BRAND NEW WORLD

Chapter 84: The New Greatest Raid Begins (Part 5)

[A Few Minutes Earlier]

After the distorted space returned to normal, the scenery around us changed as well.

As my vision cleared, Ringga and I found ourselves standing before Osiris and Isis.

Looking at them more closely, I realized both of them were larger than I remembered.

Is that the effect of their increased power?

"INTRUDERS!" a firm yet gentle voice shouted.

"Who dares trespass upon the domain of His Majesty Osiris?" another soft yet commanding voice followed.

Ah... so this is what Isis sounds like now that she’s truly alive.

Back when she was only a character inside the game, her voice had sounded robotic.

Seated upon a throne of bones, Osiris and Isis rested their heads against one hand, their crimson left eyes glowing ominously as they fixed us with piercing gazes.

"Ah. So, you’re the one who saved the people of this city before," Osiris said. His voice was slightly hoarse, yet calm, deep, and full of authority.

"Oh? You remember me? I’m truly honored," Ringga replied with a smile as he casually stepped forward.

...

Even Osiris...

His real voice is far more intimidating than I expected.

...

"So? What brings you here?" Osiris asked.

"I’m here to take this city away from you, of course," Ringga answered with a grin, pointing straight at him.

"HOW DARE YOU—"

Isis abruptly stopped herself as Osiris raised a hand.

"Was it also you who created this barrier?" Osiris asked.

"What if I did?" Ringga smirked.

Osiris fell silent for a moment.

...

"I see..."

He slowly rose from his throne.

"Then I shall kill you, destroy this prison you’ve trapped me in... and afterward, slaughter every human I encounter."

His crimson eye blazed brighter.

Without waiting for a reply, Osiris shot forward.

In an instant, he grabbed Ringga by the face and rocketed away.

Before disappearing, Ringga even had the nerve to wave at me.

I could only shake my head at his antics.

...

Turning my attention back to the front, I drew out my golden staff.

"You will suffer a fate worse than death!" Isis declared.

She raised her staff before her chest and began chanting.

Moments later, a massive magic circle spread beneath our feet.

CRACK! CRACK!

The ground split open.

One by one, mummies crawled out from the fissures.

Their wrappings were stained a dark crimson, while golden bracelets adorned their wrists and ankles. Each wore a golden crown upon its head.

Thirty Ancient Mummies...

Although each one was Level 250...

...they were still no match for me.

"ATTACK!" Isis commanded, pointing her staff toward me.

The Ancient Mummies immediately charged.

"Huh? They’re... running?" I muttered.

I couldn’t help being surprised.

Back in the game, Ancient Mummies only walked—albeit incredibly fast.

Now that they existed in reality...

...they actually ran.

Part of me wanted to laugh at the sight of sprinting mummies.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t the time.

I tightened my grip on my golden staff, channeling mana into my arm.

Then—

BAM!!

I swung the staff into the first Ancient Mummy that reached me, sending it flying into the distance.

More mummies rushed in one after another...

Only to be launched in every direction.

"Is this all you can do?"

"Relying on your summoned mummies?"

"You insolent brat!" Isis snapped.

Isis suddenly burst forward with astonishing speed.

She raised her staff high and slammed it down toward me.

BOOM!

The impact of her staff striking the ground echoed throughout the area.

Since my Agility far surpassed hers, evading the attack was effortless.

The moment her strike missed, I swung my own staff at her.

Seeing my counterattack, Isis immediately shifted her staff into a defensive stance.

CLANG!

The two staffs collided with a sharp metallic ring.

Although she managed to block the blow, the force still sent Isis sliding backward several meters.

"Haa... not bad," Isis said between breaths.

"But can you avoid this?"

She pointed her staff at me.

Four streams of black light burst from its tip and shot toward me at incredible speed.

Soul of Darkness?

The instant the spell struck, an agonizing pain spread throughout my entire body.

It felt as though I were burning from the inside out.

So... this is what a soul attack feels like...

Yet the pain lasted only for a brief instant before vanishing completely.

Oh?

Is it because of my Magic Defense?

...

"W-What? How are you completely fine after taking that attack?" Isis cried in disbelief.

I answered with nothing more than a smirk.

"I can’t believe someone actually resisted my magic..."

"In that case, how about this?"

Isis spun her staff toward the sky.

Dark clouds immediately gathered overhead.

She then slammed the staff downward.

A bolt of lightning descended straight toward me.

BOOOM!!

A blinding flash swallowed everything.

...

As my vision cleared...

"What?! That’s impossible!" Isis shouted, her face filled with frustration.

"Too bad."

"My Magic Defense is stronger than your magic."

"Here... let me return the favor."

I casually raised one hand before bringing it down.

A bolt of lightning instantly crashed toward Isis below.

BOOOOM!!

"AAARRRGGHHH!!"

Her agonized scream echoed across the battlefield.

Isis collapsed to the ground.

Thin wisps of smoke rose from her charred body.

...

She remained motionless for several moments.

"...Ngh..."

A strained groan escaped her lips.

Using her staff for support, Isis slowly struggled back to her feet.

Oh?

She only lost about a quarter of her HP?

[Meanwhile, Ringga...]

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Gripping Ringga by the face, Osiris smashed him through wall after wall before hurling him violently into the ground.

Other than the roaring desert wind, very little sound remained.

Moments later...

Ringga casually stood back up and dusted off his clothes as though nothing had happened.

"Sigh... My clothes are dirty now."

...

"Hmm... You’re certainly no ordinary person," Osiris remarked.

"Who knows?" Ringga replied with a shrug.

"...But one thing is certain."

"Your reign ends today."

"We’ll see who’s laughing in the end," Osiris answered.

Both figures vanished like ghosts.

One second later—

A violent shockwave rippled outward in every direction.

At its center, Ringga and Osiris stood with their fists locked together.

After the first collision, they continued exchanging punch after punch.

A brutal contest of raw strength unfolded.

BAM! BAM! BAM!

Half a minute later, both fighters were blasted several meters apart.

After regaining his footing, Osiris rolled his shoulders, stretching his muscles.

Purple smoke began pouring from his clenched fists.

Seeing this, Ringga grinned and did the same.

Unlike Osiris, however, a bluish-white radiance enveloped his fists.

Osiris lunged first.

Ringga met him head-on.

Their fists collided once more.

BOOOOM!!

Another shockwave exploded across the battlefield.

Both men were forced back several steps.

This time, Osiris’s hand had turned slightly black, as though scorched.

"...Light element?" Osiris muttered.

His crimson eye narrowed toward Ringga in the distance, who merely smiled back.

Osiris raised one hand.

Several black lightning spheres materialized above him.

With a wave of his arm, the spheres shot toward Ringga.

Ringga sprinted straight at him, weaving effortlessly between each incoming projectile.

The instant he closed the distance, his glowing fist shot forward.

Osiris reacted immediately.

He thrust out his chest while releasing a thick purple mist.

The impact still blasted Osiris backward, sending him crashing through several buildings.

"Poison Breath, huh..."

"What a shame."

"It won’t affect me."

Ringga snapped his fingers.

Snap!

Several enormous crosses made of pure energy appeared above Osiris.

With another gesture, they came crashing down upon his location.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The cloud of dust obscured everything.

Then—

ZWOOSH!

Osiris burst out from the dust, his arms cloaked in black mist as he charged straight at Ringga.

Ringga merely smirked.

A gigantic cross-shaped engraving suddenly ignited beneath his feet.

Osiris’s eyes widened in surprise.

But it was already too late.

He had entered its effective range.

Divine Cross!

The cross erupted with brilliant light that shot toward the heavens, engulfing both of them within its radiance.

[Back to Kardol and the Others]

CLANG! SLASH! BOOM!

Kardol and the others continued bombarding Anubis with relentless attacks.

Anubis swung his massive khopesh, but the DPS fighters dodged with ease. The tanks intercepted the heavier strikes, though several were still sent flying by the sheer force behind each blow.

"Dukun, prepare your magic!" Kardol shouted.

Without waiting for a reply, he dashed straight toward Anubis.

Seeing him approach, Anubis swung his khopesh in a deadly horizontal arc.

Kardol met it head-on with his dagger.

CLANG!

The dagger deflected the massive blade.

Anubis wasted no time launching another attack.

Kardol answered with one of his own.

Their weapons clashed again and again in a rapid exchange.

Meanwhile, Mbah Dukun and the other mages continued chanting their spells.

"Kardol!" Mbah Dukun called out.

The instant they heard his voice, every player engaging Anubis immediately retreated several steps.

Several meters above Mbah Dukun and the other spellcasters, a gigantic sphere of fire materialized.

Cracks spread across its blazing surface.

Then—

The sphere burst apart.

From within emerged an enormous bird composed entirely of roaring flames.

Hovering majestically in the sky, the fiery bird fixed its blazing eyes upon Anubis below.

The phoenix spread its massive wings.

Dozens of fireballs—each as large as a truck tire—formed around it.

The fireballs quickly transformed into countless smaller birds resembling doves.

The instant they were complete, the fiery birds streaked toward Anubis from every direction.

BOOM!

The first explosion erupted the moment one struck its target.

Anubis attempted to slash them out of the air, but—

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

There were too many.

The relentless barrage overwhelmed him.

As the last of the smaller firebirds exploded, the giant phoenix itself folded its wings and dove toward Anubis.

FWOOOSH!!

The instant it collided with him, a towering pillar of fire erupted, swallowing Anubis whole.

Several seconds later...

The flames gradually subsided.

Anubis’s body had already crumbled into ashes, scattering into the wind.

"W-We did it!" someone shouted.

"I can’t believe we actually defeated Mutated Anubis!" another exclaimed.

Cheers of victory erupted throughout the battlefield.

"Whew... It’s finally over," Rhadyt muttered.

"Nice work," Mang Pedo said.

"You too, Mang," Rhadyt replied with a grin.

"Excellent work, everyone!" Kardol praised the group.

Mbah Dukun suddenly glanced toward the distant horizon.

Earlier, he had witnessed flashes of lightning and a series of massive explosions near their location.

"...Those two are completely insane," he muttered.

"Alright, everyone."

"Take a short rest."

"Once you’ve recovered, come after us."

"I’m going to check on those two first," Kardol said.

"I-I’m coming too!" Shana immediately volunteered.

"Count me in as well."

"I want to see how they’re fighting," Mbah Dukun added.

"I’m coming too," Rhadyt said.

"Me too!"

"So am I!"

Soon, nearly everyone wanted to follow.

Kardol could only shake his head with a helpless sigh.

"Alright then!"

"Let’s continue the battle!"

"We can’t let those two have all the fun by themselves!"

"YEAH!!"

Everyone raised their weapons high into the air, their voices echoing across the battlefield.

[Back to Luna]

After enduring the lightning strike, the Ancient Mummies charged at me once again.

Every time I destroyed them with either Fire or Light Magic...

...Isis summoned them back.

"This is getting really annoying," I muttered.

I raised my staff before my chest.

ELEMENTAL SPIRIT SUMMONING: THUNDERBIRD

A brilliant yellow magic circle spread beneath my feet.

Its intricate patterns glowed with dazzling light.

My clothes and long hair fluttered as if caught in a powerful wind.

Above my head, a massive sphere of lightning gradually took shape.

Moments later—

Two pairs of wings unfolded from within the crackling orb.

A majestic bird composed entirely of lightning revealed itself.

Without hesitation, the Thunderbird released countless smaller lightning birds toward Isis.

ZWOOSH! ZWOOSH!

Isis swung her staff.

Dozens of massive stone projectiles erupted from the ground before launching toward the incoming birds.

ZZRT! ZZRT!

Several lightning birds exploded the instant they collided with the rocks.

But many others slipped through the barrage...

...and struck Isis head-on.

Once the last of the smaller birds had been released...

The Thunderbird itself folded its wings and dove straight toward Isis.

Isis immediately summoned a massive stone dome from the ground, sealing herself inside for protection.

But—

BOOOOM!!

The overwhelming bolt of lightning shattered the stone dome instantly.

A dense cloud of dust engulfed the battlefield.

...

When the dust finally settled...

Isis stood there, barely alive.

Her clothes had been reduced to rags.

Her body was covered in burns and deep wounds.

With her staff for support, she staggered to her feet.

"...For... His Majesty... Osiris..."

I thought that attack would finish her...

Yet she still has about a quarter of her HP left.

As I was lost in thought—

BOOM! BOOM!

Two explosions suddenly echoed from behind Isis.

Then—

SHLK!

A hand burst straight through Isis’s chest from behind.

"...Ugh..."

A mouthful of blood spilled from her lips.

"Thank you."

"You’ve served me faithfully all this time..."

"But I need this."

Osiris stood behind her.

His body was covered in burns and torn apart by countless wounds.

Despite his battered appearance...

His crimson eye still burned with terrifying intensity.

A faint smile appeared on Isis’s face.

Without a single word...

The light slowly faded from her eyes.

Osiris withdrew his hand.

Her lifeless body collapsed onto the ground.

"Lun!"

"Luna!"

"Big Sis Luna!"

When I turned around...

Kardol, Shana, and the others had just arrived.

"You guys?"

"W-What’s going on?"

"What the hell is this?!"

"Wasn’t she... his ally?"

"How could he do something like that?!"

Expressions of horror spread across everyone’s faces.

"It is only natural..."

"...that the weak should serve the strong."

"And it is only natural..."

"...for a servant to offer their life to their master."

Osiris calmly lifted Isis’s still-beating heart.

Then—

He placed it into his mouth.

Crunch...

He chewed it without the slightest hesitation.

The instant he swallowed it...

An overwhelming aura of darkness erupted from his body.

Ringga suddenly appeared beside me as silently as a ghost.

"What happened?"

"My fault."

"I got distracted," Ringga replied.

Osiris staggered backward several steps.

Crack... Crack...

The sound of breaking bones echoed from within his body.

He let out a painful growl.

His muscles began to swell grotesquely.

His flesh expanded unnaturally.

Then—

One enormous eyeball after another emerged from his arms.

The oppressive darkness pouring from his body pressed down upon everyone present.

His body continued growing...

...larger...

...and larger...

Until he towered nearly twenty meters tall.

A colossal demon now stood before us.

Its arms were impossibly massive, thick with bulging muscles.

Embedded all along both arms were enormous, blinking eyes.

It stood as tall as a watchtower.

GGRRRAAAARRRGGHHH!!

The giant monster threw its head back and roared toward the heavens.

Every eye on its arms snapped open simultaneously.

The deafening roar unleashed a devastating shockwave across the battlefield.

Then—

CRAAASH!!

The enormous barrier imprisoning the entire area shattered like fragile glass.

"So... this is..." Axxel muttered.

"The Pyramid Satan..." Mbah Dukun whispered.

"Tch... the real headache finally shows up," Mang Pedo clicked his tongue.

"A Level 500 monster?!" someone shouted in disbelief.

[A Few Moments Earlier — Outside the Barrier]

Rima remained standing, gazing silently toward the transparent barrier with both hands clasped tightly against her chest.

In another place...

Lusserina sat quietly with her eyes closed.

A moment later—

She slowly opened them...

...and rose to her feet.

CRAAASH!!

The sound of shattering glass echoed across the battlefield.

In the distance, the once-transparent barrier had collapsed, revealing the colossal figure beyond—a giant with enormous, muscular arms lined with grotesque, blinking eyes.

"Luna!" Rima cried inwardly.

"Lady Luna!" Lusserina thought.

Without another moment’s hesitation, Rima flew and shot toward the giant at full speed.

Lusserina immediately sprinted with Putih racing faithfully by her side.

One minute later...

They found us.

"Luna!" Rima called out.

"Lady Luna!" Lusserina shouted.

"Woof!" Putih barked excitedly.

"You guys!"

Before I could say anything else—

Four figures suddenly appeared behind us.

The first was Tiamat, the four-armed black draconian.

The second was Randgris, the fallen angel with black wings.

The third...

...a werewolf.

And the fourth...

...a demon clad in a tuxedo.

"Master!" the four of them called out in unison.

Ringga stepped forward, his gaze fixed upon the towering demon before them.

"Prepare yourselves..."

"...We’re going to fight."

The four immediately lowered their stances.

"As you command!"

The oppressive pressure released by the giant demon continued to spread across the ruined city.

Even Kardol and the others instinctively tightened their grip on their weapons.

No one dared underestimate the monster standing before them.

A Level 500 existence...

Far beyond anything they had ever faced.

The battle that had just ended...

Had merely been the beginning.

The true fight...

...was about to begin.