THE STRATEGIST: Monster of the game

Twenty years.

That was how long it had been since I left Earth and was dragged into this world.

The battlefield stretched for kilometers, a ruin of shattered mountains and collapsed plains. Entire ridgelines had been carved flat by brute force, the earth gouged so deeply that molten rock bled through the cracks like open wounds.

At the center of it all, it stood.

The Great Monster.

Its body towered higher than a city gate, a grotesque fusion of flesh, obsidian armor, and jagged bone. Six massive limbs supported its hulking frame, each claw long enough to tear through fortresses. Its head was crowned with twisted horns that coiled backward like blackened roots, and its eyes vast, burning orbs—glowed with ancient contempt.

Every breath it took distorted the air.

Every step crushed the land.

Around me, magic crackled wildly. The remains of spells hung suspended like dying stars, flickering and breaking apart under the monster’s pressure alone.

Today was the day.

The final day.

A blinding surge of energy erupted from the monster’s core.

FLASH!

The sky shattered.

KA—BOOM!

The explosion swallowed the battlefield whole. The shockwave tore through space itself, flattening everything in its path. I was hurled backward, my body slamming into the ground hard enough to fracture stone beneath me.

My boots dug in as I forced myself upright.

Dust, smoke, and blood filled my lungs.

“So…” the monster rumbled, its voice layered with countless echoes, “you endured that attack as well.”

Its head lowered slightly, eyes locking onto me.

“As expected of the Hero.”

I could feel it then—the difference between us.

It was strong. Overwhelmingly so.

But I was standing.

Its gaze shifted, amusement lacing its voice. “Your companions, however… they are barely hanging on.”

Behind me, the battlefield trembled with strained breathing and suppressed cries.

“Saint!”

“Mage!”

“Knight!”

And then

“Soren!”

Their voices cracked, heavy with fear.

My vision blurred briefly, pain pulsing through my entire body. Blood trickled down my arm, dripping from my fingertips into the fractured ground below.

The monster laughed.

A deep, thunderous sound that crushed the air.

“You don’t look so good yourself,” it said. “Cocky bastard.”

The ground exploded.

It moved.

Not with grace—but with raw, annihilating force.

A colossal claw came crashing down like a falling mountain.

I leapt.

The impact obliterated the spot where I had stood, sending debris flying in every direction. I landed, twisting midair, drawing my blade in one smooth motion.

Steel sang.

CLANG!

My sword met its claw, sparks detonating like fireworks between us. The force traveled up my arms, rattling my bones, threatening to tear the weapon from my grip.

I pushed forward.

CLASH!

CLASH!

CLASH!

Each strike rang louder than thunder. My blade carved glowing lines across its armor, deep enough to draw blackened blood that hissed as it touched the ground.

The monster reeled back, surprise flashing across its features.

“If you refuse to surrender,” it roared, sweeping another limb toward me, “I will tear you to pieces!”

Its swing split the air apart. The shockwave alone flung me backward, skidding across broken terrain.

“This land,” it continued, raising its massive form, “was polished by my fangs and claws!”

I steadied myself.

My breathing slowed.

My grip tightened.

“Then,” I said quietly, “let’s put an end to this.”

The world dimmed.

Black fire ignited around my blade, not flickering like ordinary flames but collapsing inward, devouring light itself.

“Paradox Flame.”

I stepped forward—

And vanished.

In the next instant, I reappeared beneath its guard.

BOOM!

The blade plunged into its chest.

Black fire exploded outward, wrapping around its body like living chains. The flames didn’t burn outward—they erased inward, devouring something deeper than flesh.

The monster screamed.

“A weak attack like that—” it snarled through clenched fangs, staggering back, “won’t leave a single scratch on me!”

I twisted the blade.

“Weak?” I said. “It’s more than enough.”

Its body shuddered violently.

“To cut through your arrogance.”

The monster froze.

For the first time—

Fear crept into its eyes.

“To think,” it gasped, “that a mere human from this world could push me this far…”

“I already told you,” I said. “I’m not from this world.”

The flames spread.

Eating.

Consuming.

“I may fall now,” the monster said desperately, “but my body will return to the earth and—”

Its voice faltered.

“…I’m disappearing.”

“You can’t resurrect anymore,” I replied calmly.

Its pupils contracted.

“That black flame,” it whispered, horror overtaking its tone, “it’s burning me away…”

“Yes.”

“What… is it?”

“Paradox Flame,” I said. “It burns concepts. Reason. Memories. Existence.”

The monster convulsed violently.

“You’ve resurrected for centuries,” I continued. “That ends now.”

As its body unraveled, it laughed bitterly.

“Even if I disappear… You will never be remembered as the hero who saved this world.”

I didn’t look away.

“Because the companions you trust,” it hissed, “are waiting for you to die.”

“I know.”

Silence fell.

“You… know?”

I turned slightly.

“Hero!” the Saint cried weakly. “You can’t trust that monster!”

I met her gaze.

And exposed everything.

“Let’s start with you,” I said.

Her breath caught.

“You tried to seduce me daily. Claimed you loved me. But in truth, you despised me for being an outsider.”

Her eyes widened.

“The plan was simple,” I continued. “After this battle, when it was time to kill me, you hoped I’d hesitate.”

Silence.

“Isn’t that right, Saint?”

She said nothing.

“The Knight,” I went on, voice steady, “was ordered by the Emperor to execute me once the monster fell. Afraid I’d take his throne.”

The knight stiffened.

“And the Mage?” I glanced at him. “You despise me for opposing slavery. For standing in the way of your experiments.”

One by one, their faces betrayed them.

“I’ve known this for five years,” I said.

The monster stared at me in disbelief. “If you knew… if you were powerful enough to defeat me… why didn’t you destroy this world that betrayed you?”

I smiled faintly.

“Because I don’t want this world.”

The black flames finally consumed the monster completely.

“I just want to go home.”

“You… want to go home?” the monster whispered as it vanished.

And with that

The world fell silent.