"Alright, time to wrap up this hunt, grab the rewards, and max out those affection levels!"
That night, Isaac—the youth clad in black—waited for his prey at a spot slightly removed from the ranch where Yugo and his companions were based.
His dark attire helped him blend into the shadows, but with his [Stealth] skill active, he had almost perfectly erased his presence and form.
Stretching lazily while voicing his optimistic thoughts, he turned his gaze toward the Security Force stationed some distance away and muttered to himself.
"Good work, boys. I appreciate the effort, but it’s all for nothing since I’m going to end this myself!"
By now, the Security Force had likely realized the Skeleton Horse wasn't the culprit behind the recent attacks and were probably scrambling to set up a defensive line. They must have finally begun to understand that the undead horse was just another victim.
In the Luminous History storyline, if the player spares the Skeleton Horse in the initial encounter, its true nature is revealed. Away from the sun's influence, the normally gentle creature reverts to a form nearly indistinguishable from a living horse.
Conversely, if the player delivers the finishing blow, they find out later that the actual attackers raided nearby villages and ranches, causing massive casualties. The plot branches based on that choice. In short, if the Security Force kills the Skeleton Horse believing it’s the killer, they withdraw under the assumption that the threat has been neutralized, leaving the area vulnerable to the real monsters.
Sparing the horse didn't technically lower the protagonist's affection levels or carry any mechanical penalties; at most, it just left the player with a bad taste in their mouth. To Isaac, it didn't matter what happened to "mobs" whose names and faces he didn't know. He wasn't the type to feel guilty about a bad ending.
While it wouldn't have bothered him to kill the Skeleton Horse, his encounter with Anhel had prompted a slight change in plans.
"The monster spawning here is a bit of a bad matchup for me, but... well, I’ll be fine."
Having played the game in his previous life, Isaac knew exactly who the true culprit was.
The Bull Golem. That was the name of the Magic Armor Beast that appeared in the Good Ending route. It was a hybrid of a Minotaur and a Golem—a physical powerhouse and a total meathead.
Boasting high HP, attack power, and defense, the Bull Golem was a notorious early-game boss that had tormented countless players. Truth be told, Isaac was one of those who had suffered at its hands. His playstyle and the Bull Golem were about as compatible as oil and water.
The twin swords Isaac wielded relied on a flurry of strikes to compensate for their low per-hit damage. Against a physically specialized monster like the Bull Golem, his light attacks would barely chip away at its health, and even a full-force slash would do negligible damage.
Under normal circumstances, he would have avoided this boss like the plague, but he was confident he wouldn't lose.
I received higher stats and max weapon aptitude as reincarnation perks, he reminded himself. I should be able to win much more easily than I did in the game.
Reincarnators like Isaac were gifted with superior base stats and the ability to maximize their proficiency in a chosen weapon from the start. Since he had managed to beat the boss during a standard playthrough, his current, overpowered self should be able to handle it without breaking a sweat.
With that logic, Isaac stood alone, guarding the direction from which the Bull Golem would approach.
As he waited, his mind drifted to the aftermath of the battle—the moment he would be hailed as a hero. He imagined himself slaying the terrifying Magic Armor Beast single-handedly and dragging its massive carcass back to the Security Force. They would be stunned.
Even Yugo, who had shown up for some reason, and Anhel would be speechless. They would surely look upon him with respect and envy for his great achievement.
Once that happened, Anhel’s affection level would skyrocket. She would finally take an interest in him and strike up a conversation. Then, he would use his rewards to commission a new weapon from her, deepening their bond until she was maintaining his gear—and his body—with those magnificent breasts she hid under her jumpsuit...
"Dyufu! Dyufufufufu...!"
As he let out a repulsive chuckle, it was clear that Isaac was fundamentally no different from Zenon. He was a narcissist with a hero complex, driven entirely by his base desires. That was the true essence of the man once known as Isao Arito.
Still lost in his delusions, he suddenly felt a tremor shaking the ground. He turned his eyes toward the approaching presence.
The Bull Golem was finally here. He reached for the twin swords on his back and settled into a battle stance.
I'll start with a surprise attack from behind to deal massive damage. Since it’s a meathead, I just need to dodge and—wait.
As he simulated the flow of battle in his head, Isaac felt a sudden pang of unease. The tremors signaling the Bull Golem’s approach... weren't they a bit too heavy?
It was his first time seeing the monster in person, so he tried to dismiss it as his imagination. However, as the feeling of dread intensified, Isaac squinted into the darkness.
"Wait... what?"
There, sprinting toward him in a tight military formation, were three Bull Golems.