Chapter 134: Man vs Revelation

Chapter 134: Man vs Revelation

Maxwell gloated as Dis called the stars down to Earth.

Resorting to cheats and hacks, Basil? You should be ashamed of yourself. Dismaker Labs fallen CEO didnt look too bad for someone who had been beheaded only a few days ago. As a law-abiding administrator, I cant let that stand.

Basil answered by summoning a fire elemental orb to his hand, but Plato was quicker to strike. The mighty smilogod leaped off Steves back so fast that he became a shadowy blur. His sword fangs glittered with a flash of steel as they connected with the mans throat.

Yet Basil heard Maxwell whisper a word under his breath first.

Zero.

The blades bounced off Maxwells skin the way a stick of wood bounced off an iron shield.

All damage inflicted to the Mammon, System Virus will be set to 0!

Plato, whose Pawerful Dao Perk allowed him to walk on vertical structures, landed on the Neurotowers metallic surface and immediately renewed his assault. He coated his icy claws with an aura of sharp wind and cold darkness before trying to disembowel Maxwell. He bounced off the amused CEOs impeccable suit for his trouble.New novel chapters are published on

None of the Bohens let that discourage them. Rosemarine began charging her Eden Guns and Steve his Gehenna Cannon, while Vasi prepared a spell.

Bugsy! Basil shouted, his searing orb of flames shining brightly within his palm.

Apollos Curse! The Apolloworm bathed Maxwell in his radiant light, before swiftly following with a fireball. Take this!

Maxwell failed his Vitality check! He has become vulnerable to [Fire]!

Plato jumped away back to safety as a deluge of destruction fell upon Maxwell. From a small meteor to beams powerful enough to wipe cities off the map, the Bohens unleashed the most devastating weapons in their arsenal all at once.

All of them glided over Maxwell and the Neurotower behind him like water on a submarines metal hide. Projectiles hit as if they lost all inertia and flames released no smoke upon impact.

Supereffective damage! 0 damage!

The Trimurti System still worked well enough to taunt them.

Youre wasting your time. Maxwell emerged from the onslaught unscathed. The best the Bohens achieved was forcing him to wipe the dust off his suit. Dis wont let you damage me.

And you call us cheaters! Bugsy complained in his fury.

I cant break the rules when I write them, can I? Maxwell looked up to the shining sky. The Neurotower kept rising towards the star circuit to reach out into other worlds. Why dont you just chill out and enjoy the show? After everything youve endured so far, you earned yourself a ticket to the final performance.

Should I use the god card? Basil thought before realizing he had left it in his Inventory, which he couldnt access anymore. There has to be something we can do.

I can try to stop time, Vasi whispered at his side. If his defense isnt automatic, it might provide an open

Are you deaf or stupid? Maxwell shook his head. I will repeat it more slowly this time. Dis will not allow you to harm me.

Let the braggart talk, Basil told himself. With luck, hell slip up and reveal his weakness.

What is that thing? Basil pointed his halberd at the ever-growing Neurotower. My Monster Insight identifies it as a living creature.

Because it is, Maxwell replied with a condescending smile. This beauty is Dis. The alpha and omega of my kind, once destroyed and now reborn stronger than ever. My beginning, your end.

The portals Vasi frowned as she examined the star circuit spanning countless worlds. Outremonde was no doubt among them. I thought you couldnt infect mature Systems?

I cant, Maxwell admitted with a wide, rueful smirk. To do so, my kind requires more power which Dis provides. It will subvert all Systems currently connected to the Trimurti, then spread the infection further. Neither gods nor mortals will stop its growth.

Basil knew enough about IT to identify Dis for what it was.

That abomination is a world-sized zombie computer. Like how hackers could turn an unsuspecting computer into a spam mail factory, the Mammon Virus had slowly transformed the Trimurti System into an infection vector. His lifecycle makes sense now.

Mammon jumped from world to world while gorging himself on unsuspecting Systems, but when his infection progressed far enough, he completely subverted the host. With such resources at his disposal, he could infect even mature Systems.

By letting Kalki and Padma fuse, the people of Earth had just condemned countless worlds to a ghastly fate.

Dont make that face, Basil. Maxwell looked up at Kalki and Padma. In their petrified state, they were blissfully unaware of the chaos they unwittingly helped foster. I had infected these two the moment they fell into my grasp. I could have started this process anytime I wished. I only held it back as long as I did to let Dis grow in strength.

Shellgirls eyes sent daggers at the virus. Why did you let us take them then?

I had hoped you would tear each other apart over these idols fate, Maxwell replied with a shrug. Imagine my disappointment when you instead decided to act reasonably. You humans are such a bore.

Vasis eyes widened as an idea crossed her mind. Basil, use Deaths Banner.

Why? her boyfriend asked.

Because Bugsys power affected him.

Basil wondered what she meant until he noticed grass and roots growing out of the Parthenons debris. Rosemarines God-Field caused vegetation to slowly overwhelm the city, surrounding the Neurotowers steel architecture with beautiful greenery.

Monster Insight activated, Basil realized, his heart pounding in his chest. He can alter numeral values and remove System features, but not our Perks! He cant break the Systems rules, only bend them!

Since Bugsys power made him vulnerable to fire, then it meant Maxwell was still vulnerable to debuffs.

Perhaps even ailments.

It doesnt matter, Maxwell gloated, you will all become food in the end.

Basil responded by leaping into the air. Deaths Banner II!

The power flowed into him and his party.

[Deaths Banner II] activated and spread to your party members! Your attacks gain the [Deadslayer] effect (x3 damage against [Undead] types); you gain immunity to the [Terror], [Zombie], and [Insta-Death] ailments; you will not take damage from ailments such as [Poison], though it doesnt cure them of it

These were the key benefits Basils team enjoyed most from the Deaths Banner buff. Those properties had saved their lives from Pluto, Apollyon, Belphegor, and many other foes. However, the buff also included one last key feature.

and critical hits will inflict [Insta-Death] on the victims.

The Bohens never got to make good use of that one, since most high-level enemies were immune to instant death attacks. However, Mammon was built differently than them. He was a level 0 parasite, a creature with no power of his own except for manipulating the System. He hadnt shown himself capable of summoning meteors or raining spells upon his enemy. Perhaps he lacked his fellow Horsemens resilience too.

It was a long shot, and the Bohens werent the kind to give up before overwhelming odds.

Stupid Basil! Maxwell laughed as Basil double-jumped straight at him. Youll never reach me!

Accuracy set to 0!

Joyful Spirit! Shellgirl cast, and a newfound power swelled within Basils arm.

Your next hit will always be accurate if physically possible, [Charged] (x2 damage) and inflict a Critical Hit!

Though Maxwell hid his eyes behind sunglasses, his body language immediately betrayed his surprise and unease. Hastened by his magic, Basil crossed the gulf between them in an instant. His god-powered halberd lunged at the virus head.

Then came the moment of truth. If Maxwell confidently took the hit and survived, then nothing could be done to stop him. Basil could at best mercy-kill Kalki and Padma in the hopes they would take down Dis with them to the grave. It would condemn Earth to destruction, but spare the rest of the multiverse.

Maxwell dodged.

Moving like a repugnant toad sticking to a vertical structure, he hopped to another spot on the Neurotowers surface. The dragonknight exchanged a brief glance with his nemesis as the coward slipped through his grasp.

The wariness on his face was palpable.

It was possible that this method could slay Maxwell for good or it may be that he simply had no idea what would happen, and the coward wouldnt dare take the chance. In any case, it made no difference.

It encouraged the Bohens to fight on.

Smash him! Plato shouted.

All damage inflicted by Mammon will be set to !Mammons accuracy was set to 100%![Intangibility] status! You are immune to [Physical] damage!Critical success! Mammon avoided [Petrification]!Critical Hit! [Insta-Death]!Misha, Infected KittenLevel 0 [Beast]Faction: Mammon transferred Mishas Vitality and Intelligence points to her Agility!Neria Elissalde, Trojan ShellLevel 0 [Humanoid]Faction: [Berserk] negated by [Lethal Vigil]!Critical Hit! [Insta-Death]!Simeon, Twisted Neo-ViralLevel 0 [Humanoid]Faction: Leblanc, Spyware GeneralLevel 0 [Artificial]Faction: Aleksandra Bohen, Dead Bloodstain MotherLevel 0 [Humanoid]Faction: Ren, Sad Cancer PatientLevel 0 [Humanoid]Faction: [Berserk] negated by [Lethal Vigil]![Berserk] negated by [Lethal Vigil]![Berserk] negated by [Lethal Vigil]![Berserk] negated by [Lethal Vigil]![BERSERK] NEGATED BY [LETHAL VIGIL]! Energy surge detected.Energy reserves at 100% percent.

Too much voltage hurt.

Warning: Energy surplus detected.

The first Neurotower glowed like a lamp as its circuit burst with too much energy. Its metal overheated under the strain, and errors slipped into their cosmic calculations. The start circuit glitched. Some pathways collapsed on themselves; others widened too much.

Assessing dysfunctions Pausing secondary operations to maintain power output.

The Level Barrier, this great firewall that had protected the infant Dis from those with the power to destroy it, collapsed. The great machine simply could not maintain it and deal with the sudden power surge both at once.

More souls poured through the portal above Malta, and the Beast roared in their wake.

As the last shred of the Lever Barrier separating Earth from the multiverse crumbled into nothingness, another invader kicked down the door.

A swarm of metal drones announced her coming with a terrible screech. Her wings of light flapped at the speed of a turbocharged jet, and the winds of despair glided over her pristine metal scales. She landed amidst a field of steel towers taller than mountains, each a primitive, subpar desecration of her own perfect Neurotower design. She wept at the sight of crumbling land and encroaching nothingness. Such was the fate of a world deprived of her guidance.

But she didnt weep long. For the wicked quickly folded when the righteous held the mace.

The metal dragon flew towards her rightful throne, her swarm buzzing behind her.

His adopted father and birth mother lunged at him from two directions. Their speed belied their puffy, corpselike bodies.

Yet Basils resolve was like tempered steel hardened by a hundred battles. He double-jumped past these two puppets and aimed straight for Maxwell.

Basil, where are you going? His mothers words hit harder than any blow. Are you abandoning me again?

It took all of Basils willpower not to respond, but his resolve did not waver. Shellgirl, buff me! he called out to his ally, who was busy bombarding the cat monster with a stream of water. Plato, with me!

His allies didnt ask why. Plato leaped out of Bugsys pincer, while Shellgirl interrupted her bombardment to bless her Tamer. Joyful Spirit!

Her power flowed into Basil, strengthening his arm.

So cold and relentless, Maxwell mused. I think thats why Ive hated you since the moment we first met. You just wont break.

His cat pet attacked Basil from the side while his two puppetsBasil refused to call these abominations by their real selves namesflanked him from behind.

Forgive me, Ren. Plato leaped to his best friends rescue, his eyes grim and sorrowful. Smilodon Blitz!

The feline vanished in a blindingly fast blitz of speed. Basil couldnt even follow his movements. Maxwells feline thrall was thrown off the Neurotower and plummeted into the void below, while the other two puppets were sliced to ribbons.

Nothing stood between Basil and Maxwell.

The virus didnt appear concerned, not by Basil anyway. He gazed into the distance without paying the Dragonknight any mind.

Are you trying to force your way in, Your Majesty? he muttered to himself. It wont change a thing.

Basil double-jumped in his direction and swiftly crossed the gulf between them in an instant.

Im getting tired of toying with you, Basil. Maxwell extended his hand towards the Dragonknight. Please try to scream before I

Maxwell froze in place.

His elongated right arm had frozen midway between himself and Basils heart. The mutated CEO shivered and trembled as if suffering from a stroke.

I-I-I- Maxwells sentence devolved into stilted, incomprehensible words. I-k-k-I-

Whats happening? Plato asked Basil, running vertically along the Neurotower after his best friend. Did you fry his brain?

Once a Horseman, forever a Horseman. A dark laugh echoed within Basils skull, grim and sinister. I believe humans call it 'using a backdoor.'

Mammons former employer was using his own tactics against him. Quite the irony.

It wont last long before Dis regains its footing, the Maleking warned. Kill him now, and we can purge him from the System for good.

He didnt need to ask twice.

Basil thought of all the people he had watched die since the apocalypse started, from the meanest civilian to the greatest hero. Benjamin, Kuikui, his mother, Orcine, Neria, and the billions who had perished in the Systems wake. Each of them owed their demise to this cruel piece of trash.

He hoped they were all watching.

Basils halberd split Maxwells skull in half.

Critical hit! [Insta-Death]!

His body, for lack of a better word, began to glitch out. His face alternated between two states in quick succession: his unharmed, smug human guise; and the shattered skull of his monstrous form. He flickered in and out of sight, his flesh mingling around the halberds blade.

Even stranger, the Neurotowers circuits heated up in response. A scarlet glow coursed through them alongside crimson sparks. An electricity burst touched both Basil and Plato, only for Steves power to protect them.

[Lightning] damage negated by [Aegis of Zeus]!

Whats happening? Basil watched on as Maxwells stilted words grew into high-pitched screams of agony. The rate at which he alternated between his two forms accelerated. He looked unharmed one second and dying the next. He would have felt pity for anyone else suffering from such torture. Is this a bug of some kind? Is Insta-Death not registering as it should?

It is, the Maleking replied. But he relies on Dis to recreate him. With the infrastructure temporarily glitching, he will fade away if he finds no host to jump into.

Realizing what the demon lord all but asked, Basil grimly glanced at his possessed allies. Rosemarine and Steve had already cut through their numbers, but Simeon chased after Vasi in the sky and Leblanc was trying to climb off the Steamobiles back to disable the Gehenna Cannon.

Must we truly kill them? Basil whispered.

No need to sully your hands. The Maleking chuckled darkly. I will spare you the trouble.

Basil froze in place, as did his allies. All of them sensed a terrible power spreading through the air.

The plants summoned by Rosemarines field began to catch fire. Grass became a fertile kindle for a blaze spreading through Athens ruins, while trees turned into candles. Crimson clouds carrying the smell of fresh blood obscured the star circuit shining in the sky. The Aegean Sea began to boil, with bubbles and steam rising to its surface.

Death announced its arrival with the thundering song of seven trumpets.

Rosemarine [God-Field] has been overwritten by Maleking Malacodas [Eschaton]! The worldwide field changed to [Armageddon]![Apocalypse Force]: Negates any form of HP or SP recovery for creatures with levels inferior to the Malekings.[Lake of Fire]: Everyone within the field will suffer from constant, passive [Fire] damage.[Seven Seals]: Everyone ten levels below the Maleking will suffer from an [Insta-Death] effect each minute.

All of Athens infected Players perished in an instant.

From Simeon to Leblanc, from the lowest soldier to Maxwells cat monster, none escaped the reapers toil. Their bodies turned to salt in an instant. Their flesh crumbled swiftly, and the wind carried them away. Basil saw it all, but the disaster stuck so swiftly that his mind struggled to register what had just happened.

Ah Bugsy choked in surprise and horror, his words echoing Basils own muddled thoughts. The rest of the team was either left speechless or unable to process the disasters scale. They theyre gone

Only Steve, a machine, kept his wits. The Steamobile pointed its cannon at the sea and aimed.

The Maleking arose from the sea soon after.

Apollyon remained the tallest monster Basil had ever faced, but this creature was a close second. The monster was over twenty meters tall, a twisted centaur straight out of a priests nightmare. The lower half of his body resembled a mismatched chimera with leopard legs, bloodstained fur, a snakes tail, and six snarling lion heads. Each bore an ivory horn atop their dozens of eyes and far too many teeth. A swords handle stuck out of the largest heads, with the blade buried in its skull.

The upper part of the monster dwarfed the lower one in dread and hideousness. A bloodstained armor of crimson scales covered the torso, while two slitted eyes the size of houses adorned his shoulders. A pair of great angelic wings sprawled out of the back, each strong enough to whip up a hurricane. The clawed hands were each strong enough to crush a man like a bug.

As for the head four burning eyes gazed back at Basil atop two sets of reptilian maws, each topping the other. Ten horns sat atop the head, each decorated with a tiny golden crown. An accursed flame burned bright in their midst, the visages of a hundred sinners souls flickering within it.

Good work, mighty warriors. The Lord of the Apocalypse Force smiled at the Bohens with his many mouths, as his mighty legs dragged him onto the land. Now, the power of Dis will be mine alone.

As Basils eyes identified the creature, a small bit of scripture came to mind.

Maleking Malacoda, Beast of RevelationElite Level 96 [Demon/Beast]Faction: Apocalypse Force.

Who is like unto the beast? Basil thought as he and his team mustered their courage for their final clash. Who is able to make war with him?