Prologue – Something Awakens.

High above the clouds, upon a majestic flying castle crafted from darkened stone and ethereal magic, two figures engaged in a fierce battle. One was a man donned in silver armor, wielding a radiant blade in his right hand. The second figure, in stark contrast, was dressed in a pitch-black suit of metallic armor. The atmosphere pulsated with tension as the two formidable beings locked eyes and disappeared just before colliding and unleashing a spectacular clash of magical energy.

Gripping his enchanted sword tightly, the man in gleaming silver armor faced his opponent with unshaken determination. His piercing blue eyes locked onto the fiery gaze of the adversary, whose twisted, horned visage exuded pure malevolence. As the confrontation intensified, the ominous figure’s obsidian wings unfurled, casting a foreboding shadow over the battlements of the soaring fortress.

A thunderous roar echoed through the air as the clash between the two warriors unfolded, forcing both men to momentarily retreat. Strangely, they seemed to have sustained a comparable amount of damage. One left behind trails of radiant energy, a testament to the holy power coursing through his enchanted blade, while the other exuded fumes of shadowy darkness, a manifestation of the malevolence that fueled his dark prowess.

“You are strong hero but haven’t you realized it, are you this much of a fool?”

“Be quiet demon, the time for words has ended, accept your fate at the end of my blade!”

“I see… Then die!”

The demon clad in pitch-black armor unleashed a terrifying surge of dark energy, materializing into demonic heads that hurtled themselves toward the so-called hero. However, just before the ghastly heads could collide with the handsome man, his silvery armor emitted a bright glow. Mysterious symbols emerged, weaving into a luminous shield that dispersed the fiendish spell.

“How are you able to counter my death spell?”

“I am protected by the goddess; your demonic mana has no hold over me!”

The demon posed the question, swiftly met with a response as the hero charged forward. The clash of these two beings, each wielding immense magical power, unfolded in a more direct and upfront battle. The once-majestic castle walls began to crumble under the relentless pressure of their magical and physical attacks. Before long, the combatants burst through the ceiling and continued their fierce duel beneath the vast expanse of the night sky.

The confrontation between the hero and the demon elevated to new heights as they soared through the open air, exchanging blows and magical projectiles that illuminated the night. The once-gigantic flying castle became riddled with holes from the relentless barrage of attacks before they both landed on a large, flat section of a collapsed roof. As the battle unfolded, it became apparent that one individual was gradually inching toward victory, signaling the impending conclusion of this epic clash.

The hero swung his radiant blade with precision, each strike guided by the divine energy coursing through him. The demon countered with dark and twisted spells, yet the blade drew near with every clash. Soon, the demon’s arm was severed and disintegrated into rays of light. The demonic individual collapsed onto his knees in defeat. Despite being out of breath, the hero grinned triumphantly and pointed his sword at his fallen adversary.

“This is the end for you, Demon King Aburdon. Your reign of terror ends today; humanity has won, and I shall guide them!”

“Haha…”

The demon king began laughing while clutching his shoulder that had been severed along with his arm. Even when he tried to activate his regenerative abilities, it would not regrow due to the corruption of holy energies that had invaded his wound.

“What’s so funny, fiend? You have lost!”

“You are indeed a mighty hero, but your sheer stupidity overshadows your might. Have you not realized it yet?”

The hero didn’t release his grip on his blade and his gaze remained fixed on the weakened demon king. Though his opponent was in a weakened state, the hero understood that it didn’t necessarily mean the demon king was devoid of one last trump card. However, the demon remained on the ground, his eyes fixed on something unfolding behind the hero.

“Realized what? I’m not going to fall for your tricks. At least try to die with some dignity.”

“Oh, I will but it seems that your so-called ‘allies’ wish to bury you with me.”

Laughter erupted from the demon king’s mouth, and it was followed by a brightening of the night sky. The hero, sensing something amiss, turned his head to take a glance. His eyes widened as he saw numerous bright rays streaking through the sky, resembling a massive meteor shower.

“No… why would they… they were supposed to only activate the magitech cannons if I failed… but I’m still alive; they should know this.”

After exclaiming in disbelief the man took out a white medallion from beneath his armor, adorned with a symbol representing the alliance that he was fighting for. Frantically, he activated the medallion, attempting to communicate with his supposed allies and halt the impending disaster. However, to his horror, there was no response. His once allies in his quest against the demonic forces, seemed to have turned a deaf ear to his desperate plea.

“You see, hero, your allies have abandoned you. Did you really think those bastards would allow someone with as much power as you to exist? You probably don’t even know why this war was started in the first place; you were nothing more than a puppet for them all!”

The hero’s eyes widened in realization, and a sinking feeling settled in the pit of his stomach. The meteor shower wasn’t meant for the demon king alone; it was meant to obliterate both the hero and the defeated demon in one fell swoop. Betrayal stung deeper than any wound he had suffered in the battle.

In a desperate bid for survival, the hero channeled every ounce of his remaining energy into a protective barrier, creating a shimmering dome around himself and the demon king. The celestial meteors collided with the magical shield, causing a spectacular explosion of light and energy that sent shockwaves through the sky.

For a moment, it seemed like he might actually survive, but he had used up most of his energy in the previous battle. In his current state, he was not much stronger than the average high-knight, and soon the explosions engulfed the entire area, shattering the radiant shield that was supposed to protect him. His body was tossed towards the demonic being he swore to defeat. The last thing he saw before everything went black was the demon king’s eyes filled with pity.

Both of them would die this day, and the true perpetrator of their demise would go unpunished. Both individuals were filled with immense rage, but their screams were quickly silenced by the mass of explosions, along with the demon castle exploding with them. The hero and the demon king, once bitter enemies, now found themselves entwined in the same tragic fate. As the remnants of the flying castle rained down from the sky, the once-majestic structure now resembled a celestial funeral pyre and marked the end of an era.

The hero’s entire life flashed before his eyes, beginning with his arrival in this strange world. Memories of the beautiful princess who welcomed him flooded back. He reminisced about the years of training and hardships he endured to reach this point, only to realize that everything may have been a lie, perhaps planned from the beginning.

Yet, his thoughts weren’t the only ones present. Strange visions of a younger horned boy filled his dying mind. He witnessed the boy crying over the charred remains of other horned beings, presumably his parents. The boy’s sadness and indignation were something he could perceive, along with many more old memories of his past deeds. However, this feeling didn’t last long, as both men soon faded away into the void, their consciousness along with them.

From a safe distance, the people responsible watched as the shockwaves collided with their armies and magical weaponry responsible for this disaster. There were many individuals here, some showed faces of triumph, others of disgust or uncertainty. The demon king along with the hero were presences that couldn’t be ignored. They all quickly rallied their troops to investigate the crash site.

“Could he have survived?”

A woman asked, her voice resonating with authority and a touch of sadness. She stood amidst the gathered group, adorned in an intricate nun’s habit that seemed out of place amid the war-torn landscape. Her eyes, however, were sharp and discerning, revealing a depth of wisdom that surpassed her outward appearance.

“It is unlikely, Sister Seraphina. The explosion was immense, and even someone of his prowess would struggle to survive such a cataclysmic event. We planned to eliminate both the hero and the demon king and it seems to have succeeded.”

A man with a stern expression, clad in elaborate mage robes, responded to Sister Seraphina’s question. The moment he brought up the planned assassination, a deep scowl adorned her lovely face.

“Please don’t say it like that, it was all god’s will. He would have brought ruin to the kingdom…”

“Hah, whatever makes you sleep at night, lass.”

A third person decided to chime in, he was shorter than the mage and priestess but a lot wider. In his hand, he was holding a large axe and his red beard covered most of his face.

“Think what you will, Ungrim.”

The woman replied while turning away from the laughing dwarf. Soon a fourth member approached the three, a man dressed in intricate armor with a crest adorning his chestplate. The moment he did, many of the surrounding soldiers started to bow and just the three individuals that were previously talking retained a more casual air about them.

“If Malakai believes that we were successful, then it is probably so. However, it won’t hurt us to verify his death.”

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

“If it’s Prince Leander’s wish.”

Seraphina nodded while also looking out into the distance. There a man of unprecedented beauty and elongated ears stood. An elven man of unparalleled grace, observed the aftermath of the cataclysmic event from his vantage point. His keen eyes scanned the horizon, searching for any signs of movement or survivors. The once mighty flying castle had been reduced to smoldering debris, and the area below was scarred by the impact of the celestial meteors.