"What is Ryan saying?" Lesia said with tired eyes, then collapsed unconscious.
"Lesia!" I rushed to her and held her. "What happened?" I asked Ryan.
"This happens when someone from this world hears the name 'End Writer.' It's like the world rejects your words, and then they faint."
This is similar to what happened to me when I asked the Great Writer.
Ryan crossed his arms with a strange look on his face and continued, "You're odd. Shouldn't you be asking me how I knew you were the End Writer, instead of worrying about her? In the end, you want to destroy the world."
I said, "You found out by reading the heroes' thoughts?"
He paused for a moment, then said, "Wrong. I first learned through Sinister, then gathered more information from the other heroes, like your mission."
So that's why he has the End Writer's aura? But he hasn't witnessed the end of his world.
He continued, "And after meeting Kyle, I discovered the opposing faction you joined, and I think I'll follow him."
He took out a badge from his pocket with a symbol, a knife stabbing a book. The badge glowed brightly, and I shielded my eyes from the intense light. After a few moments, the light faded, and Ryan was gone.
I turned my attention to Lesia and tried to wake her up.
"Hero?" Finally, she woke up.
"Lesia, are you alright now?"
"Yes, but what happened to me?"
"You were standing, then fainted."
"And Ryan?" She asked, holding her head.
"What about Ryan?" I asked, pretending not to know.
"Wasn't he here just a moment ago?"
"No, there's no one here but me. By the way, why did you come? Didn't the king ask for you?"
"I almost forgot! I wanted to give you a gift." I pulled out a small wrapped box. "Here."
My hand shook as I reached out to take the gift. "Th-thank you."
"Open it."
I removed the ribbon and opened the box. It contained a small pendant with a glowing green stone. "I don't know what to say... Thank you."
"You're welcome, it's just a small gift from us." She smiled and continued, "Well, I have to go."
She tried to stand, but it was difficult for her.
I supported her and started walking with her.
"Sorry for troubling you."
"Don't worry, I've already gotten the rest I need."
After a moment, we met Ronald and Reinhard.
"Lesia, what happened?" Ronald asked and began to support her along with me.
"She fainted suddenly, maybe we should take her to the clinic first."
"I'm fine, I just need some rest."
"I'll take you to the clinic after we meet with the king," Ronald said firmly.
"Okay."
We arrived at the arena where the heroes fought previously, and it had been completely repaired.
"Hero Ronald, what happened to Lesia?" It was the king, accompanied by Sinister. I greeted them and explained what happened.
"Lesia, go to your seat and rest," said the king.
"Okay, Father."
She complained a little but went to her seat.
"Hero, wait with Sinister for a moment while we prepare everything."
"Okay."
I went with Sinister to a corner of the arena and began speaking.
"Ryan knows I'm the End Writer."
"What? How?"
"He read your memories."
"It seems I made a big mistake. Is there a way to make up for it?"
"Don't worry, it's not your fault. Because of this incident, I realized that the inhabitants of the worlds can become one of those people if they just know about the End Writer, without even witnessing the destruction of their world."
"Is this valuable information?"
"Maybe." There was a brief silence before I asked, "Lesia mentioned something about ancient calamities a month ago. Can you explain it to me?"
"Calamities are beings capable of destroying an entire land with just their power."
"By land, do you mean an entire world?"
Sinister nodded and continued, "There are seven ancient calamities, and they are:
1. Solar Calamity, Solarin
2. Storm Calamity, an ancient dragon, but it's not conscious like most dragons, though its power is undeniable.
3. Past Calamity, sometimes called the War Calamity, an unknown being with no known name or origin. All that is known is that it's a remnant of the great war.
4. Earth Calamity, Tiran
5. Sky Calamity, Sikaero
6. Dragon Calamity, Ryoma
7. Finally, the Calamity of Calamities, Om
Most of these calamities are either dead or defeated, but it doesn't change the fact that these beings were the kings of the ancient era 10,000 years ago."
"Are they stronger than the king?" I asked Sinister.
"Yes, much stronger, even though King Alexander is the strongest human."
I was shocked to learn that Alexander was the strongest human, and I continued asking questions, "According to what you said, the current calamities are stronger than the ancient ones."
"Yes."
"Who are the current calamities?"
Sinister took a deep breath and began speaking.
1. Swamp Calamity
2. Fang Calamity
3. Ocean Calamity, Okairis
4. Frost Calamity, Seram
5. Sky Calamity, Sikaero
6. Dragon Calamity, Ryoma
7. Calamity of Calamities, Om
"Aren't Sikaero, Ryoma, and Om ancient calamities?"
"But they survived for 10,000 years and maintained their position as calamities. They're the strongest, especially Om, the Absolute Calamity."
I kept thinking about their names.
"I hope you don't encounter any of them, but there is one you must meet if you want to complete your mission."
"Who?"
"The Dragon Calamity, King of Dragons, Ryoma, ruler of the Dragon Lands. He's sometimes called the King of Calamities."
"Why?"
"Under his command are two of the calamities: the Frost Calamity, Seram, and the former Storm Calamity. If you can bring them to your side, even Om will fear you."
"What..!" I was about to ask Sinister, but the sound echoed in the arena.
"Please gather the Hero's Priests to summon the Hero's Sword."
"It seems my turn has come." Sinister walked toward the arena, but suddenly stopped. "I believe you're unaware, but summoning the Hero's Sword will kill me."
My eyes widened. "What? Are you serious?"
"…"
"Sinister, are you really going to die?"
"Yes, but I have to. In the end, I'm just a puppet of the Writer."
"You're not that. You are my friend and my mentor."
"Thank you for these feelings. I'm grateful that you don't see me as just a tool."
Sinister looked at me with a sincere smile. "Goodbye, my friend."
"Goodbye." I knew I wouldn't be able to prevent anything, and despite the sadness, all I could do was say those words.
*******
30 years ago
The scene showed children falling from the sky, divided among several kingdoms. Among them was a child named Sinister. The children were part of the Great Writer's puppets, created to help the End Writers navigate the world.
Sinister fell into a public square. The darkness was thick, and the night was grim.
"I've reached safely. Now, I must get to the castle," the child muttered to himself and began to move, but he was quickly caught.
"Child, what are you doing here alone?"
He met a man in his twenties with golden hair, a radiant aura, and a cheerful face. His name was Alexander.
Sinister answered his question, "I'm always alone."
"Really? Where are your parents?"
"..." Sinister remained silent.
"Then, I'll take you with me," said Alexander with a smiling face. Sinister tried to escape, but Alexander grabbed him and said, "You're not going anywhere. You'll come with me to the palace."
The palace! Is this fool a prince? Hah, looks like I'm lucky.
After some time, Sinister joined the priests and rose to become the highest among them. Over time, his respect for Alexander grew as he witnessed his bravery, wisdom, and heroism.
One day, Sinister predicted an impending danger—an ominous threat that would destroy their world—and that they needed to summon a hero to save them. It was a lie to bring the End Writer into this world. What solidified his claim was the prediction from the other priests of the various kingdoms, who had foreseen the same thing. On the day of the summoning, the nameless End Writer was called, who is now known as the Hero.
*******
In the Present
The priests ascended to the arena and began chanting strange hymns that only I could understand. It was the magic of the outer world used by the Great Writer.
A brilliant light began to appear in the sky, tearing apart any trace of darkness. The Hero's Sword was being forged.
Sinister felt his body tearing apart, and his bones breaking. He no longer felt his legs gradually, as they no longer existed. His torn parts were being drawn toward the sword, as if they were being used as materials to complete it—or perhaps they were.
I remembered my moments with Sinister, and the first day I arrived in this world when he said, "I won't always be with you." I looked at him, and the feeling of pain filled me. His body was fragmenting and scattering, and all that remained was his head, floating in the air like a memory. He looked at me and smiled.
In his final moment, he said, "Good luck."
I heard the cheers and clapping of the people, as though they had never seen someone die in front of them. This made me feel nauseous.
The Hero's Sword was embedded in the ground. I advanced to the arena and pulled it out. "So, you are the Hero's Sword, the result of the sacrifice of eight priests."
I could still hear the screams of the souls and their pain in its blade.
I continued speaking, "My friend died for you... Tell me, what makes you deserve this?"
I found no answer. What was I expecting? That the sword would speak?
After the ceremony, we returned to the kingdom of Altherion without me noticing. We were at the palace gates. I returned to my room, exhausted and sad. First Kyle, then now Sinister. I lay on my bed, the Hero's Sword still in my hand.
[End Writer] I heard a voice, one I had heard before—a voice that shook my very being.
I looked at the sword and said, "Great Writer?"
[Yes, it's me.]
"Can I communicate with you through the sword?"
[That's not all. The main role of this sword is to lend you a quarter of my power, just once.]
"A quarter of your power? Isn't that too much?"
[Trust me, you'll need it.]
"How are Selena and the others?"
[Did you forget? End Writers lose their names after leaving the world. Selena is no longer Selena; she's simply an End Writer.]
"Yeah, sorry for the mistake." I paused for a moment and then asked, "Master Great Writer, I'm tired. How much longer will we continue with this destruction?"
I waited for a response, but there was none. "Master Great Writer?"
I lay on my back and drifted into sleep, hoping to forget the day and the sorrow that weighed on me - though even my dreams held their own cruelty.
*******
After a few hours, I woke up to a knock on the door.
"Hero, are you here?" It was Mary.
I opened the door. "Hello," I said, my face still showing signs of sleep.
"Hello, sorry to disturb you, but the king is calling for you."
"Alright, lead the way." I grabbed the Hero's Sword and walked with her.
I noticed her glances toward me. She couldn't stand me because of the incident in the training ground, but she tried hard to hide these looks.
As we walked, I felt the sword vibrating. I was puzzled, but there was no time to investigate as we arrived at the king's room.
"Your Majesty, I have brought the hero," Mary said.
I showed my respect and said, "Your Majesty, did you call for me?" I looked toward the king. His eyes were red… the suppressed sadness of a friend who was no more.
"Yes, there is something we need to discuss," Alexander said. Then he looked at my sword and added, "Now that you are the hero, you must search for the chosen ones."
I tilted my head in confusion and asked, "Chosen ones?"
"People selected by the Hero's Sword to assist you on your journey," he explained.
I nodded, understanding what he meant, and then asked, "How will I know them?"
"The Hero's Sword will tell you in some way."
I looked at Mary and extended the sword toward her. It continued vibrating, this time more obviously.
The king was stunned, but he quickly regained his composure and said, "Then, Deputy Commander of the Knights, Mary, you are the first chosen one."
"What?" she said, her face in shock, her expression marked by the unexpected revelation.