Thank You, My Guardian

I stood by Yae’s side, shielding her from Azravil’s relentless strikes. I tried to counter with my EtherCode Aether skill, but it was useless, he was still under the [Invincible] status. Neither physical attacks nor EtherCode nor even SystemCode could touch him.

It was absurd. He was immortal.

Yae’s voice cut through my frustration. “Kyouze… I’ll handle this with my magic! I’ll purify every Hollow and Malevolent Spirit Azravil commands!” She said it with complete confidence.

I nodded, meeting her gaze. “I believe in you.”

Her smile widened as she began weaving her spell. Power radiated from her, magic so immense it made the dungeon itself tremble. The surge of her energy caught Azravil’s attention, and his body twisted with rage. His eyes locked onto her like a predator spotting prey.

“Everyone, attack!” I ordered. Zack and the rest of our raid party rushed forward, forcing Azravil back. Mikan, along with the Anchors and Restorers, rallied to defend Yae with everything they had.

The battle raged on. Azravil lashed out with three massive AoE strikes in succession, devastating the field. Nearly everyone was wiped out, leaving only Yae and me standing.

“Zack! Mikan! Damn it, recover yourselves!” I shouted. They nodded weakly, forcing themselves to heal and drag the others back on their feet.

I held the line, clashing against Azravil again and again. Yet no matter how hard I struck, his HP never fell, it stayed locked at a single point.

Then, without warning, he invoked his skill: [Eternal Graveben]. Shadows surged, and I was swallowed by a tide of Hollow.

“KYOUZE!” Yae’s scream tore through the chaos, raw with fear.

The Hollow swarmed over me, gnawing at both flesh and soul. My HP plummeted 100 points vanishing in an instant. It felt like my very essence was being devoured, my light flickering under their endless hunger.

Just as despair was about to consume me, three spheres of radiant light broke through the darkness. From them emerged hands, reaching out and pulling me back from the abyss.

I knew those hands.

“…No… It can’t be…”

Their forms solidified before my eyes. Lena. Mia. Richard. People I had failed to save, friends who had once trusted me.

“Lena… Mia… Richard… How…?” My voice trembled as I spoke, but they only smiled warmly, silently. Their bodies shone brilliantly as they clasped my hands and dragged me out of the Hollow’s grasp.

When I opened my eyes again, the battlefield had changed. The villagers of Lantern Village had emerged from their barrier, their spirits soaring into the fray. Together with the players and NPCs, they fought to shield Yae and me. Lena, Mia, Richard—all of them fought alongside the villagers, reunited with those they once knew.

It was a sight so moving that even battle-hardened players wept openly. Zack and Mikan’s tears streamed down their faces as they fought, hope rekindled in their eyes.

I turned to Yae. “What’s happening? Why are Lena, Mia, and Richard here? They should be dead…”

Her expression softened, sadness in her voice. “You’re right, Kyouze. They are souls bound to this world. The villagers, too… they are benevolent spirits, trapped here for so long. My duty is to set them free.”

I fell silent, my chest tightening. To see them again, it was more than I deserved.

Then Yae tugged on my arm, determination blazing in her eyes. “Kyouze, my magic is ready. Let’s end this!”

I steeled myself, gripping my blade. “I’m with you.”

She raised her staff, her voice resounding like a divine decree. “O gods and goddesses, the prophesied hour has come. I, Izanami Yae, fulfill my duty to purge this world of its corruption and return every lost soul to your embrace! [Divine Magic: Path of the Heaven!]”

Light erupted from her, radiant and pure. The dungeon’s eternal darkness shattered, swallowed by her brilliance. Azravil shrieked, his invincibility crumbling as the holy radiance tore into him.

This was my chance.

I lunged forward, Ether blazing along my blade. “Begone! [EtherCode Aether: Cross Slash!]”

My strike cleaved across his body in the shape of a cross. Azravil roared as his form disintegrated, dissolving into countless fragments of light. The Hollow and Malevolent Spirits vanished with him, soaring upward as glittering motes.

A system notification rang:
[Congratulations. You have defeated Azravil, Keeper of the Lost Souls!]

[EXP gained: 150,000]

[Drop item acquired: Malevolent Berserker Stone]

Cheers erupted from the survivors. Yet their joy quickly gave way to silence. Everyone watched as the benevolent spirits, including their friends, families, and the villagers rose into the sky, smiling as they waved farewell.

Lena, Mia, and Richard approached me one last time, their hands clasping mine. Tears welled in my eyes. “I’m sorry… I couldn’t save you back then…”

They only shook their heads gently. Their smiles never wavered as they whispered in unison, “Thank you, Kyouze....”

Their words pierced me deeper than any blade. I smiled through the tears as they ascended into light.

A weight I had carried for so long finally lifted.

But then, Yae…

Her body began dissolving too.

“No…” My voice broke.

She laughed loudly, joyfully, even as her form faded. “HAHAHAHHA! I knew this would happen! And I don’t regret it! Besides, I got to see my favorite bodygurad in action, Kyouze, you were amazing!”

I forced a laugh through the ache in my chest. “You’re still the same annoying little Marmot… some things never change.”

She stepped close, wrapping her arms around me. Her voice lowered to a whisper. “Thank you for protecting me. I hate this, but it’s time to say goodbye. I’ll always be with you, Kyouze. Here, in your heart.”

I exhaled shakily. “Don’t show up too often, or you’ll scare me. Ghosts aren’t exactly easy to deal with, you know.”

“HAHAHA! True. But I’m the cutest ghost you’ll ever meet!” she beamed, her body glowing brighter as she held onto my hand.

I gripped her back, unwilling to let go. “Thank you, Yae. Because of you, I can keep moving forward.”

Her voice rang with pride. “Good. Then I’ll be watching over you… always. Remember, Kyouze...you’ll forever be my bodygurad...no, my guardian. Thank you my guardian, Kyouze..”

Her fingers slipped from mine as she drifted upward, smiling until the last moment.

The system chimed once more:

[Fourth Floor Quest Completed!]

[Yae has found happiness. Yae and the other spirits are freed from this world!]

[Boss of Floor 4 Defeated! The gate to the Abyss Dungeon’s Fifth Floor is now open!]

I needed to push aside my grief. No matter what, I had to keep moving forward to the next floor.

Just then, Zack walked over to me and smirked.

“Kyouze… are you crying? You’re crying, aren’t you? HAHAHA! Don’t worry, I cried too, brother.”

“I’m not crying.”

“But just a second ago—”

“I said I’m not crying,” I cut him off coldly.

Mikan came up to us, giggling at our exchange.

I exhaled, shaking my head.

“I’d love to scold you both right now, but I don’t have time. I need to head into the fifth floor immediately.”

Mikan’s expression hardened.
“We’re coming with you, Kyouze.”

Zack flexed his arms with a grin.
“Yeah! We’re in this together, brother!”

“…Do what you want,” I muttered.

And so, Zack, Mikan, and the remaining 498 raid members followed me into the abyss of the fifth floor.

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