Chapter 227: The Void Queen
Coop didn’t just fight for himself. He didn’t seek glory or recognition, though he enjoyed topping the leaderboards. It wasn’t even for experience, as much as he valued his personal progression. No, what he actually fought for, deep down, was an idealized version of Ghost Reef that he had subconsciously built up in his imagination. He genuinely believed in his interpretation and fought to protect it.
For Coop, Ghost Reef was more than just a chain of islands. The fact that it had become a powerful settlement was essentially an unintended consequence of his honest perception of the tropical haven. The idealized rendition of Ghost Reef in his imagination had nothing to do with its physical development; it was far more symbolic. In his mind, the islands as they had previously been, with the crumbling fort, the rugged lighthouse, the simple sandy trails lined with coconuts, pristine beaches, and expansive reefs were already a true refuge from the rest of the world.
His feelings had been ingrained deep within himself even before the assimilation began. Before mana reset the world, Coop was adrift. Loss had driven him into a cycle of grief that he unintentionally wallowed in, painting his life gray. Ghost Reef had appeared like the light at the end of a long tunnel and restored color to his senses. It was his sanctuary, even back then, before monsters roamed the planet and aliens staked their claims on the world. It gave him purpose.
His idea of Ghost Reef, beyond its physical existence, was being manifested through the help of the system and the hard work of its residents. It was really becoming a refuge of hope, a safe haven, and a sanctuary for the downtrodden.
Coop, as Champion of Ghost Reef, was slowly growing into the embodiment of his settlement. As much as he wished to simply hang out on his island, leisurely grinding monsters while maintaining the sandy trails to fulfill his expected duties, he accepted the responsibilities that came with the title and internalized them. He understood that he represented the island and its residents, but beyond simply doing his best, he wasn’t actively pursuing any lofty ideals. He was just trying to help where he could while persistently safeguarding the settlement. His attitude had permeated throughout his territory and others followed his supportive example, assisting in the effort to bolster the islands.
The Battlemaiden had instructed him to remember his purpose if he wanted to become a true warrior. When it came to Coop, it was an unnecessary reminder. He wanted Ghost Reef to be the beacon of light for all those who needed it on such a deeply internal level, he wasn’t even fully mindful of it. It was just a natural inclination that required little input from his consciousness. He wanted to boost others just as he had been.
The principles he held within put him at direct odds with the Cult of Chakyum and the organization that the Lich had formed. The bottom line was that Coop acted through benevolence derived from learned empathy. He knew he couldn’t help everyone, but he still wanted to help as much as possible because he could imagine himself in their shoes. The Lich was callously embracing a tightfisted strategy that ensured his survival above all else. The Master of the Cult was happy to climb on top of his supporters and pull the ladder up behind himself, viewing the sacrifice of his companions as an easy decision that required minimal consideration.
The atmosphere was heavy at the top of Chakyum’s stone pyramid, and not entirely due to the absurd humidity. The monumental structure rose from the middle of a central lake in the Yucatan settlement, and its top floor had become the final arena for the Cult and the Revenant. The sky was thick with billowing gray clouds, but thankfully, they had reverted to natural formations that merely threatened rain rather than sealing a tear in the physical world where the Lich collected his experience.
Coop faced off with the Elite Void Queen, spreading both the Lich’s miasmic death mana, and Coop’s ethereal mists as they engaged in a final bout. She was the perfect example of the dichotomy between the circumstances of Chakyum’s companions and Coop’s own friends.
Ultimately, Coop considered her to be another victim of Chakyum, despite her culpability in the crimes of the Cult. Even though she had acquired extraordinary power through questionable means on behalf of the Cult, she was easily discarded by her Master. All the Cultists were similar. That they were only playing by the local rules, as dictated by Chakyum, was not a justification for the evil they had participated in. Coop would never put his own allies in a similarly difficult situation.
Despite the Void Queen’s 300 level advantage, the skeletal minion was no match for the Revenant. Coop had slain his fair share of powerful monsters, and she would have already fallen if not for her desperate defenses whenever he drew close enough to strike. In the end, that’s all she was: a husk that lacked the elements of humanity that made them distinct and dangerous enough in the eyes of mana to necessitate eradication.
They would have danced together, except that Coop was a poor partner, forcing her onto her back foot immediately. The skeletal mage slipped and flitted around the top of the pyramid with surprising grace, but for all her fluttering, it was clear from the start that she only delayed the inevitable.