Volume 2, Chapter 107 – Defeat

Before this, the players who had experienced the previous undead incident had already realized that there was something far from ordinary about this virtual game.

Although they had their suspicions, none of them could truly imagine what kind of game this really was.

But if one day they came to understand its true nature, then perhaps the whole truth would surface at last.

And now…

In this game world, a battle that could only be described as epic unfolded before the eyes of every player.

In the sky, four enormous figures radiated indescribable power and might.

Around those figures, infinite lightning and flames coiled and surged.

And facing those four beings stood a man who, by comparison, looked as small as an ant, holding a long black sword.

Though the man’s figure seemed minuscule before those four mighty silhouettes, everyone could feel the aura of relentless determination emanating from him was far stronger than that of the four colossal figures before him.

This battle could be said to be one worthy of being recorded in the entire history of the virtual game…

Unfortunately, the main character of this battle didn’t seem to be a player at all.

It was purely a fight between NPCs.

While the players were still reeling in shock from the sight before them, that small figure in the sky finally moved.

And this time, his target was the dwarf from the Fortress.

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“I won’t underestimate you, Sargus!”

In the void, the Fortress Emperor’s gaze sharpened.

As his voice fell, the dwarf in the sky who wielded a massive hammer raised it high toward Sargus.

The flames bursting from the hammer were so hot they seemed to burn the void itself, while endless lightning flashed around, emitting dazzling brilliance.

“Flames that can melt the void and thunder that can rend space, Sargus, do you, at your limits, dare to take such an attack head-on?”

The Fortress Emperor’s eyes widened, though his heart was tense.

Even though he was using the most powerful offensive technique of the Fortress Plane Power, he still worried that Sargus would actually take the blow directly.

If Sargus did and was killed, all would be fine, but if he survived, then the Fortress’s fate would end up the same as Nature’s.

“Don’t worry. I’ll use the Academy’s Plane Power to reinforce a defense. That way, even if Sargus endures the blow, he won’t be able to strike back effectively.”

Antonio from the Academy clearly saw the Fortress Emperor’s concern, and said that to ease his mind.

But though he said so, the situation before them didn’t seem that simple.

In the sky, the Fortress Plane Power’s attack surged toward Sargus.

Boom!

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Thunder and flame struck Sargus’s body. In an instant, the armor he wore began to melt under the heat of the fire, and cracks spread across his flesh inch by inch as lightning tore through him.

“This kind of attack…”

Even for a Throne-class being, bearing such blows had clearly pushed Sargus’ body to its limit.

Yet despite it all, there was no pain on Sargus’ face.

Only calm.

Moments later, the endless flames and lightning began to fade.

When the light cleared, what appeared before everyone was still that same battered and bloodied Undead Grand Duke Sargus.

“Then… my turn.”

Sargus spoke softly, then swung his sword.

A streak of black light split the sky and in the next instant pierced through the defensive Plane Power the Academy had cast to protect the Fortress dwarf.

“Cough…!”

In the void, Antonio—who had still worn a composed expression, suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood. His already aged body grew even more withered.

“Cough… cough… Undead Grand Duke Sargus… I didn’t think… didn’t think…”

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Muttering to himself, Antonio’s figure slowly faded and vanished into the void.

In just two exchanges, though Sargus had paid a great price, he had directly inflicted grievous damage upon two factions’ Plane Powers.

The faces of the Throne-class beings in the void grew increasingly grim.

After a long silence, the Fortress Emperor looked around and sighed.

“The Plane Powers must be withdrawn.”

Heavenly Father slowly closed his eyes.

“Indeed, Sargus appears to be at his limit, but I can’t guarantee that in the brief gaps between our attacks, he won’t strike again…”

“It was my mistake.”

“The Undead Grand Duke Sargus… he is no ordinary Throne-class being. In the billions of years since the world’s birth, Sargus of the Undead has been among the very few true powers.”

“Two of the five Plane Powers have already fallen. The plan to erase the Graveyard using the Plane Powers… has completely failed.”

“For now, withdraw the Plane Powers… I will descend personally and slay the Undead Grand Duke.”

As Heavenly Father said, their plan to erase the Graveyard had, in truth, completely failed.

Yes, failed.

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Two major factions had been severely damaged and were now forced to withdraw from the war against the Graveyard undead.

In this condition, they no longer had the strength to destroy the Graveyard even if they defeated Sargus.

It had become utterly impossible.

Moreover, Plane Power was not something that could be invoked lightly.

A Plane Power represented an entire Plane, and once it was awakened, it could not be summoned again for the next hundred thousand years.

Though the Plane Powers were fragile, their destructive power was far greater than that of any Throne-class strike.

To each great faction, a Plane Power was akin to a superweapon in the real world, something never used unless absolutely necessary.

Though reluctant to let the Plane Powers return to slumber, neither Heavenly Father nor the others wanted to continue risking them before Sargus.

Even though Sargus looked ready to collapse at any moment, who could say whether he might once again severely wound another Plane Power?

With that in mind, Heavenly Father could only helplessly declare their previous strategy a failure.

As the three remaining Thrones reached an agreement, the three manifested forms of the remaining Plane Powers in the sky swiftly faded away…