End of The World? Time to Level Up! - Chapter 71

“What the hell is going on” asked Sebastian.

“You see now I have to kill you even more than before” said the voice of Sterben.

Sebastian looked behind him and saw Sterben and a pissed of Muerte looking at Sebastian.

“What is this” said Sebastian standing up straight glaring at Sterben.

“Well seeing as how your about to die to Muerte I guess I can tell you everything” mumbled Sterben.

“Those behind you in the tubes are the real Captains!” said Sterben.

“The real ones what about the ones currently leading the hunter corp.” asked Sebastian.

“They are clones I created. You see I needed to make sure I didn’t have any outside factors that can hinder my plan to take over this city. So, when I learnt my [The collector] skill I crafted the perfect captain killing squad my Seugedora! They quickly took care of all the captains and then I replaced them with the clones I made earlier, Kaguka thought he was the smartest HA!” explained Sterben.

“You’re sick” spat Sebastian out.

“This world is sick! I want to create a utopia where man doesn’t have to worry about the ghouls, doesn’t have to worry about bosses, and most importantly have to kill any Humans that oppose me” glared Sterben at Sebastian as he finished his sentence.

“Even if you are standing on a pile a mountain of corpses your creations cause!” shouted Sebastian.

“I’ll stand on an entire planet of corpse if I can achieve my goal” shouted Sterben his eyes showing how crazy he really was.

Sebastian gritted his teeth and then preformed a quick draw with his katana only to slowly sheath it back in his scabbard. Sterben patted his body down feeling that he wasn’t hit only to hear the sound of cracking. As he looked up, he saw all the glass tubes were cut open spilling the Captains on the floor. Muerte roared as it suddenly vanished and then blasted a straight punch aimed at Sebastian’s face, the teen quickly rolled to the left dodging the punch only to spit out salvia as the man dug his foot into Sebastian’s stomach shooting him straight back up to the first floor.

Muerte lunged after Sebastian only to get a mana covered slash against the chest blasting him outside. Once Sebastian was outside, he couldn’t see Chase, Arata, and Krieg anywhere but he could feel massive mana spikes every now and then. His attention was drawn towards Muerte who recovered from the chest slice and appeared infront of Sebastian. Muerte’s fist glowed bright red before he used a skill.

“[Jack Hammer Assault]!” roared as he sent the barrage of punches towards Sebastian.

Said teen took out his katana and pared as many strikes as he could but a few got through and whenever a punch landed it felt as if his entire skeleton would turn to powder. So, after a few minutes Muerte started to slow down and Sebastian took this as his chance.

“[Kaminari no kurasshu]!” said Sebastian as a black lightning bolt cut Muerte across the chest causing to scream out in pain. Sebastian didn’t stop there as he quickly pulled out his second Katana and used another skill.

“[Mondschnitt streik Cross]! shouted the teen as he slashed his swords downwards in a X that connected against the man’s chest. Sebastian quickly threw his swords in the air before he held out his hands out the palms touching one another.

“[Hametsu!”] shouted Sebastian as a red orb exploded into a massive red beam that consumed Muerte.

After the dust and smoke settled down it showed a massive grove in the ground. Sebastian was panting as he caught his falling swords and he started walking back towards Sterben when a large amount of killing intent stopped him in his tracks as he slowly looked behind him. There at the beginning of the groove stood a burnt black Muerte glaring at Sebastian. The man released a primal roar as the ground shook underneath it, he was covered with a raging red aura before he shone brightly. When the man stopped glowing, he reveled himself in a new form. He had sleek black and red jagged armor and a roaring dragon as a helmet.

“[Dragon King Fafnir]” said Muerte in a gruff tone.

Sebastian glared at Muerte before he was also engulfed in a red cloak of mana only to change into a spiraling red tornado. After the tornado settled down Sebastian stood there in his Mai Tei form.

“Let’s end this” said Sebastian as he lunged towards the charging Muerte.

*******

At Chase he and Gapa had been fighting for a few minutes except it felt like years for Chase. This form Gapa took had him on the ropes constantly it even seemed that she didn’t have any mana deficiency! Chase grit his teeth before sending an upwards strike blocking a downwards strike from Gapa, the force behind the clash caused a crater to form underneath them.

“Foolish mortal why resist just except your judgment!” Shouted Gapa as she held a hand out a spinning white orb formed.

“[Order]!” said Gapa slowly.

The orb expanded and engulfed the two causing a small mushroom cloud to form from the explosion. From the explosion flew Gapa out her eyes held no more interest in the fight, only to sense an attack behind her, when she turned around, she didn’t see anyone but in front of her was another Heavens downfall slash cutting her straight down to the floor. Chase was panting roughing as he landed on the floor, his entire right wing was burnt off as his coat was burned off revealing multiple wounds on his body. Gapa soon exploded from underneath the pile of rubble she caused and looked angry towards Chase. A massive cut was going down from her chest to her hip, white blood was splattering out of it.

“ILL EARASE YOU FROM THIS PLANET!” roared Gapa.

Just as she was going to use a skill a giant flame pillar appeared in the sky caressing the heavens.

“What is that?” asked Gapa only to hear Chase laughing.

When she looked over to the teen, she saw he had a Happy smile on his face before he stood up straight from laughing and ran a hand through his hair slicking it backwards.

“Damn can’t believe I almost gave up there” said Chase to himself.

“Nah you just had to remind me with that tornado that your here for me huh” said Chase a smile on his face.

Chase then held his scythe out which soon glowed purple before it was replaced with a wicked buster blade sword made of the two scythe blades.

“ILL GIVE THIS MY ALL!” Roared Chase as he poured all his mana in the sword even existing his Fallen angel mode giving all the mana to the sword with glowed bright purple.

“YOU DIE NOW!” Shouted Gapa as a massive orb was forming in front of her.

“[Exodus!]!” roared Gapa as the massive orb was shot towards Chase who calmly closed his eyes and used his strongest skill ever.

“[Solar System Exterminator]” spoke Chase softly.

The teen opened his eyes and in a flash was behind Gapa. The woman looked behind her slowly only for the entire universe to gain negative colors and implode in itself. A deafening explosion rung in the entire ground as the Exodus blast was cut into half while Gapa was also cut into half. After the explosion settled down it showed a gigantic cut in the earth, the cut was so deep magma slowly started to pour out of it, while at the end of the slash stood Chase panting roughly as he vomited out blood seconds later, his entire right arm was burnt black and his scythe buster sword was ash falling through his shaking hands.

“Hehe I’m still the coolest badass” said Chase to himself as he stumbled towards the were the red tornado was.

*********

Arata quickly dodged an ice creature in the shape of a giant wolf as Matar sent beast after beast. His golden armor cracked and chipped at some places as blood was escaping his forehead. Arata soon launched himself straight up at Matar and sent a golden fist towards Matar face, the fist punched the dark elf only for Arata to get a giant icicle stuck in his stomach making him vomit out blood as he fell to the floor. Arata shakenly pulled the icicle out of his stomach causing his blood to pour out, when he looked up, he quickly jumped out the way of a massive flaming meteorite. On top of the meteorite stood the dark elf whose nose had been broken a white blood was pouring out of it.

“You dare hit me??” shouted Malaketh as he thrusted his hands forwards.

2 massive spikes earth spikes came out of the ground and pierced through Arata’s armor in his body. He cried out in pain before he gritted his teeth.

“No no NO! I want to hear you scream! Scream for me!” roared Malaketh thrusting more earth spikes through Arata’s body causing him to vomit out blood.

As Arata stood there bleeding from every injury a massive red tornado caressed the heavens behind him.

“What is that?” asked Malaketh himself.

Arata slowly looked behind him and saw it was Sebastian’s tornado so with a small smile he started standing up straight. This action caused him to pull all the spikes out of his body.

“He thinks his going to be the strongest don’t make me laugh” said Arata to himself softly.

A vein appeared on Arata’s forehead as he gripped the last spike in his body and crushed it in his grip.

“I still have to fight him for that spot” said Arata as he glared to Malaketh and then the golden statue with 1000 hands materialized behind him.

“[Thousand Palm Decree]” shouted Arata as he held his hand together as if praying.

The statues sent a barrage of golden hands towards Malaketh who was shocked taking all the damage screaming out in pain feeling all the power behind each strike. Malaketh gritted his teeth before flying in the air, only to get assaulted by the palms again.

“Time to end this” said Arata as he held his Naginata which glowed golden.

“[Primal Dragon Kings Command!]” shouted Arata as he used his strongest skill.

A massive golden Chinese dragon came from underneath the ground roaring as it flied through the air. Malaketh shouted in fear and tried to fly away but he couldn’t get very fast as the dragon chomped down onto him causing a massive golden explosion to happen in the sky. Once it settled down the lifeless body of Matar fell to the floor, Arata deactivated his armor as he was bleeding everywhere. He looked once more at Matar’s body before walking towards Sebastian’s direction. While at Krieg he was also making his way towards Sebastian. He was out of his [Thor] mode as his body was covered with massive injuries yet behind him layed they crushed burnt body of Des smoke escaping from his mouth.

**********************

At Sebastian he was a red blur going against a black blur that flew against one another at crazy speed. Sebastian quickly stopped the clash by sending a Hametsu orb towards Muerte who blocked it. The red-haired man took this as his chance as he appeared in front of Muerte and used his strongest skill.

“[Kosumosu kuchiku-kan]”! roared Sebastian.

The giant red blade cut Muerte straight into half cutting any poor building behind the man in half as well. Sebastian was slowly falling towards the ground you could see he had multiple injuries on his body and his Kimono was ripped off showing his bare upper body. Straight when Sebastian landed on the floor, he ran towards the house he would kill Sterben when his still in this form. It only took him a few seconds to arrive at the house as he jumped back down to the basement, in front of him was a scared Sterben shaking in his boots.

“H… How….How is that possible my Segradore which took down Captain’s lost?” Screeched Sterben.

Just as Sebastian was going to kill Sterben a voice interrupted his thoughts.

“Sebastian” said a gravely female voice.

Sebastian looked at the direction the voice came from and he saw Nikuya sit against her tube her eyes opening and closing slowly as she looked over to the red head. Without a second of hesitation Sebastian ran over to Nikuya and cradled her in his arms his body shaking slightly.

“I thought I lost you forever” said Sebastian softly his shoulders shaking.

Nikuya gave him a soft smile and wiped away the few tears that was escaping his eyes.

A massive wave of mana hit Sebastian as he quickly looked behind him and saw Sterben panting crazily as at his feet layed all the dead corpses of Segradore.

“ILL WILL NOT BE STOPPED!” shouted Sterben as he was engulfed in a bright white light.

Sebastian acted on instinct and held Nikuya to his chest as the house was engulfed in a massive explosion. After it settled down a few pieces of ruble moved and it showed a panting Sebastian still in his Mai Tei form above a dazed Nikuya, his entire body was burnt badly as he stood up looking at where Sterben once stood. The man looked behind him and saw Chase, Arata, and Krieg stumbling up to him.

“Geez you guys look like crap” teased Sebastian.

“Oh, shut it” said Arata.

Sebastian was about to responded a massive pulse of killing intent caused a chill to go down their spines. They slowly looked at the cloud of smoke disperse stood a figure. The figure appeared to be in his late twenties. He had ash grey color skin while having pointy ears, red tattoos were on his forearms and upper chest as a glowing black crown was a top his flowing white hair that reached his feet. a pair of black and red jagged armor leg pieces adorned his legs. he slowly opened his eyes to reveal them to be pitch black with a red X in the center of a yellow pupil.

“The power is flowing through me…” said the man flexing his hand seeing red sparks escape his palm.

“Sterben!” shouted Sebastian taking out his Katana and lunging towards the man.

He roared as he swiped his katana downwards causing a massive dust cloud to form from the wind pressure. Once it settled down everyone was shocked to the core, there stopping the full power strike of Sebastian in his Mair Tei form was this man and not only did he block it he blocked it by holding up two fingers.

“Yes, Sterben was my old name not very fitting now though” mumbled the man to himself.

“You can call me Regla Ruler of all on this world now” said Regla flicking a finger against Sebastian’s face blasting him backwards through multiple buildings.

Krieg and Arata changed their forms as they charged towards Regla. Krieg roared as he swung Mjölnir from the right as Arata swung his naginata from the left. A massive crash was heard by everyone as it showed Regla simply stopping both hands by catching the weapons. The duos veins bulged in their arms as they tried to push further.

“[Repel]” said Regla softly.

An invisible force pushed the weapons away from him confusing Krieg and Arata only to feel unbearable amount of pain as Regla punched both of them in the stomach. Krieg bounced off the ground like a stone pebble as he was blasted through the city, Arata was carved into the floor at the center of a football sized crater. He was knocked out of his Armor as a fist imprint was in his chest, his eyes were rolled at the back of his head, Krieg in the same situation a few thousand meters away from the man.

“REGLAAAAA!” shouted Sebastian as he came flying of the building, he was stuck in.

As he was flying towards Regla his katana grew to tremendous size behind him.

“[Kosumosu kuchiku-kan]!” said Sebastian as he aimed a slice at Regla’s head only for said man to dodge it. Sebastian was shocked but quickly recovered as he roared and used the skill over and over.

The city behind Regla was cut to pieces as said man dodged all the attacks. Sebastian grit his teeth as he pulled out his second sword as they gained a golden glow.

“[V for Victory]!” shouted Sebastian.

The swords strike caused a massive explosion to happen as it showed Sebastian struggling and pushing forward but Regla was blocking both swords with the palm of his hands.

“It’s Futile Human I am a god now” said Regla calmly.

“god my ass!” shouted Sebastian as a spinning red orb appeared in front of his mouth.

“[Hametsu]!” said Sebastian as the red orb exploded right into Reglas face making him take a few steps backwards.

Sebastian quickly activated another skill as black lightning coated his swords.

“[Kaminari no kurasshu]” spoke Sebastian as two thunder bolts hit Regal but Sebastian didn’t stop there as his swords glowed white.

“[Mondschnitt streik Cross]” shouted Sebastian as the white cross made contact with Regla.

Sebastian panted Hoarsely as his arms were shaking, he had never used such high mana skill moves after one another.

“Impressive effort” said Regla.

Sebastian looked up slowly seeing Regla was unharmed and only had some dust on his body. He held out a hand out to Sebastian before preforming a one-inch punch against Sebastian’s chest making him vomit out blood as he was sent crashing in the ground causing a massive grove to form underneath him. When the man finally stopped moving it showed he was out of his Mai Tei form and knocked out. Chase roared as he brought a heaven downfall on Regla’s neck only to see his back up scythe break on contact, Regla quickly spun on the palm of his foot and delivered a spinning round house kick straight against Chase’s chest the sound as the sound of bones cracking filled the air when he was sent blasting further in the city.

Regla released a slow breath before he started laughing.

“I am the strongest!” shouted Regla only to move his head to the side as a small fire ball zoomed by him.

The man looked over his shoulder and saw Nikuya was panting as she held a shaking hand out.

“Oh, the lone little lamb” said Regla slowly before he held an open palm hand out in front of him. In front of his hand came a small spinning ball of white, black, red, and blue mixed together from nothing.

“I’ll kill you quick” replied Regla as he moved his hand foreword an inch.

This action caused the small ball to turn into a massive beam firing straight at Nikuya. Said Woman had wide eyes as she was frozen in place her entire life flashed before her eyes before a figure appeared in front of her at the last second. A massive gorge was made behind Nikuya leading straight out of the city and taken half of the entire wall off. Nikuya with wide eyes were her pupils was literally shaking looked at the smoking figure in front of her. Sebastian wobbly stood in front of her as a massive hole was present in his chest, multiple deep injuries was on his body as he fell forwards.

The frozen woman quickly acted and caught the falling teen. Her hands were smeared with red blood as the wound on his chest was bleeding profusely, he was breathing shallowly as Nikuya felt his pulse slowly fade.

“No… No…. Sebastian wake up!” shouted Nikuya tears pouring out of her eyes.

“You idiot why!… WHY DID YOU DO THAT!” roared Nikuya her head down.

She felt a shaking hand on her cheek as she looked up with wide eyes at Sebastian sending her a small smile, blood dripping from the corners of his mouth.

“I… couldn’t let the woman who I love die not again” said Sebastian his tone rough and gravely.

“Idiot who said you can confess and I couldn’t!” shouted Nikuya crying her heart out as she held Sebastian close to her not caring if she was covered with blood.

Sebastian slowly looked at his Hp bar as it was counting down.

“5, 4, 3, 2, 1…0” thought Sebastian as the world went black.

Nikuya held Sebastian close as his pulse went slower and slower. Regla slowly walked towards the duo only to dodge out the way of a giant Ice dragon. The man looked to his left and saw all the captains glare at him. They roared as they lunged towards Regla.

Sebastian slowly opened his eyes to see he was floating in a dark sea everything was quiet and calming the man felt at ease but a nagging at the back of his mind made him look through the black abyss to the surface.

“Is this death?” thought Sebastian to himself.

“But who will watch over everyone… I can’t die yet!” said Sebastian.

“I need to go back!” shouted Sebastian as he tried to move his body but he couldn’t he only sunk deeper and deeper in the abyss.

In the battle field Regla was holding a beat up Shimo by the face as he quickly kicked away an incoming Love on her Summon Sally. Nikuya didn’t care about what was going on around her as she looked down at Sebastian’s face and she slowly leaned down planting a soft loved filled kiss on the man’s lips.

“I love you Sebastian come back” thought Nikuya as she was kissing Sebastian.

Sebastian felt a warm feeling going in his chest as he felt a soft hand on his back. The teen strained to look behind him and was shocked seeing Nikuya smiling up at him and pushing him slowly upwards.

Regla kicked away the last Captain before a massive glowing white arrow connected against him blasting him a few feet backwards. In front of him stood May holding her bow and arrow the rest of the group behind her.

“Where’s Sebastian?!” shouted May as she looked over to Shimo who was the closest.

The man didn’t say anything as he pointed over to Nikuya cradling the body of Sebastian. Everyone in the groups heart shattered as they saw Sebastian laying there.

“YOU BASTARDDD!!!” Shouted May, Gale and Rose [she recovered and is back to normal] as they lunged towards Regla who looked at them indifferently. While the trio was fighting against Regla the rest of the group sprinted towards Sebastian, once they arrived their breath got stuck in their throat.

“S… Sebastian?” asked Mia her eyes shocked.

Nikuya cried as she hugged Sebastian feeling him grow colder.

“That can’t be…. HE CAN’T DIE!” Shouted Emily her voice breaking.

Angel was crying against Lio who was also shedding a few tears.

Junak walked forward and pulled Sebastian up.

“WAKE UP DAMMIT YOU CAN’T DIE!” Shouted Junak crying as well.

Sapphire looked at Hanabira with tears in her eyes before said woman’s eyes widened.

“I can hear a beat” mumbled Hanbira.

“What did you say?” asked Nikuya.

“I can hear a heartbeat!” shouted Hanabira as she pushed past everyone and pressed her head against Sebastian’s chest.

“CMON SEBASTIAN WAKE UP!” Shouted Junak. Emily and Mia soon also shouted to wake up, soon the entire group shouted as well.

Sebastian felt more and more hands on his back pushing him up to the surface. Junak, Emily, Mia, Angel, Lio, Sapphire, Hanabira, Sai and everyone else was pushing him further to the surface. When he was in front of the surface a white figure stopped him. The figure was a man in his late 40 he had brown buzz cut hair gold colored eyes and a messy white lab coat over a plain white shirt and black tie, a plain pair of black pants sat on his legs.

“So, your Sebastian Topaz” said the man.

“Who are you?” asked Sebastian.

“Me? I’m Nero Fall the man who created all this” said Nero dropping the bomb on Sebastian.

“You started all this!” shouted Sebastian glaring at Nero.

Said man simply sighed and then looked at Sebastian with sadness in his eyes.

“I can never repent for all the death and destruction I’ve released onto this world no amount of time would ever be enough” said Nero.

“Why did you do it!? Why did you release the ghouls on this world!” asked Sebastian.

“I simply wanted to save my daughter” replied Nero.

“Your daughter?” said Sebastian

“You see my daughter got infected by a deadly virus which there was no cure for… Me being a scientist tried to find any solutions to cure her I had to I loved her with all my heart and seeing her in absolute pain every hour of every day broke my heart” said Nero looking down at the black abyss.

“Then I found the game gene… a gene able to make people in game characters? I thought I had gone mad but I didn’t it worked like really worked!” shouted Nero.

“With this new gene I could save my daughter I could make her smile again!” said Nero.

“But just when I was going to give her the gene her sickness took a turn for the worst and she died minutes before I got to her” said Nero softly

“I’m sorry” said Sebastian softly.

“I went mad Afterwords the heartache and sadness sent me down a downwards spiral after it started, I started releasing all the ghoul and Game genes across the world starting to slowly spread it and then the explosion of the SHIFT core was the trigger” replied Nero

“You killed millions due to being heartbroken” said Sebastian looking Nero in the eyes.

“Do you know how it feels to lose something you love with every fiber in your body? When you had the chance to save her save her but the universe was against you…” asked Nero.

“If I couldn’t be happy no one can be was my thought process” said Nero.

Sebastian thought off all the times he felt scared his new family had nearly died just because he wasn’t fast enough. The marron haired teen simply nodded.

“You have a new family to look after, don’t you?” asked Nero.

“That’s right I need to get back they won’t be able to stop Regla!” shouted Sebastian panic in his eyes.

“You really do love them Sebastian, don’t you?” said Nero.

“I do and I won’t ever stop protecting them” said Sebastian

Nero smiled at the teen before a small girl appeared next to him this was Sara Fall Nero’s daughter.

“Daddy mom is asking what’s taking you so long” said Sora.

Nero smiled at his daughter and picked her up resting her on his hip.

“Don’t ever make the same mistake I did Sebastian don’t fall into the despair” spoke Nero as he held his hand out a small glowing gold diamond appeared in front of him.

“What’s that?” Asked Sebastian.

“My gift to you so you don’t lose your family” said Nero softly.

Sebastian raised a shaking hand and took the diamond as it dissolved into him.

“Now go get them I’m only helping you this once.” replied Nero.

“I will protect them” said Sebastian firmly.

When he breached past the surface his Hp Bar which was 0 switched over to 1.

The teen slowly opened his eyes as everyone looked at him shocked. That was soon replaced joy and relief as they all cried.