Crushing flags and claiming the Villainess

The last obstacle that stood between Austin and the fourth fragment was the goblin King: Baelak.

This whole floor was filled with goblins, those creatures who are generally considered as the level one monsters, the nightmare of the beginners. And here, they were ruling the tenth floor.

Austin narrowed his eyes on the twenty-foot-tall green creature, which had pointed downward ears and slim limbs that surely would allow it for unrestrained movements.

The magical presence it was extruding was simply astonishing.

Just based on its magical presence, this being was stronger than Astaroth.

"It's time," Austin muttered as he saw the timer of the resting zone nearing zero.

He summoned his newly acquired weapon—Twin Vipers. A long-range weapon consisting of a long chain with two blades attached to both ends.

Austin took a deep breath. He no longer felt the nervousness as before, maybe because now he was one hundred percent sure of his victory.

He knew his goal wasn't to defeat this creature but something beyond this.

As such, he must fight.

[BZZZZZ!]

As the buzzer resonated, the two beings became alive and moving.

His chained twin daggers spun in a blur at his sides, metal ringing sharply in the thick, choking air.

The moment the Goblin King lifted the scythe—WHOOM—a wave of dark energy slashed out. A crescent of crackling force tore toward him.

Austin dove under it, the wave shearing through boulders behind him like butter.

He rolled, launched off the ground, and hurled one dagger mid-air. The chain rattled, stretching out like a silver streak. It coiled around the monster's wrist, digging in. With a pull and a twist, Austin yanked himself toward the giant, feet first, eyes locked on the scythe.

But the Goblin King reacted fast. With one clean slice—SHINK—he severed his own hand, letting the dagger fall with the limp stump. Blood hissed as the limb rapidly regrew, bone cracking and flesh twisting in seconds.

Austin clicked his tongue and twisted mid-air. His other dagger flashed. He slashed at the beast's side as he passed, carving a deep red line into its ribs.

The Goblin King roared, spinning, and brought his scythe down.

BOOM.

Austin barely dodged, landing in a slide. The blade struck where he'd been a heartbeat ago, splitting the earth open. Cracks raced out, swallowing chunks of the arena.

From a distance, the monster launched another slash, sending a wide arc of dark force. Austin dashed left, then right, weaving through the air-blades with inhuman speed. But one caught his chain.

SSSHHH!

A glowing rot spread across the linked metal, crawling toward his hilt like burning mold.

Austin clicked the mechanism. Snap. The infected length dropped away. He reattached the loose dagger, chain shortened but clean.

No time to think. The Goblin King charged—quicker than anything that size should be.

Austin sprinted forward to meet him.

At the last second, he jumped, springing off the monster's knee. His chain slithered through the air, wrapping around the Goblin King's horns. He yanked himself up and over, dragging the beast's head down.

Another dagger slash. He carved a mark across the Goblin King's forehead—but the rot had spread again. Austin's blade hissed red where it touched flesh.

He tossed the infected weapon, letting it fly. It was embedded into a tree, sizzling.

The Goblin King ripped free of the chain, hand bleeding but grinning with empty eyes.

He swept his scythe low, carving a trench. Austin flipped over the blade, landed on the monster's back, and drove his second dagger in.

The King spun violently, trying to throw him off.

Trees shattered. Stone crumbled.

But Austin held on—barely.

The Goblin King smashed his back into a cliff wall. CRACK! Austin's breath flew from his lungs.

But in the end, he had what he needed.

He twisted, used the monster's own movement to flip upward, and landed right above the beast's head.

Twin daggers back in hand—he'd called the other one back with a flick of the remaining chain.

Both blades plunged down.

The Goblin King grabbed him mid-strike, claws sinking into his side. Blood sprayed.

But Austin's blades had already touched the crown of the beast's skull—rot spread fast, bright red and searing.

In rage, the monster slashed his own head, cleaving the infected part off.

But Austin had already vaulted away, panting, crouched, one hand on the ground.

The Goblin King stood tall again. Fresh flesh. Fresh rage.

The two exchanged a gaze before the Goblin King slammed his weapon on the ground—drawing several dark chains from the ground that darted toward Austin

A brief moment of panic before Austin backflipped and narrowly missed the chain.

He knew he would experience a world of pain if they clung to him, so he continued to back off rapidly, side-stepping, jumping, and ducking to keep those corrosive restraints away.

**SPRING**

The last chain sprang faster than any other, urging Austin to rely on his instincts rather than calculated movements—however, the leap was so great that he never noticed the movement behind him

"THE FUCK!" He cursed aloud as he landed just against the Goblin King.

Baelak didn't waste time before caging Austin in his arms and crushing him with the intention of squeezing his life.

"Agh ...shit!" Austin grimaced, but couldn't get away with brute force. His limbs creaked because of the force and just when he realised he couldn't overpower him,

"Berserk!" He cried and instantly strength surged through his body, allowing him to liberate himself from the excruciating pain.

"*AGHUOO*" Baelak narrowed its eyes, not pleased with the defeat.

However, Austin didn't give him time to grieve.

He was prepared for another strike. Twin Vipers now stored away, and all he had were his two hands.

The Goblin King responded in kind and pumped his fists.

A moment of silence passed.

Then they vanished.

Austin ducked just in time.

CRACK!

Baelak's massive fist swung through the air and smashed into a distant rock, shattering it into dust.

Austin rolled, then pushed forward. His fist shot upward like a cannon, crashing into Baelak's ribs.

BOOM!

The giant stumbled back five steps, the shockwave blasting a nearby boulder into pieces. But Baelak laughed.

SWISH!

Baelak blurred again. His speed didn't match his size—he moved like a shadow. He spun mid-air, delivering a heel kick.

Austin crossed his arms.

BANG!

The impact flung him a hundred feet across the field, carving a trench where his body scraped the ground. But before the dust could settle—

He was up.

Austin's foot cracked the earth as he launched himself back in.

BAM!

THUMP!

CRASH!

Fist met flesh. Elbow met jaw. The sounds of the battle echoed like thunder across the wasteland. Austin ducked, stepped in, and drove his knee into Baelak's stomach.

Baelak roared, spit flying, and clapped both hands around Austin's sides like a bear trap.

KRAK!

The ground crumpled beneath them.

But Austin didn't flinch.

His hand shot up—fingers locked—and punched Baelak square under the chin.

Baelak's head jerked back. Blood splattered. Austin spun, using the momentum to land a roundhouse to the side of Baelak's face.

The king flew.

BOOOOM!

A hill behind them exploded as Baelak crashed through it.

Austin took a breath.

But Baelak was already up. Bleeding, grinning. His speed didn't drop.

He ran. Each step crushed the land beneath.

Austin ran too.

They collided mid-air.

KAA-THOOM!

The sky flashed white for a moment.

Their fists met. Both were pushed back, feet dragging long scars across the earth.

They grinned at the same time.

However, Austin suddenly relaxed his shoulders, confusing Baelak.

"You were a good warm-up, mate." He said, as he released the effect of Berserk, "But now I think I am prepared."

[Indeed, host. Your soul is more than ready to consume the fourth fragment.]

Came the confirmation.

Suddenly, darkness enveloped his left hand. It was as if raging fire, dark in shade, had consumed his arm but it didn't affect the boy at all.

The Goblin King felt danger from the darkness that was consuming all light and hope.

Austin's soul has become one with Scar, as such, there was no need for him to give it a physical form

Austin himself was a Shard now.

He took a step towards his enemy.

The creature took a step back, clearly wary.

But then, something pushed the King from behind, a shimmering barrier and Austin launched from his spot.

The two beings drew closer, and just in time, Baelak raised his fist to strike back.

Austin easily pushed the punch away and lightly tapped the Goblin's chest.

"*AGHUOOOOOO!*" A cry that can traumatize a man for life, resonated through the barren dungeon floor as the black flames consumed the creature.

Austin stepped away and didn't bother to see what conclusion the final boss reached.

He stood in the middle of the dungeon, and called out, "It's time to put the final piece in place."

°°°°°°°°°

A/N:- Thanks for reading. I think there are thirty more chapters. Don't worry, we will see their wedding and children.