Chapter 01: The Final Battle
At the farthest reaches of the land, where darkness spread and stained the horizon, Hero Hayato and the Demon King faced each other. On the desolate earth, the scars of countless fierce battles were etched like innumerable claw marks.
Hayato’s armor was shattered, and countless wounds covered his entire body. The Demon King was also grievously wounded, one of its arms blown off. From the stump of the arm Hayato had severed with the Holy Sword he gripped, jet-black demonic energy rose like smoke.
The Holy Sword, still clutched in Hayato’s right hand, emitted a faint light. But its blade was chipped. The Demon King glared hatefully at the dulled Holy Sword with eyes burning crimson.
“Guh…”
Hayato was gasping for breath. Soon, one of them would fall, and the victor would be decided. Or perhaps, both would succumb to their exhaustion, resulting in a mutual demise.
“Hah, hah…”
Amidst his labored breathing, Hayato recalled the faces of his companions who had fallen in the battles leading up to this moment. Lilia, Celestia, Garret, John. It was only because of the devoted help of his precious comrades that he was able to stand here, on this field of the final battle. But they were no longer here. Those the Hero had been unable to save.
Their voices, which should have been lost, reached Hayato’s ears.
“Lord Hayato, please save the world.”
Female Sage Lilia, who had smiled to reassure those around her until her very last moment. Though her long golden hair was stained with blood, her eyes were filled with hope.
“You must live, Lord Hayato. Don’t lose.”
Celestia, the Elven priestess, who never gave up even in the most desperate situations, continuing to chant her healing prayers. The determination dwelling in her green eyes was still seared into Hayato’s heart.
“I’m done for. Sorry, but I’m leaving the rest to you, Hayato-dono.”
Garret, the Dwarven blacksmith, who single-handedly took on a horde of thousands of monsters, creating an escape route for his comrades and the citizens. The warhammer he wielded with his thick arms continued to crush enemies until the very end.
“Hayato. You can win. So, don’t give up!”
John, the informant, who supported their journey by utilizing every information network from the black market to the royal palace, saving his comrades from deadly traps countless times. His quick-witted advice always became the key to overcoming crises.
The weight of the words entrusted to him by his comrades burned hotly in Hayato’s heart. This battle, he could not lose. He absolutely could not afford to lose.
“Yeah, of course. I won’t lose…!”
From the depths of his being, he mustered every last bit of the Hero’s power, power he might never be able to use again. He would burn his life, burn out his very soul, to face this final contest. Because he carried everyone’s feelings, the people’s prayers, and the hope for the future on his shoulders.
“–!”
The Demon King began an ominous chant. Jet-black demonic energy swirled, and a catastrophic spell was unleashed. The ground was gouged deeply, and even bedrock was pulverized. Hayato desperately dodged the attacks, searching for the slightest opening to approach the Demon King. The aftershocks of the immense demonic power were tremendous; completely evading them was impossible.
“Guuh!”
Pain that tore at his flesh ran through his entire body. But he somehow managed to prevent any fatal wounds. He just had to stay alive, get closer, and keep swinging this sword. Blood spurted from his injured body, but that no longer mattered. He poured all his remaining strength into this single moment.
“I won’t… lose! For my comrades, for the people who believed in me, I will save… this world!”
“–!!!”
The all-out strike, unleashed with a cry, pierced the Demon King’s chest. With a scream of agony, the Demon King’s colossal body dissipated into particles of darkness. Hayato watched intently until the very last speck vanished. Finally, it was all over.
Thrusting the chipped Holy Sword into the ground, Hayato leaned against it. The dark clouds that had covered the world for so long cleared, and a blue sky, unseen for a long time, spread out. The sunlight felt warm.
“I did it, everyone.”
With this, the peace the people of the world had longed for would arrive. He probably wouldn’t be able to witness that moment himself. But that was fine. That was the path he had chosen.
A serene smile graced Hayato’s face, now that the battle was over. Like a traveler who had reached the destination of a long journey.
“Guuh…”
His body gradually grew heavy. He couldn’t return to the royal capital where the people he was meant to protect awaited, nor could he return to the original world where he was born and raised. But he had been prepared for that. The time had probably come to depart to where his comrades waited. He quietly closed his eyes.
“Lord Hayato, thank you so very much.”
As his consciousness faded, he thought he heard the warm voices of his nostalgic comrades.
Lilia, Celestia, Garret, John. It was as if they had come to welcome him.
At that moment, the light emanating from the battered Holy Sword suddenly intensified, enveloping Hayato’s body. A sensation as if being drawn by something.
“This is… everyone…”
Before his consciousness completely faded, Hayato felt his body turning into particles of light and ascending into the sky.