Pick Me Up! - Chapter 258: Requiem (4) (2)

Flash!

A blinding light burst from the large screen, engulfing my entire body.

I was pulled into the video before I had time to react.

“…”

When I opened my eyes.

A toxic, rotting air seeped into my lungs.

[Floor ??.]

[Mission Type – ???]

[Mission Objective – ???]

[※Notification]

[This is the final mission of ‘Dorado.’]

I squinted my eyes.

The scenery gradually came into view.

An endless wasteland.

Not a single blade of grass grew on the barren plains.

The ground was cracked like a desert. There wasn’t a trace of life.

I shook my head and started walking.

After a while.

[Conqueror of the Golden Incense]

[Laskanda El Cid Lv.254]

In the middle of the plains, there stood El Cid.

“…”

El Cid was catching his breath, leaning on two swords he had stuck into the ground.

His wolf-fur cloak was long soaked with blood, and his body was covered in wounds.

‘Is this the final mission?’

I walked across the plains.

Even though it was just an illusion, the thick scent of blood tickled my nose.

As I walked, I glanced around.

El Cid’s proud army of conquest.

The golden armor that once shone brightly was nowhere to be seen. Instead, bodies lay strewn across the plains like pieces of meat.

“Haha!”

I turned my head to the side.

[Howling Storm]

[Kirzak Dellahey Lv.99]

An old man clad in plate armor and wielding a large sword laughed hollowly.

He had been a close aide during El Cid’s hunt.

Kirzak, known as the “Grim Slash.”

“So this is how it ends. It’s become impossible to even know what we’ve been fighting for.”

“It’s not over yet.”

A woman with dark skin twirled a dagger beside him.

[Raging Thunder]

[Reltea De Gore Lv.99]

This woman was Reltea, a key figure in the Book and one of the three central members of Dorado.

‘Where are the others…?’

No one.

In the field stood only El Cid, Kirzak, and Reltea.

The city and palace that once stood here had crumbled, and the citizens had all died.

All the NPC allies who had supported them, the fellow heroes, the majestic Dorado airship fleet—everything had turned to dust.

“We were deceived. That goddess… she tricked us. Foolishly, we fell into her trap.”

“We don’t know that yet! If we complete this mission and reach the 100th floor…”

“Dorado is already gone. This is the end.”

The old man, Kirzak, murmured.

“Can’t you see? There’s nothing left. No citizens, no allies, not even land to stand on. We fought our way through to the 80th floor to restore everything, but in hindsight, as the floors went higher, Dorado only drifted further into ruin.”

Thud.

Kirzak drove his greatsword into the ground.

Then he leaned back against the blade and slid down to sit.

“El Cid.”

Reltea looked at El Cid.

He stood there with his eyes closed.

“Do you think it’s over too?”

“…”

“It’s not over yet. Our comrades are waiting in the lobby. We can regroup. As long as you’re alive, we can form a new strike force anytime.”

Reltea muttered.

“I made a promise in the previous world. That I’d bring Dorado back, no matter what. That’s why I made a pact with the goddess. Isn’t it the same for you? And now you’re giving up?”

“I’m… tired.”

Kirzak sighed deeply.

“Why do we continue this endless fight? Is it truly for Dorado? I no longer know.”

Kirzak’s gaze turned upward.

I followed his line of sight.

Above us…

[Fragments of Chaos Lv.113] X ???

[Fragments of Despair Lv.108] X ???

[Fragments of Resentment Lv.121] X ???

It wasn’t just in the thousands or tens of thousands.

It was truly infinite. Countless Fragments swirled beyond the clouds.

They made strange wailing sounds as they filled the sky, drifting about.

“So, what are we fighting for…?”

Reltea gazed at the sky.

“What were we fighting for?”

“Shouldn’t you ask the goddess herself? Though she hasn’t been answering lately, haha.”

Reltea collapsed to her knees.

“Stand up.”

A soft murmur.

El Cid turned to face the two of them, his blood-soaked face glistening.

“I swore as the king of the Golden Incense. I promised you a home to return to. I’m not giving up over something like this.”

“But…”

“We’ll change it. Just like we’ve done many times before.”

El Cid gave a faint smile.

“When I first arrived here, I was a cowardly, selfish fool. But I’ve changed. It’s because of you.”

El Cid raised his twin swords.

He slowly drew them downward.

Whooosh.

A vortex of light began to form.

‘The power of the Seven Stars… is this it?’

He was creating an exit from the mission by force.

I let out a small chuckle.

“Let’s go back. To our sanctuary.”

Reltea nodded and stepped into the vortex first.

“Is it truly possible?”

At Kirzak’s question, El Cid simply smiled.

Soon, Kirzak left as well.

“Whew.”

Left alone, El Cid let out a small sigh.

“To think it would end like this.”

El Cid looked in my direction.

He didn’t actually see me, but…

“You must be watching. Whether you’re the goddess, or whoever else.”

“…”

“I won’t give up. If this is how the game ends, I’ll change it, no matter what. That is my oath.”

Crack.

El Cid swung his sword upward.

The vortex of light shattered and disappeared.

“Before that… I’ll complete the unfinished mission.”

Crash!

The invisible barrier spread across the plains shattered.

That’s when the Fragments, which had been circling above, began to descend.

El Cid raised his twin swords toward the sky.

“My blade…”

[Engraving, ‘The Conqueror’ has been activated!]

Whhoooosh!

A great tremor shook the field.

Particles of light emanated from the bodies of monsters and heroes, streaming into El Cid.

“I will conquer fate.”

Boom!

Thunder and storm surged forth.

I’m currently Translating the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon!