Holy crap!

That arrogant, superior attitude!

Coupled with his boastful words!

Plus the invisible aura swirling around him!

My heart sank instantly. I instinctively heightened my vigilance. This guy was definitely a master of showing off—no one to underestimate.

"What the hell are you?"

"What am I?"

The man remained facing away, hands clasped behind his back. He let out a long sigh, thick with disdain for the world, then shook his head.

"Too many years have passed. I’ve long forgotten my name. But mortals call me…"

He paused deliberately, then enunciated each word slowly:

"The Lich King!"

The Lich King?! Nina and I exchanged confused glances. I’d been a shut-in for years, learning monster lore only from novels. This "Lich King" meant nothing to me.

"Oh? You didn’t flee at my name. Admirable courage. As a reward, I shall mercifully tell you."

He waved his hand. The basement transformed instantly. Like a film reel, an image showed a tall man battling an Ice Dragon atop a snow-capped peak.

"I slew the guardian Ice Dragon in the Frozen Wastes. I extracted its spine and forged it into a sword hilt."

The scene shifted. The man stood on an icy summit, holding a crystal-clear chunk of ice.

"Then, overcoming countless perils, I reached the world’s pinnacle and harvested the ten-thousand-year ice core!"

Another wave. The images vanished. We were back in the garden-like crypt.

"Finally, I came here. I planted the Necrotic Bloom, absorbing dense death energy while infusing countless souls into the sword."

"And you! You shall be the sole witness to this demonic blade’s birth! And its first victim!"

His calm tone suddenly surged. He reached into the blood-filled altar at the garden’s center and pulled out a transparent sword etched with glowing runes.

"This sword is named: Frostmourne!"

He raised it high. Cold winds howled through the basement. Ghostly wails echoed. Nina and I stared, dumbfounded.

"Young master, he looks really powerful."

"Don’t worry, Nina. Leave it to me."

I pried a brick from the floor, teleported behind him, and smashed it onto the Lich King’s head. He collapsed instantly. I mounted him, slamming brick after brick into his face.

"You’re the Meow King, huh?!"

"Mortal, you seek death!"

"You love showing off, huh?!"

"I will kill you!"

"You want to kill me, huh?!"

At first, the Lich King raged and tried to fight back. But his magic fizzled against me. Soon, he lay half-dead, barely breathing.

"I… I’ll never show off again! Hero, please spare me!"

True to his title, his vitality was insane—his head was a pulpy mess, yet he clung to life. But I wouldn’t let him off.

"Frostmourne, huh? Huh? Today, I’ll show you the Joy of Fire!"

I thrust my hand forward, pulling a blazing sword from thin air. This skill, [Infernal Domination], could burn anything—even souls.

The Lich King’s eyes widened in terror at my "Joy of Fire." Before he could speak, I drove the sword into his chest. A scream, then ashes.

Phew~ So satisfying! I hate show-offs the most! I wiped my sweat and cast Identify on Frostmourne.

Frostmourne: ATK +5000, All Stats +500, Magic Effects: [Frost Aura], [Wail of the Dead], [Whispers of Evil]

Such insane stats! It’d fetch a fortune. I grinned happily and stored it in my inventory.

"Let’s go, Nina. Mission accomplished!"

"Young master, you’re amazing!"