Reincarnated as a failed hero?! Watch me Defy Fate! - Chapter 197

Chapter 197: The Ultimate Resonance
At this moment, the power of my Dark Magic surged like a rising tide—limitless and overwhelming. But then… I felt something unexpected.

A warm, radiant magic began to flow into me.

It was Solis.

Her light—gentle yet firm—merged with the darkness within me. Yet strangely, it didn’t burn. It didn’t resist. It embraced.

Despite being a wielder of shadow, I felt no pain—only harmony.

“Naoki,” Solis said, her voice calm but laced with urgency. “We’re going to combine our powers. I need the destructive essence of your darkness, and I will lend the purifying force of my light. My brother, Nox, and I once did this long ago… It created a force powerful enough to distort the very fabric of reality.”

She looked at me, eyes filled with trust.

“Alright. I understand,” I nodded solemnly.

Suddenly, [Blessing of the Goddess of Light] activated on its own. Solis’ divine light poured into my body, flooding me with luminous power. I felt my strength evolve—my light-based abilities amplified by 50%.

Then—

[Resonance Activated!]

[Skill Resonance has reached Level 8!]

[You can now absorb all elemental magic!]

[Solis’ Light Magic absorbed. New skill forming…]

Slowly, my katana, once cloaked in shadows, began to shimmer with radiant light. The fusion of our two forces—light and darkness—merged upon the blade, forming something ancient, forbidden… beautiful.

I gasped.

“This is… incredible…”

Solis nodded, a gentle smile on her lips.

“Ordinarily, light and darkness should never coexist. But… this darkness is my brother’s—Nox’s essence—and we were always two halves of the same soul. It makes sense that our magic would resonate when carried by someone worthy.”

“You’re right… You’re both incredible. Thank you, Nox… and thank you, Solis—for trusting me with this power.”I smiled at her, and she returned it, warmer than ever.

The final strike was almost ready. I just needed a little more time…

That’s when Flareth and Zarion stepped forward—bold and unyielding—blocking the rampaging Kray’mundr with their bodies.

They knew.

They knew I needed time.

“You damn bug!” Flareth roared. “I’ll clear the path—GET READY!”

“You’re not doing this alone, flame-brain!” Zarion snapped. “We’re doing this together!”

The two unleashed their combined magic—[Fire Storm Impact]—a roaring tempest of lightning and flame that encased Kray’mundr in a burning vortex. The monster writhed in agony, its body crumbling once again. But as it began to regenerate…

Runa appeared.

From the swirling shadows, her twin tails extended, spiraling around the monster. She unleashed [Shadow Devour], absorbing the fragments of Kray’mundr piece by piece, halting its restoration.

Perfect. They’ve cleared the way.

My fusion strike with Solis was almost complete.

But then… Kray’mundr screamed. A guttural, terrifying cry echoed through the sky as he began to chant in a language ancient and forbidden—arcane syllables filled with catastrophic power.

Then came the words that made every god freeze:

“[Ultimate Skill: Destruction of the Sky and Earth]”

His body erupted in a blinding light. All his magic condensed into his core—glowing like a nuclear sun.

“No… NO! That bastard!!” Flareth yelled in fury.

“He’s going to blow himself up!” Zarion shouted, halting his attack.

“If he detonates, Cosmoria will be annihilated!” Miranda cried, and rushed to strengthen the world’s barriers, summoning holy shields to protect the gods, angels, and the land itself.

The air was filled with dread.

And then—

[Skill Resonance has successfully created a skill!]

[Skill Resonance is now ready to be unleashed!]

I turned to Solis and nodded.

She understood immediately.

“EVERYONE, FALL BACK!!” I yelled.

Flareth and Zarion grabbed Aqualia and Zephyra and leaped out of range. Terra and Gaia did the same.

As Kray’mundr began to self-destruct, Solis and I unleashed our final strike.

But before that, I stopped 5 seconds of Kray’mundr’s time with [Temporal Rift]. That successfully prevented him from exploding himself.

Taking advantage of that moment, I launched a finishing blow at him.

“Perish—AND NEVER RETURN! ULTIMATE RESONANCE: NIHIL SLASH!”

My katana surged with both Dark Magic and Light Magic in perfect harmony. As I swung it, a wave of absolute void tore through reality.

It wasn’t that it sliced space—it erased it.

A line of pure nothingness cut across the battlefield. Where it passed, light could no longer shine. Darkness could no longer form.

A wound in existence itself.

BAM!!!

The attack struck Kray’mundr at his very core.

It didn’t just destroy his body—it severed his bond with the Outer God completely. The monstrous power that had once made him immortal was gone.

He was gone.

Forever.

But our slash did not stop. It soared skyward, piercing the very heavens of Cosmoria.

And then…A scream.

“GROOOOHHHH!!”

It came from the sky itself.We had struck something beyond the veil—the Outer God.

He felt pain.

The skies twisted once more… then began to return to normal. The presence of the Outer God vanished from Cosmoria.

He wouldn’t return soon—not after taking that kind of blow.

Then came the system message:

[CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE DEFEATED THE ULTIMATE UNIQUE MONSTER: KRAY’MUNDR, THE ONE WHO CONQUERS SKY AND EARTH][LEVEL UP!!!][LEVEL UP!!!][LEVEL UP!!!](again and again…)[LEVEL UP!!!]

I watched the notifications scroll like a flood of stars.I had reached Level 101.

I had surpassed the limits of humanity.I had become something more.

—-

[You have obtained the item: Heartcore of Kray’mundr (Crafting Material / Core Item)]

Type: Legendary Crafting Item

Description: A dense, radiant-black gem pulsing with both seismic and storm energies — the crystallized remains of Kray’mundr’s soul core.

Uses:

Can be socketed into legendary weapons or armor

Grants Sky-Earth Attunement: (flight, tremor, atmospheric pressure manipulation)

Infuses passive Aura Dominance: enemies near you stagger or sink under your presence

—–

[You have obtained the item: Ward of the Worldskin!!]

Type: Legendary Rank Item

Cooldown: Once per day

Mana Cost: 25% of total mana (scales with max MP)

Effect Duration: 10 seconds

Description:Activate to deploy a flexible mana shield dome (radius: 6–8 meters) around you and nearby allies.

Shield Effects While Active:

Absorbs [1000 + 2× INT or Magic Power] damage split among all allies inside

Reflects incoming projectiles (magic and physical are deflected or scattered)

Negates all forms of knockback and crowd control

Pulls airborne enemies downward with gravitational pressure.

—-

[You have gained Trait: The Destroyer of Sky and Earth!!]

Trait Effects:

+25% resistance to Earth and Air elemental damage

+15% increased movement speed and jump height (as though buoyed by the wind)

Melee and magic attacks deal +10% damage to aerial and subterranean foes

Reduces fall damage by 90%

Grants moderate-speed free flight

Within a 30-meter radius: increase enemy gravity, paralyzing or staggering them for 30 seconds

—-

This… this is incredible.

These rewards, these traits… they were far beyond anything I expected. And yet, they would all become vital for the battles to come. I could feel it in my soul.

We had done it.The battle was over.And we had won.

A wave of joy swept through Cosmoria.The gods rejoiced. The angels lifted their voices in song.

Miranda rushed forward and threw her arms around me and Solis. Solis, flustered at first, grumbled and turned her head away—but eventually accepted the hug with a quiet smile.

Then came Aqualia, Zephyra, Terra, and Gaia.One after another, they offered praise—some shy, some bold.

Flareth and Zarion, true to form, slapped my back so hard I nearly staggered—but even they smiled as they complimented me.

I stood there in the center of it all, smiling at the joyful chaos around me. The weight of what we’d endured slowly began to lift.

Then another notification appeared:

[CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE TRIAL OF SACRIFICIAL!!]

Objectives Completed:

-Save your sister, Nana (Completed!)

-Aid the gods in defeating the Unique Monsters Kraytheon and Gor’mundr in Cosmoria (Completed!)

Rewards:

-Complete the Trial of Hero and earn the Title: Hero of Blackmore

-Receive the Goddess’s Wish

-Unlock a Mysterious Reward (???)

—-

I looked up at the sky and let out a quiet breath.

“Envi… you really did it. You saved Nana… You truly are my partner.”

Even Runa, now returned to her mana form, giggled and praised Envi’s efforts with a flick of her tail.

And then—another prompt appeared.

[Would you like to claim your reward now?][Now] or [Later]

I selected Later.Because now, I had another mission—I needed to return to Aetheria.

Another prompt appeared.

[Would you like to return to Aetheria now?][Yes] or [No]

I let it sit. I wasn’t ready just yet. Not before I said goodbye to everyone here.

The divine realm of Cosmoria still echoed with laughter and celebration, but I knew this peace would only last for so long.

I turned to the others and spoke aloud.

“Everyone… it’s time. I must return to Aetheria.”

Solis looked heartbroken. Miranda’s smile faded to a soft frown. Some of the gods and goddesses murmured their goodbyes—others simply bowed their heads in understanding.

Before I left, there was one more thing I needed to do.

“There’s someone I want to introduce.”

I summoned Runa, this time calling forth her true humanoid form.

She stepped from the shadows with graceful poise, a mysterious beauty with sleek black cat ears and two long tails swaying behind her.

The divine assembly gasped.

Whispers spread like wildfire. Disbelief filled their eyes.

“That form… it can’t be—”

I spoke clearly, my voice steady.

“This is Runa. Or rather… her true name is Canis. Yes… that Canis. The Unique Monster who once brought ruin upon Cosmoria and Aetheria alike.”

A suffocating silence fell over the realm.

The gods, who just moments ago were celebrating, now stood frozen—staring at the girl who had once been their enemy.

“The God Slayer Canis…” Flareth whispered.

The atmosphere had turned cold.

From joy… to unease.

I knew that bringing Runa into the light would cost me trust. But I also knew that hiding her truth would bring worse danger.

Now, I had to face the consequences.

….