VIP System

Chapter 31 - The Ancient Curse (4)

Leo pulled out his wooden sword, its worn surface absorbing the early morning light. The king and Lady Kurea exchanged puzzled glances, unable to comprehend how a being this strong could wield a mere wooden sword. The air was tense, filled with the smell of scorched breath from the dragon and the distant sound of its wings flapping.

Her eyes widened as recognition dawned—it was the adventurer she had seen at the Orc Dominion ruins. She suddenly stood up, her movements quick intending to approach him, but the king stopped her with a firm hand on her shoulder.

Almost immediately, they felt an intense killing intent that nearly made them pass out. The air grew heavy, and a hissing sound filled the silence. Then, just as suddenly, the grand aura and killing intent vanished. When the king and Lady Kurea regained their senses, they saw Leo walking towards them, carrying a woman in his arms.

She squinted, her eyes narrowing to discern who she was. Her breath hitched as she recognized Amanda. The realization hit her like a bolt of lightning. She turned to the king, her voice urgent. "It appears yon unknown system user from the Orc Dominion extermination was him."

The king sighed deeply, rubbing his face in exasperation. "The kingdom wasn't destroyed, so this is a good result," he said, his voice heavy with relief. "The Dragon Lord brought this upon himself."

As the king finished speaking, a straight line appeared on the colossal Dragon Lord, running from its head all the way down. The dragon slowly dropped to the ground, sliced cleanly in two. The earth shook as the massive form hit the ground, a final, resonant roar echoing through the air before it fell silent.

"But this is unheard of," the king muttered, shaking his head in disbelief. "The second in history."

"After the Demon God's defeat," Lady Kurea continued, her eyes following Leo as he walked away, "no one hast e'er tried to slay a system user again."

Thousands of years ago, when the demon hordes invaded the world, it was led by a formidable being wielding the Demon God system. The battle that ensued was nothing short of brutal, with hordes of demons and shadow monsters ravaging the continents. No one anticipated the attack, for the world had always been protected by its system users. But they were naive, unprepared for the unprecedented event of a God system being bestowed upon a demon. This new power was so overwhelming that even high-level adventurers were trampled in an instant.

Fear spread like wildfire as the Demon God proved her might. In the blink of an eye, she annihilated the legendary city that was home to the first adventurers, a place so powerful that even system users couldn't compete with them. With the world's strongest barrier obliterated, the demons launched an all-out assault on every continent.

Desperation gripped the world. Citizens sought refuge in the World Tower, the only place believed to be safe from the demonic onslaught. Those who couldn't reach it in time fell victim to the demons' rampage, their screams echoing in the night.

In this dire moment, the world's strongest adventurer emerged. He was the holder of the Hero system and was one of the first adventurers, who had been cast out due to jealousy and fear of his unmatched power. Despite this, he couldn't stand by while the world burned. He rallied the remaining system adventurers who had chosen to stay and fight. Together, they cut through the swathes of demons and shadow monsters, turning the tide of battle.

The Hero's presence was a beacon of hope. He led the world's retaliation with unparalleled strength and determination. Tales of his valor spread, inspiring even the most terrified citizens to take up arms.

The battles raged on until the fateful encounter between the Hero and the Demon God. The air crackled with tension as they faced each other, the ultimate clash between light and darkness, heroism and malevolence. The outcome of this battle would determine the fate of the world.

But it was a one-sided battle. The Hero, though valiant, struggled against the overwhelming power of the Demon God. Then the Demon God conjured a dark spear, surrounded by swirling dark clouds of malice, the atmosphere grew heavy with dread.

The spear was launched with terrifying precision, striking the Hero squarely in the chest. He stood there, supported only by the spear pinned to the ground, his life force ebbing away.

The battlefield fell silent as the ominous aura of the Demon God suddenly vanished as well. One of the system users, with wide eyes and trembling hands, pointed out a curse that had manifested on the Demon God.

"Blight of the Vanquished," she shouted. It was a 50-year debuff that decreased the user's overall power by 75%, a consequence of killing a system user.

Though the Demon Lord was severely weakened, no one dared to confront her. Even at 25% power, she remained formidable, a threat only another system user could handle.

As the Demon Lord began to retreat, the adventurers around him hesitated, unsure of how to proceed. The tension in the air was palpable, a mix of fear and uncertainty. Suddenly, a roar echoed from behind. The ground beneath them trembled as something massive leaped over their heads. It was a tiger, but as it landed, it transformed into a colossal bear.

"Great White Bear!" he shouted as he landed. It was the Beast Master, and now in his giant bear form, had arrived, imposing and powerful. He tackled the retreating Demon Lord, his long claws piercing into the demon's body. The Demon God struggled, but the Beast Master bit down on her neck, completely restraining her. With the Demon God's hope dwindling, she commanded the remaining demons to attack. They pierced both her and the Beast Master, leading to their mutual demise.

With the Demon Lord defeated, the world successfully repelled the demon invasion. The memory of that fateful battle and the sacrifices made lingered in the hearts of many, a testament to the enduring spirit of those who fought to protect their world.