The Death Hero?
Daniel's first reaction was that he must have read it wrong. How could this man be the Hero of Death?
But the words on the scroll didn't change. In fact, the scroll burned away completely into ash.
Daniel glanced cautiously at the middle-aged man. He couldn't sense any aura from him, but every cell in his body was screaming at him to run.
This is the Death Hero! According to what Andreas had said, the Death Hero was the most powerful among all heroes in history.
"So this is his inheritance, huh?" Daniel didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
The inheritance that the entire world had been looking for had been in this mountain all along? He hadn't even tried to find it—but still found it.
But something was off. No one knew the inheritance was hidden inside the Endless Spirit Mountain.
How was that possible? So many powerful factions had come here over the years, but no one had discovered the inheritance?
Daniel looked at the hero and pushed those thoughts aside for now. The most important thing was beating one of the strongest figures in history.
He checked the man's energy level. Seeing that it was also Rank C, he let out a small sigh of relief. If this guy was at his peak, Daniel would've had no chance.
He drew his sword from his inventory.
At the same time, the sound of a battle bell echoed through the battlefield.
Daniel gripped his sword with both hands.
The man standing in front of him held a simple wooden sword. His face was expressionless, his eyes hollow like endless black pits.
A true hero. A sword that looked plain, but enough to strip the light of life from any being.
Daniel took the first step.
[ Destruction Strike ]
He hadn't planned to start the fight with such a strong skill, but against someone like this, he couldn't afford to take any risks. He had to go all in right away.
His sword lit up with a red, radiant energy and came crashing down on the hero with destructive force.
But the hero didn't move. He simply sidestepped and with one casual swing of his wooden sword, completely shattered Daniel's attack.
Before Daniel had time to react…
[ Final Silence ]
With a single swing, the hero spread waves of death all around him.
Any living being within that range would lose all senses for a moment—as if their heart stopped for a beat.
His wooden sword silently cut through the air. It didn't seem like anything special… until Daniel's vision blurred, and a heavy pressure struck his chest.
His heartbeat stopped. Just for a moment. But it was enough. In that split second, the hero appeared right in front of him.
A horizontal strike from the wooden sword—but when it hit, it felt like his bones were exploding.
Daniel's ribs cracked loudly. His body flew back, tumbling across the ground. He coughed up blood, and his fingers trembled.
"Is this the power of the strongest monster…?" Daniel's mind was screaming, but his body? Consumed by pain.
Without hesitation, he used Mana Healing to recover his wounds.
[ Light of Annihilation ]
A bright white beam shot out from his eyes — a light that could disintegrate anything, even existence itself. He launched it toward the hero.
At the same time, he charged in without wasting the opportunity.
But the hero simply raised his hand. No shield, no barrier — just a simple motion.
And then—
[ Death Of All ]
It's not just living things that die. Anything can die — whether it's energy or matter. As long as the power of death is strong enough, even annihilation itself can die.
The Light of Annihilation… disappeared.
Right before hitting, the white beam vanished in an instant, swallowed into a bottomless darkness—gone without a trace.
Daniel's sword struck the hero's wooden sword and they exchanged several blows, but in the end, Daniel was thrown back again.
"Impossible…!" Daniel gasped for breath. His knees were shaking.
"So this is the power of a death law? A supreme law?" This was the first time Daniel had seen such a terrifying power.
Even though they were both Rank C, the hero could wield a supreme law. Against something like that, Daniel might as well be a bug.
"If this keeps going, I don't stand a chance," Daniel thought, trying to find a way to end the battle—and luckily, he got an idea.
But he'd probably have to die for it to work.
He launched himself forward, and their swords clashed again. They began exchanging sword techniques.
Daniel could clearly see—his swordsmanship meant nothing in front of this hero. It was like the hero was sparring with a child.
The gap between them was massive.
[ Shadow Weapons ]
Dozens of sharp blades formed from the shadows around them—spears, daggers, flying knives.
They all shot toward the hero at once—from every angle, every direction, full force.
But...
[ Denial of Existence ]
A passive skill—but his strongest defense. Anything made of living matter or energy, when it comes close to him, simply collapses. Because the hero's existence is an end to theirs.
The blades came within a step of him—then one by one, crumbled into ash and vanished.
Seeing this, Daniel felt like he couldn't breathe.
That one second of hesitation was enough—the hero struck again, smashing him hard into the wall of the battlefield.
All his powers… everything… useless. Blood was pouring from his mouth, his stomach was split open, his right leg trembling—he couldn't even stand on it.
With this kind of condition, he had no chance. The only option now was that method.
But he really didn't want to lose a Fallen One. And besides, he wasn't even sure it would work. He'd never tested it before.
The hero stepped forward and appeared in front of him, placing the wooden sword on Daniel's neck.
Daniel could see death in his eyes. No doubt—if he died at the hands of this hero, he would truly die. No second chances.