Alphox’s devastating [Shadow Comet] had done its job, leaving the [Hell Abomination] heavily wounded and trapped within the massive crater formed by the impact.
Its grotesque body was regenerating, but it was slow—far too slow to make a difference before the final blow could be delivered.
That part was now left to Alex and Astolf.
And they had already figured out how to do it.
Throughout the battle, they had noticed something.
No matter how much damage the abomination took, no matter how much it bled or burned, it had never made an effort to defend itself.
Its flesh would tear, its limbs would fall apart, but it didn’t react.
But its mouth?
Every time something came close to it, the monster would slam its jaws shut with terrifying speed, as if instinctively protecting whatever lay inside.
That was their answer.
As the [Hell Abomination] continued to struggle, using its flesh tendrils to sluggishly pull itself out of the crater, Alex caught sight of Astolf raising his skeletal hand, a silent signal between them.
The massive skeletal construct he had summoned loomed at his side, its long, bony fingers curled slightly—waiting.
Alex didn’t hesitate.
Fwish!
He dove downward, cutting through the air as the wind howled past his ears.
[You have selected the “Orb of Cataclysm.”]
The notification flickered in his vision, but he barely registered it.
His entire focus was on the abomination below, on the gaping maw it desperately tried to keep shut.
It was time.
And then, the battlefield shifted.
Suddenly, hundreds of skeletal arms erupted from the [Hell Abomination]’s flesh, twisting and writhing unnaturally as they clawed their way out.
They didn’t attack—it was something different.
They moved with purpose, merging together in an eerie, fluid motion, bones fusing and stretching into shape.
Alex recognized it immediately.
Two massive skeletal hands were forming.
Astolf was taking the next step of the plan.
The [Hell Abomination] had been able to break these skeletal constructs before, usually tearing them apart the moment they appeared.
But right now, it was too weak.
Alphox’s earlier attack had drained too much of its energy, its regeneration struggling to keep up.
And Astolf—ever the tactician—had buffed himself, making sure his skeletal constructs were reinforced beyond their usual limits.
The moment arrived.
FWASH!
The two enormous skeletal hands lunged forward, gripping the edges of the abomination’s mouth.
Its flesh pulsed violently, its muscles spasming in protest, but the skeletal grip was unyielding.
Slowly, forcefully, the hands began to pull.
The creature shrieked.
A horrific, choked scream echoed from its many human-like mouths, a discordant chorus of agony and rage.
Its tendrils flailed wildly, striking out in every direction.
They were moving faster now, regenerating at an alarming rate, fighting desperately to reclaim control over its body.
But it wasn’t enough.
The hands stretched its maw wider and wider.
Alex met Astolf’s gaze for a split second, and the skeletal construct beside the undead king made a simple, clear gesture: an “OK” sign.
‘Go for it.’
Alex exhaled sharply, then flicked his wrist downward.
Fwish!
The [Orb of Cataclysm] shot downward like a falling star.
Fwish! Fwish!
It picked up speed instantly, cutting through the air with incredible velocity.
The crater rushed up to meet it, the abomination’s stretched mouth directly in its path.
The monster reacted immediately.
Its tendrils lashed out, striking at the orb with desperate force.
They whipped toward it, attempting to intercept it before it could reach the depths of its maw.
But the moment they made contact—
BOOM!
A shockwave burst from the orb’s surface, repelling the tendrils with sheer force.
It didn’t stop. It passed the threshold of the abomination’s open mouth, vanishing into the abyss within.
And then—
SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!
A horrifying sound erupted from deep within the creature.
Crimson spikes—dozens upon dozens of them—exploded outward from the inside, each one massive, razor-sharp, and drenched in Alex’s power.
They tore through flesh and bone, bursting through the creature’s grotesque body in all directions.
The [Hell Abomination] spasmed violently.
Its tendrils seized mid-motion, its grotesque mouths frozen in silent screams.
Its entire form convulsed, twitching and writhing uncontrollably.
The crimson spikes had impaled it from within, rupturing whatever organs or cores had kept it functioning.
Alex watched as the monstrosity’s body lost all tension, its flesh sagging, its once-relentless regeneration ceasing entirely.
Ding!
[You have killed “Hell Abomination” and gained 300 billion experience points.]
The notification rang out like a victory bell.
Alphox let out a low whistle, eyeing the grotesque, impaled corpse with a mixture of awe and disgust.
“Damn,” he muttered, “That’s actually terrifying.”
Astolf said nothing.
He simply observed in silence.
Meanwhile, Alex grinned.
The [Hell Abomination] had been nearly impossible to kill from the outside, its body an ever-regenerating nightmare.
But inside… inside was a different story.
The heart, the core, the weaknesses that made it vulnerable—once he had reached them, the battle was over in seconds.
Of course, level-up notifications flooded his vision, but he ignored them for now.
This fight wasn’t over. Not yet.
Because now, there was only one enemy left: the Hatred Demon.
[The Crown of Calamity advises for the two others to retreat. It will not be safe.]
Alex knew that already.
He turned to Alphox and Astolf, relaying the crown’s warning.
They both understood immediately.
Prideful as they were, neither was foolish enough to test their luck against the Hatred Demon.
They had done their part.
And so, as the battlefield fell silent, Alex and the Crown of Calamity stood alone.
Facing the final enemy.
“This fight has been going on for so long…” Alex exhaled, stepping forward.
“I’ve thought it would end dozens of times—both for me and for it.”
[But this time…]
“But now, I can feel it,” Alex said, his voice firm, “No more transformations. No more drawn-out phases.”
[The true end is coming. Be ready to use everything you’ve got. I will do the same.]
Alex nodded.
[The preparations are complete. But be warned, it can only be used once as if it breaks, I can do it again.]
“Good,” Alex muttered, “Because…”
His eyes locked onto the Hatred Demon.
Its four arms remained raised, power crackling wildly around them.
The ritual circle embedded in its chest was glowing like a second sun, pulsating with raw, unfiltered energy.
BOOM!
A crimson shockwave erupted outward, sending Alex flying back.
He spread his wings to stabilize, gritting his teeth as more shockwaves followed.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Each one stronger than the last.
“CHILD,” the Hatred Demon’s many mouths spoke at once, its voice a distorted cacophony, “BE READY. FOR MY FINAL ATTACKS ARE READY TO BE UNLEASHED!”
It was a warning. Or perhaps, a taunt.
Alex narrowed his eyes.
‘Crown, is it time yet?’
[Not yet. The moment must be perfect.]
‘Fine.’
BOOM!
The ground trembled violently as the Hatred Demon lowered its arms.
The power around it surged, ten times more violent than before.
The ritual circle on its chest flared to its brightest yet, releasing blinding rays of crimson energy.
“The final showdown starts now,” the Hatred Demon laughed, the grotesque mouths in its hole-face twisting with anticipation, “Try to entertain me one last time.”
BOOM!
A final, earth-shattering shockwave erupted as its body pulsed with overwhelming energy.
And with it, two final [Forbidden Skills] awakened.
“PURE DEFENSE,” and… “SWORD OF HATRED!”
…
A/N
5 chapters left for this fight, then the final preparations for the Chosen Games, it will go at a much steadier pace from now, the “end” is near.