Weeks after the start of their subjugation, one had fallen into the embrace of Gods.
The old and crass Dwarf who was just battling alongside them, was swept by a tide of incoming Demons, having fought alone under the heavy snow with none of his friends in sight.
He was completely alone, when the Hero and the other members of their party were about to look for him, they saw the Dwarf motionless, pierced with a spear at his heart which came from one of the Demon Generals which is lying dead from the side of a huge boulder, his head tightly held by the Dwarf.
The Hero looks at him with sorrowful eyes as he sees his friend who ended up alone in such a perilous battle, taking down the 22nd Demon General's army and the General itself alongside him.
The Hero walked across the pile of endless bodies drenching the snow in Demon blood, his vision started to blur, his eyes glistening with tears.
Hero: N-No... N-No... D-Dwarf...?
His expression was filled with disbelief, looking at the back of the Dwarf.
A strong gust of wind blew over, flapping the red mantle worn by the Dwarf and what he saw broke him.
Hero: DWARF!!!
The proud back of the Dwarf was riddled with a lot of holes that resembled the piercings of a spear, proof of the battles he had gone through, alone, under the hail of snow.
The Hero rushed over to his side letting go of his makeshift sword.
He ran with haste as he embraces him in tears.
Hero: WAAAAAAAAAAAHH!!
Whilst he was there hugging the cold body of the Dwarf, the Saintess was in denial.
Human Saintess: Hic... Hic... I'm sorry... I've already run out of mana... I'm sorry...
Her legs gave out, dropping her staff as she held her head in a swirl of disbelief.
Elf: I-It's not your fault, S-Saintess... H-He knew t-that this would e-eventually come, and y-yet he still pushed forth even with that ragtag body of h-his...
The Elf tried to think about it logically and deluded himself into believing that it was destined to happen, though his expression said otherwise, as he crumbled down into tears.
Human Saintess: Hic... Hic... I'm sorry... I'm sorry...
The Saintess kept apologizing as she looked at the snow right below her mixed with the demon's blood and her tears.
Moments passed, and the storm continued to rage, heavy snow covering the dead demon's bodies.
The Hero was there, still unmoving, as he embraced the cold corpse of the Dwarf.
He couldn't believe that the once senile old Dwarf would end up in such a state.
Even though they were just talking about how to defeat the Demon King right up till this moment.
Hero: *TIGHTEN GRIP*
The Hero clenches his frost-bitten hands, his tears, which were flowing, turned to teardrops of ice.
Cold, he thought, maybe if he had heeded Elf's warnings, Dwarf would've been still alive. His thoughts continue to swirl in anguish and regret. One after another, the mistakes he had made continued to stack, causing him to lose two of his precious family.
Though he knew if Dwarf was still alive, he would still encourage him to go on, even at the cost of his life.
Slowly the Hero stood up to see that the body of the Dwarf was already covered in snow. His blood had already long frozen signaling the end of his life.
The Hero then carried the cold body of the Dwarf with both of his shaking hands.
Elf: H-Hero...? W-Where are you going...?
The Elf subconsciously looked at the Hero, taking the Dwarf's body somewhere in the opposite direction.
Hero: ...
The Hero subtly shifted his head to the side as he heard the voice of the weeping Elf. Though he was asked, he didn't have the courage to answer him back and so he shifted his attention to his front as he walked along the dreaded snow.
Walking quite a fair distance, the Hero saw a frozen lake. He continued to walk heading straight to the lake.
As soon as the Hero arrived at the frozen lake, he walked over the icy floor, holding the corpse of the Dwarf in his embrace.
Hero: Dwarf...
He looked at the Dwarf, his eyes, which were rearing to go into the battlefield, now closed and peaceful.
Hero: ...
Deep within himself, the burden of being the world's saviour was bearing down on him. In these dire and trying times, he reminisces about the olden days, which was over 5 years ago.
At that time, he was still begging on the streets to survive the extreme famine which was caused by the endless wars between the Demons.
Meeting the sword saint by chance as he was travelling to aid nearby cities from the onslaught of the Demon King's Army was a life-changing encounter for him.
He was fed and was given proper clothing as his benefactor picked him up.
He was taught and raised by him for 2 whole years before meeting the Dwarf on a certain battlefield, which was participated by the Dwarven Race and the Human Race.
Their meeting may have started badly as he was still learning the ways of the sword; endless grunting and curses barrage him as they spend most of their time together along with his benefactor.
Amid all the chaos, the 3 still enjoyed their time whenever there was a chance.
Drinking beer, eating meat, telling jokes, anything that would relieve their stress from the ongoing strife.
Dwarf: Hey, are you really the Hero?"
The Dwarf said long ago as they were happily eating and drinking their fill.
Sword Saint: Of course he is.
The Sword Saint said, elbowing the Hero's shoulder with a joyful expression.
As he was reminiscing, he stopped in the middle of the frozen lake.
Hero: I believe, back then, I told you that I was just a regular knight... But you... Instead of scolding me... You gave me courage, to stand proud and tall... My teacher happily agreed with you as you ate a whole steak in one gulp...
The Hero stomped his feet over the frozen lake.
The wind and the raging fall of snow temporarily disappeared. Leaving only a moment of silence.
He stood there calmly as he waited for the opportune moment.
*CRACK!*
Sounds of cracks echo throughout the icy field.
Suddenly breaking in the middle of the frozen lake, the Hero and the cold corpse of the Dwarf are devoured, submerged into the freezing depths.