Chapter 24: The Name of a Fallen Commander
The story begins exactly where the previous chapter ended.
The MC had injured the monster so severely that it was standing at the edge of death. Unable to continue fighting, the monster collapsed and sat on the ground. Blood flowed endlessly from its wounds, and its condition had worsened to the point where it could no longer move its body.
The monster finally accepted defeat.
At that moment, Navi stepped out of a portal and sat down beside the wounded monster. His Crazy Mode had already deactivated. Looking at the monster calmly, Navi spoke—
"Before you die… at least tell me your name."
The monster smiled faintly. "I never imagined my end would come like this. I've fought countless battles… but none of them were as thrilling as the one I had with you."
After a short pause, the monster continued, "My name is Raya… Commander Raya."
Navi asked, "Do you have any other questions?"
Then, in a completely unexpected way, Navi said, "Will you be my friend?"
Hearing such words from someone standing before his death, Raya burst into laughter. "You're a strange human."
Navi looked at him seriously. "Why didn't you kill me earlier?
If you wanted to, you could have ended me from the start."
Raya took a slow breath. "I'm tired of fighting. All I wanted was peace.
I wished to die while fighting… and I realized you were capable of giving me that kind of death."
Navi frowned. "So that's why you didn't use your full power?
I know how strong you are. You could've killed me easily."
Raya replied calmly, "I've grown bored of this world.
You seemed interesting.
I felt your journey was still very long."
Suddenly, blood spilled from Raya's mouth.
With a weak voice, he asked, "Why are you here in this world?"
Navi's voice softened. "I don't know. I was suddenly teleported here and got trapped.
I want to return to my family. I miss them deeply.
I don't want to become powerful.
I don't want to fight or kill anyone.
I just want to live peacefully with my family.
I don't even know how long I've been here… I'm slowly forgetting everything."
After a brief silence, Navi said, "Leave your king and come with me."
Raya smiled and shook his head. "I can't. I'll remain loyal to my king until the end."
Navi lowered his gaze. "I'll remember you forever."
With those final words, Raya collapsed to the ground.
The MC checked his body. It felt lifeless.
Raya was dead.
The MC summoned the System Window. "Collect all the monster cores."
System: "Confirmed, Master."
After a moment, the System reported— "Master, a total of over 300,000 monster cores have been collected.
Among them are 999 cores of S, SS, and SSS rank."
Navi asked, "How many cores are required to strengthen my sword?"
System: "Ten cores."
"Alright."
Navi then called out to Lisa. "Stay in space and observe the ring and the weapon souls."
Lisa: "Understood, Master."
She disappeared into the ring.
The System spoke again, "Master, which core would you like to observe?"
The story does not reveal which core Navi chose.
Navi replied, "Observe all the remaining monster cores.
I'll decide what to do next.
You need to become stronger."
Navi then dripped his blood onto the ring and absorbed Raya's body into it.
He looked around.
Everything was completely destroyed.
The System Window began observing and attempting to level up.
The scene then shifted.
The Monster King appeared.
He looked human, but dragon-like horns rose from his head.
He had already sensed the death of his comrade.
Yet, there was no emotion on his face.
Behind him stood his army— millions of monsters,
all of them SSS-rank.
The Monster King's rank—
UNKNOWN.
And with that…
Chapter 24 ends.