The Heroine is My Stepsister, and I'm her Final Boss-Chapter 51: The Mortal’s Defiance

{{{Then he must die!}}}

Lara heard every syllable of that booming declaration reverberate through her very soul. Her eyes widened in disbelief, her heart churning with emotions too raw, too primal to contain. The threat was real—Dracula wasn’t just some mythical figure whispered about in fear; he was here, towering over them like a god ready to crush an ant beneath his heel.

’No...’ she thought, her resolve pouring out Slowly but surely, her body began to change. Gone was the fragile young girl who had wept tears of joy mere moments ago. In her place stood a warrior clad in leather armor, her hands gripping the hilt of a sword as though it were an extension of herself. She stepped forward without hesitation, placing herself squarely between Dracula and Atlas.

".....Over. my. dead. body," Lara growled, her voice low and lethal, each word slicing through the oppressive silence like a blade.

Dracula observed this transformation with a mixture of amusement and admiration. Someone—no, ’something’—had defied his authority yet again, altering reality within his own domain. This ego...it burned brightly, defiantly, daring to exist where no mortal should tread.

{{{....you child, I don’t want to harm you. Death and Destiny seem to have many plans for you.}}} His voice softened, almost paternal, though it still carried the weight of centuries. {{{Leave that coming disaster to me, trust me. I will be saving a lot of pain from your part as well.}}}

But Lara didn’t listen. She couldn’t afford to. All she could hear was the echo of her brother’s impending death—a fate she refused to accept. Her blood boiled, her focus sharpened, and her system churned with purpose. Whatever stood before her, whatever divine or monstrous force threatened her family, would face her wrath.

She planted her sword upright, its tip gleaming with mana-infused light. Her blue eyes shone brighter than ever, locking onto Dracula’s colossal form with unwavering defiance. Turning slightly, she glanced back at Atlas, her expression softening for just a moment.

"Don’t worry, brother. You’ve saved me so numerous times. It’s my turn to return the favor," she said firmly, stepping forward once more, her blade pointed directly at the ancient being looming above them.

’System, use all points in skill "1 v 1."’

[’1 v 1’ skill upgrading...]

[Done! Skill ’1 v 1’ (B grade) > (S+ grade)]

"DRACULA!" she bellowed, her entire being radiating mana as she embraced her role as a Mana Sword Master. "I challenge you to a 1 v 1!!!"

[’1 v 1’ Skill used...]

[........Failed.]

The enormous Dracula let out a deep, rumbling laugh, his smirk widening until it threatened to split his face apart.

{{{..hahahaha...Hahahaha...HAHAHAHAHA!!! Foolish mortal...using such unholy laws at such an age... No wonder she calls you her child... Come....I accept!! I will knock some sense into you before I relieve you of your curse!!}}} He roared, closing his massive palm around them.

[...Fail...success!]

The ground shook violently beneath their feet as Dracula’s fingers curled inward, creating a pocket of darkness that swallowed everything whole. When the world reformed around them, they found themselves standing on solid ground once more—but now, Dracula towered over them at human height, his crimson armor etched with sigils of dreams and fangs across his chest.

Atlas recognized this scene immediately—it mirrored events from the fifth arc of the game. But this wasn’t supposed to happen yet. Not unless Lara had already unlocked her Laws of the World, allowing her to challenge gods and beasts alike.

’...what’s your plan, Lara? Don’t tell me you’re banking on the "plot,"’ Atlas thought bitterly, staring down at his tiny hands. He tried to mimic her transformation, pouring mana into his muscles, willing himself to grow older and stronger. But nothing happened. His body remained stubbornly small, frustratingly weak.

"...how did you do that?" he muttered under his breath. "...is this one of those MC cheat codes?"

Meanwhile, Lara prepared herself, adopting a battle stance with both hands gripping her sword horizontally beside her head, poised to strike straight through her opponent.

Dracula drew twin daggers, twirling them effortlessly in his hands. {{{Mortals always possessed wisdom but lacked sincerity to truly follow it...}}} he mused aloud, cracking his neck ominously. {{{Don’t worry, child. I won’t kill you. After this ends, you’ll be freed, and the demon and that hybrid who calls himself the GUIDE will perish here. Their souls trapped forever within the dreaming, never reaching the light of day.}}}

As the undead lord focused on Lara, the crimson demon seized the opportunity to swoop in, grabbing Atlas by the collar and flapping his wings furiously. They needed a plan—and fast.

Like a spear of light slicing through the void, Lara launched herself at Dracula with unrelenting ferocity. Her sword moved faster than sound, each swing humming like a banshee’s wail as she unleashed everything she had. But Dracula stood firm, his body not shifting even a fraction of an inch. With effortless precision, he deflected her strikes using only the hilts of his twin daggers.

{{{Listen, child. That man you call brother is a reckoning waiting to be manifested.}}} His voice boomed, calm and clinical, cutting through the chaos like a scalpel. Each word landed like a hammer blow, but Lara refused, refused to listen, refused to back down.

"What!"

Tang!

"Do you!"

Tang! Clank!

"Know about us?!" She spat venomously, backing away momentarily to catch her breath. Her blue eyes burned with defiance. "You know NOTHING!" she roared, her voice cracking under the weight of fury.

Dracula sighed, exasperated by her stubbornness. {{{Listen carefully... Why are you here in this realm, fighting a being whom you can barely comprehend? One strike from me will end you—and your soul—with a snap of my finger.}}} He raised one hand for emphasis, his fingers poised to crush reality itself. Yet, after a beat, he lowered it, opting instead to grip his dagger tighter.

{{{The GUIDE does not fear. Basking on the edge of death every time. Forcing fate and destiny to bend just so they might create a situation like yours. If you’d simply left him alone, you would’ve been safe in your palace, sipping tea, basking in luxury.}}}

Lara’s rage flared brighter than ever. Her mana surged uncontrollably, mixing with her royal aura until the air around her shimmered like liquid fire. "Bullshit!" she screamed, her voice shaking with emotion. "I chose this path! I chose to fight you—and I will continue to choose!"

Tang!!

"To stay beside him... till death tears us apart." Her words came out softer now, almost fragile, but her resolve remained unshaken. She charged again, clashing blades with the ancient god before her.

For a moment, Dracula seemed genuinely irritated. He flicked his wrist lazily, sending a wave of force rippling toward Lara. She instinctively raised her sword to block—but when the impact hit, her eyes widened in shock. The sheer power behind his attack sent her flying backward like a ragdoll hurled into the abyss.

But Dracula wasn’t done yet. Before she could travel too far, he snatched her mid-air by the neck, slamming her down onto the shadowy ground below. The sound of her body hitting the darkness echoed like thunder.

{{{Where is he, then? That cunt already ran away with his demon friend. And still, you trust him?}}} Dracula sneered, tightening his grip.

Cough!

Blood bubbled from Lara’s lips as she gasped for air, her ribs fracturing beneath his crushing hold. Every breath felt like swallowing shards of glass. Pain seared through her insides, but she forced herself to speak despite the agony.

"As long..." she wheezed, "...as he lives... that’s okay with me. Kill me if you must—just let him go." freewebnσvel.cѳm

Dracula released her abruptly, leaving a red handprint etched painfully into her throat. Stepping back, he clasped his hands behind his back like an old professor lecturing a wayward student.

{{{Haaa... Let me tell you something about the GUIDE.}}} His tone softened, though it carried no warmth. {{{Every millennia or so, he appears—out of nowhere, choosing whatever race suits his whim. And just like you, I... loved him. Once. So dearly that I would have let the world burn rather than betray him. But no. It’s not just the world he destroys—it’s YOUR world. Your loved ones. Your happiness. All of it reduced to ash in his wake.}}}

He paused, letting his words sink in. {{{His fearless eyes always show nothing but contempt for fate and destiny. Chaos follows him wherever he treads. Lust consumes whoever catches his eye. Look at yourself. That bastard didn’t even spare his own sister.}}}

"...It’s..."

{{{...Hmm?}}}

"I’m... his step-sister," Lara corrected, gritting her teeth as she forced herself to stand once more. Her legs trembled beneath her, but her gaze never faltered.

Without warning, Dracula lashed out, grabbing her again and slamming her face-first into the ground.

BANG!

{{{...He’s already got you so deep, hasn’t he?}}} Dracula growled, his voice dripping with disdain. {{{And do you know what? This is just the beginning. An introduction to the life of the One Below All’s chosen pawn. So, Lara, my child, leave him be. Walk the path of fate and destiny laid out for you. Be the hero, the messiah this world needs. Protect its laws, and I will forgive your transgressions for entering my domain without invitation.}}}

Lara didn’t respond. She couldn’t—not because she agreed, but because every word he spoke was poison meant to break her spirit. Still, there was one thing she couldn’t tolerate:

{{{So I will say this one last time....leave that disaster of a man.}}}

his continued slander against Atlas.

The more he talked, the closer her anger edged toward detonation. Finally, and truly, in a long long time. she snapped.

"SHUT. THE. FUCK. UP!"

Her sword materialized instantly in her trembling hand. This was her dreamland—her rules, her reality. Enough of the nightmares. Enough of the lies. Enough of the trash talk about her brother.

[SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENT]