Marshmallow squinted as the different versions of himself vanished like mist fading into nothingness. He was alone on the staircase again. All he could do now was keep going down.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

His steps were quick, taking the stairs two at a time. As he descended, a shadow of anxiety began creeping into him.

His mind wandered through the experiences of the entire Survivor Game. It had been exactly a month since he'd entered this info-world packed with magic and supernatural stuff. The Grimgoat, the Mechanical Cerberus, King Balor, Serthar, the Dragon Emperor. All formidable enemies, but Marshmallow had always managed to overcome the challenges thrown at him. Now he was here, one step away from the end.

Then his thoughts shifted to all his fallen comrades. How much death and destruction had the Survivor Game brought? How far could human cruelty go? They'd started with a thousand Wyolanders and Novgovians, and now only a handful of Survivors remained. The rest? All dead.

The faces of all his companions killed like dogs flashed through his mind. They'd suffered brutal deaths. The image of SonicEcho desperately calling for help before his head exploded under the Grimgoat's mighty hoof was still vivid in his memory. And above all, the sea of death he'd witnessed at Overblown Castle still hurt like a thorn in his heart. All brutally killed by BloodLust, including his two friends Ok Damage and SamanthEye.

Don't worry, I'll avenge you!

Marshmallow's thoughts then turned to BloodLust. He struggled to comprehend such an inhuman being. In real life, Marshmallow had known plenty of despicable, disgusting, and detestable characters. Ruthless loan sharks, slave-driving bosses, and kings so full of themselves that they were more focused on building a giant statue than finding a way to end the war. But BloodLust beat them all by a long shot.

Damn bastard...

It was clear that he didn't care about the war, survival, or fame. Turning almost all of his companions into monsters or war machines was something Marshmallow would have struggled to even imagine. BloodLust had to be stopped at all costs because if he won the Survivor Game, Marshmallow's family would be in danger too.

After all this pondering, Marshmallow finally glimpsed the end of the staircase. With one last step, he reached the bottom, and before him stood a massive metal door decorated with disturbing symbols. They looked like ancient runes intertwined to form a twisted design with snakes fighting each other.

Pushing the door, it opened with an ominous creak. Marshmallow stepped forward and a blinding light enveloped him. At that moment, he felt a strange calm wash over him. He had confidence in his abilities and knew he could do this. King Richard, at the end of the Survivor Game announcement, had asked, "Who will be the Survivors?"

Marshmallow felt it in his bones. He'd definitely be one of them.

His eyes adjusted to the light, and suddenly, Marshmallow found himself in a vast arena, illuminated by dark blue flames burning brightly along the sides. On the opposite end, he could see him.

He was sitting on a raised throne, accessible by a staircase. From that position, BloodLust could look down on Marshmallow. He had his legs crossed and a haughty look, revealing a certain ambition and narcissism.

BloodLust appeared tall and slender, with a presence that radiated oppression from the throne itself. He had long, shimmering blue hair, while his sharp and attractive face was adorned with piercing eyes of an intense purple that scrutinized Marshmallow as if analyzing his soul. On the right side of his face was a tribal tattoo, and he wore elaborate, ceremonial clothes rich in colors, predominantly blue and purple, leaving his muscular and completely hairless chest exposed. As a final notable detail, his hands were adorned with precious rings that sparkled so brightly they were clearly visible even from dozens of meters away.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Seeing him, Marshmallow couldn't help but feel profound disgust. That man seemed a mix between human and supernatural, his mind would have been a mystery even to the most expert psychiatrist. But Marshmallow didn't need all these mental gymnastics. He knew who he had in front of his eyes. A true monster.

BloodLust addressed Marshmallow for the first time with a honeyed voice: "Here you are, Marshmallow. Did you enjoy your memories? I find that taking a trip down memory lane is always pleasant."

Marshmallow gritted his teeth. He just wanted to kick his ass as hard as possible. "Why did you show me all this? Answer me, BloodLust!"

BloodLust rose from the throne with elegance and slowly descended the stairs: "I wanted to show you the mistakes you've made in your life. We all make mistakes in life, and this is inevitable. Suffering and fear are things that exist in all of us from the day life is given to us, because life is a cruel game. Look at this war between our factions, we face each other and kill each other for power. We suffer, we despair, but in the end, we all share a single destiny. Death."

Marshmallow took a defensive stance. "What the hell are you rambling about? I've got nothing to discuss with someone who wiped out their own teammates!"

But BloodLust continued, having now descended all the stairs. "Thanks to them, I understood so many things. In their eyes, I saw fear, and no one, truly no one, wasn't afraid to die. So ironic, don't you think? They all agreed to participate in the Survivor Game, but every single one of them was terrified of biting the dust. This is proof that the fear of death never leaves us, and when it inevitably approaches and we realize we can do nothing to stop it, we desperately cling to life. They were a necessary sacrifice for a greater good."

Marshmallow summoned the Supernova Titan Hammer and the Titanic Sword of Flames simultaneously, enraged.

"There's no such thing as necessary sacrifices among your own companions!"

But BloodLust wasn't finished. "Oh, but there is, because thanks to them, I finally found a way out of this despair. When I win the Survivor Game, I'll make sure all of humanity transfers to a virtual reality. I'll create a new world, a world free from pain, suffering, and death itself. In this world, every person will feel like a god."

"You're insane..."

Marshmallow shook his head furiously, feeling mocked. "A world like that would be pure illusion, an escape from reality. It's death itself that makes us human and gives meaning to life, but an inhuman being like you can't understand that."

BloodLust abandoned his contemptuous smile, responding to Marshmallow with growing anger. "An illusion? It's salvation! No more wars, no more disappointments, no more... pain. I will give humanity the way to transcend, and you, Marshmallow, and all you Wyolanders are an obstacle to my plan. Anyone who tries to stand in my way will be crushed by my power because only I have understood the truth. I will free the world from pain and make sure that every person on the face of the earth becomes a god. I've had fun with you, I even gave you some powers. But now it's time to end this. Defend yourself, Marshmallow. Because I won't hold back."

With those words, the air around BloodLust began to vibrate with energy. A dark blue aura enveloped him, making his hair wave as if immersed in an invisible liquid. His eyes lit up with a sinister light, and a cruel smile painted his face.

Marshmallow tightened his grip on his weapons, feeling total rage course through his entire body. He knew this would be the toughest fight of his life, but he was ready. He thought of his family, his companions, and all those counting on him. He couldn't let them down. The world as he knew it would disappear if Marshmallow lost.

"Bring it on, BloodLust," Marshmallow growled, taking a fighting stance. "I'll stop you, whatever it takes."

BloodLust laughed like a snake. "Oh, Marshmallow," he said in an almost affectionate tone. "You have no idea what's in store for you. Allow me to show you true power."

With a gesture of his hand, BloodLust summoned a sword of pure energy. The blade seemed to be made of liquid light, a blue so intense it hurt the eyes. "This is the Eternity Blade," he explained with a smug smile. "Forged with fifty of the souls of my fallen companions. Besides wounding the body, it rips your soul right off."

Marshmallow felt a shiver run down his spine. The mere sight of that weapon made him nauseous, knowing how it was created. But he couldn't afford to show weakness or intimidation.

"Your weapons don't scare me," Marshmallow declared firmly. "They might be as powerful as you want, but they lack what truly matters: honor and justice."

BloodLust shook his head as if talking to a stubborn child. "Honor? Justice? These are concepts invented by the weak to keep the strong in check. In my new world, there will be no need for such illusions."

Without further warning, BloodLust launched his attack. His speed was incredible as if he had teleported. In front of Marshmallow, BloodLust slashed the air with the Eternity Blade in a deadly arc.