Just as I expected, four cloaked figures burst open the carriage door, glaring at Luna. Without a word, they thrust a sword straight at her. I snap Shadow Enhancement into both arms and deflect the blade just in time. Luckily, it's not some fancy weapon, so my hands only get a shallow cut along the edge.
After blocking the strike, the next move is clear: kick this bastard out of the carriage and hold out until help arrives. I can't take on four alone, so this is the best plan for now…
I thought I could stall, but I didn't expect them to blow the damn carriage to bits with a massive Fire Magic blast…
The explosion sends Luna and me flying nearly ten meters. My clothes are partially burned, my skin's lightly scorched, but it's not a big deal. The four assassins, moving with no wasted effort, charge forward, pin us to the ground, and sneer:
- Finally, we can wrap up this shitty mission! You two made us wait way too long!
I stay silent, partly because taking on four is a losing bet, but mostly to figure out how to escape this murderous situation. Waiting for help isn't an option - I can't be sure anyone will show up in time. These guys are clearly moving fast to finish the job, not dumb enough to drag it out until we're rescued…
Like every spoiled isekai noble, Luna makes things worse by threatening them, saying they'll regret touching us. Obviously, they're not about to let us go with a smile. Instead, they grab us by the collars and growl:
- What kind of delusional crap makes you think we'd let you brats go that easily? Dream on!
To shut her up, one of them pulls out a wickedly sharp dagger, stabs me repeatedly, and tosses me aside to make a point - they don't give a damn about human lives.
Didn't expect to run into psychos this reckless…
Does getting stabbed nearly a dozen times hurt? Hell yeah, it's agony beyond words…
Am I really going to die like some disposable side character? NO FUCKING WAY I'M ACCEPTING THIS! If I'm going down, I'm taking these bastards with me!
- System, convert all my lifespan into whatever can let me slaughter these motherfuckers…
『This may cause irreversible damage to the user. Is this truly worth attempting?』
- Just do it, now!
『Converting coefficients…』
After the notification, the system hums silently, and in a split second, the pain from my wounds fades. Strength surges through me, but something feels… off, like I can't quite describe…
『Coefficient conversion complete. Initiating forced enhancement. Preparing to shift user to "魔神[1]" mode.』
As the notification ends, my body feels like it's overloading, my mind flooded with rage and fury. Both arms turn pitch black, cracking with glowing blue fissures, sprouting claws and spikes. My face feels encased in bone, with jagged armor and spikes jutting from my jaw. My whole body's wrapped in hard bone armor, and the stab wounds now ooze a thick, black sludge instead of blood.
I look like a creature straight out of hell - worse, even…
Once the transformation's complete, my first urge is to rip these bastards apart…
Right after they took me down, they turn to Luna, torturing her savagely with no shred of humanity - tearing her clothes, beating her, slashing and stabbing her body, even moving to strangle her to death or worse…
I don't care if she dies, but dying like this? Not gonna happen…
- You assholes should just die already…
- What the...
Before one can finish, I charge the closest one at full speed, punching a hole through his chest and yanking out his still-beating heart. Another turns pale and screams:
- We're screwed! Number 3, let's avenge our brother!
- No chance in hell! System, bring out everything you've got!
『Acquired skill: Shadow Weaponry. Activating Shadow Weaponry - Chains protocol.』
A pair of black chains materializes in my hands, each tipped with a deadly blade to maximize damage. A faint black mist swirls around them, making the weapon look insanely dangerous…
And it is.
As I swing the chains at the two charging me, they extend endlessly, flying at high speed. The two barely block and retreat. Seizing the moment, I rush in, wielding my new weapon in a brutal, no-holds-barred fight. They're no pushovers, calling the last guy to join in a "swarm" tactic to overwhelm me.
No matter how you slice it, one against three is impossible. These guys aren't amateurs - they coordinate attacks, defenses, and support like a legendary team, making this fight feel like a lost cause. I need to end it fast or I'm done for…
Since I'm all-in, I've got to push through this bullshit like those overpowered isekai protagonists, except for me, the "price" has to match the "power" - no cheating the rules like some motivational guru…
Aiming at the three, I channel energy into my arm and shout the activation protocol:
- Shadow Explosion, full power, lock on n fire!
A brilliant blue beam erupts from my palm, scorching everything with blinding light and a deafening roar that could shred eardrums. The three assassins try to dodge, but with the wide range and searing heat, if they're not dead, they're definitely crippled…
Of course, using that much mana and strength in my condition overloads my body…
I cough up blood, my senses dull sharply, and my body feels out of control. I collapse, barely able to breathe…
『The user's body has sustained damage beyond the system's auto-repair capacity. Forcibly deactivating "魔神" mode . Remaining lifespan: 0 hours, 12 minutes. Body limit maintained for 10 minutes before complete loss of consciousness. Initiating emergency consciousness preservation. User data will be backed up.』
So this is it… At least I did something worthwhile in my final moments, so I don't feel like a complete failure. Honestly, this wasn't a bad deal - one for four and wiping out a huge area? Not a loss at all…
It doesn't take long for the only other survivor - Luna d'Auvergne - to see me collapse, bleeding from every facial orifice - nose, mouth, eyes, ears - plus the earlier stab wounds. She rushes to me, frantic and distraught, lifting me up with trembling hands and a shaky voice:
- John, can you hear me?! JOHN! ANSWER ME, YOU IDIOT!
- Still… *cough* Guess I… played stupid for clout this time…
As I finish, Luna bursts into tears, hugging me and sobbing:
- I'm so sorry, John… This is all my fault… What am I supposed to do now…?
- Honestly… it's not… your fault or mine… No need to feel guilty…
Her apology ripples through my mind, stirring something after a long, bleak calm.
In my past life, I rarely - more like "blue moon" rarely - got a sincere apology from anyone who wronged me. If I got a thousand dong for every genuine apology I've received, past and present, it'd barely buy a loaf of bread or a soda. Strange, but true. I got used to it…
『Body limit: 8 minutes before complete loss of consciousness…』
- System, any skills I can still use?
『Currently, only Voice Mimicry can be activated via user consciousness. Other skills cannot be activated due to the user's body being unable to support them.』
Fine, at least I've got something since I can barely move or speak…
- Luna, I've got a question.
- Speak, I'm listening… - she says through tears.
- What's our relationship, by the way?
- You're worried about that now?!
- Yeah… Last words don't get a second take, damn it!
- Fine… Honestly, I never saw you as just a servant…
- Then what the hell am I?!
No answer.
The air's heavy, filled only with her quiet sobs. I'm about to kick the bucket, and this silence is practically killing me…
- Forget it. I'm dying, why do i have to bother… Fine, whatever, want me to sing? Like old times?
She doesn't say anything, but I feel her nod slightly, so I start singing - through Voice Mimicry, since I'm too weak now…
『Body limit: 2 minutes before complete loss of consciousness…』
Out of all the songs I know, for some damn reason, I pick "Since I Know You." It's gut-wrenching, but with less than two minutes left, I sing it with everything I've got.
"…Know you, then know you again…"
Since meeting Luna, I realized life isn't just the endless crap I've seen - it's got beauty, goodness, and people who spread positivity despite it all. She's like that, pushing through a messed-up world to chase something better, unlike me…
Memories from both lives flash by like a fast-forwarded film - sad ones, happy ones, moments I wanted to forget, but mixed in are joyful times, like my youth…
Everything's fading. My body feels nothing, only my ears picking up Luna's heart-wrenching cries, apologies, and thanks I can't make out clearly. This'll definitely scar her, but what can I do? I'm dying moment by moment… I just hope she moves past it. It'll be tough, but not impossible.
And in her final words, I'm not sure if I misheard…
- …John, from the bottom of my heart, I love you… I'm sorry I didn't have the courage to say it sooner…
No way I heard that right - no one's crazy enough to confess to a dying guy… Whatever, I'm exhausted. Time for a nap… though it might be a long one…
[1] Demon God (Kanji)