My stepsisters are sexy demons, and I must protect them
Chapter 99: The final boss finally shows up

Chapter 99: The final boss finally shows up

Despite their first victory against Eskari’s dark elf forces, things are far from hopeful.

Their formation has already lost two members: Kellen Wynne—third strongest after Zayn and Chris—and Jasmine Bell.

Due to the severity of their injuries, continuing the mission was no longer an option.

Shin and Alexia also came out wounded, though only with minor cuts and bruises.

Only Zayn and Chris remain completely unharmed.

Technically, Hakuto is unscathed too, but only thanks to his armor—now lined with deep, wide cracks, as if it could shatter from a single touch.

Without it, he would’ve ended up in worse shape than the other two agents.

So, Shin asked Velune to take the wounded out of the forest, where HESPARC Brazil agents would handle their recovery.

But when Shin urged Velune to hurry, saying Drakhul’s help was crucial for the final battle against Eskari, her reply was far from gentle:

«No chance! I only let my beloved Drakhul loose because those were weak enemies he could use as punching bags to sharpen his combat skills. Even watching him fight like a brainless beast tore me apart... but Eskari is on a whole different level, and I won’t let my Drakhul be destroyed again—especially since you told me no more clones can be made!»

Shin’s attempts at persuading her were useless.

He never imagined Drakhul’s safety mattered more to her than even an exclusive dinner with the cast of El Suspiro de Valmara, spoilers included.

Before vanishing with the wounded, Velune took the opportunity to reanimate a handful of dark elves whose bodies were still intact—around twenty of them—and added them to her undead army, which now counts nearly forty units between Drakhul, the corpses provided by HESPARC U.S., and the dark elves.

Seizing the moment of calm, Alexia hands out small white pills to the others.

They’re Sacred Flame supplements, capable of restoring some of a Monster Reaper’s energy—the same drug Chris once gave to Shin months ago, after his fight with Velshekar, when he lost his right arm.

«We can move again. At this point, Eskari can’t be too far... though I still can’t figure out how he knew we were coming or where to ambush us,» Shin murmurs suspiciously.

He begins thinking to himself.

~It can’t be Velune—she wouldn’t have come to help us if it were her... Could it be that yoghral who appeared during the Estonia attack? That creature isn’t offensive, but it must know a ridiculous number of stealth spells. Otherwise, it never would’ve made it into the Cult of the Primordial Shadow. We need to eliminate it as soon as possible~

Lost in thought, a cigarette between his lips, Shin walks only a few steps before stopping cold.

He stretches his arm to the side, signaling the others behind him to halt.

From the trees, a tall, slender figure emerges—similar to the dark elves they just defeated, but exuding a completely different power.

The trees themselves bend away to let it pass, as if fearing or worshiping it.

«The final boss finally shows up,» Shin comments with a defiant smile—a cocky, confident attitude that barely hides the anxiety stirring inside him.

«I wanted to greet you earlier, but I had things to do. Anyway...» Eskari’s amused eyes lock onto Shin’s missing arm. «...looks like karma did its job. Your right arm is almost a fair price to pay for ruining my unmatched beauty!»

Shin stares at him, tilting his head slightly, confused.

«I did... what?»

Eskari loses it.

«Y-You bastard, don’t tell me you forgot what you did to me twenty years ago?! You might’ve beaten me once,but this time things will be different!» he yells, ripping off his hood to reveal the scar across his face.

Shin studies his face more closely—his eyes narrowing, trying to catch every detail, and then...

«Mmmh... nope, sorry, don’t remember. I’ve beaten so many people in my career, you can’t really expect me to remember all of them,» he replies with an awkward smile, which only makes the dark elf angrier.

Eskari starts growling in rage.

A swirling aura of dark green energy, shaped like tiny leaves, rises around him.

Massive roots erupt from the ground, targeting the five remaining Monster Reapers like a swarm of monstrous serpents—far more colossal than those summoned against Drakhul by the combined magic of twelve dark elves.

«Killing you without you even remembering who I am will make my revenge less satisfying... but I don’t care. I’ll make you suffer more than you ever thought possible! We’ve talked enough. Prepare to die!»

Then, the gigantic vine tentacles—tens of meters long and two wide—lunge at their targets with shocking speed.

«Chris, take care of it!» Shin shouts, leaping back to dodge the deadly roots.

Chris nods.

He spreads his massive draconic wings, and from their membranes erupts a freezing storm of ice that blasts out in all directions, spreading over dozens of meters at near-instant speed—without touching his allies.

The ground is now covered by a thick layer of ice, which climbs rapidly along the roots, freezing them just before they can strike.

«And now...» Shin continues. «...Zayn!»

«You don’t need to tell me,» Zayn replies, clearly annoyed.

He immediately takes flight, soaring above the massive roots.

Lightning gathers from his wings to his arms, both stretched toward Eskari.

Then...

–WOOM!

A massive vortex of pure electricity bursts from his hands.

The frozen roots shatter instantly—Eskari gets hit dead-on by a violent explosion of lightning.

Hakuto stands frozen, stunned by Chris and Zayn’s overwhelming power.

~Could it really be over in just two attacks...? Sure, those two have terrifying strength thanks to their crystals, but our opponent is a member of the Cult of the Primordial Shadow. I never imagined it would be this easy...~

But as he looks around, Hakuto quickly realizes the fight is far from over.

Everyone’s expression is tense, nervous, as if they can see or sense something he doesn’t.

And when the smoke and dirt stirred up by the electric blast finally clear... Eskari is still standing, in the exact same spot, same pose, at the center of a huge crater left by the explosion.

A semitransparent green energy sphere surrounds him completely—a magic barrier that nullified Zayn’s devastating attack.

«Fools...» Eskari sneers with a merciless grin.

As he speaks, even thicker roots than before start breaking through the ice-covered ground, surging upward with ominous force.

«...if this is the best you can do, killing you will be even easier and quicker than I expected!»