in strength and power. Blunt fought back with all he had, swinging his glaive and kicking with everything he could muster. But soon, even more claws emerged, pinning him down with overwhelming force, leaving him unable to escape or fight back.

"This cannot be it! NO! I REFUSE THIS FATE!" Blunt roared, his body wracked with fury as he refused to give in. The True Dragon Lord simply watched, a low, menacing rumble rising from within its depths. It was laughing at him—mocking his defiance.

I wish my friends were still here, Blunt thought bitterly, a wave of remorse crashing over him. I should have fought harder, protected them better. We could have won…

At last, one of the claws severed Blunt's hand, tearing it from the club and stripping him of its protection. The True Dragon Lord's maw flared with blinding light, and Blunt let out a final, defiant roar—his last attempt to resist before the inevitable.

His world was bathed in light. The World Champion's fate was sealed.

FIN


JOTUNNHEIM WORLD CHAMPION

Name: Blunt
Race: Demihuman Race - Giant
Alignment: True Neutral
Sense of Justice: 0

Racial Level: 30
• Storm Giant - 15
• Storm Giant Lord - 10
• Storm Giant King - 5
Job Level: 70
• Barbarian - 15
• Spirit Caller - 10
• Juggernaut - 10
• Polearm Master - 10
• Polearm Saint - 5
• Spirit Guardian - 10
• Ancestral Champion - 5
• World Champion - 5
Total Level: 100

Base Stats
HP: 100
MP: 15
PHY. ATK.: 100
PHY. DEF.: 90
AGILITY: 70
MAG. ATK.: 25
MAG. DEF.: 85
RESIST: 95
SPECIAL: 80
TOTAL: 660

Notable World Champion-class Item:
• Approaching Storm (Glaive)

Notable Divine-class Items:
• Devourer Scales (Scale)
• Vindthursar Vambraces (Vambraces)
• Vindthursar Belt (Belt)
• Vindthursar Greaves (Greaves)

Guild: Thunder Applause (Top 5 - 100 Members)


Name: Bricked Wall
Race: Demihuman Race - Troll
Alignment: Social Moral
Sense of Justice: 200

Racial Level: 25
• Troll - 15
• Mana Troll - 10
Job Level: 75
• Sorcerer - 15
• Abjurer - 10
• Elementalist (Earth) - 10
• Earth Bender - 10
• Ward Master - 10
• Ruler of Earth - 10
• Magus Guardian - 5
• Protector of Gaia - 5
Total Level: 100

Base Stats
HP: 50
MP: 100
PHY. ATK.: 40
PHY. DEF.: 70
AGILITY: 45
MAG. ATK.: 80
MAG. DEF.: 100
RESIST: 80
SPECIAL: 65
TOTAL: 630

Notable Divine-class Items:
• Mount Veil (Robe)
• Wreath of Gaia (Crown)
• Heart of Hrungnir (Necklace)
• Himavat's Gift (Rod)

Guild: Thunder Applause (Top 5 - 100 Members)


Name: No Bless
Race: Demihuman Race - Beastman
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Sense of Justice: -500

Racial Level: 25
• Loxodon - 15
• Elder Loxodon - 10
Job Level: 75
• Druid - 15
• Circle of Blight - 10
• Toxic Mage - 10
• Curse Master - 10
• Blight Lord - 10
• Ruler of Decay - 10
• Disciple of Corrosion - 5
• Noxious Bane - 5
Total Level: 100

Base Stats
HP: 75
MP: 75
PHY. ATK.: 75
PHY. DEF.: 70
AGILITY: 50
MAG. ATK.: 75
MAG. DEF.: 70
RESIST: 70
SPECIAL: 60
TOTAL: 620

Notable Divine-class Items:
• Black Coat (Scale)
• Smiling Death (Mask)
• Blight Bracers (Bracers)
• Dark Harvester (Scythe)

Guild: Thunder Applause (Top 5 - 100 Members)