Ch 333: You’re The Real Mvp! Everyone Contributed, No Freeloaders Here!

“Unforgivable!”

A thick, pitch-black liquid seeped from Hassan’s severed arm; it was a high concentration of Black Tide. The Black Tide, like a tentacle, grasped the arm severed by Bal, reconnecting it to the stump. In a moment, Hassan was as if nothing had happened.

“Tsk, it recovers, huh.”

Bal waved his hand, and the projection weapons surrounding him flew towards Hassan. Simultaneously, numerous magic formations of varying sizes appeared behind Phia, continuously launching various magic attacks bombarding Hassan.

“Nia, assist me!”

Yselle flew towards Hassan, dodging his attacks while seeking help from Nia. Nia understood, using magic to control the Separate Sword shield to block Hassan’s counterattack for Yselle. She also attacked Hassan with magic.

“Philia, help too!”

Philia came behind Phia, and she, too, joined Phia in bombarding Hassan with magic.

“Philia, how do you know these spells?”

Phia glanced back, startled by Philia’s magic. After all, this wasn’t magic a child could use. The magic consumption alone would deter many, yet Philia managed it.

“Philia learned by watching Mommy’s magic formations.”

“Genius!”

Bal’s voice came from behind Hassan. He had already used Nia and Phia’s magic attacks as cover to get behind Hassan.

“Those wings are disgusting.”

Having said that, Bal raised his hand above his head and brought it down. A greatsword, even larger than Hassan’s, appeared out of thin air behind Hassan. Relying on its own gravity and destructive power, it severed all twelve of Hassan’s bone wings.

“Damn traitor!”

Hassan turned to attack Bal, using all four arms. Bal smirked, arms crossed over his chest, as if he were the king here.

“Hooked.”

“What?!”

Hassan was surprised that Bal blocked his attack with projection weapons, but the real finishing move wasn’t that.

“Yselle!”

“Leave it to me! Hah!”

Above Hassan, Yselle flew towards him with four wings on her back, her greatsword radiating a sacred, dazzling light.

“Ilis!”

Hassan roared at Yselle, retracting his four arms from attacking Bal to defend against Yselle’s slash, but Bal wouldn’t give him the chance.

“[Ultimate Technique・Weapon River Galaxy]!”

Countless projection weapons fell from beside Yselle towards Hassan. Though the projection weapons only provided temporary suppression, it was enough.

“Don’t underestimate me! Magic Armor・Zero, activate!”

Black Tide surged from the severed ends of Hassan’s bone wings, quickly covering his entire body.

“I should be the one saying that. [Slow]!”

Phia snapped her fingers, and the spacetime around Hassan froze. His movements, along with the speed of the Black Tide’s spread, slowed dramatically. This was Phia’s Time Slowing Barrier, her second time using such a finishing move against an enemy.

Yselle seized the opportunity created by Bal and Phia, feeling empowered.

“Farewell, Father King!”

In an instant, Yselle’s greatsword cleaved Hassan from head to toe.

“Solved?”

Nia remained in a fighting stance, Grey’s voice coming from behind her.

“Found it!”

Along with Grey’s voice came a magically marked arrow, its arrowhead shining with a sky-blue light. Like a meteor tearing through the night, it flew over Nia’s head, striking a crystal resembling a Magic Stone.

“I’ve marked the core weakness!”

“Received!”

Everyone responded to Grey. Exhausted from firing the arrow, Grey collapsed onto the ground, watching everyone attack the core he marked.

“[Godly Spear・Gungnir]!”

Phia threw the incredibly destructive “Godly Spear.”

“[Heavenly Sword]!”

Bal again projected the greatsword that severed Hassan’s bone wings.

“[Spirit Flame・Foxfire]!”

Battle markings appeared on Nia’s face; she had entered Beast God mode.

“[Heavenly Thunder]!”

Philia also used her most proficient magic to attack Hassan.

“It’s over, Father King! Solandale is history, and the Black Tide should not exist in this world! [Saintess’s Lament]!”

Yselle radiated a sacred light, surpassing everyone’s attack speed as she charged towards the core Hassan that Grey had marked. They heard the core shatter as Yselle pierced it, followed by the overwhelming attacks that destroyed Hassan.

“Well done… Ilis…”

Hassan spoke his last words to Yselle as he lay dying.

“You found new companions… move forward… my beloved… Ilis…”

“Father King?”

The light on Yselle faded, and everyone stopped attacking.

“Father King!”

Yselle resolutely flew towards the disfigured Hassan. Hassan, in his true form, was a father whose eyes were full of loving kindness.

Phia was about to stop Yselle to prevent Hassan from playing a trick, but Nia stepped in front of Phia and stopped her.

“Give them some time.”

“…Mm.”

Despite that, Hassan’s eyes lacked life. Like Oulan and the three little black dogs before him, his body began to dissipate, turning into golden particles that floated into the air.

Yselle caught a particle and held it to her chest. She stood up.

“Let’s go down. The Black Tide on the lower levels has dissipated with Father King.”

“Are you alright?”

Nia looked at Yselle with concern. Yselle shook her head.

“I’m fine.”

“But…”

“Nia, please trust me.”

“Okay.”

Everyone put away their weapons. Nia then remembered someone important hadn’t moved for a while.

“Grey!”

Nia ran to where Grey had fallen, shaking his body.

“Grey, don’t scare me! Grey!”

“Don’t make a fuss. He just fainted from excessive mana consumption. Look at you panicking.”

Phia came over, took a Mana Potion from Grey’s waist pouch, and gave it to him. Soon, Grey woke up.

“Solved?”

“Yes, you worked hard, Grey.”

Nia hugged Grey. Grey wanted to hug Nia back, but he was too weak to raise his arms.

“Sorry, I worried you.”

“You worked hard for everyone, you’re the real MVP!”

“So who’s the one who won without lifting a finger?”

Bal joked, walking over. Nia laughed and replied,

“Everyone played their part; there’s no one who won without lifting a finger.”

“Grey, why don’t you rest here with Nia and Philia? Phia and I will accompany Yselle to check below.”

“Mm, be careful.”

“Don’t worry, I’m not a fool.”

Bal stood up and took Phia’s hand, heading towards Yselle.

“Let’s go down.”

“Mm.”

The three jumped down the cave entrance. The 99th floor was empty except for a throne, a crown on the throne, and a letter.

“What is this?”

Yselle picked up the letter. It was in Hassan’s handwriting, addressed to Ilis—herself.

“Take your time. Phia and I will investigate the surroundings.”

With that, Bal pulled Phia away.

Yselle opened the envelope and read Hassan’s final letter.

————

To: Ilis, my beloved daughter.

By the time you read this, I will be gone. Congratulations, Ilis. You defeated me, the me who merged with the Black Tide. Therefore, you have the right to know the truth.

First, the Black Tide is man-made. I understand you’ll be surprised; that’s normal. Originally, the Black Tide was meant to enhance and heal the human body, but it failed. I ordered the Black Tide research institute shut down, but the Black Tide’s characteristics were astounding. It devours civilizations to replicate itself. I had scholars calculate how long the Black Tide would take to breach the institute; that’s where the prophecy came from.

Second, you are not my flesh and blood, or rather, you are only an experimental subject possessing my genetic material. I’m sorry. I created you to resist the Black Tide. You were a perfect test subject. Your life was planned from birth; combating the Black Tide was your mission. I don’t expect your forgiveness, I only want you to know your origins; it’s my duty.

Finally, though you are a test subject, I still love you. I was the one who sent you to your grandfather. I didn’t want your childhood to be in a laboratory or with the army; I wanted you to have a happy childhood. I didn’t want you to inherit the throne, for human hearts are treacherous, and politics is like poison that can heal; a slight misstep can shatter you. My coldness towards you was protection, though it pained me deeply. It was necessary. Only by appearing uncaring could you escape those trying to force my abdication.

I’m sorry. I wasn’t a good king, nor a good father. All I could do was absorb the Black Tide into my body and merge with it. Only you could defeat such a being. Forgive my stubbornness, but it was the best way to stop the Black Tide’s spread.

Now, you are free. Pursue what you desire, my dear child. The dark age, with its past corruption, has passed. A bright future awaits you, free from our worries. Go your own way.

An unfit father, Hassan de Solandale IV.

————

“You… stupid father…”

Ilis choked back sobs. Bal and Phia watched her from afar, silently guarding her.