Haru stared at Mika.
For several seconds, neither of them said anything.
Mika's expression was a mixture of confusion and disbelief.
Haru's expression was considerably less complicated.
He looked exhausted.
Haru: "Hey, Mika, I've got good news and bad news."
Mika folded her arms.
Mika: "I'm almost afraid to ask."
Haru pointed toward the gaming computer.
Haru: "Good news is I've found Elara."
Mika's eyes widened.
Mika: "You found her?"
Haru nodded.
Haru: "Bad news is she's inside my game."
There was a long silence.
Mika blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Then she pointed at the computer.
Mika: "What?"
Haru: "She's inside the game."
Mika: "How is that possible?!"
Haru: "That's what I'm trying to figure out."
Haru turned toward his gaming computer.
He pulled out his chair and sat down.
Then he looked at Mika.
Haru: "Hey, Mika."
Mika: "Yeah?"
Haru: "Bring out the energy drinks."
Mika stared at him.
Mika: "Why?"
Haru cracked his knuckles.
Haru: "This is going to be a long night."
---
Haru booted up his computer and opened his friends list.
Hundreds of names appeared across the screen.
Most of them were greyed out.
Offline.
His eyes moved down the list.
Then he stopped.
A handful of names were glowing green.
Online.
His guildmates.
Haru selected them one after another.
He opened the guild chat.
His fingers moved rapidly across the keyboard.
> [To all members of the Chaos Purger Guild]
This is your guild master speaking. You are required to log into Knight of the Goddess immediately.
New mission.
He hit send.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then—
PING!
A message appeared.
> [WHAT?! A NEW MISSION?!]
Another.
> [Boss summoned us?]
Another.
> [Is there a new raid boss?]
Then another.
> [Logging in now.]
And another.
> [Give me five minutes.]
Haru leaned back.
A small grin appeared on his face.
Haru: "Good. They're awake."
Mika returned carrying several cans of energy drinks.
She placed them beside him.
Mika: "I brought six."
Haru looked at the cans.
Then at her.
Haru: "You know me so well."
Mika: "I know your terrible habits."
She picked up one of the cans.
Mika: "Besides, something tells me we're going to need all of these."
Haru slipped his VR goggles over his eyes.
Haru: "You have no idea."
---
Knight of the Goddess
The world around Haru dissolved into darkness.
Then—
SYSTEM: Welcome back, King.
Light filled his vision.
The darkness disappeared.
Haru found himself sitting on a magnificent throne.
He was inside the headquarters of the Chaos Purger Guild.
The room was enormous.
A giant round table occupied the center, surrounded by thirteen seats.
Each seat belonged to one of the guild's elite players.
The twelve seats surrounding the table represented the champions of Chaos Purger.
The thirteenth belonged to their guild master.
Haru.
Or, more accurately, his avatar.
King.
The name wasn't chosen randomly.
His avatar looked every bit the part.
He wore elaborate royal regalia covered in gold and intricate patterns. A majestic crown rested upon his head, while a legendary sword hung from his waist.
His armor was powerful enough to make most players jealous.
Haru had spent an unreasonable amount of time designing the avatar.
He liked to joke that if he couldn't become royalty in real life, he might as well settle for being royalty in a game.
One by one, the other players began appearing around the table.
The first was Mika.
Her avatar, Stellar, had long golden hair and wore the robes of a holy priestess.
A magnificent staff rested in her hands.
Stellar specialized in healing.
Not ordinary healing.
She had pushed the game's healing mechanics so far that other players had practically given up trying to kill anyone she was protecting.
Because of that, she had earned the nickname:
The Immortal One.
Next to her appeared a much smaller figure.
A tiny girl wearing a large witch's hat.
Her name was Mai.
A magical staff that was almost taller than her floated beside her.
Her nickname was:
Baba Yaga.
Despite her cute appearance, she was one of the most dangerous magic users in the guild.
Across the table appeared a massive figure.
A paladin.
He wore platinum armor that covered almost his entire body.
His frame was enormous.
Even while sitting down, he looked like he could probably pick up the entire table.
His name was Yama.
His nickname:
The Gentle Giant.
Beside him appeared a samurai.
A flat hat covered the upper portion of his face, giving him an intimidating appearance.
Two katanas rested at his side.
One of his hands unconsciously rested against one of their hilts.
His name was Juta.
His nickname:
The Night Bringer.
Then there was the final member.
She appeared directly across the table from Haru.
A figure dressed entirely in black.
A ninja.
Her name was Kuna.
Her nickname was:
The Abyss' Shadow.
Her eyes seemed almost unnatural.
Empty.
Cold.
Endless.
Anyone who stared into them for too long felt as though they were looking directly into an abyss.
Haru looked around the table.
Only six seats were occupied.
Five champions.
Himself.
Not the full strength of Chaos Purger.
But enough.
Haru slowly stood from his throne.
Haru: "Okay."
Everyone looked toward him.
Haru: "Five of Chaos Purger's champions are here."
He glanced around the room.
Haru: "That's not a bad number."
His expression became serious.
Haru: "Get ready to mobilize."
Juta immediately noticed the change in Haru's demeanor.
He leaned back.
Juta: "Wow."
Haru looked at him.
Juta: "Boss, I haven't seen you this fired up for a hunt in a while."
A grin appeared beneath his hat.
Juta: "Spill it. What's the real objective?"
Stellar nodded.
Stellar: "Yeah, I was literally about to ask the same thing."
She rested her chin against her hand.
Stellar: "You're like an open book, Haru. Reading your intentions isn't exactly difficult."
Haru raised an eyebrow.
Stellar smiled.
Stellar: "Which is why I always beat you at poker."
Haru's expression immediately became annoyed.
Haru: "Wow. Is it really that obvious?"
Stellar: "Painfully."
Haru sighed.
Haru: "Fine."
He leaned against the table.
Haru: "For now, just know that this is a rescue mission."
Juta's smile faded slightly.
Kuna's eyes narrowed.
Yama tilted his head.
Mai simply looked curious.
Stellar looked at Haru.
Stellar: "Rescue mission?"
Haru: "I'll explain later."
Kuna tapped her fingers against the table.
Kuna: "Enough chit-chat."
She looked toward Haru.
Kuna: "Activate the scenario already."
Haru smiled.
Haru: "Okay."
He raised one hand.
Haru: "Let's go."
---
The room suddenly disappeared.
White light engulfed all six players.
When the light faded, they found themselves standing inside an enormous temple.
The atmosphere changed immediately.
The air felt warm.
Peaceful.
Almost sacred.
A figure appeared before them.
A beautiful woman whose skin seemed to glow like the sun itself.
Her clothing was white and gold, and a faint halo of light surrounded her.
There was only one word that could describe her.
Divine.
The Goddess looked toward Haru.
Goddess: "Brave hero."
Her voice echoed through the temple.
Goddess: "I ask that you lend us your aid once more."
The Goddess's expression became troubled.
Goddess: "A dragon is laying waste to the kingdom of the East."
Haru didn't hesitate.
Haru: "I accept."
He turned toward his guildmates.
Haru: "Let's go, guys."
Suddenly, a golden eagle appeared beside him.
The creature spread its enormous wings.
Golden particles surrounded its body.
Its form expanded.
Its wings became larger.
Its body grew until the enormous bird was large enough to carry all six players.
Haru climbed onto its back.
Haru: "Come on."
The others climbed on.
Stellar settled behind him.
Mai grabbed onto the saddle.
Juta adjusted his hat.
Yama sat down carefully.
Kuna simply appeared on the eagle's back without anyone noticing when she'd moved.
Haru glanced behind him.
Haru: "Everyone ready?"
Juta: "Ready."
Stellar: "Let's do this."
Yama: "Ready."
Kuna: "Obviously."
Mai gave a thumbs-up.
The eagle beat its wings.
WHOOSH!
The temple disappeared beneath them.
The eagle ascended into the sky.
---
Meanwhile...
The kingdom of the East was already burning.
Smoke filled the sky.
Buildings had been destroyed.
The ground was covered in rubble.
And above it all flew an enormous dragon.
Its wings were so large that every time they moved, they sent powerful gusts of wind across the battlefield.
But someone was still fighting it.
A lone knight.
Elara sprinted across the dragon's enormous back.
She leapt.
For a brief moment, she was suspended directly in front of its face.
The dragon opened its enormous jaws.
Elara twisted her body.
The dragon's teeth snapped shut beside her.
A wave of scorching breath washed across her.
She gritted her teeth.
Her sword began glowing.
One of the dragon's wings swept toward her.
Elara: "Hah!"
She swung.
CLANG!
Her sword struck the dragon's scales.
The blade bounced off.
Elara's eyes widened.
Elara: "What?!"
The dragon's wing struck her.
BOOM!
She was sent flying.
Elara tumbled through the air.
The ground rapidly approached.
Gravity had become her enemy.
She quickly looked around.
There had to be somewhere she could land.
But before she could find one—
The dragon came after her.
It was already charging.
Elara's expression hardened.
Elara: "I've slain many a beast..."
She spread her arms and legs, slowing her descent.
Elara: "...but few have borne this level of persistence."
The dragon passed beneath her.
Elara twisted.
Rather than landing directly on its back, she maneuvered around its side.
Her sword began glowing.
She thrust.
SHK!
The blade penetrated the dragon's scales.
Elara's eyes widened.
Elara: "Got you!"
She drove the blade deeper.
The sword tore into the dragon's side.
It slowed her fall while simultaneously injuring the beast.
But before Elara could celebrate—
The dragon began ascending.
Elara: "What?!"
She pulled her sword free.
She began falling again.
She quickly thrust the blade into the dragon's back.
The dragon suddenly flipped.
Elara lost her grip.
She fell.
Her sword remained embedded in the dragon.
Her eyes widened.
Elara: "Not again!"
She continued falling.
Then she saw it.
The dragon's jaws.
Wide open.
Directly beneath her.
Elara's face went pale.
Elara: "Oh no."
She fell into its mouth.
The jaws began closing.
Then—
FLASH!
A golden streak shot through the dragon's mouth.
The dragon's jaws snapped shut.
But Elara was no longer inside.
---
Elara squeezed her eyes shut.
She expected to feel teeth.
Pain.
Death.
Instead...
Wind.
A lot of wind.
She was moving incredibly fast.
What is happening?
She opened one eye.
Then the other.
She wasn't inside the dragon.
She was being carried.
Then—
CRASH!
The sudden stop made her body jolt.
Dust exploded around her.
Elara coughed.
Her eyes slowly adjusted.
The first thing she saw was a crown.
Sunlight reflected from its golden surface.
The crown belonged to a handsome man.
He wore the magnificent clothing of a king.
His black hair flowed gently in the wind.
And his eyes...
Elara stared.
They looked like they contained the cosmos itself.
Something about him felt familiar.
Very familiar.
But she couldn't place it.
The man looked down at her.
Then smiled.
King: "Tell me."
His voice was deep and confident.
King: "Why is a gorgeous damsel such as yourself out here fighting a dragon?"
Elara stared at him.
She couldn't immediately find the words to answer.
Before she could, something moved above them.
An enormous eagle had joined the fight.
The dragon and the eagle clashed in the sky.
The king gently lowered Elara onto the ground.
He turned toward the tiny witch.
King: "Baba Yaga."
Mai looked at him.
King: "Let's make a cage for our dragon friend over there."
Mai grinned.
Mai: "With pleasure."
Her staff immediately floated into her hand.
She slammed it against the ground.
BOOM!
The earth rumbled.
Something began rising.
Trees.
Massive trees.
Their trunks were wider than houses.
Their branches stretched toward the clouds.
Within seconds, an entire ring of gigantic trees surrounded the battlefield.
The dragon was trapped inside.
Haru looked toward the sky.
The eagle was beginning to slow.
Haru: "Aquila is reaching her limit."
He frowned.
Haru: "Flying all of us here took too much energy out of her."
He drew his sword.
Haru: "She won't be able to take down that dragon."
He looked toward his guildmates.
Haru: "We'll need to join the fray."
Juta's hand tightened around his sword.
A grin appeared on his face.
Juta: "Say less, my king."
He launched himself forward.
Kuna disappeared after him.
Yama charged.
Stellar remained behind.
Then she noticed Elara.
The knight was still staring at Haru.
Stellar walked over.
Stellar: "Hey."
Elara looked toward her.
Stellar: "You okay?"
Elara nodded slowly.
Elara: "I believe so."
Stellar smiled.
Stellar: "Good."
Then she laughed.
Stellar: "Because I was really worried when it looked like the dragon ate you."
Elara blinked.
Stellar: "Luckily Haru reacted quickly."
Stellar suddenly looked slightly jealous.
Stellar: "Although I'm a little jealous."
Elara tilted her head.
Elara: "Of what?"
Stellar pointed toward Haru.
Stellar: "He princess-carried you."
Elara froze.
She looked toward Haru.
Then back at Stellar.
Elara: "Wait."
Her eyes widened.
Elara: "That king is Haru?"
Stellar blinked.
Stellar: "Yeah."
Elara looked genuinely confused.
Elara: "Why did you never tell me he was royalty?"
Stellar stared at her for a second.
Then laughed.
Stellar: "Oh."
She pointed toward Haru.
Stellar: "We're in a game. That's just his avatar."
Elara's eyebrows furrowed.
Elara: "Avatar?"
From across the battlefield, Haru shouted.
Haru: "It's complicated!"
He looked toward her.
Haru: "We'll explain later!"
Then he turned toward the dragon.
His expression became serious.
Haru: "Right now, you and that dragon are our top priorities."
His eyes briefly scanned the wounds covering the beast.
Then he looked back at Elara.
There was genuine admiration in his voice.
Haru: "Although... I'm impressed."
Elara looked at him.
Haru: "You took that much of its HP on your own?"
He smiled.
Haru: "We'll take it from here."
Haru looked toward Mai.
Haru: "Let's go, Mika."
Mai's staff struck the ground.
Vines erupted from the earth.
They wrapped around Haru, Stellar, Elara and Mai before pulling them toward the battlefield.
Elara watched the Chaos Purger champions rush toward the dragon.
For the first time since arriving in this strange world, she felt something she hadn't felt in a long time.
Hope.
She didn't know who these people were.
She didn't understand this world.
And she certainly didn't understand why Haru looked so familiar.
But one thing was becoming clear.
She wasn't alone anymore.
And somewhere in the back of her mind, that strange instinct that had guided her through countless battles whispered something she couldn't quite understand.
Trust them.
Elara tightened her grip around her sword.
Then she charged alongside them.
The battlefield had become a war zone.
The enormous trees created by Mai surrounded the area like the walls of a natural fortress, their branches stretching into the clouds.
Inside that enclosure, the dragon fought desperately against the Chaos Purger Guild.
Juta was the first to reach it.
He sprinted across its enormous back, his footsteps barely making a sound against its scales.
As he ran, his eyes scanned the wounds covering the dragon's body.
Some were shallow.
Others were much deeper.
Most had been inflicted by Elara.
Juta gave a low whistle.
Juta: "Not bad."
He reached the dragon's neck.
The beast hadn't noticed him yet.
Juta crouched.
His hands moved toward his two katanas.
Then he stopped.
He took a deep breath.
Everything around him seemed to disappear.
The sounds of battle faded.
The dragon vanished from his mind.
For one brief moment, there was nothing except him and his blades.
Juta opened his eyes.
Juta: "...Now."
He leapt.
Both katanas left their sheaths simultaneously.
SHING!
His blades struck the dragon's neck.
CLANG!
The force of the impact sent sparks flying.
The swords finally broke through the dragon's scales.
Juta grinned.
Juta: "Got you!"
The blades carved an X-shaped wound across the dragon's neck.
But it wasn't nearly as deep as Juta had expected.
His expression changed.
Juta: "What?"
He landed.
The dragon's body shifted beneath him.
Juta immediately jumped away.
A thick vine erupted from the ground and caught him before he could fall.
The vine gently lowered him beside Kuna and Yama.
Juta looked toward the dragon.
Juta: "That bastard is pretty tough."
He examined his blades.
Juta: "I intended to take its head clean off with that attack."
He frowned.
Juta: "The devs really buffed up its defense."
Kuna glanced at him.
Kuna: "Or it could be that you're just too weak."
Juta slowly turned toward her.
Juta: "What did you say?"
Kuna's expression didn't change.
Kuna: "You heard me."
Juta pointed at himself.
Juta: "Are you trying to pick a fight?"
Kuna: "If you insist."
Yama stepped between them.
Yama: "Please."
He looked from Juta to Kuna.
Yama: "There's a better time for this."
He pointed toward the dragon.
Yama: "Right now, our opponent is—"
A deafening roar interrupted him.
The dragon opened its mouth.
A brilliant light began forming inside.
Yama's eyes widened.
Yama: "Oh."
The dragon fired.
BOOOOOOM!
A massive beam of energy tore across the battlefield.
Yama instantly stepped forward.
His shield materialized in his hands.
He slammed it into the ground.
Yama: "Behind me!"
A force field erupted around the three.
The beam crashed into it.
The entire battlefield shook.
Trees were blown apart.
The ground was scorched.
Dust and debris filled the air.
For several seconds, nobody could see anything.
Then the attack finally ended.
Juta looked at Yama.
Juta: "Damn."
He looked at the destruction around them.
Juta: "That attack would've one-shot anyone who took it head-on."
He smirked.
Juta: "Luckily, we have you."
Juta patted Yama's armor.
Juta: "Someone dumb enough to invest all his stats in defense and vitality."
Yama's head snapped toward him.
Yama: "Was that supposed to be a compliment?!"
Juta shrugged.
Juta: "Maybe."
Before Yama could respond—
A massive shadow appeared above them.
The dragon descended.
It was attempting to crush all three of them beneath its enormous body.
Yama raised his shield.
Yama: "Brace yourselves!"
The dragon crashed down.
BOOOOOOM!
Yama's feet dug into the ground.
Cracks spread beneath him.
His armor groaned under the pressure.
But he refused to move.
Yama: "You're going to have to do better than that!"
The dragon pushed harder.
Yama's knees began to bend.
Then—
FLASH!
A golden slash struck the dragon.
The force sent the enormous beast flying sideways.
It crashed into the ground.
Yama looked toward the source of the attack.
Haru stood several meters away, sword in hand.
Haru: "Everyone okay?"
Juta gave a thumbs-up.
Juta: "Still alive."
Kuna dusted herself off.
Kuna: "Barely interesting."
Yama looked at the crater he'd nearly been crushed into.
Yama: "I'm fine."
Haru nodded.
The six members of Chaos Purger were finally reunited.
For a moment, they stood together.
Then—
A strange orb appeared in the air.
A cheerful voice came from it.
??? : "Hey guys!"
Haru's expression immediately dropped.
Haru: "Crap."
Stellar looked at him.
Stellar: "What?"
Haru sighed.
Haru: "I was hoping we could end this before she appeared."
The orb suddenly expanded.
A small magical screen appeared beside it.
A female avatar appeared on the screen, smiling brightly.
Gako: "Hey everyone! This is your favorite streamer, Gako!"
Haru covered his face.
Gako: "We arrived just in time to witness something phenomenal!"
The camera shifted toward the battlefield.
Gako: "The Chaos Purger Guild has united to defeat the newest dragon boss in Knight of the Goddess!"
Her voice became even more excited.
Gako: "Unfortunately, only six of the guild's elites are present!"
She began pointing toward the battlefield.
Gako: "Those are King, the Immortal One, Baba Yaga—"
Juta groaned.
Juta: "Let's wrap this up before too many people log in."
He looked toward the orb.
Juta: "Last time this happened, the server crashed."
Kuna nodded.
Kuna: "That's the smartest thing you've said today."
Juta looked offended.
Juta: "Why thank you—"
He paused.
Juta: "Wait."
He pointed at Kuna.
Juta: "How dare you!"
Kuna calmly looked at him.
Kuna: "You've said a lot of smart things?"
Juta opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
He looked toward the dragon.
Then toward his sword.
Then back at Kuna.
Juta: "Like..."
A pause.
Juta: "The dragon's defense..."
Kuna stared at him.
Juta: "Ah yes! The dragon's defense."
Kuna shook her head.
Kuna: "It took you that long to think of something?"
Juta's face darkened.
Kuna: "Besides, anyone can tell the dragon's defense has been buffed."
Juta: "You know what? Forget it."
Haru raised his sword.
Haru: "Enough, guys."
Everyone turned toward him.
His eyes were fixed on the dragon.
The beast was slowly rising from the rubble.
Haru: "We need to wrap this up."
The others nodded.
The joking stopped.
The atmosphere changed.
All six members lowered themselves into combat stances.
The dragon roared.
They moved.
---
They disappeared from where they stood.
BOOM!
The ground exploded beneath their feet.
Juta charged from the left.
Kuna vanished.
Yama charged directly ahead.
Stellar followed behind them.
Mai remained further back, her staff glowing.
Haru rushed straight toward the dragon.
Above them, enormous vines erupted from the ground.
They whipped toward the dragon.
The beast suddenly raised its head.
Its jaws opened.
Light began gathering inside.
The veins running along its neck began glowing.
Haru's eyes widened.
Haru: "It's attacking again!"
He looked toward Yama.
Haru: "Yama!"
Yama nodded.
Yama: "On it!"
He accelerated.
His enormous body somehow moved faster than seemed possible.
He overtook everyone.
His shield materialized.
Yama: "Come on!"
The dragon fired.
A blinding beam erupted from its mouth.
Yama planted his feet.
The shield absorbed the attack.
The entire team was engulfed in light.
For several seconds, nobody could see.
Then the beam disappeared.
The battlefield fell silent.
Haru slowly opened his eyes.
Haru: "...Where is it?"
Everyone looked around.
The dragon was gone.
Juta turned.
Juta: "Wait."
A sound reached them.
FLAP. FLAP. FLAP.
Everyone looked upward.
The dragon was above them.
It was diving.
Fast.
Its mouth was glowing red from the heat.
The dragon accelerated.
Its entire body became a living projectile.
Yama stepped forward.
Yama: "Don't worry."
His shield appeared.
Yama: "I've got this."
He raised his shield.
But then—
He lowered it.
Everyone froze.
Stellar: "Yama?"
His shield disappeared.
His fist began glowing intensely.
Haru stared.
Haru: "What are you doing?"
Yama planted one foot firmly into the ground.
His armor creaked.
The dragon continued its descent.
Faster.
Faster.
Faster.
Yama clenched his fist.
Yama: "Sometimes..."
The dragon was almost upon him.
Yama: "...the best defense..."
He pulled his fist back.
Yama: "...is a really good punch."
The dragon struck.
BOOOOOOM!
Yama punched it.
The sheer force of the impact redirected the dragon's enormous body.
The beast spun through the air.
Yama immediately sprinted after it.
He reached its tail.
He grabbed it with both hands.
Yama: "Gotcha!"
The dragon continued moving.
Yama dug his feet into the earth.
The ground cracked.
He pulled.
The dragon flapped its wings.
Nothing.
Yama grinned.
Yama: "You're not getting away!"
The dragon flapped again.
The ground around Yama shattered.
Mai understood immediately.
She raised her staff.
Mai: "Roots!"
The ground erupted.
Thick roots wrapped around Yama's legs.
They anchored him to the earth.
Yama pulled harder.
The dragon's wings beat again.
BOOM!
Yama was dragged forward.
Mai: "Hold on!"
Another flap.
The roots stretched.
Another.
Cracks appeared in the ground.
And another—
BOOM!
The roots tore apart.
Yama was dragged into the sky.
Yama: "OH, COME ON!"
The dragon flew forward.
Yama clung desperately to its tail.
Ahead stood one of Mai's gigantic trees.
The dragon changed direction.
Yama's eyes widened.
Yama: "Oh no."
The dragon accelerated.
The tree rapidly approached.
Yama was about to slam into the trunk at tremendous speed.
But just before impact—
He placed his feet against the trunk.
THUD!
Instead of crashing into it, Yama began running along the tree.
His eyes widened.
Yama: "Wait..."
He looked at the dragon's tail.
Then at the tree.
An idea formed.
Yama: "I've got you now."
Thick vines suddenly wrapped around his arm.
Yama grabbed the dragon's tail with his other hand.
The dragon attempted to change direction.
But the tree held Yama in place.
The tension became enormous.
The dragon began losing altitude.
Yama: "Come on!"
The dragon struggled.
Its wings beat wildly.
Yama held on.
Then—
The dragon crashed.
BOOOOOOM!
A gigantic dust cloud erupted.
Haru stared into it.
Haru: "Juta!"
Juta immediately looked at him.
Haru didn't need to explain.
Juta understood.
Juta: "Yes, boss!"
He sprinted toward the tree.
His hands moved to his swords.
SHING!
He slashed.
The enormous tree began falling.
Slowly.
The shadow of its massive trunk covered the dragon.
The dragon looked upward.
Its eyes widened.
It tried to fly.
But something held it down.
The dragon looked toward its tail.
Yama was still there.
Covered from head to toe in roots.
Holding on.
Yama: "Not so fast!"
The tree fell.
CRAAAAASH!
Dust exploded across the battlefield.
Everyone waited.
Haru lowered his sword.
Haru: "Did we get it?"
Silence.
Then something moved beneath the rubble.
A massive armored hand burst through the earth.
Yama emerged.
He was covered in dirt.
His armor was scratched.
His hair was a mess.
He looked furious.
Yama: "Dragon my foot!"
Everyone stared.
Yama pointed behind him.
Yama: "That thing is just a glorified lizard!"
Haru blinked.
Yama: "It disconnected its tail at the last moment!"
A massive shadow slowly rose behind him.
The dragon emerged from the dust.
Its tail was gone.
But it was alive.
Very alive.
Haru stared at it.
Then slowly looked toward Kuna.
A grin appeared on his face.
Haru: "Kuna."
Kuna's eyes gleamed.
Kuna: "Finally."
She cracked her fingers.
Kuna: "It's time to have some fun."
And then—
She disappeared.
The dragon didn't even notice her.
Not until she appeared directly on its back.
Kuna moved her hands through a series of precise gestures.
Then she struck the dragon.
A dark symbol appeared beneath her palm.
The world seemed to freeze.
Kuna stood calmly on the dragon's back.
Kuna: "Ultimate skill."
Her eyes darkened.
Kuna: "Hour of the Abyss."
The symbol expanded.
Darkness swallowed the dragon.
And for the first time since the battle began...
The dragon looked afraid.
You're right 🤨 — I jumped over a big chunk of the actual fight. Part 4 should continue directly from Kuna activating Hour of the Abyss, not skip ahead to Haru's finisher.
I'll correct the continuity and pick up exactly there, keeping all the events you wrote: Kuna's abyss attack, the dragon's counter, Stellar tending to Kuna, Haru activating Galaxy King, Heaven Splitting Slash, the dragon's Last Resistance, Elara's final attack, and the aftermath.
Part 4 — The Hour of the Abyss
Kuna disappeared.
One moment she stood on the dragon's back, her hand resting against its scales.
The next, darkness swallowed everything.
Kuna: Ultimate Skill... Hour of the Abyss.
The world seemed to stop.
A dark veil spread outward, completely separating the dragon from the battlefield. From the outside, it looked almost as though someone had placed a massive sphere of darkness around the creature.
Inside, however, there was no longer a battlefield.
There was only the abyss.
The dragon looked around.
Its instincts screamed at it to flee.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Then it heard a sound.
A wet, distorted laugh.
The dragon slowly turned its head.
Something was standing behind it.
A creature with countless eyes stared back at it from the darkness. Tendrils emerged from its body in every direction, twisting through the void like living shadows. Mouths began opening across its form, each one lined with rows of unnaturally long teeth.
The dragon's pupils shrank.
For the first time since the battle began...
It looked afraid.
Above it, another figure descended.
Kuna.
Except she no longer wore her usual ninja outfit.
Her clothes had transformed into a dress made entirely of darkness. Eyes blinked across its surface while tendrils crawled along the hem.
She slowly raised one hand.
Kuna: You wanted to run?
Her eyes glowed.
Kuna: Then run.
The dragon roared and unleashed a blast of energy.
The attack disappeared into the darkness.
Kuna smiled.
Kuna: Too slow.
The abyss came alive.
Tendrils shot toward the dragon from every direction.
One wrapped around its leg.
Another struck its wing.
Another slammed into its chest.
The dragon attempted to retaliate, but every attack seemed to vanish into the darkness before reaching its target.
Then the mouths attacked.
They bit into the dragon's scales, tearing chunks of flesh away.
The dragon roared in agony and thrashed violently.
Its scales, which had resisted Elara's attacks earlier, were being ripped apart.
Its HP began falling rapidly.
[Dragon HP: 52%]
Kuna watched calmly.
Kuna: You're tougher than I expected.
The dragon suddenly froze.
A brilliant light began building inside its abdomen.
The veins running along its neck illuminated one after another.
Kuna's expression changed.
Kuna: Hm?
The dragon opened its mouth.
A concentrated beam of light erupted from within.
The attack tore through the abyss.
Kuna dodged.
The beam passed dangerously close to her before disappearing into the darkness.
Kuna: Interesting.
The dragon roared again.
This time, energy began gathering around its wings.
The particles looked almost like glowing dust.
They scattered throughout the abyss.
Kuna narrowed her eyes.
Kuna: What are you—
A tendril touched one of the particles.
BOOM!
An explosion erupted.
Kuna's eyes widened.
Another particle detonated.
Then another.
And another.
Within seconds, the entire abyss was filled with explosions.
Kuna: What?!
The darkness began shaking violently.
The dragon's health stopped falling.
The explosions multiplied until even Kuna struggled to maintain control over her ultimate.
Outside the abyss, Haru and the others could only watch as the enormous dark sphere began changing shape.
It bulged.
Collapsed.
Expanded again.
Occasionally, flashes of light escaped from within.
Juta: Uh...
He slowly pointed toward it.
Juta: Is that supposed to happen?
Stellar: I don't think so.
Yama: Should we help her?
Haru stared at the sphere.
His expression became serious.
Haru: Not yet.
Another explosion rocked the area.
Then—
CRACK!
A fracture appeared across the surface of the abyss.
Kuna's voice came through.
Kuna: Damn it!
The fracture spread.
Kuna: I can't hold it!
The entire abyss shattered.
A massive explosion erupted across the battlefield.
Everyone shielded their eyes.
When the smoke finally began clearing, a battered dragon emerged from the wreckage.
Its scales were cracked.
Blood covered its body.
One wing was partially torn.
But it was still alive.
And its HP had fallen to roughly a quarter.
The dragon let out a triumphant roar.
Kuna crashed into the ground several meters away.
Haru: Stellar!
Stellar immediately rushed toward her.
Stellar: On it!
She knelt beside Kuna and placed her staff against her.
Golden light surrounded the injured ninja.
Haru turned toward the dragon.
The dragon roared back.
Haru tightened his grip around his sword.
Haru: Alright.
He took a step forward.
Haru: Everyone, lend me your strength.
The others nodded.
Haru suddenly dashed forward.
The dragon unleashed another barrage of glowing particles.
Explosions erupted around him as he weaved between them.
One exploded beside his shoulder.
Another beneath his feet.
Another directly in front of him.
Haru leapt through the blast.
His wings suddenly unfolded from his back.
He shot upward.
Soon he was face-to-face with the dragon.
The creature opened its jaws.
Haru smiled.
Haru: You've put up a hell of a fight.
His grip tightened around his sword.
Haru: But it's time to end this.
Energy began gathering around him.
Haru: Activate...
A brilliant light engulfed his body.
Haru: Galaxy King Transformation!
The light exploded outward.
When it faded, Haru's appearance had completely changed.
His cape shimmered like a miniature night sky, countless stars moving across its surface.
His crown looked as though it had been forged from the flames of a star.
His armor carried a brilliant galaxy-shaped emblem across the chest.
The dragon stared at him.
Haru stared back.
There was an almost comical difference between their reactions.
The dragon looked ready to devour him.
Haru looked mildly inconvenienced.
Haru: You know...
He raised his hand.
The atmosphere above him split apart.
Haru: This armor came from a boss that's several times stronger than you.
A massive sword descended from the heavens.
Haru caught it.
The moment his fingers closed around the hilt, the blade began radiating an overwhelming cosmic energy.
His eyes narrowed.
Haru: So don't take this personally.
He raised the sword.
Haru: Ultimate Skill...
The dragon's eyes widened.
Haru: HEAVEN SPLITTING SLASH!
The sword came down.
A beam of starlight tore through the sky.
The dragon immediately attempted to flee.
But the enormous trees created by Mai surrounded the battlefield, blocking its escape.
The dragon turned desperately.
Too late.
Haru swung.
A torrent of cosmic energy swept across the battlefield.
The dragon disappeared inside the light.
For several seconds, there was nothing but brilliance.
Then—
BOOOOOOM!
The explosion erupted across the battlefield.
The shockwave was so powerful that it tore through the clouds.
The blast continued upward.
Higher.
Higher.
Until it escaped the atmosphere.
A distant section of the moon was caught in the attack.
For a moment, every player watching the battle was completely silent.
Then the light faded.
A massive ravine had been carved into the battlefield.
And hovering above it...
Was the dragon's core.
Haru slowly descended.
The battlefield had become almost unrecognizable.
What had once been a vast stretch of land was now a colossal ravine, its edges glowing faintly from the immense amount of energy released by Haru's attack.
Dust still drifted through the air.
Fragments of trees lay scattered across the battlefield, while the remaining trees groaned under the strain of the devastation surrounding them.
For a moment, there was complete silence.
Haru slowly descended from the sky.
The wings of starlight behind him gradually faded away as he landed beside his teammates. His cosmic armor shimmered beneath the light of the game's artificial sun, the crown of starfire still resting on his head.
Stellar stared at the enormous crater.
Then she looked at Haru.
Then back at the crater.
"Haru..."
"Yeah?"
"Was all of that really necessary?"
Haru looked at the devastation.
He scratched the back of his head.
"Honestly?"
He glanced at his sword.
"This was my first time using the skill."
Juta stared at him.
"You didn't test it beforehand?!"
"I didn't exactly have a training dummy capable of surviving it."
Kuna folded her arms.
"Apparently the entire battlefield was your training dummy."
"Hey, it worked."
Yama sighed.
"That is not reassuring."
Haru chuckled.
"Come on, we're done. Let's just collect the dragon's core and—"
A loud roar interrupted him.
Everyone froze.
Haru's smile disappeared.
Slowly, he turned around.
"...You're kidding."
The enormous dragon began to move.
Chunks of rock slid off its body as it slowly pulled itself from the crater.
Its body was horribly damaged.
Half of its scales had been completely destroyed. One of its wings hung uselessly from its back and blood poured from countless wounds.
Yet somehow...
It was still alive.
A notification appeared in front of every player.
> [Dragon is activating: Last Resistance.]
> [Effect: Restores 10% HP.]
> [Defense reduced to 0.]
> [Attack power drastically increased.]
The dragon's wounds began closing.
Its remaining eye glowed brighter than before.
Haru's expression became serious.
"Those sneaky devs..."
Juta raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"They added this specifically to counter us."
Haru looked around at his teammates.
"Think about it. Yama's defensive skills are on cooldown. Stellar's healing abilities are mostly unavailable. Kuna just burned through her ultimate."
He looked down at his own sword.
"And Galaxy King Mode put everyone else's skills on cooldown."
Juta slowly looked at his own status screen.
"...He's right."
Yama checked his.
"All my major defensive abilities are unavailable."
Stellar swallowed.
"And I can't restore everyone's HP fast enough."
The dragon's body began glowing.
Energy gathered inside its chest.
The light grew brighter.
And brighter.
And brighter.
Soon the entire battlefield was illuminated by the energy gathering inside the beast.
Kuna narrowed her eyes.
"That attack is considerably stronger than the previous one."
Juta tightened his grip on his swords.
"How much stronger?"
Kuna looked at him.
"Enough that Yama blocking it probably wouldn't matter."
Yama's expression stiffened.
"...Oh."
Haru stared at the dragon.
Its mouth opened.
A massive sphere of energy formed inside.
The sphere continued growing until it was almost as large as the dragon itself.
Haru clenched his fists.
"We're cooked."
Juta looked at him.
"That's your strategy?"
"It's an accurate assessment."
"You're the guild master!"
"And?"
"You're supposed to have a plan!"
"I had one."
Haru pointed toward the massive crater.
"It was called blow the dragon up with an unnecessarily powerful sword attack."
Juta stared at him.
"And now?"
"...I'm fresh out of ideas."
The dragon roared.
The sound shook the battlefield.
Then—
A figure suddenly dashed past Haru.
A trail of dust followed her.
Haru's eyes widened.
Then a grin slowly appeared on his face.
Juta looked after the figure.
"Oh look."
He recognized the knight.
"It's that NPC who was fighting the dragon when we arrived."
Stellar immediately shook her head.
"She's not an NPC!"
She cupped her hands around her mouth.
"That's Elara!"
Elara continued running.
Her scarlet hair whipped behind her as she charged directly toward the dragon.
Stellar shouted at the top of her lungs.
"Go get him, girl!"
"Give that dragon hell!"
Elara didn't look back.
She simply tightened her grip around her sword.
The dragon's attack was almost ready.
Haru watched her approach.
His smile widened.
"Come on, Elara."
He opened his menu.
A notification appeared before him.
> [Special event condition fulfilled.]
> [Would you like to transfer a portion of your accumulated combat data to Elara?]
Haru didn't hesitate.
He pressed YES.
The moment he did—
Elara stopped.
Her eyes widened.
Something had changed.
She could feel it.
A strange sensation spread throughout her body.
It wasn't magic.
It wasn't divine power.
It wasn't even something she could properly explain.
It was...
Familiar.
The same feeling she experienced whenever she entered battle in her old world.
That instinct.
That certainty.
The sensation that her body knew exactly what to do before her mind had even decided.
Elara's grip tightened around her sword.
Her eyes sharpened.
"That feeling..."
The dragon roared.
Its attack was complete.
The massive sphere of energy began moving toward her.
Elara lowered her stance.
"I remember this."
She suddenly accelerated.
The ground beneath her feet cracked.
The dragon launched its attack.
A massive beam erupted from its mouth.
Elara continued running directly toward it.
"She's going straight for it?!"
Juta stared in disbelief.
"She's insane!"
Kuna's eyes narrowed.
"No."
She watched Elara's movements.
"She's confident."
The beam split apart.
Several smaller creatures made entirely from the dragon's energy emerged from the attack.
Wyverns.
Dozens of them.
They surrounded Elara.
One swooped toward her.
Slash!
Its body split apart.
Another attacked from behind.
Elara spun.
Slash!
Another came from above.
She ducked beneath it and thrust her blade upward.
Slash!
She continued forward.
One after another, the energy wyverns were destroyed.
The dragon's attack continued approaching.
But Elara wasn't slowing down.
Haru watched her movements carefully.
"...She's doing it."
Stellar looked at him.
"Doing what?"
"She's adapting."
Elara leapt.
She rose into the air.
The massive energy sphere was directly ahead.
For a moment, everything seemed to slow.
Elara remembered Haru's attack.
The stance.
The grip.
The movement.
She brought her sword behind her.
Energy began gathering around the blade.
The dragon's eyes widened.
Elara's expression became completely calm.
"Your time is at an end."
She swung.
"Heaven Splitting Slash!"
A massive blade of energy erupted from her sword.
It collided with the dragon's attack.
For a moment, the two forces struggled against one another.
Then—
SHING!
The dragon's attack split apart.
The slash continued forward.
It struck the dragon directly.
The energy blade tore through its scales.
Then its flesh.
Then—
CRACK!
The dragon was sliced cleanly in half.
Everyone stared.
Silence.
Kuna slowly looked toward Juta.
"Wow."
Juta frowned.
"What?"
"She cut through the dragon despite its defense."
She paused.
"So Juta really is just weak."
Juta's eye twitched.
"I'm not weak!"
Kuna shrugged.
"The evidence suggests otherwise."
"The dragon's defense was probably nerfed!"
"You said the developers buffed its defense earlier."
"I—"
Juta pointed at her.
"That's completely different!"
Yama sighed.
"Could we perhaps celebrate after the dragon is confirmed dead?"
As if answering him—
The dragon exploded.
A tremendous shockwave erupted through the battlefield.
Elara was caught in the blast.
Her body was thrown backward.
"Elara!"
Haru reached out instinctively.
But he was too far away.
Elara's body disappeared into the smoke.
The battlefield became quiet once again.
Haru's expression changed.
"Elara..."
Stellar looked toward the smoke.
"She's okay."
"How do you know?"
"Her HP bar is still there."
Haru looked at his interface.
She was right.
Her HP was critically low.
But she was alive.
The dragon's health bar disappeared.
> [Dragon defeated.]
> [Congratulations!]
> [Boss reward available.]
Juta raised both swords.
"YES!"
Kuna sighed.
"Finally."
Yama sat down heavily.
"I could use a rest."
Stellar immediately began looking around.
"Where's Elara?"
Haru looked toward the smoke.
"I'll find her."
---
When Elara opened her eyes again, she found herself somewhere completely different.
There was no battlefield.
No dragon.
No screaming.
No explosions.
Instead, she sat on a wooden bench overlooking a beautiful lake.
The moon reflected across the calm surface of the water.
The surrounding trees gently swayed in the breeze.
Elara stared at the scenery.
"...Beautiful."
For someone who had spent so much of her life surrounded by war, the peaceful scene almost felt unreal.
Then she heard a familiar voice.
"You're finally awake."
Elara turned.
Haru was sitting beside her.
His royal avatar had lost some of its impressive appearance. His cape was slightly torn, his armor was covered in dust, and his crown sat crookedly on his head.
Elara smiled faintly.
"You."
Haru smiled.
"Yeah."
"I seem to remember being struck by the dragon."
"You were."
"Then how am I here?"
"Game mechanics."
Elara tilted her head.
"I understand nothing you say."
"Don't worry. I'm starting to get used to that."
Elara giggled.
Haru leaned back against the bench.
"Still, you did pretty well."
"Pretty well?"
"You cut a dragon in half."
Elara looked toward the lake.
"I merely did what I had to."
"You know..."
Haru looked at her.
"You're pretty cool."
Elara's face reddened slightly.
Before she could respond, Haru suddenly leaned sideways.
His head landed on her shoulder.
"Haru?"
There was no response.
Elara looked down.
He was asleep.
She blinked.
"...He fell asleep?"
She carefully lifted his head.
His crown poked her cheek.
"Ow."
She removed the crown and placed it beside her.
Then, after a moment of hesitation, she gently lowered his head onto her lap.
She brushed his black hair aside.
Despite his impressive appearance in this world, he looked strangely peaceful.
Elara smiled.
"You really are a peculiar angel."
Haru stirred.
His eyes opened slightly.
"I'm not an angel..."
He tried to sit up.
Elara gently pushed his head back down.
"You have fought valiantly, my king."
Haru blinked sleepily.
"My king?"
"You have earned your rest."
He stared at her for a moment.
Then his eyes closed again.
"...Fine."
Within seconds, he was asleep.
Elara looked down at him.
A small smile appeared on her face.
"Rest, Haru."
---
Elara opened her eyes.
The peaceful lake was gone.
She was back in Haru's bedroom.
For a moment, she didn't understand what had happened.
Then she looked around.
Haru was sitting in his gaming chair.
Except...
He was fast asleep.
His VR goggles were still on his head.
A half-empty energy drink hung loosely from one hand.
Elara stared.
She covered her mouth.
A giggle escaped.
"So this is the mighty king..."
She walked over and carefully removed the goggles.
Haru didn't wake.
She placed the drink safely on his desk.
Then she looked around his messy room.
"...He truly is different outside that strange world."
She gently tucked him into bed.
After making sure he was comfortable, she arranged his belongings neatly.
Then she noticed a small futon prepared nearby.
Elara smiled.
"He even prepared a place for me."
She settled down.
For the first time in what felt like an eternity, Elara closed her eyes without fearing what tomorrow would bring.
---
Across the city, inside the upper floors of a massive corporate building, a man sat alone in a dark office.
A large screen displayed a livestream.
On it was footage of the battle.
The Chaos Purger Guild.
The dragon.
And finally—
Elara.
The man paused the footage.
She was frozen in midair, sword raised, moments away from delivering the final blow.
He leaned closer.
His eyes narrowed.
"So..."
He rewound the footage.
Again.
And again.
Then he stopped at a different moment.
Haru.
The king avatar.
The way he moved.
The way he fought.
The way he reacted to Elara.
The man picked up his phone.
He dialed a number.
After several rings, someone answered.
"Yes, sir?"
The man continued staring at the frozen image.
"I believe I've found the gamer who defeated Last Warrior."
There was a pause.
"Are you certain?"
"I'm certain enough."
His expression hardened.
"I want an event created."
"An event?"
"Yes."
He leaned back in his chair.
"And make sure the Chaos Purger Guild participates."
Another pause.
The man's eyes settled on Haru's avatar.
"Especially Haru."
"Understood, sir."
The call ended.
The man placed the phone back on his desk.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Let's see what you're capable of."
The screen went black.
And somewhere in the distance, the next chapter of Haru's life had already begun.