The powerful blue flash, Melissa's sword energy, repeatedly collided with the starlight enveloping me. The seemingly fragile starlight perfectly blocked the lightning-fast blue sword energy.
In a trance-like state, I scattered starlight around me. Through the movement of the sword, I blocked all threats from the outside.
It might have been eons in internal time, but only a few seconds in real time.
Starlight was still floating around me after I stopped moving my sword.
Now I don't need to directly aim at the opponent.
[Sword Curtain. Release]
Whoosh!
I swung my sword strongly. The starlight that had lingered around me instantly scattered, spreading in all directions and started slashing the surroundings.
Boom boom boom boom boom-!!!
Melissa's illusion was swept up in the storm of starlight.
"Whew."
I placed my hand on my chest, calming my pounding heart.
[Sword Curtain]
[Invincible while casting (Cooldown 1 minute)]
[Sword Curtain. Release]
[Combo after Sword Curtain]
[Delivers a powerful slash to the entire circular area within 30m centered on the caster]
The first standing invincibility skill for swordsmen, the first full-range technique.
This confirms it.
The skills users obtain at the end of the tower, or at least the skills for swordsman users, are created based on my techniques.
Ranged classes all have standing invincibility skills, but melee classes don't. The only invincibility skill that can be used without a target is 'Backward Evasion'. Counter can't be used without a target.
Skills like the fighter's 'Dragon Fist' and the swordsman's 'Flash Slash' have invincibility frames, but the frames are very short and there's post-delay, so it's hard to use intentionally unless you're like me.
But this new 'Sword Curtain' is different.
It can be used in a standing state without conditions or targets. It blocks all attacks while casting. And the sword energy used for defense can be released as an attack.
It's truly the unity of offense and defense.
Astria Online's 'skill system' that activates when you decide to use it. Other users will be able to use this as a temporary invincibility skill too. However, the release is my unique skill. To launch slashes, you need to actually move the sword and leave trajectories of sword energy.
If this were translated into game terms, it's a kind of command skill. It can be activated immediately with a hotkey, but feels like it turns into a powerful skill if you input a command.
Have I regained the power of the past?
No, my past self couldn't do this.
I clenched my fist tightly.
"I've improved."
I've improved beyond the past.
I've finally made Melissa's teachings that transcended time and space completely my own.
After briefly savoring the afterglow of enlightenment, I turned my head urgently.
The battle was over.
What about Melissa's illusion?
Melissa, who had been swept up in my sword energy, had stopped all actions and was still covered in a blue light mass.
[Ancient Swordsman ■■■■■■■]
Woong.
[Ancient Swordsman 'Melissa']
The named interface changed, and the name was engraved there.
I sent a bright smile towards my comrade who had regained her name.
Now, it's goodbye again.
The light mass-covered illusion of Melissa.
Her mouth.
Opened.
-Rain.
"...!"
-Rain, Rain, Rain.
"Ah...?"
I blankly let out a groan.
Why?
The point when this tower was built in the Roeide family was before Melissa and I met.
The one here should clearly be Sister Melissa from before meeting me.
Why does the Sister Melissa here… Know my name?
-Rain, where did you go? My little baby bird.
Was Melissa alive?
Even after I left this world?
But, surely.
"Sister, Sister Melissa...!"
I screamed and reached out my hand towards the light mass.
It doesn't reach. My hand only cuts through the air of Melissa's illusion that has finished all its roles.
-Why did Rain disappear, and I remain.
-Everything was for you alone, to make you happy, that's why we've walked this far.
-I want to believe you're not dead. I want to believe you returned to the world of your previous life you sometimes talked about like a dream.
-But, this is as far as I go.
-For you who might come back again, I'll leave a message here with the last of my strength to remain as myself.
-Rain, if you've come back to this world again.
-For the Astria continent you loved.
-Me, who will seal myself in the eastern gorge, consumed by magic.
Me, consumed by magic.
The soul of a knight who was a master in life, a being stained by magic.
Death Knight.
Fallen Knight.
Lingering attachment to a higher realm. As long as they remain in this world. Thick magic. Those things turn them into Death Knights. The magic that swirled in the Demon King's castle where we fought last was enough to raise dead knights.
But for Melissa's noble soul to become a Death Knight?
Was there that much resentment engraved in her soul left in this world?
Her resentment, her remaining attachment was.
"Me."
I fell to my knees.
○
The now familiar nest of Chris and me.
The terrace of the penthouse, you can see outside clearly from the veranda.
The scenery of a large artificial city, the huge river stream cutting through that city.
It's raining.
The sounds from outside blocked by the window aren't heard well.
I blankly look down at the rainy scenery of Seoul.
"Rain."
I felt a familiar and warm touch on my head.
Chris was standing beside me before I knew it.
A quiet time passes, contrasting with the rough rainy scenery outside.
Without realizing it, my mouth seemed to open suddenly.
"Um, is it okay for me to keep playing Astria Online?"
"..."
Chris didn't answer my words.
In fact, even I don't know why I said such a thing.
How long did the silence continue?
Chris, who had been observing my complexion, spoke first.
"You didn't get hurt today? Hm, looking at your condition, it seems you're okay today."
"My body is fine."
I clutched my chest.
My body is fine, but.
Why does it hurt here?
How long did Melissa wander?
Fighting against the magic consuming her soul, unable to rest in peace, fighting against the echoes in her head telling her to destroy the world, how many long years did she fight?
Just to find me.
To find me who had disappeared from existence in the world.
Believing I wasn't dead.
"Did I do something wrong."
I despaired and ran away.
The gap between dimensions is deep.
A thousand years is a long time.
Should I not have left?
If I had stayed there, could I have met Sister Melissa again?
Even if not in her living form.
"Rain."
Chris's calm voice echoed in my ear.
"I've seen you cry while playing Astria Online, but never here? A-ahem. Come to think of it, actually once when you were drunk... Well, anyway!"
"...?"
"It's okay to cry."
Chris laughed brightly.
I lowered my head.
I can't hide my true feelings in front of Chris.
She must have read the undisguisable signs of sadness in my eyes.
Cry, and then?
There's no one to resent.
Just swallow the cruel reality.
The hero's mission.
I felt it in the past too, but it's too big a burden for weak me.
Is a hero someone who must cut down even comrades to save the world?
"What on earth made Rain's heart ache so much."
"..."
"Will you be okay?"
"...I don't know."
I really don't know.
"It just feels like everything is too much for me alone."
I threw a tantrum.
"You won't leave my side, right?"
"Yes."
"Absolutely not. I won't forgive you."
"Unnie's not going anywhere. Absolutely not."
The person who made me, who had lost everything and despaired, who was about to disappear devoured by the world, able to live again.
The person who gave me the strength to move forward.
Hug.
Chris hugged my head.
I cried silently in her embrace.
○
Finally today.
Woong.
The seal on Celestial Basin in Erins Gorge opened.
I saw many familiar faces around. Members of the Red-White Guild, members of Skada's raid team. Everyone gathered here was full of expectations for the new dungeon.
Skada glanced at me with a smile and nodded. I nodded back.
Then I licked my lips slightly.
I thought I wouldn't get involved with people anymore after coming back to this world. I swore I wouldn't make comrades.
But now I have quite a few connections. Besides Chris and the Red-White Guild members, there's our cute swordsman newbie Nagi and the excellent raid leader and mage Skada.
Is my remaining identity as a solo player just challenging elite dungeons and raid dungeons alone?
The vanguard teams that formed parties started disappearing into the dungeon one by one.
"Rain."
Chris, standing with Bae Merong, Deathly Death, and Cherni, took my hand.
"Yes."
"Alone this time too?"
"Of course."
I smiled brightly.
Thanks to Chris, I gained the courage to face other people again.
For her sake too, I must bid farewell to the past along with the hero's mission.
To live happily as 'Lee Seulbi', not 'Rain'.
That's what Elaine wants.
And probably Melissa too.
Her figure disappeared into the basin and.
Left alone, I quietly stared at the entrance to the valley leading to Celestial Basin.
The identity of the second Army Commander, the eastern Army Commander, has been confirmed.
Melissa, who became a Death Knight.
I will face it.
As an enemy to be defeated.
The elite dungeon before my eyes is just a path to pass through.
Beyond here, I reach Melissa's side.
Woong.
As I crossed the boundary of the valley, my body was enveloped in a strange floating sensation.
[Entry Level 53]
[Elite Dungeon (4-person party recommended)]
[Celestial Basin]