Final Chapter: A Place I Want to Go

【Antarctica – The Dimensional Labyrinth――】

Inside the labyrinth’s layers, there was a round bistro table with a teacup placed upon it, and an old-fashioned dining chair set beside it.

There, Lazus sat, deeply reclined in the chair, sipping tea from the cup.

He had no physical form anymore—everything was just a hologram, a nostalgic memory of the past.

But he was satisfied. His wish, his plan, had come true. Before him, floating in midair, was a large monitor reflecting the outside world.

There, on the screen, were Gojo and Demon God King Uranos—engaged in battle.

Every skill Gojo used—the 【Black Iron Corrosion】, the 【Battle God Qi Technique】, the 【Divine Flame】—had all been prepared to defeat the Demon God King.

Fighting him head-on? Impossible. That was the conclusion he’d drawn. The only possibility left was draining his magic. But the Demon God King seemed to have limitless magical power.

To surpass him, you needed magic that never ran out. So he created his unique skill, 【Infinite Magic】… and entrusted it to Gojo. Seems like the right choice, after all.

How many years had passed since the day he fought alongside Ajax…?

He’d done everything he could.

‘Now it’s all up to you… Gojo.’

◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇

Clashing violently with blades. My sword cuts across the Demon God King’s cheek—flame from the blade spreads across his face, searing his skin.

‘Gh—! What the hell is this fire!?’

He frantically tries to extinguish it, but it won’t go out. So the “Divine Flame” really does work on the Demon God King.

Struggling to put out the flames, he tries to slash at me, peeling off his own skin in the process. But the black armor pulsing with “Qi” deflects the blow.

Seems like the Demon God King's power right now can't break my armor...

You... you... you!!!

He’s swinging his sword wildly, just like Agalirepto—pure strength clash. I’m nowhere near the Black Knight Ajax when it comes to sword technique.

I block the enemy’s slash with my sword, then channel “combat energy” into my legs and kick straight up toward their jaw. The Demon God King dodges, but the blade of combat energy slices through chest, neck, and jaw anyway.

Her eyes widen, stunned, as she sees the blood dripping.

What the hell is this "qigong"?!

When I thrust my left hand forward, "Battle Energy" seized the Demon God King's right foot, as if my arm had stretched out several meters ahead.

I yank it with brute force—lose my balance, get dragged forward, and slam right in front of me.

"Naahhh!!!"

Swing the sword high, bringing it down in a slash toward the Demon God King as he closes in.

"Dimension Slash!"

The opponent fought desperately, shoving off the "battle aura" hands, but her right leg was already torn apart. Flesh fragments turned to ash beneath the divine flames.

You bastard!

I barely manage to douse the flames spreading across the wound—then my leg regenerates in an instant, thanks to [Overhealing]. But [Overhealing] must be draining a ton of mana...

The five glowing greatswords mounted on my shoulders and back float into the air.

Pointing the tip at the Demon God King, I lunged—light-speed attack. The Demon God King parries with his sword, but it’s too fast, too powerful. Trapped, he freezes time to escape.

If time stops, even a glowing greatsword that flies through the sky, or a blade infused with divine flame—none of it works.

But stopping time? That’s a double-edged sword even for her.

It won’t last long—using this much magic. Just as expected, after dodging the giant beam of light, she grimaced, barely holding it for a few seconds before freezing time.

I slash again, blade blazing with light and divine fire, driving it into the Demon God King. The limit is obvious now.

"Now you get it. No matter how strong you are, you’re still just one person. You can’t beat me. Not ever!"

"What’s one person…? If you had that kind of power, you’d just keep getting lonelier. You’d be no different than me."

"I’m not alone!"

Before entering the dimensional labyrinth, I taught Leo, Wang, Freyja—so many things. But I wasn’t just teaching.

I was learning too. Their swordplay. Their Martial Arts.

My blade glows. It shifts smoothly, slicing past the Demon God King’s defense, aiming straight for his feet.

“—Sacred Dragon Steel Slash (Ascalon)—!!”

The flash severs both his legs.

“Gah!!”

Flames ignite in the wound—no easy regeneration. The Demon God King slashes at his own injury with a dark blade, cutting away the burning flesh.

He regenerates his legs and rises—just as I’m already in range.

As I strike, I remember Wang’s words from our real-world training.

◇◇◇

“Gojo, I’ll show you my secret.”

“My secret?”

“The technique I use in Xingyi Quan. It’s basic, but also the core. Feel it with your body!”

◇◇◇

My left fist plunges into the Demon God King’s flank—the impact shatters through armor, through muscle, straight into his organs.

"Xingyi Wu Xing—Pao Quan—!!"

"Gah…! Ughh!!"

The Demon God King spits blood, staggers back, collapsing. I angle the tip of my blade against his neck, take a step forward.

I remember the technique Leo showed me.

◇◇◇

"Gojo, this is the strongest among my 'Four Sword Techniques.' A gift for all you’ve taught me. Let me show you."

Leo’s sword glows crimson-hot, the wind coiling around it transforming into flame.

"Try to dodge this! This is the Wind God’s Blade—"

◇◇◇

"——Nanto Sōfūzan!!"

The sword pierces through the Demon God King’s neck. Flames erupt from the blade’s edge, spiraling upward. His head burns, his mouth opens in silent agony—five beams of light, like massive swords, descend without mercy.

Shoulder. Arm. Leg. The blades flash through him at light speed, slicing apart flesh and bone.

He can’t regenerate anymore. I charge my final strike—hitting the light swords against my own blade again and again, building up impact.

Deliberately storing shock, amassing maximum energy.

I raise my sword.

"Time to end this."

"...No... please... stop...!"

The descending blade stretches into an endless divine flame.

"The God Flame Sword (Caliban) wielded by Wang!!"

It splits him from crown to crotch. The searing flames consume his entire body.

I just watch—no flesh remains. Nothing but ash, vanishing into nothing.

◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇

A few leftover Chinese surveillance drones veer toward the site where the fight happened.

The wide grasslands that should have been in Mongolia were gone, replaced by a crater so enormous it had reshaped the entire landscape.

A drone captures the silhouette of a figure in the distance.

It was right next to a hole so deep the bottom was invisible—right in the center of the crater.

Only one person was visible. She was ragged, clutching a single sword. No one else was anywhere.

Gojo’s姿态仰望着天空，被无人机传遍了全世界。看到那段影像的人们，都坚信人类一方赢了。

The whole world erupted in cheers—no need to say it.

◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇

——Two months later——

[Prime Minister Tada Shunki]

"Damn, Gojo actually went through with it..."

"Hey, the government really tried to stop it... but..."

If he’s set on going, no one’s gonna stop him. Shame, though.

[Air Self-Defense Force, Gifu Base]

[Sakaki] "Gojo-san’s supposed to have left as planned."

[Shimizu] "That's just like him... I guess."

"Figured you'd stop sooner or later,"

[Shimizu] "You're not the kind of person who'd just stop and give up, are you? Besides, comforting Sakuragi while she was bawling her eyes out was a nightmare."

"Ha ha... well, it's not a permanent goodbye. Might feel lonely for a bit, but we'll meet again, right?"

[China · "Suzaku" Headquarters]

Liu "Was it okay? Not going together?"

[Wang] "I’d just be a burden if I went... Whenever Gojo says he needs help, I’ll keep myself ready to go at any time."

"Liu," "Yeah, that's right."

[Wang] "Still, today's sky is so blue. Perfect day for a journey."

[Swiss Bern Sanctuary Knights Headquarters]

[Freyja] "I heard you were really torn about whether to go or not."

[Leo] "Yeah, Gojo isn't obligated to help them. But he couldn't just leave them alone."

[Carlo] "I was against it, though."

[Leo] "Either way, Gojo chose this path. All we can do is root for him to succeed."

[France, Saint Victoire Convent ——]

[Noah] "Teacher just contacted us. Says we're heading to Antarctica today."

[Arthur] "I was shocked when I first heard it, but Teacher's got this. I believe in him!"

[Noah] "I believe too. There's nothing Teacher can't do."

[Sarah] "But Emily cried, didn't she? She seemed really shaken when she first heard."

[Emily] "……I… didn’t cry…."

[Sarah] "Really? I’m not so sure…"

[Emily] "………………"

[Noah] "Well, whatever. Anyway, let’s all pray for Teacher’s safety."

[Antarctica, Dimensional Labyrinth ——]

"You're a strange one, really going through with this?"

"Yeah, I am. Can't just leave it alone."

"I know you understand—my magic to open doors isn’t enough anymore. If you go through this one, it’ll be hard for you to come back."

"I know. I’m ready."

"Then I’ll say nothing more. I hope you succeed."

A glowing portal opens before me. I step forward slowly, walking into the light. A sensation like my body is melting—my consciousness fading.

The Demon God King said he’d only take a few humans with him. Left everyone else behind.

They’ve got lives, families… just like us, right? Even though the humans brought by the Demon God King ended up killing each other in war, I kept wondering… could we do something for the ones who survived?

The verdict’s not out yet… so I figured, why not just go see her in person?

Consciousness slowly returning... the world sharpening into focus.

I’m sprawled face-down, I think. Faint streaks of green and pink bloom into my half-open eyes. My body feels okay—slowly, I push myself up.

The wind brushing my cheek... same as the world I came from.

But what I saw… was completely different.

Big planets, like moons, glowed in the sky, and flocks of birds I’d never seen before flew in formation.

The meadow spreading out before me, and the deep forest beyond it.

Using Thousand-Mile Eye, I peeked into the forest—and there they were. Goblins. Ogres. Other monsters. Creatures that weren’t human, living right there in the woods.

Thousand-Mile Eye crossed another mountain, arriving at a town teeming with people.

The city was surrounded by a massive fortress wall, with a grand castle towering in the center. The people inside wore traditional ethnic clothing, moving about on foot or in horse-drawn carriages.

Feels like medieval Europe or something.

I really, truly thought—this is another world.

This is the other world...

The end

I managed to finish it, all thanks to everyone who read it. This was a novel I vowed to write all the way to the end—if even one person read it.

But honestly, I didn’t expect it to be read by so many people.

I'd really appreciate any thoughts or ratings you have after reading the whole thing.

I know this is an imperfect novel by an inexperienced writer—there are probably plenty of flaws. Still, I’m truly grateful you made it this far.

Thank you so much.