Chapter 488: Echoes Before the Storm (1)

— Frey Starlight’s POV —

The wheel had finally begun to turn, and there wasn’t much time left…

Using my teleportation ability, I managed to escape the enemy’s land alongside Ghost without incident.

The moment we got far enough from that death zone, I was finally able to exhale, relieved after that unexpected clash against opponents who vastly outclassed us.

Ghost, in particular, had endured the worst of it. As soon as we reached safe ground, he collapsed to the ground, panting heavily and unable to compose himself.

He was drenched in sweat, his hands trembling uncontrollably…

It was the first time I’d ever seen Ghost in such a state. The shadows of what he had just experienced had hit him violently.

That’s what it meant to stand before two of the strongest demons in existence.

Unlike me, he didn’t have an SSS-rank aura reserve that could keep him standing in front of beings like that.

I spent a few long seconds watching him silently, then turned my gaze toward the Empire’s military camp, a few hundred meters away.

I had deliberately teleported a distance away to avoid drawing attention with a sudden appearance.

But now, as I observed them more closely—the human forces .. I couldn’t help but ask myself:

‘How are they supposed to survive, exactly?’

Clutching my head and pulling my hair back, a pounding headache took hold the moment I thought about the sheer scale of the catastrophe we were about to face.

Geppetto, also known as Thanatos… some named him the King of Death.

And Zibar, the Tenth Seat .. a demon capable of ending wars on his own, for he was an army by himself.

How exactly were we supposed to deal with beings like that at our current level of power?

I’ve met Sir Alonne before. I know the power Maekar holds.

Compared to them, I might very well be the strongest human alive on this planet.

And yet, even at full power, all I could do was leave a shallow wound on one of them…

What exactly are we hoping to accomplish?

Not to mention .. Zibar didn’t even come in his real body.

I don’t know the exact limits of the clones created through Agaros’ Reincarnation soul , but from what I do know, each clone caps out at about 80% of the original’s power .. and the more clones, the weaker each one becomes.

In other words, at best, I was facing only 80% of the real Tenth Demon’s power—and even then, all I managed with my strongest technique was a mere scratch.

“Damn it…”

For the first time in a long while, that feeling came back.

That suffocating sense of powerlessness .. as if my strength meant nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

Just how much more cursed power do I need if I’m to stand against monsters like that?

What must I do? What must I sacrifice?

Should I let go of my humanity? My very soul? Should I sell myself to one demon in order to kill another?

I don’t know…

Against beings like Zibar, I truly don’t know what I’m supposed to do.

The gap in strength was overwhelming.

“Frey…”

After a few minutes, Ghost finally managed to compose himself. It seemed he, too, shared my sense of dread.

“Do… do we even stand a chance of winning .. no, surviving?”

He asked. And it was unlike him.

But it was the right question.

“Let’s see…”

Holding my swords—Dark Sister and Balerion—I gave them a long look before answering.

“Our chances are zero. For now.”

Ghost immediately caught the key part.

“For now?”

I nodded, then gently tapped his shoulder.

“Our enemies are tougher than ever before, Ghost. If they join the war now… we’re going to die. Without question.”

To defeat an SSS-rank warrior, you need another of the same level.

Even with all my cheats, only my aura had reached that rank. The rest of my stats are far below.

Meaning, I can’t defeat a true SSS rank warrior.

Let alone the Tenth Demon, who had already reached the higher stages within that rank.

Because SSS isn’t a single tier .. it’s divided into seven stages.

The problem is, I don’t know which level Zibar and Geppetto stand at. Their full strength is still a mystery to me.

But…

“They won’t participate in the war just yet. Something is forcing them to hold back, which means they’re here for another reason. A reason that compels someone like the Tenth Seat himself to descend upon Earth.”

So the real question becomes…

Why are beings like them here in the first place?

I’m certain there are countless battlefields across this vast world that require their presence .. far more than this one. Humans pose no real threat to them, unlike certain other species.

Maybe that’s why Zibar came only as a clone, not in his true body.

But that doesn’t change the fact that he still came .. with Geppetto no less.

‘A reason that makes this war we’re fighting against the Ultras look like a trivial matter in their eyes…’

‘Think…’

Why would they come here? What task could beings of their level be entrusted with?

Deep in thought, I tried to unravel their mystery…

“Geppetto and Zibar… they’re part of the Black Faction. The group that follows Wesker. In other words, they’re acting under that damned demon’s orders.”

Wesker.

The Fourth-Ranked Demon who had lurked in my shadow for so long.

The one responsible for my father’s death. The vile entity stalking us from the corners of existence. The true embodiment of what it means to be a demon…

Wesker.

Just thinking about him made a sudden realization strike me.

A realization so sharp I immediately pulled up my system interface.

‘If my assumption is correct… it should appear now.’

Ignoring all the other system functions and my chaotic stats, my eyes locked straight onto the mission tab.

—

Main Quests

– Kill 10,000 Ultras: 5,000 Achievement Points. (Completed)

– Defeat one of the Ultras’ main powerhouses: 5,000 Achievement Points. (Completed)

Final Mission Unlocked: Eliminate Wesker’s Shadows.

Mission Description:

Wesker’s shadows are spreading across the world, and the hunt has already begun. This is a race against time .. who will hunt who first?

The catastrophe is inevitable. Your blade may be the deciding factor in the war to come.

Before it’s too late, eliminate Wesker’s shadows.

The First Shadow: The Eternal Witch, Beatrice.

The Second Shadow: The Death King, Thanatos .. also known as Geppetto.

The Third Shadow: The One-Man Army, the Tenth-Ranked High Demon, Zibar.

The Fourth Shadow: ???

Reward for Completion: Unlock advanced phases of Shadow Adaptation. (One phase will be unlocked per defeated Shadow.)

Penalty for Failure: Humanity’s extinction and total defeat in the war.

System Note:

I know, I know .. you’re probably wondering who I am, aren’t you? Who is this snarky system that keeps mocking you all the time? Let me tease you a little… if you manage to complete the mission, I’ll tell you who I really am! Exciting, isn’t it?

But let’s be honest… this mission is harder than anything you’ve ever faced, and your chances? Paper-thin. Will you hunt them… or will they hunt you?

Personally, I’m betting on the latter. But hey, who knows? Maybe you’ll surprise me.

I’d love to call you a frog at the bottom of a well, but let’s admit it .. your strength has grown a lot lately. Let’s just say… you’re barely decent now. But not nearly good enough.

Do your best, Frey Starlight.