The Final Desperation

[author] I really considered dropping this book, but a reader managed to convince me to come out of retirement. Welp, this is for those who still care about the story. I probably won't be editing the chapter too much going forward since that was a huge motivation killer. There might be more errors, and the wording might seem awkward sometimes. In return, I'll try to update more frequently than 1 chapter a week. [/author]

After resolving the town's insomnia problem, Genji departed for his appointment with Celine. The journey lasted a few hours, but the trip was relaxed due to the destination's proximity.

Upon arrival, he notified Celine, and they arranged a meeting location outside the town. Due to unavoidable circumstances, Celine couldn't meet him openly. Several minutes later, a hooded woman cautiously snuck out and approached him.

"Good to see you," Celine greeted him, removing her disguise. "I hope you don't mind me being so cumbersome. It's hard being a woman with mystical powers around here. I've been mistaken for a witch several times and almost burned alive once. Luckily, I managed to escape just in time before I died of asphyxiation. So, how have you been lately?"

"Nothing much. Just the usual nomad lifestyle and shoving my nose in more trouble than it's worth. Anyway, what's the situation here, and what do you need me to do?" Genji asked back.

"Can you evacuate everyone? I would do it myself, but I don't exactly have an authoritative status here. You know, crazy lady with mystical powers rambling about a looming disaster and how history treats them," Celine said, lightly chuckling.

"Sure. Just need everyone gone in two days, right?"

"Yeah. The faster, the better. I'd like to make some preparations and neutralize the threats if possible."

"Sounds good. I'll talk to you in a few hours." Genji waved as he walked off.

"Halt! Who goes there!" The night patrol hollered as Genji's figure came into view.

"A passing hunter," Genji replied, showing his badge. "Gather the townspeople. I have something important to announce."

The patrol exchanged long glances before hesitantly asking, "Can we ask what this is about?"

"It will be better if I explain everything in one go. Just know it concerns everyone's livelihood."

Though still somewhat dissatisfied with his explanation, the patrol proceeded with Genji's request. Two people split off to sound the alarm drums while the rest went to inform the other teams. Within an hour, the sleepy townspeople gathered in the town center, staring confusingly at Genji.

"I know everyone is tired, so I'll make this short. The witch hunters are claiming this town. You have a day to leave."

The people stared dumbfoundedly for several seconds before someone cried, "You can't do that! This is our home!"

"I don't think you understand. This is a notice, not a debate." To emphasize his point, Genji fired multiple rounds into the air. "Either leave willingly or suffer the consequences. We've spotted a horde of monsters nearby. This place will soon become a battlefield. If you don't want to leave, that's fine by me. Just don't expect us to protect you once the fight starts."

This immediately shut the townspeople up and spurred them to pack their belongings. The evacuation began a short while later. The patrol stayed behind to ensure order, but they eventually followed the crowd with heavy sighs.

By the following afternoon, everyone had departed, leaving a desolate ghost town. Celine walked over and said, "Everyone seemed down. Couldn't you have worded it differently for their morale?"

"Sorry, but I don't have time to care for that. We only have 40 days. We can't be caught up in the trivialities if we want to clean this place by then."

"I guess you're right. I was hoping things would end on a higher note." Celine relented.

"Enough about that. What preparations do we need to make, and do you know anything about the enemies?"

"I'm not too sure. I'm getting some mixed signals here. They feel half mechanical, half supernatural. What I do know is that they will attack during the day."

"Dreadnaughts," Genji muttered.

"What?"

"A rare variant of the normal monsters. They're much harder to deal with and don't have the usual weaknesses. I just don't know where they're popping up from. They're pretty eye-catching. We shouldn't have missed them."

"Can you handle it?" Celine asked.

"That'll depend on our opponents. For now, let's set some traps."

On the day of the onslaught, Celine hid on top of a distant hill while Genji lurked in the shadows, ready to spring the traps on the attackers. Time quietly passed, when suddenly, a horde of silver-skinned, humanoid creatures dashed at the town. Their jaws hung wide open, flinging yellow spit everywhere.

Without slowing down, they pounced on the houses, smashing through the walls in search of prey. Their heads swirled from side to side, causing their glowing red eyes to leave streaks of motion blur. Yet they were met with disappointment as the floorboards creaked under their weight.

Suddenly, a high-pitched scream rang out from the other side of town, prompting all the dreadnaughts to bolt toward it like starving hyenas. The scream came again, as if afraid no one would hear it. The dreadnaughts accelerated and leaped at the source without even looking, but all they landed on was a stick of prerecorded audio and a rectangular block that beeped with increasing frequency.

*Beep beep be-be-be-BEEEP*

Then, a giant explosion engulfed the town, flinging the monsters backward. The patches of exposed flesh had severe burns while their metallic skins turned bright red, on the verge of melting. Without a moment's delay, a hail of bloody spears rained down upon them, skewing many.

Genji manifested the next second and joined the onslaught. His daggers cleaved through their bodies without fail, mowing them down like wheat. They cleared the town in under two minutes and turned toward the direction the horde had come from. On the horizon, three figures unhurriedly walked into view.

The one on the left wore a reddish-brown vest, dark leather pants, and dull metal boots, wielding a large Gatling gun. The gun was stained with blood and faintly pulsed with golden circuits. It was clear the weapon had been recently looted from its former owner.

The middle dreadnaught had dark orange-red skin, resembling a burning flame. He had the bulkiest figure of the three and carried a large double-headed axe with hands clad in spiky gauntlets.

Finally, there was a thin figure in a draping black coat. Their face was covered by an inky black bandana and topped with a large hat. Through the opening of the coat, loose chains were visible. These chains wrapped around the chest and ran down the sleeves, emerging at the wrists to reveal hooked ends.

These are, respectively, the Dreadnaughts of War, Purgatory, and Pain.

Genji crouched down, gathered his strength, and burst forward. His dagger slashed down on the Gatling gun, leaving a deep cut on the barrel before the dreadnaughts could react. At the same time, he kicked Purgatory away, allowing him to confront the two ranged units without interference.

Pain leaped back, and a flurry of chains burst through its coat, with each chain moving at a slightly different speed and frequency. Bloody tentacles erupted from Genji's side, threading the chain's loops and disrupting their trajectory.

Genji kept slashing at War, aiming for both the vital points and the Gatling gun. War did a good job blocking his strikes, but the firearm was destroyed in the skirmish.

At this moment, Purgatory charged back into the fray with an oppressive swing of the axe. Genji twisted beneath the attack and unleashed three quick strikes on the elbow. The extended arm stiffened, and Genji delivered a fierce kick to the same spot. A slight crack sounded from the joint as the arm twisted backward unnaturally.

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

Genji weaved around Purgatory, stabbing the neck in the passing. The tip of his weapon bounced off the metal skin, leaving only a small indent. However, the added force was enough to topple the giant, exposing more weak points in its defense.

Shadow flames and cutting intent wrapped around his other dagger, compressing inward to a single point. Genji stabbed out, and the surrounding air twisted into a conical shape, with his weapon as the tip.

Lightning Inspiration: All to Dust

A powerful explosion tore through Purgatory, drilling out a head-sized crater in the chest and sending the dreadnaught flying again. Genji swapped to a backhand grip and rushed at War. His figure blurred into a black streak as his speed suddenly increased.

Genji appeared in front of War and stabbed both daggers into the shoulder. Then, with a harsh yank, he ripped two large chunks of flesh, exposing black bones. Shadow flames licked the surface of these bones, leaving countless scratches.

A spark jumped out of the corner of War's mouth as its chest puffed up. Sensing danger, Genji immediately stowed away his daggers, grabbed onto War's shoulders, and vaulted himself into the air.

Beneath him, a blue stream of fire spewed out of War's mouth, causing the surrounding air to distort. War swirled its head from side to side, creating a burning arc around it. Without slowing down, War breathed in again and turned toward the falling Genji.

Bloody wings sprouted behind Genji as a crystal pillar formed beneath him. Genji kicked off the temporary foothold and flipped over the fiery column.

The wings flapped once before disappearing, launching Genji at War. Genji resummoned his weapons and spun midair to gather momentum for his counterattack. Then, with a sonic boom, Genji crashed into the ground like a meteor. Behind him, an arm, still attached to a large chunk of shoulder, sailed through the air. War had narrowly sidestepped a fatal strike, though at a steep cost.

Suddenly, a chain wrapped around War and yanked it to safety. At the same time, Purgatory regrouped with its partners. Bruce also retracted his tentacles, bringing both sides into a standoff.

Pain was in the best condition, so it stood at the front, holding a chain taut between its hands. Beside it was Purgatory, clutching its axe with both hands. War stood behind them, hidden from view as it adjusted to its impairment.

Across from them, Genji tossed a dagger up and down, steadying his breath in preparation for the next exchange. Both sides watched each other intently, ready to respond to the slightest changes. Then, a tumbleweed rolled between them, and the scene erupted in chaos.

As if they reached a silent agreement, both parties lunged forward at the same time, clashing in the middle in an impact that shattered the tumbleweed.

Genji's dagger ground against Pain's chain, hovering in the air briefly before the chain lost its momentum and gave way. Genji kept pushing forward, bobbing and weaving between the incoming barrage. The ones he couldn't dodge, he entrusted to Bruce. Together, they narrowed the distance between Pain.

Along the way, Genji would slash arcs of cutting intent whenever he had an opening, forcing Pain to remain alert. Once they were within 5 meters, 3 silhouettes darted out from his side. One of the silhouettes got pierced, Genji swapped positions with another, and the last one faded into the shadows.

Genji entered melee range and clashed with Pain, their arms trembling from the exertion. Their faces drew close, and they stared hauntingly into each other's eyes. Cold indifference, serene calm, killing intent, and a range of other emotions flashed through their gazes.

Then Genji smiled and vanished. Pain's chains cut through a silhouette right as Genji appeared behind it. Pain quickly reacted and shot out a chain from under his arm. Genji leaned aside, letting the hook carve through his ribs in exchange for a downward slash.

A black inferno dug into the right shoulder blade, revealing tiny fractures along the grain. Pain quickly rolled forward, dodging a second strike aimed at its neck. As it was rolling, Pain slammed both palms onto the ground and released a torrent of energy. A wall of chains burst out from the ground, interrupting Genji's offense.

At this time, Purgatory charged in from the side and performed an overhead swing. The ground collapsed beneath it, forcing Genji to back off. Pain continued retreating as Purgatory and War charged forward. Countless sparks spewed from the corner of War's mouth like a newly lit firecracker, indicating the intensity of its brewing flames.

Beside it, Purgatory's skin turned boiling red as steam wafted from its body. They had both entered an overdrive state, where every move damaged their internal components. However, they didn't have the luxury of holding back, as Genji was soon upon them.

An energy vortex swirled around Genji, matching the intensity of his foes. Behind them, Pain's eyes glowed a deep black as its right arm swelled to twice its original size. It seized its largest chain and began twirling it like a lasso. With each full rotation, Pain's arm grew larger and stronger, eventually deforming its metal skin.

Meanwhile, Celine, who was watching from her hill, put down her telescope and held out her hand, loosely aligning her index finger with Pain.

"O foe within mine eye's fixed gaze,
What wretched fate hath thee embraced?
What threat dost thou, with silent weight,
Bring forth to stir the hand of fate?

Hath fortune turned her face from thee,
And cast thee into misery?
Repent thy sins—redemption waits,
And mercy may unlock thy gates.

But shouldst thou cling to pride and hate,
Then serendipity turns late—

To seal thy doom with heaven's weight,
And condemn thee to an unfortunate fate.

Absolute Judgement, DESCEND!"

At that moment, Pain's arm reached its limit and released the chain. But as the chain left its hand, its shoulder suddenly snapped. This was the same shoulder Genji had previously injured, and also what Pain used to charge its attack. After enduring so much strain, the bone finally reached its breaking point and shattered.

His arm jerked inward, imparting a slight wobble in the chain. This normally wouldn't make a difference since the chain had already left its hand, and its immense momentum could carry it forward. At most, it would only veer off by an inch, which would still be on target.

However, this was not a normal situation! Currently, Genji, War, and Purgatory were so close together that even the slightest deviation would have drastic ramifications.

Because right now, Purgatory's axe was right in front of Genji's face, drawing a thin line of blood. The axe was about to cut into Genji when out of nowhere, Pain's chain hooked the handle and yanked it aside. To add insult to injury, this new trajectory sent it right through War's head, smashing it open like a hammer to a watermelon.

Genji was taken aback by this sudden change, but his body instinctively capitalized on this opportunity, converting his evasive maneuver into an offensive one. Within a split second, his dagger sliced through both dreadnaughts' throats, killing them instantly.

Without stopping, Genji pivoted on his heel and threw his dagger at Pain, who hurriedly raised a chain to block. But right before the two weapons made contact, Genji appeared behind the dagger and grabbed the handle. Then, with a flick of the wrist, the blade glided over the chain and through Pain's neck, killing it with the remnants of Shadow Devour.

[You have slain the Dreadnaughts of War, Purgatory, and Pain (Mini-boss)]

[Your maximum energy has increased by 192 points.]

[You have obtained 1607 realm coins.]

[You have obtained Soul Infused Scrap Metal (21 tons)]

[You have obtained Fiery Essence of War]

[Fiery Essence of War]

Rating: Epic

Type: Material

Description: The essence of a Dreadnaught who excelled at breathing fire. It was killed before it could unleash its power, preserving the essence and raising the quality of this item. Its powers are very volatile and should be treated with care, lest it explode in your hand.

Note: While it can be used outright, it is recommended that you stabilize it with other materials.

Essentially, it was another explosive item, similar to the [Volatile Mana Core] he obtained last world in the Grotesque Fairytales world.

[Volatile Mana Core]

Effect: Charge this with 10,000 points of energy and activate it when needed, causing a massive explosion.

Genji stored away the loot and headed toward the distant hill.

"Seems like it worked better than I thought," Celine said aloud once she confirmed the enemy's deaths.

"Yii yii," came a sound of agreement from behind her.

Celine inwardly jumped and turned around in a panic to see Astros perched on top of a rock. However, she quickly calmed down once she realized she'd seen this ferret with Genji once, though the impression was faint.

"You scared me there," Celine muttered, clutching her chest. "Since when have you been there?"

"Yii?" Astros tilted his head and blinked innocently at her.

Celine's heart leaped again from cuteness overload, and a smile inadvertently formed on her face. "Aw, you're so cute. Come give me a hug." Celine spread her arms, full of expectations, when Genji's voice sounded from below.

"I would appreciate it if you don't touch him. He's not very receptive to strangers." Genji walked into view and threw over a piece of soul-infused metal weighing about nine tons—a payment for her timely assistance.

Celine quickly sidestepped the projectile and replied, "Why not? He seems fine with it," all while selectively ignoring Astros's arched back and aggressive hissing. "He came to me on his own. If that doesn't show he likes me, then what will?"

"For the record, he's been with you the whole time. You just haven't noticed. So no, that argument doesn't hold."

"Really?"

"Yes," Genji answered deadpan.

Celine thought back to the events leading up to her evacuation and realized Genji was correct. Astros had been openly following her - she just subconsciously ignored him the whole time and eventually forgot. This realization jolted her awake, and beads of sweat oozed out of her face. "Cognition distortion? Hisss. That's scary!"

"Mostly harmless, but it's good that you're aware. Anyway, what's your next course of action? I have a feeling this won't be the last time we encounter these monsters. The world is becoming more dangerous as we progress, or rather, the witches have begun their counterattacks. Things are only going to get chaotic from now on."

"Yes. We need to curb the trouble at its source. I can't really help you combat-wise, but information support is possible. Go east. That's where most of the witches are concentrated. If you can kill enough of them, you might be able to alleviate our troubles here.

But be warned: the further you go, the stronger the enemies become. Their abilities will become more unpredictable; their tools, more troublesome; and their curses, more vicious. I sense some fellow realm members in that direction but don't rely on them. They're too scattered to meet with you. You'll be on your own once you start, forging deeper into enemy territory with every step."

"So I just need to kill to my heart's content, right? Sounds like my normal world progression," Genji replied casually.

"I guess. If you're ready, go to the train station on the mountainside. It'll give you a decent starting point."

"Okay. Hopefully, I'll see you after this world, but you never know with these kinds of things. If this is the last time we meet, goodbye. It was nice knowing you." Genji turned around and gave a backhand wave as he walked away. Astros ran after him and leaped onto his shoulder, joining Genji in the journey.

Celine watched their departing backs with a somber feeling as if they were parting for good. However, the emotion quickly faded as a sudden realization hit her. "Wait, hold on! I need help lifting this thing. I'm not as strong as you fighters! These arms are only for divinations! Don't leave yet! COME BACCCKKKK!"