I Became a Prisoner in the Game After Defeating the Final Boss Chapter 64
Every time the thundercloud flashed, a gleam as if the world was ending scattered in all directions, and lightning bolts struck repeatedly.
Boom! Kwaboom!!
Kraaackle──!
Faced with the disaster that had suddenly arrived from the sky, the demonic beasts couldn't even put up a proper resistance and crumbled.
The being that had now appeared on the battlefield was that kind of being.
Just a single, light gesture.
With just that gesture, the demonic beasts, once considered everyone's despair, turned to ash without a trace.
“What……”
“Huh.”
Everyone, who had been fighting fiercely on the boundary of life and death until just a moment ago, could only stare blankly at the scene.
“Hey, Commander! Who is that person? Don't tell me it's a mage sent by the Empire?”
“……No, I've never heard of a mage in the Empire who handles Lightning Magic to that extent. In the first place, Mages of Lightning Magic themselves are extremely rare.”
“Then what in the world is it?”
“How should I know?”
Conlan, as well as Edric, stared blankly at the repeatedly striking lightning.
“……A mage of that level could even exist.”
Adding to that, Albino, who knew quite a bit about magic, seemed to be trembling at the appearance of the Lightning Emperor.
‘Well…… I guess it’s to be expected.’
The Lightning Emperor.
That name was not one earned easily.
Moreover, the Lightning Emperor was one of the few powerhouses I acknowledged even in the World of Justice.
As long as such a being had shown itself here, the fate of Bernhard, which had been steeped in despair, was also bound to be overturned.
“Vell, do you know something?”
“I wonder. How would I know someone like that?”
“Hmm…… for someone who says that, you seem to know something……. I suppose that’s not what’s important right now.”
It was no exaggeration to say that the situation was now completely out of our hands.
No, all anyone in Bernhard could do right now was just watch.
Bernhard’s fate was now entirely up to the ruler of lightning who had descended from the sky.
【Cain──! Where are you!!!】
A massive roar echoed from within the thundercloud.
It was obvious who the bastard was looking for, but naturally, I had not the slightest intention of obediently going out.
Because my objective was already achieved.
Boom!
Kaboom!!!
The lightning striking down from the thundercloud indiscriminately battered the Mülhen Granary Zone, bestowing eternal rest upon the beings below it.
The reason the Lightning Emperor could handle the price, despite firing off magic of that level so wantonly, was thanks to the thundercloud currently in Bernhard's sky.
The Lightning Emperor possessed countless items and traits related to the electric shock attribute, and by using them to create the thundercloud, he had drastically reduced the price for his Lightning Magic.
In other words, it could be said to be similar to the way I turned Salamander's Fang into the Fang of Blazing Fire.
【Not coming out, are you……. Then I’ll make you come out, whether you like it or not.】
Rumble, Rrrrrrumble───!!!
The thundercloud heaved violently.
A powerful precursor that something big was coming, not just an ordinary lightning bolt like before.
“……The atmosphere is unusual. We should take cover, just in case.”
Edric must have sensed that something was about to happen, as he ordered us to evacuate.
The 4th Special Task Force members, who also understood the gravity of the situation, followed the order without complaint.
At that moment, when everyone was holding their breath, hiding beneath the wall.
【Vanish.】
Along with the declaration that echoed softly.
Rurururururumble───!!!
The sky opened up.
‘This is…… dangerous.’
I urgently shouted.
“Everyone, cover your ears!”
“What─”
“Keuk!”
Eeeeeeeeeee────
A white light covered my entire vision, and a ringing sound filled my ears.
A scene so intense that it made one momentarily think the end of the world had come.
As far as I knew, there was only one magic with this level of power.
‘It's Unique Magic.’
A magic that only the Lightning Emperor could use, a magic just for the Lightning Emperor.
That magic, which could barely be activated only after accumulating countless prices and satisfying extremely difficult conditions, was called a Unique Magic, or a Signature.
A Unique Magic of the Lightning Emperor with this much power was a magic I also knew well.
It made sense, as the person who had been hit by this magic the most was probably me.
‘Sky-Shattering Thunder.’
The heaven-and-earth-shattering lightning bolt swept past the eastern land, and soon, the halo of light that had spread in all directions began to slowly recede.
“Ugh…… what? What just happened?”
“Look over there.”
With Edric’s words, everyone’s gaze turned to the Mülhen Granary Zone.
“Is that…… even possible?”
“……Huh.”
“What……”
Conlan’s, Albino’s, and Alicia’s expressions were all colored with shock.
It was understandable.
Because the beings that had been trying to decide Bernhard's fate until just a moment ago had now turned to ash, not even leaving a trace behind.
Of course, a considerable number of demonic beasts still remained on the battlefield, but there was no way the demonic beasts would have any will to fight anymore.
Because the extremely natural instinct of a living creature, the will to survive, had likely overcome the killing intent that had dominated the demonic beasts until just a moment ago.
-W, Wooooo!!!
-Kkyak! Kyaaak!
-Kkurururu!
As if proving that fact, the demonic beasts, terrified, began to scream, turn their backs, and run away.
It was a scene that was utterly unbelievable to have been created by just one person, but the sight unfolding now was unmistakable reality.
[You have protected the ‘Free City Bernhard’, which was in a desperate situation!]
[The favorability of Bernhard’s citizens increases greatly!]
The silence did not last long.
-We’re…… alive?
-We…… survived? Really?
The voices, which were at first doubtful, began to grow one by one, and soon turned into a huge wave of elation.
-Th, the demonic beasts are retreating! The demonic beasts are retreating!
-Wa, Waaaaa!!!
-We survived! We survived!
Bernhard's soldiers, who had been fighting the demonic beasts on the wall risking their lives until just a moment ago, cheered, embracing each other at the miracle that had just occurred.
Praise for the Lightning Emperor was an added bonus.
-Look over there! The Mage of Lightning Magic has saved us!
-Oh, Ooooh!
-Mage! Mage!
The 4th Special Task Force members also plopped down right where they were, breathing heavily.
“Hoo…… That’s something I can't do twice.”
“We were lucky. For a mage of that level to suddenly appear……. Well, it might not have been luck.”
As Albino said that, his gaze briefly darted toward me.
“Somehow, it feels like you know something…… am I right?”
“No way.”
“Hmph, we’ll see about that.”
I didn't know if this was that unique intuition of a mage, but anyway, his perception was sharp as hell.
“Is everyone alright?”
Conlan nodded at Edric’s question.
“Yes, well. It seems we’re alive for now…… but what happens now?”
It was obvious what Conlan was talking about.
The Lightning Emperor.
Depending on the whim of that person, who had suddenly appeared in Bernhard’s sky with the thundercloud, the miracle that had just occurred could easily turn back into despair.
“I wonder……. But it seems unlikely a mage of that level would have a reason to kill the people here right now. If such a thing were necessary, wouldn’t he have done it sooner?”
“That’s true, too.”
It was just as Edric said.
The Lightning Emperor had come to this place entirely because of the aggro post I wrote on the Anonymous Bulletin Board, not for any other purpose.
‘Of course, he might take out his anger on Bernhard after realizing he was tricked…… but knowing the Lightning Emperor’s personality, he probably wouldn't do that.’
In addition to that, no matter how much he drastically reduced the price with the thundercloud, powerful magic inevitably comes with a powerful price.
Paying a price that didn't need to be paid, simply for the sake of venting anger, didn't fit the personality of mages. That itself was a waste.
‘The only thing left is whether that bastard will return obediently or not…….’
For now, I had no choice but to watch and see that part.
If the Lightning Emperor acted on a whim, in the worst-case scenario, I, too, would have to endure a considerable loss.
At that moment.
【Even after I’ve done this much, you still don’t show yourself……. As expected, you fled after seeing this body! How ridiculous you look, Cain! Hahaha!】
As the ringing maniacal laughter echoed from within the thundercloud, the faces of the 4th Special Task Force members who were listening went blank.
The expressions of the other Bernhard soldiers were probably not much different.
It couldn't be helped.
To a third party who didn't know the relationship between the Lightning Emperor and Cain, that kind of talk sounded exactly like something a madman would say.
“……What is that, what is he saying?”
“Who knows.”
“A mage of that level is seized by madness……. No, perhaps that itself was the price.”
Why was it?
That bastard was clearly the one babbling, but I felt like the embarrassment was all mine.
【Yes, it’s understandable to fear this body. Keep hiding quietly like that! Cain, that kind of rat-like appearance suits you better! Hahaha!】
Can’t you even consider the thought that you were tricked?
【Ah, how sad, Cain! To think a man like you has become so subservient and unsightly!】
……Stop, please.
【Hahahaha!!!!】
The maniacal laughter echoed thunderously.
The cheers of the Bernhard soldiers praising the Mage of Lightning Magic must have cut off, as if they had never been, because of that.
Because the Lightning Emperor now looked, to anyone, as if he was half-mad.
【Tsk, there’s no need to stay any longer.】
Like that, the Lightning Emperor babbled to himself for a few more minutes, and then, not long after, disappeared along with the thundercloud.
He had literally appeared like a storm and disappeared like a storm.
“What in the world was that……”
“Even a mage of that level can gain madness as the price for magic……. As expected, it’s not something to be taken lightly.”
“As expected, all mages are crazy bastards.”
At her last words, Conlan and Albino stared at Alicia with blinking eyes.
“What.”
“No, well…… it’s nothing.”
“Indeed, a person is made by their environment.”
Only then did Edric, who had been momentarily dumbfounded, open his mouth.
“……Ahem, anyway, you all worked hard. It was a dangerous fight, but you overcame it well.”
“Are we returning now?”
“We should, but before that, there’s something left to finish up in Bernhard.”
It was obvious what 'finishing up' Edric was talking about.
Edric had earlier made a deal with Council Member Garrett Mason, and as the price for that, he was probably planning to completely cut out the rotten parts of Bernhard.
“Then, you all should return to the lodging for now. I will join you as soon as I finish what I have to do.”
“Will you be alright alone?”
Edric nodded at my question.
“Your role has been more than enough up to this point. From now on, it’s what I must do.”
Edric spoke resolutely, unusually for him, to the point that a sense of determination could even be felt.
Of course, despite that attitude, the 4th Special Task Force’s attitude remained the same.
“Is that so? Then we’re leaving. Let’s get going. My wounds are throbbing so much I feel like I’m dying.”
“Was planning to anyway, big guy.”
“Let’s go together.”
“……”
Edric stared at us for a moment as if dumbfounded, then soon laughed lightly.
“See you later. Everyone…… you really worked hard. Truly.”
“Yes. You should be careful too, Commander.”
Conlan also laughed lightly and waved his hand.
I couldn't tell if the dregs of resentment, or perhaps not, that had built up between those two had been resolved by this, but for now, this would be enough.
At least, we had survived.
“Vell, that arm……”
Alicia couldn't hide her worried gaze as she looked at my arm.
“It’s fine. You look like you’re in worse condition, actually.”
“I’m okay.”
For someone saying that, she was limping and didn't seem to have a single unharmed spot on her entire body.
It was the same for the others, too.
Conlan, Albino, and Alicia all were in a situation where they needed proper medical treatment, but in Bernhard, which was already in chaos, it didn't seem easy for us, as outsiders, to receive separate treatment.
Unlike the Winter Castle, where systematized medical personnel were always on standby, Bernhard had been a peaceful city, and on top of that, its medical personnel were likely in a state of saturation right now due to the immense number of casualties.
If I left them as they were, they would suffer from considerable aftereffects.
No matter how detestable some of them were, in the end, they were people who had to survive at the Winter Castle with me.
If they were needlessly injured or became incapable of combat, that loss would inevitably come back to me.
‘It should be possible now.’
This place, unlike the Winter Castle, had a relatively very warm climate.
In other words, if I even used the heat possessed by the Fang of Blazing Fire here, I should be able to activate one of the true powers of the Orb of Water, which had been suppressed by the cold energy until now.
‘Then…….’
A power that had been hidden in the Orb of Water until now began to be emitted.
[The ‘Orb of Water’ activates its power according to the wearer's will.]
[The ‘Orb of Water’ deploys ‘Restorative Waters’.]
The power of the Orb of Water activated, and a small water mist began to spread out from me.