Gauther remained silent for several seconds, gazing at his weapons: the Dagger of the Supreme Shadow Master and the Sword of the Northern Wolf—the very blade Yuta had wielded during the magic tournament.
He decided to return the Sword of the Northern Wolf to a dimensional space; he had no need for it. As an assassin who commanded the elements of darkness and shadows, the dagger would allow him to perform at his absolute best.
With a faint smile, he recalled the two abilities he had gained upon breaking through to the "Boundless" rank:
"It's time to put 'Passive Aim' and 'Narrative Severing' to the test. It's been quite a while since I acquired them, yet I've never actually used them. It would be a waste not to employ them on the battlefield."
He stowed his dagger away into a dimensional space as well, then rose to his feet. Looking toward his personal interface, he asked in a calm, steady tone:
"How much time remains before the assassination mission begins? And in which region is the target located?"
Gauther closed his eyes, a flicker of annoyance crossing his face—his system was stalling for no logical reason. Yet, he knew better than to lash out foolishly; doing so could trigger consequences the likes of which this world had never seen or even imagined.
The target—a mortal story manifested into a physical entity—remained an enigma to him. It was impossible for the system to simply pinpoint the target's location without raising suspicion. [Target: A Fictional Narrative
Client: <>
Notes: Narratives often transcend the boundaries of fantasy worlds.
Narrative Title: Where Demons Weep
Protagonist: Suzars
Status: Completed / Terminated
Entity Type: Fantasy World Demon
Target Location: Ancient Ruins
Time Remaining Until Mission Start: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Narrative Status: Sealed
Reason for Penalty: Unauthorized entry into a narrative titled "The Dragon Angel in a World of Fantasy."]
Gauther stared at the system interface, trying to make sense of the target. The term "narrative" puzzled him, yet it dawned on him that a narrative was merely a tiny speck within this vast world. He also felt a flicker of annoyance—he had no idea who had commissioned this assassination; after all, an assassin does not act on his own accord.
Nevertheless, he was elated that his opponent would not be at full strength. To fight an incarnated narrative—one containing the collective experience, abilities, and skills of every entity that had ever lived within it—would be tantamount to suicide, even for someone who had reached the "Boundless" rank in such a remarkably short time.
Without wasting another second, he stepped out of his room, knowing full well that his adversary was waiting for him.
As he made his way toward the site of the confrontation, a crucial detail—one he had inexplicably forgotten—crossed his mind:
"The 'Ruler's Eye' ability—why is it still inactive?"
He immediately attempted to activate it, hoping to glimpse the unfolding battle before it even began—but he saw nothing at all. He didn't even perceive himself to be fighting; it dawned on him that the "Ruler's Eye"—or whatever mechanism allowed for the observation of the battle—was either being blocked or was fundamentally incapable of tracking these events.
He let out a sigh, heavy with frustration, and shut the vision down. It had failed to show any future events; instead, it displayed things that had never occurred in the past—scenarios that could never come to pass, featuring characters who did not exist.
He came to a halt beside a shattered pillar—the very same spot where Yuta and Rikudo Navi had stood following the conclusion of the magic competition.
Scanning the ruins, he spotted a young man with black hair, dressed in dark noble attire. A demonic aura radiated from him, and he gazed at the surroundings with a faint, melancholic smile—an expression whose underlying sorrow the observer neither understood nor cared to decipher.
He moved directly toward the figure, remaining vigilant for potential traps and extending his shadows into every dark corner he could find.
The stranger turned his gaze toward him, offering a slight smile. He reached for a nearby stone, transmuting it into a narrative algorithm that scattered into the air, vanishing as if it had never existed at all.
This only heightened his caution. He now understood the stranger's true purpose in their story: destruction. The man was, in essence, a demon—a devourer of narratives who consumed other stories to grow ever more powerful. And *The Dragon Angel in a World of Fantasy* was still in its infancy—a mere 700 trillion years old—and, as of this moment, it was still ongoing. The individual spoke in a tone that was a strange blend of mockery and calm:
"I wonder, how many protagonists are there in this novel?"
He spoke while looking toward Gowther, who was left bewildered by the question. How many protagonists in this novel? It was a question he had never heard in his entire life.
A faint smile appeared on the man's face as he observed Gowther, realizing the latter had not grasped his meaning:
"This is a truly peculiar novel. You see, there are several distinct narratives—each a complete, self-contained world—with its own protagonist. Yet, they all share one common thread: the 'first human'—whether known as Ji Yao Li, Zhao Li, Alessandra, or, currently, Tom."
"Ultimately, across all these narratives, there are only three: Tom, the creator of a novel; Son Goku, the protagonist of an original story; and Aaron—or, if you will, 'Nobara'—the author of a derivative work."
Gowther remained silent, struggling to process what was happening and the strange words he was hearing. Wasn't he inside a novel written by his friend—a novel in which he, Gowther, existed exactly as his friend had depicted him? And wasn't Son Goku the protagonist of a story, as his friend had once told him? And was his friend not 'Nobara'?
What the hell is going on? How does this person know about the novel? What lies within another novel? Where exactly is he? These were the questions swirling through Gowther's mind.
Yet, his shock began to subside as he recalled the existence of realms far vaster than the world of fiction. He realized that the world was far greater than he had ever imagined—or could ever imagine—governed by the remaining fragments within the 'Path of the Ruler.' Turning his attention toward him, he found the other man still wearing a provocative smile as he watched him, then watched as he climbed down from the pillar he had been sitting upon.
He headed straight toward Gowther, his expression one of casual indifference:
"Why don't we take a little stroll? There's still plenty of time before the mission begins."
Gowther kept a wary eye on him, realizing that his adversary was aware of the assassination mission—a fact that made him grasp just how dangerous his opponent was, though he could only estimate the true extent of his power.
Assuming a relaxed stance, he spoke with a mix of suspicion and caution:
"Fine, 'Where Devils Weep'—we've got 45 minutes left until the mission starts."
The individual let out a soft laugh upon hearing Gowther address him by name—a reaction that left Gowther somewhat annoyed—as he began to walk toward him.
"By the way, Mr. Gowther McTire, my current name is Suzars. It's named after the protagonist who lived within me back when I was still a novel—or a fantasy world—and, frankly, it's a far better name than the title of the novel itself."
There was a hint of mockery in his tone as he and Gowther walked along with steady, confident strides.
As he listened, Gowther spoke inwardly, addressing the System:
"Can I utilize the abilities from the novel *The Dragon Angel in a World of Fantasy* on this entity—the one currently known as 'Suzars'—who is, in essence, the embodiment of a weeping demon?"
While waiting impatiently for the System's response, Gowther asked, his voice remaining calm:
"A friend of mine mentioned something called the 'Demon Gem of the Fantasy World.' What exactly is it?"
Suzars looked at him, puzzled, for a few moments before bursting into loud laughter as he replied:
"That gem is actually the egg I was once inside. It only manifests after the events of the novel have concluded—appearing either just before the side stories begin, when the world meets its natural end, or simply fading into existence after the world has been forgotten by everyone." "Once, I was a novel filled with strange and beautiful events—but like any story, its fate is either to reach an end, be forgotten, or be erased entirely. The same applies to your novel, *The Dragon Angel in a World of Fantasy*; once Aaron—the 'thief' who usurped the role of author—Son Goku, the protagonist, and Tom, the true author, all achieve their respective goals, the story itself may come to an end, transforming into a 'demon' of that fantasy world."
Gowther's bewilderment deepened as he listened to Suzars. It had already been a bizarre day, and it seemed to be growing stranger by the moment.
He cast his gaze toward the ruined city, struggling to grasp the full scope of the situation. He understood why Aaron was referred to as the "thief-author," yet, at the same time, he understood nothing at all—it was merely an inexplicable, lingering intuition.
Suddenly, a system interface appeared, answering his unspoken question while delivering a truly shocking revelation:
[Your core abilities—Space Manipulation (Absolute Level), Spacetime Concept Manipulation (Absolute Level), Ability Copying, Ability Theft, and Devouring—do not function within the novel *Where Devils Weep*. This also applies to all other laws and concepts; the novel exists beyond such frameworks, operating solely according to its own internal plot. The same holds true for the rest of your abilities derived from *The Dragon Angel in a World of Fantasy*.]
A sigh of deep frustration escaped his lips. He dismissed the system message and looked toward Suzars, who was watching him with an expression of clear, mocking derision. He muttered to himself, his tone laced with self-mockery:
"It seems I've even become a subject for mockery within novels. The world I inhabit has reached new, dizzying heights of madness. And yet, I can still use these wings—they don't belong to any specific novel—along with abilities that I can apply solely to myself."
Suzars watched him, a flicker of hidden joy crossing his expression, only to shift into sorrow as he recalled what his world had once been—and the characters who had dwelt within it millions of years ago.
They continued on until they reached an ancient arena, where they moved several meters apart. After all, Guther was no ordinary assassin; he was a "narrative assassin." He now found himself forced to confront narrative entities directly—a complex situation, given that his own powers were rooted in the reality of the cosmos rather than being "meta-narrative," and he remained bound to the power system of a specific novel.
Breaking the silence, Suzars spoke, his gaze fixed on Guther. Guther held his dagger—the "Supreme Shadow Master"—in his right hand, his body wreathed in a crimson aura tinged with a cold, violet hue.
"It appears the battle is about to begin, doesn't it, narrative assassin? You had best fight with everything you have; otherwise, you will perish, and I shall devour your world. After all, we are the demons of the fantasy realms—we feed upon other novels."
Signs of unease and anxiety flickered across Guther's features as he gripped his dagger with immense force. Suddenly, the system interface reappeared, displaying the details of his mission. [Target: Fania (Novel)
Client: <>
Notes: Novels often transcend into fantasy worlds.
Novel Title: *Where Demons Weep*
Protagonist: Suzars
Status: Completed / Cancelled
Entity Type: Fantasy-world demon
Target Location: Ancient ruins
Time remaining until mission start: 45 seconds
Novel Status: Sealed
Reason for Penalty: Unauthorized entry into the novel titled *The Dragon Angel in a World of Fantasy*.]
[Assassination Mission Duration: Commencing now.
Penalty: The consumption of the novel *The Dragon Angel in a World of Fantasy* by the fantasy-world demon, Suzars.]
A malicious grin spread across Suzars' face as he observed his personal "Gowther System." He shifted into a combat stance, fixing his gaze upon Gowther—who now found himself in an unenviable position, as most of his plans had been automatically nullified.
"As I said, the battle begins—Gowther McTire."
In an instant, he lunged toward Gowther with a speed the latter couldn't even perceive, delivering a devastating punch to his midsection. The force sent Gowther flying several meters, where he slammed violently into the arena wall.
He sustained grievous injuries: his stomach, liver, and left kidney were shredded, and 34 of his bones were shattered. Coughing up blood profusely, he cast a dazed look around him.
Moments later, he pulled himself from the crater. His body began to mend—a feat made possible by his "regenerative immortality," a natural attribute of his status as a being of the "Boundless" rank. Moreover, Gother possessed immortality across several tiers—reaching as high as the ninth tier—making it impossible for even entities far more powerful than him to kill him.
Lunging straight toward him, he aimed his dagger at a vital point, only to be taken aback: there was no blood—instead, he found a complex array of narrative algorithms.
He immediately pulled back, recalling his own reflection in a mirror; the resemblance was chillingly exact.
Suzars delivered a kick to Gother's face, shattering his skull into tiny fragments, before hurling him back into the very same pit—an arrogant smirk still plastered across his own face.
"Gother McTire, fight with your full strength! I don't see you doing that. Are you really such a coward, or what?"
Gauther said nothing; his head was regenerating while his thoughts remained scattered. He found himself immersed in a recurring memory, forced to watch as they—the authors—penned this very scene into the narrative once again.
He couldn't discern whether it was the author who was lazy, if he himself was the lazy one, or if the world at large was simply too lethargic to produce anything new. The fact that he was even contemplating such things surprised him. Could his struggle against the novel itself be prompting these reflections? Was that even possible?
Nevertheless, he did not resist that strange, indescribable sensation.
"Very well. Let us begin the ritual for advancement to the 'Boundless' rank."
Yuta's tone was calm as he looked toward Gauther—whose body shuddered instinctively at the mere sound of his voice.
Gauther stripped off his upper garments, revealing a tattoo shaped like a wing—the manifestation of his "Assassination Concept"—before settling into a meditative posture.
He then fed the potions into the System, utilizing its "Instant Consumption" feature; this allowed him to gain the effects of the concoctions without the need to physically ingest them.
Gauther's expression was inscrutable as he glanced around, eventually fixing his gaze on Yuta, who was currently speaking to his own duplicate:
"Consume the potions. Given your 'Infinite Evolution' ability, you should be fine. Under any other circumstances, consuming this many would lead either to your death or your descent into madness. So, focus entirely on ensuring your body absorbs them—otherwise, you'll die or lose your mind. Understood?" Yuta's tone was calm as he watched Gother, who was consuming the potions with great voracity.
Gother sat down beside his own self—the version of him currently digesting the potions he had just consumed.
"Strange... I looked like such a fool. We're entering a 'montage' sequence—how bizarre."
After a few minutes, all the potions—concentrates of various concepts and laws designed to aid his advancement to the 'Boundless' rank—had been fully consumed.
"As I expected, a few minutes passed simply because the author couldn't think of anything to write. Ridiculous."
Gother took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly and lightly.
His body began to glow with a crimson radiance, matching his own crimson aura. At the center of his torso, the glow intensified, and his physical form began to dissolve into ethereal dust, which was then drawn into the heart of the light.
Though his body was turning to dust, he felt no pain whatsoever.
Gother's gaze grew even darker as his being reverted to its fundamental state, waiting—once again—for the montage to conclude.
About a minute and forty-five seconds later, two gems appeared: one a light crimson, the other a dark, bluish-black red. They hovered close to one another.
Yuta, Leon, Inuyasha, Nicholas, Christian, and Kazuhiro all watched with calm expressions as they looked toward Gother—now in his true form: a fragment of the Concept of Assassination. The same applied to them; that is why they showed no signs of surprise, though each carried a different narrative.
Gauther looked around and realized he was still in the hall, with the two gems before him. He shifted his gaze to find LS 04 76 watching him with a cold expression, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"Gauther MacTire, do you still wish to fight this 'Suzars' fellow? How about acquiring an 'Assassin' class ability? You would become much stronger."
LS 04 76's tone was indifferent as he glanced toward the two gems.
The world shifted, transforming into a vast hall. In its center lay runic inscriptions, carved 23 centimeters deep, with the two gems resting in the middle.
Gauther and LS 04 76 locked eyes—their expressions a blend of composure and mental exhaustion.
Gauther opened the information regarding the ability, his face set in a cold, unyielding mask. [Assassin / Executioner]
[Description: Assassin/Executioner Form: Multiplies speed, agility, and intelligence by billions of times, and similarly multiplies weapon proficiency by the same factor.]
[Important Notes:
An ability granted upon synchronization with a fragment of the "Path of Death." It allows the user to wield the power of "LS 04 76" for a limited duration. There is a risk—albeit a slight one—that "LS 04 76" could seize control of the host's body.]
Gauther said nothing. He felt an overwhelming sense of dejection—a feeling he couldn't quite put into words. It reminded him of his encounter with "The Great Outcast," though he could no longer recall why he had shifted so completely from a confident individual to someone so frail and weak.
He spoke in a calm, steady tone, his gaze fixed upon "LS 04 76"—the fragment embodying the concept of assassination within the "Path of Death":
[Assassin / Executioner Ability: Activate]
As the words left his lips, a dark, reddish-blue aura began to emanate from "LS 04 76," flowing toward the fragment that Gauther inhabited.
Instantly, Gauther's power began to surge with insane intensity.
[Speed increased by ∞
Agility increased by ∞
Intelligence increased by ∞
Weapon proficiency increased by ∞]
[The host's power will rise to the level of a "Wing Master" combatant—Rank 5.] [Duration: 10 minutes]
In the real world, Sozars gazed toward Gother MacTire's position with a sense of dread—as if standing before Death itself—instinctively taking several steps backward, sweat pouring from his forehead due to the intense tension.
Elsewhere, Gother emerged from the crater. His attire had shifted to a pitch-black hue, his golden hair had turned a deep, dark black, and his eyes had become a light shade of brown—all while a faint smile played across his face.
"As I said, it seems the real battle is only just about to begin."