MTLNOVEL Chapter 232: The Final Order
Seeing the level attributed to him, he was caught off guard, only meaning to check his stock of coins. It didn't make any sense, remembering himself being at least thirty levels lower prior to waking up.
'…The only explanation is I received the experience from the entire Moon crashing. Maybe something else, too,' he theorized.
While it left him perplexed, it was a blessing in disguise, one that he was grateful for. If he was heading in alone into whatever unknown awaited at the top of the Tower, every level would count.
"Does anything catch your eye, sir?" The shopkeeper asked.
"What's your most expensive product?" Finn asked without any patience.
The question seemed to immediately entice the keeper of the Bazaar, who wielded a smirk before reaching under the counter.
"Now, this is a one-of-a-kind treasure, a sacred item that should not be looked at lightly," the shopkeeper explained, hoisting up an all-black, metallic box onto the counter.
"A box?" Finn asked curiously, peering down at it.
"No, simply its container," the shopkeeper clarified, tapping the top.
It released a "click" before deconstructing itself, revealing what was kept safely stored within its four walls. What sat inside was a single, right-handed gauntlet. It was all-white, sleek with only one, standout element on its fist: an ever-shifting, golden pattern etched onto the back.
"The Hand of Chronos," the shopkeeper presented. "It's not an exaggeration to call it the most powerful artifact found in the Bazaars. I might say, Mr. Finn Thorne, I believe it has sat here waiting for you."
Staring at the mythical piece of equipment, he almost didn't catch the beastly keeper of the Bazaar uttering his name. He parted his lips, intending to question it, though found that he felt the same way. Something about the artifact spoke to him, as though it were meant for him.
["The Hand of Chronos"] [Price: 500,000x Anarch Coins]
"I'll take it," Finn accepted.
"A most wise purchase, esteemed patron," the shopkeeper complimented.
Acquiring ownership of the artifact, he slipped his fingers into it, fitting his hand into the gauntlet as it perfectly held his shape. It extended itself, reaching down his forearm, clasping itself down the entirety of his arm, encasing his shoulder with its smooth, snow-white material.
'I can feel it coursing through me…The strength within this glove–it's something else,' he thought, staring at his right hand.
The shopkeeper spoke up, "You wish to challenge the Tower, I take it?"
"Yeah," Finn confirmed.
"Then you should know the passage into the Final Order has been opened," the fur-clad figure informed him.
"The Final Order…?" Finn repeated.
A nod came from the shopkeeper, who promptly guided him to look to the right of the room. There was a large door with a peculiar material, carved like that of a colorful globe.
"As of right now, the other floors as well as the inns of the Tower are locked off. The only passage is into the Final Order now. That's where every last member of humanity currently resides," the Bazaar keeper explained.
It wasn't even something he had considered—what the Tower meant. Staring at that vibrant door at the other end of the marble-carved chamber, he realized it.
'Not everyone was wiped out from the collision…People inside the Tower—of course they'd survive,' he thought.
Coming to that realization, a spark of hope, perhaps small and insignificant compared to the pain gripping his heart, but hope nonetheless sparked. The loneliness clouding his soul dissipated, feeling the burden lighten itself, if only a little.
"Is there anything else you'd like, esteemed patron?" The shopkeeper asked.
He considered the items on display for some time before confirming, doing away with every last coin he had. He stored some potions on his belt, holding what he could as he looked towards the nebulous door across the room.
"Good luck on your journey, esteemed patron," the shopkeeper bid farewell.
There was nothing to say as he simply nodded his head, approaching the globe-resembling door. He stood there for a moment before pressing his palm against the passage, prompting it to slowly open upon his touch.
A soft, angelic voice greeted his ears upon the opening of the door, presenting a blinding light—
"Step inside the Final Order, where worlds fight for survival—welcome to the Killing World."
Surrounded by the radiance, it faded away as he found himself standing in completely foreign scenery. The wind was different; a cooler, refreshing breeze tugged at his coat.
"…Ah?"
Rather than being in the marble interior a moment prior, he found himself on the edge of a cliff, overlooking a vibrant valley. For a split-second, it seemed tranquil, though that motion was immediately pushed aside—
Explosions erupted within the distant forests, colorful expansions of force. Grandiose roars echoed, as did the screams of men from afar.
He raised his arm as the wind shifted, witnessing a colossal beast bombarding the valley in fire. A dragon coated in black scales swept over the forest, spewing azure flames over. It was large enough that a single flap of its wings brought a wind that traveled miles, far enough that the assassin felt it.
[Special entity identified.]
["Oracos, Omen of Catastrophe"] [Level: 110]
It ravaged the valley with four arms that swept through entire trees, using its two hind legs to stomp while raining down hellfire. By the screams he heard, there was no doubt people were being torched in that heat.
'What's going on? This is the Final Order—? There's already a battle going on?' He thought, observing the wrath of the four-armed, black beast.
As he watched the mountainous beast lay its breath upon the forest, it condensed the flames into a focused beam of cerulean wrath before tilting its head–
"--!"
The far-reaching ray of burning destruction swept through the cliffside, forcing him to slip to the right before it could reduce him to ash.
["Shadowform"]
Turning into a present, sprinting shadow, he raced down the burning cliff as the dragon's condensed breath laid waste to the rock formation. Right behind him, he could feel the heat of the azure flames spreading, exploding throughout the mountain.
'--That thing, is it the Lord of this order? I doubt it…Out here in a random valley, it just doesn't seem right. Even so…Something that high level not even being the big boss of this place? That's an issue,' he thought, sliding down the cliff, descending hundreds of feet in moments.
It didn't even seem to notice his presence, merely unleashing its wrath in every direction without aim. Either way, the grand beast seemed to be taking its wrath out on others–an outcome he wanted to prevent, if possible.
'This will be a good opportunity to test my new abilities,' he decided, reaching the midpoint of the cliff before tossing his dagger with all of his strength.
As it speared through the sky, he allowed it to reach the forest, waiting just until the azure flames stretched over the cliffside– Stay connected through empire
["Blade Warp"]
–He caught the weapon, transported to the center of the burning forest in an instant. Appearing right in front of the massive dragon, its size was more apparent than ever as it seemed as if he stared at a pitch-black mountainside.
His feet landed on the ground, finding everything obscured by smoke while standing in that burning stretch of trees.
"—"
A low growl caused the air to vibrate as he could see the piercing, cerulean glow of the beast's eyes through the clouds of smoke above. It was staring right down at him, imposing its presence. With its attention undoubtedly on him, he breathed in, calling upon one of his newly-acquired skills:
["Ghost of The Past"]
It was activated with direct eye contact with the beast, causing it to suddenly look away, leaving him to sprint through the smoke-filled forest out of its view.
["Ghost of The Past": a defensive skill that causes the target to forget the presence of the user when coming into eye contact with them. It is only effective for a few moments, presenting a challenge for the user to quickly move themselves from the target's view as not to be found again.]