Chapter 21: Die Already
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"H-Huh...?!"
Before the cultist could move another step, dozens of fists made of pure shadows struck his body from every direction at once. Freezing temperatures engulfed his entire form as thick layers of ice rapidly grew over him. At the same time sharp icicle blades impaled him completely, pinning him helplessly in place against the cold stone.
"?!"
Blades made of shadows surged from Riven’s fingers and stabbed into the werewolf’s head and eyes. They sliced open his throat and tore his heart wide open in a single merciless motion that left no chance for recovery.
"Aaaaahhhhhhhh!"
As the cultist continued to agonize and thrash, Riven created his largest Ice Weapon yet, a massive Ice Axe that gleamed with deadly cold light under the dim crystal glow of the cave.
With the full power of Heavy Weapon Master enhancing every movement, he swung the weapon in a wide horizontal arc that cut through the air with a sharp whistle.
"Die already, mutt bastard."
SLAAASH!
The werewolf’s neck was cleanly severed. His massive head rolled across the floor while his headless body collapsed heavily onto the ground, spreading thick pools of blood everywhere.
Daniela slowly looked back at Riven. Her eyes carried a faint sadness as she watched the giant dinosaur mother lying still on the floor. Soft growls of pain escaped the Tyrant’s throat while her babies gathered closely around her, nuzzling against her cooling scales.
"Riven..." she sighed quietly.
He slowly returned carrying the severed head of the werewolf and threw it down in front of her without ceremony.
"C-Can’t we heal her?" Daniela asked. She had grown attached to the beast even if only a little. "Maybe with the potions..."
"No," Riven shook his head firmly. "And ultimately, monsters are not from our world... If we helped her survive, in the end... she would still take many more lives afterward."
"..." Daniela lowered her head and gently caressed the Tyrant’s rough scales. "What do we do?"
"We give her a good farewell," Riven said softly. "And we stay with her until her last moments."
They remained by her side until she slowly began to close her eyes. Her breathing grew more and more tired with each passing second, becoming shallower and weaker.
Riven thought about many things after the euphoria of the battle finally disappeared and the silence of the cave settled around them.
What are monsters, really?
Why are they here?
Despite everything they do against humanity, are they truly to blame when they are simply following their instincts?
In the end, as someone who had been given the Predator Class, he could only grow stronger by eating them.
It was almost ironic. He had always been someone who loved animals back then, and even monsters, as scary as they were, had been a subject he loved to study in order to pass the time.
Being so close to these creatures... honestly fascinated him. Yet there was also a small, lingering sorrow every time he had to take them down.
Maybe one day he would grow past that feeling and be able to do it coldly and without care.
But right now, he did not really want to.
He felt that these lingering emotions were what made things special. Letting them go completely would likely turn him into something that was no longer human.
And he knew that Elisa would likely never love him if that ever became the case.
"Goodnight," he said quietly while gently caressing the Tyrant’s nose. She slowly stopped breathing and rapidly grew cold beneath his hand.
"Gryaarrr!"
"Gaaauuuhh..."
"Gryack!"
"Eeuurgh..."
The little baby tyrants all cried out in pain, calling desperately for their mother even though she would never wake up again. Their small voices echoed sadly through the empty cavern.
"D-Do we leave them like this?" Daniela approached Riven with a few quiet tears falling from her eyes. "Um, about her corpse...?"
"I’ll eat it," Riven said in a cold but steady voice. "I have to..."
"Hm..." Daniela nodded weakly. "So we’re taking the boss? It is exactly as you wanted... but somehow it’s sad? Haha... I really don’t get it... This world... it’s so weird sometimes."
Riven continued to caress the Tyrant’s scales one last time. "It truly is."
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