Chapter 102 - The Fire Within Me; A Bet Against Fate

My name is Kota Kintaro.

"He's drowning! Come on, let's just make him faint!" The children laughed cruelly, their hands shoving my head into the river. Bystanders walked by—some glanced, most didn't. None stopped to help.

By the time I got home, night had already fallen. Water dripped from my hair, my soaked clothes clinging to my skin. I trudged through the door, dragging myself inside.

"You piece of shit, you're late again... Do you hate me that much?" my mother snapped, her bottle clutched tightly in one hand. She didn't even look at me, didn't notice the water pooling at my feet or the bruises swelling on my face.

I knew she didn't actually worry about me. She'd say the same thing whether I was on time, early, or late—bullies or no bullies. And it never stopped there.

"You know what, I fucking hate you too, alright!?" she spat through gritted teeth. "I WAS the one who GOT STUCK raising you!!"

"I'm the ONE WHO HAS TO PAY FOR YOUR SCHOOL! And you live here for free, or I'd be labeled a bad mother! YOU THINK THAT'S FAIR!? You fucking leech... draining my life like some monster!"

"IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!!!" she screamed, her words slurred but sharp.

She'd say things like this almost every day, drunk and seething.

She wasn't wrong. She was a shitty mother, but she wasn't wrong. I was getting beaten up daily, my grades were abysmal, and I had no friends. No reputation. Nothing.

Sometimes, I'd catch her watching Korean dramas—those perfect-looking teens caring for their mothers. She'd cry at those shows, tears streaming down her face as if mourning something she'd never have.

It was obvious—she hated me. Yearning and begging for a life that didn't include me.

One day, my mother screamed that she disowned me as I walked through the door, her voice shaking with rage.

"You're not my son anymore!" she shouted. "GET OUT, GET OUT, GET OUT, GET OUT!!!" She hurled utensils at me.

I silently went back to my room. She never followed through on her words, but it felt inevitable that her misery would push her to say something like that eventually. Maybe I felt something in that moment. Maybe I didn't. I just shrugged it off as another one of her drunken tirades.

She was always working, and when she wasn't, she was drinking. She clung to her bottle like a mother might cling to her child. It was as if she actively chose that bottle over me, pouring all her attention into it—the attention I wanted—

Never mind.

She used to be kinder—warm, I think. Sometimes, I'd dream about the way she was before, though those memories have blurred over time. Was it ever real? If it was, I think her kindness came from my father's presence—at least, until he took his own life. His note blamed work, the crushing weight of expectations.

I understood him a few years later, after living with my mother. She expects the perfect son, someone I'm just unable to become. She expects a person that isn't me—some good-looking actor who never gets angry, always smiles, and doesn't burden her with anything. Someone who struggles for her, no matter what.

That's why I understood her too. The love of her life was gone—the one who struggled every day to make ends meet, the one who made her smile. And all she was left with was… me. Someone who just didn't want to struggle for her; or to maintain his image; or for anything that is outside of my computer.

I guess she wasn't wrong about me being a bad son after all.

Either way—shitty kids, a shitty mother… and shitty me. That was my life.

But there was one thing I was good at.

I turned on my computer, the faint glow cutting through the darkness of my room. Minutes later, I was deep in the middle of a boss fight in an MMORPG—a brutal one that even seasoned players struggled with.

Video games.

The only thing that made sense. In there, I was everything my mother desired. I knew how to lead, how to stay calm under pressure, and how to encourage others. I never blamed anyone for mistakes. I was social, resourceful, and efficient—leading guilds and organizing raids like a well-oiled machine. Bosses and challenges were nothing but patterns to learn, weaknesses to exploit, strategies to execute.

It was easy.

At some point, I thought—if my mother existed in my game,

... she would love me.

And as if on cue, a portal shimmered into existence beside me—in the real world. I didn't know what it was, what it meant, or what lay beyond it.

But as I looked at it, a feeling washed over me: if I walked through, I wouldn't be able to return.

My mother's voice replayed in my mind, her words echoing like a broken record: "You're not my son anymore." Wouldn't this work out for her? She'd have the house all to herself. And if no one found me, that was another day she wouldn't have to be burdened with a son like me.

But this portal—it appeared right here, in my room. That could only mean someone else needed me.

And if it was a choice between staying with a mother who hated me and walking into the unknown, it was no choice at all.

I stepped through without hesitation.

"Kota...!!"

The last thing I saw was my mother bursting into my room, tears streaking her face. The last thing I heard was her voice calling my name.

But that couldn't have been real.

She never called for me. Not like that. Not even when Father died.

So, I couldn't have heard her voice just now.

But Varolia…

Varolia needed me. She welcomed me with open arms, entrusting her world's fate to me. I was her chosen one. She praised me, lifted me up in ways I'd never felt before.

I walked into a world of magic, game-like mechanics—where things made sense, just like my games. I felt it immediately: this was my calling. My mother had been counting the days until I graduated and left. She didn't care where I went, as long as it wasn't with her.

But here, in this world, with Varolia—I was important.

It hit me.

She was it.

The mother that existed in my video games. The one that accepts and praises me.

I never knew how good it felt to hear someone say, "I need you," even if the next words were, "To do something for me."

And a Goddess, no less. Someone that powerful and divine needed me.

So, I wanted to do more for her.

I stayed in the mortal realm, doing what she couldn't. Fighting for her. Protecting her vision for hundreds of years.

And now… she's given me the grand quest.

Kill Van Hellix.

Do that…

…And I'll get to be with her for all eternity. Join her, in Arataxia.

--------------------------

[That's why…!!!] Kota roared, his voice echoing violently through the cave. Flames erupted from his body, spiraling outward like a volcano about to blow. His eyes burned with madness, his glowing clones surrounding Van like circling vultures.

[I WILL KILL YOU!!!] he screamed, flames engulfing him entirely as he entered a frenzied state.

[Skill: UNDEAD ARMY!!]

Burning skeletons once more clawed their way out of the molten ground, their fiery eyes locking onto Van. They charged, weapons ablaze, their bony feet clattering against the cave floor.

Van's glowing body shimmered, the light from using the skill Hard Swing: Perpetual audible in the oppressive heat. His focus wavered as the skeletal horde bore down on him.

'Too many... They're everywhere...' Van thought, his breathing quickening.

But then he closed his eyes, forcing his body to calm. 'Relax. You can do this.'

In a split second, Van vanished, leaving behind a deafening sonic boom that scattered the burning skeletons like brittle twigs. He reappeared behind the mob, his glowing body propelled by the micro-movements of [Hard Swing: Perpetual], each twitch of his armor triggering a burst of blinding speed.

The fiery skeletons swung wildly, their blazing weapons cleaving through empty air, unable to touch the streak of light that was Van. He steadied himself, his glowing greatsword humming with energy, before unleashing a furious cry:

"[HARD SWING: OVERDRIVE]!!!"

Van's greatsword roared as it cut through the air in a single, devastating arc. The sheer force of the swing obliterated the entire skeletal horde in an instant, shattering them into a cascade of ash and dust that scattered across the cave like an infernal snowstorm.

The ground trembled beneath the weight of the strike, the walls groaning under the pressure. Van's glowing figure remained steady, his arms reinforced by [Hard Swing: Perpetual], the perpetual force keeping his limbs intact despite the unimaginable strain of the attack.

His breathing was heavy, his limbs screaming in agony, but he held firm.

[THAT WAS NOTHING!] Kota yelled, as if in protest of Van's resilience.

[Skill: DEMON SPEED!!] He shouted.

Kota and his clones blurred, their movements impossibly fast, their afterimages trailing with fire as they converged on Van from every angle.

Van's glowing figure darted forward, backward, sideways—everywhere—outpacing Kota's clones. His mind focused entirely on maintaining the rhythm of Hard Swing: Perpetual, using the skill to amplify his agility and dodge every flaming strike; this time, using Unicus's sword.

"Grrchh...!!" Van grunted, his head pounding as if it were about to split open. The relentless G-forces from his rapid, high-speed dodges battered his senses, each evasive maneuver sending shockwaves through his skull.

'Too bad I can't Hard Swing my brain... It's... getting blurry...!!'

His body flickered in and out of sight, glowing with the light of [Hard Swing: Perpetual], but his thoughts grew muddled. Every twitch, every microburst of speed to avoid Kota's relentless clones pushed his body to its limit.

The strikes came faster, more coordinated. The clones moved like a pack of wolves, forcing Van to twist, dip, and vanish again in bursts of sonic booms. But his mind screamed for reprieve, the relentless acceleration threatening to knock him unconscious.

'HOLD ON... You must hold on...!!'

Through the chaos, a memory forced its way into his mind—Ami's face. The image cut through the fog of pain, grounding him.

'HOLD ON...!!!!' He thought, as if scolding himself in anger for showing weakness.

Kota growled in frustration, his rage boiling over.

[You can't run forever, Hellix!!!]

[Skill: FLAME CRESCENDO!!]

A spiraling vortex of flames erupted from Kota, consuming the cave walls and sending molten embers raining down.

'Shit. It's getting even hotter...!! If I stop moving, the heat will melt me and my armor,' Van thought, his breaths growing more ragged. 'I need to take out his clones. NOW!!' He gritted his teeth.

Van landed on a wall up high, and then propelled himself upward, narrowly avoiding the firestorm. He landed with a glowing skid, sending pebbles scattering as he reoriented himself.

Kota's voice roared, raw with frustration, as he bellowed, [DAMN IT!!! FALL!! FALL!!!]

"[Skill: IMMOLATION BLADE!!]"

Kota's arm ignited, transforming into a massive, flaming greatsword. He charged forward, each swing cutting through the air, sending waves of blistering heat toward Van. Behind him, his clones followed, each conjuring their own flaming blades; moving in synchronization.

Van moved like a ghost, weaving through the chaotic assault. He ducked under one blade, twisted past another, and lunged away from a sweeping strike. Every twitch of his armor triggered a micro-precise Hard Swing, propelling him in bursts of speed away from Kota's strikes.

Kota's eyes widened in disbelief. [How the hell are you—!!?]

Before Kota could finish, Van caught a glimpse of opportunity. In a fleeting instant, all of Kota's clones aligned in a straight line, their flaming swords raised in unison.

He gripped his greatsword tightly, the blade glowing with the light of his skill.

"[Hard Swing: OVERDRIVE]!!"

He swung with devastating force, his body surging forward as if launched by a cannon. The sheer velocity of the attack created a deafening shockwave that obliterated the clones in a single, explosive strike. Fiery embers and ash scattered across the cave.

Kota stood alone.

Van didn't hesitate. His glowing form blurred again as he surged forward, his greatsword poised for another devastating strike.

"[HARD SWING: OVERDRIVE]!!!"

Van roared, pouring everything into the swing. His muscles screamed in agony, fibers tearing with each impossible movement. Even with [Hard Swing: Perpetual] mitigating the strain, the sheer force of the attack pushed his body to its limits.

The blade connected.

Kota's mana shield shattered like fragile glass, unable to withstand the impact. The greatsword cleaved through his flaming armor, the force flinging him across the cave like a broken doll. He crashed into the molten wall he had conjured earlier, the intense heat licking at his battered form.

[GAHHHh!!!!] Kota spat blood, his chest heaving with ragged breaths. A deep, gaping wound marred his chest where Van's blade had struck. Though his mana shield had absorbed much of the attack, the damage was catastrophic.

Kota's vision blurred, his knees trembling as he struggled to stay upright. He could feel his strength slipping away, his body betraying him.

'I'm... slipping...!'

Through the haze, he saw Van bulleting toward him again. Van's greatsword was raised high, ready to deliver the final blow.

And then, a memory flashed in Kota's mind.

------------------------------------------

"You're not my son. I HATE YOU!!! GET OUT, GET OUT, GET OUT!!!" His mother's shrill voice echoed in his mind, each word slicing through him like daggers.

Suddenly, a different voice broke through the darkness; another memory.

[Kota... Kintaro, right?]

Her voice was soft, gentle. It carried a warmth he hadn't known in years.

[I can see your potential. Come. Be mine, and you will never be alone again.]

Kota's lips quivered. "I... wasn't alone…" he mumbled faintly.

She stepped closer, lifting his chin gently. Her gaze met his, radiating warmth.

[It must have been hard. Do not worry.] Her voice melted the icy barriers around his heart. [I'm here for you.]

For the first time in years, Kota cried, trembling as he felt a foreign yet overwhelming comfort.

'I found her. The Mom in my games... The one who truly loves me.'

----------------------------------------

Kota's bloodshot eyes snapped open, his mind rekindled by the memory of Varolia. His trembling hand ignited once more, flames roaring to life as he prepared to counter.

[Not yet… I'm not done yet…!!] he growled, summoning another Mana shield, using some of it to staunch the bleeding in his chest, and then chanting another skill with it:

"[Skill: HELL'S LANCE!!]"

A massive, glowing spear of fire formed in Kota's hands, the intense heat warping the air around him. With a guttural roar, he hurled it with all his might, the fiery lance tearing through the cave like a comet.

'Shit, how many skills does he have...!!?' Van thought, his glowing figure blurring as he narrowly dodged the blazing spear. It whistled past him, grazing his armor before detonating against the cavern wall.

The explosion ripped through the air, shaking the cave and sending molten debris flying. Van skidded to a stop, his breathing heavy but controlled, his mind racing.

[I WON'T LOSE TO YOU!!!] Kota roared, his voice echoing like thunder in the collapsing chamber.

"[Skill: SCORCHING PILLARS!!]"

Towering columns of molten fire erupted around Van, forming an infernal prison that radiated searing heat. The ground beneath him cracked and glowed with an orange hue, threatening to swallow him whole.

Van crouched low, his muscles coiling like springs. With a sudden burst, he launched himself skyward, threading the needle through a narrow gap between the molten spires. He landed with a heavy thud outside the circle of flames, his glowing armor pulsing with energy.

'Relax. Just keep moving,' Van reminded himself, his fists clenched tight around his sword. 'The moment you stop, you're dead.'

Kota's rage boiled over, his bloodshot eyes locking onto Van.

"[Skill: ASHEN STORM!!]"

The air around them ignited into a swirling hurricane of embers and fire, reducing visibility to near zero.

"[Skill: VOLCANO MANOR!!!]"

The ground beneath them erupted violently as molten lava spewed from the depths, its intense heat mixing with the fiery hurricane above. A vortex of lava and flames spiraled into existence, turning the battlefield into a molten inferno. The walls of the cave groaned under the strain, chunks of stone falling from the ceiling.

Van's glowing figure darted through the chaos, but his movements grew increasingly erratic. He slammed into the cavern walls, each impact jarring his battered body, the searing flames licking at his armor and leaving fresh burns beneath it.

'The ceiling is collapsing...!!' Van's gaze darted around as the cavern walls began to crumble. The relentless onslaught of heat and debris pressed in on him, threatening to suffocate any chance of survival.

Kota stood in the center of the storm, his form wreathed in flames.

'I don't care anymore. I will kill him. I'll kill his party, even if I have to chase them to the ends of the earth. If the price is destroying this cavern I've called home for a century, so be it. If it means breaking the seal, so be it!!!'

The flames around him intensified, licking the walls as the cave's structure continued to collapse.

------------- NEAR THE ENTRANCE -------------

"It's only getting worse! What in the Dragon God's name is going on down there!!?" Savathon shouted, his voice barely audible over the violent quakes. Rocks and debris rained down, scattering the group near the entrance.

"H-HEY!! The invisible wall seal is gone!!" a human warrior yelled, his voice laced with urgency.

Vaelthir's eyes narrowed as he barked, "We'll use this chance to evacuate the nearby village! I won't have more dead human corpses on my report!" He gestured sharply, leading the group toward the cavern's exit.

The party began to flee, but Ami stood frozen in place, her gaze fixed on the fiery depths. "WAIT!!! VAN IS STILL THERE!!" she screamed, pointing at the chaos. "HE'S STILL THERE!!"

Before she could rush back, Arnolt grabbed her roughly and pulled her away. A massive boulder slammed into the spot where she had stood moments before.

"That bastard can take care of himself!! If ye live now, ye'll see him later, won't ya!?" Arnolt growled, his voice gruff but urgent as he carried her away with the rest of the group.

Ami's heart pounded as she stared into the collapsing cavern. The intense glow of fire deep within the cave flickered like a dying star, the final glimpse of Van's battle against Kota.

'Van… Van!' Ami's thoughts screamed, her heart aching as the group emerged into the daylight, leaving the chaos behind.

---------------------------------

Van's eyes were wide, his body moving on instinct, guided by the rhythm of [Hard Swing: Perpetual].

'Shit... SHIT...!! Come on, I need a crack...!' Van thought, scanning the collapsing cavern ceiling as he moved around relentlessly, hoping for any sign of escape.

And as if on cue, he saw it—a crack, just big enough to propel himself through. Without hesitation, he launched upward, using [Hard Swing] to accelerate his leap. The next moment, he was outside, standing on the plains under the open sky.

Van dropped to his knees, tearing off his scorched helmet with trembling hands.

'Air... I need air...' he thought, gasping desperately. But the air offered no relief.

His lungs burned, each breath a searing agony. It was as if he were breathing molten liquid.

"Haa... Haa...."

His time was running out. The seal on him remained, as Kota was still alive—and far from finished.

----------- BACK IN THE CAVE ---------------

Kota stared at the crack in the cavern ceiling, watching the faint light of the sky beckoning him. His thoughts turned to Arataxia, to Varolia waiting above... And Van, just outside of his reach.

'You think you escaped?'

He looked down at his flaming, fractured armor, a manic smirk curling his lips.

'It doesn't matter what happens to this body. If I kill you... she'll be there for me. She always was. I'll sacrifice everything to kill you. She will pull me out of the darkness. I know she would.'

"[SACRIFICIAL SKILL: FIRE GIANT!!]"

The cavern trembled as molten lava erupted beneath him, his body expanding, transforming into a massive, fiery titan.

---- BACK OUTSIDE --------

Van knelt on the scorched ground, his body trembling with every futile attempt at breathing. The heat still radiating from the cave clung to his armor, and his consciousness teetered on the edge of slipping away.

"VAN…!!"

Ami's voice rang out, piercing the silence. "HE'S HERE!!!" she cried, pointing frantically at his kneeling form.

She sprinted toward him, her voice trembling with urgency.

"A…mi…" Van rasped, his voice weak and strained, barely above a whisper. He slowly raised a trembling hand toward her as she drew closer, the rest of the party trailing behind her.

Vaelthir's sharp voice broke through the chaos, trying to reassert some control.

"Hellix, the seal is broken. I assume the deed is done. But something's wrong with the ground…" He scanned the area, his sharp gaze narrowing. "We need to evacuate the villagers immediately before—"

"Vaelthir…"

The faint, quivering voice came from Sylva. She tugged at the elf's sleeve, her expression now pale and stricken.

Vaelthir turned to her, startled by the shakiness in her voice. "Sylva, what—"

She didn't answer, her wide eyes locked onto Van.

Vaelthir's gaze followed, his brows furrowing as he focused on him. He narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Van more closely… and then they widened in shock.

"Gods…" Vaelthir whispered under his breath, his composed demeanor cracking as he took in the horrifying sight.

Ami had stopped in her tracks, her eyes filling with disbelief and horror. She took a shaky step forward, her voice trembling. "V-Van…"

Van tilted his head slightly, his voice barely audible.

"Am…i… Don't… lo…ok…"

The flesh on Van's face was melted and sagging, barely clinging to his exposed, reddened skull. One eyeball hung loosely, its fluids dripping down the shattered remnants of his cheekbone. Fragments of skin and tissue clung to the helmet he had tossed aside. Blood streamed from every crack in his armor, pooling around him in dark, viscous trails.

'How…?' Arnolt's rugged face twisted in disbelief. Even the battle-hardened dwarf, who had seen battle beyond count, could only stare in stunned silence.

'How… is he still alive…?' he thought, his lips parting in awe as the stench of burnt flesh and blood reached him.

His calloused hands tightened on his axe as he watched Van struggle to stay upright. 'Just… how much did he hurt ya' in there, kid?'

'Just how hard did ya' fight for our sake…?' The thought settled heavily in his chest, filling it with a mix of pity and admiration as he looked upon the skeletal, bloodied remains of Van's face.

Sylva stumbled back a step, her trembling hand covering her mouth as tears streamed down her pale cheeks. Her voice broke into soft, wordless sobs as her gaze stayed glued to the horrifying figure. 

They were too awestruck and horrified to even notice the faint glow of his [Hard Swing] emanating from his armor.

"WHAT IN THE GODS' NAME ARE YOU ALL LOLLYGAGGING FOR?!?!" Savathon roared, his voice slicing through the silence and jolting the party out of their stunned stupor. His scaly and draconic tail slammed violently against the ground with a resounding thud.

"USE YOUR SPELLS, HEALING POTIONS!! VAELTHIR, YOU SNUB ELF, YOU MUST HAVE A STASH OF THEM, AH?!" he bellowed, stomping toward Vaelthir. "HURRY UP AND GIVE HIM—"

"It..." Vaelthir's voice cut through Savathon's tirade, low and heavy with somber resignation. He didn't turn to look at the Dragonkin, his gaze locked onto Van.

Even the haughty elf's usually sharp demeanor had softened in the face of what appeared before him.

"It won't help," he murmured. "Not… not in his state. It would only prolong his suffering." His voice faltered for a moment before he steadied himself.

"The only one who might be able to save him is a grand priest… or Amoria Veil herself." He shook his head slowly. "But by the time we reached her, he would already be gone. With or without potions."

The weight of Vaelthir's words hung over them, the party silently processing Van's condition.

"No… NO... D—... Don't... Leave me—" Ami sobbed as she knelt beside him, her trembling hands reaching out.

But before she could touch him, the ground shook violently, cracks splitting open beneath them.

Molten lava erupted from the earth, a searing wave of heat forcing the party to stagger back. From the fiery depths, a massive, hulking figure began to emerge—its form towering, its body radiating an intense red glow. Kota stood transformed, a colossal titan of fire and granite.

"W-what… what… is that?"

"U… Unicus...?" Sylva's voice trembled, barely audible. Her tear-streaked face turned skyward as she beheld the overwhelming figure looming above them, its bulk blotting out the sun.

The rest of the group froze, their faces pale as despair sank its claws into their hearts.

Kota's voice boomed in their minds, a thunderous echo that seemed to shake the very air around them.

[YOUR TIME IS UP, HELLIX,] he roared. [I WILL USE THIS SKILL TO CREMATE YOU ALL. EVERYONE HERE, EVERYONE IN THE VILLAGE—ALL OF YOU WILL BECOME MY SKELETONS. WITH YOUR DEATH, THE GODDESS WILL ACCEPT ME!!!]

The party stood paralyzed, the sheer magnitude of Kota's declaration stealing their breath.

"We... stand no chance..." a human warrior muttered, his voice hollow.

"No..." Sylva whimpered, clutching Vaelthir's arm tightly; as he himself was moments from collapsing to his knees.

Even Savathon and the stout dwarf Arnolt, seasoned warriors both, clenched their fists in frustration, unable to say a word.

As for Van...

Van lay still.

"Van..." Ami whispered, her voice breaking as she leaned closer. Her fingers brushed his battered gauntlet. "Hold me..."

But her words trailed off as her gaze locked onto something—his eye.

The one eye Van still had left.

It burned, not with pain or defeat, but with an unrelenting resolve.

Van's cracked lips parted.

"A… mi…" he rasped, the sound barely audible.

Slowly, with trembling hands, he reached for his helmet.

And as Van placed the helmet back onto his head, a soft, radiant glow spread from it.

[Hard Swing: Perpetual] activated, on the helmet. Allowing him to move his battered, broken head.

The skeletal figure that had seemed ready to collapse moments ago now stood tall.

The sight of him drew wide-eyed disbelief from his companions; turning their gazes away from the towering titan.

"...G...o... Mee..t... Me... At... th...e... ta...vern... Don...t.. wo...rry... I'...ll... be... f...ine..." he rasped, his voice hoarse and broken, every word a laborious effort.

'There's one thing I can do... But... Can I do it? I have to try,' Van thought.

He raised his glowing palm, intending to rest it on Ami's shoulder in a gesture of comfort. But as he looked at its bloodied, mangled state—its grotesque and unsightly appearance—he hesitated.

Ami noticed his pause and, without a second thought, seized his hand herself. She pulled it close, pressing her tear-streaked face to the black metal of his glowing armor.

She wept openly, clutching his hand as if it were her lifeline, refusing to let go.

Van gasped silently, his blurred vision taking in the scene. The strength with which she held him, her refusal to let him go.

He remembered Varlog's words.

"To be needed… to be loved… that is what fuels you, Van."

With his blurred, one-eyed vision, and the last breath left in his battered body, he made a decision.

He would make one last bet.

A single strike. A blow so powerful it could kill anyone. A strike strong enough to crush any contingency, to override any fail-safe skill, even those Kota might employ.

A bet against fate.

Against the fate Varolia had decided for him.

'It will work. I can do it.' He finally decided.

Van's gaze shifted to Arnolt, who stood closest to Ami. He gave the dwarf a subtle nod.

Arnolt understood immediately. Without hesitation, he stepped forward, his large hands gripping Ami firmly as he pulled her away.

"NO!!! NO!!! LET ME BE WITH YOU!!! LET ME STAY WITH YOU!!! NO!!!" Ami screamed, thrashing against Arnolt's grasp. She fought with all her might, but the dwarf's resolve held firm.

Van's gaze swept over the rest of the party, his glowing figure standing as a silent command. They understood. It was time to leave.

Vaelthir moved quickly to Sylva, who remained frozen. He gently pulled her along, her expression blank with shock, her feet moving only because he guided them.

One by one, the party began to retreat. Their steps quickened, urgency replacing their despair.

And soon, Van was left alone.

He exhaled softly, his body trembling.

It was time.

And without a word, without hesitation or another wasted thought, Van turned. He planted his feet and used [Hard Swing: Perpetual], slamming himself forward with immense force.

He flew through the air, until he landed directly on Kota's massive titan body, Van came crashing into its molten granite abdomen.

[IT WON'T WORK, HELLIX!!!] Kota's voice roared, reverberating inside Van's skull. [THIS BODY IS AS STRONG AS A GOD'S!!! I SACRIFICED ALL MY LIFEPOINTS FOR THIS!! YOU WON'T DO ANYTHING!!! IT'S OVER!!!]

The searing heat of the titan burned through Van's armor, scorching what little skin he had left beneath it.

Kota was ready. His ultimate skill was off cooldown. He would end this.

But then…

Van closed his eyes.

His trembling, charred fingers tightened their grip; but not on his armor this time.

The titan itself.

Its qualified as "Stuff". A physical object...

... That he could 'swing'.

Kota's massive body twisted unnaturally. His arms flailed as Van's [Hard Swing] sent him hurtling upwards, his colossal form moving against his will as it glowed with the radiance of Van's skill.

[W-WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!? STOP!!] Kota bellowed, but it was already too late. He was airborne.

Van's body trembled as he propelled himself upward with [Perpetual], driving Kota's enormous form higher and higher. The air grew thin, the heat of the titan's body now replaced by a creeping chill as they climbed through the atmosphere.

'Far…ther…' Van thought, his vision blurring, consciousness slipping. His body screamed in protest, every nerve alight with agony, but he held firm, amplifying his speed.

The two soared upward like a reversed comet, piercing through the clouds and into the cold void of space.

Kota's screams echoed around them. The sky darkened, stars appearing one by one as they breached the atmosphere. The planet a shimmering jewel beneath them.

[YOU THINK THIS WILL STOP ME!?] Kota roared defiantly. [I CAN JUST PROPEL MYSELF BACK TO EARTH!! THIS IS NOTHING!! YOU'VE LOST, VAN HELLIX!! YOU'VE LOST!!!]

'F…a…r… enough…' Van thought, his blurred vision fixed on the planet below.

He tightened his grip on Kota's titan form, his fingers sinking into the molten surface. With the last flicker of his consciousness, he chanted in his mind:

[Hard Swing:]

Kota's massive body stiffened, trembling as Van's words reverberated directly into his mind.

[W-WHAT!? WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?]

Van's single eye burned with resolve, even as the cold of space consumed its light. His mental voice rang out one final time:

[̸̨̖̗̞̟̏̂̆́͗ͅV̶̡̧͉̯͔̹̲͖͎͔̘̮̍̏͑̍̑̅̆̆͐͋̚͝͝o̶̯̥̳̝̝̱̹̳͊͆̽̎̚̕į̸̫̺͍͕͚͈́̆̇̉͋͂̏͐̓̏̕͝͝d̴̩̲̙͌͆̌̆̄̎̌̄̎̊͝͝ ̷̫̜̙̤̆̀̍̋̃̉͗͆̈́̌͘Ļ̶̼̯͙͈͓̹͕̗̫̤́̈̇̔͋̈́ä̵͈͒̋̐͐̄̑̚͜n̶̻̞̰̞͙͓̋̓́̈̍̌͠͠c̵̛̛̞͈̟̑͋̅̈́͊͒̔̋̿̚͘ė̴̛̱͉̦͍͕̼͛́ŗ̷̛̺̫̺̝̝̜͖̖̩̟͐͌̔̎͒̎̍̾̾̾́̚̕͠ͅ]̶̻͔̙̊̎͆͐̾̽̍͠

The titan's body began to radiate an intense brilliance, its molten surface surging with unimaginable energy.

Van didn't falter.

This wasn't just any swing—it was [Hard Swing] amplified to an inconceivable height.

More specifically:

[Hard Swing x10,000,000,000]

And then, it happened.

In the World of Araterra, on the 3rd of the Second Moon in the year xx912 A.D., the noon sky bore witness to a cataclysmic event.

For a moment, a second sun appeared next to the high-noon sun. A blinding light erupted across the heavens, bathing the world in a radiance that eclipsed even the brightest daylight. Those who dared to look directly at it were left blinded by its sheer intensity.

The people whispered that it was the Gods showing off their strength.

But there were a few who knew the truth.

Ami fell to her knees, her trembling hands covering her face as tears poured down her cheeks. 'Va…n… No…'

With her, the rest of the party fell to their knees, disbelief etched across their faces. Their eyes remained fixed on the heavens, where they had witnessed the impossible—a titan hurled skyward by the hands of a single man, only to explode into a blinding light.

They knew this was no act of the Gods.

It was no cosmic event.

It was their party member, Van Hellix.

And on the same day, in Arataxia's grand palace, the seat of the ruling Goddess Varolia herself, the halls trembled with the sound of her wrath. Screams of frustration echoed, furniture shattered under the weight of her fury, and her divine voice thundered through the heavens.

Her proxy, Kota—her chosen instrument—had fallen.

To a mere meatshield.

Meanwhile, in the silent void of space, where Van and Kota had been obliterated by the cataclysmic explosion of the [Void Lancer], a series of glowing messages hovered:

[DEMI-GOD SLAIN]

[YOU HAVE DIED.]

[Your [Dark Soul] binds your essence to the mortal realm.]

[Respawning in a safe area...]