Cannons and missiles roared, endlessly bombarding the Star Eater. Its massive body was being torn apart, bit by bit—slowing its advance, but not stopping it.


    Yet the monster refused to fall. One of its arms suddenly burst through Utopia''s atmosphere, tearing through the clouds and slamming toward the ground. It crushed countless cannons—only to be obliterated by a storm of retaliatory fire from all sides.


    "Is the system ready yet?!" the King shouted.


    "Eighty percent charged!"


    "Keep firing! The Abyssal Breaker is almost ready!"


    "Yes, sir!"


    As everyone desperately tried to hold back the Star Eater, the Phantom King and the Spirit Queen continued fueling the massive cannon, pouring their mana into it. Even with the world hanging by a thread, the two still found time to mock each other.


    "Well, look at that beast getting closer, and you''re still just standing here?" the Phantom King sneered.


    "Someone''s still behind you. Maybe try a little harder?" the Queen snapped back.


    "Bring it on! What''s there to be afraid of?!"


    Their shouting surged with their mana, which now flooded the cannon even faster.


    "Ninety percent charged!"


    Time passed slowly. Though the Star Eater was taking heavy damage, it kept advancing. The people of both kingdoms were fading—dissipating into glittering magical particles.


    "Oh? Looks like all our people are gone," the Phantom King murmured. "Only you and me now."


    "Want to make a final bet?" the Queen asked, panting.


    "Let''s hear it."


    "Let''s pour out all our power at once. Whoever collapses first admits the other was stronger."


    "Heh. Fine by me. But you don''t look too good yourself."


    "Shut up. Let''s begin."


    Their bodies glowed fiercely as they poured every last drop of power into the cannon. The King, still guiding the system and locking targets, glanced back again—haunted by guilt he had no time to resolve.


    Then he turned one last time—and saw only glowing motes of mana where the Spirit Queen once stood.


    "Damn it! Is the system ready yet?!"


    "Ninety-nine percent charged. Energy conversion in progress."


    The Phantom King, breathing heavily, kept forcing his mana in.


    "Still standing… I won''t lose yet…"


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    But when he turned to taunt his rival again, he froze. She was gone. Only her lingering energy remained—no words, no farewell. A silent end.


    There was a moment of quiet.


    The Phantom King bowed his head, tasting victory… and bitter emptiness.


    "So, our little game is finally settled…" he whispered. "And yet you disappeared without saying I was stronger. You liar. But… if there''s a next life… I still want to fight you. Only you."


    He raised his head, fury in his eyes.


    "You bastard! TAKE OUR WRATH!"


    He screamed and poured his final magic into the cannon.


    "System fully charged. Ready to fire."


    The Phantom King collapsed, turning toward the King with a faint smile.


    "The rest… is up to you."


    And then, he too faded into mana, joining his eternal rival in silence.


    The platform was now empty—only echoes remained.


    "Damn it... Abyssal Breaker—FIRE!!" the King shouted, choking back grief and pain.


    "Commence firing sequence."


    The cannon roared. Energy surged from the core, gears grinding, pistons pumping. Magic surged like waves, runes glowing, the massive barrel aligning toward the heavens. Crystals shone, pulling in surrounding mana through glowing wires. Magic circles detached from the cannon muzzle, rotating around the twin barrels.


    Twin vortexes of energy formed—two cosmic storms spiraling into one another.


    "Target locked."


    Just as the Star Eater''s massive body neared the atmosphere, the vortexes were sucked into the cannon—then, in an instant, the world fell silent.


    Then… the explosion.


    The ground cracked beneath the Abyssal Breaker. Space around it twisted and tore. Its roar drowned out the Star Eater''s screams.


    Shockwave buffers activated, but even they couldn''t hold—their surfaces splintered under the force. The King, beneath the cannon, raised layers of barriers just to survive the crushing pressure.


    Then came the light.


    Two enormous beams shot forth, tearing through the sky—pillars of blinding hope that lit the entire world. As they rose, they twined together into a single massive blast that tore through the Star Eater''s barrier and ripped into its flesh, pushing it back with divine force.


    Star Eater screamed in pain—its shriek shook the sky, deflecting countless bullets and waves of magic. But even its cries couldn''t stop Abyssal Breaker from tearing its flesh into pieces. It twisted its body in desperation, trying to retreat, raising its massive arms to block the blast. But none of it mattered. The moment it entered Abyssal Breaker''s line of sight, it became a target locked in fate. The cannon instantly adjusted its aim to follow the monster''s movement.


    Its limbs were immediately suppressed by continuous volleys from the surrounding turrets, bombarded relentlessly by high-density missiles and artillery fire. Gravity missiles exploded all along its escape route, activating force fields that distorted space and dropped hundreds of magic stones into the air—stones that anchored the very fabric of movement, trapping the Star Eater in a collapsing cage of power. Every attempt to flee only brought more agony, as its monstrous flesh was torn apart and scattered across the battlefield like cursed embers falling from a dying star.


    The King, battered but alive, teleported away from the cannon. He looked up—relieved, but uneasy.


    "…Why was it so easy? Why hasn''t it used any other abilities?"


    Then, as if answering his fear, the Star Eater suddenly used its limbs to cover its body. A crimson energy shield formed around it—blocking every attack except the Abyssal Breaker''s beam.


    "What is that…?" the King gasped.


    "Sir… all weapons are ineffective now. Only the Abyssal Breaker can damage it."


    "Cease all fire. Reload everything."


    "Yes, sir."


    As the systems reset, the King stared—his unease growing.


    And then… it opened its mouth.


    A gaping, thorn-lined maw stretched wide—welcoming the Abyssal Breaker''s light inside. And from that black void… came a new crimson beam, born of despair, colliding directly with the Abyssal Breaker''s beam of hope.


    The clash shook the world.


    "What the hell…?" the King whispered in shock.


    The crimson beam began to push the Abyssal Breaker''s light back, forcing the two forces into a deadlock.


    "It''s copying us!" one officer yelled.


    "It''s imitating the Abyssal Breaker!" the King growled. "This is beyond anything we expected!"


    "Resume fire! Cannons and missiles—everything we have!"


    But no attack could pierce the crimson shield now. It was too late.


    The people of Utopia watched in horror.


    Their final hope… was being eclipsed by despair''s crimson hunger.