I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 791

“I intend to rebel against you outer gods, against this entire universe.”

To you outer gods, who cover a world with tragedy to your liking, mock it with a game called destruction, and treat the beings living there like puppets.

I will show you clearly.

That we are not simply marionettes dancing on a stage.

That even if the strings are cut, even if there is no script, we are beings who can decide how to live with our own will…!

《How?》

Perhaps he hadn’t anticipated a story of such scale, one where I would rebel against the outer gods watching from beyond the stage.

The Demon King, more flustered than ever, even stuttered slightly.

《What exactly, how do you intend to do it?》

I smiled and slowly, and in detail, told him my plan.

As I spoke, the Demon King’s white, cracked mouth widened, until it was almost agape.

《…Do you really believe that such an absurd plan will succeed?》

After hearing my plan to the end, the Demon King shouted.

《The outer gods will interfere with every part of your plan! And the outer gods are powerful! You are now declaring a full-scale war against them! The chances of this plan succeeding are infinitely low!》

“As you say, the chances are slim.”

As the Demon King pointed out, this is by no means a safe gamble.

“But isn’t it worth a try?”

However, it is not an impossible challenge either.

I have always defeated enemies far more powerful than myself with small, insignificant tactics.

I’m just doing the same thing again this time.

“If this plan succeeds, the game of destruction will disappear from this world. The people of this world will no longer be manipulated by a greater being.”

《…….》

“And above all, the woman you were looking for. She will be freed from her eons of duty and become truly free.”

Slowly.

I reached out my hand.

“Our paths overlap, Demon King.”

《…….》

“Because you and I are equals.”

Not giving up the fight for countless hours, clinging to save someone.

Such foolish fools, that’s who we are.

Even though we clash in every other way, and have tried to kill each other for eons.

If there is that one thing in common.

We can understand each other, even by a thread.

And if we can understand each other.

We can look in the same direction and stand shoulder to shoulder.

“I came to save you. So you, save me.”

《…….》

“To realize this plan, we need each other. So please, join my rebellion.”

The Demon King, who had been silent for a long time, slowly shook his head.

《…Don’t try to dress it up with a pretty name.》

He glared at me and spat out in a suppressed voice.

《Your plan has a low chance of success, and it will cost too much. You will immediately lose most of the foundation of your world, the foundation upon which your world was built!》

“I don’t care.”

I shrugged nonchalantly.

“I’ve already gotten the people’s consent. They said that if they can gain true freedom, they don’t mind paying any price.”

If a Pinocchio, who was dancing with strings attached, could become a real person. If he had to set fire to the strings tied to his body for that purpose….

He should be able to endure a few burns on his hands and neck.

“Above all, I don’t need salvation that is guaranteed by someone’s sacrifice.”

Thinking of the goddess, I put strength into my voice.

“If it’s a world that can only be maintained by burning someone’s existence, it’s better to just let it collapse.”

《……!》

Perhaps realizing that I was truly prepared to risk everything in my world.

The Demon King, who had been shaking his head, placed his hand on his chest.

《I am an intermediary set up by the outer gods. I am essentially the same as them, a being dropped onto this stage to show the outer gods the tragedy of this world. Are you urging me to betray my own kind?》

“……”

《If I follow your plan, I will have to give everything. Is there any reason why I should support this rebellion, even if it means burning my own existence?》

I answered immediately.

“The woman you were trying to save achieved her goal by burning everything she had.”

《……!》

“Because she had the courage not to fear even the shattering of her soul, she remained a soul that even you could not corrupt. She became the only being who defeated you.”

A smirk appeared on my lips.

“On the other hand, Demon King, what about you? How much resolve do you have?”

《What…?》

“If you truly want to corrupt that person, shouldn’t you also have the resolve to burn everything you have?”

The Demon King’s body trembled slightly, as if struck by lightning.

I didn’t withdraw my outstretched hand and took a step forward.

“It’s the last chance to save her, to corrupt her.”

《…….》

“And above all, Demon King.”

I gestured to him with my eyes.

“You said you jumped onto the stage yourself. But you have never been the lead, have you?”

《…What?》

“You’ve always stood behind the curtain of the stage, just watching the actors cry, laugh, suffer, and rejoice. You’ve kept your eyes close, but in the end, you’ve remained an observer, just like those outer gods.”

To him, who was stiff with embarrassment.

One more step.

“Break free from being an observer. Throw away being an intermediary. In this final act, in this final scene, finally step into the center of the stage… become the protagonist of your life, risking your life!”

《……!》

With my hand still outstretched.

Continuing, one more step.

“I will prepare the best stage. You just need to show the final game you’ve always dreamed of, for yourself.”

Now the throne is right in front of me.

To my opponent, who was staring blankly at me.

Finally, one more step.

“The best show… to corrupt the most noble soul!”

《…….》

The Demon King, letting out a hollow laugh, muttered softly.

《At this rate, I don’t know who is the tempting demon and who is the tempted victim…》

“Demon King. I’ll say it one more time.”

My outstretched hand does not waver.

“I came to save you. I came to set a spark in your life that only repeats without purpose.”

《…….》

“This is the last game. The last stage. The last scene. The last chance. Such a stage will never exist again before or after your life. If you want to jump in, if you want to burn, it’s only now.”

The trembling disappeared from the Demon King’s face and body.

The gaze within the swirling shadows turned towards me.

With my hand still outstretched towards him, I smiled.

“Shall we bet everything together and play the best game—the final showdown to rebel against the universe?”

***

In the mortal realm.

The road from the Black Lake to the Crossroads.

The central point.

Kugwagwagwang-!

The barricades that had been piled up on the road exploded and collapsed.

And like a flood overflowing a dam, countless monsters wriggled and surged over the collapsed barricades.

The monsters, trampling over stone walls and wooden fences, climbed over each other, staining the ground black.

Above those terrestrial monsters, flying monsters slowly flew, darkening the sky.

“Monster horde, advancing-!”

The scouts, who were observing the situation, shouted one after another.

“The third defense line has collapsed!”

“Confirmed that all traps, mines, and artifacts installed earlier have been neutralized!”

From the Black Lake to the Crossroads.

Defense lines were formed in various places, and the monsters were intercepted with various traps that were installed in advance with the troops dispatched through the teleport gates.

But stopping the enemy was only temporary, the barricades soon collapsed, and the troops who had bombarded from afar had to retreat back to the teleport gates.

“South of the third defense line, there are only monsters now! Not even the ground can be observed! All the land and all the sky are covered with monsters…!”

The airship Blue Pearl, retreating while maintaining a certain distance from the front of the monsters.

Inside, the bridge.

Lukas, who was listening to the pouring reports, asked the soldier next to him.

“How many magic core missiles are left?”

“Only three left!”

“……”

“Shall we initiate the launch sequence, Lord Lukas?”

Lukas pondered.

He had fired missiles at important moments to delay the enemy’s advance, but the remaining ammunition was running out.

The enemy is still infinite.

Then the remaining missiles must be fired more carefully, at the best timing.

“…Missiles on standby.”

Lukas took a deep breath and looked south.

“According to what the lord said, ‘those guys’ will appear soon. We will use them.”

“Yes? Those guys are….”

The next moment.

Boooooooom…!

A monstrous roar like a whale’s cry echoed.

The air trembled like the surface of water hit by a storm. The airship also vibrated violently, and all the soldiers inside covered their ears in agony.

“Wh, what is this…?!”

After the reverberation passed, the scouts, who were looking at the rear with telescopes, shouted one by one with pale faces.

“Reporting! A change has occurred in the enemy monster horde!”

“Something is coming out from among the small monsters covering the horde! Th, that is…!”

As if dark clouds were surging, the monster horde that filled the sky and the ground wriggled and rippled….

Kwaaaaaa-!

Soon, something overwhelmingly huge surged forward, breaking through the monster horde.

The veteran scout, who recognized its identity, was the first to shout.

“It’s a super-giant monster-!”

Boooooooom-!

Along with the roar of a giant whale, three giant monsters appeared.

One who covers the sky just by spreading its two wings, one who is favored by the sun.

A super-giant monster that resembles an eagle.

Ziz.

A moving mountain range that shakes the ground with every step.

A super-giant monster that resembles an elephant.

Behemoth.

The incarnation of floods and torrential rains, swimming on the ground while creating black splashes.

A super-giant monster that resembles a crocodile.

Leviathan.

Three huge beings, so large that they were difficult to capture in human eyes at once, appeared simultaneously, letting out magnificent roars.

“……!”

Not only the soldiers, but even Lukas was momentarily stunned by this overwhelming sight.

The problem was that it didn’t end there.

Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!

More were coming out.

With the three super-giant monsters at the forefront, other giant monsters appeared, each letting out ferocious roars, scattering thick killing intent.

They ate the small monsters blocking the way, crushed them, and mangled them….

They endlessly tangled and twisted among themselves, crawling into the mortal realm.

Kugugugung…!

The sky distorted and the ground collapsed just by their appearance. The world could not withstand it and began to collapse.

“S, super-giant monsters, endlessly…!”

“They are covering the world…!”

“K, kkk, kkkk!”

The soldiers gritted their teeth and struggled.

To avoid going insane in the face of this apocalyptic scene.

The monsters that had been blocked in the previous defense battles were also terrible beings, but the horde of monsters that poured out in this final battle was on a different level.

It felt as if the world of nightmares itself was pouring in to destroy this world. And in reality, it was not much different.

《…….》

In the midst of the march of the too-huge monsters, the figure of the ‘Sleepless Lake Princess’, who was walking in the very center of the monster horde, was obscured and disappeared.

But Lukas could still feel the enemy commander’s gaze.

“……”

Staring at the southern world, which was black and writhing with monsters, Lukas tightly gripped the hilt of the sword at his waist.

The cold sweat that had seeped out without him knowing was soaking the hilt.