Amid the battlefield, drenched in blood and littered with corpses, stood a man with long blonde hair and a rugged beard, wielding a magnificent glowing sword. Its golden light pierced through the darkness, illuminating the horrific scene of fallen humans and demons scattered across the ground. The blonde knight, with steadfast features and an air of determination, surveyed the scene calmly, ready for what lay ahead.
At that moment, heavy footsteps echoed across the battlefield, revealing a towering demon with four muscular arms, the fierce face of a lion, and massive black wings. The demon wielded sharp axes and exuded a terrifying aura that sent shivers down the spines of many warriors. He moved forward slowly, decapitating humans with ease, their cries of despair filling the air:
"It's their leader! Retreat!"
The blonde knight, clad in his formidable armor and wielding his radiant sword, stepped forward with unwavering resolve. A golden aura emanated from him, matching the demon's menacing presence. The demon paused, acknowledging the power of this human who dared to confront him.
A young warrior with blonde hair, bearing a striking resemblance to the knight, suddenly ran to his side, gripping his sword tightly.
"Father, I'll help you!" he declared.
"Help yourself! This is no ordinary battle. Go back with the others!" the bearded knight shouted at the young man.
"No, I won't retreat!" the young warrior insisted.
Without a word, the knight struck his son in the abdomen, rendering him unconscious. He then called for another warrior to carry the young man back to camp. As his son was taken away, the knight turned to face the fearsome demon with four arms.
"You're brave to face me alone," the demon said, preparing for combat.
The blonde knight, clad in his formidable armor and wielding his radiant sword, stepped forward with unwavering resolve. A golden aura emanated from him, matching the demon's menacing presence. The demon paused, acknowledging the power of this human who dared to confront him.
A young warrior with blonde hair, bearing a striking resemblance to the knight, suddenly ran to his side, gripping his sword tightly.
"Father, I'll help you!" he declared.
"Help yourself! This is no ordinary battle. Go back with the others!" the bearded knight shouted at the young man.
"No, I won't retreat!" the young warrior insisted.
Without a word, the knight struck his son in the abdomen, rendering him unconscious. He then called for another warrior to carry the young man back to camp. As his son was taken away, the knight turned to face the fearsome demon with four arms.
"You're brave to face me alone," the demon said, preparing for combat.
The knight didn't reply. In a flash, he vanished and reappeared directly before the demon, slashing his sword in an attempt to cut him down. The demon, however, managed to evade the attack, using his wings to leap backward and land at a safe distance.
"So, there's no avoiding this fight?" the demon said, his tone mocking. "By the way, what's your name, human? You seem very strong."
"Uther… Uther Pendragon. And you, demon?" the knight replied firmly.
"Zabus. Remember that name, Uther-something. Let this be the greatest battle I've ever fought since I first set foot on this coast!" Zabus roared, raising his axes high.
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Back at a camp filled with injured warriors bearing all manner of wounds, the atmosphere was one of despair. Shock had left many unable to shed even a single tear. Some warriors sat in random spots, praying for mercy or mourning their fallen comrades. Among them, a young blonde-haired warrior struggled against a group of soldiers trying to restrain him.
"Let me go! I have to help my father!" he shouted.
One of the soldiers punched him in the face, knocking him to the ground.
"Arthur, you're too weak! How do you plan to help the commander?" the soldier scolded him.
Arthur sat there, stunned. Something clicked in his mind—a realization he hadn't grasped before. He needed strength. As he sat on the ground, clutching his blonde hair, he looked around at his comrades. They all shared the same fate: sorrow, despair, and utter defeat. This was war—something Arthur had yet to adapt to.
Suddenly, a group of warriors rushed into the camp, carrying the battered body of a knight. They placed him on the ground, and a crowd quickly gathered. It was Uther.
Despite his body being mangled, with a gaping wound stretching from his chest to his abdomen, Uther was still alive. His exposed ribs hinted at the severity of his injuries. Yet, he fought to open his eyes.
When Arthur saw his father's condition, he froze in shock. Overcome with disbelief, he fell to his knees.
"Father? Father?!" he called out, his voice trembling.
Arthur's expression turned indescribable as he gazed at Uther's pale face. Uther struggled to lift his hand and grasped his son's. Blood dripped from his lips as he coughed and summoned the strength to speak.
"Arthur… I can barely see you now… so listen closely," Uther said, his voice weak.
"Why?! Why didn't you let me help you?!" Arthur cried out.
"Plea...se… dedicate your life to vengeance… I don't want you to die, but I need you to kill that demon. Please, Arthur…" With those final words, Uther exhaled his last breath, closing his eyes as a single tear rolled down his cheek.
"Father? Father?!" Arthur screamed, his voice echoing through the camp.
Although he shed no tears, his entire being wept. He raised his gaze to the sky, letting out agonizing cries that pierced the night. Surrounded by warriors, Arthur remained kneeling, staring up at the stars as his father's lifeless body lay before him.
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"Commander Arthur! Commander Arthur!" A soldier called out, standing behind a blonde knight clad in a massive shield.
That knight was none other than Arthur, who seemed not to hear the soldier's voice. He remained silent, staring at the battlefield. His expression was stern and sorrowful. Suddenly, he covered his eyes with his hand and whispered softly,
"I swear, Father, I will avenge you."
He then turned to the soldiers behind him and shouted with force, raising his radiant silver sword with its golden, ornate hilt:
"We will not repeat the mistakes of the past! Let us crush the demons. Victory for the Kingdom of Yarum!"
"Victory for the Kingdom of Yarum!" the soldiers echoed in unison.
Far from Arthur and his troops, several demons burned in strange black flames. A young man with brown hair and a face dotted with acne stood among them, wielding a wooden staff topped with an emerald. He wore a black cloak embroidered with gold. This was Sebastian, unleashing dark magic to incinerate the demons. Suddenly, a demon lunged at him with a long spear, but in a flash, its head was severed. A girl with orange hair and sharp ears stood nearby, clutching two daggers.
"You're incredible, Runari!" Sebastian exclaimed, astonished by the speed of the fox-eared girl.
"Thank you, Master Sebastian, but a mere servant like me doesn't deserve your praise," Runari replied, cutting down several demons with her daggers and incredible agility.
She was of average height, with orange hair and fox ears, a well-endowed chest, and moderately thick thighs. Her swiftness and fighting skills were impressive, leaving Sebastian in awe, especially for someone who was once a servant in Adalos' palace.
"How did you get so strong?" Sebastian asked while launching a magical attack at the surrounding demons.
"I was an adventurer in the past, Master," replied the fox-eared girl.
Nearby, Tom was cutting through demons without hesitation. Gripping his black blade tightly, he moved swiftly, evading arrows and magical assaults. When a group of winged demons surrounded him and aimed their arrows, he took a step back and shouted,
A sharp aura burst from his blade, slicing through the demons. He raised his thumb and declared,
"Easy!"
Behind Tom, Susan was thrusting her lance into the demons. Though victorious, her expression was clouded with sorrow, so much so that she didn't notice the demons attacking her from behind. When she turned, it was already too late, and the demons were closing in with their weapons ready.
Suddenly, the demons exploded, and a warrior with heavy armor and a massive blood-stained greatsword emerged. It was John, a well-built young man with impressive muscles. After obliterating the demons with his ability, he approached the frightened Susan and said,
"I know killing is hard for you, but it's necessary now. Be fiercer next time."
"I'll try," Susan replied, noticing the demons retreating from her.
"They're the heroes from another world! Where is the support?!" a group of demons shouted as they fled from the heroes.
The demons retreated from the western region, leaving the west of Myria littered with corpses. The heroes then sat down to rest, drinking potions. Despite their training and growing familiarity with combat, they still struggled to adapt to the horrors of such battles. Their bravery on the battlefield masked the psychological toll that would inevitably surface later.
"My God, that was brutal!" Tom exclaimed.
"These demon attacks are terrifying," added Runari.
"When will this war end, so we can go back to our world?" John asked, opening another potion after finishing the first.
"It won't end until we defeat all the demons. Besides, Myria isn't the only place occupied; there are several other regions under demon control. Right, Runari?" Susan said.
"Yes, there are three more regions under the demons' rule," the fox-eared girl replied.
"My God, these potions taste awful! They looked so delicious in games!" Tom complained, grimacing as he drank one of the potions.
They continued chatting, but this wasn't a relaxing break after a long day of studying. It was a brief respite in a merciless war. Just as they began to settle, a human soldier ran towards them, shouting:
"Heroes! Demons leader Zabus has attacked the other heroes in the east!"
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Linda's POV
He was massive and terrifying, with four arms, each holding a sharp axe. He had broad black wings, powerful muscles, and a lion-like face with a bulging eye. His smile was the kind you only see in horror movies. He approached us slowly. Oh my God, if we hadn't trained to adapt to the aura, we would have collapsed from the sheer pressure of his aura. I just hope he doesn't know how to use magic!
Shit, how did things take such a turn? I gripped my weapon tightly and prepared myself, then glanced at the others. Kevin looked scared too, but he didn't back down and held his swords firmly. As for Malin, he was getting ready... and then—
"Wait, where's Stephanie?!" I shouted before realizing she was hiding behind me.
"So, you're the heroes?" the terrifying demon repeated after halting his advance.
"Oh my God, I don't understand why Diablos won't just take the Kingdom of Yarum already, you're so weak," he added.
What should I do? Should I attack? Oh God, I'm so nervous. This isn't a game—if I die, that's it! What should I do, Dad? While I was thinking, Kevin dashed forward after enhancing himself, then jumped and attacked with both short swords, but the demon easily blocked the attack, forcing Kevin to retreat.
"Wait, wait, you're too hasty. Let's get to know each other first. I'm Zabus, responsible for the conquest of the Myria coast. I'm an axe-ranked demon and an leader of Diablos' army. I've lived here for a long time and participated in many important battles, but only one battle has truly impressed me. So, heroes, I'd like to see everything you've got," the demon said.
I don't know why, but his words stirred something in me. After that, I gathered some light magic into my spear and threw it at him, but he struck it with his axe as if it were a water balloon. Such terrifying strength. We had cleared the entire eastern coast of demons, so it was impossible to defeat him without taking a break.
Suddenly, Malin shot an arrow filled with an enormous amount of air magic. It was so fast that I couldn't even see it as it reached Zabus, but the air swept past me and made my hair fly as well. The arrow was so quick that even the demon couldn't avoid it and tried to block it, kicking up a large cloud of dust. Did it hit him?
The dust cloud disappeared in an instant, and Zabus advanced at lightning speed towards Kevin. Damn!
A glowing magical circle formed around Kevin, protecting him from Zabus' attack. I turned to Stephanie, still in shock. How did she summon such courage to use one of her abilities? Oh my God, did Stephanie finally realize she needs to fight?
"Stephanie, that was amazing!" I said to her with a smile.
"Alright, now it's my turn," I added, boosting myself.
After that, I threw my spear with all my strength at Zabus. He tried to dodge, but I hit him in the shoulder, forcing him back as he grabbed the wound, which started to bleed. I retrieved my spear and ran at him. I tried to cut off one of his arms with my poleaxe, but he blocked it, causing a burst of sparks. I stepped back slightly to prepare my next attack, but I couldn't see him! Where did that fucking demon go?!
Suddenly, I felt a huge aura behind me. Shit! It's him. I ran quickly, but he struck me in the back slightly. Ugh, that hurt so much.
"Kevin!" I shouted as I ran to Stephanie for healing.
After that, Kevin jumped at him, but suddenly Zabus disappeared again and reappeared behind Kevin, just like he did with me. Oh my God, is this the speed of light or what? Suddenly, Kevin was cut in half, then his body disappeared, revealing it was just a magical clone. The real Kevin was far from Zabus.
Suddenly, a hail of magical daggers rained down on Zabus. He covered himself with his wings, but he couldn't avoid them, and he was wounded by several of the daggers. After Stephanie healed me, I got back up and ran to continue the fight. While Zabus was protecting himself from the daggers, Malin was also shooting his arrows. Great, we're really doing well!
"Awesome!! This is the kind of battle I wanted!" Zabus shouted as he flapped his wings and flew at full speed toward Kevin, then struck him with one of his axes. But this time, it wasn't a clone—it was Kevin. Kevin fell to the ground and spit out a large amount of blood, then he felt Malin's arrows piercing his body.
"Oh my God, I hate archers!" Zabus grumbled as he removed an arrow stuck in his chest.
After that, he threw an axe at Malin, but I quickly blocked it. Suddenly, he charged at me, and without warning, a warrior appeared with a massive sword and blocked Zabus' attack. Oh my God, this is like a dream. Then, a huge amount of dark magic erupted from beneath the ground and struck Zabus. I stepped back to see the rest of the group: Sebastian and his slave, John, Susan, and Tom.
"We're late," Susan said.
"Oh my God, this demon, it's like we're in a Souls game," Tom said, gripping his black blade.
After that, Sebastian's salve ran toward Zabus and attacked him with her daggers, but he easily blocked her and tried to strike back. Sebastian rushed to protect her, but he failed and was attacked by Zabus. Suddenly, Zabus cut off Sebastian's arm. Oh my God!!!
"Stephanie, heal him!!!" I shouted involuntarily.
Stephanie had been busy healing Kevin, but Sebastian ran to her, shouting in shock. After that, Stephanie stopped healing Kevin and focused on Sebastian, using the
"Wow, we have people using blessed healing magic!" Zabus exclaimed.
"Don't be reckless, Sebastian!!" Susan screamed.
Then, Tom and John rushed toward Zabus, exchanging blows with him using their weapons, causing a flurry of impacts. Afterward, Tom managed to injure one of Zabus' arms.
"Tom, John, retreat!" Sebastian suddenly shouted.
After that, Sebastian launched a massive dark magic attack from his staff, but Zabus was able to block it. But how? How?! It seemed like he used a magical spell. After blocking Sebastian's attack, he smiled a terrifying smile and gripped his axe tightly.
"Was that magic?!" I asked.
"No, that's not magic, it's Nemesis, and you could say it's the magic of demons!" Zabus repeated before he flew away.
Then, he empowered himself with a black aura. Suddenly, Sebastian and Malin launched long-range attacks, and I threw my spear at him with all my might.
"Come on, all of you, attack!!" John shouted.
Susan released her skill and hit him as well. After that, he fell to the ground, covered in wounds. Oh my God, are we going to win? Suddenly, a terrifying aura exploded, so terrifying that it made Zabus disappear inside it. Then, he started laughing. We couldn't see him, but we could hear his loud laughter.
"This is a great fight, but my battle against Uther was still better," Zabus repeated after the aura disappeared.
It seemed like he had empowered himself with that aura to protect himself from the incoming injuries. Then, Tom and John attacked him again, but he struck them with a terrifying blow that made them spit out a large amount of blood and fly away. After that, Sebastian began attacking repeatedly, but Zabus avoided every attack with his speed. Then, he kicked Sebastian, sending him flying far away.
He then went for Malin, but Kevin suddenly appeared and blocked his attack. Even so, he wasn't a match for him, so he too fell after receiving a blow from Zabus, then Malin as well. Oh my God, he's so brutal. After that, he stared at Stephanie, which made me run toward her quickly, and indeed, he advanced toward her. But I cast a defensive spell, and then he attacked with his axes. This time, the attack was stronger, so it broke my spell and he managed to strike me.
Oh my God! I was hit. After that, I couldn't bear it, so I fell to the ground. I lifted my eyes to see everyone down as well, except Sebastian's slave, who kept screaming Sebastian's name. She was so annoying. After that, he attacked Susan and Stephanie as well, but Susan blocked his attack and then used her
So, is this our end? But we did a good job. His body is full of wounds... Oh my God, my eyes are closing, am I going to die? Suddenly, I felt an overwhelming aura, a terrifying aura like I've never felt before. Oh my God, has the demon reinforcements arrived?! Shit! It's our end. I raised my head to see the source of the aura. It was a beautiful blonde knight, with massive armor and a long, ornate sword glowing with light. And I will never forget his green eyes, like emeralds. It's Arthur, he finally arrived...
"Thank you, heroes, now it's my turn!"
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That knight drew his sword and suddenly disappeared. Then he appeared in front of Zabus and slashed with his sword at lightning speed, cutting Zabus' chest open. Then, Arthur kicked that demon in the face with a powerful blow, sending him flying far away and spitting a large amount of blood. Afterward, Arthur slowly advanced toward him, holding his distinctive sword.
"Ugh! Who are you?!" Zabus screamed as he got up from the ground.
"Arthur... Arthur Pendragon, and I'm here to cut you from the top of your chest to the bottom of your abdomen, and to pop your other eye," Arthur replied, disappearing again and appearing right in front of Zabus' face.
Then Arthur easily stabbed him, then slashed with his sword, creating a wound identical to the one Uther died from. Afterward, Zabus fell, shocked, then screamed:
"Impossible, is this Excalibur?!!! The weapon of Elaine, one of the Four Maidens of War?!!!"
Then Arthur popped Zabus' other eye and coldly replied:
"Yes, this is Excalibur, the last thing you'll see."
After that, Arthur stood on Zabus' corpse and stabbed his heart. Then, he pulled his sword out, raised it high, and said, shedding a tear:
"I've fulfilled your dream, Father."
Afterward, Arthur continued standing on Zabus' corpse, staring at the sky. This was the Knights Commander of Yarum, Arthur Pendragon, son of Uther Pendragon, the one who fought to pursue his dream, or to pursue his father's dream. And here he was, finally, Arthur managed to defeat Zabus, a demon of the Axe rank. Finally, Arthur stood on the corpse of the killer of his father, smiling and crying as he stared at the clouds and the clear sky. Yes, Arthur had finally fulfilled his dream.