The Final Boss Has Returned – Episode 71
Drakan suppressed his surging emotions as he looked at the chat window and spoke.
“You’re not even my mother. I really don’t see why I have to explain every little thing like this to you.”
[Yujin: I’m sorry.]
[Yujin has donated 1,000,000 won.]
“Wasting money on pointless things again. There’s no need to apologize, and I don’t need the money, so use it to buy yourself some beef ribeye instead.”
[Yujin: Hahaha;;]
Having smoothly concluded his conversation with Yujin, Drakan’s gaze turned to the front.
Spear King Rio!
He swung Mistilteinn with terrifying momentum, grinding through the undead like a pulverizer as he charged.
“Lord Drakan. What should we do?”
Ignis, who was at Drakan’s side, asked him.
Drakan smiled at Ignis’s words.
“I’ll handle him.”
Rune of Regression!
A single-use skill that transformed him into ‘Drakan’ at his prime—albeit for only twenty minutes!
Drakan had the confidence to bring down someone like the Spear King in a mere five minutes if he used that skill.
Top Ranker!
After all, the seat at the apex wasn’t something obtained through sheer luck.
Of course, it wasn’t as if the skill called Rune of Regression wasn’t precious.
He could save it for later, but Drakan thought that now, at least, was not the time to be hoarding his skills.
Mistilteinn!
For the future and well-being of the undead who would soon submit to him. He had to destroy that cursed weapon by gnawing away at its durability with Laevateinn’s ‘Soul Incineration.’
Given his position, he had no choice but to eventually cross blades with Rio directly.
He could always resort to a gang-up like usual, but while that might work in a raid, inducing one in the chaos of a field battle was no easy task.
And above all, to personally shave down Mistilteinn’s durability with Laevateinn, he needed to face him head-on.
In conclusion, to face an Over Ranker head-on with his current strength, Drakan needed the Rune of Regression.
For if he hoarded the skill simply because it was precious, he might pay a far greater price—his life—in Arde Saga Second, where a single death could mean permanent death.
And more than anything, Drakan wanted to feel his ‘prime’ self on the battlefield as soon as possible.
Steel Monarch Drakan!
He wanted to show everyone—including the viewers of his real-time stream—the self from that era who had been called the Terror of the Battlefield.
And he wanted to say.
That Drakan had not died!
That the Steel Monarch had returned.
Smirk.
Drakan smiled and spoke to Ignis.
“You take the undead detachment with your party members and hit the enemy’s left flank.”
“Understood.”
Having received Drakan’s orders, Ignis disappeared to the side with his party members.
Even as this happened, Rio was charging forward like a madman alongside the elite troops of the Simseong Milky Way Guild.
Drakan fixed his gaze on Rio and opened his mouth in a low voice.
“Arch Lich.”
At Drakan’s words, the Arch Lich—who had been hiding himself with concealment magic—answered.
[Did you call, Contractor?]
“Take the Black Knight Commander, the Bone Dragon, and the detachment, and strike the enemy’s right flank.”
[Understood.]
Black Knight Commander, Arch Lich, Bone Dragon!
The three strongest undead under the Undead King began to move according to Drakan’s command.
In the very moment that the Arch Lich—concealed by stealth magic—the Bone Dragon flying through the heavily clouded sky, and the Black Knight Commander mounted upon it began to slowly move.
“Draakaaan!!”
Only Drakan filled Rio’s vision.
Drakan!
A former Top Ranker!
And a blue chip of Arde World who still displayed his prowess even in the era of Second!
He had already grown too much to be called a prospect, and if he could just eliminate him—who appeared to be an important long-term piece being groomed by JDG and Jeil Group, whom he considered rivals deep down!
He would gain the Vice Chairman’s trust, and his own notoriety would skyrocket as well.
Drakan!
He had yet to rise to the position of Ranker, let alone Over Ranker, but he was a former Top Ranker and a conqueror who had once briefly unified the continent.
Not to mention, the name value of being the only user to ever face Yujin head-on still remained vivid!
If he could kill such a man, perhaps he might inch closer to the supreme position of Top Ranker that he had long forgotten.
And if he gained the Vice Chairman’s favor, perhaps the seat of Top Ranker would come even closer.
Top Ranker!
The apex of Arde World!
Rio thought that there were almost no Over Rankers who did not covet that position.
And Rio intended to offer Drakan as a sacrifice for that end.
‘Foolishly alone. Does he trust in Laevateinn?’
Rio sneered at Drakan, who stood alone without any notable escort.
Laevateinn!
The legendary sword passed down in the myths of the north, said to have been forged by the Undead King by refining souls into flames to defeat Mistilteinn!
He would be standing alone trusting in that sword, but unfortunately, that was a mistake.
Mistilteinn and Laevateinn!
When weapons were of the same grade, victory and defeat were determined by their wielders.
And no matter how much Drakan had been a Top Ranker in the past, in the current era he was merely an inexperienced user who had yet to even become a Ranker.
Capturing such a Drakan was no different from eating cold porridge for the Spear King.
‘I’ll kill him in a single breath with overwhelming performance.’
Thus Rio resolved.
Not only was this being live-streamed right now, but countless viewers were surely focusing on him and Drakan through the broadcast.
In other words, he was an actor on a splendid stage before a massive audience, and he needed to respond with a performance that surpassed their expectations.
“God Spear Flash!”
God Spear Flash!
The ultimate skill that had earned Rio the nickname Spear King—one that pierced through the enemy like a ray of light—unfolded at the tip of Mistilteinn.
At that moment.
A low voice echoed from Drakan’s mouth.
“Rune of Regression.”
[The Rune of Regression activates.]
At that moment.
Along with a dry notification window, a dark red light burst from Drakan’s body.
* * *
[The skill ‘Rune of Regression’ activates.]
[Temporary changes occur in the status window.]
Along with the notification, I felt a destructive power writhing throughout my entire body.
Steel Monarch!
Top Ranker!
The sensation from six years ago, when as the leader of the Ironblood Alliance, I had rampaged through enemy camps as the Terror of the Battlefield.
That prime power was surging through me from head to toe.
Swoosh!
A dark red light enveloped my entire body.
Whiiiiish!
A chilling sonic boom echoed in my ears.
The sharp tip of Rio’s spear flying toward me entered my vision.
Smirk.
The corners of my mouth rose on their own.
God Spear Flash!
As the ultimate skill unleashed by Spear King Rio with all his might, it undoubtedly possessed considerable power.
But it didn’t matter to me in the slightest.
Because right now, I was Drakan from his days as a Top Ranker!
“Incarnation of Ironblood.”
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth!
An ultimate skill for an ultimate skill!
Staring straight at the tip of his spear, wrapped in aura and flying toward me, I cast my skill.
[The skill ‘Incarnation of Ironblood’ activates.]
A dark red aura that enveloped my entire body along with a brief notification!
The aura surrounding my body soon transformed into the shape of massive armor.
Dark red full-body armor made of aura!
Incarnation of Ironblood!
The notorious skill that had represented my infamous past as the Terror of the Battlefield had finally revealed itself once more in Arde World after six years.
[All stats have temporarily increased by 100%.]
[All elemental resistances have temporarily increased by 100%.]
[All skill attack power has temporarily increased by 100%.]
Without even looking at the notification windows, feeling that writhing power, I simply raised Laevateinn and blocked his spear blade.
Kwa-gwang!
As his spear blade clashed with my Laevateinn, shockwaves spread through the surroundings.
[Mistilteinn’s durability has dropped significantly.]
The message that appeared before my eyes then!
I smiled as I saw that message.
In contrast, Rio’s gaze as he looked at me was filled with panic and confusion.
[OMG is he crazy?]
[Incarnation of Ironblood? Isn’t that old Drakan’s ultimate? Why is it here?]
[Wow~ he’s really crazy, going head-to-head with this]
[All hail King Drakan!]
[God Drakan, sorry for underestimating you…….]
Truly overwhelming performance!
I smiled as I watched the flood of donations pouring in.
Now was the time to properly show the world that the Steel Monarch still stood tall.
Looking at Rio, who wore a panicked expression, I swung Laevateinn once more.
Bang!
An explosion and shockwave swept through the surroundings.
[Mistilteinn’s durability has dropped significantly.]
Along with the brief message, Rio was forced back by the recoil.
“Kuk!”
A groan escaped Rio’s mouth.
He must undoubtedly be panicking right now.
I swung Laevateinn again, and he desperately swung Mistilteinn’s shaft to block my attack.
Bang! Kwa-gwang! Kwa-gwa-gwang!
Each time the aura-laden sword and spear clashed, explosions rang out, shockwaves erupted, and durability drop messages popped up endlessly.
I swung my sword as if toying with him.
All of his attack routes, the trajectory of his spear swings, were clearly visible and predictable in my sight.
This was not a difference in stats, items, or levels, but pure physicals!
Of course, if my stats weren’t at their prime, no matter how good my physicals were, I could never have beaten him, but unfortunately, right now I held the advantage even in stats and skills!
So I didn’t even need to use skills against such a brat.
It was so easy I was about to yawn.
Thinking so, I curled the corners of my mouth upward.
“Hey, Spear King. Why don’t you struggle a bit more?”
“Uh, u-uh.”
Fear settled in Spear King Rio’s eyes.
I smiled as I looked into those pupils.
Those very pupils I had seen countless times in the previous game!
My heart raced at that sight filled with such abundant fear toward me.
“What are you all doing! Protect me, protect me! What are you doing! I said protect me!”
Having witnessed that scene, Rio belatedly screamed out an order.