I Will Create a Good Ending for the Yandere Villainess-Chapter 165: Third Layer of the Forest of Disruption? [4]

He gave a dramatic pause, then said:

"Let's not get to that yet. But instead, let's talk about the grounds where their battle took place."

"I assume it was in this forest, right?" Lillian tilted her head —her words causing Reph to shake his head.

"No... Rather, it was out at sea. Near the eastern region where the kingdom of Lucon resides. However, for some odd reason, the monster seemed more interested in coming to ours instead."

"Did... the eastern kingdom do anything to help us?"

"They did. They were, after all, the very reason why we were able to "win" in the first place." He ominously emphasised, "That was where the Tier 6 mage, Zama, came from."

"Eh? So they sent over a Tier 6 to help us? They sure are nice..."

"They didn't have much of a choice anyway." Reph shrugged, "Such a threat can't remain for too long in the world."

He then began to explain how the battle went.

"It was said that Zama had the ability to take on the same size as the Dread Lord itself. And from what I was told, this ability was an element. The unorthodox element of Size. Geared with the best items we had to offer, coupled with countless endurance traits rewarded to him by the Trials, he went toe-to-toe with the Apex Dread."

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He stared at the skull as another pillar of steam climbed up its horn.

"Their battle was said to last for exactly 3 weeks. An entire month of non-stop battle. In the first week, it was said that the ocean rained non-stop as the Dread Lord decimated the sea life and ocean with its heat. Zama ultimately took these attacks in full force.

"In the second week, nothing changed. The threat still loomed. But the Tier 6 mage had grown exhausted. He hadn't eaten, slept, or even seen another person's face in so long. Meanwhile, the Dread Lord wasn't even tired. Its persistent regeneration and seemingly inexhaustible mana allowed it to remain strong, while Zama continued to grow weaker.

"In this week, a large percentage of the ocean they were fighting in had nearly been evaporated. And Zama's armour had long been destroyed, melting over his flesh and moulding into it, as though it still tried to protect him. But he didn't fall for the Traits enhancing his body and the humongous boost in strength given to him once becoming an Exalted human, allowed him to keep going..."

Lillian watched as he slowly went silent, then asked him:

"What did the government do to help him? They must have done something, right?"

Reph glanced at her before facing the giant skull.

"They did. They did everything they can. But all they could really do is analyse its body for weakness. Just something that during its evolutionary path it overlooked." He then turned to her, "Are you aware of how monsters evolve into their form?"

Lillian thought for a moment before answering:

"They either have a set path or one they make themselves, right?"

"Exactly... A monster, once creating another Mana Shell, could either choose an evolution already built into their species, or create one just for themselves. But the latter would have to cause them to go into a deep sleep, where they're at their most vulnerable. And if they aren't intelligent enough, they could instead destroy their body instead of improving it. While as, the former is an instantaneous process without any risks."

He then breathed a sigh.

"Anyway... The researchers eventually found something about the Dread Lord's abilities and momentary weakness."

"And... That is...?" Lillian urged in anticipation.

"The Dread Lord would go into a brief moment of burnout once, releasing a large volume of heat. Its strength would go down by around roughly 25%. Of course, only a rough estimation was created by comparing the damages it caused before and after burnout.

"But... That wasn't its only weakness, for its defences became weaker as well. It was said that its scales would turn at an angle to allow the heat to escape from its body. And strangely, they would always raise to an aligned angle."

He then smiled.

"And that wasn't its last weakness."

Lillian then spoke up:

"Even so, its scales are super durable, right? And its healing factor is still a big issue — "

Reph then interrupted her.

"Even though what you said was correct, its healing factor was its biggest downfall. Its evolution was, after all, not perfect. Nothing is perfect. And this was shown on the last day of the second week, its body began to crack like a statue.

"Despite its body appearing to be without any damage, once its right arm was sliced off by Zama with his guandao, Earth Shaker, it suddenly exploded into a tsunami of scorching steam."

His tired eyes regained an energetic light as he ranted on.

"It had a limit to its regeneration. And that was what humanity needed to know to take out this threat." His lips curved into an excited smile, "However, we knew this even before its body started breaking down."

Lillian noticed he was glancing at her, almost as though he were waiting for a certain question.

She smiled:

"When did they realise?"

"... Since the first week. Such was a result of having every Cardinal Kingdom researching this monster, putting aside their conflicts." He paused for a moment, then added, "You might not know this, but at the time, all four kingdoms were in bad relations with each other."

The Second Prince leaned back, lying on the ground with his arms behind his head.

"So, when they all came together, they created a plan. A plan created by the greatest minds each nation had to offer. And this very plan went... As planned." His grin then widened, "In fact, it went even better than they had expected on the third week."

Lillian tilted her head, "What happened on the third week?"

"In the third week, Zama was finally able to draw the Dread Lord out from the waters and into a giant, secluded forest with an unnatural amount of vitality — which was the very forest we are in now.

"He was able to bring the scorching beast through what we know as the first layer without any issue. And then struggled as the monster released another burning shockwave in the second layer. However, he was able to miraculously toss the Apex Dread into the centre of the Third layer."

He then sat up and gestured towards the massive crater.

"And this was their final arena. The arena where Zama was left disarmed as his trusted weapon was destroyed under the hands of the Dread Lord. The arena where each punch they landed sent shockwaves that could be heard for hundreds of miles. And it was in this very arena... that Zama achieved—on the brink of unconsciousness—Rank A affinity...

"After nearly a month of constant tortuous use of his element, he was finally able to achieve it..."

Reph then raised his hand and gripped the air, tightly.

"Just before he could be rendered by another scorching shockwave, he shrunk its radius to an area it wouldn't reach him. He then began to pummel the Fiery Titan. The researchers, who were spectating the battle, were even able to notice the noticeable increase in strength Zama was able to output.

"Rank A is when one is capable of bringing more meaning to their element. So they speculated her had something increase the size of how much strength he could output from his body. It doesn't make sense, if you word it like I did, but... That must be the only reason."

He then drew in a deep breath and let it out.

"He was even able to decrease the amount of heat the monster could release, furthering the process of its self-destruction. This process continued until Saturday. And finally, with a massive explosion of steam and fire, the monster's entire body — except for its head — crumbled. Since its Mana Core was in its chest, it also lost its healing factor.

"And because of that... With one final stomp delivered to its fallen head, Zama came out on top in the battle... That would be later named the Scorching Battle of the Southeast... The battle that disrupted any current conflicts the kingdoms had at the time with one another."

He then glanced back at the forest.

"That was also where this forest got its name. Although it was pretty... strange to call it the Forest of Disruption, when it doesn't really disrupt anything."

"... So... What happened to the mage?" Lillian asked.

"Zama...?" Reph voice lowered, "He died shortly after shrinking back to his regular size. The damage he sustained throughout the battle, despite being remotely healed from afar, was too much. It was said every pain receptor in his body was burned off. His bones blackened, although protected by his flesh. And, stated by him, he briefly became blind halfway through the battle in the forest. He even said that it was only because of his Traits that he was able to last as long as he did."

The Prince then sighed, "Just before his passing, he laughed and asked the medical team..." Reph's lips curved into an amused smirk.

"'Do not worry about me. Just tell me. How does the alcohol taste since the last couple years?'"

Lillian smiled at that as well, "He must've sounded fun when he was alive."

Reph nodded, "Indeed. To think about alcohol just before his untimely demise... What a shame for such a legendary man to die." He shook his head in disappointment before turning to Lillian and saying...