Kugugugugu-!
Above Jormungandrs head.
Riding atop the violently undulating body of the serpent, we were desperately trying to destroy its last vertebra.
"Just grind it down a bit more!"
"Weve almost got it! Just a little more...!"
Despite being on the verge of collapse from exhaustion after three days of non-stop action, everyone was clinging to the task of destroying the vertebra.
After all, we were so close to the end.
"Tch...!"
Just ahead... the walls of the fortress were in sight.
Gritting my teeth, I stared at the fortress walls, now rely dozens of ters away.
Damn it, damn it, damn it!
In the last hour, we had given it our all.
Junior, backed by other mages, had finally deployed Elental Disassembly, reducing the magic defense of the vertebra. Reina had then unleashed a full-power wind magic bombardnt.
Kellibey managed to repair and enhance our drills and pickaxes even amidst the tense atmosphere, and those who still had the energy landed another attack on the vertebra.
But, that final 1 percent.
Various hardening buffs were in place, making that last tick nearly impossible to shave off.
It feels like its physical resistance is at least 95 percent. Its magical defense is off the charts. Practically untouchable...
Even with such impossibly inflated stats, we could have destroyed it given enough ti.
The problem was those damned werewolves stealing that precious ti from us.
Boom! Brrrrrr!
Kugwagwang-!
From atop the fortress walls, they were indiscriminately launching shells. Anything to delay the serpents advance by even one second.
Useless as it was, occasional explosions even landed near us, adding an elent of danger. But I ignored it. Right now, we had to do whatever it took.
How much longer until we reach the walls?
I estimated the distance between Jormungandr and the fortress walls.
If Jormungandr broke through and began its Civilization Devouring, everything we had done would be for naught.
With my hands, stripped of skin and bloodied, I clenched my pickaxe once more.
We have to stop it before then...!
Ssshhh. Ssshhh.
Thats when it happened.
Soone ca up beside and put a hand on my shoulder. I quickly turned to look. What is it?
"...Naless?"
The one who had approached was Naless.
What are you doing? Cant you see were busy? Help us destroy that thing!
"Pull your comrades back, Ash."
"What?"
"Ill take it from here."
Screech-
The rusty old sword Naless drew slowly began to glow white.
I blinked. Wasnt it that she couldnt use her powers outside the Lake Kingdom?
"The nightmare that invaded the Lake Kingdom, and allowed that nightmare to leak out, is the responsibility of the Lake Kingdom."
Naless gave a bitter smile and gripped her sword with both hands, positioning it in front of her chest.
"As a person of the Lake Kingdom, its my responsibility to stop Jormungandr."
Kwaaaaaaaa-!
A trendous light burst from Naless, funneling into her sword.
Though ignorant about ancient magic, I knew instantly.
That technique was burning her own life force.
"What are you doing, Naless?! Are you trying to die?"
If I expend this much power outside of Lake Kingdom... Ill probably die here.
Naless spoke calmly, enlarging her blade of light.
Kwaaa!
However, if I die, I can protect your city and all the people above it.
What...
Not a bad trade-off, is it?
I hesitated.
...To be honest, I ended up agreeing with her.
If one persons life could be thrown away to fend off Jormungandr, then its a rational exchange.
This battlefield, after all, was the Monster Frontline where dozens, hundreds, thousands were dying.
But, was that the right choice?
I have lived long, Ash. I am not afraid of death. If that death could erase the sins of the Lake Kingdom, I would be happy.
Amidst the wind, her white hair fluttering, I caught a glimpse of her eyes.
I have one request, though.
The first ti I looked into her eyes, they had the hue of a clear, deep lake.
Do not abandon your quest in the Lake Kingdom. Continue to shine a light in that darkness.
...
I make this request because I believe I can entrust it to you.
I slowly nodded my head. With a blurry nod in return, Naless lifted her blade upward.
Is she planning to cut off Jormungandrs head with that blade of light?!
I scread at my party mbers, who were focused on targeted destruction until the very end.
Everyone, evacuate! Leave your positions imdiately!
Turning back, the party mbers, stunned, saw the massive blade of light Naless was holding. I waved my arm frantically.
No ti! Jump under Jormungandrs body! Now!
The party mbers imdiately ceased their targeted destruction tasks and jumped off either side of Jormungandrs body, hooking onto it with grapples.
After ensuring the safety of the evacuated party mbers with a sidelong glance, I looked back at Naless.
Naless was sweating profusely as she completed her blade of light.
With this, Crossroad will survive once more.
The world maintains its lifeblood...
...!
At that mont, a strong premonition hit .
- Please clear this world and lead it to the true ending.
The reason I was called into this world and suffering through all this.
What the so-called Director Aider saidabout the existence of a true ending.
To reach that true ending, one of the conditions required was
Stop, Naless!
...Naless had to survive.
I grabbed Nalesss shoulder and urgently stopped her. With surprised eyes, Naless looked at .
I had no clear rationale, it was rely my gut feeling. But it was a gut feeling that bordered on certainty.
The true ending I had never reached in 742 runs through this ga.
And Lake Kingdoms princess, Naless, whom I had never t in 742 runs through this ga.
These two are connected.
I cannot let Naless die here.
But, Ash, theres no other way!
...
I gently bit my lower lip.
Naless was right.
At this mont, the only way to stop Jormungandr was for Naless to deliver the decisive blow.
Was the priority not to prevent an imdiate ga over rather than the possibility of a true ending?
But if I give up on the true ending, doesnt it make everything Ive done so far futile?
Damn it, what should I do? Whats the right choice?
Strategy always involves distinguishing between what can be compromised and what must not be compromised.
What should be discarded?
Who should be killed?
At that critical mont, I tightly closed my eyes.
Why must I... keep making these choices?
Then it happened.
Flash.
A beam of light flickered over my closed eyelids. I suddenly opened my eyes.
Flash. Flash. Flash.
Light twinkled from the direction of the castle gates. I looked that way.
Damien?
Standing tall in the middle of the open castle gates was Damien, holding a signal lantern and aiming its light at .
Is he communicating through light signals?
A mory from Stage 3 crossed my mind.
When I had gone to the Margraves villa to rescue Evangeline, I had asked Damien for sniper support.
Back then, we used lanterns in the castle as a ans to exchange signals, and I used a blue fla torch.
Flash. Flash. Flash.
The signal Damien sent was three lantern flashes.
It ant everythings fine here.
In other words,
Sniper support ready!
I could see Damiens awkward smile.
Even though he still had the [Black Queen] on his back, the dark aura from before was gone.
Had he overco it?
Even when I hadnt trusted you and had you detained?
"In this insane world, Damien!"
This son of a bitch is incredible!
"Lower your sword, Naless! Reclaim your life force!"
After smacking Naless on the back, I charged forward. Naless stamred in confusion.
"Co back, Ash! If youre there, I cant swing my sword down!"
"You dont have to! Sheath your sword, will you? Trust !"
To be precise, trust my sniper! The cheat character of this ga!
Rushing past a flustered Naless who had sheathed his light sword, I stood next to the nerve center of Jormungandrs head.
I took out the blue fla torch from my inventory and drew a large circle.
Shoot, Damien.
"Right here-!"
***
Whoosh-
Tossing the signal lantern aside, Damien gripped his magic gun with both hands.
"I have a clear view, Your Highness."
He saw Ash fervently waving the torch. Next to it, the snakes horn-like protrusions were also visible.
Damien took a knee, mounted the gunstock to his shoulder, and aligned the sights.
"Fire at maximum power."
Damien whispered to his magic gun.
Click, click, click...!
The pearly white magic gun began to transform, emitting a magical light.
The barrel split sideways, forming two long rails that extended forward.
Simultaneously, the magic-infused bullets in the magazine disassembled.
Seven magic bullets that popped out started to orbit in mid-air, eventually combining into one large magic bullet that settled between the rails.
Sizzle, sizzle!
Due to the split barrel and disassembled magazine, the magic core was now fully exposed.
The incandescently white magic core sent out magic like electrical currents, powering the rails.
Vrrrrrrr...!
Jormungandr was now literally right in front of him.
The monsters breath was almost touching Damiens face. Yet, Damien continued to aim until the last mont.
He felt that not just a part of the monster, but sothing even deeper would reveal itself.
If you could just pause, even for a split second...!
At that mont, Ash pulled a dagger from his holster.
Thud!
He stabbed it into the snakes head.
The dagger was [Spirit Crasher], a one-ti-use weapon that forcibly inflicted a stunned state on its target.
Given how high Jormungandrs Magic Power stat was, the stun effect lasted only a re instant.
"Ah."
But for Damien, that was more than enough ti.
"Ive got you."
Damiens finger pulled the trigger.
Whooosh-!
A magical bullet flew out, glowing like a bolt of lightning.
The pure white bullet instantly lodged itself in the neural center of Jormungandrs head.
Multiple layers of hardening buffs and Jormungandrs innate magical defenses montarily ford an invisible barrier, attempting to block the bullet.
Clang-!
But it was futile.
The bullet, which easily tore through the defenses, shattered the remaining sliver of health in the neural center.
Jormungandrs colossal body imdiately ca to a halt.
However, it wasnt over yet.
In the brief mont when Jormungandrs defenses were weakened due to the destruction of its vertebra, the magical bullet did not miss its chance.
Whoosh!
The bullet, acting as if it were a living creature, changed its trajectory and penetrated deep into the back of Jormungandrs neck
Piercing and tearing!
It began to burrow through Jormungandrs internal body.
Ripping through the massive snakes flesh from the inside, the magical bullet continued its path.
It effortlessly pierced through the mythical creatures strong bones, internal organs, flesh, and skin.
Five hearts.
Nine spirit cores.
All were pierced through.
Krrrrrrrk?!
For the first ti, sothing resembling a scream erupted from the giant snakes mouth.
At the end of that long, straight penetration
Poof!
The magical bullet finally erged from the tip of Jormungandrs tail and vanished into thin air, having exhausted its energy.
Effectively, it had pierced the snake from head to tail.
Krrraaaaaaaaaak!
Jormungandr raised its massive head and let out a long, terrible scream before
Thud...!
Slamming its head into the ground.
And then it remained motionless.
Whiiii-
The battlefield was enveloped in silence.
Amidst the dusty haze that the thrashing snake had dispersed, Ash, who had sought refuge in Nalesss arms, murmured softly.
"...I an, we were only supposed to repel it."
His voice was a mixture of delight and disbelief.
"He actually managed to find the kill-shot...?"
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