Disclaimer: Some of my readers who read my other stories will definitely guess what is going to happen next by reading the chapter title. In order to avoid spoilers, I decided to put the title at the end of this chapter.
After one of their main attackers had fallen, Thirteen's team desperately tried to contain the Majin King, but it seemed impossible even with all their efforts.
Even with the Earth Dragons doing their best to raise Earth Walls to block the Majin King's path, the Ancient Eight-Headed Serpent who had already recovered its true strength, was unstoppable.
Camazotz's armor had more cracks now as he tried his best to defend Thirteen, who was in a vulnerable state.
Rocky, Giga, Blacky, Hercules, the Ogres, and the Trolls all mobilized to attack the Majin King to the best of their abilities.
Tiona personally led the Parade of a Hundred Demons to battle, using everything in her arsenal to protect her Master, who was still hugging the fallen Honey Badger.
David and the other Apostles knew that it was futile to join the fray, but they still joined because they felt compelled to do it.
Even Drazzat and the members of the Cygni Faction took action, using their skills to unleash a barrage of attacks toward the Majin King from a distance.
"This is crazy!" Leon shouted as he threw a spear at the Majin King, which only bounced off its body. "All of you are crazy!"
He was right.
How could they possibly fight against a Majin King when their own forces in Pangea were having trouble dealing with Rank 8 and Rank 9 Sovereigns?
The irony was that those same Rank 9 Sovereigns they struggled to deal with were now fighting on their side, and even with them around, victory was like a fleeting dream that would disappear at any second.
Perhaps it was also due to desperation that everyone was still alive at the moment.
But that could change at any second, with the Majin King having the upper hand.
Thirteen bit his lip until blood flowed from it.
If someone were to ask him if he had done his best, then yes, he had done his best.
But if someone asked him if he did his very best, then the answer was no.
Thirteen had many trump cards, and he had used them against the Ancient Eight-Headed Serpent.
However, there was still one trump card he hadn't used because he was saving it for his faceoff against the second being whom he hated the most.
Thirteen had every reason to believe that at the end of this chain quest, his father, the System God Deus Ex Machina, would be waiting for him.
Taiga's sister, Cleo Evander, had seen a vision about this matter, and Thirteen knew that this was a future that he couldn't avoid no matter what.
Back then, he tried everything in his power to defeat the System God, but he lost miserably in the end.
Thirteen knew that his chances of winning against his father were zero, especially in a state where all of his abilities were restricted.
However, after he returned to Solterra, his First Host reached out to him.
This encounter came as a surprise to him, for he never expected to see his First Host again.
In fact, he was more surprised that his former host was able to recognize him.
"The moment you possessed the body of a human, I immediately sensed your presence and watched you from the heavens. Frankly, I was doubtful at first, thinking I had made a mistake.
"But the more I watched your journey, the more confident I am that it's indeed you, Thirteen, who is now living in the body of Zion Leventis."
Because of that, his first host gave him a Lucky Charm that he could use as a last resort.
Thirteen was planning to use this last resort against his father to at least give him a chance for victory.
But now, he regretted not using it right away.
If he did, perhaps Cranky didn't have to suffer.
It was because he was looking far forward to the future that he ignored the present.
In fact, since Cleo had seen that vision about him fighting against his father, Thirteen thought that he would be able to clear this mission because the future was already "set in stone."
Because of this, he had grown a bit confident that he would be able to survive until he faced his father again.
But reality was different.
He shouldn't have relied on the vision of the future.
He should have focused on the present, which was happening to him right now.
"I'll be back, Cranky," Thirteen said, almost akin to a whisper. "I'll avenge you."
Lightly patting the side of the Honey Badger's face, the teenage boy walked towards the Majin King.
Thirteen's body was still injured, and he was hurting all over.
But the physical pain he felt was nothing compared to the heartache that he was currently experiencing.
Step by painful step, he walked.
His eyes were focused on the Ancient Eight-Headed Serpent, who had just blasted Camazotz from the sky with an Elemental Blast.
The Earth Dragon's defenses were failing, and none of their attacks was strong enough to land a decisive blow.
Zed, who had tried to take a gamble, flew close toward Majin King, allowing Erica to unleash her strongest spell that she had been casting since earlier.
However, just as she was about to cast her spell at point-blank range, he found herself face to face with one of the Serpent Heads, whose giant jaws were about to eat her whole.
Suddenly, the serpent head that was about to devour Erica and Zed exploded, making the other heads look in the direction where the attack came from.
There, they found the teenage boy, kneeling on the ground while drawing the string of his bow, ready to fire another shot.
Erica took this opportunity to cast her own spell while making a speedy escape.
But her spell only managed to burn the side of a serpent head, which regenerated in a matter of seconds.
"You," Orochi said as all the Serpent Heads ignored the other pests around him and focused their attention on the weak human, who was only able to survive due to Cranky's sacrifices. "I've had enough of you!"
Disregarding everything else, all the eight heads opened their jaws and prepared to unleash a breath attack, all aimed at the insect who refused to die no matter what.
Thirteen stared at the purple-colored flames that were about to descend on his body.
"Noooo!" Erica shouted. "Zion!"
An earth-shaking explosion reverberated across the land, creating a mushroom cloud at the point of impact.
Even Leon, who hated Thirteen very much, felt his heart lurch inside his chest because he didn't want the teenage boy to die.
At least, not at this point in time.
"Finally, the pest is gone." Orochi laughed, which echoed in the surroundings.
Now that the annoying human was gone, it set its sights on the Magma Bal-Boa and the other Monsters, who were all roaring in anger and headed in the Majin King's direction.
Rocky, Giga, Blacky, Hercules, and the rest were enraged because Orochi killed their Master.
Even if they were to die, they would bite the Ancient Eight-Headed Serpent until their dying breath.
However, just as they were about to do a suicide attack, a familiar voice reached their ears.
"Calm down, everyone. I'm still here."
Giga looked in the direction of the dust cloud which slowly dispersed, revealing the silhouette of the teenage boy, whom they were willing to die for.
Thirteen was holding a golden metallic staff in his hands, and aside from looking disheveled, he looked perfectly fine.
A golden headband could be seen on his head, and the red scarf that was on his neck fluttered in the breeze.
His green eyes had now turned golden, brimming with power.
Although it was faint at first, Giga sensed a powerful force starting to accumulate inside Thirteen's body.
"You! Why did you not die?!" Orochi exclaimed in anger and surprise because he had repeatedly tried to kill Thirteen, and yet, he survived each time. "Just who are you?!"
Thirteen didn't bother to reply and simply raised the staff in his hands, preparing to strike.
The staff, as if answering his call, extended upward, reaching toward the sky.
Orochi, who suddenly felt a threat coming from Thirteen's weapon, decided to charge at Thirteen with the intention of devouring him whole.
However, Thirteen didn't even flinch or back away as the Majin King approached him.
He would avenge one of his people, and he would not stop until he pounded the Ancient Eight-Headed Serpent to death.
A powerful divine aura emanated from the staff, shining like a pillar of hope amidst the darkness of the night.
Its size then grew to unbelievable proportions, until it was as big as the Giant Snake, who suddenly felt something that it had never felt before.
Orochi, who had lived for hundreds of years, hadn't felt fear in a long time.
But now, it felt it.
With one mighty swing, Thirteen swung down the gigantic golden staff with the intention of swatting the Majin King to oblivion.
"Break all the walls that stand before me!" Thirteen roared his anger, and the Divine Weapon that belonged to his First Host hummed in acknowledgment of his words.
"Ruyi Jingu Bang!"
An explosion that was more powerful than Orochi's attack reverberated in the surroundings, followed by a shockwave that extended for miles.
Those who witnessed this scene from afar could only find themselves helplessly blown away by the impact of a weapon that brought even the Gods down to their knees.