203. Remaining Moon's Annihilation Battle (4)
How many have lost the entire war because they relied on a momentary advantage? Their narrow vision and arrogant attitudes led to their ultimate downfall.
Victory in battle cannot be decided solely by the strength of one's equipment or power.
As the image of his son's face grew larger and clearer, Remaining Moon breathed a sigh of relief.
Despite all the twists and turns, at least in terms of outcomes, he had already won so much.
"Hahaha, Leoz, my dear junior—you're still too green! The ultimate winner is me!"
Remaining Moon rushed toward Mozilan, but the next moment, the crushing force of gravity suddenly pressed down on him.
For him, this was nothing. With the advantage of [Charisma], this level of pressure wasn't enough to bring him to his knees.
As Remaining Moon sprinted up the steps, Mozilan's eyes sparkled with a hint of joy and relief.
But Mozilan, his son, was just an ordinary Gamma-tier individual.
The next moment, his body abruptly shattered and broke apart.
Splat!
Blood, organs, skin, and hair exploded outward like a scattered puzzle, splattering the oncoming Remaining Moon and covering him head to toe in gore.
Remaining Moon froze in place.
He raised a hand, slowly brushing the blood off his face.
Pieces of lung tissue hung from his shoulder. An eyeball rolled to his feet, brain matter dripping from his lips. His body, ears, eyes, and breath—everything was covered in what had once been his son, Mozilan.
"I'm sorry."
Li Aozi's head reformed, his golden haloed eyes glowing. His tone was calm but carried a hint of doubt:
"Who did you just say the ultimate winner was?"
Remaining Moon turned his head.
In their Dictator forms, Li Aozi appeared taller and more imposing than him, surrounded by an aura of calamity and doom. Gravity and space-time seemed to kneel at his feet like obedient servants.
But more than anything, Remaining Moon noticed Li Aozi's hands.
Those hands, covered in Dictator armor, emitted a soft, clear lunar glow.
"So… there never was a 'Du Zexin' at all."
Remaining Moon's voice was hoarse, yet his tone was eerily calm:
"It was you who disrupted my plan."
"You were the one who infiltrated the academy and incited the elemental riots."
"And you're the one who stole Mozilan's Omega Energy and life."
Remaining Moon spread his arms wide, incredulously asking:
"Who are you, exactly? What kind of grudge do we have between us?!"
"You blew up my school, killed my classmates, and kidnapped my brothers and friends."
Li Aozi replied curiously:
"Does that not count as a grudge?"
"And what about this?" Remaining Moon screamed. "You took my child—my only child!"
Remaining Moon let out a hollow laugh, his body radiating a dangerous aura. His tone turned ghostly, his gaze vacant, as he repeated the question:
"Leoz, who are you, really?"
From the distance, Nastisha noticed the scene. Seeing Remaining Moon's child killed, she let out a genuine laugh, her heart much lighter. She quickly called out:
"Don't answer him, child! Leave here now—his Omega Energy is about to go out of control!"
Leave?
Lucit and Hobbs were still in the enemy's hands. How could he leave?
"Earlier, you told Lucit he was just an NPC, while you were a player, didn't you?"
Li Aozi lowered his weapon, pulling the Sword of Fate Awakening from the void. Jania sighed but obediently cooperated.
"So what?" Remaining Moon replied coldly. "This world has always been ruled by elites. I've simply stepped into this game ahead of you."
Game.
When Li Aozi first arrived in this world, he too saw life as a game for quite some time.
Until companions began to fall, and he witnessed the separations of life and death—he himself could not escape it.
Among the countless beings, he was indeed unique: a reincarnator with knowledge and experience beyond compare.
But the universe was vast, filled with beings far more exceptional than he.
Gradually, he learned the rules of the cosmos, how to integrate into native groups, converse, become friends, and enjoy a life of peace and study. Yet he also carved out his own unique legend.
Both a life and a legend.
But Remaining Moon and the crises that followed destroyed his tranquil existence.
"A game, huh… yes, I suppose so."
Li Aozi gazed forward, sword at his side, speaking casually:
"Then, I am both an NPC and a player."
—Living life like an NPC, but writing a legend like a player.
"…Huh?" Remaining Moon screeched. "What nonsense are you spouting?"
"You're merely the player of life, while I—am the player from "Star Abyss"."
Li Aozi raised his longsword, his Dictator armor enveloped by even fiercer metallic plating.
[Jania.]
「True Name Activated! Blood-Forged Iron Sovereign!」
Jania spoke solemnly:
「In the name of Fangtooth Peak, we shall hammer and forge this world!」
Crimson, blood-like magical light spread rapidly from Li Aozi's form, drawing in various metallic elements. The vivid red magic intertwined and coiled endlessly.
「The Blood-Forged Iron Sovereign Karachia descends upon the world. All mortal worms and ants shall kneel and bow!」
The metallic titan summoned forth was covered in chaotic patterns of black iron and red electricity. It cackled malevolently, painting Li Aozi's figure in the vivid hues of a villainous overlord.
[Blood-Forged Iron Sovereign: Activated]
「Hey, Leoz.」
Jania spoke softly:
「I don't want to lose a third wielder.」
[So?]
「Don't die.」
Jania continued:
「I admire how you face challenges head-on, going against the tide—but right now, I truly wish you'd turn back, so I wouldn't admire you so much. This fight isn't one you should be part of.」
"WRAAAAAAAHHH!"
Remaining Moon's form disintegrated rapidly, his Omega Energy overflowing uncontrollably. His flesh could no longer hold him together, bursting forth in pale blue light. His body unraveled like squid tentacles, tearing dimensional rifts everywhere.
Remaining Moon's form expanded as swarms of cybernetic soldiers rushed toward him, devoured by his flesh. His size grew even larger, and he finally shed his human form, fully transforming into a dimensional beast.
[Warning: Sequence Omega Energy Unstable! Incoming catastrophe detected! Evacuation recommended immediately!]
Li Aozi rotated his sword, its edge glinting as he twirled it like a flower. Like a lone knight, drenched in blood and iron ions, he strode boldly into the battlefield.
[Jania, don't bother asking if something is worth it anymore.]
Magic and artillery clashed, lightning and blood roared. Nastisha and the Night Butterfly soldiers fought fiercely as storms raged within the Dark Zone.
The monstrous Remaining Moon resembled a grotesque figure with squid-like tentacles. Its six limbs clawed the ground, its body covered in countless eyes. Human teeth sprawled across it like plate armor. Just the sight of it evoked profound discomfort.
It was an indescribable tableau, and any who dared enter its domain possessed extraordinary courage.
"I can—that's enough."