Crashout 3 end
ROAR!!!
I unleashed a furious roar and rampaged, tearing through everything in sight—trees shattered, boulders exploded, and beasts were ripped apart by tooth and claw. My vision was red, my mind blank. Rage drove me forward, and destruction followed. The ground trembled beneath my steps, and the sky darkened from the smoke of everything I burned.
Only when the last tremor faded and the berserk state wore off did I stop.
Breathing heavily, I collapsed to my knees, shifting back into my human form. I sat there, hunched over, arms wrapped around myself, chest rising and falling. Ash clung to my skin. Blood—some mine, most not—stained my hands. The silence felt deafening.
"System…" I whispered, voice trembling. "I defeated Balerion. What do I do now?"
[System Notification] Host, you must still defeat Pride and Pyra to earn the rite of passage from the Will of this Realm.
"Tch." My teeth ground together. The rage began to bubble again, not from madness this time, but cold calculation. "What if I just destroy the whole damn continent? What happens then?"
If you do, the realm will retaliate.
"Can I win?"
With all your current power, there is an 80% chance of success.
I chuckled. It wasn't a happy sound. "Good."
The dragon within me stirred. My bones cracked, skin hardened, and wings burst from my back. I transformed again, rising tall as a colossus in the smoke-filled sky. A monster reborn.
And then the world burned.
Hours Later
Nothing remained of Level One. Ash coated the earth like snow. Blackened craters stretched in all directions. Fire danced across the distant hills.
Then came the cries—roars, caws, and howls—from every direction.
I turned, baring my fangs.
They had come.
Pride, King of Lions, golden mane glowing like firelight. Pyra, Queen of Phoenixes, wings stretched across the horizon, flames trailing behind her like a comet's tail. Behind them: dragons who had escaped me before. Beast kings and queens from every level. Legions upon legions of monsters.
Perfect.
I opened my maw. Fire gathered, pulsing with raw energy. I released it.
BOOM!!
Thousands were vaporized in an instant.
The rest surged forward, rage and vengeance fueling them. Their attacks lit up the skies—claws, fangs, lightning, earth, wind, shadow. But none could pierce me. Their weapons shattered against my scales. I moved like death itself, cleaving through them, dismembering, incinerating. For every beast that fell, two more came.
Pride and Pyra exchanged a glance—then lunged together.
Slash!
Their claws cut deep across my chest. Blood sprayed into the air. But I didn't react. My pain resistance was at its peak, and my wounds stitched together before their eyes. Gasps rippled through the army.
They tried to flee.
I didn't let them.
I was faster. Always faster.
I grabbed Pride mid-dash, jaws closing around his neck. I bit down and twisted. A sickening crack echoed as I crushed the life from the Lion King.
Pyra screamed in anguish and took to the skies. I followed, wings thundering.
She hurled firestorms, but I consumed them greedily, feeling my stamina return with each lick of flame. Realizing her mistake, she shrieked—and the heavens split open.
Tens of thousands of energy attacks rained down upon me.
I didn't flinch. I stood my ground, taking every blow.
The sky trembled.
When the final blast ended, smoke cloaked the battlefield. Silence reigned.
Then I stepped forward—unharmed.
Their fear was palpable.
I smiled. A cold, inhuman smile.
With a flash of speed, I struck Pyra. One swipe. That was all it took. She fell, a blazing star extinguished.
Then came the massacre.
One Week Later
Nothing remained.
Where once a vibrant realm stood, now lay blackened ash and scorched ruin. The ground crackled beneath my feet as I walked slowly, alone, back in my human form.
Before me pulsed the core of the realm—the heart of this place. The prison that held me for over a thousand years. Its light flickered like a heartbeat, struggling.
I clenched my fists, fury bubbling anew. I raised my arm.
Then a voice echoed.
"Stop."
I froze. "Who's there?"
"I am the core of this realm."
My eyes narrowed. "You?"
"Yes. I have watched you. And I offer you a deal."
I scoffed. "What could you possibly offer me?"
"I can bring back Moon."
The world seemed to stop.
"She… she's part of this realm?" I asked quietly.
"Yes. I can restore her—but only with your help."
My breath caught. "If you lie to me, I'll destroy you without hesitation."
"I don't lie. Pour your energy into my core. Her essence still lingers, but she cannot survive without you. She will become your creation. Your… cub."
For the first time in a long time, I felt something soft. I lowered my hand onto the core and released my energy.
Ten minutes passed.
"It's done," the core said. "Now, I shall remake her body."
I waited. Barely breathing.
Ten more minutes.
Then, light shimmered in the darkness—and a small figure took shape.
Familiar.
She opened her eyes.
"Where… am I?"
She looked around, then saw me. Her face lit up. "Erik!"
She ran to me, throwing her arms around my waist. "Did you heal me? Why is everything burning?"
I couldn't help it—I laughed. She was back. Already full of questions.
[System Notification] You have been granted the right of passage. Note: She is now fully human and has lost her powers. The realm lacked the energy to restore them.
I nodded. A glowing portal opened before me.
I picked her up.
"Where are we going?" she asked.
"My world," I replied softly. "We're going home."
"REALLY?!"
"Yes."
We stepped through the portal.
On the other side, the sky was blue. Birds chirped. Grass waved in the wind. Life. True life.
"Erik… I'm hungry," she whined.
I laughed. "Don't worry. Eat all you want."
I summoned food from the system store—chips, cakes, chocolate, noodles, sodas. She dug in gleefully.
An hour later, her stomach bulged. She hiccuped, eyes drooping.
I picked her up and sighed. "Okay, that's enough."
"Nooo! You pinky promised, Erik!"
"Moon, you can't even move." I chuckled. "You'll explode."
Then her expression changed. Her hands trembled. "Erik… I don't have my powers. How… how will I protect myself?"
Tears welled in her eyes. I wiped them away gently.
"You don't need powers anymore. I'll protect you. I defeated everything in the Forgotten Realm—even Balerion."
Her eyes sparkled. "Really?"
"Yep."
She tilted her head. "Wait… did I… die?"
I smiled sadly. "Yes. When the core brought you back, it used my energy. You're my child now."
She blinked. "I'm your daughter?"
"Yes."
"Nuh uh!"
"What?! I am your father!"
We both laughed.
Then she jumped into my arms again. "So if you're my dad… Do I get presents?"
"Of course. Every birthday. Every Christmas."
Her eyes gleamed. "Then… today's my birthday, right?"
"Yes. What do you want?"
She leaned in, grinning. "Well, I want—"