Chapter 31: The Betrayal

Niobeorth…was at the kingdom of Mondunion.

The moment Talas spoke those words, my mind froze. If he was there then that means, The kingdom was in danger.

I lost focus. That single lapse was all he needed. Talas shifted to the side with inhuman speed, then appeared in front of me. His fist crashed into my stomach.

The impact hurled me backward. My lungs locked. For a moment, I couldn’t breathe, my whole body screamed to vomit.

Talas loomed over me.

I was on my knees, clutching my stomach with one arm, while the other hung limp and broken at my side.

"Let me guess, [BEEP] head," I rasped, forcing words out through the pain. "All this time… you were just using Adrian’s body, sabotaging the kingdom from within while their best fighters were away, you are really a coward."

Talas tilted his head, smirking. "Are you sure about that? Then tell me—how could I manage to do such a thing while I was standing here with you, fighting your battles?"

"You did something while you were fighting with us… right?"

His grin widened, a low chuckle slipping out. "Hah. How could a buffoon like you defeat three of the strongest monsters… yet not even grasp the basics of sabotage magic?"

"Well thank you for reminding that, because I can give you this answer—-I don’t know," I shot back, anger cutting through my pain. "Maybe because I’m not from this world, you iron-plated bastard. And news flash—my glitching abilities can break through any magic."

"Good to know," Talas muttered, eyes glinting. "But let me reveal something. Someone else still in the kingdom is doing the sabotaging for us."

My blood ran cold. "Who? Who is it? You are just messing with me?"

"If you doubt me," Talas sneered, "I can show you the kingdom’s state myself."

Before I could react, his hand clamped onto the back of my neck. His mana surged, the air vibrating with raw power. In an instant, his spell swallowed us whole, and against my will, I was dragged into his teleportation.

The teleport was instant. I staggered as I found myself back in the kingdom’s courtyard, the same place where everyone had once gathered. But now it was unrecognizable. The walls that were meant to protect it stood broken, and chaos reigned.

Screams echoed. People of Ashalondaria and Players of Omnikuro alike were running, fighting, panicking.

Talas forced me forward, shoving me toward another location.

He dragged me into the Grand Hall and threw me down hard. I scrambled to my feet.

The sight froze me. The king and queen were chained to their thrones, unconscious.

And in the center stood a figure cloaked in black robes. His face was completely hidden, even in the light. Slowly, he descended the steps.

When he drew closer, a health bar appeared.

[Niobeorth the Raven] 
His level has three question marks, signifying his dangerous role in this world. Showcasing that he was the one responsible for all of this.
"Finally," his distorted voice rasped. "We meet, Glitchwalker."

Even up close, his face remained obscured.

"Why so silent?" Niobeorth’s tone dripped with mockery.

I clenched my teeth. "Do you hide your face because you’re afraid we’ll laugh at how ugly you are?"

He let out a low, mirthless chuckle. “Even now… even in this state, you still find breath to mock. Have you forgotten? You can die here. Truly die. And when you do, no one will sing of a hero. They’ll remember only the shadow you’ve become.”

"Of course I know," I spat. "So quit playing around. What’s your game? What’s your reason for all this?"

Niobeorth gave a low laugh. "I could tell you. but then I’d have to kill you where you stand.”

"Then stop wasting time. Kill me. Or are you too much of a coward?"

His voice lowered, calm, steady. "Because that’s not how your world works."

"What?"

"Onlife…" he said, almost reverently. "I never expected to see such a thing to ever exist. A way to simulate real events… to create a world where you can act freely, without consequences. Your people are obsessed with fantasy. Worlds you’ve never set foot in, yet you recreate them endlessly. Save the world, defeat the dark lord—it’s insulting to ours, because truth has been traded for craft—what you call reality is but a crafted tale.”

I glared. "And your point?"

"Why not," Niobeorth said smoothly, "follow the exact order of the Hero’s Journey? Follow what your people call, to unveil the chapter until the very last page.”

With a wave, he dragged another prisoner forward, chained.

"Ysanthe…?" My chest tightened. "Hey you! Let her go."

He tilted his head. "So I should free her, but not the rest? You hardly know this girl, yet you would save only this maiden?"

"Of course. She doesn’t deserve any of this. None of us do. We were forced into this hell by Takayuki—and also because of you."

"Wrong." His voice sharpened. "That’s not how it happened. The 1,025 out-realmer players volunteered. Takayuki only provided access. The choice was theirs. He never forced anyone. He simply… asked everyone. You could have refused his so called offer,  instead all of you gladly accepted."

"Listen here, you—" My voice cracked with fury. "Let her go. Take me instead. Aren’t you furious at me for killing three of your monsters?"

"Monsters?" Niobeorth scoffed. "They were my generals. My allies. Unfortunately I didn’t create them—I perfected them. And this girl…" His hand gripped Ysanthe’s jaw, tilting her face toward me. "…is no different."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

He pulled the gag from her mouth. I started forward, but Talas yanked my broken arm, pain exploding through me, locking me in place.

"Now, little one," Niobeorth said softly. "Tell him what you did while he was out playing hero."

Ysanthe’s body trembled. Tears welled in her eyes.

"You bastard!" I snarled. "Stop forcing her—"

"I… did it."

Her voice broke.

"What?" My blood ran cold.

"I caused this. I was the one who weakened the spell. I let them into the kingdom."

"No—stop. Stop talking. That’s not true. You’re being forced to say this. He’s making you—"

Her tear-streaked face lifted to me. "No. It’s true. I poisoned the king, the queen… and those maintaining the barrier. I weakened them until they could no longer sustain it."

My hands shook. "Why…?"

Niobeorth’s grin widened. "Now do you believe? Though what amuses me most… is that every one she poisoned somehow survived. They linger, unconscious—but alive."

I turned to the king and queen, pulling up their stats. My stomach dropped. Their bars carried a poison icon, but right beside it, a health buff. They were being poisoned and healed at the same time.

Ysanthe’s voice quivered. "Do you remember the Dungeon of Bones? You broke Niobeorth’s spell on your Magime and when you tried to do mine also, you realized it wasn’t locked by Niobeorth spell, that’s because mine… didn’t have one. Before I was sent there, me and my friends tried to log out. Niobeorth caught us in the middle of logging out. My two friends were suddenly kidnapped, holding them as hostages. He gave me a choice. If I wanted to see them again… I had to follow his orders. At first, I didn’t believe him. Not until I realized… this world is real. That if we die here, we’re gone forever. I was afraid… afraid of what he’d do to my friends. So I obeyed. Everything… everything that’s happened is my fault—"

Niobeorth’s hand snapped shut over her mouth.

Rage surged through me. I shoved against Talas, but his grip crushed my arm, the pain blinding, white-hot.

“So… it ends,” Talas intoned, his voice heavy with scorn, a cruel elegance in every syllable. “Now the choice is laid bare before you. Her… or the kingdom. One life… or countless. A grievous burden for you, yet no burden at all for me. I am, after all, a man of my word—whichever you do not choose, I shall grant mercy.”

"Now tell me, hero. Who will you save? Who will you kill? The choice is yours"

Pain seared through my arm, making it hard to think. I gritted my teeth and whispered, "You… you’re the one I’ll kill, that is choice ."

Suddenly, Talas’s grip on my arm vanished as someone struck him.

I turned. It was Diana. Behind her, Jarrod, Katarina, and Terrence stood ready.

The monsters around us lunged, but Terrence, Diana, and Katarina fought back, holding them off. Jarrod rushed to me, helping me stand.

"I’ll drag you out of here!" he urged.

"No! I have to save Ysanthe!" I shot back.

We argued, briefly locked in a struggle of wills, until Terrence and Katarina froze mid-fight. Niobeorth’s magic, his influence, was controlling them.

Diana held the line alone, shielding the others.

I released Jarrod, gripping my Dangatana. Despite the damage from Talas’s earlier attack, I braced myself and struck.

Talas’s eyes burned with anger, but he didn’t move. Then, in an instant, he vanished.

I turned just in time to see him appear behind Diana. His sword swung, turquoise static erupting where it grazed her neck. The force threw her to the ground in agony.

I lunged to help her, but a pulse of Niobeorth’s magic struck me, forcing me to my knees. Pain surged through me, pinning me in place. I could only watch as Talas raised his sword, aiming to pierce Diana through the chest.

Then Jarrod appeared. He met Talas head-on, matching his strength blow for blow.

Suddenly, the magical force on me vanished. Niobeorth’s focus had shifted.

And in that moment, Jarrod faltered.

Talas regained his stance, and with a single, precise stab, his sword pierced Jarrod.