After Betrayal, I Awoke as the Game's Final Boss

That aura… that crushing pressure that had made him kneel without even realizing it. A feeling of primal horror, as if something from beyond time had emerged and looked upon his soul with contempt.

"I can't defeat him…" the king whispered in a barely audible voice, his eyes staring into the void. "I can't even get close to him…"

But the king was not one to surrender to fear.

He was born amidst swords, raised in the cradle of wars, and had burned dozens of villages to maintain his power. He knew that strength alone was not always enough, and that some enemies… could not be defeated with a sword.

His mind began to work like a black vortex, searching through secrets, cunning, and dirty tactics. Direct confrontation? Suicide. Political confrontation? Impossible. Deception? Yes.

"Search every corner, every crypt, every magical network, and every mana point!" the king roared. "Leave no stone unturned. I want names, ages, genetics, pasts, even a victim count! Everything about those two creatures!"

The commanders bowed their heads and ran as if their very souls were on the line.

The king sat back down, but this time, not as a king. He was more like a wounded fox… wounded, but he had not yet lost his fangs.

"You… you demon…" he whispered in a low voice, heard only by the cracked throne. "You may be stronger than me… but I will know your name. I will know where you came from. And I will make you regret the moment you defiled my land."

Meanwhile, Lloyd told Balberius some essential information about the [Reflection World]. There wasn't enough time for a full explanation, but Lloyd knew Balberius needed to experience things for himself. So he sent him directly to explore the capital, while he headed to the first tower to meet the supervisor.

This time, Supervisor "Gorlam" appeared personally to receive him again. There was no mechanical gatekeeper, no boring rituals, no magical traps. Instead, Supervisor "Gorlam" himself appeared to welcome him.

The massive figure stood there, his body wrapped in dense muscles covered by dark green skin like scorched asphalt. Long tusks protruded from his mouth, and his red eyes glowed from within the shadow of his long hood, as if they were windows to an ancient massacre still replaying in his mind. His bare chest was covered in glowing, blood-colored tattoos that stretched in a strange pattern the mind couldn't grasp, as if they were spells carved in a pre-creation language. On his back, two massive swords were crossed in an 'X', pulsing with a faint aura, as if still burning with the spirit of a war that had never ended, only temporarily covered by a layer of time.

[Supervisor of the First Training Tower - Gorlam]

[Awakening State: ??]

'So he's an Orc? I didn't see him clearly last time, but… why am I not surprised?' Lloyd felt this form was more consistent with the nature of that battle-hardened beast; even his hood seemed to hide something worse than just features.

"My lord, I can barely maintain my manifestation. I cannot use my energy, but I can use some of my physical strength," Gorlam said in a tone not lacking respect, but it was laden with something like sadness… or a warning.

'Again? Just how weak am I?'

Lloyd felt a strange tightness in his chest. Everything seemed stronger than him. Even those who were supposed to be his subordinates spoke as if they were of a higher station. His power was still unstable, as if his body was trying to adapt to a legacy not entirely made for it.

"Status."

[Name: Lloyd Reinhart >> (Lloyd Amora)]

[Race: Royal Vampire (Dual)]

[Innate Traits: Anomaly, The Rational Savage, Celestial, Child of the Legacy]

[Titles: "Scion of Selenium", "The Royal Disaster", The Noble Leech]

[Lesser Titles: Stubborn Masochist I]

[Main Class: Primordial Magic Magus]

[Sub-Class (1): Spell-Weaver]

[Awakening State: Diamond Dormant - Level 50]

[Statistics]

Royal Blood Essence: 500.0 Units (Acquisition Rate: 100%)

Aether: 50 Units (60/60)

Strength: Level 50

Agility: Level 49

Defense: Level 50

Dexterity: Level 50

Vitality: Level 36

Endurance: Level 40

[Legacy Points: 0 Mission Points]

[Blood Gems: None]

[BP: 320 RBP]

[Skill Points: 28]

"I've reached level 50 already?" Lloyd muttered, staring into space, as if the numbers before him didn't make sense. Despite the pleasant surprise of his level increase, remembering what he paid for it made him frown.

"Gorlam" noticed his gaze and understood without needing words.

Despite Lloyd's calm expression, a faint disappointment was visible in his eyes. It wasn't because he expected more, but because he realized the truth: his current power was not enough to stabilize his condition.

The aura surrounding his body flickered involuntarily, as if searching for a missing center of gravity, while he tried hard to appear steadfast. His breath seemed ragged for a moment, then calmed.

"It seems I have to train harder…" Lloyd whispered to himself, shaking his head slightly, feeling a strange pressure in his chest.

"My lord, I am prepared to present the item I hold," Gorlam looked at Lloyd steadily, his tone unchanged, but it carried a different weight this time. "It is something the Progenitor left for the Heir – for you!"

Silence fell. Their eyes met in a silent, enigmatic gaze… Three minutes passed without a single word, but the dialogue that passed between their eyes was more than could ever be translated.

Finally, Lloyd cleared his throat, signaling for the tower supervisor to continue. "Explain further… What item do you have? And how do I get it?"

Gorlam replied in a deep voice, his eyes glowing with a strange luster, "It is a Source Engine... and a Superior-type one at that."

"..."

Once again, silence prevailed. This time, it wasn't the silence of confusion… but the silence of an impending explosion.