Six months.That's how long Yuuto had worked to stay out of the spotlight.
Ever since the cataclysmic global announcement about the Lost Seed of Yggdrasil, the whole world seemed to have turned its eyes toward the hunt for the "Unknown Player." But thanks to the anonymity granted by system settings — and his own meticulous discretion — Yuuto had remained nothing more than a shadow.
No name, no trace had been discovered so far. Only rumors.
But the price of that was steep.
He could no longer join a party, never accept friend requests, and had even deleted old records, used visual masks, and severed all ties with his former guildmates. Those few friends... who, in truth, hadn't been online for a long time anyway.
Currently, his overall level was 200.That was why he avoided parties and friendships — because level was one thing anonymity didn't hide. It would be shown in party lists and friends lists no matter what.
After choosing a solo path, Yuuto focused solely on leveling up.The grind was hellish. A normal player could reach level 100 in a week — Yuuto took a full 63 days to hit level 200.The new XP curve was brutal. The cost to raise the bar was exorbitant.And the monsters? Now, he had to face the most powerful just to make progress.
But the system — which previously imposed severe limits every 100 attribute points — now let him break through any barrier.His stats soared unchecked, and the damage of his attacks kept climbing.
But with great power… comes great responsibility.
Vanaheimr – The Realm of Deep Tranquility.
The vegetation was serene. YGGDRASIL's ethereal sky in Vanaheimr was painted in pale gold, with clouds drifting in melancholic beauty.Colossal trees whispered in the wind. Here, the Vanir rested — gods of earth, peace, and harvest. A quiet world, with few monsters to farm.
Perfect for those seeking stillness.
In the heart of the ancient forest, a hidden area… the sanctuary and prison of the legendary Eight Dragons, the Primordial Dragons.Eight titanic entities that, together, could obliterate any level 100 player party with the slightest misstep.
But six of them had already fallen.
Flames, lightning, and ash covered the ravaged woods.The Primordial Dragon of Light and the Primordial Dragon of Darkness roared in synchronized fury, soaring like comets of raw power.Their wings left trails of pure aura.
Their bodies began to glow.The sky darkened, and surges of energy condensed at their chests.They were charging their Combined Primordial Breath, a signature attack of the Eight Dragons.When two or more united, they could unleash co-op attacks that ignored standard defenses and dealt continuous damage across multiple hits.
Charge time: 8 seconds.
And in the middle of all that chaos, the target of this devastating blast… was none other than the player known as Ardluc.
"Let's see what you're really made of," Yuuto murmured with a slight smile.
Both dragons fired.
The explosion was cataclysmic.A blinding flash consumed the forest. Trees vanished. The land was torn apart. The air boiled.The attack lasted 5 seconds, delivering 12 consecutive hits, with just 3 of them enough to vaporize an entire party of 12 level 100 players.
Why am I giving these technical details?
Well...
TCHING.TCHING.TCHING.TCHING.TCHING.TCHING.TCHING.TCHING.TCHING.TCHING.TCHING.TCHING.
Twelve metallic sounds echoed...Each impact — nullified.
The smoke cleared, revealing Ardluc standing in the center of the crater.His body — untouched.A tight black shirt clung to his muscular torso.Golden greaves gleamed with the light of his subtle movements.And on his fists, new gauntlets shimmered, each radiating a different aura.
Yuuto casually blew a bit of "dust" from his shoulder.
The dragons were stunned.
Both entered stun state after the attack.Each had lost over 40% of their HP — because the damage had been reflected three times during the sequence.
Ardluc looked up at them, a mocking, confident glint in his eye, and said:
"What? Never heard of Royal Guard?"
Yuuto wasted no time and shot forward like a living arrow — the ground beneath his feet cracking from the sheer force of his takeoff. His speed, now three times what it was at level 100, turned the scenery around him into a blur of light and color.
He was on top of the dragons before anyone could even react.
His fists, equipped with the new legendary gauntlet set Barolg and Beowulf, whistled through the air with the sound of muffled thunder. Each strike reverberated with fury, the interface flashing multiple crimson-red damage numbers — Critical AOE Damage.
Barolg glowed, its rune activating.
[Barolg Passive: Inferno Blaze – Attacks gain Fire Damage and Burning Effect]
Flames erupted from his right gauntlet, as if hell itself had taken form in his hand. Each punch left a burning trail, the draconic bodies marked by glowing embers.
He spun, striking both dragons with methodical precision. Linear strikes, aerial combos. Their scales creaked, cracking under the pressure of the relentless onslaught.
And then, the finisher:
Yuuto planted his feet firmly on the ground and charged energy into his right arm. Beowulf, the second gauntlet, roared like an ancient beast.
Three icons lit up on the screen — a total of 3 Active Charges.
Ardluc raised his arm and slammed it down with brutal force.
[Beowulf Skill: Judgment Impact]
The ground of Vanaheimr shook. A wave of energy expanded in a circular shockwave, tearing the earth like a bomb had gone off. Both dragons were hurled backward, their HP bars plummeting violently to just above 10%.
Yuuto took a deep breath — or rather, simulated a tired sigh, even though the game didn't allow fatigue from frantic actions.
"Next phase..." he muttered, already expecting the inevitable.
The roars synchronized.
The Dragon of Light and the Dragon of Darkness raised their heads, unfurling their wings with renewed fury. One glowing with radiant brilliance, the other cloaked in shadow. Auras exploded from their bodies like elemental pillars. The sky cracked. Wind and magic collapsed all around.
The heavens trembled.
Light and darkness clashed... and began to merge.
The bodies of the other six dead dragons shimmered in the distance — transforming into glowing orbs, like elemental souls, flying into the sky, drawn toward the fusion.
The light grew more intense, expanding... but then darkened.
The pure glow was swallowed by growing instability from within the core.
All that energy compressed into a pitch-black orb. Cracks ran across its surface, leaking chaotic elemental energy — lightning, fire, darkness, and wind — until, finally...
RAAAAAAAAAAGHHHHHHHHH!
The orb shattered like an egg, revealing a colossal creature.
The imperfect fusion of the Eight Dragons.
With iridescent black scales pulsing with all elements in conflict, this dragon was a living mountain of chaos. Its wings, ablaze and crackling with electricity, beat so powerfully they distorted the air around them. Multiple eyes, formed from fragments of the original eight, glowed with incomprehensible fury.
A name appeared at the top of Yuuto's screen:
[WORLD ENEMY – BAYLE, THE PRIMORDIAL ELEMENTAL CHAOS DRAGON]
HP: 24,394,820,716
It had not become a true Primordial Elemental Dragon because the elements within it clashed violently, making its form unstable and chaotic. Each elemental magic attack it unleashed also damaged itself — but... every strike was so destructive, the damage was apocalyptic.
Bayle descended from the skies like a meteor, roaring like the end of the world. The impact made the entire map tremble. Flames burst from the ground like living spears, while colossal stone spikes tore upward from every direction.
Lightning split the sky and the earth.
Its entire body pulsed with wild, chaotic magic — a symphony of the apocalypse.
Ardluc was forced to activate Royal Guard to block the massive AOE damage, his blue eyes glowing with an intensity that rivaled the elemental blasts surging before him.
"This is my first time seeing it, and I'm not gonna lie... This guy looks pretty badass."
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ♦♦♦
Bayle, the Dragon of Primordial Destruction, howled like an incarnate cataclysm.
From the ground, incandescent lightning burst forth, slithering across the battlefield like ravenous electric serpents. Every point of impact erupted in waves of energy, easily obstructing anyone's vision.
But Yuuto cut through the assault zone like a thunderbolt. His golden greaves left heavy footprints in the soil as he dodged impact points in the final tenths of a second. The combat interface flickered wildly, signaling deadly threats frame by frame — and he ignored them all.
Then Bayle struck directly, his titanic claw slicing through the air like a blade.
Yuuto spun, sliding beneath the strike. The sound of wind being torn by the claw rushed past his ears — and then the tail came down in a treacherous arc.
He raised his arms and...
Royal Guard!.
TCHIIIIING!
Perfect Parry.
The deflected tail flared golden sparks into the air.
But Bayle wasn't finished.
The ground exploded in magma.
Columns of lava erupted like infernal spears beneath Ardluc's feet. He crossed his arms, activating Royal Guard by reflex. The defense absorbed most of the impact — but 30% of his HP vanished like smoke.
Yuuto cursed silently. This was YGGDRASIL in its most brutal form.No mercy.No room for error.
"My turn," he murmured.
The gauntlets Barolg and Beowulf gleamed.
[Skill Activated: Daggers of Purgatory – Deals +125% / 170% / 375% fire damage every 10s, resets if no damage dealt for 3s]
[Skill Activated: Meteoric Burst – Movement Speed +175%]
Four flaming blades orbited him, each one pulsing intensely. Then, the electric aura of Beowulf ignited, shrouding Yuuto's avatar in crackling blue discharge.
Ardluc became a comet the moment he moved.
The impact was instantaneous. He appeared before Bayle in a flash of blue, and the strikes began to rain down. Each punch was a thunderclap. Each spin, a lethal dance. The flaming blades whirled like deadly satellites, cutting where his fists didn't reach.
Bayle roared and retaliated, but Yuuto continued the combo.Dodged wing strikes.Evaded claws.Leapt over blazing trails.Until the tail came again — this time laced with elemental earth energy.
"[Heavy Jolt]!"
The counter was activated.
Yuuto moved at the exact moment of impact, completely negating the attack and returning the energy with a direct punch to the monster's jaw. The dry crack echoed through the valley like a war drum.
Bayle staggered backward — then began to glow blue.
[Bayle Used – Blessing of Primordial Water][A shield has been created and its wounds are being healed]
A crystalline sphere of water appeared around the dragon. Streams of healing energy swirled, drawing back fragments of its shattered body.
— Oh no, you're not healing in front of me...
Yuuto had read and watched every tutorial. He knew exactly what to do.
Spinning his Barolg gauntlet, he charged five stacks.Five sparks.Five heartbeats.His fist burned like a star.The ground cracked beneath him.
"[REAL IMPACT]!"
Yuuto struck.
A burning sphere exploded in flame. The barrier shattered like glass, the healing was interrupted. Bayle roared — and entered a stunned state.
Window open.
Ardluc planted his foot, finally triggering Beowulf's passive.
[Passive Activated: Combat God – Attack Speed +175%]
Then, he unleashed the most dangerous ability in his Martial Master arsenal:
[Skill: Exploding Heart Release Fist]
[Cost: 40% HP – Bonus: +70% Overall Damage / Ignore 40% of target's DEF]
[Duration: 20s]
Yuuto's avatar's chest swelled, his body cracked with surging energy — as if his heart were about to burst from his chest.
A pulsating crimson aura engulfed him. The status screen showed a terrifying HP drain, but Yuuto didn't hesitate — he charged.
His fists rained down like meteors.Each strike, a detonation.Each palm, a death sentence.
Bayle tried to counter. But the stun still paralyzed him. And when his eyes refocused...
It was already too late.
The final 5 seconds of vulnerability hit — and Yuuto activated his ultimate skill.
[Twin Palm Crush Blow]
He spun, the Barolg and Beowulf gauntlets channeling all the stored energy from his previous blows. With arms crossed over his chest, Yuuto dashed forward like lightning and, upon reaching the beast, struck with both palms at the center of Bayle's chest.
BOOOOM!
The creature was hurled backward, crashing into the mountainside behind the battlefield. A massive crater was left behind, littered with shattered rock and crackling flames.
Bayle staggered to his feet.
HP: 29%
The enemy AI recognized the threat. Bayle let out a roar so fierce the 4D audio system burst, even within the game's limits. His eyes went white. His elements frenzied.
[Ultimate Skill – Primordial Elemental Chaos Breath]
The creature focused. His whole body pulsed with fire, lightning, crystals, water, shadow, holy light, wind, and spirit.
His chest swelled. A core of raw energy condensed the eight elements into an unstable singularity.
Yuuto knew he couldn't dodge this. It was an unavoidable attack, powerful enough to obliterate even a party of thirty level-100 players.
But he didn't need to dodge.
He was ready.
[Rage Meter: 3 Charges]
— Let's see if you can choke on your own venom, tough guy...
Bayle fired.
A prismatic beam, so dense it bent light around it, broke the air. Everything nearby was consumed by the explosion: rocks, trees — even environmental effects were temporarily disabled due to maxing out the graphics engine.
Yuuto didn't flinch.
With a single motion of his arms and torso...
TCHIIIIIIIIIIIIING!!
Full collision.
Perfect Parry.
[Counter: 1100% Damage Reflected to the Opponent]
A crimson and golden wave burst out from Yuuto. The chaotic energy was redirected — channeled back to the original caster at multiplied strength.
Bayle was struck.
The impact triggered a seismic shockwave that destroyed much of the forest behind.
HP: 0%
The colossal beast fell to its knees, then collapsed sideways.
The world trembled. The screen flickered. A death roar echoed until only the sound of wind remained.
[ALERT: BAYLE, THE PRIMORDIAL ELEMENTAL CHAOS DRAGON, HAS BEEN DEFEATED]
[WORLD ENEMY ELIMINATED – CALCULATING REWARDS...]
[YOU HAVE BROKEN A WORLD ENEMY'S BOND WITH THE LEYLINES]
[YOU HAVE ACQUIRED THE ESSENCE OF A WORLD ENEMY]
[Current Quest Status: Incomplete – Progress: 1/9]
Yuuto, panting and with red HP, simply took a step back and sat on the ground.The embers of his body began to fade. The electric aura ceased.
"Jeez…" he muttered, leaning back on his outstretched arms. "Finally."
[Final Battle Completed – Duration: 12 minutes and 41 seconds]
[Received:]– EXP: +2,300,000,000– (5) Divine-Class Items– (2) Divine-Class Equipment– (6) Legendary-Class Items– (1) Title: Primordial Chaos
Yuuto raised an eyebrow, eyes scanning over the rewards.
Then he frowned.
No World Item.
"Tsk…" He clicked his tongue, gaze fixed on the empty patch of ground where he had expected to see a special golden light flickering. "Must be my username cursing me…"
A bitter smirk tugged at his lips.
Yuuto knew there was only a 0.01% chance for a World Enemy to drop a World Item. He knew. He'd read it on the Wiki, on the forums, in the guild database. But deep down… there was a part of him that hoped. Hoped that the system would reward his suicidal solo madness.
— I guess I got my hopes up too high.
He let out a long sigh, fingers automatically moving to open the menu.
"That's enough for today," he murmured.
The holographic interface appeared. One last glance at his stats, then a tap on "Logout."
But before his avatar fully dissolved, Ardluc cast one final look toward the horizon of shattered stone and scorched trees. The icy gleam of his blue eyes seemed to pierce a specific target.
"Hmph, I won't keep hiding anymore," he whispered, his voice fading along with his silhouette.
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ♦♦♦
At the edge of a cliff, hidden beneath layers of magical camouflage, a hooded player stood as still as a statue—even as he realized his target was looking directly at him.
His eyes, concealed beneath the shadow of his hood, were fixed on the combat zone.
Even with the Lock-Zone mechanic, which prevented any player from entering the area once a World Enemy was engaged, he could still observe. The distance and his high-tier observation spells allowed him to witness the entire battle—and he still couldn't believe what he had seen.
"He… he actually defeated a World Enemy... alone…"
The spy's breath was restrained, almost reverent. His fingers swiftly slid up to his ear.
[Message: Spy_02/ Spy_03/ Spy_04]
[Did you manage to record everything?]
[Yes, all the cameras caught it. Even the effects of the 'Final Parry'.]
A smile formed on his lips.
"YGGDRASIL is going to burn all over again."
The in-game camera shifted to a high aerial shot, revealing the vast crater left behind by the battle. A living testament that a single player now stood on par with entire guilds.
And the world would finally know who he wa
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ♦♦♦
Spiritual Forest – Unexplored Zone of Asgard
Magical explosions consumed the vegetation of that ethereal paradise. Blades clashed like lightning. The sound of screams and spells echoed through the verdant skies.
Two weeks of conflict.Two armies, each with its own goal:One seeks to Protect, the other to Conquer.
On one side, World Searcher, the explorer guild determined to preserve and study the unexplored zone.
On the other, the 2ch Alliance, driven by an unrelenting desire to monopolize the region's resources.
In the heart of the chaos, a tall man with calm features even amid the hellish battlefield advanced. His steps were precise, his posture firm, and his eyes gleamed in brown hues as twin plasma pistols roared with every shot.
Jadewatch, leader of World Searcher.
His body moved like a machine, weaving through combatants like a shadow in the night. Orbiting his back were six glowing metallic orbs — his Killer Orbs, which chimed with a metallic ring every time they unleashed beams of concentrated plasma upon damaging an enemy.
"Keep up the pressure!" he shouted through the guild chat channel. "Don't leave the rear exposed!"
Beside him, a woman with short-cropped green hair and heterochromatic eyes chanted incantations with serene composure. Her staff, carved with spiraling runes, unleashed spells of ice, lightning, and healing to nearby allies.
4rtemis, war adviser and Jadewatch's personal secretary.
"Dispel barrier to the south! They're trying to flank again!" she announced.
Jadewatch spun his pistols in a fluid motion, merging them into a single plasma shotgun, which fired with explosive force toward the attackers. One of the 2ch Alliance's fighters dropped, their body dissolving into particles of light.
"Another one down. How many more before they realize we won't retreat?"
The drones surrounding him fired in unison, accompanying his advance. Each shot fired, each enemy struck, increased the speed and volume of plasma projectiles the drones unleashed, causing massive sustained damage — especially to clustered foes.
Despite the losses, World Searcher was turning the tide. The 2ch Alliance's formation began to falter — that is, until they played their trump card.
From the skies, five purple magic circles materialized, each bearing a unique spiral pattern.
"World Disasters," 4rtemis whispered, eyes wide with shock.
Five spellcasters from the 2ch Alliance, cloaked in black with crimson embroidery, raised their staves skyward.
"[GRAND CATASTROPHE]!!!"
Five pillars of chaotic energy crashed down upon the World Searcher frontline. Mountains of mana erupted into cyclones, consuming nearly half their forces in an instant.
Explosions of light and darkness, the sound of dozens of digital lives being reaped, and the horror etched on the faces of the survivors.
Jadewatch dropped to one knee, bracing himself with his left arm. He had survived only thanks to a cash item that granted him a second life.
"Damn... They really brought the heavy hitters."
The captain of the 2ch Alliance — a man clad in crimson armor and a black cape — marched forward with his triumphant army. He raised his enchanted sword toward World Searcher's rear line, ready to deliver the final blow.
But then… light fell from the heavens.
"[FALLEN DOWN] x3."
Three pillars of pure light pierced the sky with divine force, exploding in the center of the 2ch Alliance formation. The radiance was so intense that even players with adaptive HUDs temporarily lost visibility.
When the dust settled, 20% of the 2ch Alliance had been wiped off the map.
Floating above the tree canopy, Celestia, leader of the Seraphin guild, descended with her six wings spread in full splendor. Behind her, dozens of angels and archangels from her guild positioned themselves with disciplined grace.
Jadewatch allowed himself a brief smile.
"The Seraphin…?"
Celestia landed beside him, her voice gentle:
"We thought it was time to intervene. It would be a shame if explorers were defeated by greed."
Her six wings fluttered softly before she extended her hand forward.
"Justice will not remain silent. Today, the Seraphin guild will fight alongside World Searcher to protect what belongs to everyone!"
World Searcher's morale surged like a rekindled flame. The remaining forces regrouped, and Jadewatch's orbs flared back to life, spinning with renewed vigor.
The captain of the 2ch Alliance clenched his jaw. He was ready to order a counterattack… until he received a [Message].
He listened carefully before giving the next command:
"All units, retreat." — he said coldly, nearly with irritation.
"But captain—"
"It's a direct order from the guild master."
The 2ch Alliance forces began retreating via [Gate]. But before vanishing, the captain cast one last glance at Jadewatch.
"You got lucky today. This won't happen again."
And he was gone.
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ♦♦♦
Jadewatch adjusted the pistols at his waist, his posture as rigid as ever, but the glint in his eyes revealed relief. He approached the celestial figure who had appeared like a light in their darkest moment.
With six wings spread like divine veils and a white-and-gold tunic that gleamed under the spiritual light of the forest, Celestia was a presence that commanded reverence even among players from other guilds.
"Seraphin... I thank you for your intervention, Lady Celestia," said Jadewatch, bowing his head slightly in respectful acknowledgment. "Without you, we would've lost this sector."
The woman smiled gently, her silver eyes glowing with serenity.
"We only did the bare minimum. We arrived too late to prevent significant losses. If there's any merit, it's yours for holding out until the end."
"Even so, it's not common to see Seraphin involved in territorial battles," Jadewatch noted, folding his metallic arms. "I imagine there's more behind this."
Celestia nodded, her smile fading slowly.
"We're interested in the hidden ruins within this forest. It's said there are Data Crystals buried here…"
"So you came for the Data Crystals?"
"We came for... clues," she replied enigmatically.
Both players fell silent for a moment.
Then, hurried footsteps echoed, and 4rtemis emerged from the rubble.
"Jade! We've got a problem!"
The automaton turned immediately, alarmed by his subordinate's urgency.
"You've already been resurrected? You didn't lose EXP…"
"I'm fine now! The clerics used high-level resurrection magic," she cut in. Her eyes briefly met Celestia's, who observed quietly. "Apologies for the interruption, Lady Celestia. But this… is important."
Celestia merely nodded, her curious expression now sharpened with focus.
"Speak," said Jadewatch.
4rtemis opened the party interface and projected a video window into the air.
"We received this recording from one of our leakers on the Japanese server. In a World Enemy boss zone. He recorded everything. And… you need to see it with your own eyes."
The video began playing — showing the forest of Vanaheimr, with roars echoing like distant thunder.
Bayle, the Dragon of Primordial Destruction, massive as a mountain, emerged amidst lava and lightning.
And before him, alone...
A single player. Against the impossible.
Ardluc.
Jadewatch narrowed his eyes.
Celestia stood completely still, her wings ceasing all movement.
The video showed the combat: the parries, the evasions, the devastating strikes with flame and lightning-infused gauntlets. The tactical use of skills. The overwhelming damage dealt by this lone player. The perfect parry that reflected Bayle's Chaotic Breath. And then, the end.
Bayle fell.
Silence.
Not even the system's winds dared to blow.
"…this is fake?" Celestia murmured in disbelief. "A single player… defeated a World Enemy?"
Jadewatch stepped closer to the recording.
"Ardluc… so that's his name."
4rtemis looked at the two leaders.
"Do you think… he's the Seed's player?"
Jadewatch answered without hesitation.
"Absolutely certain."
Celestia turned her gaze away from the recording, her expression serious and resolute.
"And if he is… then the entire world will come after this Ardluc."
Without saying a word, Celestiana turned around, her wings partially folding in an elegant gesture—but the tension in her body made it clear: she intended to leave immediately.
"Lady Celestia."
Jadewatch's voice stopped her before she could take a second step.
She looked over her shoulder, silver eyes glowing, surprised by his firmness.
"I already know where you're going," he said bluntly. "The Japanese server. You're going after Ardluc, aren't you?"
Celestia hesitated for a moment… then nodded honestly.
"I want to ensure his safety."
— And if possible... bring him into Seraphin Guild...
Jadewatch stepped forward.
"Then we share the same goal," he said calmly. "World Searcher also wants to protect him."
"Protect...?" Celestia raised an eyebrow, cautious. "I can understand our motives, but... why you? Why does World Searcher want to ensure Ardluc's safety?"
"Because he carries the bridge to the unknown."
"..."
"And we want to make sure that bridge is built safely... for all who may cross it after him."
The words echoed like a serene melody. Celestia remained silent. Poetic, yet practical. Profound, yet direct.
A simple truth, heavy with meaning.
A subtle smile touched the seraph's lips, and her eyes softened.
"Beautiful words, Jadewatch. And true."
She extended her hand to him.
"Then... let us join forces."
Jadewatch accepted the gesture. Their hands touched. A silent pact was sealed.
"May Seraphin and World Searcher walk side by side."
"To protect the one who will bring change to YGGDRASIL."
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ♦♦♦
When Yuuto logged back into YGGDRASIL, he appeared directly in the main hall of the HammerFang guild, as usual, since he had set it as his primary spawn point.
But before he could even take a step, a whirlwind of coordinated spells was unleashed upon him. Magic circles appeared from all directions — explosions, lightning, blasts of energy, and curse magic tried to engulf his body.
"[Royal Guard]."
The phrase was spoken calmly.
Ardluc's avatar instantly assumed a defensive stance, a golden spectral shield forming in front of him and flawlessly executing a multi-parry with all the impacts, accompanied by a deep, metallic clang. The orbs of energy struck the shield, warped, and vanished… until the rage meter hit its limit.
A flash.
An AOE shockwave.
The spells turned against their own casters, striking them with multiplied force. Several players dropped dead on the spot, their HP bars wiped clean, while others stood stunned, still trying to process what had just happened.
Ardluc rose from his defensive posture, rolled his shoulders, and muttered:
"The AOE effect of Rage is downright cheating…"
But he had no time to relax.
Two shadows appeared behind him — assassins activating stealth skills in perfect sync. A lethal, synchronized strike. But Ardluc didn't even turn around — his hands moved in a smooth yin-yang motion, and then:
"[Shattered Harmony Palm Strike]."
With a sharp push, he struck both sides with his palms, the impact breaking their high-level camouflage and disintegrating the two assassins into glittering particles.
Another wave followed.
Magical arrows of all elements tore through the air, raining down on him like divine spears.
But Ardluc danced between the projectiles with superhuman precision, effortlessly dodging them, his body weaving through the trails of magical light as if he were part of the scenery. When the final arrow struck the ground and silence returned, he finally had a clear view of his surroundings.
HammerFang had been taken. Around forty players — all from the 2ch Alliance.
He smiled.
— I knew they'd come, but I expected more.
The formations parted, and a figure emerged from among the soldiers, clapping slowly.
Dainsreth.
Dressed in his gleaming black Divine-Class armor, a crimson cape trailing behind him with embers dancing at its edges, the leader of 2ch walked halfway into the hall with a satisfied expression.
"I knew you were strong, but… this?" he said, stopping a few meters from Ardluc. "You're not a player anymore. You look like a Boss… and that pisses me off."
His tone shifted, the smile vanishing from his face, replaced by something darker.
"Your existence has been bothering me for the past six months," he continued, his helmet materializing over his head. Runes of fire flared to life.
"The best choice would be to hand over what you took — that damn Seed — or just disappear from the game altogether. Because we're going to hunt you, day after day, death after death, until you give up. And if that doesn't work…"
He paused. The hall fell into absolute silence.
"…we'll have to adopt more… permanent methods."
Yuuto didn't reply right away. He simply raised his right hand slowly, the Barolg gauntlet glowing with pulsing embers, and then…
He gave the middle finger.
"Honestly… I think all of you can go fuck yourselves."
The gesture and words echoed like thunder through the hall.
Dainsreth stiffened.
"So, you've chosen death."
With a sharp wave of his arm, Dainsreth shouted:
"EVERYONE, KILL HIM!"
The assault began. Spells were being prepared, tanks activated their buffs, assassins vanished into the shadows, and the sky above HammerFang's base became a true digital hellscape.
And Ardluc… just rolled his shoulders once more, his blue eyes glowing with intensity.
"Then let's see if you can take me down…"
All the players of the 2ch Alliance launched a fierce assault — spells exploded, blades gleamed, and curses spread like wildfire. But Ardluc charged toward them like a force of nature.
His body became a blur, his blue eyes burning with intensity.
Without hesitation, he plunged into the frontline, smashing through tanks, warriors, assassins—anything that stood in his way. His combat style was brutal and surgical. A full-armored tank didn't even register what had hit him before being caught in a rapid combo of punches, ending in five devastating strikes—the last one sent him flying into a wall with his HP fully depleted.
Ardluc hunted supports with methodical ferocity. Clerics, mages, and buff-casters were top priority targets—one by one, they fell, barely having time to chant before being crushed.
But the 2ch Alliance was an elite guild, and they adapted quickly. Several containment spells were cast around Ardluc. Magical chains bound him, paralysis runes flared beneath his feet. Then one of them pulled out a cash item, activating a normally unreachable ability instantly:
"[Fallen Down]!"
A colossal pillar of blue light descended from the digital heavens, engulfing the entire HammerFang structure, bursting with pure sacred energy. The brilliance was so intense the world itself seemed to vanish. The digital vegetation withered, the ground turned to glass, and the once-beautiful guild base was reduced to ash.
Silence followed—sepulchral.
But at the center of the smoldering crater, a single figure remained standing.
Ardluc.
Breathing steadily. His HP had only dropped by 30%.
The 2ch Alliance players were in utter shock. Dainsreth clicked his tongue in frustration, eyes wide in disbelief.
"This guy... isn't normal."
Yuuto looked around slowly... his eyes scanning the ruins of what was once his home. Every digital stone carried a memory—laughter, challenges, victories.
He stood there, unmoving for a few seconds.
"So this is how it ends, huh..." he murmured, sorrowfully.
Then, he stepped forward.
"[Conqueror's Aura]"
The pressure fell like the sky was collapsing.
Players began to drop to their knees, gasping, paralyzed. Their HUDs filled with red notifications: Stun, Slow, Weakened, Terror, Suppressed. It was as if the entire world was bowing before him.
The sound of his golden ceremonial greaves echoed with absolute authority. He walked across the ruins of the base, step by step, like a king marching through the remains of his shattered throne.
He stopped before Dainsreth, who writhed on the ground, unable to stand.
Ardluc knelt before him, eyes steady.
"Hey... Do you know what loneliness is?"
The question lingered in the air.
"Do you know what it's like to be alone even when surrounded by people? To feel that everything you built, everything you loved... can vanish overnight?"
"Do you know what it's like to give your best... and still feel empty at the end of the day?"
"If you don't... congratulations. Lucky you."
Yuuto stood back up.
"Because I've felt it. Not once, but twice. And this..." he gestured to the burned remains of the base, "...was the third time."
Then he took a deep breath, opened his interface, and clicked on something.
"I won't hide anymore."
Anonymous mode was disabled.
"Not like it matters now anyway..."
The system displayed above his head:
[Ardluc – Level 204 – Ascendant God]
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(A/N: New fanfic! Whether you're a new face or not, thank you for reading the first three initial chapters. I've actually had five chapters prepared for a long time now — I just needed to revise them before translating them into English. I ended up taking a while with the revision due to my current condition, but I managed to finish revising three of them over the course of two weeks, even while writing with just one hand. On the bright side, I've recently started regaining some movement in my left arm — nothing miraculous, but I am able to lift it a bit, even if it's still weak.Putting personal matters aside... I'm publishing the first three chapters to see your reaction, and depending on the results, I'll continue the story in the future once I'm feeling better.Wishing you a good day, afternoon, or evening.See you in the next update!)