Extra's POV: My Obsessive Villainous Fiancee Is The Game's Final Boss-Chapter 244: The End Of Souls

Ren stood there, amidst the shattered stones of the city around him, and the silence that came after the death of whatever the Chained Man had been.

Then, it happened.

[Threat Eliminated. Limiters Re-engaged.]

[Soulbinding Reverted. Rank 4 Activated.]

[Tithecraft Reverted.]

[Resonance Magic Reverted.]

His power deflated, sucked away in an instant. His Divine Gift receded into the background of his soul like a heartbeat slowing after a sprint.

He was left hollow. Every muscle burned. His knees buckled, but before he could hit the ground, Lilith caught him.

She cradled him against her, her arms warm around it. Her face was pale with awe.

"You were... you were like a god." She whispered.

Ren managed a weak smile. "And now I feel like a corpse."

She didn't laugh, only held him tighter. Then, her Divine Gift thrummed, and a platform of soul energy appeared beneath their feet.

It lifted into the air, taking them both through the fractured remains of the cathedral.

They soared down through the gaping holes Ren had shattered into the stone during the battle. At this point, the cathedral was a ruin.

They reached the underground prison, where Elias and Thorn were waiting.

Thorn exhaled in relief as he saw them. "I know you guys won't leave us behind."

Elias looked up from where he'd been examining the Blood Chosen, who was still unconscious. "That was the Chained Man, wasn't it?" He said.

"Yes." Ren answered tiredly. "And he's dead."

Then, his eyes moved to the second unconscious body in the room.

Vesper Rosefield.

He was still alive.

The new soul that had formed inside him was stabilizing, slowly knitting itself into something more complete. His breath was shallow, but he was regenerating again, every wound on him reknitting.

There was a soft crack as a fracture in his wing, from when he'd been bound, repaired itself.

"How does one kill a soul connected to a Tree of Power?" Ren staggered from Lilith's grip and took a step forward.

Thorn looked up, eyes grim. "I think I know how."

Ren frowned. "How?"

Thorn pointed to Vesper. "Even if the plague is gone, the Red Tree is what's keeping him alive. It's the source of his soul regeneration, his powers, everything. Since nobody knows where the Red Tree is, or if it is even alive, all we need to do is cut the tether between them."

He stared at Vesper, his eyes narrowed. "Once we separate his soul from the Tree, he should be killable. And with Freedom, you can do that."

Ren blinked. "How did we not think of this before?!"

"Well," Thorn grinned, "I have now."

Ren glanced down and that was when he realized that he had no idea where Freedom was.

"Here." Lilith stretched the blade to him. "You dropped this."

"Thank you." He took the sword and stepped closer to Vesper, kneeling beside him.

Lilith placed a hand on his shoulder. "I can help you see the tether."

Her soul threads unfurled out of her and hovered just above Vesper's chest. Slowly, a thin red cord shimmered into visibility.

Ren raised Freedom.

He inhaled once.

Then slashed.

The blade passed through the tether like light through fog.

Vesper arched his back, mouth open in a soundless gasp. His body jerked once. Then went still.

The transformation was immediate. His claws rippled away, and his wings faded into nothingness. His body changed, until all that was left was a human.

His connection to the Red Tree was gone.

Vesper's eyes flew open. He gasped like he'd been drowning, dragging in a ragged breath.

He looked around in confusion, then locked eyes with Ren.

He lunged.

Ren dropped Freedom. He stepped forward and his hand snapped forward, catching Vesper mid-leap, and slamming him to the ground. freёnovelkiss.com

He didn't use Resonance.

He didn't use Soulbinding.

Just his fists.

He punched Vesper.

Once.

Twice.

A third time.

The rage had been boiling in his chest since Rainhold. Since the moment the city had been destroyed. Since Thorn had been injured. Since the death of Halwen.

He punched again.

Vesper struggled, screaming.

"Please!"

Another punch.

"Wait—!"

Another. Blood sprayed. Bone cracked.

"I was just trying to—"

Another.

"I didn't want—!"

Another.

Ren didn't stop.

His fists were red.

Vesper sobbed, pleaded.

Ren didn't hear.

He struck until Vesper's voice broke.

Until the body stopped moving.

Until there was no breath. No regeneration. No magic. No soul.

Vesper was dead.

For good.

Ren stood over the corpse, his hands trembling and his breath ragged.

Thorn said nothing. Elias turned away. Lilith stepped forward, silent.

She didn't stop him.

Because this had to happen.

Ren knelt down one last time, placed a hand over Vesper's chest.

No heartbeat.

"It's over." He whispered.

Lilith reached out and took his hand.

And in the quiet, for the first time since the plague began, Ren felt peace.

And then, of course, someone had to barge in.

The light down in the underground prison shifted.

It grew warmer.

Brighter.

A sound followed, like the buzzing of a flying insect. Then, the Pope descended into the prison from the large hole in the ceiling.

He hovered above them, looking radiant, furious, unstoppable. His cloak blazed brightly, his eyes glaring down at them.

"You dare." He said. "You dare defy divinity and desecrate the last light of the Creator?"

He raised a hand, light gathering at his palm. "Prepare to die."

Ren sighed as he stepped forward, swaying slightly.

The Pope scoffed at the sight of him. "You want to fight against your fate? You can barely stand."

Ren chuckled. His voice was low, ragged, but steady. "Yeah. And luckily, I don't need to."

He pointed behind him with his thumb. "I've got her."

Lilith stepped forward.

Her eyes glowed as she dredged up the energy of her Soul Dominion.

The Pope frowned.

Then he attacked.

And that was when Lilith's soul thread found its mark. And she ripped his soul out.

His body flopped out of the sky, a crack filling the air as he hit the ground, breaking his neck. He was dead.

"Well," Thorn stared at his body, "that was fun."