The Heroine is My Stepsister, and I'm her Final Boss-Chapter 27: The Throne of Thorns

Gods that reside above and beasts that dwell deep into the Dark Continent—was there truly a difference? They both hungered, they both killed, they both fed upon consciousness. The only distinction lay in perspective: one was upheld as light, radiant and revered; the other cast into shadow, reviled and feared.

Some claimed existence was dictated by where one thought they belonged. No need to blame fate or the world around them. Others argued that gods found comfort in the light while beasts thrived in darkness—not because it suited their nature but because society decreed it so. Above and below were illusions, constructs shaped by perception.

And who decided what constituted "above"? Who determined the hierarchy of light over dark?

"Wrong," she declared, her voice slicing through the silence like a blade forged from stars. Her words reverberated off the obsidian walls of the throne room, each syllable dripping with authority.

"It's us. That roam within the middle with our sheer will determine it. We, as a collective, should decide what's above and below. What's right and what's wrong. For the light is never truly right as it blinds you into darkness—and darkness is never truly wrong as it paves you into the light."

She rose from her throne, her two horns towering like monuments to defiance. Her eyes layered with doubt flickered toward her, reflecting fear and awe in equal measure. Her pale skin shimmered against the black marble floor beneath her feet, every step echoing like thunder across an empty plain. As she approached him, his head lowered instinctively until his lips brushed the cold stone.

Her golden eyes glimmered unnaturally, pupils split like those of a predator—a beast cloaked in divine beauty. Lush dark hair cascaded down her shoulders, framing a face crowned with thorns that pierced her flesh, drawing rivulets of blood that trailed endlessly along her jawline. Yet even this macabre adornment couldn't diminish her splendor. Confidence radiated from her like sunlight breaking through storm clouds, touching the heavens themselves.

"#$#$$%$$..." she murmured, her tone laced with grace despite the brutality simmering beneath. With deliberate slowness, she placed her foot atop his skull, pressing gently—but with enough force to send cracks spiderwebbing outward.

Splash!

With a single push, his horns crumbled into paste, shards embedding into the marble alongside fragments of bone and brain matter. His eyeballs bulged grotesquely before bursting, spilling mushy tendrils of gray tissue onto the floor.

"...ye...sss... My... Que...en," the crimson figure gurgled, his tongue barely able to form coherent sounds amidst the ruin of his jaw.

She stared down at him impassively, grinding her heel further into his shattered skull as more of his brains oozed out like malformed paste. He trembled violently, summoning the last vestiges of strength to raise his trembling arm at his waist, taking a sliced human arm, presenting toward her. She accepted it without hesitation, lifting her delicate foot and striding back toward her throne, leaving bloody footprints in her wake.

"...you may rise, @$##%%@," she said coldy, her voice carrying an edge of mockery. "I just didn't like your disgusting horns..."

The crimson figure struggled upright, pieces of his skull crumbling away as he clutched the remnants of his face. Teeth and skin fell silently to the ground, yet he remained standing, bowing low once more.

"...I... m... s... Orr... y... My... Qu...een..." he rasped, his voice barely audible.

She paid him no further heed, sliding a finger into the severed arm he'd offered moments earlier. Bringing it to her lips, she took a tentative bite, savoring the metallic tang.

"Uuuummmm..." she hummed appreciatively, her golden eyes glowing faintly. "It's foul, but the depth... its odd, nothing like a human should taste!"

Suddenly, her vision blurred, the golden irises expanding until they consumed the whites entirely. Darkness swirled within her gaze, pulling her inward like quicksand. When she spoke again, her voice carried the weight of prophecy.

"...I see it..." she whispered, her words heavy with foreboding. "I see him—the future... Death of the gods... The giants..."

As abruptly as it had come, the vision receded, leaving behind clarity tinged with resolve. She blinked slowly, her golden eyes returning to their usual brilliance.

"...@####&##, you are RIGHT!!!" she called sharply.

The crimson figure bowed deeply once more, ready to obey whatever command she issued next.

"Gather all the elders," she ordered, her voice cutting through the oppressive air like a whip. "They trust you more than they trust me. I want them here by tonight."

He nodded frantically, still clutching his disintegrating head.

"Hold the extinction festival for now. Tell them... tell them all." Her lips curled into a cruel smile. "The prophecy of the damned is now upon us."

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The Second Realm of the Dark Continent – Descending

The wind howled like a banshee, slicing through their iron-hardened skin as if it were parchment. Atlas pulled Eli behind him instinctively, shielding her from the brunt of the gale. His one hand clung to the massive scales of Jörmungandr—cold, slick, and impossibly smooth beneath his fingers.

Eli stared in awe, her heart pounding not with fear but with something else entirely. Riding atop such a behemoth was pure madness—a reckless brilliance that left her speechless. She pressed closer to Atlas, shouting over the deafening roar of the wind.

"...No wonder they call you the Mad Prince!" she yelled, her voice barely audible even to herself.

"What?!" Atlas shouted back, his ears overwhelmed by the cacophony of the wind and the serpent's continuous bellows.

"I said you're crazy!" she screamed again, louder this time.

Atlas squinted against the chaos, trying to decipher her words. "What?! Can we talk later?! We might need to land soon enough!"

Eli laughed, a wild sound carried away by the storm. It seemed she could hear him when he spoke directly into his back, but her shouts were lost to the void. With a mischievous grin, she leaned forward, lips brushing near his ear.

"I said! I like you! You crazy bastard!" she bellowed before pulling back, giggling despite the insanity around them.

Atlas frowned, confusion etched across his face. "I can't hear damn shit! Talk later!" he roared, shaking his head.

"Hahahaha..." Eli cackled, wrapping her arms tighter around his waist. The two hurtled onward, steaming through realms that shifted violently underfoot—one moment icy tundra, the next molten lava fields, then sudden winter snows. And finally, just as Atlas had hoped, warmth enveloped them. A blinding light pierced through the wind, casting golden rays upon their battered forms.

"We're here! The Fifth Realm!" Atlas shouted, turning his head slightly to catch Eli's nod. "I'm gonna let go now!"

He counted down under his breath, gripping the scale tightly for balance. "1... 2... 3... LET'S GO!!"

They released their hold simultaneously, plummeting toward the lush green expanse below. Trees stretched skyward, real and tangible—not luminescent or otherworldly like those in the previous realms. Mountains loomed in the distance, their peaks kissed by sunlight filtering through clouds. Rivers snaked lazily between hills, glittering like liquid silver.

HAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHUUUUUUU!!!!!

Jörmungandr roared once more, its colossal form vanishing into the horizon. Atlas twisted mid-air, raising an arm in a final salute to the beast.

[Congratulations, you are noticed by the betrayer of dragons, Jörmungandr.

An achievement not even taken by the MC.

You have acquired 500 points.]

Atlas blinked, momentarily stunned. Points were good—no, great—but being 'noticed' by a creature like Jörmungandr? That sent shivers down his spine.

"ATLAS!! WE ARE GONNA FALL AND DIE!!!" Eli shrieked, panic lacing her voice as the ground rushed up to meet them.

Snapping out of his daze, Atlas spread his arms and legs wide, his arm pits and the space between his legs, attached with thin layer of spider webs, channeling every ounce of focus into controlling their descent. Skydiving lessons from another life kicked in, steadying his nerves. He spotted a pond ahead—a familiar one—and aimed straight for it.

"Iron Skin!"

"Iron Skin!"

His body crashed into the water like a meteor, sending a shockwave rippling outward. Water exploded upward, echoing like a bomb detonation. After what felt like eternity, both surfaced, gasping for air as they swam to the edge of the pond. Red marks marred their skin where the impact had bruised them, but otherwise, they were intact.

Eli crawled onto the grassy bank, dripping wet and glaring at him with narrowed eyes. Her expression asked everything: 'Was this your plan all along?'

"...Where are we?" she demanded, wringing water from her hair.

"It's called a safe zone," Atlas replied, coughing out a mouthful of water. He peeled off his torn leather armor and the remnants of the spider web, revealing raw patches of skin underneath. "But don't step toward the forest unless you want to die within seconds."

Eli glanced at the seemingly peaceful jungle beyond the clearing. Birds chirped lazily; leaves rustled gently in the breeze. Nothing appeared out of the ordinary.

"...Okay, I'll listen," she muttered, beginning to strip off her own armor. Rivulets of water streamed down her body as she wrung out her clothes, piece by piece.

"You said it's a safe zone, right?" she said, standing fully naked, basking in all the light she could. She ran her fingers through her hair, gradually drying it as the water trickled down to her perfectly balanced, plump breasts—her nipples taut and pointed.

Drops still glided from her slim waist to her jiggling buttocks. The sight alone could drive any man wild; she was already breathtaking enough.

Atlas turned sharply, his face flushing crimson. His teenage hormones betrayed him instantly, his body responding involuntarily to the sight before him.

"Wai—wait. Wait," he stammered, averting his gaze.

"It's okay, I've seen you naked. I don't mind returning the favor," she teased, smiling wickedly.

"What!....When did you see me naked?!" he blurted, stealing a quick glance despite himself. ƒгeewёbnovel.com

"Ummm... it's a secret," she purred, tilting her head playfully. "Don't worry, I also know about your... activities during my sleep. I still have some stains on my skirt..."

Atlas froze, mortified. His hands flew to cover his growing arousal, cheeks burning hotter than ever.

'...Curse this young teenage body,' he thought bitterly.

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