Chapter 187: Light and Darkness 7



[Note: Conditions have been met!]

[Skill: Monarch’s Will (Unique)]

[Unlocked!]

[Effects Applying]

[Effects: Absolute Command] [Active]

[Effects: 90% Stat Reduction] [Active]

[Note: All enemies in the user’s presence will now have their stats reduced!]

[Note: All enemies in the user’s presence will now have their wills subjugated!]

The moment that surges of power coursed through me, everything seemed to shift.

My body, still weary and drained from the constant struggle, didn’t suddenly gain newfound strength. Yet, somehow, everything around me felt different.

The suffocating pressure that had gripped me moments ago was gone, and the shackles that had bound my movements-both mental and physical-were loosening.

The clarity of mind it brought was unparalleled, sharper than any blade.

Though it didn’t restore the vast reserves of mana I had lost while trapped by those cursed chains, it gave me something even more valuable-freedom.

The oppressive weight that had been bearing down on me, the suffocating force of Oz’s [Skill: Abyssal Chains], was lifted just enough for me to exploit the opening.

Escaping from that enclosed space, which had seemed like an insurmountable prison just moments ago, suddenly became an easy feat.

Oz’s Abyssal Chains-as overpowered as the skill sounded on paper-had its weaknesses.

Though it drained mana and attempted to crush the very spirit of its victims, it relied heavily on a battle of wills.

The stronger Oz’s ego was in comparison to his target’s, the more devastating his skill became, slowly siphoning away both power and free will.

In the game, it was one of those notoriously difficult magic skills, near impossible to dodge since it emerged from the shadows without warning, constricting its target like an unseen predator.

But there was a critical flaw in the design of his ability.

Once you knew how it worked, the secret lay not in dodging it, but in resisting it-through sheer willpower.

You had to confront the chains, not flee from them.

And fortunately for me, the conditions were perfect.

Hidden away, deep within myself, I had the one skill that could turn the tides: [Monarch’s Will].

The moment it activated, I felt its effects course through my surroundings.

As long as your ego, mindset, and willpower were stronger than his, you could resist Oz’s Abyssal Chains, and perhaps even become immune to it.

That was why it was crucial early in the game to invest some points into your Power stat, even if it didn’t seem necessary at the time.

In situations like this, where your spirit and resolve were tested, having a solid Power stat was the key to survival.

If I remembered correctly, you needed at least an A rank in the Power stat to properly resist the chains’ effects.

It wasn’t just about raw power anymore-my will was absolute, and that alone was enough to offset the debilitating effects of the chains.

Even now, as I stood under the oppressive force of the chains, all I felt was a deep disgust, a sneering disdain for their pathetic attempts to bind me.

Monarch’s Will was slowly tearing down the hold they had over me, inch by inch.

Of course, the chains didn’t just disintegrate immediately-there was still resistance, especially when Susan suddenly lunged at me with a knife, aiming straight for my neck. The cold glint of the blade caught my eye just in time.

My body moved on instinct, shifting to avoid the attack, but what struck me more was the clarity the chains’ weakening had provided.

In that brief moment of freedom, I began to understand the broader picture, piecing together the situation from the cracks in the mental prison Oz had built around me.

‘Oz is currently weakened…’

It was just a fleeting realization, but it spoke volumes.

The chains, which had been almost unbearable when I was first captured, now faltered with every passing second.

Whoever Oz and Dorothy were fighting at this very moment was giving them enough of a challenge to weaken even a familiar like Oz.

He wasn’t focused entirely on me anymore; his energy was divided, and that was the opportunity I needed.

The moment of weakness in the chains was like a glimpse of light breaking through the darkness.

It didn’t make me invincible, but it provided enough leeway to start turning the tide in my favor.

Whoever Oz was battling right now was pushing him to his limits, forcing him to spread his strength too thin. I

The likelihood that it was Lucas who had forced Oz into such a defensive position was high, but there was also a solid chance it could have been one of the main heroines.

After all, Dorothy had chosen me as her insurance, so it wasn’t impossible that someone like Rose or Snow could be involved.

Both were top students, capable of standing toe-to-toe with Dorothy in a one-on-one battle.

Granted, it would still be an incredibly hard fight, especially with Oz’s overwhelming presence in the mix, but I wouldn’t rule them out just yet.

There was even a chance that Seo could be responsible, though that seemed a bit less likely given the nature of the fight. Still, I couldn’t discount her entirely.

As I scanned the dusty crater we had emerged from, it became clearer that Dorothy had locked us deep underground.

The surroundings were ominous, the ground below scorched and uneven from what I’d done to break free.

“Did you really need to use lightning in such a tight space?!” Theo complained, coughing as he puffed away at the dust clinging to his body.

His eyes darted around, trying to assess the situation without making direct eye contact with

me.

He was avoiding looking at me, as if acknowledging my actions would make things more awkward between us.

I couldn’t blame him for being unsettled.

Taking off the chains was one thing, but getting out of that suffocating, box-like space was

another.

I had been forced to use up far more mana than I’d wanted to. Still, it had been the only viable way to escape the vault Dorothy had trapped us in.

I glanced down at the enormous crater we had just climbed out of, realizing that Dorothy had deliberately sealed us in a large, hidden vault deep underground.

The edges of the hole were jagged, a testament to the force I’d unleashed to free us. Though Theo didn’t have much time to complain, both he and Susan’s eyes widened in shock

as they stared at the veil of darkness creeping across the sky.

The deep, murky shadows beneath us moved like living creatures, spreading out as chaos unfolded in every direction.

Screams echoed through the district, the sounds of battle clashing against the eerie, unnatural cries of the dark monsters that seemed to flood the streets.

“This is…” Theo muttered, his voice barely a whisper.

“Did the boss do all this?” Susan added, disbelief thick in her tone.

I could tell neither of them fully understood what they were looking at. But I did.

Dorothy’s plan was playing out exactly as it had in the game.

The gigantic black veil was swallowing the entire commercial district, the clock tower

looming over it like a stage set for the final act.

The city square was crawling with shadow monsters, and hostages-innocent civilians-were

caught up in the chaos.

Everything was eerily familiar, though the execution seemed a bit different this time.

BOOM!

The ground shook violently beneath us, and a massive explosion of light flared in the

distance.

My eyes snapped toward it just in time to see a swell of power-two distinct mana signatures clashing against each other in a fight for dominance.

The pressure of their battle weighed heavily on the air, making it clear that the main event

had already begun.

I could feel it-Rose was fighting Dorothy.

Part of me wanted to jump in immediately, to join the fray, but as I looked at Theo and Susan,

their faces pale with shock, I realized they needed to be part of this battle more than I did.

“What are you two doing?”

My voice came out cold, yet calm, cutting through the tension in the air as I stared at Theo and

Susan.

They both looked at me, bewildered, their eyes wide with uncertainty.

Seeing their hesitation, I sighed inwardly, feeling a mix of impatience and understanding.

My gaze drifted toward the distant battle between Rose and Dorothy, the flare of clashing mana illuminating the dark sky.

“Aren’t you going to save her?” I asked again, this time more seriously, my voice sharpening

with purpose.

At my words, a flicker of clarity returned to their eyes, replacing the confusion with a nervous realization. Theo swallowed hard, and Susan shifted uncomfortably.

The two of them stood there, frozen, torn between action and fear.

These two…

I didn’t know much about them, just bits and pieces, but it was clear that Dorothy held a

significant place in their lives.

There was a connection between them, something deep, something that had likely shaped who they were. Whatever their history with her was, it ran far deeper than mine.

I could tell they wanted to save her more than I did. Their desire wasn’t out of duty or some

sense of obligation.

It was genuine.

They truly wanted Dorothy to live.

“Let’s go…” Susan finally spoke, her voice trembling but filled with resolve.

Theo followed immediately, his steps quick as he trailed behind her, both of them heading

toward the heart of the chaos.

But just as Susan moved forward, she noticed that I hadn’t followed. She stopped, turning

back to look at me, her brows furrowed in confusion.

“What about you?”

Her voice cut through the chaos, filled with confusion and a hint of desperation. I could feel

her eyes searching mine, waiting for an answer. “…You two go ahead,” I said, my tone steady but distant.

They looked at me like I had just said something insane.

After all, I was the one who had just urged them to save her.

The one who pushed them to take action, to not waste time. But now… now, if I went, she

would truly die.

The weight of that truth hung heavy in the air, and I knew I couldn’t afford to make a single

wrong move.

Without explaining further, I turned on my heel, walking in the opposite direction, heading

east.

A familiar aura had caught my attention, one that tugged at the back of my mind like a long-

forgotten memory.

I could sense it, even through the thick, oppressive mana swirling around us.

Theo and Susan watched me go, clearly baffled by my sudden change in direction.

For a moment, I felt their hesitation.

I could practically hear the questions forming in their minds-wondering if I had abandoned

the mission, if I was betraying my own words.

But they didn’t ask.

Instead, they remained rooted where they stood, unsure of how to respond.

Then, almost reluctantly, they started to follow me, but stopped in their tracks when they felt

the sudden surge of mana in the air.

“T-That’s…?”

“High-Grade magic?” Theo stammered, his voice tight with disbelief.

Their eyes widened as they looked toward the sky, where a massive orb of light hovered, its

radiance swallowing everything in its path.

Buildings crumbled beneath its force, reduced to dust, while the very air around it seemed to

burn.

The destruction was absolute.

There was no time to ponder the situation any longer.

Theo and Susan, snapping out of their shock, turned and ran toward where they knew they had

to be-toward the source of all this madness.

Toward Dorothy.

But Susan… she kept glancing back at me, her eyes pleading.

She didn’t need to speak.

Her expression said it all-“You have to keep your promise.”

I met her gaze, nodding silently.

I wasn’t about to break my word, but there were other pieces to this puzzle that needed to fall

into place first.

[Note: Evil entities are detected under user’s presence!]

[Note: Passive effects of [Skill: Hero’s Will (Unique)] will now be automatically activated

upon user instability]

[Note: [Skill: Hero’s Will (Unique)] and [Skill: Hero’s Aura(Unique)] requirements met!]

[Would you like to activate skill?]

[Yes/No]

[Note: Once Hero’s will is activated all evil entity under user’s presence shall be eliminated]

[Note: Command absolute and cannot be changed under user’s Soul history….]

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