The battle was over.Wei Hao, once revered as the number one Destroyer, died helplessly.It was one-sided — he couldn't even put up a proper resistance.
"W-Wei Hao is…""D-Dead? Really?"
The watching Destroyers lost their will to fight.Among them, the strongest had always been Wei Hao.If he couldn't defeat the enemy, how could they? Especially when he was so utterly crushed.
"R-Run…!""Escape, quickly, before we're—"– KWA-MAMAMAAAA!
The Destroyers who had lost the will to fight tried to flee.But the only exit was blocked by a pile of rubble, and more importantly, Han Yoosung had no intention of letting them go.The breath unleashed by Dragon Lord swept over them.That was the end.
"Raising him was worth it. I didn't expect him to grow this strong."[Uhhm, Uuuuuhhm.]
Han Yoosung looked at Dragon Lord with satisfaction.A massive figure that filled half the wide cavern, with two pairs of wings and carapace like it was made from molten ruby.
It was now the complete form of an adult dragon — no longer bearing even a trace of its juvenile appearance.Yet Kakasha seemed displeased and let out a deep sigh.
[It's gotten ugly…!]"I was wondering what nonsense you were spouting."
Han Yoosung let out a long sigh.Hearing that, Dragon Lord tilted its head in confusion.
[I liked the hatchling more! The hatchling! The hatchling!]"That doesn't mean I can just devolve a fully grown one."
– Kurururuk…?
The Dragon Lord kept tilting its head, as if the habits from its hatchling days hadn't completely disappeared.Ignoring Kakasha's whining, Han Yoosung began rummaging through the corpses of the fallen Destroyers.Since they were all high-level flame users, they had quite a few valuable items.Among them, what stood out the most was the gauntlet that Wei Hao had worn.
[Gauntlet of Dark Flame (Legendary)]
Slot: Weapon (Gauntlet)
Attack Power: 170
Strength +8, Fist-type skill damage +15%
Fire attribute skill damage +20%, Mana cost -10%
Blessed by the Lord of Calamity
If the wearer offers a sacrifice, the gauntlet is elevated to Mythic grade and grants immense power to the wearer.
However, the cost of that sacrifice will be heavy.
Currently destroyed — all effects significantly reduced.
A gauntlet imbued with the blessing of the Lord of Calamity.In his past life, it was partly thanks to this weapon that Wei Hao had once risen to prominence.
He had made excellent use of that joker card.But for Han Yoosung, it was of limited value.Since he hadn't formed a contract with the Lord of Calamity, the gauntlet's key abilities were essentially locked.Compared to Bloodsoul Palm, it was far inferior — just another underwhelming item.
"Kakasha, is there any way to use this gauntlet?"[Huff, wheeze! That sinister thing carries the blessing of that dreadful being. It won't be easy, but… it's not impossible to make use of it!]"How, exactly?"[Think of that gauntlet as a kind of 'soul vessel.' A Lord of Calamity can absorb the blessings of other Lords and convert them into its own power.]
A black flame bloomed at Han Yoosung's fingertip — Kakasha's flame.
[I can absorb the blessing contained in it and transfer it into your glove. Of course, the effect will change in the process.]"Useful. For the first time, you're actually proving helpful."
[Hmph!]
Kakasha flinched in surprise at the compliment.Either way, it was good news.He had wanted to make use of the gauntlet in some way — and now he had a way.
[O-oathbound… For the first time, you say I'm useful… I, I…]"Well, looks like we've done everything we need to here."[D-Don't ignore meee!]
Han Yoosung casually ignored Kakasha and opened his message window.It was a message triggered upon defeating Wei Hao.
[Epic Quest:
Now that the enemy was defeated, it was time to respond to the message.Han Yoosung turned to look at the Dragon Lord standing before him.
"You know what's coming next, don't you?"– Kuuuuuuu…
The Dragon Lord gave a slow nod.The statue had warned them: when a new Dragon Lord was born, the being that once brought ruin to this world would reawaken.Defeating that being — that would be the final trial.The last battle awaited.
"Fight, and win. That's all you need to focus on. I'll be right there with you."
The Dragon Lord's fate was now tied to Han Yoosung's.He had no intention of losing — not now, not after everything.Even taking down Wei Hao here had been part of his effort to eliminate as many variables as possible.That apocalyptic entity may have weakened over time… and now, with the Dragon Lord at full strength, they might just stand a chance.
"Alright. Let's go."
A moment later, his vision shifted drastically.
* *
At that moment, a message abruptly appeared in front of everyone.
[Someone has completed the Epic Quest:
Dark clouds thickened in the sky as a colossal dragon soul revealed itself.It was the Dragon Souls of the previous Dragon Lords from the Dragon's Veil.After silently surveying the ruined world below, they spread their wings and took flight —all heading toward the center of the island.
FWOOOOM!
Their destination: the Dragon Altar.The Dragon Lords' souls descended upon the statue carved in the image of a dragon that stood atop the altar.Then, one by one, they vanished — leaving not a trace behind.A powerful crimson aura began to surge and overflow from the statue.From its heart, a blinding red pillar of light shot into the sky.
[The most powerful Dragon Soul has been born. The altar has deemed that no evaluation is necessary and has selected the strongest one.][Summoning the Dragon Soul awakened as a Dragon Lord, along with its Guardian.]
Han Yoosung and the Dragon Lord were summoned to the side of the altar.He quickly scanned his surroundings.There were countless Dragon Wraith Knights guarding the altar —but unlike the ones in the Dragon's Veil, these did not attack him.
And then—
[Current number of surviving Guardians: 103,566.][All Guardians will now be summoned to this location.]
In a blinding instant, all the Guardians were summoned.Over one hundred thousand.The sheer scale of the summoning was overwhelming — a breathtaking sight to behold.The Guardians, suddenly transported, looked around in confusion.
"W-What the—? Where are we?""The Dragon Altar? I was just in the lair… why am I here all of a sudden…?"
"...I saw the message about the Epic Quest being completed. No way…"
The sharp-witted Guardians quickly grasped the situation.Their gazes swept around — and then, all eyes turned to one place.
To the colossal Dragon Soul standing before the Dragon Altar.
"He completed the Epic Quest… in that short amount of time?""That Dragon Soul…""It's… on a completely different level from the ones we've bonded with."
Dragon Lord.The moment the Guardians laid eyes on it, they instinctively understood the difference in rank.Though it was also a Dragon Soul, it existed in an entirely different dimension of power.Even among the Guardians who had survived until now — many of whom had contracted powerful souls, including top-tier Grade 5 dragons — none could compare.
"Heh… My dragon's Grade A, and it's not even close.""What do you think, Beo? That Dragon Soul…"
Rank 5 Guardian Park Yongho and Rank 2 Guardian Yamamoto Yuki turned to the blond man beside them.Swallowing hard, he responded.
"It's far stronger than my Earth Dragon. There's no comparison.""Same here. Even my Grade 5 Ice Dragon… doesn't come close.""Are you saying it surpasses Grade 5? But wasn't Grade 5 the highest tier?"
Rank 2 Guardian Beo Edelmann slowly nodded.His contracted dragon was a Grade 5 Earth Dragon, one of the best available.And yet, compared to the massive Dragon Soul before them — it felt like nothing.
Could a Dragon Soul like that truly exist?Then who… could be the one who formed a contract with it?
"...He looks East Asian. Yamamoto, have you ever seen him before?""No. He's not anyone I've seen in Japan. If a player like that existed back home, I would've heard of him long ago.""Same here. Never seen that face in Korea either."
A rugged-looking man stood confidently before the Dragon Lord.Neither Yamamoto Yuki nor Park Yongho recognized him — an unknown player.But as they watched him, Beo suddenly muttered a name that came to mind.
"Could it be… Han Yoosung? That's him, isn't it?""Han Yoosung… you mean the one who used to be Guardian rank #1?""He's Korean, right? I didn't know Korea had someone like that.""Yeah… I had my suspicions, but still. So that man completed the Epic Quest…"
They had been guessing ever since the quest was cleared.That overwhelmingly fast growth — it could only be him.A Korean player who had risen at incredible speed.If any Guardian could have completed the Epic Quest, it had to be him.
The top-ranked Guardians exchanged glances.
"...Let's go talk to him. We need to understand the situation.""Agreed. Let's go and—"
They needed answers — what had happened, what was coming.The top Guardians began to move.
And then, at that exact moment—
KURURURURURU—!
"W-What is that?!""The ground… it's shaking!"
The entire area known as the Dragon's Tomb began to tremble violently, as if struck by a massive earthquake.Cracks split open the earth near the altar, and from deep within, a sinister and overwhelming energy surged forth.
[In accordance with the Pact, a new Dragon Lord has been born.]["The final extinction has not yet ended." With that judgment, the entity that once annihilated the dragons begins to awaken.]
The ground began to collapse.The ominous energy that had been erupting from below now spilled into the sky, blanketing it like a malevolent fog.And then—emerging from the mist—something appeared.A massive, awe-inspiring being: a Titan.
[The Titan of Destruction rises.]
It was colossal.A body composed of black stone and metal, with sinister, glowing veins coursing across its form.From every crack and seam, a corruptive energy radiated outward — corroding everything it touched.Even the earth beneath its feet, even the wind that brushed past it — all were tainted and eroded by its mere presence.
– Guoooooo…
The Titan, which had been gazing down at the ground, slowly raised its head.Upon its crown flared twisted, molten horns. Its hollow eyes burned with dark power — not eyes, but swirling voids glowing like cursed stars.And then, they locked onto a target:The Dragon Lord, standing before the altar.
The Titan's gaze burned with pure hostility.
– KUOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!
The Titan's roar engulfed the world.The earth trembled, and a violent wave of energy crashed down on the Guardians, crushing their composure.Even the disembodied Dragon Souls—souls without physical form—trembled in fear at that single, primal scream.
The Titan raised one massive arm to its side.Reality itself tore apart, and from the rupture, a colossal sword emerged.
"According to my will…"
The Titan's deep, corrupted voice echoed across the entire battlefield.It raised the massive blade, infused with pure ruin, and pointed it directly at the Dragon Lord.
"I will bring utter extinction to this world."
The Titan of Destruction brought its blade down upon the earth.And then—an explosion of light.A global-scale teleportation swept outward. In an instant, the entire battlefield shifted.
Figures began to materialize everywhere.Their identities needed no explanation.
[Current number of surviving Destroyers: 135,981.][All Destroyers have been summoned to this location.]
Destroyers.Just like the Guardians before them, they appeared one after another — bewildered, looking around at their sudden displacement.
Then, a message appeared before all of them, visible to every eye.
[The Final Trial begins.][The Last King, the Dragon Lord, clashes with the Titan of Destruction.][Guardians will stand with the Dragon Lord. Destroyers will stand with the Titan of Destruction.Both the Dragon Lord and the Titan will grow stronger depending on the number of followers on each side.][Guardian Han Yoosung, you stand with the Dragon Lord.]
A new message appeared, explaining the rules of the final trial.
[For every set number of Destroyers defeated, the Titan of Destruction will weaken, and the Dragon Lord will absorb that lost power to grow stronger.][Destroyers who lose the will to fight and surrender can be turned into 'Slaves.' These Slaves will be treated as Guardians and will further amplify the power granted to the Dragon Lord.][If the Dragon Lord achieves victory, this Dragon Soul will gain a complete physical form and embark on a journey to rebuild the ruined world.][If the Titan of Destruction wins, the world will be completely annihilated.][The victorious faction will receive great rewards!]
There would be no reward for the losers.You win everything — or you lose it all.It was brutally simple.
And it was a method Han Yoosung deeply preferred.
[Achieve victory with the Dragon Lord! We wish you strength and glory!]
"You remember what I told you, right?"
Han Yoosung turned to look at the Dragon Lord standing behind him.The great being met his gaze — and gave a firm, confident nod.
Satisfied with the response, Han Yoosung smiled and tightened his grip on his sword.
"Let's go. Let's win this."
– KUOMOMOMOOOO!!
The last dragon of this world let out a thunderous roar.A roar that seemed ready to shake the very fabric of reality — to wash over the entire world.