Apocalypse Baby

Grim Lord's grip tightened around its weapon.

For the first time, it was starting to feel nervous.

Alex's attack had failed, but that didn't matter.

Because in the process, he had forced the Grim Lord to reveal one of the pendant's abilities.

And now...

The battle was shifting out of its favor.

The Grim Lord gritted its teeth.

Its usual strategy—summoning powerful undead minions—was no longer an option.

It needed a new plan.

Its mind raced.

Varkos.

Grim Lord's most powerful undead.

Sending him away was a mistake.

It didn't think Alex would be such a chore.
Explore more stories with My Virtual Library Empire

But now, it needed the undead general back.

The Grim Lord focused, reaching out with its mind.

It could feel Varkos's presence in the distance—

Locked in battle.

With who?

It sharpened its focus.

The human clones.

Alex's clones were keeping Varkos busy.

The Grim Lord's frown deepened.

No matter.

Grim Lord intended to call him back anyway, as the clones wouldn't stand a chance.

But then—

WHOOSH!

Alex had noticed his moment of distraction and attacked.

He knew the beast was up to something.

But that didn't matter.

Because he had a plan.

The Grim Lord spotted him approaching and instantly lashed out.

A barrage of brutal, rending strikes—each one fast, precise, and deadly.

SWISH!

SWISH!

Alex dodged, weaving between the monstrous attacks, his reflexes razor-sharp.

And then—

He closed the distance.

The Grim Lord snarled, sensing danger, and swung its massive blade.

But Alex was gone.

Using [Earth Swim].

In an instant, he sank into the ground—like a shadow melting into the earth.

The Grim Lord's blade sliced through the empty air.

Its eyes darted around.

WHOOSH!

Alex erupted from the ground—

Behind the beast.

Blade flashing.

SLASH!

But the Grim Lord reacted just in time.

CLANG!

Steel clashed against steel.

Sparks exploded into the air.

Then, another strike.

A counter.

A furious, chaotic exchange of blades.

CLASH!

CLANG!

CLANG!

Each attack faster.

More relentless.

Then, the beast lashed out with a devastating, full-force slash.

Alex saw it coming.

But instead of blocking with his blade, he twisted his body and activated [Aegis Arcane].

The arcane shield materialized and shattered on impact.

BOOM!

But Alex just grinned.

Because he didn't care.

Not yet, huh?

Alex thought to himself, his eyes locked onto the Grim Lord.

They clashed again—swords colliding in a brutal flurry.

CLANG!

CLANG!

SWOOSH!

The Grim Lord roared, swinging its massive blade downward with terrifying force.

Alex leaned back at the last second, activating [Aegis Arcane].

CRACK!

The barrier shattered on impact, fragments of magic fizzling away.

But Alex just smirked.

"Third time's the charm."

The Grim Lord hesitated.

What was this human playing at?

Alex had completely stopped moving.

His arms were outstretched.

His magic shield was up.

And then, he yelled out—

"Come!"

The provocation was like pouring oil on fire.

Furious, the Grim Lord lunged forward and swung down with all its might.

A strike powerful enough to cleave mountains in half.

BOOM!

But—

Instead of Alex's shield shattering on impact…

It held firm.

A radiant glow rippled across its surface, humming with energy.

The Grim Lord's eyes widened.

Then [Aegis Arcane] special effect activated.

"Counter."

SLASH!

A massive gash tore across the Grim Lord's body, nearly splitting it in half.

Purple blood erupted from the wound, splattering onto the ground like a ruptured dam.

The beast staggered, its monstrous frame trembling from the devastating blow.

The power of [Aegis Arcane] had activated--A 30% chance to deflect attacks, but with an added 50% damage boost.

And it had just hit perfectly.

Alex's eyes locked onto the skull-shaped pendants.

This was his moment.

This was his chance to destroy them.

But...

Despite the injuries the Grim Lord received, it managed to react.

Vines exploded from its body in a desperate, frenzied burst!

WHOOSH!

They lashed out, aiming to ensnare Alex.

But...

CRACK!

Alex leaped back just in time, the vines slamming into the ground where he had just stood.

Then, he looked up, and grinned.

The Grim Lord's wounds closed.

Its body restored.

One of the skull-shaped pendants pulsed with a sinister glow.

But…one was missing.

Alex flashed a mocking grin, his fingers tightening around something in his palm.

Then, slowly—deliberately—he turned his hand over, revealing what he held.

Crushed fragments.

The shattered remains of one of the Grim Lord's skull pendants.

With a smirk, Alex let the pieces fall.

They crumbled through his fingers, scattering onto the ground like dust.

"No..."

The Grim Lord's voice was a low, guttural growl.

Its massive frame stiffened.

Then it stepped forward.

And roared.

"NO!!"

The beast's fury shook the battlefield, but Alex was already moving.

SNAP!

He activated the trap he had set on the ground beneath the monster—

BOOM!

The ground erupted in a massive explosion, flames and debris swallowing the Grim Lord whole.

Alex narrowed his eyes.

He had suspected that one of the pendants was responsible for the beast's magic barrier.

And he hoped that the one he destroyed was the right one.

But...

The Grim Lord emerged unscathed.

The beast strode out of the smoke, its eyes gleaming with mocking amusement.

Alex clicked his teeth.

The barrier was still intact.

And judging by how the Grim Lord's wounds had already healed, it wasn't the pendant that gave it regeneration either.

So what was the effect of the pendant he had he destroyed?

The Grim Lord stepped forward, its massive form radiating pure rage.

Its glowing eyes locked onto Alex, and its voice rumbled like thunder.

"You damn human... You'll pay for what you just did."

Alex exhaled, rolling his shoulders.

His grip on his sword tightened.

"Says every single monster I face."

The Grim Lord lunged, its body exploding with thorn-covered vines, each one lashing out like a whip of death.

Alex didn't hesitate.

SHING!

He spun his blade in a sharp, fluid motion—

Then, with a sudden burst of speed, he dove in.

His goal? The last two pendants.

Using [Blur], he vanished, a streak of motion blowing past the vines as they slammed into the ground, shattering stone.

He closed in on the beast, his blade aiming straight for its chest—

Then, something felt off.

A strange chill crawled up his spine.

Then...

Memories flashed through his mind.

Scenes he didn't recall experiencing himself.

A battle. A struggle.

A final blow.

Then it hit him.

"Dang."

One of his clones had just been killed.