Crushing flags and claiming the Villainess

Chapter 237 236- Third fragment(1)

KHIEEEEEEK!

A deafening screech tore through the air as the giant scorpion stood its ground, its one remaining eye scanning the dunes with frantic, jerking motions.

Greenish-black blood oozed from deep wounds carved into its thick carapace. Its left claw had been cleanly severed, and a glowing blue dagger was still lodged in the socket where its other eye had once been.

The beast was injured, enraged, and trembling with fear.

It wasn't just fighting—it was surviving.

TING.

A sharp sound rang from above.

The scorpion snapped its tail upward in a flash, trying to block whatever was coming.

DHAK!

Something slammed into the tail—a faint impact, not enough to break through its armor. It had blocked it, yes.

But it was the wrong threat.

"Peek-a-boo~"

The voice came from beneath.

Before the monster could turn, Austin rose from the sand like a ghost, his body caked in dust and hidden by the terrain.

Its eyes widened in alarm—too late.

In his hand, a strange, pulsing device lit up.

SHCFOOO!

A white-hot beam shot from the tool, blasting through the scorpion's chest and punching a hole straight through its body.

KHIEEEEEEK!!

The beast shrieked in agony, flailing wildly as it staggered forward, desperate and disoriented.

Austin stepped fully out of the sand and calmly dusted off his coat.

"Man... you're one tenacious bastard."

His eyes narrowed as he looked at the creature, once proud, now broken.

The final boss of the sixth dungeon still hadn't fallen, but it was close.

He'd been fighting it for nearly two hours—dodging, striking, hiding, and healing with potions in between.

Unlike him, the monster wasn't recovering.

And it showed.

The beast didn't fall.

Instead, it roared one last time—KHIEEEEEEK!—and lunged forward in a final burst of rage. Its legs stabbed into the sand, and its long, jagged tail arched high, trembling with venom.

Then it struck.

WHOOSH!

The tail came down like a thunderbolt, aimed straight at Austin's heart.

But Austin didn't move an inch.

FWOOM.

A transparent dome of crackling energy burst to life around him—Absolute Barrier—the monster's tail slammed into it with a deafening BOOM, sending a shockwave rippling through the air.

Sparks danced across the barrier's surface. Cracks formed... but it held.

The scorpion reeled back, dazed for half a second.

That was all Austin needed.

He dropped the barrier—and vanished in a blur of motion, Berserk pulsing through his veins.

In the blink of an eye, he was above the monster's head, descending like a meteor.

The scorpion sensed danger and tried to retreat.

But Austin was ready.

TWING!

A barrier flared to life behind the creature, cutting off its escape.

Trapped.

With both hands locked together, Austin came crashing down like a hammer.

BOOOOM!

The strike hit with devastating force, enhanced by Kinetic Surge. The monster's head slammed into the sand with a sickening crunch, a crater forming beneath it. Dust exploded outward. The scorpion's shell cracked. Its limbs twitched.

Austin landed on its head, calm, steady.

From his side, he drew a gleaming golden weapon.

The Helio Cannon.

Sunlight shimmered across its smooth frame, the core already glowing hot with absorbed power. A weapon forged to channel sunlight into devastating blasts—a perfect counter to creatures of the dark.

Demons, to be precise.

He pointed the cannon at the back of the monster's skull.

The gun hummed, the light inside pulsing brighter and brighter until it looked like it would burst.

Austin bid his farewell,

"Nice fighting you."

SHKOOOOOOM!!

A blazing solar beam erupted from the cannon, blasting through the creature's skull and lighting up the battlefield in golden fire. The sand turned to glass beneath the heat. The scorpion didn't even have time to scream.

Silence followed.

Only the soft crackle of heat lingered in the air… and Austin, standing atop the smoking corpse of the dungeon's final boss.

Austin heaved a sigh as he stored the gun in his inventory and looked at the system screen,

[Congratulations, host!]

[You have conquered the sixth dungeon!]

[You have gained 25000 EXP!]

[Total EXP: 51028]

Austin frowned upon seeing the system screen and completely ignored her.

After a pause, the system sent another text,

[Are you still mad at me?]

Austin scoffed, "You lied to me."

A few days ago, when Austin defeated the mid boss of the fifth dungeon, he broke through the first stage of the system by reaching the limits of every progression.

His dedication to save Valerie, the Trickery he used to fool the Yeti, and the strength he showed...everything was hefty enough to push him beyond the limits.

And...he was expecting something amazing once he overcame the first stage

But all he got was ...removal of the stats altogether and only the option of <Dungeon>, <Quest>, and <Shop> left.

It was such a letdown that he had been ignoring the system for some time now.

[But, host, you have already reached the stage where you don't need to look at the system screen. You are inches away from breaking into S-rank. Without knowing, you have progressed-]

"Yeah, I know. Stop flattering me." Austin could tell that he had walked through a long path in the past one and a half months.

Other than his beard and hair, his stats have grown exponentially because he never stopped fighting.

Whenever he delayed finishing a boss, the system summoned the mobs once again, so he continued to gain experience and strength through every battle.

[Can I do something to get your forgiveness?]

Again, in that little sister voice, she asked.

Austin was vulnerable towards cute things, so he just crossed his arms and told her, "If only you provide me at least a health and mana bar, then I might forgive you."

[Ding!]

[Command accepted!]

[Once the host absorbs the third fragment, the system would install a Health Bar and a Magic Bar.]

Austin heaved a sigh, thinking if he was too easy.

Regardless, he didn't remain stuck in one place and got ready to start the ritual.

"System… are you sure I'm ready?" Austin asked, his voice quiet, laced with a hint of nervousness.

Everything he had done until now-the endless training, the countless hours of pain—had led to this moment. All for one purpose: to absorb the third fragment of his soul. To grow stronger. Strong enough to save Valerie. Strong enough to crush that insect who dared to harm the people close to him.

He had no backup plan. No safety net. If this failed… he would still fight, still run to save her—but the chances of everything falling into place would drop. And that terrified him.

[Don't be pessimistic, host. You've overcome too much to doubt yourself now. Your soul is ready. And your body… it will accept the third fragment without resistance.]

Austin exhaled long and deeply. "Haah… I hope you're right."

He stepped into the resting zone, letting its calming aura settle over him like a blanket.

Then, with steady hands, he raised the Shard and sliced his thumb. A sharp sting, followed by a thin line of blood.

As the crimson drop formed, he held the dagger beneath it, letting the blood fall onto its blade.

"With the command of the one who sealed you," he whispered, "I call you back to your rightful owner."

It was a simple command, just as Selner had taught him. His soul fragments only needed a sign—a confirmation that he was truly the one. And his blood carried that proof.

He stood still, barely breathing, his heart pounding in his chest. Doubt crept in.

What if it didn't work?

What if—

Then it happened.

A faint shimmer appeared before him. A piece of something long lost.

A broken puzzle piece floated in the air, glowing with a soft, bluish light.

Austin's eyes softened.

"There you are," he said quietly. "Come."

The fragment shot forward without hesitation, slamming into his chest.

Austin gasped.

His knees gave out, and he dropped to the ground, vision swimming.

It felt like a tidal wave crashing into his soul—power so vast, so ancient, it drowned his thoughts.

This wasn't like the Parasite King. No… it was something far deeper. Far more overwhelming. Like staring into the eyes of a god and realizing how small you truly are.

His throat dried. His breathing grew shallow.

His body shook violently as it struggled to contain the surge. Muscles ripped and mended in rapid bursts. Bones groaned under pressure. His heart thudded like it might give out at any moment.

His mind flickered, barely holding on.

[Alert!]

[Host is losing consciousness!]

He saw the warning. But it felt distant. Like it was meant for someone else.

His limbs were heavy. His thoughts blurred.

And then—darkness.

Austin collapsed, the world fading into silence as he lost consciousness, his body still glowing faintly where the fragment had entered.

...

..

.

"Ah!" And suddenly, he was awake.

His head was still ringing slightly, but he was awake and could see properly.

However, what caught his eyes...completely took him off guard.

Austin wasn't in a dungeon.

He was in a room...a familiar one.

It was the same room in which he used to live before he left for the academy.

"You are here," He heard a voice, and instantly spun on his feet toward the source of the voice.

There sat a person who looked exactly like him.

With his arms crossed and a calm expression on his face, he said, "Well, I didn't want to show you all this, but I guess it's important for you."

And with that, Austin was shown a past which he never lived.

°°°°°°°°°

A/N:- Thanks for reading.