Chapter 167 Is This How It Ends [Pt 2]

"STOOOOPPP!!!"

Somehow, I felt stronger than before. My power peaked to a new point, and I gripped my blade with greater conviction.

Hearing the pained moans and groans of my allies made me incredibly vexed, but also offered the motivation I required.

Ignoring the smoke and thick dust, I plunged into the sky and prepared to hack down the enemy.

>SWOOOOOOSSHHH<

The Demon teleported the instant I almost reached him.

'Gotcha!' A grin escaped my lips almost instantly.

Sure, Valefor was fast, but his next location was already spotted by my precognition. There was no way I was letting my prey escape!

>VWUUUUSSSHHH<

I changed trajectory and lunged at Valefor's new location, pouring all my energy into the swing.

>FWOOOOOSSSHHHH<

"Enough."

I saw his next action, but was unable to evade the heavy blow.

Multiple purple orbs all appeared from around me, expanding before I could escape their midst.

>BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM<

My defenses were not nearly enough, and the heavy damage sent me crashing to the ground.

"G-gark!"

Thankfully, I had more durability thanks to my current Class, but time was already up. Even with all the buffs, I couldn't keep up.

"You're fast, human. You could have definitely kept up in my base form. Unfortunately for you, I can see through all of your moves." Valefor's voice sounded from above me.

'N-no way...!' Why didn't I realize it sooner.

So, I wasn't the only one who could see the future. He could too!

"I'm ending this farce now."

Several specks of purple orbs appeared—like literal dust particles—they surrounded me. No... not just me!

I looked around, and even the recovering Adventurers were all surrounded by the purple orbs.

'No.... stop!' My eyes widened.

My heart began racing at breakneck speed, and I instantly lost control of my emotions. Perhaps it was because I already knew the future thanks to my precognitive ability, or because I knew it was impossible to stop it.

"Nooooo!!!" Tears flew from my eyes.

The last image I got of the Adventurers, including Sarah and everyone else... was how they looked at me with confidence.

Even in their injured state, they believed I could save them!

"No wai—!!!"

>BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

Just like everyone else, I was engulfed in the explosion. It spanned across a great distance, consuming over half of the city as a result.

"GARRHHHHHH!!!" I felt my entire Dragon body get scorched off, and even my skin was burning beyond ehat I could bear.

It was torture—and the only way I could survive was thanks to my several Skills that strengthened me.

'T-the others!'

Unlike me... no one else in the town could afford that kind of protection.

"Oh? It seems you're more stubborn than I expected." Valefor descended and landed on the devastated grounds of Dulum.

Smoke ascended to the air—so thick that everywhere seemed to be covered in fog. Of course, with my heightened senses, it wasn't completely imperceivable for me.

"You protected them with your barrier. Not bad. I thought you had a Warrior Class, though."

Valefor was correct. The denizens of Dulum were not dead yet—though the explosion would have definitely turned them into cinders of smoke and ash.

I had used every ounce of my MP to summon a massive shield to protect them after using <Switch> to become a Mage.

It took almost everything I had, but... at the very least no one was dead.

Quickly, I summoned a potion from my Inventory and consumed it, raising my hand to cast as many Spells as I could.

"[Flames From Heaven]. [Thunderbolt Of Gods]. [Four Elements Clash]."

Exhausting all of my MP in the process, I directed the most dangerous Spells in my arsenal toward the enemy.

>BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!!<

Another great portion of the city was destroyed, but I had become desperate. Surely, this would do something!

'Right?? RIGHT?!!'

"Now throwing spells like a madman? It's pointless." My opponent appeared unscathed.

He proceeded from the smoke, clearing everything around him with a gust of fierce wind.

It was at this moment—seeing Demon Lord Valefor unaffected by my fiercest struggle—that I realized how pointless my struggle was.

Desperation slowly morphed into despair, and the creeping fear within me surfaced. I had known this all along, hadn't I?

"I can't do this..."

Smoke filled the air as debris littered the ground.

From the corner of my eyes, I could spot my comrades—no, my subordinates. They had been defeated so easily, barely alive due to my last-minute protection.

But for how long?

As they struggled for their lives, I basked in despondency. Despair crept upon me, and the personification of my fears stood a short distance from me.

"It is impossible to defeat me." Valefor smiled.

He was right.

A minute ago, I would have vehemently disagreed with that logic. I had sought whatever means I could to win.

I had used my Arcana Call. I bluffed. I did everything!

'I-I tried all I could think of... nothing works...'

I thought I prepared for everything. How wrong could I have possibly been? Perhaps if I had one more chance... maybe things could be different.

'The Fool is out of commission, and I can't beat this one even if my Stats are all restored.'

Nothing could avail me at this point.

'They all depended on me... yet I couldn't do anything. Everyone will die here... so will I.'

Frustration welled up within me—and so did regret.

Why did I ever think I could do this? I... I should not have come here! I couldn't even rewind time any longer.

This was the dead end!

"It seems you've already accepted your fate."

I raised my head with the last bit of my energy, watching the silhouette of the Demon Lord with my blurry vision.

Defeating something like this was downright impossible.

"Now... die."

Something appeared within the Valefor's grasp. It was reddish, and the object had a peculiar shape. Was that... a heart?

'Haaaa...' My thoughts trailed as the realization dawned on me.

The Demon's monstrous claws finally squashed the red heart, sending a painful—indescribably painful—sensation coursing through me.

'... This really is the end.'

"GUARK!" With my final cough of blood, I felt everything go blank.

[SYSTEM NOTICE]

<HP Has Reached Zero>

[All Chances Of Restoration Have Been Exhausted]

[YOU HAVE DIED!]

*

*

*

[A/N]

Well, it has been a great journey with everyone. I want to thank you all for supporting this book this far.

I think it's time I drop... an announcement.

Don't worry, the story isn't over. Lol

Just try to encourage this author by giving reviews, writing comments, sending gifts, etc. It's been a really... rough time of the year for me.

And its funny cus the year is just starting.

Thanks for reading. I hope to keep publishing chapters for you all.

Cheers!