“We’ve arrived.”
“Finally… the time to face Lucifer has come.”
Ian bit his lower lip as he gazed at the Demon King’s castle they had reached.
It might appear as though he was merely nervous, but that wasn’t the case.
For others, it might be their first time, but Ian, having fought countless battles with Demon Kings before, wasn’t particularly overwhelmed or exhilarated by the experience.
His apprehension stemmed from another reason entirely.
‘In the past, I would’ve relied on strategies learned from playing the boss fight in the game. But this time, I can’t stick to the guide.’
Lucifer had obtained the power of the Demon God. That meant his movements might differ from what Ian remembered.
This uncertainty gnawed at him.
‘Back when I played the game, the final boss was Azidahaka.’
In the original storyline, Lucifer was the boss encountered right before facing the Demon God Azidahaka.
Being positioned right before the final showdown, Lucifer was a high-difficulty opponent and had caused many deaths.
Ian had memorized Lucifer’s attack patterns through repeated attempts back then, but now, that knowledge wouldn’t serve him much.
‘The fact that he’s taken the place of the Demon God means he can wield divine powers. Naturally, his patterns will have changed.’
If he approached the battle relying solely on his past memories, he risked falling victim to newly added attacks.
Ultimately, Ian had to let go of the image of Lucifer that lingered in his mind.
‘The final boss being different… It’s like they’re making sure I can’t take it easy, even at the end.’
He let out a dry chuckle at the absurdity of it all.
After enduring so much to get here, couldn’t they at least show a little mercy?
‘It feels unfair.’
A bitter taste lingered in his mouth. His chest ached with a subtle sadness.
However, the emotions Ian felt were just that.
They didn’t extend to fear, even as he faced the last battle ahead.
Why?
The answer was simple.
‘…There’s no point in being afraid after coming this far. This is the end. Once I finish this, it’s all over.’
This was his chance to bring closure to everything that had burdened his shoulders and weighed him down each day.
Freedom. If he could grasp that glory, no matter how little he knew about his opponent, he could steel himself and raise his sword without trembling.
Sring!
With firm resolve, Ian drew Levryon from his waist and forcefully kicked open the door to Lucifer’s castle.
Boom!
The heavy doors creaked and swung open with an ear-shattering crash. Beyond them, Lucifer rose slowly from his seat, as if he had been waiting.
“Are you ready?”
“Yeah. Let’s begin.”
“Very well. Let us end this, mortal!”
Lucifer answered Ian’s light provocation by surging with dark energy.
Soon, the castle’s interior began to fill with malice, and Ian turned to his companions, issuing commands.
“I trust you all know your roles. Let’s move out.”
“Don’t hesitate—let’s go!”
Following Hexar, who charged forward with his axe, Ian also propelled himself into action.
***
The Hero Party’s formation was straightforward.
The vanguard consisted of the main tank, Hexar, alongside Ian. The rearguard was covered by Illian.
The middle was the domain of Saintess Glendia and the hero, Ariel Volkanov.
‘In the game, Glendia and Illian were stationed in the backline, while Ariel and Hexar held the front.’
Ian didn’t approve of that setup.
He felt uneasy about Ariel, who had to survive to the end, being on the frontline. But more importantly, that arrangement failed to utilize Ariel’s offensive capabilities effectively.
‘The vanguard rarely gets a proper chance to attack. Their priority is to endure the enemy’s onslaught and protect the team.’
For the rearguard members like Glendia and Illian, the tanks’ primary role was to ensure their safety. Unless the timing was perfect, the vanguard spent their time suppressing enemy movements rather than dealing damage.
In other words, the damage output from the vanguard was almost negligible.
‘With how powerful Ariel’s Elysion Strikes are, it’d be a waste not to use them.’
Ian couldn’t just stand by and watch their strongest weapon go unused.
That’s why he switched his and Ariel’s positions.
He paired Ariel with the Saintess for additional support.
‘Illian is a seasoned veteran among veterans. Even if he handles the backline alone, his escape skills are exceptional. On top of that, as an elf, his physical abilities far surpass those of humans.’
Since it was impossible for Glendia to keep up with Illian’s movements to support him, Ian decided it would be better to let Illian act independently while Glendia focused her buffs on Ariel.
‘Ariel is already brimming with divine power as the hero. With the Saintess’ blessings on top of that…’
Not only would Ariel become the main damage dealer, but her safety would also be ensured—a perfect scenario.
Through meticulous calculations, Ian reorganized the party accordingly.
Kiiing! Slash!
“Argh! What is this power!”
‘Just as I expected.’
Ariel’s strikes began tearing through Lucifer’s form with precision and ferocity, just as planned.
Her enhanced strike, already devastating to Lucifer, became an unstoppable force with Glendia’s buffs.
‘A miscalculation.’
Lucifer let out a dry chuckle as he used dark mana to heal his wounds.
The one he truly prioritized as a target was none other than Ian Volkanov.
After all, Ian had systematically eliminated his fellow Demon Kings.
Lucifer had started paying closer attention to Ian after his battle with Leviathan, but even before that, news of his exploits had always reached him.
‘I prepared to counter his unpredictable strategies, determined not to fall victim to them… and yet, I’ve played right into his hands.’
Even after gaining the power of a Demon God, Lucifer had vowed not to underestimate Ian, treating him as a formidable adversary. Yet, taking such a direct blow left him feeling humiliated.
‘I can’t afford to take him lightly anymore. Even with my newfound powers, one mistake could be my downfall.’
With a growing sense of danger, Lucifer’s eyes narrowed.
Although the damage he sustained was minor, he knew he had to concentrate fully from this moment onward.
‘The Hero seems to be their primary attacker… Taking her out first might seem like the obvious move.’
At a glance, it appeared as though defeating Ariel Volkanov would resolve everything. However, Lucifer wasn’t reckless.
Considering the possibility of traps, he knew he needed to proceed with extreme caution.
‘Her allies are heavily armored and constantly by her side. It won’t be easy to get rid of her quickly. And if I stall for too long, the others will catch up.’
Targeting her recklessly would only result in unnecessary losses.
At that moment, Lucifer decided on his next move.
Kwooooom!
With a surge of dark energy, lightning crackled in Lucifer’s hands and struck toward the party.
His true target was not Ariel, but Ian Volkanov, positioned in the vanguard.
Lucifer reasoned that if he couldn’t eliminate the hero immediately, he would start by removing the most troublesome obstacle.
‘It’s an effective formation for protecting the hero, but it leaves you vulnerable. You failed to consider how it could endanger your own life!’
Ian, who had been tirelessly defending against the relentless attacks aimed at Ariel, likely assumed this lightning was another assault on her.
But what if the true target of the attack was Ian himself?
‘Caught off guard, you’ll fumble your defenses. And as the pressure mounts, you’ll wither away!’
Lucifer’s relentless barrage aimed to wear down the vanguard. His plan was beginning to take effect.
CRAAACK!
“Gah!”
“Hexar, can you hold out?”
“…Hold out? Of course, I can. But…”
BOOM!
“Tch! If this keeps up, it might get difficult.”
Hexar, struggling to maintain his defensive barrier, let out pained groans.
The lightning poured down like a torrential storm, each strike more powerful than it seemed.
Rumble!
“Damn it! How is this attack so strong?”
Even though Hexar blocked the strikes perfectly, the recoil was enough to leave his arms numb and tingling.
Of course, their allies weren’t just standing idly by.
“Hey, Hexar! Duck your head!”
“Brother! Should I join the vanguard too?”
Illian fired arrows with his longbow during brief openings in Hexar’s defense, while Glendia redirected her buffs from Ariel to bolster the vanguard.
Whoosh! Kwoom!
A magical arrow shot forward in the blink of an eye, but it passed harmlessly through Lucifer’s body.
“Where are you aiming? That’s merely a projection.”
“…What speed.”
Illian clicked his tongue in disbelief, echoed by his companions.
Lucifer couldn’t suppress his laughter as he watched the humans scramble to defend themselves, barely managing to mount an effective counterattack beyond Ariel’s slashes.
“Ridiculous…”
At the same time, he recalled Leviathan’s warnings.
When Beelzebub and Mammon had fallen, Leviathan had stormed into his castle, furious, spitting her words.
‘We can’t leave Ian Volkanov unchecked. He may be human, but he fights in ways we can’t predict. That’s exactly how he operates!’
Leviathan’s caution about Ian’s knack for creating chaos had proven accurate.
The image of Ian shattering the boundary between reality and illusion to ensnare Lilith flashed through Lucifer’s mind. That moment alone had been enough to show how dangerous Ian could be.
And that wasn’t all.
Even when Beelzebub and Mammon had attacked, Ian had somehow wielded the power of an ancient god to turn the tide.
‘Even when he faced Leviathan, that wretched he dared to wield the Holy Sword unworthy of him to pierce her heart.’
Lucifer admitted it—Ian Volkanov was undoubtedly someone capable of overturning the tide of battle by exploiting unexpected variables, even when facing opponents far stronger than himself.
Yet, despite Leviathan’s warnings, Lucifer didn’t believe in following her advice blindly.
“I’ll take over defending against his attacks now, Hexar.”
“Leave it to you, Ian.”
As the relentless lightning subsided, Hexar and Ian switched places.
At the same time, Ian began channeling mana into his body. Lucifer scrutinized his every movement, keenly observing.
‘He’s firmly grounded. In that case…’
Ian was clearly preparing a counterattack, stabilizing himself with his sword aura to buy time.
Seizing the opportunity, Lucifer launched himself forward with tremendous speed.
‘Leviathan… your advice was insightful, but you missed one crucial detail: no matter how many tricks one prepares, against overwhelming power, they are nothing but petty antics!’
As Lucifer closed the distance, Ian bit his lip in frustration. Lucifer instinctively sensed this was his chance to take Ian down.
Ian likely expected Lucifer to wear him down from a distance before closing in for the kill. But Lucifer had chosen to attack head-on immediately.
This unexpected approach disrupted Ian’s timing.
“Ether!”
Fwoosh!
Ian unleashed the power of ancient divine energy, summoning spectral hands to block Lucifer’s advance.
“You thought I wouldn’t foresee such a predictable move?”
“…You anticipated it?”
As the spectral hand reached for him, Lucifer grabbed it with his own, locking it in place.
Crack!
“Gah!”
“The spectral hand, born of an ancient god, may move freely at your will, but did you not realize its flaw? It’s tethered to your body!”
Lucifer twisted the spectral hand, effectively pinning Ian in place.
Though Ian tried to strike, Lucifer had already surrounded himself with a shield of dark mana, rendering the attack futile.
Ian was cornered, unable to counter.
“Now, let’s end this!”
Lucifer began concentrating his dark mana into a devastating strike aimed directly at Ian.
“Don’t bother thinking about defense—it will be meaningless!”
This wasn’t ordinary mana—it carried the power of the Demon God, capable of bypassing all defenses. Even Lo Aias, the unyielding shield, wouldn’t hold up.
Unless Ian could summon the divine power of the Ether Hand once more, all he had was his sword—a hopeless scenario.
Lucifer smirked as he finalized his decision. Locking eyes with Ian, he released the accumulated dark mana in a straight beam.
BOOM!
“It’s over, Ian Volkanov!”
“No! Ian!”
The beam of dark mana hurtled toward Ian, filling his companions’ faces with despair.
Lucifer’s grin widened as victory seemed inevitable.
But in that instant, Ian did something completely unexpected.
“Didn’t your fallen comrades ever warn you? I have more than a few tricks up my sleeve.”
“What? What are you doing?!”
Instead of using his sword to counter, Ian drove it into the ground and reached for a ring on his finger.
“What nonsense is this…?”
Lucifer tilted his head in confusion, watching Ian fidget with the ring. Then he saw it.
Fwoosh!
“What… what is this?!”
“He… absorbed Lucifer’s attack?!”
As Ian touched the ring, a portal materialized in front of him, swallowing Lucifer’s beam of dark mana whole.
Lucifer’s jaw dropped in disbelief as his devastating attack vanished.
‘The Ring of Infinity… no wonder it was mentioned in the reports.’
Looking at Lucifer’s stunned face, Ian smirked.
