Fighting the Fallen King (Part 2)

I could slowly feel my life slipping away; my eyelids were now as heavy as mountains, and I couldn't think straight anymore. Survival? Who should I kill? I... must live... must go on... My eyes darted to my four party members, pinned to the wall. Malrang? No... she's too precious...

My eyes shifted to the man in golden armor for a second, his expression sinister, mad, and entertained as he chuckled to himself. "What an amusing turn of events... hehehe..."

Why are you laughing?! It's my life on the line, not yours! I felt immense rage rising inside me.

-YOU HAVE 5 SECONDS LEFT TO CHOOSE-

NO! Wait, I... I can't. Kim Seong-Hoon?... No, he... Perhaps Jieun? But she's just a child... Or should I kill Kang Eun-Woo? I know him the least, but I owe him my life... I... I! I can't… I don't know… What do I do? My mind was in chaos, torn between choices, each one ripping at my sanity.

"Kill... Survive... Kill!" In the midst of my breakdown, a new mysterious voice popped into my head, sounding similar to mine, but inexplicably different, full of hatred and anger. Suddenly, my hand started to rise, as if controlled by something else, pointing at one of my own teammates. "Must... Kill! Devour... Live..."

No! I... I refuse to be controlled! I'm the one in charge here, and I will not kill any of them! I used all my remaining strength to wrest control over my body, fighting the urge to kill my friends. Yes, they're my friends... I'll protect them and kill anyone who dares harm them!

"KILL! LIVE!" The mental voice intensified, pulsing with energy to try and take over me.

SHUT UUUP! I screamed within, and in an instant, the inner voice vanished like smoke.

-TWO SECONDS LEFT, WHAT WILL BE YOUR CHOICE, LEE GAON?-

"I... I choose this bastard in front of me! I'll kill him with my own two hands! And fuck you! I will never submit!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, or whatever was left of them.

-VERY WELL…-

The system voice sounded disappointed, almost disapproving. I know I must have doomed myself, but this body is mine, and I would never let anyone else take control. I will not kill those close to me just to survive a little longer...

Suddenly, the mysterious power chaining the small giant in front of me vanished.

"Haaa..." he let out a deep sigh. "You really are... foolish... but I must commend your dedication. Sometimes... friendship is important. But not when you're about to die! Hehe..." He burst into hysterical laughter, his golden eye locking with mine. "What a pity... I wanted to fight you slightly longer." He gripped my hair with his fingers and pulled my head up to face him, towering over me.

I felt the cold blade leave my body. I was left hanging by my hair, held firmly in his grasp.

"Any last words?" His tone was serious; he was ready to kill me. I could feel every cell in my body screaming in fear, but the rage within refused to submit.

"Three... Two... One..." My body began to steam, every single wound closing at incredible speed. My severed arm swiftly regenerated, a tingling sensation coursing through me, flooding me with pain, but the fire inside burned brighter than ever.

-LAUGHTING AT DEATH LVL 6 HAS BEEN ACTIVATED-

-POWER INCREASE: 60%-

"Hmm?" He squinted, looking at me with utmost interest. "Just who are you?" He stroked his chin thoughtfully, a small amused chuckle leaving his mouth.

"I'm your worst enemy! Die!" My scythe materialized in my hand, and I sliced at the arm holding me.

Shnk!

Blood splattered everywhere as his arm fell, still clutching my hair due to muscle memory. "Disgusting. Take it back!" I threw the massive arm back at him with incredible force, making him take a few steps back as his face contorted in shock.

"How... How did you grow so much stronger in an instant? You were just about to di—?!"

His words met a kinetic slash, severing one of his ears as he dodged to the side. Panic and fear finally flickered across his face as my Laughing at Death skill kicked in.

"I'll make you pay a hundred times!"

My scythe spun in my hands, creating a series of rapid Wind Slashes that flew with lightning speed, severing another one of his arms.

"Hihihihi!" His laughter morphed into madness as his body regenerated instantly. He lunged at me with insane speed, attacking from the side with his longsword. "So fun! More! I knew you were special."

Even though I was still immortal for another nine seconds, I didn't dare be reckless, dodging his attack with Space Distortion. His speed was at least twice what it had been; the bastard had been toying with me!

I quickly unleashed a Shadow Blast, tearing through his body from under his armor and regenerating some mana. I felt as if I were losing control, my excitement growing with each moment. The fight thrilled me beyond reason; I wanted more. I wanted to fight to the death, to claim my enemy's life—I wanted to destroy everything...

I charged in, capitalizing on the momentary pause caused by my attack. I couldn't let him regenerate; if this fight dragged on, I would lose my boost and immortality.

My scythe danced in precise, lethal arcs as I cut the small giant apart, dashing around him with my enhanced speed. His golden chains surged toward me, but I outpaced them effortlessly, slicing pieces of his flesh bit by bit as they regenerated in rapid succession.

I had no choice but to replenish my mana with more Shadow Blasts, but each use left my soul feeling dangerously exhausted, as if I might pass out any second.

Pull yourself together, Gaon! You can do it! It's now or never!

A sudden explosion sent me hurtling backward as his aura skyrocketed. Golden flames ignited around him, growing his body by several meters as he towered over me. I used the momentum to rebound off the wall and dove in for another strike, aiming at his leg, though this time it left only a deep wound.

Dammit! Once again, he's as tough as steel.

A sudden blast engulfed me in flames.

"Aaaaghhh! It burns! It fucking burns!" Golden flames tried to consume me, but my passive skill prevented my death, even through this excruciating agony.

"I'll end your suffering, Lee Gaon! Let me give you a good burial!"

A shard of his blade flew toward me, aimed straight at my neck. I couldn't dodge in time, and it sliced my throat open—but it quickly regenerated.

Darkness, consume him! In desperation, I awakened something within my soul. An idea that had never crossed my mind emerged with a sense of purpose. From shadows, my slash would claim my enemy's head. "Shadow Slash Barrage!"

-A CONDITION HAS BEEN MET-

-PROCEEDING WITH EVALUATION… EVALUATION CONCLUDED. A NEW SKILL HAS BEEN CREATED. CALCULATING… THE ATTACK WILL COST 4000 MANA-

-Shadow Slash Barrage Level 1: Summon a barrage of shadow slashes from all directions. The barrage will continue for 5 seconds-

-YOUR CURRENT MANA: 2100/2800-

-SYSTEM HAS ALLOWED LEE GAON TO BE THE FIRST PLAYER TO COMBINE TWO ATTACKS-

-THE REWARD HAS BEEN ISSUED: NEW PASSIVE SKILL GRANTED-

-Mana Expansion: Doubles user's mana-

Lady Luck smiles! Now it's time to end this!

The ground plunged into darkness as shadows danced across the room like serpents, seeking to consume their target. My consciousness wavered as the mana drain pushed me to my limits. The amount of mana I've spent at once this time was too great... please... let this be the end.

From every direction, black slashes descended, slicing the man in golden armor. His body fought to regenerate, but the relentless assault overwhelmed him.

"NOOO! I will not be defeated again! Nooo!" His screams filled the air as his body burst in a mist of blood, leaving only his head, glaring at me with rage and resentment. "You'll regret this… My life may end, but that power of yours... it will consume your soul one day. Mark my words! I AM THE FALLEN KING OF RUTTHAM! MAY MY VOICE ECHO THROUGH THESE LANDS WHERE MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS ONCE LIVED... Ghata shanaqk raaa..."

A single tear escaped his eye, carrying a weight of sorrow and loss—a longing for his fallen. It made me question everything about this world and who had created it, and for what purpose.

I managed to drag my exhausted body slowly to where his head lay. His eyes were still glued to me and I could sense a tinge of fear as I approached closer. 

"Rest in peace, no king ever rules forever. And your time has long reached the end of the road."

My scythe moved fast, slicing his head in two, then three... "Kill!" I felt my body lose control, my vision became black, and once I finally returned to myself, there was only a pile of blood and mingled flesh left on the ground. 

-CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS!-

-CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS!-

-THE LEVEL LOCK HAS BEEN LIFTED-

The entire hall suddenly echoed with the sound of trumpets that sounded like a piece of heavenly music, and loud cheers, which sounded like a wailing of souls, eerie and disturbing.

A system window that I haven't seen in a few days has once again hung in my mind, like a reminder that my old world is forever lost.

-Calculating your latest kills... total amount of experience earned as a group: 3600%-

-The number of teammates: 4... You shall receive a 25% share.-

-Received amount: 900% experience.-

-Your experience has increased by 900%!-

-Congratulations! You have reached level 7!-

-Congratulations! You have reached level 8!-

-Congratulations! You have reached level 9!-

...

-Congratulations! You have reached level 15!-

-Your overall stats have been upgraded.-

-Stats:-

Level 2 Lesser stamina -> Level 11 (Level 46) Total Stamina 460/After amplifying 920-

Level 2 Lesser Attack -> Level 11 (Level 58) Total Attack 580/ After amplifying 1160-

Level 9 Magic -> Elemental Magic Level 9 (Level 57) Total Magic 570/ After amplifying 1140-

Level 1 Lesser Strength -> Level 10 (Level 47) Total Strength 470/ After amplifying 940-

Level 2 Lesser Defense -> Level 11 (Level 42 ) Total Defense 420/ After amplifying 840-

Level 1 Lesser Agility -> Level 10 (Level 43) Total Agility 430/ After amplifying 860-

-Level 4 Mana spring. Mana before passives (1400) After passives (5600) -> Level 13 (Level 50) Mana before passives (5000) After passives (20000)-

-Level 4 Quick mana regeneration (15 mana/sec) -> Level 13 (100 mana/sec) After amplifying (200 mana/sec)-

-Special role stats:-

-Level 6 Physical resist -> Level 15-

-Level 6 Magic resist -> Level 15-

-Level 6 Illusion resist -> Level 15-

-Level 9 Element resist -> Level 18-

-Level 7 body regeneration -> Level 16-

-Level 6 - Increased regeneration -> Level 15-

-Level 6 - Increased vision -> Level 15-

-Level 6 - Quick movement -> Level 15-

Level 10 Magic growth (increases magic stat by 20) -> Level 19 (increases magic stat by 38)-

Soul expansion level 1 (increases mana stat by 10) -> Level 10 (increases mana stat by 28)-

Level 10 Strength growth (increases strength stat by 20) -> Level 19 (increases strength stat by 38)-

Attack expansion level 1 (increases attack stat by 10) -> Level 10 (increases attack stat by 28)-

-New role stat has been granted and adjusted to the current level- Stamina expansion Level 9 (increases stamina stat by 26)-

-New role stat has been granted and adjusted to the current level- Agility expansion Level 8 (increases agility stat by 24)-

-New role stat has been granted and adjusted to the current level- Defense expansion Level 7 (increases Defense stat by 22)-

-Your abilities have been upgraded.-

-Level 6 Kinetic slash(evolving) (20 mana) -> (Evolved) Lesser elemental slash Level 5 (500 mana)-

-Level 6 Kinetic shield(evolving) (5 mana/s) -> (Evolved) Lesser elemental shield Level 5 (140 mana/s)-

-Level 6 Soul harvest(evolving) (35 mana) -> Level 15 (50 mana)-

-Level 6 Space distortion(evolving) (30 mana/s) Level -> (Evolved) Level 5 Superior Space distortion (100 mana/s) -

-Level 5 Darkness steps(evolving) (10 mana/step) -> (Evolved) Steps of the dark lord - Level 4 (100 mana/step)-

-Level 5 Soul Shackle(evolving) (50 mana) Up to 20 targets at a time -> Level 14 (100 mana) Up to 40 targets at a time-

-Level 4 Soul bite (100 mana) -> Level 13( 320mana)-

-Shadow blast level 1 (100 mana) -> Level 10 (500 mana)-

-Wind slash level 1 (900 mana) -> Level 10 (3000 mana)-

-Shadow Slash Barrage Level 1 (4000 mana) - Level 10 (10000 mana)-

-New skills have been granted and adjusted to the current level-

-Mind Slash Level 6- The user can directly attack the target's mind, inflicting fear.-

-Shadow Parade Level 3- The user can summon shadow clones of themselves(up to 2) which have 25% of the user's total strength. Shadow clones can fight alongside the user, having full control over their own consciousness.-

-Darkness Prison Level 2- The user can now cast a 100-meter-wide darkness room, enemies inside can not escape and will lose all sight.- 

-Darkness Sight Level 2- The user can now see well in pure darkness.-

-Scythe Master Level 1- Greatly enhances the user's ability to control the scythe weapon in battle. User can now control their scythe with their soul power, which involves; levitating, pushing and pulling, rotating in the air freely.

-Level 6 Laughing at the death. Each second in combat gives the user 1 stack which can stack up to 100: -> Level 15-

-After the user reaches 100 stacks a special ability is granted:-

-Level 6 -Each stack gives 0.6% attack power. -> Level 15 Each stack gives 1.5 % attack power-

-Level 6 -Each stack gives 0.6% defense. -> Level 15 Each stack gives 1.5% defense-

-Level 6 - Death shall not claim me - User becomes immortal for 15 seconds. -> Level 15 (20 seconds)-

-Level 6 - Increased regeneration -> Level 15

-Level 6 - Increased vision -> Level 15

-Level 6 - Quick movement -> Level 15

-Passive skills:-

-Soul armor- The user's soul armor has been greatly enhanced, reducing damage taken by 10%-

-Mana Expansion: Doubles user's mana-

-Magic control level 1-> Level 10 -The ability to control magic has increased, the user can now control 4 elements. (Fire/water/earth/wind.)-

-Soul Lord-

-Ruler - Players who encounter a ruler become intimidated and lose the will to resist commands if they possess low soul strength.-

-Ruler bonus: 2x basic stats.-

-Soul Lord Skills:-

-Air Shatter level 1 The user can shatter the air in front of them sending a shockwave of compressed air. (300 mana) -> Level 10 (1000 mana)

-Earth Shatter level 1 (1000 mana) -> Level 10 (3000 mana)

-Space Shatter level 1 (200 mana) -> Level 10 (900 mana)

-Quests:-

-Hunt down 2 rulers to become the king.-

-Current kings throughout the world: Three-

-YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY JOINED THE LEVEL RANKING SYSTEM-

-CURRENT RANK IN THE WORLD: 412-