“Kuhk… Kuaaaagh…!”
From Vector’s severed body, black smoke erupted like an explosion as his form was split by the strike of the blade of light.
When I turned my gaze toward Ravi, she had finally broken free from the black energy’s restraints, regaining control of her body as she sprinted toward me.
“Alvis!”
Vector was still alive.
I planted the blade of light into the ground and used it as support to struggle to my feet, preparing for another attack.
However, the damage I had taken from Ravi’s earlier strike was too severe—my arms lacked the strength to hold the sword properly.
Blood streamed down from my forehead, blurring my vision.
If that bastard had even a sliver of life left and lashed out, I wouldn’t have the strength to stop him.
Please… just die already…
The effect of my truth-piercing eyes had worn off.
Now, instead of the grotesque silhouette covered in countless eyes and mouths, he looked like an ordinary human man once more.
The black smoke that had been spewing from Vector’s body continued to rise into the sky but then, at some point, it simply ceased.
His body, which had been severed, was now miraculously reattached, appearing completely intact.
Not a single drop of blood flowed from him.
Ravi, Elfin, and Lenis trembled in despair at the sight.
“How… This makes no sense…”
“Even after taking that attack…”
“Not even bleeding… Is that thing really human?!”
But our despair only lasted for a moment.
Suddenly, Vector’s body lost strength, and he collapsed onto his knees, drained of all energy.
“Kuh… Hahh… I… the great Vector… brought down in such an absurd way…”
With those words, his body began to crumble into dust, starting from his fingertips.
“I was so close… so close to success… and yet… to be defeated by the likes of you… Damn it… Curse you!!”
“Did we… win?”
“Everyone, look around! The castle, the gardens… even the forest…”
As Vector faded, so too did the surrounding scenery.
The baron’s castle, the fences, the gardens, the ponds, the lake, and even the guards who had been stationed at the entrance—all of them turned to dust.
‘So that’s how it was.’
The guards had let us through without waiting for orders, and Vector, unaware of our arrival, had come outside to meet us as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
It all made sense now.
Those soldiers had been mere illusions, conjured by Vector himself.
That’s why there was never a need for them to report to him—because he already knew everything they saw and heard.
As the entire landscape around us continued to dissolve, Vector, now missing both arms, remained kneeling, muttering to himself.
“Hah… Hahaha… Fine, you win. This time, at least.”
“Who… what are you? What the hell is going on here?!”
“You knew even Linialas’s name! Who are you? Speak!”
“Was it you who deceived me and led me to Liberta? What was your goal?!”
The three of them shouted in anger, but Vector only grinned, his mouth stretching unnaturally wide as he slowly raised his head.
His eyes no longer had irises or whites—only pitch-black darkness swirled within them.
“Hah… Heh heh… Fine, since I’m dying anyway, I’ll let you in on something good.”
“We are the ones who will surpass the weak and incompetent goddess. We are the ones who will become the gods of this era. Even if I die, it will not hinder our plan. The whole world, even the Holy Knights, are already on our side. No matter what tricks you pull, you’re nothing but a minor variable—a meaningless resistance against the inevitable. Struggle all you want… The day will come when you’ll despair in your own powerlessness, and when you’ll turn your blades against each other…”
“The Holy Knights…? Don’t tell me… Bryden is—”
“Shut the hell up!”
“Bryden is nothing like you! He is an honorable man! Just because you have a mouth doesn’t mean you should spew nonsense—”
The three of them shouted in fury.
But the man they raged against was no longer there.
As Vector was completely annihilated, the surrounding landscape vanished along with him, and the place we stood finally reverted to the empty cavern I was familiar with.
▶ You have defeated one of the greatest enemies of the ‘One Who Resists Fate.’ This event will send shockwaves throughout the world, though there is no guarantee that they will all be for the better. ◀
â–¶ S-rank armor… â—€
A flood of messages appeared before my eyes, blocking my vision.
My head spun, making it hard to even read the text.
“Alvis!”
Someone called out to me urgently, but I couldn’t even tell which of the three it was.
With my stamina completely drained, I felt a wave of dizziness and anemia hit me, and I collapsed, closing my eyes.
When I opened my eyes again, I found myself neatly laid on a bed in what seemed to be an inn room.
“Ugh…”
As I tried to sit up, a burning pain shot through my abdomen and face.
Bandages were wrapped around different parts of my body, and a damp cloth rested on my forehead.
Strangely enough, I didn’t feel much pain in my nose.
When I cautiously touched it, I was surprised to find it intact—despite the fact that I was sure it had been crushed by a kick.
I was the only one lying in bed, but on the floor beside me, Ravi was curled up under a hastily spread blanket, sound asleep.
She must have been the one who took care of me.
At the bedside, near the window, my old iron sword lay.
However, its blade had been completely erased, leaving only a small portion near the hilt—probably because it couldn’t withstand the output of the enhanced lightsaber.
At this point, it was practically just a useless handle, no longer worthy of being called a sword.
Instead, beside it, there was a pile of unfamiliar objects.
Come to think of it, the place where we fought was a field dungeon called the Deceiver’s Lair.
In Holy Crusader Bryden NX, field dungeons had no limit on the number of characters that could enter, but in exchange, their difficulty was extremely high.
If necessary, players could overwhelm them with sheer numbers, but field dungeons had a special characteristic—if conquered with a small group, the rewards would be significantly better.
Since only four of us, including myself, had fought against Vector, the dungeon clear reward must have reached the highest possible tier.
‘Tch, if only I could activate my ability and check.’
As soon as that thought crossed my mind, a glow filled my eyes.
▶ As the ‘One Who Resists Fate,’ you have reached a higher realm, increasing the duration and usage limit of ‘Eyes That Pierce the Truth.’ The manually activated ability will last for five minutes. 3/4 ◀
So this is what they call reaching a higher realm? What a stingy reward.
If I had truly reached a higher realm, shouldn’t they have given me something significant?
Going from three minutes to five and increasing the daily uses from three to four hardly felt like a reward worth mentioning.
Grumbling internally, I proceeded to check the new items.
▶ S-rank Armor – Boots of Life’s Miracle: Boots imbued with the miraculous power to turn even the most desolate wasteland into lush greenery the moment the wearer steps on it. Grants the passive skill Power of Life Creation.
P – Power of Life Creation: At the wearer’s will, they can create a temporary area of lush vegetation wherever they step. While standing on this terrain, all of the wearer’s physical abilities are greatly enhanced. ◀
▶ S-rank Weapon – Purified High Priest’s Winged Staff: A long-forgotten staff that once held terrifying dark power. The wielder of this staff experiences a significant increase in mana and gains partial access to the ancient High Priest’s abilities. Grants the active skill Pain Deferment.
A – Pain Deferment: The recipient of this effect takes reduced damage, has increased healing capabilities, and absorbs damage over a period of time instead of receiving it all at once. ◀
▶ S-rank Weapon – Ancient Knuckles: Powerful knuckles made from the scales and fangs of an ancient race. Grants the active skills Shock Release and Destructive Strike.
A – Shock Release: Once per battle, these knuckles can absorb an attack using the ancient race’s scales and reflect it back at the attacker. Cannot absorb attacks that would instantly kill the wearer.
A – Destructive Strike: A formless shockwave, generated by the fangs of the ancient race, destroys the target from the inside out. ◀
▶ ‘Eyes That Pierce the Truth’ has transformed Swordsmanship Manual Vol. 2 into The Second Tome of Radiance. ◀
▶ You have acquired The Second Tome of Radiance, allowing you to use the fusion technique of Light Swordsmanship and Radiant Magic—Judgment. When used after activating a lightsaber, its power and range increase. ◀
â–¶ You have obtained Cursed Fragment #3. â—€
It looked similar to the black fragment I had seen at the Goblin Camp.
Gripping it tightly, I applied pressure, and it crumbled apart with ease.
â–¶ You have destroyed Cursed Fragment #3. â—€
▶ You have acquired Vector the Deceiver’s Power. You can now detect beings of the same nature as him and his subordinates within a close range, seeing through their disguises and identifying their locations. Additionally, you and your allies will be less noticeable to them. This effect does not apply if you are too close or engaged in battle. ◀
At last, a satisfied smile spread across my face.
Now this is what I call a reward.
Previously, everything I had obtained from raiding the Goblin Camp had been handed over to the Dutchy of Carat, and the Gargoyle Cave yielded nothing worthwhile—so in reality, this was my first actual haul.
And what a haul it was.
Each of the items boasted game-breaking abilities.
I had used both the boots and the knuckles in the game before.
The knuckles were straightforwardly powerful, while the boots were conditional but absurdly overpowered when used by the right character.
The winged staff was new to me, but it made sense to give it to Lenis, the only one in our party capable of using magic.
The loot distribution was almost too perfect.
Boots for Elfin, staff for Lenis, knuckles for Ravi.
Meanwhile, I had gained additional skills and destroyed another cursed fragment, unlocking yet another ability.
Considering the hell we went through to defeat Vector, this was a well-earned harvest.
“Mm…”
Perhaps my rummaging around had disturbed Ravi.
She rubbed her eyes and slowly sat up.
When she fully woke and saw me, her eyes widened in shock.
“A… Ah…”
Tears instantly welled up in her large eyes.
Then, as if afraid she might hurt me, she carefully, gently wrapped her arms around me before finally bursting into sobs, hugging me tightly.
“Huuaaaah! Waaaah! Alvis, you’re okay! You’re okay… Huwaaaah!”