Finally… I have crossed my limits.
This is the last trick I could think of… the last one I can perform.
[Pratik]: Trigger 2, Density.
My body… it expanded and expanded like a balloon—then suddenly snapped back to normal.
It hurt.
It felt like my skin was being pulled apart and stitched back in the same second.
My body turned red.
Trigger 2… it simply increases my muscle density by a massive factor. Temporary, of course.
I don't know the time limit.
Which makes my next step even more important.
Crocus looked unfazed.
Sure… he must have faced worse enemies. But maybe he's forgetting something—he's not in his prime anymore.
And that… gives me a slight morale boost.
[Crocus]: Was this all? Hah… die trying to resist me.
He began charging his Dragon Breath.
The Density Trigger—I came up with it earlier while running through City Enact. The idea is simple.
Increase the concentration of Dark Energy Reserves within my pathways.
But my final attack… won't be just a simple punch.
Black flames coated my hands—Dark Energy coating, boosting both attack potency and durability.
[Pratik]: Range Shiftling, Pressure. Range Shiftling, Hyper Mass.
This is my limit.
Four Range Shiftlings… and a Trigger.
For the final touch—
A blue-colored coating appeared on my fist.
That… was new.
Crocus finished charging his breath.
Now… this was it.
The final clash.
I launched myself forward, blasting Dark Energy from my feet.
My fist—fully charged.
As I reached his face, he unleashed his Dragon Breath.
I threw the punch.
My Dark Energy-coated fist treated the Dragon Breath like a solid mass—even though it was plasma.
For a moment… nothing happened.
Then—
Impact.
A sound so loud it nearly shattered my hearing.
Crocus' scales—his armor—were obliterated.
I'm pretty sure even his facial bones cracked.
Blinding light engulfed everything. For a second… I thought I had gone blind.
The very next moment—
My Range Shiftling, Shadow Lord… collapsed under the impact.
The remaining force crashed into the ground…
…and vaporised an entire city on this Dragon Empire planet.
This wasn't just raw power.
I used Dark Energy coating to enhance durability and attack potency.
Trigger 2 had already pushed my physical strength to another level.
Amplification boosted both the coating and the trigger.
Pressure reduced the attack area—concentrating force.
Hyper Mass increased the conceptual weight of my punch.
And the blue coating?
That… was Crocus' own Dragon Breath.
I replicated it by analysing its remnants inside City Enact.
Yeah.
City Enact wasn't just for destruction.
It was data collection.
But now…
The aftermath.
I collapsed onto the ground.
My body… completely swollen.
Trigger 2's side effects are insane.
Pretty sure I broke the bones in my right arm.
My chest hurts even more… feels like my heart is trying to tear its way out.
Crocus…
Yeah, he's not dead.
He's somewhere out there.
That damn lizard…
…I finally beat him.
For a second, I felt bad. He must be in worse pain.
Then I remembered—
He hurt Mala.
Yeah.
He deserved it.
I can't move.
It's fine.
I'll just… take a nap for now.
*
DRAGON EMPIRE,
SECOND PLANET, MORO,
The battle between Girishika and Germio was nearing its end.
And it was obvious—
Germio was winning.
Effortlessly.
Even after hitting her maximiser, Girishika was struggling.
She wasn't heavily wounded…
…but she was exhausted.
And that frustration was eating her alive.
She couldn't stop him like this.
Not like this.
[Germio]: Princess Girishika… I have been your butler since your birth. Your attendant. In your darkest moments, I was the one beside you.
He spoke calmly.
Barely any wounds on him.
[Germio]: Now… it is time for you to support me. End this fight.
[Girishika]: Stop this, Germio! Teger and Frogem must have already escaped. This war won't punish the real culprits—you're going insane!
He paused.
Then looked at her… struggling to stand.
[Germio]: I have thought about it, Princess.
His voice deepened.
[Germio]: When a false verdict was passed in the court by Teger… not a single soul protested.
Silence.
[Germio]: The civilians testified against us. Why?
His eyes sharpened.
[Germio]: Because they feared those in power.
He clenched his fist.
[Germio]: That cowardice… will only rot the Empire from within.
He stepped forward.
[Germio]: Dragolings were once warriors.
His voice turned cold.
[Germio]: Look at us now. From warriors… to trembling sheep.
He looked straight into her eyes.
[Germio]: My anger is not just for Teger and Frogem.
A pause.
[Germio]: Every civilian who stayed silent… every liar in that court…
His aura spiked.
[Germio]: They are equally guilty.
Then—
He declared, almost like a verdict:
[Germio]: AN EMPIRE DOES NOT FALL BECAUSE OF A FOOLISH EMPEROR…IT FALLS BECAUSE ITS PEOPLE REFUSE TO ACT.
He activated his earbuds.
[Germio]: Control Sector 101… begin bombardment of the capital. Erase the planet.
[Voice]: Huh? Looks like the fight isn't over yet. What should I say, Lila?
[Another voice]: Why are you asking me?
*
CONTROL SECTOR 101,
Guards lay unconscious across the floors.
The control room… already taken over.
Three figures stood inside.
[Lila]: Civilians from Gem Society and the capital have been evacuated. But we're running low on food supplies and medical equipment.
[Kel]: Prioritize the critically wounded. Basic disinfectants are available—we'll manage.
[Grimori]: Girishika might need help. What's the plan?
Then—
A voice echoed.
[Germio]: My, my… infiltration? Aren't you kids bold?
All three turned.
Germio stepped out of the shadows.
His black attire blending with the darkness—he looked almost like a phantom.
[Germio]: Planting a teleportation circle here… wise move.
He drew his sword.
[Germio]: Any last words?
[Kel]: You talk too much. Honestly… we'd like a rematch. That loss to Wedgermio? Careless mistake.
[Grimori]: Yeah. Won't happen again.
Kel and Grimori exchanged a glance—blinking in Morse code.
Lila… quietly began chanting.
Germio slammed his sword into the floor—cracking it.
Then walked forward.
Slow.
Menacing.
[Germio]: How amusing.
His smile faded.
[Germio]: Defeating you without effort would have been dull.
His eyes locked onto theirs.
[Germio]: Two choices.
A pause.
[Germio]: Surrender… or death.
Cold sweat rolled down Kel's face.
He could feel it.
Germio's power… overwhelming.
Still—
He stood his ground.
[Germio]: I see. Death it is.
He smiled.
Darkly.
Then—
He burst forward with a loud laugh.
The fight… had begun.
To be continued...
---
EXTRAS:
SALARIES / NET WORTH / TREASURY
1)Pratik – 500 Kalp/month
2)Kel & Lila – 750 Kalp/month
3)Grimori & Mala – 800 Kalp/month
4)Girishika – Broke (owns father's ring worth 1 million Kalp, armour worth 50,000 Kalp, earrings worth 10,000 Kalp—won't sell them)
5)Tai – 50,000 Kalp/month (from Kae)
6)Lai, Gaku, Aaru – 1 million Kalp/mission
7)Sunita, Kajal – 1.05 million Kalp/mission
8)Treta – 1.06 million Kalp/mission
9)Tego – 1.5 million Kalp/mission
10)Arun – 4 million Kalp/month
11)Krishna – 1.1 Trillion Kalp (net worth + resources)
12)Kae – Entire Monster Realm + 5000 Trillion Kalp
Bonus:
K-3 – ??? (Rules over Time Gap?)