The one where the protagonist dies!

Since he can't enter the archives, Desmond decided to visit old Kelvin's shop.

He slowly walked, enjoying the cool breeze and the luscious scenery. There was something on this slow and alone walk, that some people can't seem to understand.

On the way, he saw many students huddled together with sheets of paper and books, some were looking at their smartphones.

They were all studying for tomorrow's written exams.

All the seniors had classes so none were visible, especially in this part.

[Don't you wanna study?]

'Pff…me? No. Why would I study? I'm pretty much sure I can answer any first-year theory paper. I mean, what're they even going to ask? How much time would it consume for a bull pig to nut? Or, what is the angle of the heat vision that aims at a villain 45 m away from you? C'mon, I know its answers. Silly Gonorrhea.'

[…]

At 'the coffee shop.'

Old Kelvin enthusiastically drank coffee from his cup. He inquired about the boy from yesterday and was a bit disappointed when heard Desmond haven't seen him all day.

They talked about various other subjects including tomorrow's exams and old Kelvin gave him pointers that he heard from the headmaster.

Arthur had messaged him since it was lunchtime, but obviously, he ignored it. He also has received the materials needed for tomorrow's exam, courtesy of dear Aurelia.

Old Kelvin had food from the cafeteria since he was a working member of the academy.

With Desmond's food from his storage ring, they shared a meal.

It was fun…

While it lasted.

When it was past 2 pm, Desmond decided to head to the park and spent some time in the woods.

But, when he stood up from his seat he instantly got a system message.

Not the annoying A.I. but from the actual system.

[Death scene unlocked!]

[Integrating with the host now!]

The moment that system message popped into his head, Desmond lost consciousness.

*****

Sound.

Sound of screaming.

Sound of despair.

Sound of flesh tearing and churning.

In a black empty space, Desmond was suspended with a little natural motion. Like an astronaut in space.

He suddenly opened his eyes hearing the painful sound.

He could hear them but there was only blackness beside him.

He tried to move his body, but it was of no avail. He was just trapped inside his own body without any motor function.

"…"

He tried to talk but no sound came.

'What the…? Where is it? What happened to me?'

[Integrating the scene. 95%]

'Ah, yes something like that message popped up. Let's just wait and see.'

[…98%]

[99%]

[100%]

[Integration successful.]

A second later all the blackness in the space changed to something image-like.

Many images of many random things flashed across space and rapidly changed in less than a second.

Some of the images were to his knowledge but some were very new to him.

Due to the images being less than a second, he wasn't able to register it completely but he was sure whatever he saw was indeed new to him.

'Might be both past and the future.'

After several seconds, all the images stopped and only one remained.

The image was paused unlike before when it was moving.

It was slightly blurry but he can make the rough outline. It was a… dungeon.

Before he could think anything, he was sucked into the image like a whirlpool sucking a lone log.

Whoosh~

Everything happened in a matter of seconds.

When he regained his composure, everything felt normal except for the motor function.

He was seemingly inside his body, but the body was panting and heaving heavy breaths.

The owner of the body was in a place surrounded by deep thick forest and Desmond could see a flaming lion in front of him.

The lion was white with a flaming red mane and eyes. It was not albino though, that is its species' color.

It was looking down at him from the top of a large rock.

The 'other' Desmond stood up straight. His moon blade clutched on his hands tightly as to not lose the only thing that have any offensive value.

He looked around to see his comrades down.

His friends whom he made from the very beginning of the classes. During the wolves' attack, they stood together to fight against them and they had emerged as the victor.

His lover…

He chuckled at his own words. Lover? He might be head over heels for her, but she was happy with 'him.' He looked over to see the blond kid or what was left of him in the pile of ashes.

He was just happy being near her. To see her smile. To see her determination…

After his father's death, they were like family to him and now… now that was also gone because of yet another mistake from the academy.

A rank F dungeon must and will only have a rank F+ boss or a rank higher than that. But the beast standing proudly in front of him was a rank D+ boss monster. How's that possible?

Where did it all go wrong?

His eyes began to moisten until he could feel hot drops trickling down his cheeks.

Now all of them were gone because of this proud beast standing opposite him with the face of a conqueror.

"Why…? Why must you punish me like this…?" He looked at the beast's blood eyes. "I'll… I'LL KILL YOU…"

He rushed at the lion, tightly clutching the moon blade, tears blurring his vision.

ROARRR~

The lion made a deafening roar but his footsteps never faltered. He coated his blade with the remainder of his mana.

The majestic and proudful Flame Lion lunged from his rock at the pesky child. He was nothing more than an ant to the lion.

The lion tackled the kid and dug his cruel teeth deep inside the side of his neck. Blood started to gush out from the torn place like a water sprinkler in the garden.

"Ultimate…move: Lion…conq…conqueror."

Amidst the blood sprinkler, the boy squeezed out those words. Strained and painfully.

It was at that moment, the lion felt something piercing his heart. It was not the blade itself that pierced its heart it was the concentrated mana that acted like the blade's extension.

The angry lion looked at the puny human under him.

He was smiling.

"It's…m-my…victory."

ROARRR!!!

The cruel beast bit the neck completely off and thus finally ending the scene.

Though this was explained in third person mode, for Desmond, who was inside the body of the 'other' Desmond, this was played in first person mode.

[End of the scene.]

Yes! A very happy ending and a marvelous cinematic experience, indeed.