Chapter 32: Last battle

this is a fictional story by realTensai

Unmeasurable killing intent lay in the atmosphere as Alvis and the boss were about to face off.

“Zehahahah, show me what you got, human!”

After saying those words, the lion man stood up from his golden throne, picking up a spiked war club that was next to him. The spiked war club was at least as big as Alvis, so Alvis knew that one hit would be fatal.

But Alvis did not show any signs of worry while facing off against a three-meter tall lion man. He had spent countless loops training, preparing for this moment. There was no way he would be afraid now!

Alvis activated his mastermind skill, which boosted his intelligence by 20 stat points for three minutes. Getting this skill to level 8 was crucial for his plans. Only with this skill activated did Alvis stand a chance against the boss.

It took Alvis one more deep breath before he could start. With a flick of his hand, an earthen spear erupted from the ground, aiming straight for the beast’s heart. However, before it could impale him, the lion man simply shattered it into dust using his war club.

“They told me you could use mana, but I did not believe it. But I guess it was true after all. No wonder they wanted to see your dead, human!”

The beast-man said something that aroused Alvis’ interest. He hinted at the reason they had sent an assassin to kill him. Even though Alvis wanted to know it, he could not get distracted. He had to focus on his sole mission.

Alvis gathered his mana, not wanting to be on the defensive, and attacked again. This time he created several marble-sized fireballs and enhanced them using wind magic. Those fireballs he then sent flying at the boss.

However, to Alvis’ surprise, the lion man did not move. He simply stood still, not caring about the fireballs. They all hit him, though when Alvis saw he was unscathed, he knew he had underestimated him.

“Hoy, hoy, hoy, human! You want to tickle me or what?! Don’t joke around!”

Suddenly, Alvis felt insane pressure and his instincts told him if he were to stand in the same place for one more second, he would die. One mana-enhanced jump to the side, saved Alvis from the lionman’s attack. A small crater replaced Alvis after the boss had swung his war club to the place he just was. It was so fast, that Alvis barely saw it coming.

A shiver ran down Alvis’ spine, as cold sweat dripped from his forehead.

One mistake and I am dead!

Alvis had to take a deep breath in and out again, before he could continue. He clicked his tongue after realizing he would have to use advanced spells just so he could injure the lionman. Alvis had planned to not use them from the beginning as they were very mana-consuming, yet he had no other choice. He could not lose because he was too cautious!

Alvis started by circulating the mana through his body. Just like his blood, he made sure his mana circulated through every vein. By doing that, his physical abilities reached a new level. His mana-enhanced body would allow him to do inhuman things. However, constantly circulating mana throughout his body was taxing. Only with mastermind activated could he do it while still casting spells.

Without wasting more time, Alvis wanted to attack again, yet he did not see the boss.

Where is he?

“You better keep your eyes on the enemy!”

The spiked war club hammered down on Alvis from behind. Alvis could not evade it anymore, so he created a gust of wind to blow away the club. Though with brute force, the lion man hit through the wind and got Alvis.

“Alvis!”

Blood stained his body red as he felt how several bones broke. Only because he created wind in the last second was he still alive. Yet the pain made him almost lose consciousness.

The beast-man raised his war club, wanting to hit Alvis once more. Upon seeing that, Alvis tapped at the ground with both of his hands, two gigantic earth spears erupting as a result. They hit the beast man and made him fly to the end of the room.

Alvis had put quite a bit of mana into them, so this was the least he expected. He stood up, suppressing all the pain. His body was not in the best shape anymore, with his health now at 93/130. But him circulating mana made him able to move, regardless.

The boss stood up with only a few scratches on his body. Until now, Alvis had not done any damage to it. Though Alvis was set to change that now.

“Powers of fire, hear my will. Make the heavens bring down its strongest creature! Fire dragon!”

After reciting this incantation, fire shaped into the form of a fierce dragon. It was multiple times bigger than the lion man, so even he had knitted his eyebrows upon seeing it. The dragon’s heat raised the temperature within the room, making it difficult to breathe. When its heat was at its peak, Alvis sent it flying with a battle cry.

“ROOOAARR!”

The lion man shouted as he swung his war club like a batter who tried to hit a home run. Alvis’ fire dragon clashed with his club and Alvis held his breath, awaiting the outcome.

The enormous size of the dragon overwhelmed the boss’ strength, ending with him being hit by the attack. Like a candle, he lit up, his body engulfed in fire.

Yes!

After using an advanced spell, Alvis was finally able to injure the boss. He knew that was not enough to kill him, but it was the first step. It was not impossible.

“Zehahaha, I like that!” the boss said, tossing away his burning top.

Alvis’ eyes widened when he saw his revealed upper body. It was packed with dangerous-looking scars. They were like tattoos on his muscular body, showing how many battles he had already fought.

And even after being hit by Alvis’ fire dragon, the boss just laughed. His body had visible brand marks, though it seemed like he did not care.

Does not he feel pain?

His wide grin and his intense glare clearly displayed insanity. Alvis’ body started trembling, though he forced himself to stay calm, ignoring his body’s reaction.

Alvis clenched his fist, preparing another advanced spell. However, before he could, the boss sprinted towards him, like a lion hunting down its prey.

He started swinging down his war club like a madman, and Alvis could only do his best to dodge. The lion man kept hammering down his war club as if he was playing Whac-A-Mole with Alvis. And every single hit of his created a loud bang and a crater. If Alvis would only once be too slow to react, it would mean his sure end.

However, being on the defensive would not win him this battle. Alvis could not just keep dodging while wasting his energy, mana, and time. Mastermind would soon lose its effects, and without it, Alvis would not even stand a chance.

That was why Alvis decided to do something risky.

The boss swung down his war club again, but instead of dodging, Alvis created an earth spear. However, he aimed it at the boss’ wrist, which made him slightly lose control over his war club. To evade his attack, Alvis only had to step to the side. And then he saw an opening.

“Powers of earth, grant me your strength. Earth Cannon!”

A massive earth ball with the explosive power of a cannon flew straight at the boss’ head. Being too close, he could not dodge and got hit.

Alvis exhaled, relieved his risky tactic worked. However, when he saw the boss’ face after having hit him with such an attack, he trembled. The lion man was only slightly bleeding, even though Alvis’ attack had the power of a cannon. His insane grin did not vanish and fear started building up within Alvis. Every cell of his body told him to get away as fast as possible.

But before Alvis could distance himself from the lion man, his foot got grabbed by his long tail, making Alvis fall to the ground. Alvis hurriedly wanted to get up, though his tail kept clinging to him, not letting him go. And it was at this moment Alvis realized he was trapped.

“ROOOAAARR!”

Alvis’ eyes widened, as he could only see the war club about to hammer down on him. He tried to cast a wind spell to lessen the damage, but he was too late. The war club hit him with its full might.

Alvis’ brain could not process all the pain signals the nerves sent upon the impact. His pupils vanished, showing how Alvis fell in and out of consciousness. The blood he coughed was nothing compared to the blood that leaked from every body part of his. Several bones were broken and Alvis could only partially see his health bar blinking.

Critical Condition: Health 3/130!

It was a wonder Alvis had even survived this attack. Yet he knew he was done for. Alvis could barely move his body, and the pain he felt was about to knock him unconscious. He had barely dealt damage to the boss and mastermind was about to run out.

Shit!

“Oh, you are still alive? You are tougher than I thought. But it’s over now! You could not protect her!”

The boss raised his war club once more, wanting to end it for good. Alvis only gritted his teeth. He knew he would die and that he would have to try again. Yet his heart pained knowing he could not save Lia. Again.

Though before the war club hammered down on him, it stopped.

No, someone stopped it!

“Lia?! How dare you attack me?!”

The one who stopped the boss’ attack was no other than Lia. Her plants were holding back the boss’ arms so he could not swing down at Alvis.

Alvis turned his head, only to see Lia standing up again, her green eyes full of resolve. Even Alvis could not understand why she attacked the boss. He was sure Lia could not attack him because of her immense feeling of guilt. That was why Alvis knew he had to be the one to take him down. Lia just could not kill her lifesaver.

“I am thankful that you saved my life. I am thankful you took me in and gave me a place to live in. Yet I will end everything now. You are evil, and this organization is not a place I can be in. I will overcome my fear and fight alongside Alvis. He is the one I want to spend the rest of my life with!”

“You ungrateful brat!!!”

The boss tried to free himself from the plants, yet he could not. And Alvis would use this chance.

“T-Thank you Lia, you gave me the time I needed!”

He stopped the circulation of his mana, wanting to use every single bit of mana he had left. But with him stopping it, the pain he felt abruptly increased, a side effect of him overstraining his body. Yet he would ignore it. He only had to last for a few more seconds. What happened afterward did not matter!

“P-Powers of nature, hear my will. Bring u--upon me your greatest… creature. — Striking fear into my enemy’s bones. Destroying everything in your path. A calamity of nature is what I wish… A calamity of nature is what— I need!…-”

“N-No stop!” the boss said, after noticing what Alvis was about to do.

He tried to break free from Lia’s plants, but they also grabbed him at his feet, not letting him escape. The room darkened, massive thunderclouds replacing its ceiling. Alvis was almost done.

“… Rise high with all your might! — Thunder Dragon!”

As soon as Alvis finished the incantation of his master rank spell, a weak smile formed on his face.

“It is over..!”

A thunder dragon appeared from the clouds, striking down on the boss with all its might. It went straight through his body, litting him up from within. A pain-filled cry could be heard, yet it was drowned out by the massive thunder that followed its powerful companion. And this thunder also acted as a bell that ended their battle.

The once mighty boss lay dead on the ground, his body emitting smoke. Alvis had won.

Gathering all his strength, Alvis stood up. The adrenaline that rushed through his body was the only reason he could move his broken body. When he was standing, his whole body covered in blood, he let out one brute scream, letting out all of his emotions.

“AAAhhhhhhhhh!”

He had finally done it. After everything he had to go through, he had finally done it. Alvis had saved Lia.

“Alvis!” Lia shouted, running to him.

With tears in her eyes, she embraced him. Even though Alvis was covered in blood, she clutched at him with all her love.

A warm smile formed on Alvis’ face and he just patted her head.

“Let’s go home.”

NOTIFICATION

You have saved the girl!

Experience is awarded for saving the girl!

LEVEL 2: A lone girl has been completed!

New skill unlocked!

Level Up!

New stage unlocked!

System update!