NOVEL WEB Chapter 274.1
Chapter 274.1. The End
Omoikane. His real name was Kaneda Ichirou. He was the head of the scientific division of the Earth Federation Army and was supposed to become the savior of the world. He planned to adopt the name of an ancient god for himself and become a historical figure. He had no doubt that he could absolutely become the savior.
That was in the past. Omoikane now wore a dry smile. The unbearable current situation was suffocating his soul, and his mind seemed on the verge of breaking.
To put it simply, Kaneda was on the brink of insanity.
The scenes before his eyes were familiar. Metallic hallways and rooms, holograms displaying ads for newly released candies floating in midair, and the gentle music playing evoked a sense of peace. Neon lights glowed, and mannequins inside glass windows were dressed in colorful clothes.
Outside the windows was the vastness of space, with stars shining in the darkness.
Just until recently, this had been the last bastion of humanity. The space fortress Avalon. The place where humanity, having lost the war against the Dungeon, had retreated. A massive space fortress built from a satellite housing 3 million people.
It had been a long time since Dr. Kaneda had returned to this fortress. Using the Gate Crystal, he had connected to this world and returned. He had secretly made arrangements to ensure no one interfered.
In other words, he had distanced the Fairy Machine-wielding Knights and Amano Sakimori.
He had even sent Ares and Fortune, who were clearly preparing to betray him, to battle.
And so, he activated the Gate Crystal and returned. Without anyone’s interference. He congratulated himself on how perfect everything had been.
When he activated the Gate Crystal, he returned to Avalon.
Upon his return, when he saw the fortress, Kaneda was elated. He no longer had any fighting forces. But if he could connect with the original world through the gate, there would be no problem.
Using the systems within this fortress, replenishing his forces would be easy.
“Everyone! I have returned! The savior has come! Now, while it may not be El Dorado, let us head to a new world!”
Kaneda triumphantly declared, raising his voice, accompanied by Bacchus and the Angels. Although it was unpleasant that no one had come to welcome him, it couldn’t be helped, since they hadn’t known when he’d return.
“Come, the sunlight and fresh air await us!”
Leaving the research room prepared for his return, Kaneda walked through the fortress toward the command room.
But he quickly noticed something strange. It was too quiet. Too quiet. The fortress was a colony, a city where people lived.
With so many people living here, it was odd that there were no sounds of daily life. No one was passing by. Silence reigned, and the lack of even a whisper seemed wrong.
“What’s going on? Where did the residents go?”
Feeling a chill, Kaneda asked Bacchus, who was walking beside him. But Bacchus didn’t seem to care. In fact, he even replied with a foolish answer.
“Maybe they’re holding a meeting at the reactor?”
“I’m not in the mood for jokes. Power, find the residents!”
Kaneda, unable to hide his irritation, gave the order, but before they could act…
“It’s useless to search. I’ve been waiting, the last human of humanity.”
A voice echoed from down the corridor, and everyone quickly braced themselves. Kaneda had thought it was one of the residents, but when he saw the speaker, he was stunned.
For there, standing before them, was a group of dragons. Among them were bipedal Dragoon-type monsters that were humanoid, and massive Western-style dragons, some of which were so large they filled half of the fortress’s main passage. There were 10 Dragonkin and 2 dragons.
And all of them exuded an overwhelming presence, a pressure so intense it could fill one’s soul with terror. Every dragon had golden scales, eyes like jewels gleaming brightly, and their forms were divine, with an internal power unlike anything Kaneda had ever seen.
“These… are they monsters? No, they must be the Genesis Dragons!”
Bacchus, holding his hammer, shouted at the dragons.
“Why, why are there so many dragons? Genesis Dragons? It can’t be!”
Kaneda, his head spinning in confusion, shouted back, but in the back of his mind, he knew Bacchus was right.
Legendary monsters, often appearing sporadically. The heart of a dragon that caused the dungeons to appear. After being divided and spread across various nations, they were reincarnated and wreaked havoc. These Genesis Dragons were said to be disasters. Kaneda had heard of them, but never seen them before.
But seeing them now, he instantly understood. He understood, but he couldn’t accept it.
If he accepted it… he would have no explanation for why there were no residents left.
But the dragons were merciless. One of the Dragoon types stepped forward and spoke.
“As you’ve surmised. This fortress has fallen, and now, you are the last of humanity.”
“That’s impossible! Bacchus, Power, Angel, defeat these dragons! Activate Administrator privileges!”
“Such efforts are futile…”
Bacchus, with a sad look in his eyes, raised his hammer as Kaneda’s order echoed through the air. Power and the others rushed at the dragons.
“Truth. Die, human.”
[Breath of Truth Flame]
As the Dragoon opened its mouth, flames were emitted from within. At first glance, the flames seemed like ordinary fire. They weren’t glowing with the intensity of the sun, nor were they imbued with any mana or special properties that would make them unquenchable once they hit their target.
However, when the flames were released toward Power and the others charging at the dragons, they expanded in a fan shape and easily engulfed them, reducing them to ash. Despite gathering mana to resist, Power and the others couldn’t put up any defense and were incinerated in an instant.
“Hmph. That’s no ordinary fire.”
[Diamond Hammer]
Avoiding the flames, Bacchus wrapped his hammer in fighting energy, using a technique that could shatter any object, no matter its hardness. Though he seemed heavy, Bacchus, with his high status, was quite agile. With a powerful step, he created a dent in the floor as he charged toward the dragons, delivering a blow.
The dragons didn’t even try to dodge, standing calmly. One of them, a Dragoon type, took Bacchus’s strike head-on. Bacchus successfully hit its head, but clicked his tongue in frustration.
Even though he’d struck its head, there was no satisfying impact. He didn’t hear the sound of striking flesh or metal. It felt like he had struck something soft, like a cushion.
“It’s useless. If you can’t touch the truth, you can’t touch our bodies.”
As Bacchus tried to retreat, a Dragonkin grabbed his head.
[Hand of Truth]
Once again, the technique was used. In an instant, Bacchus’s head was crushed, like an apple being squashed. His body was thrown aside, and with a thud, his lifeless form rolled on the ground. Kaneda’s face twisted in shock.
“W-why?”
“Truth. Burning by fire. Crushed by the hand that grasped you. These are the laws that had already been decided for you, human.”