I Obtained the Final Boss' Power

Chapter 36 : Come Here (1)

Come Here (1)

When the fog disappeared, all the soldiers let out a big sigh of relief.

Its disappearance meant that the higher-rank monster was gone.

The leader among the monsters driving the stampede—one of which was the monster called the Gigant Vulture—had always been the toughest to face.

Simply by descending, it would shape the battlefield to its advantage, so even if you had strength, you would still just be tossed around in its palm.

Even the commander, Kelian, had hoped that creature would just pass by.

So news of such a difficult foe's disappearance was not bad news at all.

However, there was no way not to have questions.

Why did the fog suddenly disappear? Where had that troublesome Gigant Vulture gone?

And why had the deputy-commander and these young ones walked out from the place where the fog used to be?

"Why are you coming out from there?"

An officer asked this to Silia's squad as they returned to the base. That question echoed the doubt in every unit.

"And, why do you all look like that?"

Most of Silia's squadmates, including Silia herself, were injured.

Their bodies were covered in wounds as if they had fought a fierce battle, and Silia, the squad leader, was stained with blood.

"No... That's not it..."

The officer abruptly corrected himself.

"Why did you leave your assigned post without permission?"

It was obvious why they would be injured or have reduced numbers if they had really gone into the fog.

The fact that even half of them had survived to return was a miracle.

"This is clearly disobeying the commander's orders."

Instead of letting Silia into the base, the officers pointed their swords at her.

The soldiers beside them also aimed their weapons at Louis and the squadmates.

The order was to defend the outpost, but not to charge into the fog. That was the mission given to every soldier at the fortress.

Silia, too, was stationed at an outpost in accordance with that order.

Leaving that post was considered desertion and punishable by immediate execution.

"You'll have to give a proper explanation."

The officers fully intended to kill her, no matter what she said. After all, they were all under Kadim's command.

The plan to warp them as Kadim wished had succeeded—but their survival and return horrified the officers.

'How should we finish them off?'

Just then, one of the squadmates, Rio, collapsed to the ground. Of those who survived, Rio's injuries were the most severe.

Indeed, most of the others were no better. That went for Silia as well.

"I'll explain everything... Just get the medics, now."

Silia's glare was sharp with venom, and the officers flinched.

However, Silia herself looked on the verge of collapsing.

The officers seized that as an opportunity and pressed even harder.

"You've left your post—what makes you think you can make requests?"

"Sorry, but that's something we simply can't do."

It was Silia who had broken the rules. It was as if she had lost all her deputy-commander authority.

More precisely, they meant to find any excuse to kill her here.

"I said it just before, didn't I? I'll explain everything."

However, when Silia insisted once more, the officers' hands and feet trembled.

Despite her dying state, her presence was so overwhelming, it was hard to approach without freezing up.

"Fine, let's hear everything."

At that moment, Kelian's voice echoed from behind, surprising the officers.

The head of Paruzan Fortress was stepping in directly.

"Commander!"

"She must have a reason for leaving the post, right?"

"Wait a moment. Are you really going to listen to her?"

The officers were shocked at Kelian's willingness to listen.

Normally, Kelian would have decapitated a traitor without question.

But this was the first time he had acted otherwise.

"The fog is gone, and so is the Gigant Vulture. Is that related to you all? No, not you all..."

Kelian pointed at one squadmate—Louis.

"...it must be you, right?"

The only unwounded soldier in Silia's squad. Despite entering the death fog, he looked completely unscathed.

"Since we're talking, can I make one more request?"

Louis, though only a soldier, boldly made a demand of the commander.

****

"Squad leader... Is it true those brats survived?"

At Kadim's squad outpost, the deputy leader, Bris, asked Kadim.

Unable to believe what had happened, Kadim was restless.

"You're lying, aren't you? Didn't you say you warped them into that fog? There's no way they could have survived..."

"They're alive. I saw them with my own eyes!"

Even with Kadim's testimony, Bris could not comprehend.

When he saw them return, Kadim's eyes met those of that little brat.

Even though it was a distance you couldn't check without binoculars, that brat smiled right at him.

He instinctively felt it wasn't a coincidence, and it unsettled him.

"Squad leader! Orders from the commander!"

Just then, a squadmate brought word that made Kadim break out in goosebumps.

"Everyone is to leave the outpost and assemble at the base."

Suddenly?

Of course, since the Gigant Vulture disappeared, there was no further need to stand guard at the outpost.

But more monsters could still show up at any time.

"If you do not comply, you'll be considered a deserter."

Deserters are executed immediately. Kadim knew that better than anyone.

Warping Silia's squad was also to make them deserters.

...

...

...

Reluctantly, Kadim led his squad to the base. Though it wasn't a long distance, for Kadim it felt endless.

At the assembled base, all soldiers and officers, summoned by the commander, were present.

They waited outside the tent where the commander resided.

In the current circumstances, no one could enter the tent without permission.

Even an officer could lose a hand for carelessly stepping inside.

Someone emerged from the tent.

Naturally, they thought it would be Kelian, but it was someone entirely unexpected—the soldiers were greatly surprised.

"Is everyone here?"

Louis strode out of the tent and called out to the soldiers.

Silia, his squad leader, followed.

Why are those brats coming out from there?

Such questions naturally erupted.

"Yes, I figured you'd all react that way."

Hearing their whispers, Louis nodded, then continued bluntly.

"I'm looking for someone. I'd appreciate your cooperation."

"Why should we listen to the likes of you!"

An officer drew his sword and closed in on Louis.

"Quit your nonsense and die, you bastard!"

The officer swung his sword at Louis's neck, but Silia instantly lopped off the officer's head.

Despite her weakened appearance, she took him down with a single blow.

"Deputy-commander?"

"Everyone, quiet down. It's the commander's order."

"..."

The other officers, faces pale, froze.

Louis gave Silia a thumbs-up.

"...."

Not pleased, Silia shot him a frown, then turned to the soldiers and called out.

"As you all know, during this stampede, fights between soldiers are forbidden. Immediate execution if any sign of internal division emerges."

As this was a rule made by the commander himself, no one dared object.

Even the reason that officer lost his head was because of this.

Kelian's orders, ruler of this fortress, were absolute.

"But this time, someone played tricks to kill their own side. That's a clear act of disobeying the commander's orders."

With Silia's announcement of her intention to root out those involved, sweat broke out across the soldiers.

Amid those claiming innocence, Louis could sense—

Even on a non-battlefield, the pounding heartbeat of someone was loud as thunder.

"Half of my squad died because of those tricks. Those bastards are in here somewhere."

"Are you taking their side now? What's gotten into you to be supporting those deserters...?"

Another officer started to rail, but Silia instantly closed the gap and punched him in the gut.

"Keuk!"

The officer spewed water from his mouth. Silia grabbed his head and slammed him into the ground, sternly declaring,

"Don't get it twisted. I'm not concerned for those bastards' safety; what matters is that there are rule-breakers among us."

Rules were critical—especially so in the 7th Legion, staffed with criminals.

"Just moments ago, we were facing a higher-rank monster. The whole fortress could've been wiped out. In such dire times, desertions are common. That's why rules are more important than ever!"

Breaking them was equivalent to desertion, and immediate execution.

"If one breaks the rules, then two, then four, then five will follow. Sooner or later, the fortress's strength collapses."

During the ongoing stampede, overrun by higher-rank monsters, division meant mutual destruction.

"And yet, what? You think I'm taking the soldiers' side? Do you really mean that?"

"Gahhh!"

Silia stomped on the officer's palm, eliciting a scream.

This wasn't a matter of worrying about a few soldiers—it was a crisis that threatened everyone's lives.

Realizing this too late, the murmurs among the soldiers died away.

"I'm not after the perpetrators. I'm here to root out the subversives stirring up division and breaking the rules."

Silia continued,

"They're definitely among you right now."

No one could object, since it was a matter of uncovering subversives.

But how? Did they already know who?

"Alright, big bros! I'll give you a chance before the search begins."

At that, Louis grinned.

"If you come forward now, I'll make it painless. That would be best for you."

What was that kid talking about?

If he says it'll be painless, isn't he threatening to kill them regardless?

Louis slowly walked through the crowd of soldiers.

Any would-be attackers were restrained—Silias stood by his side.

"Big bros... Why did you do it?"

Louis stopped in front of two officers.

The accused were Dorve and Brook, both capable of using magic.

"W-what are you talking about?"

"We didn't do anything..."

Before they could finish, Brook felt his arm suddenly empty.

"Aaargh!!"

With a flick of Louis's hand, Brook's arm vanished, and he screamed in agony.

Then, with a light kick, Louis shattered Dorve's leg.

"Aaagh!"

"It wasn't us!!"

To the two howling in denial, Louis showed the warp stone.

"Not you?"

This was not one the squadmates had carried—it was found lodged at the warp site.

In short, the culprits had planted it as a coordinate to warp the squad.

"Then why does this stone have the same scent as you two?"

"Stop talking nonsense...!"

Crrrack!—

"Aaaaaaagh!!"

Before Dorve could protest, Louis tore off his arm as well.

"Why did you do it?"

"It's not us—"

Crunch!—

"Aaaahhhh!!!"

This time, Louis crushed both their toes at once.

Just a tap—yet their bones snapped like candy.

"Why did you do it?"

Trembling with fear, the two finally babbled incoherently.

"What proof do you have that it was us?"

"Yeah! Where's your evidence?"

That's when someone spoke from behind.

"Of course there's proof."

Kelian stepped forward, and the two were startled to see that, beside him, stood Klein, the fortress' mage.

"Do you know what this is?"

Klein pulled out a warp stone.

It was the one Louis had discarded upon sensing he would be forced to warp.

When Klein picked it up, he sensed something was off.

A veteran mage, Klein could track the magic power of anyone who had tampered with the stone.

When he cast a tracing spell on it, a stream of light shot from the stone straight to Dorve and Brook.

"That's your evidence."

Hearing Klein, the two lost all hope.

With no escape, Louis asked:

"Who put you up to it?"

Their fingers shook, pointing at someone.

The soldier and officer whose heart was pounding hardest in that direction—

Kadim and Bris. Louis met their eyes and gave a bright smile.

Shhhhk!—

Brook and Dorve's heads flew off by a gesture from Louis.

"Big bros."

Louis, face splattered with blood, smiled and said,

"Come here."