Honestly, I didn’t know when it had started or what had triggered it, but all I could remember was this overwhelming hatred I had harbored for monsters. After my first slaying of a mere grey goblin in the academy, I became a professional slayer.

Forty years later, I had become an exceptionally distinguished black-ranked slayer. Since I graduated from the Slayer Academy, I have faced a plethora of monsters, spanning from [low-rank] to [Disaster-level]. Whether it was a fierce struggle to the brink or utilizing every possible means, there hadn’t been a monster I couldn’t defeat. I had maintained a hundred percent success rate—a feat unmatched by any other Slayer.

Despite there being individuals stronger in slaying beyond the black rank, many clients still rushed to line up for my services. Why? It was because I possessed [superior marksmanship], [overwhelming experience against monsters], [keen eyesight], and [immeasurable battle prowess]. My [overflowing arcane power] and prowess in both [fistfights] and [swordfights] were exceptional and trained to the limit of their proficiencies. But, the biggest reason remained that, by any cost, my rate of annihilation of monsters was 100%—indeed, this achievement was truly unprecedented.

I was the Ultimate Slayer, the sole blacked-ranked among the pinnacle-level Slayers with an unblemished record. Yet, at heart, I was just a typical hot-headed individual. A few hours ago, I received the latest mission slip, a familiar 'Kill and run' task from the usual anonymous source. The little slip mentioned something quite alarming. No, it was undeniably shocking—. 

[The Secret Organization of the Federation of Keltos plans to unleash the Ancient Dragon, Montville, to ravage and conquer the United Venigo. They accuse them of hoarding treasures from the last quest and expanding their ranks of high-ranking slayers. It’s an act of subjugation by the Federation of Keltos.]

As I finished reading the content, wrinkles began to distort my face as I couldn’t fathom the rationale behind this conflict. In an era of relative peace with fewer monsters beyond the colossal walls and monster waves, why would the Federation of Keltos unleash an Ancient Dragon I once sealed away? Fueled by my innate hot-headed nature, I erupted in fury, reducing the mission slips to ashes in my grasp. With an intense hatred for not only monsters, but the Federation ingrained in me, I avoided reporting to the United Venigo Slayers’ Base for backup. Instead, I secretly infiltrated the Federation of Keltos’ secret base, located on an isolated island as indicated by the coordinates provided in the mission slip. It was there that the seals containing the ancient dragon had been moved.

When I breached the base, I systematically slashed my way toward the seals of the ancient dragon while sensing its confined yet powerful presence. With intense malice in my eyes, I engaged with nearly two hundred slayers of Keltos, leaving their shattered corpses and crimson blood strewn about. Without delay, I executed swift precise slashes with my shortsword imbued with Arcane power, taking down another hundred slayers attacking me in a flurry of attacks. Finally, as blood dripped from my swords and cloak, I reached the immense translucent crystalline cube, sealing the dragon, and added a new seal—reducing its colossal form into a small palm-sized cube.

In that instant, the Slayers’ resolve shattered. I felt I could easily waltz out of there if I wanted to. Of that matter, I was ‘absolutely’ confident—or so I believed at the time. As I touched the delicate, exquisite, and heretical-looking cube, an unexpected supernatural incident happened. At that critical moment, my entire body suddenly became paralyzed; I couldn’t move a muscle, not even my eyes. Currently, a radiant schematic of different patterns, symbols—[draconic runes] appeared around me. As the runic circle grew brighter, swiftly encircling my body like complete armor. At this point, my blood gushed out from seemingly the several unnoticeable wounds I sustained from the encounters with the slayers and seeped into the cube before vanishing…

In an instant of unawareness, a grand voice echoed in my head: “It was all planned; go meet the grim reaper, Muhahahahahaha!” My arcane power spiraled out of control, and I struggled to maintain my mask of indifference. Gritting my teeth, I clenched my fist in anger, thick veins pulsating on my arms. As though my soul was being licked, more bursts of sinister laughter reverberated in my mind: “The Ultimate Slayer had been betrayed. Muhahahahaha! It was all planned, you will die here today…!”

“…”

Returning to reality, only a second had passed. As if not given enough time to survey my surroundings and flee, no fewer than fifty arcane grenades hurtled toward me, followed by over twenty arcane firearms firing in my direction. Behind me were over 10 high-ranking Keltos Slayers, aiming to strike me down at the same time.

“…”

Despite possessing the ultimate strength and arcane power to annihilate these high-ranking Keltos Slayers in one fell swoop, I could only watch in despair as my body slowed ‘drastically’ to that of a first-year apprentice Slayer of the academy. Only then did I realize that this was the intended consequence of the earlier draconian rune.

“…”

This unfamiliar feeling was truly infuriating! I never fathomed that I would actually fall today in such an absurd manner. Nonetheless, I had lived a good life. Those [corrupt officials] sponsoring [hidden Slayers], [ex-slayer terrorists], and the multitude of [monsters] that I, the one they despised, had slain numbered at least ten million. Indeed, my life was worth it. While others might smile upon entering [Eden], I would smile as I descended into the depths of Hell.

“…”

I have lived a spectacular and grand life with no regrets or desire for revenge against those who betrayed me. It's fine! Though I've killed many [Slayers] and [Ex-slayers] aiming to disrupt my peaceful memories or take something dearest to me, they were all individuals who deserved their fate. So, why fear anything? Even if this act inevitably drags me to Hell, what does it matter?

SLAY! SLAY! SLAY! Annihilate all those despicable souls. Eradicate every speck of filth from the world. Even if the world condemns me as the [Death Monarch] after I'm gone, what does it matter? Is there anyone else in this world capable of living as I did? No! What a wonderfully unrestrained life.

“…”

Soon, multiple weapons coated in [Arcane power] and [Bloodlust] pierced my vitals, and my crimson blood spurted out. No groan escaped my lips; only a mouthful of blood. I had already surrendered myself to my fate. Concurrently, the High-ranking Slayers leaped back just before the rain of arcane bullets and grenades fell toward me.

“…”

Despite the sluggish effect of the draconic rune, I perceived those puny arcane grenades and bullets slowly, as though time itself had slowed down—a testament to my battle prowess. Yet, it was all in vain. I smiled reverently at my helplessness, gloriously extending my arms slowly and closing my eyes in contentment.

“…!”

“…!”

“…!”

At that moment, every high-ranking Slayer present had their eyes widened in admiration for the grand spectacle before them. It was a performance that would remain etched in their souls even after my departure. Loud series of applause permeated the air. Even facing Death, every Slayer feared the Ultimate Black-ranked Slayer, Rudi Schmidt, smiled. It was a fitting grand demise for the one labeled [Death Monarch], the strongest Slayer to ever exist. Suddenly, a deafening boom erupted, shaking the isolated hideout until the entire legend became another completed chapter in history.