The dragon glared at , his fiery gaze trying to pierce my spirit and frighten . But his attempts did nothing—I could see each movent he made as he charged toward , and it only looked like a desperate final stand. What was once a brutal fight for had shifted. Now, he was the one struggling to keep up. Discover stories with empire
His fist swung straight at my face, a heavy blow that could’ve shattered stone, but I rely tilted my head to the side, evading it by an inch. My own fist shot into his gut, forcing a low grunt from him as he stumbled back. Without missing a beat, I spun, my sword swinging wide. He tried to dodge, but my blade caught him, slashing through his so-called "impenetrable" scales.
"Gah! Nngh! I-Impossible! Am I…bleeding?" He stared at the crimson seeping from the cut, his eyes wide with shock. "Bleeding—unto an insignificant being such as thee? This cannot be! I am a dragon of higher being than all who walketh this world! I am to be revered as a god, not wounded by the likes of thee!"
Yet he was bleeding, a jagged line across his scales dripping bright red—a sight I never thought I’d see.
"If this is all you amount to," I replied, my voice cold, "then you’re no god here. Don’t delude yourself. You’re nothing more than a weakling."
"Thou…mortal!" he bellowed, his power flaring around him, a desperate pulse that sparked like lightning and roared like thunder. Yet, his display only reeked of insecurity.
"You’re nothing more than a coward afraid of those above you, which is why you lash out at those beneath. You’re a pathetic bully, nothing more!"
"Do not degrade further, mortal! I am thy god—a higher being!" His voice cracked, trembling with rage, but all I saw was fear hiding behind his bravado.
To , he looked like a desperate child pretending to be fierce.
"Mock not!" he roared, fists ablaze with fire, as he dashed at once more. His eyes were wide, manic with fury. "Thou thinkest a jester! Just as they did! Thou shalt not treat with such disdain!"
He lunged, his flaming fist swinging wide, yet I didn’t flinch. This display felt nothing more than hollow. His anger, a spark without fuel. I sidestepped, watching his fist swing through empty air, the force of his montum nearly toppling him. I looked down, my gaze cold as he stumbled.
"Graaaaagh!" he scread, flailing in futile anger, his claws tearing at the air as I dodged each move effortlessly. He raged, but each of his attacks t only emptiness, and I took every opening to strike, my blade cutting deep and leaving him bleeding.
My ti was running short. This transformation wasn’t ant to last forever, so I had to end this now. Steeling myself, I poured every ounce of power into my attacks, each punch and slice of my blade slamming into him with unrelenting force.
After a relentless assault, he dropped to his knees, gasping for air, his head bowed in defeat.
"I told you, didn’t I?" I said, lifting my sword to his neck. "You’re nothing."
He laughed weakly, a soft, defeated chuckle, and then his eyes lifted, cold and glinting with sothing sinister.
"Dost thou truly think that the world thou protecteth is safe?" His voice was low, mocking. "As thou hast rightly guessed, I am but a pawn in a far grander design—a re piece in a vast puzzle. A fool, perhaps, seeking to be sothing, to an sothing. Yet I am naught in comparison to those who truly wield power."
"So you admit you’re nothing," I said coolly.
"Aye, I am nothing," he hissed. "Others far greater than I wander the cosmos, each seeking dominion. So still search for a world to call their own. And dost thou believe thou canst shield this world from them? Unlike , who hath even a sliver of compassion, they hold none. This world, thou dost treasure, shall be turned to dust beneath their power."
"Oh yeah?" I replied, my eyes narrowing.
"Indeed!" His eyes flashed with sudden desperation. "Co, let us reach an accord! I shall bring no further harm to this world and will guard it against the dragons that co seeking dominion. Spare , and I shall beco thy shield against them!"
"I am enough," I told him before swinging my sword down on his neck. The blade cut clean through, and his head flew free, spinning before crashing to the ground. For a heartbeat, everything stilled, and then his head and body crumbled into dust, disintegrating as if his very essence was whisked away by the wind. The Great Darkness was dead.
A wave of fatigue rolled over , and I could feel my transformation waning, my body growing heavy and weak. My breathing slowed as I grappled with the exhaustion settling deep into my bones.
Suddenly, a soft chi rang through my mind—the familiar sound I’d co to associate with a woman taking an interest in .
Curious, I opened the panel.
--
You’ve captured the interest of Ayaru. You can now proceed to dominate her.
Na: Ayaru
Race: ???
Requirents to dominate Ayaru:
1. Kill a Cursed Sword Wielder
2. Unlock
3. Unlock
4. Unlock
....
--
Huh? Who the hell is Ayaru? I didn’t know anyone by that na. I glanced down at the sword in my hand, realization dawning on .
"Are you Ayaru?" I asked, more to myself than anything.
The sword didn’t speak, but it glowed softly. No, to call it an "it" felt wrong now. She glowed. She was a woman, after all, even if her form was this blade.
"Huh… So you’re a woman in there, huh?" I murmured, a small grin on my face. "Didn’t expect that, especially considering how fierce you are… Guess that makes you more womanly."
Before I could process more, the transformation unraveled entirely, and a crushing fatigue took over my body. The exertion, no doubt. But there didn’t seem to be any more imdiate threats, so maybe it was alright to finally let myself rest…
With that thought, I crumpled to the ground, slipping into unconsciousness.
But just before everything went black, I felt a presence—a pair of eyes, sharp and predatory, watching from sowhere nearby. I struggled to keep myself awake, but it was too late. Darkness took over.
***
???’s POV
"Hmm… it’s done," I murmured, hovering in the air above the plaza. My wings stretched wide against the night sky, their soft rhythm holding aloft. Below, I could see my twin brother, his strength glowing in victory. He’d grown more powerful—good. The Empire wouldn’t take the Kingdom of Milham down easily with him here.
Satisfied, I turned and soared away, leaving the scene behind. The Empress would be delighted to know the Kingdom still had a worthy fighter in its midst.
"Well then, I suppose the Empire will have to start with the other realms before setting its sights on Milham," I mused, glancing back with a smirk. "My brother’s being here in this kingdom would ensure they put up a real fight. How ironic… to find soone like as my own adversary."
The thought almost made laugh, but instead, a delighted smile crept onto my lips.
"The Kingdom of Bethlan seems the easier conquest for now," I decided, turning toward the Empire.
With a final glance back, I slipped into the night sky and began my journey ho.
***
Leon’s POV
It had been nearly a week since the events that would co to be known as the Eclipse Occupation of the Plaza, or simply, the Great Darkness Incident. Word of the ordeal had spread quickly, and whispers filled the streets. Many said that Princess Myrcella had intervened personally, calling for help and ensuring her people were protected. Those who had been trapped in a hypnotic thrall were returning to their families, greeted with relief and joyful tears. Though not everyone made it back—many had died, driven by a false devotion to the twisted deity worshiped by Sesillian—their families, at least, found solace in their release from his corrupting influence.
Angelica, too, had snapped out of her trance. Freed from her hypnotic binds, she returned to the castle and now served Princess Myrcella directly. Gabrielle was pleased, and from the looks of it, Angelica was back to her usual, dedicated self. Good for her, I guess.
Then there was Charlotte… Her behavior had changed drastically since that day. Any trace of her forr revulsion toward had vanished, replaced by a shy blush that colored her cheeks whenever she was near. She looked like a maiden smitten, with stolen glances and soft smiles she didn’t even attempt to hide. I suppose even her obsession with Sesillian had vanished, given the shocking revelation of his preferences. I couldn’t bla her for moving on.
Casualties had been inevitable in a battle of that scale. Several brave adventurers and knights had given their lives. They were brought to the castle, where Princess Myrcella herself presided over their funeral rites—a rare and honorable gesture. As for Sesillian’s body, the public had claid it, driving stakes through his remains and burning him until there was nothing but charred dust. Sesillian, the twisted zealot, was finally gone, erased from this world and unlikely to ever return.
One important revelation erged from this tragedy, though—a piece of knowledge that lingered in my mind, overshadowing the relief that followed our victory.
The ritual that Sesillian perford had opened a portal, connecting this world to another. That’s why the Great Darkness, that dragon, had erged into our realm. And if that kind of bridge was possible, then… it ant there might be a way for to return to Earth as well.
For now, though, I pushed aside those thoughts. Before were several beautiful won, all gazing at with a hunger that spoke of a different kind of battle—one that I fully intended to savor.
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