Apocalypse Cheater

[: Daniel POV :]

[: You will be returned to Modern Fantasia :]

Finally! I could return. 

The prospect of finally returning felt like an eternity coming to an end.

Gradually, the space surrounding me began to distort, and I found myself safely back where I originally stood.

Simultaneously, more notifications appeared.

Hmm, there's still more?

I was curious and taken aback by the sudden notifications.

It's not like I'm complaining and I had no reservations about receiving additional rewards.

After all, each reward added to my growing power.

Hence, I won't shy away from it.

The more the merrier. 

[: You're the first player to possess an SS, SSS, Epic, Legendary, and Mythic Skill, hence, you have received 5 Mysterious Boxes :]

Oh, more boxes?

I couldn't help but smile broadly.

The inventory before me was now brimming with these enigmatic containers.

Seventy-nine Mysterious Boxes!

It was a staggering number that seemed almost beyond belief.

I had never heard of anyone possessing more than five of these boxes at the same time.

I don't think it'll even happen to another person whether it'll be in the present or the future. 

If it weren't happening to me, I might doubt the authenticity of this count.

Nonetheless, this was fantastic news.

However, I decided to hold off on opening them for now.

After all, cracking open 79 boxes would require some quiet time, and I had a more pressing quest awaiting me.

"I'm back, Bella,"

I said as I approached her after settling with my rewards.

She was deeply engrossed in attending to the citizens, offering them comfort and hope.

As I finally found a moment to speak with her, I gently expressed my concern.

"You look paler than usual. Are you okay?" I hoped my words could provide some solace.

For a while, she remained silent, her emotions overflowing.

Finally, she spoke, her words laden with gratitude.

"Thank you so much, Daniel. You have no idea what all of this means to me."

Her gaze toward me held a different warmth, and her smile was genuinely sweet.

I understood why she was behaving this way, and where her emotions were directed.

Being a princess, especially as an only child, must have brought immense challenges.

The pressures she faced were unimaginable.

People often underestimated the hardships of royalty.

They believed that being a princess or royalty was as easy as it sounds. 

But they didn't realize that the fate of an entire continent could rest upon their shoulders.

Bella was acutely aware of her powerlessness, even in the face of her uncle's desire for her demise.

I couldn't fathom the difficulty of her position.

Perhaps, my presence had brought her some measure of comfort and peace.

I had become her pillar of support, someone she could rely on without fearing betrayal.

"While I initially embarked on this journey for my succession, helping these people have taken on a different meaning,"

Bella confessed, her emotions unfamiliar to her.

Witnessing how I had saved one city after another, and seeing hundreds of thousands of people bow to her, was an entirely new and overwhelming experience for her.

"You don't need to carry such a heavy burden, Bella"

I reassured her, but as I observed her current mood, I couldn't help but place my hand on her head, gently caressing her hair.

At first, she seemed a bit uncomfortable with the gesture, but as time passed, she grew to enjoy it.

My touch had become a source of comfort for her.

"If you're worried about how to repay me, know that you've already done so a long time ago,"

I continued, my tone warm and sincere.

The rewards she had bestowed upon me were more than enough, and I was more than willing to assist her.

"Instead, let's meet with Scott and continue to the next Faction,"

I suggested with a playful tone in my voice.

"We can't afford to delay the Queen's Succession, right?"

I chuckled, and it elicited a laugh from her.

"Yeah, we can't afford any more delays,"

Bella agreed, her smile radiant and captivating.

The gentle breeze tousled her hair, creating a mesmerizing scene that perfectly complemented her smile.

I found myself entranced by her beauty, and I couldn't help but shake my head.

She truly was deserving of the title of Princess.

And it was at this moment that I began to realize the budding feelings she had for me.

Bella and I made our way back to the Viston Family Household and met up with Scott, who was taken aback by the unexpected completion of the quest.

"At first, I only gave the quest because I believed it to be an impossible task"

He admitted nervously, his expression filled with fear.

He was sweating profusely, and he looked as if he expected imminent doom.

I understood that he hadn't had much faith in our abilities from the start.

Assigning a quest to kill millions of monsters that were hundreds of levels above me would have seemed like a cruel joke.

It made no sense for Scott to issue such a quest, especially when I was the only player participating.

"But now, I stand corrected and offer my sincerest apologies,"

Scott said, his voice quivering as he knelt before Bella.

He appeared devastated, and his face showed signs of bleeding from repeatedly knocking his head against the ground in regret.

This sudden turn of events had clearly shifted Scott's perspective regarding Bella's capabilities.

Bella, however, remained composed as she addressed Scott.

"Then, do you have any reservations about supporting my succession?"

I couldn't help but notice a noticeable change in Bella's demeanour.

Previously, she had been timid, but now, she exuded an aura worthy of a Queen.

It was subtle, but it marked significant progress.

The mission undoubtedly influenced her behaviour.

I felt a sense of pride witnessing her transformation into a potential queen.

However, I couldn't ignore the way she looked at Scott.

Her gaze held a hint of coldness as if she regarded him with disdain.

I couldn't blame her for it, given that sending her on a mission meant to lead to her death was a grave offence

Such offence would include his title being ripped, and his land and property being confiscated and seized. 

Worse, his family and himself could have been executed. 

Hence, he seemed to understand the gravity of his mistake and didn't offer any rebuttal to Bella's words, at least not while I was present.

"I have no reservations in supporting your succession, Princess, no, Queen Bella Hugh,"

Scott declared, correcting his earlier statement.

Eventually, he performed a small ceremony, kneeling with his hand formed into a fist against his heart.

Bella responded with a cold smile, but beneath that exterior, I knew she was content.

She had gained another faction to support her succession, a significant step forward in her journey to become queen.

"Still, what you accomplished today is truly extraordinary,"

Scott exclaimed, settling back onto the couch and offering drinks to both of us.

Bella, maintaining her cold demeanour, accepted the compliment gracefully.

"Of course. It is as expected."

"The more the continent hears of my exploits, the smoother my path to the throne becomes,"

She replied, accepting the cup of drink and taking a sip.

Scott eagerly shared, "This news is spreading like wildfire on all media platforms."

"A certain princess, with her bodyguard, saving millions from the Monster's Break," he continued.

"It's not just news; it's a feat that no one can ignore when it comes to your succession,"

He added, his laughter bubbling up as he imagined the reactions of those who had sided with Jake, Bella's uncle.

"You're underestimating yourself, Princess, if you still think of this as a meagre accomplishment,"

Scott interjected, wanting to convey a deeper meaning with his words.

Bella leaned in, listening intently.

"Originally, this quest should have been deemed impossible, unfeasible no matter the circumstances. It involved millions of monsters with an average level between 300 and 500, and a Boss at Level 800," 

He explained, his voice filled with regret and guilt.

"One would think that it would require the power equivalent to that of the King himself, your father, the Hero. And yet, you managed to conquer it," he emphasized.

"Now, picture this—the news spreading across the continent, reporting how the Princess saved 10 cities from the Monster's Break, fending off a staggering 9,999,999 monsters," he continued.

"Can you even fathom the reaction of the masses?" he asked, his voice filled with anticipation.

"Shock. Pure shock," Bella replied, her eyes widening.

"It's a feat on par with the Hero's own achievements. The citizens will be astounded, and their support for me will be absolute," Scott said.

"As we speak, the media is filled with citizens commenting on your triumph. They have footage of your bodyguard taking down the monsters as if they were mere ants,"

He added, emphasizing the profound impact of her actions.

Bella couldn't help but notice the frenzy in the media ever since the city was saved by both of us.

But deep down, she knew that she couldn't take all the credit for herself.

She understood that it was me who had truly accomplished the feat, while she had merely played a supporting role.