The Evolution Of A Goblin To The Peak

Chapter 1224: Fighting the Calamity: Memory

It was followed by a rain of blood spears.

Hundreds of thousands of crimson spears poured down across the city’s perimeter. Each one carried immense energy, tearing through the bodies of the dark apparitions with brutal force.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Angus, Emiline, and the others felt an overwhelming pressure as they stared at the scene before them, their eyes wide with shock.

It was a wide-range attack capable of covering the entire Nature Zone City.

’Souta’ frowned after destroying hundreds of thousands of dark apparitions. He could see that there were still more, and the ones he had destroyed were already recovering at a visible rate.

”Dark apparitions... That’s what they call them. It’s understandable, since we can’t even speak their true name.”

He muttered this before bending his knees and launching himself forward.

Boom!!

His figure vanished, heading straight toward the Royal Capital.

Angus, Emiline, and the others stared at the scene in shock. It was difficult to describe what they were feeling at that moment.

They were relieved that Souta had grown stronger. However, even he couldn’t completely destroy the dark apparitions.

”He’s gone.”

”He’s heading toward the Royal Capital.”

Angus felt a surge of nervousness. He could only place his hope in Souta. Moreover, he wanted to help. After all, this calamity was the responsibility of the Royal Family.

...

Saya halted in midair as she took in the current state of the Royal Capital. Just as she had expected, the calamity had already spread.

The entire city was submerged in a black liquid that seemed capable of corrupting anyone it touched. Dark mist rose from countless structures, while the sky above was choked with pitch-black clouds. Millions of dark apparitions of various sizes were pouring out from the palace at the city’s center.

The air was suffocating, saturated with intense negative emotions. Ordinary people would have lost their minds the moment they entered this city.

”I have to stop this from spreading any further, or there will be no one left. It could even reach other lands.”

Saya wanted to confirm something, but she knew it would be difficult with her current strength.

”I’m not familiar with Souta’s current evolution, so I don’t know what to do. Monsters can instinctively use some of their traits, but I can’t do that even while possessing this body.”

When Saya was alive, she had been a demi-human, so she had little understanding of how to fully wield a monster’s abilities. She could activate some of Souta’s traits, but it was nowhere near as effortless as when Souta himself was in control.

This meant she couldn’t draw out Souta’s full potential. She would need time and training to use those traits freely but there was no time for that now.

”No matter what... I have to stop this,” she muttered.

...

An old man walked down the hallway with a young boy following behind him.

The old man glanced at the boy and said, ”You must remember, Souta, that not everything will go the way we want it to.”

The young boy, named Souta, looked at the old man with a confused expression.

The old man smiled and continued, ”I will introduce you to a game called Battle World Online. It’s a virtual game that I created, and you, you will play it.”

”Okay, Grandpa,” Souta nodded.

”You will be able to train your skills in that game. You will learn many things, but not everything, as even I don’t dare claim that I know everything,” the old man explained.

”What skills am I going to train?” Souta asked.

”That depends on you. I’m sure you’ll figure it out once you play,” the old man said with a smile as he continued walking beside Souta. He then added, ”In the future, you will face many things but that is still far away.”

The two arrived at the dining room, where the maids had already prepared their lunch.

Soon after, the world was shocked by the release of a virtual game called Battle World Online. It was so realistic that players felt there was no difference between it and the real world. The game became a worldwide sensation, sweeping across the gaming industry. Although there was criticism and demands to change certain mechanics, the developer ignored them all.

The old man let his grandson play the game.

The young boy played it and slowly became an expert. He fought other players and various beings within the game, which honed his game sense.

There wasn’t a single day that he missed playing Battle World Online.

Five years passed in the blink of an eye.

The old man and Souta were having dinner together. Exquisite dishes prepared by master chefs were laid out on the table.

”Grandpa, what’s going to happen to the game? I’ve played it for years, and I want to build my own guild. I want to play with others too,” Souta said.

”Hm... don’t play with others. They’re playing for the sake of entertainment, while you are different. I told you before that you are training in the game,” the old man calmly explained.

”But I’m training in real life too. I’ve trained in many martial arts and even managed to combine them.”

”Boxing, Muay Thai, wrestling, and the others are good for your body. However, the game will train your mind, and it will familiarize you with stronger opponents.”

”I know, but—”

”In the future, you will be glad that you learned all of this. It will greatly help you on your journey, as you’ll have a reference for what to do.”

The old man and Souta talked for a while longer. After they finished their dinner, the maid cleared the table as Souta and the old man stepped outside.

The old man had prepared everything for Souta’s growth. He adopted him and slowly guided him to become a strong individual, someone who would one day stand at the top.

A year later.

Battle World Online had become the most played game in the world, boasting the highest number of active players of all time. There were many critics and bashers, but none of it affected the game’s popularity.

Inside a dark room, the old man sat comfortably in a chair, his eyes fixed on several screens playing footage from the game. Beside him stood a large capsule, with Souta resting inside.

The old man focused his attention on one of the screens.

A video showed a man fighting numerous demons. Skills and combat arts were unleashed one after another, violently altering the surrounding terrain.

The man on the screen was Souta’s in-game character.

Blood had become a well-known player due to his overwhelming strength and refined skills. He completed missions alone and even clashed with some of the top guilds. Many players tried to hunt him down, yet none succeeded.

”That’s right,” the old man muttered. ”Fight and familiarize yourself with everything. Remember the combat arts and spells so you won’t be caught off guard. Always stay vigilant, no matter where you are.”

The old man stared at the screen for a few more minutes before turning toward the capsule. His gaze softened as he looked at Souta’s face.

”Don’t rely on anyone. The world will soon undergo a tremendous change, and I will probably disappear as well. The Ieshi Clan is powerful, but our strength comes at a price. I have secretly guided the human race of this planet and revealed many things that should never have been known. Everyone must pay a price for learning knowledge they were never meant to possess.”

Battle World Online contained vast amounts of knowledge that ordinary mortals could not possibly handle. The only reason they hadn’t lost their minds was because of his protection. Without him, this planet would already be doomed.

”I can’t maintain this for much longer. There are only four years left, and then I’ll let you go, my grandson.”

...

Land of Fire Light.

Explosions shook the Royal Capital, their shockwaves rippling through the air.

Saya hovered above the city, her consciousness firmly in control of Souta’s body. Every movement felt precise, familiar. She slashed through the dark apparitions while blood spears shot from her side, piercing enemies one after another. Still, there were too many. Even with her power, forcing a breakthrough felt suffocating.

Endless...

”AHHH!!”

She roared, her mind accelerating as she wove a Tier 3 spell in a single second.

[Quicksilver]!

Ohm!!

A translucent field burst outward from her body. The world lurched, sound stretched, motion dragged, and time itself slowed severalfold. The dark apparitions moved like they were trapped in thick mud.

Saya didn’t hesitate.

She stepped forward, feeling an immense surge of energy gather along the blade in her hand. Her grip tightened. Power screamed through her veins as she raised the sword.

[Crimson Moon]!!

She swung.

A colossal crimson energy blade erupted forth, cleaving through the enemy formation. It tore across the battlefield at terrifying speed, far too fast for the slowed apparitions to comprehend. One moment they stood intact and the next, their bodies split apart like fragile paper, scattering into nothingness.