I Know the Secret to Surpass Level 100

Right where they stood, the culmination of all their struggles and efforts was born. The moment Malice's head dropped to the ground with her eyes wide in shock, lips apart.

It was the thing that they aimed for as they entered the battlefield. It was a victory.

"It's over," Elliot whispered, feeling the rage of pain that his body took from all the toll of his actions. He fell to his knees, sword falling from his fingertips. "We killed Malice. Her reign is over."

Irus smirked, igniting himself with a black flame, and launched a cloud of darkness into the sky. Elliot watched as his friend formed a giant broken crown with his cloud- signifying the end of Malice.

"It's done." Connor laughed, dropping to the ground as Malice's clone disappeared. Ed ran up to him, tackling the other boy as Hope followed.

"We won!" Hope cheered. "Malice is finally dead!"

"Elliot and Lance did it," Midnight said to the old man as they exited the forest. He carried Elena in his arms while Sun held the portrait.

"That little kid," Francoise laughed, his hand dragging the unconscious Rebecca. "See that, woman? That boy won."

The realm cheered as the end of Malice's tyranny dawned upon them. It seemed like for the first time in centuries, Hell seemed brighter. It was like the ever-glowing moon above shone brighter.

"I couldn't do it without your help, Irus," Elliot grinned, his eyes squinting while his lips reached both his ears. Irus rolled his eyes and shrugged.

"I don't like the artifacts of my father being messed up," Irus held the scythe closer to him. "Weapons like these shouldn't be wielded by just anyone and do what they do."

"Elliot!" Lance tackled Elliot to the ground, arms around his friend and tears rolling from his eyes. "You did it, man!"

"We did it," Elliot pulled back, smiling wide as always. He glanced at Irus, "We all did it."

"Don't be cheesy now." Irus rolled his eyes, albeit the slight quirking of his lips contradicted his cold demeanor.

"How did you know that Irus was around?" Lance asked. "I didn't even sense him."

"His invisibility is top-notch," Elliot said. "No one could feel him when he does that. It's just that we're linked through a different kind of bond that I get to speak with him."

Elliot thought of the moment that sparked his hope that he will win. A voice spoke up to him, one that he was happy that he heard.

'I'll get that scythe. Get closer to her. She will lose her powers once she loses contact with her weapon. Use that opportunity to kill her.'

Elliot smiled, realizing that his greatest strength was something that doesn't expire after a few minutes, or the experiences that he gained throughout his life as an Adventurer. It was his friends that he made along the way.

"The power of friendship overcame all the adversities," Elliot laughed. "And you don't need to scold at me this time. I just realized how cheesy that sounded."

"King of Cheese," Lance sighed. "What are we going to do now? We defeated Malice, but it doesn't mean that this war is over. Her supporters will undoubtedly rally and cause a riot."

"We have the princess," Irus said. "If there's anyone else that they will listen to, it's her."

"Then we find my mother," Elliot said. "Where could she be?"

"With Francoise and the others," Irus said. "I passed by them on my way here."

"Where are they?" Elliot forced his pain back once more, just a few hours more so he could see his mother again. "It's been years since I saw her. It's time for us to reunite."

"Let's go," Irus conjured a large bird of darkness, commanding it to let the others climb on its back.

"We're coming too!" Hope yelled, approaching them in his dragon form with Connor and Ed on his back. "I think I can see the old man's white hair from here."

"Don't tease him," Elliot laughed. He glanced at Malice's corpse, eyes barren of emotions. He jumped from the bird and conjured a flame from his sword. "I just have to make sure."

He walked over to the woman, sighing as he pointed the flames of his sword at her corpse. "Goodbye, grandmother-"

It happened so fast. Nobody could react in time. Malice's body jerked, lunging towards Elliot and wrapping its arms around him. Her head trembled, standing up as a crazed grin appeared on her lips.

"I am not done yet!" Malice yelled. "Dead Trap."

A dome of darkness burst from her body, only letting Elliot and her inside. The others tried to attack the dome, but it was all in vain. Their combined attacks didn't even cause a disruption in the dome's magical walls.

"What is this?" Elliot growled. "You're already dead. What are you doing?"

"I am not truly dead," Malice grinned. "You see, I still have one more trick up my sleeve. Something that I do in case I get killed."

She let go of Elliot and pointed her hand at her head. The decapitated head spun and jumped from the ground, landing on her neck that reattached itself with dark energy.

"Now you see how I won't die if in any case I get defeated," Malice said. "I trap my killer in this dome and then take their life force. Their life force will be my fuel for my resurrection."

Elliot stepped back, creating as much space for him and Malice. The woman shrugged, laughing at the boy's attempt to escape.

"There is no escaping this," Malice said. "Once I kill you, your powers will transfer into me too, so I will be much stronger."

Elliot's eyebrows met, anger painted in his face. It was like this battle was over, but then this happened. He was frustrated and mad.

"There's no escaping you, huh?" Elliot chuckled. "Then let me see you try and take my body."

Malice suddenly appeared in front of Elliot. The boy was unable to move, shocked at the sudden contact.

She wrapped her arms around his neck tightly, her body latching onto Elliot as if it was glue. "You shall be my feed and I will be revived. Once that is done, I will kill your friends and everyone who cheered my defeat."

Elliot tried to push her back, but it was impossible. She had already attached herself into him, his energy being drained by the woman's body.

"This is over!" Malice yelled. "Stop resisting and just let me take your body. You can't escape this ability."

"No."

Elliot heard a faint voice. He looked around to see if his friends had infiltrated the dome, but they were still outside trying to break it.

"Mother, no!" a white glowing light erupted from Malice's body. It spun around her before attaching on her waist. "Let the boy go!"

"What is this?!" Malice yelled, pulling back as more of the wisps came out of her body. "Who are you?!"

"It is us." A woman who resembled Malice appeared, her body translucent and glowing with white light. "Mother, your reign of terror is over already. Let go of Elliot."

"No!" Malice yelled as more spirits pushed her back. It was the spirits of her daughters whom she killed to gain her youth. "You can't do this!"

"Malice." Elliot glared at her, his eyes filled with the emotions of what he was feeling. "You are done. It's over."

The spirits formed a vortex of white light. Hands held on to Malice as they dragged her inside the vortex.

Elliot smiled at Malice one last time, and all his anger vanished. There was no hint of bitterness or fakeness in his face, only sincerity.

"May you finally find your peace."