The atmosphere was charged with tension and fear. Millions of people gathered around a lone figure who stood defiant against all the heroes arrayed against them. Though the heroes held their ground, they were gripped by shock. A heavy silence filled the void—not one of them could utter a word, no matter how hard they tried to stay strong. Yet, upon closer inspection, one could see the tremors in their bodies and the chattering of their teeth from sheer terror.
Their friend, who had been speaking to them warmly mere moments ago, had now been reduced to a mangled heap of flesh scattered in the air, leaving them all in profound shock.
*"Why the hell?! How could he kill him in such a brutal way?!"* screamed one of the heroines from behind the ranks, her voice sharp with anguish and fury.
As chaos reigned, the **Dark King** watched them with cold, piercing eyes. His violet-and-black gaze reflected an eerie, unfathomable power, as if he relished their suffering and despair in this moment of loss.
Then, after a pause, his icy words cut through the air:
*"Heroine, you stand before me armed with notions of courage and hope. But what you fail to understand is that I am the embodiment of darkness—the one who dances upon the ruins of hope. If you believe your words can intimidate me, you are mistaken. I, before whom the mightiest heroes have bowed, have come here to prove my strength once more."*
*"While you strive to uplift those around you, I draw my power from their misery. Every tear, every scream only adds to my grandeur. Ask yourselves in secret: How can you possibly stand against me? Is this not the epitome of weakness?"*
*"You think you can defeat me, yet you do not comprehend my truth. I need not flaunt my strength—my mere existence is enough to shatter your dreams. Prepare yourself, for I am coming to claim what is mine… and to prove that nothing can stand in my way."*
The heroes' faces darkened. They knew—if they didn't kill him now, they would perish, along with their worlds. This was their **final mission**.
**System Window**
**Mission Type:** Mandatory
**Threat Level:** ??? ?????
**Reward:** Everything in the universes under the Dark King's dominion shall be yours…
**Failure:** Death for you and your worlds.
*"Damn it… We have to kill him, even if it means destroying this planet in the process!"*
One hero stepped forward, his voice rising above the rest. Though worry lined his face, he forced strength into his words.
*"Don't lose hope,"* he said earnestly. *"We all know how strong and brave our friend was. He fought for us, for justice. But if we give up now, his sacrifice will be in vain. We must remember him as a symbol of strength—not as a victim of fear."*
Then, trying to shatter the despair weighing on them, he added: *"The Dark King may think he's won this battle, but the war isn't over. We stand together, and we will fight for everything we believe in. We must unite, avenge our friend, and prove to him that fear will not control us!"*
Whispers of hope spread among them, each drawing strength from the other, forging an unbreakable bond.
*"It seems I must end this farce,"* the Dark King mused. *"All these years of creating heroes… and yet, they amount to nothing. I had such high expectations. You, the so-called 'heroes'—protected by fate, showered with glory, praise, and rewards wherever you go."*
*"But I've realized the truth. Heroes are not what they claim to be. You do not act for justice, but for the wealth you gain from completing your missions. This is not about facing challenges—it's a mere transaction. Honor and fame are part of the facade, but they are not your true motives."*
*"Look at yourselves. The systems I created granted you awe-inspiring power, yet you've lost yourselves in delusions. I bestowed upon you strength and riches in your worlds, yet it was never enough, was it?"*
*"This is where your true nature is revealed. You gamble everything for wealth. The worlds under my rule are nothing but a stage for your pitiful adventures. Did it ever occur to you that even if you complete this mission, you will gain nothing?"*
*"Because in the end, everything belongs to me. I created these worlds not for your satisfaction or dreams, but for my own purpose—to watch heroes crush one another."*
*"You are merely guests at my banquet, not the heroes you pretend to be."*
*"The adventures you live are but my entertainment. Know this: You exist in a world crafted from your desires and dreams, yet the realization that I control everything is what will free you from your illusions."*
*"Remember, in the end, wherever you go, the consequences stem from your choices."*
*"So chase your glory, but never forget—the King sets the rules of the game."*
One of the heroes suddenly shouted:
*"So what?! Even if you created our systems, even if you forged the realms of the Immortals where we live—we will still bring you down and take everything for our— Gahk!"*
A surge of dark energy, like a raging storm, blasted toward him. The heroes tried to warn each other, but it was too late.
The energy struck, reducing their comrade to ashes scattered in the wind—another loss that stripped them of all hope.
*"How dare you interrupt me, you wretch…"* The Dark King's voice was cold, cutting through the terror-stricken silence.
His friends stood frozen in shock, unable to react. The attack had been too fast—far too fast. Realizing they had lost another ally, they steeled themselves to end this evil before more lives were claimed.
One of them spoke up, his voice trembling but bold:
*"You truly live up to your title, 'Dark King.' We couldn't even withstand the depth of your darkness. With just two strikes, you've killed…"*
*"But we regret to inform you—playtime is over. We will attack you all at once and end this quickly!"*
The pressure from the Immortal Heroes skyrocketed, surpassing anything they had ever unleashed before. They sought to crush the Dark King under this overwhelming force—
Yet, the Dark King stood motionless amidst the crushing pressure. Nearby planets began to explode as the line between life and death blurred.
*"Hahaha! Look at him—he can't even move! Seems we overestimated you!"* one hero taunted arrogantly.
*"Gather all your power!"* another roared. *"A combined attack to end this farce! Let's return to our world in triumph and wipe out this man and his wretched realm! Let him see what it means for a mere 'farmer' to reach the pinnacle of the Immortal Realm!"*
*"Yes! Let's show him who we are!"* the heroes shouted in unison, their voices harmonizing like a deadly symphony.
Millions of heroes united their strength into a single, cataclysmic strike—one that could erase planets, even entire universes.
*"Take this—the Supreme Strike of Heavenly Annihilation!"*
A terrifying wave of energy surged toward the Dark King, capable of obliterating all in its path.
The Dark King merely smirked before uttering:
*"Is this all you've got? I thought raising your power slightly would let you endure a few of my strikes… How disappointing."*
His aura erupted, eclipsing the combined might of the heroes. Some barely had time to gasp— *"Gahk!"*—before realizing this energy was so immense the cosmos itself couldn't withstand it.
With a flick of his hand, **space and time tore apart**. Everything froze—even the heroes were paralyzed.
Then, he raised his palm, and **entire galaxies** materialized above it—realms of the Immortals, now under his control.
He couldn't help but laugh. *"All these years of training the Immortal Heroes to fight me… and it was all for nothing."*
Placing those galaxies behind the heroes, he ensured they would perish alongside their worlds. Then, just before restoring spacetime, he whispered:
*"Playtime… is over."*
**Reality snapped back.**
The heroes could move again—their first sight was the Dark King. Hatred burned in their eyes.
Then, they noticed—his finger was pointed at them.
*"Perish, you vermin."*
**The Absolute Annihilation Sphere**—a planet-sized orb of dark energy capable of erasing existence itself—was unleashed. It devoured their combined attack effortlessly, unstoppable in its path.
The heroes tried to flee, only to realize—their own worlds were **holding them in place**.
The heroines screamed, begging: *"We were wrong! Spare us! We'll never be selfish again, we'll never harm anyone—please!"*
But their pleas fell on deaf ears. The Dark King watched with indifference, his gaze fixed on the orb of destruction as if savoring the end he had orchestrated.
His soft murmur rose above their cries: *"This is the end. Judgment has come."*
With final screams of despair, the heroes—and their worlds—**faded into the all-consuming darkness**.
The Dark King observed them one last time and spoke:
*"In my darkness, I find wisdom beyond light's reach. I am the Dark King—sovereign of the unknown, where challenges meet the paths of mystery. Many believe light is power, yet they fail to see that night embraces the abyss, and silence holds secrets deeper than life's clamor."*
*"Every battle I wage, every soul I claim, adds new shades to my night. In loss, I see lessons; in failure, new beginnings. Why do men fear the dark? Is it because they lack the courage to face their true reflections? Here, in my shadows, they discover their hidden selves."*
*"Thus, I welcome those who dare face me—for I am no mere enemy, but a teacher in the school of deeper understanding. I show them that light follows darkness, and true victory lies in exploring the depths of one's soul… far from the shallow glow of the world."*