Faceless Phantom

Once Mirage was gone.

I was thinking about what I should have done.

My whole life was flashing around me.

Good and bad choices that changed me.

Comparing myself with someone's achievement.

I tried to make it as inspiration for my improvement.

Nonetheless, I am still a failure.

Ten years of depression I couldn't endure.

Pulling me down again and again.

Keeping me stay within this rain.

The Faceless Phantom was right in front of me. Slowly, they were changing shape to someone I know very well. Someone who always stayed and comforted me. Someone who supported me no matter what I did. Someone who could understand me.

That someone was... Myself.

The Phantom was part of me, and I was the phantom all along.

I kept looking at my ugly self. I blamed myself. I... Hated myself. I still do.

I always regretted it, yet I was also thankful I had become who I was, I have become who I am, because of those regrets.

Of course, sometimes I often had a thought to change my past. It would be nice to be back again to our younger self and given a second chance to re-do what we wanted to change. What if we did this, what if we did that. We would be in different situation and life. However, those thoughts are useless. This life isn't a fantasy. No matter how many times we want and think about it, we have to accept everything that happened in our life.

This is our reality. What we can do is to move on and adapt with the change. Those regrets and reasons are creating us into better person, so we have to step ahead instead of keep thinking to alter the memory of our past. I know it's hard, but we have no other choices. Slowly and steady.

Suddenly, Mirage's words rang inside my mind.

'I hope you can live up to your name... Your real name...'

Lightheart, or Heart of light. A name that was given to me.

'Living up for my real name, huh?'

The name meant I had to be warm, joyful, always be happy, and kind. And yet... I'm always the opposite.

Sorrowful, depressed, cold, and heartless.

'Isn't it ironic?'

Furthermore, I often had bad thoughts and hardly control my emotions when I snapped.

'I don't deserve such warm name. Not now...maybe someday I will...'

I faintly smiled.

'For now...

I am Zeroth.

I am Faceless Phantom.'

• • •

Once Atronos died, Vallas and Nel'Thas looked around to observe the situation. They were surprised seeing the sudden appearance of Neptos, Feleon, and Hagwim. It was also the same the other way around.

"Neptos! Feleon!" Vallas exclaimed.

"No way. You are... Hagwim?" Nel'Thas looked at Hagwim which was an undead in disbelief.

"Glad to see you two here." Hagwim calmly spoke.

"What just happened!?" Vallas asked.

"How did you become undead? Wait...save that for later..." Nel'Thas turned her head toward the phantom and kept asking. "Who is that? Who is that Phantom? Is 'IT' with us?"

"No time to explain. Just support him." Feleon exclaimed. "Assist The Faceless Phantom!"

The Phantom bolted toward Beleth, but then Uruzak immediately got in the way. He casted several spells at once and shot them toward the Phantom.

FWOOSH! FWOOSH! FWOOSH!

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Smoke of the explosion filled the area. However, the Phantom appeared from the smoke and kept running. Uruzak was surprised, he turned his head toward the left side.

"Your opponent is me." Nel'Thas smiled and barraged multiple spells toward Uruzak.

He was taken aback and tried to block the projectiles. Suddenly Feleon was right beside him.

KAPOOOW!

Uruzak took a direct hit and got thrown several meters back. However, he kept his calm.

"Rise..." He said as his eyes were glowing.

Several tombs were erected, and then thousands of undead were rising from the ground afterwards. But suddenly, a massive tsunami wiped half of them in an instant, followed by thunder that kept striking from Neptos' Trident. Still, the undead kept rising like flowing water.

Furthermore, there were several giant undead. They were as tall as Neptos. Not only that, roaring voices could be heard and dozens of strange beasts were coming from the rear.

Thus, the Last Battle of Heallance continued to move toward the end.

• • •

Several Dark Army rushed toward the Phantom. Unfortunately, they got killed within seconds, and the Phantom didn't stop at all. It kept running toward Beleth.

SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!

Beleth raised his hand, and several astral beings appeared. They were flying toward the Phantom with unbelievable speed. Some even blinked near the phantom in an instant. As they were about to cast curse and magic, the Phantom swung its sword and slashed one of them.

"You can see us!?" They were surprised and flabbergasted.

It was an opportunity for the Phantom to strike them, and he did it real quick. As the Phantom killed them all, he faced toward Beleth again. However, he was already right in front of him.

BOOM!

The hit was so powerful it felt like an explosion. Beleth's fist was stopped by Hagwim's shield. Moreover, Vallas appeared near Beleth as well.

SMASH!

Vallas' fist hit Belleth's face. However, his fist was stopped and Beleth was standing still. But then...

STAB!

The Phantom backstabbed Beleth.

The sword went through his body from the back. However, he didn't even bothered by it. It was then, Beleth's wings were spread and thick dark aura covered him. Vallas and Hagwim immediately jumped away. The Phantom did the same after it pulled its sword from Beleth's body.

As Beleth was slowly floating up, a camera shot the event perfectly. It was flying and circling them from a good distance.

"Is this the Final Boss of The Dark Army Event?! Are those three the main characters who will bring us victory?!" The reporter spoke in a tense voice. "Let's find out!"

Beleth took off his robe and mask. He had androgynous face which could tempt anyone. He grinned and showed his sharp teeth. Then, horns grew on his head which looked like a crown. His body was rather slim in proportion yet filled with muscles. His skin was blood red and there was some kind of glowing symbol on his c.h.e.s.t.

Everyone's eyes focused on him.

"Damn it! He is clever... turning most of the players and NPCs into Dark Army." JassJuss said within the Command Channel. "...or most men are just easily getting tempted and becoming simps."

"Yeah, but his charm doesn't affect us somehow. Can we beat him?" Taiyo asked.

"Let alone that Final Boss, we couldn't even beat the Commanders. I think it's best to let the NPCs deal with him for now." Kimchi suggested.

"That's true." Aradun agreed. "We don't know what kind of spells he has on his sleeves and we can't even look at his stats window. It's better for us to clean the Dark Army and those undead first, and then we will help them to beat the Boss later."

"Yeah. I'm kind of intrigued to fight those giants." Zhulong pulled his gloves while looking toward battle of giants with a smile.

All of them knew what Zhulong mentioned. Their eyes immediately focused on Neptos who were fighting several giant undead.

Vallas leaped and punched Beleth. However, a barrier stopped his fist. Beleth smiled and looked at him.

Vallas scoffed. "You're still using that lame trick, huh?"

Vallas threw another punch.

BAM!

The barrier shattered and his fist hit Beleth. Regardless, Beleth stayed still as if his punch was nothing.

"Vallas... You shouldn't hit a woman..." Beleth put on a sad face.

"You're not even a woman." Vallas threw another one, but this time with Dragon Tongue. "Ghao Vuun!"

His voice echoed throughout the battlefield and a loud noise of thunder was heard as his fist hit Beleth.

KRAKABOOM!

Beleth was thrown a few meters back and hit dozens of Dark Army along the way, yet he still got up leisurely as if the punch didn't do damage to him at all. As he stood, his form changed into man again. He immediately kicked the ground and leaped toward Vallas. He punched him with incredible speed. It happened really fast that Vallas couldn't react.

WHAM!

Vallas got thrown several meters back and hit dozens of players and NPCs. When he was about to balance himself midair, Beleth already near him and punched him again.

WHAM!

"Gaaggkkk!!!" Vallas couldn't help but in pain as he didn't expect the follow-up attack.

He was thrown even more as he left pretty wide line on the ground and hit several players and NPCs.

Beleth stopped and he looked somewhere else. He saw Hagwim leaped toward him while swinging his axe. However, as if he already knew, Beleth parried it with his hand.

BANG!

Hagwim stopped midair and Beleth pushed the axe.

"Commander of Dalgor..." Beleth said as he swung his hand. "You're still weak as ever... "

Hagwim was thrown back, but then the Phantom appeared right beside Beleth and thrust its rapier.

Swoosh!

The rapier hit thin air. As the phantom was about to turn its head, Beleth already punched him in the face.

Whooosh!

Strangely, the Phantom turned into mist. Right when Beleth realized it, Vallas appeared beside him and threw multiple punches.

BAM! BAM! BAM! KAPOOW!

Vallas uppercut Beleth.

He was thrown back but he immediately stopped midair as he flapped his wings. Then Vallas jumped up toward him. Within second, Beleth threw multiple dark orbs at him.

FWOOSH FWOOSH FWOOSH!

"Viin Duz!" Vallas shouted.

As if he had wings, he evaded the projectiles with midair maneuver and he kept his speed toward Beleth. Expecting that, Beleth also readied his fist.

Both fists clashed.

KABOOM!

Vallas and Beleth were thrown back by the explosion of their unimaginable power. Once Vallas landed safely, he jumped again toward Beleth. They kept exchanging fist midair.

KABOOM! KABOOM! KABOOM!

In the distance, Nel'Thas observed the situation. Uruzak was commanding his army of Undead. Neptos and Feleon were also did the same while fighting the countless undead relentlessly. Once Uruzak tried to cast several spells, Nel'Thas also prepared hers as well.

FWOOSH FWOOSH FWOOSH!

BOOM BOOM BOOM!

Uruzak was annoyed as his attack kept getting blocked, so he continued barraging multiple spells toward Nel'Thas. They kept exchanging spells midair, and it created something similar to the view of fireworks in the sky. Of course, they were both two of the most powerful magicians in Heallance. Even all players and NPCs who had mage as their job were amazed and fascinated by the very scenery they witnessed. The mana they casted on each spell wasn't something that couldn't be laugh at. One of their spell was enough to destroy a village and changed them into ruins.

"This view which can only happen in comic books and anime. I can't believe I witness it in this virtual reality! Amazing!"

"This is insane! I can't even focus on my own battle! I keep looking up!"

"Are we really in a war? Not in a festival?"

A lot of people was enchanted by both midair battles.

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"Damn! If I was strong enough, I will be the one in spotlight instead of them!"

"They are definitely cheat characters! This is unfair!"

Some were envious.

"Why am I here?"

"How did I survive this far?"

"Why am I still alive?"

Some were scared and questioned themselves about their luck in surviving the war.

Regardless, everyone was fighting together to claim victory in the Dark Army Event. Just like little bunny girl with a fairy.

"Ahhh Nuyi! Why is everyone so big and tall?!" Bonnie shouted and evaded several people who unintentionally bumped her. "Now I regret I set my character to be this short!"

"Miss Bonnie, can you fly?" Nuyi asked.

"I can't! Bunny can't fly!" Bonnie answered with a sad face.

"You're a mage, Miss Bonnie!" Nuyi said as she hugged Bonnie's neck. "Fly with a spell!"

"I caaaaaaan't~" Bonnie shouted as she was falling onto the ground. "Bweh!"

Eventually, they went back to the rear and Bonnie looked up at the sky. The incredible view of sky battle made her dazzled.

"I can't even hit one Dark Army at all!" She said. "I will just hit that one in the sky then!"

And so, she casted a spell and spent all of her mana toward Uruzak.

"Open up the sky! Illuminate the darkness!" Bonnie said with a pose. "Stardust Meteoooooooooooooooooooooor!!!"

///////

[Stardust Meteor]

Level 6

Active: Creating multiple stars in the sky and rain them upon one target or several enemies. The more mana is used, the more destructive the spell is. However, spending more than 70% of manapool will paralyze the user for 1 minute.

*The Paralyze debuff cannot be dispelled

///////

The sky immediately filled with countless shining stars and the view became even more beautiful. Even Nel'Thas was dazzled as well. Then the stars were falling toward Uruzak. They kept showering and pushing him onto the ground.

KABOOM! KABOOM! KABOOM! KABOOM! KABOOM!

Meanwhile, Vallas hit Beleth and he fell onto the ground. Still, he could landed safely by balancing his body with his wings. He then spread his wings and floated up again. As he ascended, vast area around him was scorching. The fire was slowly getting wild and bigger, it also turned black as the time went by.

After that, Beleth lifted his hand. Several black fire balls were formed from the scorching ground as they went up and orbiting him. He slowly swung his hand and some of them were shot toward Vallas.

Vallas felt the black fire was out of this world, so he evaded them by circling Beleth. The same for Hagwim who was near him, he instantly followed Vallas. As they ran in circle, they saw the black fireballs hit random NPCs and players. In one hit, they were immediately burned into ash.

Witnessing that, both of them gulped their own saliva.

"That is the first time I see that magic." Vallas was shocked. "I have a feeling that I would be burned if I took it directly."

"It's not mana. I think he uses different kind of source." Hagwim wondered.

Because of that, Vallas and Hagwim hesitated to attack again and became cautious.

"Can you block that fire?" Vallas asked.

"You want me to die!?"

"Aren't you dead right now? You can resurrect, right?"

"Even if I could, I don't want to die like a fool!" Hagwim raised his tone.

"Tsk!" Vallas clicked his tounge. "This is bad. I don't know much about magic. We need to ask Nel'Thas for help."

"I guess we need to wait for Nel'Thas or help him defeat Uruzak first." Hagwim suggested.

"Can you guys hear me?"

Hagwim and Vallas startled by Nel'Thas' voice that went through their mind.

"Hmph... Speak of the devil." Vallas scoffed.

Nel'Thas narrowed her eyes and hid her lips as she felt being badmouthed by Vallas. However, she ignored it and opened her mouth.

"Uruzak seems getting a bit powerful since the last time we fought him. How about that demon?"

"My Dragon Tongue hardly can hurt him." Vallas briefly answered.

"That black fire can turn anyone into ash, we can't approach him at all now." Hagwim explained.

"I see..." Nel'Thas gazed toward Beleth and her face became serious. "That is Chaos energy. Both of you made the best decision to avoid it. Because you wouldn't be able to withstand it."

"What should we do?" Vallas asked.

Nel'Thas was thinking for a moment, and then she began to open her mouth.

"We need a pla-" Suddenly, Nel'Thas voice was cut and said something else with a raised tone. "By Eva! What is that Phantom doing!?"

They immediately turned their head and saw the Phantom was walking on the tall wild black fire leisurely. They were shocked as the Phantom didn't get burned.

Beleth noticed and immediately threw multiple black fireballs toward the Phantom.

FWOOSH! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

However, the fire couldn't even burn the Phantom and instantly died without smoke.

"Hmph... Interesting..." Beleth scoffed in disbelieve.

The Phantom then rushed and leaped toward Beleth. It thrust its sword right on his c.h.e.s.t. Beleth leaned his body to the left to evade. However, the sword was somewhere else and cut his wings.

Beleth's eyes widened. "YOU DARE!"

He became furious and threw multiple punches toward the Phantom. Every time he threw a punch, his fist covered with dark aura which sometimes turned into fire. Regardless, the Phantom swiftly evaded them all as it also swung its sword to attack, and every time the sword would change direction and successfully cut Beleth.

After seeing the Phantom, Hagwim had a thought that he might be able to withstand the fire. However, he was still scared if the fire could turn him into ash, and he didn't want to take the risk.

On the other hand, Vallas tried to aid the Phantom by punching from the distance. His powerful jab was enough to make a strong gust of wind to lift all the dust on the ground. Unfortunately, they couldn't extinguish the fire even though it leaned toward opposite direction everytime the punch was delivered. Still, it reached Beleth and distracted him several times.

After seeing Vallas, Hagwim's jaw dropped and his mouth formed an O as he remembered something. Thus, he began to throw his axe as his face lit up with a wide smile.

Nel'Thas who watched from afar immediately turned her gaze toward Uruzak. It seemed an unknown spell which was coming from nowhere made a great amount damage to him. However, he healed pretty quickly and looked toward Beleth. She noticed Uruzak tried to fly toward his master, so she stopped him with her spells and Uruzak turned his gaze toward her.

"Where do you think you're going?" Nel'Thas smiled.

Meanwhile, everyone who watched the live couldn't take their eyes off the screen. They were amazed by the close battle between Beleth and The Faceless Phantom. Several reactions were showed on chat and comment as well.

‒ HOLY F.U.C.K! NGL THIS IS AMAZING!

‒ DO YOU GUYS SEE THAT SWORD CHANGE DIRECTION!?

‒ The Faceless Phantom's swordsmanship is just like what he is. It's like the sword is a phantom as well

‒ It's a Phantom Sword!

‒ How did he not die and turn into ash?

‒ I think it's just a plot armor. The phantom probably has the skill to neutralize it

‒ Is the phantom an NPC or player?

‒ I doubt the Phantom is a player. The most powerful player in Heallance doesn't even participate

‒ Yeah. I think the devs already planned this and created an NPC to beat Beleth

‒ Isn't Kimchi number 1 player in Heallance?

‒ No bruh, it's Ryker. But yeah, he's Korean as well.

‒ Wait I thought he's Chinese

‒ When did he said his nationality?

‒ LMAO idfc about his nationality! Look, some of Top Ten Guilds don't even participate

‒ Yeah I think it's because the Dark Army is too powerful

‒ True. They couldn't even kill the Commanders even with the Kings and Empress who are equipped with the Artifacts

‒ I mean... The devs won't let a game over of course, or they would go bankrupt lol

‒ I'm here just for the story. I'm intrigued how this event will end

Vallas' powerful punches, Hagwim's epic axe, and the Phantom's unpredictable swordsmanship.

As Beleth got annoyed, he began to use AoE spells. Whevener an AoE was casted, hundreds of people die in an instant. And it wasn't just the NPCs and players, but the Dark Army as well.

Because of the AoE, Vallas and Hagwim had to take a distance to avoid the spell. Strangely, the Phantom who was be able to withstand the Chaos energy also jumped back and avoided the AoE.

The situation became dire in seconds. The Phantom observed everything around with its faceless face while evading the AoE spells. Time was slowing down as the Phantom saw NPCs faces who were terrified before they turned into ash. The same even for the Dark Army. A moment before the spells hit them, they looked like normal people who feared death. Indeed, they were originally people as well. However, they were unfortunate. They got corrupted by Beleth. And seeing them became powerless, the Phantom's heart was shaken.

The Phantom then turned its head toward everyone he knew.

Time was frozen as it watched the five Vengeful Dwarves who supported the elves and humans that the Phantom saved from slavery.

Time was frozen as it watched Feleon and Neptos who fought gallantly with their armies.

Time was frozen as it watched Hagwim's troubled expression.

Time was frozen, as the Phantom remembered the face of Mirage.

The Phantom's hand that gripped its sword was trembled.

The Phantom turned its head toward Beleth for a moment before it moved its feet and ran toward him. A Cubic appeared beside the Phantom as he rushed.

Beleth grinned as he noticed the Phantom. Once the Phantom swung its sword toward him, he changed his form into woman again. But this time, his face changed and resembled someone the Phantom knew very well.

Mirage's face was looking at the Phantom with terror. Thus, the Phantom stopped its hand and sword. It was then, Beleth stretched his hand and took the Cubic.

"This is all what I need." He smiled cunningly with Mirage's face.

Then he raised the Cubic overhead as it emitted a massive amount of aura before it blasted and created a huge pillar of light toward the sky.

"All of you will be witnessing the birth of boundless world. A new world of infinite possibility. A new world without the hand of Creator. I have freed Heallance. And with this, the worlds will be connected..." Beleth grinned widely. "No one can rule this world but me."

The pillar of light was shining brightly in the sky, illuminating everything in surrounding area. Atop of Cristal Crater, smoke was swirling, creating a ring around the pillar of light. They formed a harmony, and aurora was created. The very scene was similar to a quasar. It was so beautiful that the war even stopped.

However, it was then the ring was swirling very fast. The light, the smoke, and the aurora was flashing multiple colors as it was pulsing like a heartbeat. Slowly, they got absorbed into the pillar of light.

Then it burst out.

The smoke expanded and dissipated. It became multiple shockwaves that travelled away. They were passing throughout Heallance within minutes. And then, slowly, the pillar of light faded and the battlefield turned silent.

As the Cubic cracked a little, the Phantom gazed toward Beleth. It felt like it was trying to say something to him.

Beleth looked at the Phantom for a while. Then he threw the cubic back to its owner, and it floated beside the Phantom's shoulder.

Suddenly, a fireball was shot out of nowhere toward Beleth. Alas, he swung his hand and the fireball was extinguished. He stretched his right hand toward somewhere on his right without looking, and then black fireball was shot straight toward the one who attacked him.

BOOM!

An Elf screamed as he was burned and turned into ash. Witnessing such terror, the battlefield was in complete silent. As if, a cinematic event was happening right at the moment and everyone was watching.

"Insignificant being... All of you have no power against me. All of you shall worship me instead...as this world will be mine." Beleth looked at the Phantom who was standing in front of him. "I will be your God in this world."

Everyone couldn't say anything and just focused toward the two of them. Suddenly, they saw the Phantom shook its head and shoulder creepily.

The Faceless Phantom acted like it was laughing loudly whilst its face was teared and created a wide mouth. Yet, no voice was heard from the Phantom.

Everyone was silent for a moment as they witnessed the Phantom's voiceless laughing. They felt uncomfortable and disturbed.

Even Beleth looked confused as well. He looked at the Phantom as if they were in conversation.

Suddenly, the Faceless Phantom stabbed Beleth as if he didn't expect it.

STAB!

In an instant, a portal was created behind Beleth. As he was surprised and let his guard down, the Faceless Phantom pushed its sword while ramming him, making them entered the portal together.

Once they went through the portal, it disappeared within thin air.