I, Mika Elbar, was lying on the floor with my gaze directed to Dreyar who looked down on me from the hole I crashed in.

[1 minute and 45 seconds left.]

The halo above my head disappeared.

[How much longer do you intend to lie there? If you do not move, you will die.]

"..."

I recognized the system’s voice but I did not pay it any heed.

My body did not want to move. I only felt my fingers twitching as my nails scratched the wooden floor.

And to be honest, I slowly but surely got tired.

By now, Xander must have escaped with that woman already. With the time I had left, I could not catch up to them after all, a far bigger threat was blocking the path.

Speaking of him, Dreyar also did not seem to move from his spot. He just kept on staring at me. Was he perhaps trying to confirm if I was still in a state to fight?

"..."

I still lied there.

I soaked in the silence.

Truly, it was eerily quiet.

Neither the cheerful voices of children playing innocently outside, the chitchatting of the old people, the bickering of the Sacra siblings nor the people’s carefree laughter were heard.

Not even the voices of my parents.

I sensed my lips trembling once more.

"..."

Shit...

Do not get emotional now, Mika.

I put my shaking hand on my eyes.

However, the more I faced the reality the more I came to understand that everyone was gone.

The more I yearned to see them one last time...

And the more I missed them...

The pain in my chest increased.

The area around my eyes turned wet.

"Damnit... Damnit all...!" I wailed quietly.

I wanted to protect them. I wanted to be with them in the future as I lived my life. I wanted to enjoy peace with them.

That was why I sought strength even though I had to offer my lifespan, my emotions and partly my humanity. That was why I endured all those quests given to me, thinking that it would pay out in the end as those benefits could make me stronger.

I made so much progress. I grew into a strong person recognized even by people who were seen as the pinnacle of humanity. And yet...

And yet here I am... Lying on the ground, wailing like a baby after failing to protect everyone here.

I realized that every effort I put into that lousy ambition of mine was in vain.

"System..." I muttered both softly and slightly vigorously.

You told me, right? If I followed your instructions... If I followed the path of that Promised Future or whatever you called it, I could achieve my goal. You told me I could protect everyone. You told me that no one would die...!

So why...? Why did it still turn out like this?!

[I have no words.]

I slammed my fist on the floor.

Then, I got up on my feet, albeit with great struggle.

I noticed that Dreyar was on his guard.

But whatever.

"No words, huh...?" I muttered.

Strangely enough, I felt the angles of my mouth changing. Even my vision widened as if I widened my eyes extremely.

"After all those years, I still know nothing about you... Where are you now? What do you look like? And who are you even?"

[...]

"If things are over here, you better show up, or else I will find a way to get to you..."

My voice sounded more threatening than usual.

"Haha..." I chuckled weakly.

"What am I talking about...? I shouldn’t put all the blame on you... After all, it’s my fault for blindly believing you. For entrusting you with my and the others’ lives."

[Mika...]

"If only we hadn’t crossed paths on that day... Would my parents be still alive then...?"

I looked up. My vision was partly blurred which was most likely due to my teary eyes.

"Do you remember my words back when I faced Yater?"

[...]

As disgusted as I was from depending on the powers bestowed upon me by the system, I still picked up the rusty sword.

"Naively, I declared to protect those close to me."

I pointed the sword at Dreyar.

"I take those words back."

Finally, my facial muscles relaxed.

"It wouldn’t make any sense to pursue such a thing any further."

After all, Sylvia, Lily and the others were about to face their deaths, too. It was impossible to save them from their fate as I was too far away.

If they were to die, who else could I call a close person to me?

Right.

There was no one.

"Instead, I will dedicate everything I have to my new ambition."

I have nothing left to protect anymore.

"I will start with those bastards who were responsible for this. Then, it will be Leviathan. And last but not least, you and that whole organization behind you."

Those words were directed at you, system.

"I will kill you all."

I will kill everyone who messed with me and my beloved ones.

I will take my revenge no matter what.

I want those bastards to suffer.

I will do anything to achieve that.

I do not care if I have only a few years left. I will only die once I am done with them.

I do not care how many of you there are. Even if you inflict punishments on me, I will take them.

I do not care if others see me as a monster who is anything but human. I will embrace that image.

This was just a small price to pay if I wanted to fulfill my revenge for myself and my beloved ones.

[I understand.]

"Your tone pisses me off." I scoffed silently.

[1 minute and 44 seconds left.]

Above my head, the halo appeared again and the rusty sword in my hand transformed into Excalibur.

"Ready to continue?"

Dreyar jumped down and also pointed his sword at me.

"Yes."

Dreyar.

You are currently at the top of my list of people I want to kill.

"Who killed those four?" I asked sternly while tightening my grip on Excalibur.

"I don’t know. Can you remember which bear you hunted among hundreds of bears?" Dreyar replied calmly, understanding that I meant my parents, Ain and Eric.

"..."

I instantly dashed towards him.

Our swords clashed.

I pressed Excalibur against his blade but that power contest quickly ended when Dreyar kicked me in the stomach, sending me through the building’s wall.

"Argh...!" I groaned quietly as blood gushed out of my mouth.

Still, I stood on my feet.

[13 teleportations left.]

I was now behind Dreyar. And once he turned his body to me, I disappeared again.

[12 teleportations left.]

Now, I was on the other side of him.

[11 teleportations left.]

And finally above him.

I swung Excalibur with all the might I currently had. However, Dreyar reacted just in time, making me hit his left shoulder.

"Keh...!"

Even though I put everything I had into this one, I was not able to penetrate his armor.

"!"

[10 teleportations left.]

"Ugh...!"

I gritted my teeth as I felt an incredible pain.

Just a few seconds ago, I sensed how Dreyar was about to cut me in half so I had to teleport myself away from him. But I could not escape unscratched.

"..."

I looked to my left and then to the front.

Right in front of Dreyar’s feet lied an arm.

And said arm was mine.

Instead of being attached to me, it was cut off.

"!"

Dreyar instantly appeared before me with his arms above him.

"Tch-"

I was slammed to the ground when I tried to block off his sword, which he swung from above.

[9 teleportations left.]

[8 teleportations left.]

I focused my strength in my grip as I clenched his jaw in my hand.

"You are wasting your efforts."

Dreyar was unfazed just like I expected.

"We will see." I replied exhaustedly.

"?"

"Enlarge."

Then, Dreyar’s face was hit by the Holy Spear which I previously teleported somewhere above us in order to land a sneak attack on Dreyar.

Dreyar was pushed into the ground by the spear which was still increasing its length.

After a while, I took the spear.

"Shrink."

The room was filled with dust.

"I take my words back."

Just what is he made of?

"It seems like I was underestimating you."

The dust dispersed as Dreyar stepped forward.

His armor and helmet were still intact.

[1 minute and 8 seconds left.]

"...!"

Once again, I was caught by surprise as I could only watch his shin closing into my face.

With a loud bang, I was kicked outside the building.

"..."

Numb, I lied on the soil.

If I bent my head more, I could see the villagers’ corpses.

"Damnit..." I muttered.

I felt like Dreyar’s toy.

Even now, I could not tell what kind of ability he had.

I clenched my fists.

Am I complaining right now?

"Don’t get distracted...!" I told myself as I tried to get up.

I cannot fail at this stage.

There were so many I had to take care of after this.

Even if my opponent was an S-rank or an actual god, I would kill everyone in my path.