I Became a Prisoner in the Game After Defeating the Final Boss Chapter 75
Fwooosh!
Along with the recited incantation, flames soared from the Fang of Blazing Fire.
And the wave of blazing fire that rose up finally stirred, poised to crash down on everything in the vicinity.
[Kru-ruk!]
[Kru-ru-ru!]
Flames that Sweep the Periphery surged toward the Radyuns in front of me with furious momentum.
Up to this point, it was as I expected.
Until the blazing fire, which had soared with terrifying momentum, suddenly flowed backward and swallowed up my right hand that was holding the Fang of Blazing Fire.
“This damn bastard……!”
What this phenomenon meant was clear.
It seemed the Demon of Blazing Fire felt the price for this contract was insufficient.
What was even more headache-inducing was that The Scales of Fairness had also accepted the will of the Demon of Blazing Fire.
‘This is why I really don’t like getting involved with demon bastards.’
Although I had tricked the Demon of Blazing Fire once before, demons were not inherently beings that allowed themselves to be used so easily.
I knew that fact better than anyone, so until now, I had avoided even summary contracts unless it was an exceptional situation, but the circumstances being what they were, I had no choice.
‘That damned blazing fire bastard.’
I inwardly swallowed my curses and activated the power of the Orb of Water.
[The ‘Orb of Water’ activates its power according to the wearer's will.]
[The ‘Orb of Water’ deploys ‘Splashing Waves’.]
Ssssss……!
The water spray condensed on my right hand vaporized against the blazing fire, and white steam rose up.
Even though I had responded as soon as the blazing fire flowed backward, my right hand, which had been holding the Fang of Blazing Fire, was already tattered with severe burns.
If my response had been even a little late, my right hand itself would have been swallowed by the blazing fire and turned to ash.
“Hoo…….”
It hurt.
It hurt so much that I felt like tears would well up, but it wasn't the kind of situation to do so, so I forced them back for now.
‘Is it a comfort that I managed to deal with it quickly enough not to lose the hand?’
Although it hurt like hell, an injury of this extent could be healed easily using the power of the Orb of Water.
In fact, the Orb of Water was already healing my hand.
‘In that case…….’
I shifted my gaze forward.
[Kru-ru…….]
[Guu-uk.]
Perhaps because paying the contract's price faithfully, even with my right hand, had been worthwhile, the Radyuns were engulfed in the inferno in an instant, letting out screams.
At this rate, I wouldn't be able to salvage any bone powder, let alone demonic beast materials, but since the purpose of this visit to the Demonic Realm wasn't to collect materials from Radyun-level demonic beasts anyway, I turned my feet without any lingering attachment.
The inferno, originating from the Magic of Blazing Fire, ravenously burned and consumed the forest of the Demonic Realm, known as the eternal Sea of Trees.
‘Flames of this magnitude will surely draw the attention of nearby demonic beasts for a while.’
I planned to use that opportunity to move straight to the safe zone.
Due to the nature of the Demonic Realm, these flames would eventually burn out naturally, but at least they would burn spectacularly during the time I was moving.
‘It would be so much more convenient if I could just burn down the entire Demonic Realm.’
Well, in the first place, if the entire Demonic Realm could have been burned down with simple arson, the Empire and the Winter Castle would have already done so.
The Demonic Realm was that kind of place.
A place that, while appearing to be a forest on the surface, was not a forest in essence.
‘First, I move.’
I had delayed for longer than necessary due to the unexpected burn.
To a slightly dangerous extent.
[The power of the ‘Orb of Water’ permeates the user.]
[The ‘Orb of Water’ heals the user.]
While quickly crossing the Radyun's territory, the power of the Orb of Water was exerted to its fullest, and the burn on my right hand, which had almost turned to ash, gradually healed.
Fortunately, the pain had subsided a little, but looking at its condition, it seemed I wouldn't be able to use my right hand for about a day.
‘Tsk.’
As the flames began to spread, the Radyun's territory shone like a lighthouse in the Demonic Realm, which was like a vast, open sea.
Just as insects dash toward the light, the demonic beasts in the Demonic Realm also begin to come toward the flames in the Demonic Realm, like moths to a flame.
Groooaaar…….
Woooo!
The cries of the demonic beasts, echoing gloomily, had the power to stimulate human instincts.
Specifically, the instinct of fear.
I have to run from this place.
I have to escape this place.
My instincts continuously screamed that, but I lightly ignored them and moved my feet.
Just a little further, and I could escape Radyun's territory.
[Kru-ru-ru!!!]
From far away, the desperate screams of the Radyuns caught in the flames echoed.
The more the Radyuns screamed, the more the attention of demonic beasts from other territories would be drawn over there.
‘Hm?’
Just as I was about to completely escape the Radyun's territory, I felt a presence from beyond the darkness.
[Krrr…….]
[Sniff! Sniff sniff!]
The familiar presence of a beast.
It was clearly demonic beasts from other territories, drawn by the flames.
I had tried to exit the Radyun's territory before other demonic beasts flocked, but it seemed the slight time delay was the cause.
‘Well…… this much was to be expected anyway.’
If possible, it was better to avoid unnecessary battles, but if it couldn't be avoided, there was no need to hesitate.
[Activating ‘Weapon Summon(??)’.]
[A ‘Lv.3’ weapon is summoned.]
[Weapon, ‘AKR-74 Assault Rifle’ is summoned.]
Along with a blue halo of light, the AKR-74 Assault Rifle revealed its form.
‘It’s a bit difficult to use my right hand right now, but…….’
For me, a right-handed person, the inability to use my right hand was quite a big problem.
When using a firearm, the difference in accuracy between shooting with my familiar right hand and shooting with my left hand was obvious.
But that was only when it came to precise shooting; dealing with things charging recklessly from the front like now was a completely different story.
‘With these flames and commotion, it probably won't matter much if a gunshot rings out within the Demonic Realm.’
A gunshot echoing in the silent darkness was louder than anything, but in a situation like this where a commotion was already underway, adding one gunshot wouldn't make a big difference.
That was why I faced the darkness, gripping the AKR-74 Assault Rifle.
It was a slightly awkward posture, holding the grip with my left hand and supporting the firearm with my right wrist.
[Krrr!]
[Krk! Krrk!]
The cries gradually grew closer.
I quietly held my breath and waited for them to enter my range.
The wait was not long.
‘They’re here.’
Clack.
The light pouring from the blazing flames drove out the darkness like a sacred aura.
Along with that, the demonic beasts that had been hiding stealthily in the darkness revealed their forms one by one.
【Lv.5】
【Owlbear】
【Lv.5】
【Owlbear】
【Lv.5】
【Owlbear】
A 5-level demonic beast.
A demonic beast that I wouldn't have even dared to face alone without Edric in the past, and not just one or two, but three of them had appeared.
‘Level 5.’
The revolver, Colt garrison B-09, could not penetrate the armor made from the hide of the 4-level demonic beast, Radyun.
No matter how much the Radyun was among the 4-level demonic beasts with particularly tough hides, what was clear was that revolver-level firearms didn't work on 4-level or higher demonic beasts.
In that case, what about firearms with much stronger destructive power, like the B686 Double Barrel Shotgun or the AKR-74 Assault Rifle?
‘I needed to check it once.’
In the Demonic Realm, which corresponded to a high-level area within the World of Justice Online, just how far did the boon of civilization called a gun work?
To confirm that, a 5-level demonic beast was a fairly suitable opponent.
‘The Owlbear’s hide was quite tough, even among 5-level demonic beasts. If the firearm worked on the Owlbear, it would be safe to assume it worked on all other 5-level or lower demonic beasts.’
The head of an owl and the body of a bear.
I aimed at the Owlbear, which looked like a bizarre chimera born in a laboratory, and pulled the trigger.
Rat-tat-tat-tat!
The barrage of 7.62x39mm rounds that poured out, spitting fire from the muzzle, instantly dug into the Owlbear's outer hide.
The AKR-74 Assault Rifle could pour out about 600 bullets per minute.
As if proving that tremendous rate of fire, emptying all 30 rounds in the magazine literally took only the time to take a single breath.
[Kra-ra-ra!]
The Owlbears, which had instantly become living target boards, writhed in pain.
Blood continuously flowed from the Owlbears' entire bodies, but perhaps because their hide and muscle layers were so thick, it didn't seem to have resulted in a fatal wound.
In fact, as if proving that, not a single one of the three Owlbears had fallen.
‘As expected, aiming for the torso, which has a thick hide and muscles, wasn't very effective.’
Sure enough, not long after the first barrage of bullets ended, the gazes of the Owlbears, who had been writhing in pain, fixed on me all at once.
To be stared at all at once by creatures resembling owl heads in the middle of the night was, frankly, terrifying.
[Krrrrr!!!]
[Krrk!]
Thud!
Thud!
The Owlbears charged at me with a roar that shook the ground.
The distance to them was at most 30 meters.
Considering the Owlbears' size and speed, the moment of impact would be like being hit by a truck.
‘I had no intention of letting them come meekly, though.’
The Orb of Water and Nak's Legacy began to invoke their powers simultaneously.
Bzzk! Bzzzzzt──!!
The electric shock that spread through the scattered water spray formed a barrier like an electric screen.
Naturally, the Owlbears, unaware of that fact, slammed their bodies into the electric screen I had deployed, and their bodies trembled from the unexpected electric shock.
[Kra-ra-rak!]
[Ka-rrk!]
The ones that had been charging like trucks all stopped and shuddered.
Although this itself couldn't be called a fatal attack to the Owlbears, what was clear was that it had created an opening.
‘Now.’
[Activating ‘Weapon Summon(??)’.]
[A ‘Lv.2’ weapon is summoned.]
[Weapon, ‘B686 Double Barrel Shotgun’ is summoned.]
I threw away the AKR-74 Assault Rifle in my left hand and gripped the newly appeared B686 Double Barrel Shotgun.
The muzzle of the B686 Double Barrel Shotgun was aimed at the Owlbear's eye.
No matter how tough the Owlbear was, its eyeballs couldn't be tough.
Baaaaaang!!!──
With the pull of the trigger, one Owlbear's eye exploded, and at the same time, it died without even letting out a scream.
It meant that its brain, connected to the eye, had been turned to pulp.
‘One more.’
I immediately turned the muzzle and pulled the trigger again.
Bang!!
Another Owlbear departed from life, and now only one Owlbear remained.
With this, I was able to confirm that the firearms I currently possessed weren't enough to pierce a 5-level demonic beast's hide and inflict a fatal wound, but they were at least enough to end its life by aiming for a vital spot.
‘The last one…….’
Perhaps the opening created by the Orb of Water and Nak's Legacy ended here, as the Owlbear that had lost its two companions soon came to its senses and let out a bestial roar.
[Krarararak!!!]
If my right hand had been fine, I wouldn't have missed even this opening and would have quickly reloaded the B686 Double Barrel Shotgun, but since my right hand was impaired, I couldn't reload quickly.
The Owlbear, not missing that opening, charged recklessly.
[Krrr!!!]
The Owlbear, which had reached right in front of me in an instant, lunged at me.
A giant shadow cast over me.
It was a sight where one's life might have flashed before their eyes, but instead of seeing a flashback, I activated the power of Haima's Pendant.
C-creak, c-creak……!
Veins bulged all over my body.
The physical enhancement effect of the demonic energy, exerted along with Haima's Pendant, granted me strength far beyond my limits.
Having finished all preparations, I spun my body around.
Along with that, the Blade Black Raven Cloak that rotated with me struck the face of the Owlbear that had charged fearlessly.
The Blade Black Raven Cloak, with each feather possessing a strength and sharpness comparable to a masterwork sword, could be used for offense like this, in addition to its original purpose as armor.
[Krak!]
The Owlbear, whose face was instantly torn off, screamed and was thrown back.
Although I had inflicted no small amount of damage, it wasn't enough to kill the Owlbear, so I drew the Fang of Blazing Fire with my left hand.
‘My left hand felt a bit awkward, but…….’
I gripped the Fang of Blazing Fire and stabbed it down into the eye of the Owlbear that was writhing in pain.
[Kru-ruk!!!]
“Yikes.”
The Owlbear thrashed, but the blazing fire that soared from the Fang of Blazing Fire began to spew toward the Owlbear faster.
The magic I had granted to the Fang of Blazing Fire through the contract with the Demon of Blazing Fire was magic that controlled the blazing fire, limited to that which touched or was granted by the fang.
It did not take long for the flames surging from the Fang of Blazing Fire to travel through the Owlbear's eye and roast its optic nerve and entire brain.
[Kru-u-u-u…….]
Thud!
The Owlbear's massive body collapsed.
I had hunted three 5-level demonic beasts, but the objective cost was not that great.
At most, it was just having to wait a bit for the cooldown time of the Weapon Summon trait.
Although my outwardly visible level and stats weren't that great, I definitely felt that I had become stronger compared to before.
‘Now I just need to raise my level…… this damned level up was always the problem.’
World of Justice Online was a considerably hardcore game when it came to leveling up.
The level-up system in World of Justice Online wasn't about hunting monsters and gathering experience points like in other games, but a system where you could only rise to that level after obtaining something worthy of it.
In other words, the level itself didn't grant any strength, but was more like a measuring instrument.
‘I have to become stronger.’
That was why I came to the Demonic Realm in the first place.
‘In that case…….’
I moved my feet.
I had dealt with the Owlbears, but I still had a long way to go to the safe zone.
Gu-u-u-u-u…….
Kawk! Ka-awk!
Even while the flames danced within the Demonic Realm, the demonic beasts were still rampaging wildly.
As if they were trying to take this opportunity to reorganize the territories within the Demonic Realm.
It was then.
‘Hm?’
Among the rampaging demonic beasts, I could intermittently see strangely familiar shapes.
At first, I thought they were ordinary bipedal demonic beasts.
However, as their outlines gradually became clearer, I could no longer dismiss them as demonic beasts.
Those were not demonic beasts.
I knew very well what mammals with that kind of shape were called.
‘……Humans?’
The depths of the Demonic Realm.
People had appeared there.