My heart had stopped beating, and my lungs had failed. As all my vital organs shut down, except for my brain, my body temperature dropped, and the nerves in my fingers and toes grew rigid. My body was already dead.0

However, the body of an Iron Man delayed my death. My blood vessels, in place of my heart and lungs, rhythmically contracted and expanded, forcing blood and oxygen through my body. It was a temporary fix, a brief reprieve, but it gave me the time I needed.5

In order to keep my death hidden from Sophien in this world, allowing her memories to continue without interruption, I headed toward the underground chamber of the Imperial Palace. The wooden door was already open, as if it had been waiting. I moved forward, slowly stepping into the depths of the darkness.0

"You knew this was going to happen," came a voice from behind.0

I turned around and saw the Demon’s Mirror, its face a reflection of Sophien.0

"It's all over," the Mirror said. "And you're dead."0

I nodded. I had drained nearly sixty thousand mana points in a single moment and let a massive surge of demonic energy flood into my body. After that, survival had never been an option.0

“I am aware of that.”0

“Then why did you do it? I’m just curious,” the Mirror asked.0

I closed my eyes as a flood of thoughts surged in—some belonging to Deculein, others to Kim Woo-Jin. But there was only one answer to the demon’s question.0

“I made a promise, and I refuse to lose.”4

My body had already given out, and even my brain was slowly shutting down. Yet, oddly enough, a smile spread across my face. I managed to open my eyes and fix my gaze on the demon.0

“I refused to let a wretched demon like you claim this world, or the Empress,” I concluded.0

The demon's expression stiffened. It muttered under its breath before giving a small nod and said, "Well, congratulations. You won."0

Those were its final words. First, my vision faded,...4