I Became a Prisoner in the Game After Defeating the Final Boss Chapter 34

Crack, craaack……!

The barrier of ice that surrounded me shattered and melted, collapsing at the same time.

The Orb of Water had exerted its authority to protect me from the explosion that had just occurred.

[The ‘Orb of Water’ protects the wearer.]

[The authority of the ‘Orb of Water’ has reached its limit and will be temporarily deactivated.]

The authority of the Orb of Water that always lingered around me disappeared in an instant.

‘To think that just a graze was enough to deactivate the power of the Orb of Water…….’

Truly, an immense destructive power.

If it hadn't been for the Orb of Water, my current frail body would have been turned to ash without a trace just by being swept up near the explosion.

‘What about Edric and Alicia?’

The answer to that was soon revealed.

The thick smoke that had risen momentarily cleared, revealing the surroundings.

“Cough! Cough!”

Alicia, who was next to me, coughed as she got up.

Perhaps the authority of the Orb of Water had acted as a buffer zone, as Alicia also seemed to have no major injuries, only some black soot on her.

Edric, too, seemed to have succeeded in reacting momentarily to the surprise attack just now, as he appeared with his entire body scorched.

“……I’m fine.”

For someone who said that, he seemed quite far from being fine, but for now, I had to be thankful that he was alive.

If Edric, our greatest asset, had died or become incapacitated by this attack, my and Alicia’s fate would have been all but sealed.

“Where did the attack come from?”

Edric shook his head at my question.

“I couldn't identify it.”

For a skilled person like Edric to be attacked and not even be able to identify the opponent’s location…….

I assessed the situation.

‘The opponent’s figure is not visible.’

‘If even Edric couldn't identify the opponent's location, it's right to assume it's mid-to-long-range sniping magic or trap magic.’

‘Usually, sniping magic or trap magic has less destructive power than magic used head-on. Despite such limitations, to have this much destructive power…….’

The conclusion naturally drawn from all these conditions.

“We need to retreat.”

Edric nodded slightly.

“I agree, but I doubt the opponent will let us go quietly.”

Edric also seemed to have noticed the opponent's strength, but unfortunately, that choice was not given to us.

“Dodge!”

KABOOOM!!!───

The bombardment continued again.

Perhaps because he was somewhat prepared, Edric noticed the opponent's attack a step faster, and thanks to that, I was also able to react barely.

Grind, creak…….

Haima’s Curse activated even more strongly, and the veins all over my body bulged.

At a time when the authority of the Orb of Water had stopped, it wasn't a very healthy act, but the situation was that urgent, so it couldn't be helped.

“Is everyone alright?!”

A rare sense of urgency was felt in Edric’s voice.

It meant that even Edric, who usually seemed nonchalant about everything, was taking this situation seriously.

“I’m fine, for now.”

“That's a rather vague expression! Is there a way?”

“Unfortunately, not right now.”

RUMBLE!!!

Before the words could even finish, another barrage poured down, narrowly grazing our feet.

The situation was desperate.

We couldn't even identify the opponent's identity, let alone their location, yet the opponent knew our location and was unilaterally pouring attacks from a safe place.

‘We can’t last long like this.’

Powerful magic always comes with a powerful price, but I can't just keep dodging forever, relying on that.

Because it was impossible to recklessly predict when the opponent’s limit would be reached.

In the World of Justice, a price was something that could feel incredibly light to some.

The basis for my judgment was simple.

The Demon of Blazing Fire was one of the most malevolent demons in the World of Justice, and the Mage of Blazing Fire was its contractor.

“Commander!”

“Is there a way?”

“Yes. We need to split into two and scatter. Sticking together will only make us a good target board for the opponent.”

“Not a bad plan! What’s next?”

“If possible, I’d like you, Commander, to run wild conspicuously.”

Edric chuckled heartily.

“Are you telling me to be the bait?”

“It doesn’t matter if I do it.”

“No, I’ll do it. I’m not such a heartless superior as to make my subordinate do such a thing.”

He said that, but Edric must have known well that he was the right person for the role of bait.

Because if Alicia or I were to run wild, it was obvious we wouldn't last long and would become a sacrifice to the blazing fire.

“Then I’ll go first.”

Before those words could even finish, Edric’s figure disappeared and then reappeared in the distance.

I knew it, but it was an incredible speed.

And, such speed was enough to exude a certain presence on its own.

KABOOOM!!!

As soon as Edric showed his brilliant movements, a series of explosions occurred where he had been.

“……Is he okay?”

Alicia’s voice trembled slightly.

I didn't know if it was due to tension or some other reason, but I didn't let it show.

Because showing agitation at this moment was not a very wise choice.

“We have to trust him; he's a strong person.”

Alicia nodded slightly.

“Let’s go.”

Alicia and I started running in the opposite direction from where Edric went.

However, unlike the conspicuous Edric, we moved as quietly as possible.

Because it would be troublesome if the opponent noticed our presence.

Thump!

RUMBLE──!!!

Despite the distance growing quite far, the vibration and sound of the bombardment echoed as if it were exploding right next to us.

‘I saw it, though only for a moment.’

Only after getting far away did I think I could tell where the bombardment was coming from.

‘Considering the location where the magic was emitted and the location where the bombardment landed… it’s over there.’

What we had to do from now on was very simple.

While Edric ran wild and volunteered as bait, we had to get behind the mage who was pouring down the bombardment.

“This way.”

As we headed towards the epicenter of the bombardment, the smoke grew thicker.

It meant we had gotten the direction right.

As we moved forward, a new scene, unseen until now, began to reveal itself.

Red flames dyed the sky brightly, tearing through the dark night.

The tenacious and brilliant glow of the flames engulfed the buildings, trees, and small roadside shops.

The flames blazed fiercely with the silence, spewing smoke and ashen clouds that covered the sky.

And we saw it.

The sight of everything burning.

“Hmm.”

And I saw.

The master of the blazing fire, looking down loftily at all of this in a burning world.

***

The flickering flames were reflected in Alicia’s blue eyes.

That scene of flames blending against a blue background soon led Alicia to a place in the past.

A memory of the past.

And a memory that must not be forgotten.

「“Execute the heretics!”」

In the memory reflected in her eyes, she was an Inquisitor of the Punishment Order.

Those who punished heretics and apostates.

Therefore, following God's will, she punished those who did not follow God's will.

That day was no different.

She sought to follow God’s will and punish those who opposed it.

That was all.

「“Arrogant heretic, you shall meekly follow the will of God!”」

However, the heretic she faced this time was somewhat different from the heretics she had dealt with until now.

「“Today… there’s a lot to burn, isn’t there?”」

The master of the blazing fire, with a bizarre smile stretching from ear to ear, wielded the blaze as if it were their own limbs.

「“Dodge! It’s fire magic!”」

The flames of madness instantly swallowed everything in the vicinity.

「“The fire, put out the fire!”」

「“Kyaaaaaaak……!”」

「“It hurts, it huuurts──!”」

Her friend, her family, her comrades, her everything.

「“Alicia.”」

With the last words of the one who was her comrade-in-arms and companion, friend and family.

「“Live.”」

The blazing fire engulfed everything.

“Ugh, ah ugh……!”

Alicia still remembers.

The bizarre, ear-to-ear smile that the master of the blazing fire wore that day.

And now, the master of the blazing fire who appeared before her eyes faced her with the same smile.

“There’s more, to burn?”

With the same voice, the same words.

They spoke as if to freely trample on Alicia’s soul, to tear it to shreds.

“Mage…!”

Anger and hatred that could not be expressed in words enveloped Alicia.

“Magemagemagemagemagemagemagemage……!!”

Alicia’s wavering eyes were trapped in the past.

Edric’s warning no longer held any meaning for Alicia.

For this moment alone, Alicia had survived that day instead of dying with her sisters.

“Mageeee──!!!”

A cry mixed with shrieks and despair echoed as Alicia’s body shot forward.

***

Alicia dashed towards the Mage of Blazing Fire.

The speed was so fast that it felt like an arrow was flying.

It was an impulsive action, but honestly, it was something I had anticipated to some extent.

No, considering the reactions Alicia had shown throughout this mission, it would have been stranger not to have predicted it.

‘The opponent’s attention is now completely focused on Alicia.’

In addition to that, they would be constantly checking on Edric, the most dangerous person who was drawing attention somewhere, so the concentration on me, who seemed relatively the weakest among us, would have lowered.

‘I’ll aim for the blind spot.’

Of course, I had already figured out that the mage had detection methods other than just the five senses, but as long as they were human, there had to be a limit.

Therefore, the blind spot I was aiming for could be seen as a mental blind spot rather than a visual one.

‘Once the gun is fired, the mage’s gaze will have to turn to me.’

If possible, I had to subdue the enemy with the first shot, but if that was deemed impossible, I had to pour in all the firepower I had at once.

Because if I failed, not only me but everyone in this place would die.

“Mageeeeee───!!!”

Fortunately, thanks to Alicia screaming and rushing at the mage, it was easy for me to get behind them.

Fwoosh!

A blaze that rose in an instant engulfed Alicia.

Alicia, not even caring that her body was being scorched, grit her teeth and rushed to cut down the mage somehow.

“This pile of ashes is an amusing one.”

The mage spoke as if mocking and casually waved a hand.

The blaze that rose with it continued to engulf Alicia, and Alicia’s sword cut through empty air.

“Keuk, keuaaah……!”

A scream, a shriek, despair.

With all of that mixed together, Alicia was toyed with by the Mage of Blazing Fire.

That was because the difference in skill between the two was absolute.

But…….

‘The chance has come.’

A single chance.

It wasn't that we had a specific plan laid out beforehand.

However, the time we had spent together as the 4th Special Task Force had naturally made Alicia feel what she needed to do.

As if to prove that fact, as soon as I got behind the mage, magic was activated from Alicia’s hand.

The magic of an Inquisitor of the Punishment Order.

BEEEEEEEE───

A brilliant light poured out, covering the area and momentarily blocking all sight and sound in the vicinity.

Since it was magic that did not distinguish between friend and foe, I couldn't be free from its effects either, but because I had covered my eyes in advance, I was able to secure my vision.

Click─

The chance was given.

All that was left was to pull the trigger.

BAAAAANG!!!───

With the pulled trigger, the fired bullet was shot towards the master of the blazing fire.