Chapter 43

In the outskirts of the town, in the forest.

Ilankus confronts Act.

"Why!?! How did you know this place... Act Age!?"

He had been proceeding with the plan without letting anyone catch on.

Yet, at the perfect moment when they were about to launch their attack, Act's companions were already on defense.

And then, he appeared right in front of him.

"I have no obligation to answer you."

"......You insolent brat! How far you've gone!"

No matter what, Act had seen through the entire plan, Ilankus realized.

However, he was not admitting defeat.

"Haha! What a fool! The weakest man has boldly invaded the enemy's camp!"

"You are the fool. Have you forgotten about me?"

A silver-haired maid stepped forward, exuding a killing aura.

Her eyes were filled with clear hostility towards Ilankus.

"I won't let a single finger touch my master."

"Hah...! Damn maid! Can you still say that after seeing this...!?"

Ilankus placed his hand on the ground.

Suddenly, the animals in the forest began to stir.

The beasts fled en masse from something.

It was a full moon tonight.

But the moonlight suddenly disappeared.

"! Master! That is!?"

"It's a [Rock Giant]."

There are countless dungeons in this world.

Inside the labyrinths, there exist boss monsters, the lords of the labyrinths.

"This [Rock Giant] seems to be a fake made of shadows, but it appears to possess power surpassing that of a labyrinth lord."

Act measured its abilities with his appraisal eye and said calmly.

"That's right...! This shadow giant is... the strongest servant I meticulously created!"

The difficulty of defeating a labyrinth lord is S-rank.

This shadow giant possesses even greater strength... but.

"Why!?! Why aren't you even flinching!?! Why!?!?"

"Frederica. Silence him. Before the giant attacks the town."

"As you wish."

Thump! Frederica leaped and headed towards the shadow giant that had appeared in the forest.

"Is that okay...? Do you really think that woman can defeat my masterpiece...?"

But Act did not respond.

He calmly stared at Ilankus.

"Answer me! Act...!"

"Ilankus. Surrender now. You've lost."

"Wha...?"

For a moment, Ilankus couldn't process Act's words.

But gradually, anger began to well up from the depths of his being.

"You... Do you really think you can win in this situation?"

"Of course. You will lose. My eyes tell me so."

Those eyes had always bothered Ilankus.

They seemed to look down from a great height at something he couldn't see, which made him furious.

"I'll kill you...! Act...! I'll kill youuuuuu!"

Thump! Ilankus kicked off the ground and quickly approached.

Dostoevsky had given him the power of the shadow army and a monstrous form.

It granted him power and speed far beyond what he had before.

With his bulging, log-like arms, he struck Act.

"Too slow."

But Act saw through his movements, sidestepped, and perfectly avoided the attack.

As they passed each other, Act's counter punch hit him.

"Gahhhhhhhh!"

Ilankus spun and fell to the ground.

"No... No, it's impossible... Why...?"

He had grown stronger, yet Act had seen through his moves with ease.

"You can't defeat me with your current strength. Stop resisting."

Act already seemed to see the future where he would win.

Indeed, in the town, the shadow monsters were being reduced in number by Act's companions.

Their annihilation was only a matter of time.

"Damn it! I still have the shadow giant...!"

Thud! A giant arm fell beside Ilankus with a loud noise.

"Wh... What...?"

Looking up, he saw a scene of devastation.

A massive ice wolf was biting into the shadow giant's body.

"Impossible!? Fenrir!? Why is that monster here!?"

The giant's arm tried to shake off Fenrir.

But the wolf, despite its massive size, moved with incredible speed, evading the attack.

It unleashed an ice breath in mid-air.

It instantly froze the shadow giant along with the forest trees.

"Unbelievable...! What is this high-powered ice breath!?"

"Vanish, foolish adversary."

Fenrir spun in mid-air and struck the shadow giant with its tail.

Ilankus watched in shock as the giant shattered into pieces.

Fenrir transformed into a slender maid in mid-air.

"The true identity of the damn maid is Fenrir... So, Act... has been controlling a legendary magical beast...?"

Ilankus felt an overwhelming sense of defeat.

Act was liked by many companions, had Fenrir under his command, and held the position and honor of a guild master.

He had everything that Ilankus lacked.

"Why has the gap widened so much in just a few years!?"

Then Frederica glared and said,

"You are foolish. The gap didn't just widen; there was a clear difference in strength between you and Master even before your exile. You didn't realize this and acted unjustly."

"That's enough. It's a waste of time."

Interrupting Frederica, Act approached Ilankus.

"Surrender. Your ambitions have been crushed."

In Act's hand was a communication magic tool.

A message from the town's defense team indicated that all the shadow monsters had been eliminated.

"Haha... Hahahaha! It's not over yet! It's too early to give up!"

Ilankus thrust his sharp claws into his own heart.

Dark blood dripped from the wound.

"Uaaaaaah! Act! I will... defeat you...!"

At that moment, Ilankus's body began to evolve into an even more monstrous form.

"I will eliminate it."

"Stand back."

Act stepped forward and told Frederica.

"I will end this."

【To the Readers】

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