Chapter 3 - Clash of Destiny

The atmosphere hung heavy with the impending clash between the Hero Party and the newly awakened Demon King. The battlefield was a chaotic tapestry of destruction, with the remnants of the Wrath of the Fallen spell still lingering in the air.

"Die!" I shouted and chanted numerous complex runes filled with deadly curses. The runes shaped themselves into apparitions of dreadful ghosts that ate up the vitality of the land.

The Hero, her spear ablaze with divine energy, stood resolute at the forefront of her party. The determination in her eyes mirrored the unwavering spirit of her companions, who were battered but far from defeated.

As the Demon King, I felt a strange duality within me – the echoes of my own consciousness and the overwhelming force of the Demon King's desires. It was as if two entities were vying for control, and yet, a singular purpose loomed ahead: the destruction of this world.

'Humanity... they don't deserve you.' The memories of a blurry person mirrored the feelings of the Demon King. I don't know who she was, but it felt like I had known her for so long.

The Hero Party, undeterred by the ominous proclamation, launched their counterattack. Thorne, the Guardian, led the charge with his colossal shield, deflecting the dark vines and spells that sought to hinder their advance. Elowen, the Archer, sent a barrage of arrows towards me, each imbued with the purity of the Saintess' powers.

As I snapped my finger to create a black shockwave, the arrows dispersed from the cataclysmic power. I outstretched my hand toward the Hero Party and conjured a blackhole, causing space-time to be swallowed.

Isolde, the Archmage, chanted incantations that rewove the fabric of reality, creating barriers to shield her allies from the malevolent forces unleashed by the Demon King. Lady Seraphina, the Saintess, stood at the heart of the defense, channeling healing energies to mend the wounds inflicted upon her comrades.

As I snapped my finger again, the blackhole blew up into a giant mushroom, it obliterated the surroundings into atoms.

The Hero Party flew backward from the force, while I stood flying in the air, unaffected by the explosion.

"Don't give up! Stand up! Through the Goddess, we will achieve victory!" The Hero yelled while I grimaced at the word she mentioned.

The Hero herself unleashed a barrage of sword waves, each one cutting through the air with the precision of a master swordsman. The Demon King's power, while formidable, seemed to meet its match in the coordinated efforts of the Hero Party.

Despite their resilience, a sense of dread gnawed at the edges of their determination. The Demon King's growing power through the battlefield, and a cruel symphony that resonated with the chaos surrounding them.

"Your struggles are futile, insects!" I declared, the voice a fusion of the Demon King's malevolence and my own inner turmoil.

Soon, a massive portal tore through the skies, revealing the Demon Realm in its glory.

In the darkest recesses of the demonic realm, where shadows clung to the very essence of existence, there slumbered a creature of unparalleled malevolence—the mighty Angra Mainyu, the Evil Dragon.

Its colossal form, an embodiment of death and darkness, lay coiled beneath the peaks of the Forbidden Mountains, hidden from the prying eyes of those who dared not venture into its accursed domain.

Angra Mainyu, a name whispered in hushed tones among the bravest warriors and wisest sorcerers, evoked terror and awe in equal measure. Legends spoke of its creation in the crucible of cosmic malevolence, a force that birthed a creature with scales as black as the void and eyes that gleamed with the abyss itself.

As vast as a mountain range, its immense wings unfurled like the tattered remnants of a nightmarish tapestry, casting a perpetual shadow over the desolate landscape that surrounded its lair.

The mere breath of Angra Mainyu was a harbinger of doom, an unholy miasma that devoured the very essence of life.

Tales told of its exhalation, a torrent of maleficent energy that could wither the mightiest of forests and reduce entire continents to ashen wastelands.

The air, once vibrant and filled with the songs of creatures, would succumb to the dragon's dreadful exhale, leaving only a haunting silence in its wake.

Numerous crimson eyes shot through the barren dark lands of the ruined Demon Realm.

"Angra Mainyu."

"I beseech your call, my Liege."

The Hero Party looked up in shock.

"Angra Mainyu! How insane! To summon a mythical monster like that into our world?" Isolde cursed.

"Hero, and Lady Seraphina! We will hold it back! Kill the Demon King before it's too late."

Thorne gritted his teeth. "We won't let your darkness consume this world! Hero and Lady Seraphina, now!"

With a nod, the Hero charged forward, her spear poised for a decisive strike. The air crackled with the clash of opposing forces as the Hero faced the Demon King head-on. 

Seraphina poured all of her divine energy into the hero's body, further enhancing her power equal to the Goddess of Light.

I, as the Demon King, felt a surge of power within me. The Godhand pulsed with dark energy, ready to unleash its might. The memories of battles long past, of conquest and despair, surged to the forefront.

"Die, Hero!" I roared, and with a sweeping motion, unleashed a torrent of dark energy towards the approaching figure of the Hero.

But she deftly dodged, weaving through the tendrils of darkness with an almost dance-like grace. The Hero's spear glowed brighter, a beacon of hope amidst the encroaching shadows.

In a swift counter, the Hero lunged forward, aiming for the heart of the Demon King. The clash of divine and demonic powers reached its zenith, a cataclysmic collision that sent shockwaves rippling through the battlefield.

The Hero's spear pierced through the Demon King's defenses, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. The crimson light of the Godhand wavered, flickering like a dying flame.

But, suddenly, the Hero flung backward and slammed into the walls, with the bleeding wound left from my heart, I laughed.

"Haha-hahahaha! It's meaningless."

I spread my arms, and the wounds from my heart dissipated as if the wound was never there.

[ Almighty ] 

I had now the power to change the past.

A triumphant smile played on my lips as I believed that the made-up vain hope of the Hero was just a comedy. 

I proved that the prophecy was just a lie to make humanity hope for nothing.

"No..." Seraphina's voice exclaimed a hint of desperation in her voice.

The Hero's helmet fell while she stood up with her spear, and with a glance at her face, I stopped. 

"You... why do you look like her?"

"What are you talking about?" The Hero asked in a frantic voice.

"This... what kind of cruel fate is this?"

The battlefield on the other side echoed intensely, while the Hero and Demon King stared at each other in confusion and fear.

"Hero! Stand up! There's still hope!" The Saintess went to her side while doubtful of the Demon King's reaction.

She nodded and both of them got up, I shook my head off, removing the past image of that girl.

"No matter... even if it's you."

"I'll just destroy everything... destroy this world."

I gritted my head. The image of her started to become less blurry. The more I remembered her, the more pain and regrets I would feel.

With the powers of all the Seven Deadly Sins, I combined them to form the ultimate 10th-tier spell, capable of rendering this world into an empty void.

"Angra Mainyu."

-"Yes, my Liege."

Angra Mainyu fell from the sky and breathed destructive fire into the ground, halting the advance of the Hero Party.

"Sh*t. What is it this time?" Isolde cursed once again.

"Dame Isolde, please." Seraphina shook her head.

"Now's not the time for this bickering?" Elowen shook his head at the duo and turned his head at the majestic gait of the Demon King.

"We have to stop him. That spell is strong enough to destroy this world. I don't know what this monster is thinking. But, the Hero needs to deal with the finishing blow, otherwise, we're goners." Isolde replied in a solemn tone.

"What tier is it?" Thorne asked.

"The tenth-tier... something only deities are capable of." Isolde fixed her wizard hat, with a fearful look.

"..." 

"..."

Everyone started to make the final plan and quickly ran at the throne, with Isolde creating numerous earth structures that reached the sky, while Angra Mainyu flew to stop them.

'It's hopeless, once I've finished this spell. Everything will end.'

When all colors add up, it turns into black.

I slowly stepped into the black staircase that led to the floating onyx and ivory throne, with my black-crown shimmering with the crimson light of the adorned rubies on the crest.

I muttered softly, with the blooming rupture of dark energy swirling around me like the deep sea.

I will ascend upon the viperine throne,

Even if it's blood-smeared and defiled,

I will depend on none other than myself,

This world belongs to me,

I will instill fear within the masses,

For, I am the Demon King.

I turned my palm over and sat at the throne, before closing my eyes to feel the whirling void and destruction.

Broken Void-

'?!'

I slowly stood up and looked at the familiar face of my friend, the one who was sacrificed on the altar to free humanity from the Great Flood. And also the only Goddess Chief, chosen by the Universal Law to keep the world in balance.

Her reminiscent figure felt nostalgic.

It was the Hero approaching me, I knew... I could never raise my hand.

"..."

As she sweated, while the Hero Party supported her in reaching me, I stood and closed my eyes.

It only took several seconds for me to feel the heat of the Divinity tearing through my heart once more.

I opened my eyes and glanced at the Hero, who was planning on launching another attack. 

I glanced at her once again and felt the coldness of her eyes, I reached out my hands to her cheek while blood fell from the edges of my lips.

"Why... aren't you fighting back?"

She questioned in a quivering tone, already realizing that I had no will to fight anymore. She stopped and questioned, with a doubtful look.

"..."

"I don't... know."

I closed my eyes and didn't use the [ Almighty ] to change the past of getting pierced in the heart. But, to accept this defeat, and be satisfied with the ending while regretful of what I had done while influenced by the previous egos of the [ Godhand ].

The battlefield fell silent, the echoes of the clash lingering in the air. The Hero Party stood victorious, their faces marked with triumph and exhaustion while the Hero glanced at the lifeless body of the Demon King, with doubt.

"Why...?"

As the remnants of the Demon King's power dissipated, I found myself standing once more in the serene glade of Star Dou Forest. The air was calm, the whispers of the forest now gentle and soothing.

A sense of clarity washed over me as the memories of the Demon King's reign retreated. The Godhand, once a vessel of darkness, now felt dormant.

The Guardian appeared before me, their expression unreadable. "The trial is over, Huo Yuhao."

"What... happened?" I questioned, still grappling with the remnants of the Demon King's memories.

"You faced the darkness within and emerged victorious in the end. The Godhand's power has been sealed, and the fate of your previous world is no longer in peril," the Guardian explained and paused before saying.

"These are your memories of your past life."

"My... memories? Are there more?" I asked, seeking answers to the mysteries that had brought me to this strange world. I felt an odd sense of acceptance of this reality. I became more curious, as to what the relationship of the Goddess was with the previous me.

"The Goddess made a deal with me before she passed away, Huo Yuhao, you have proven that even in the face of overwhelming darkness, there is a spark of light within. The Godhand was both a preordained destiny and a revelation – a glimpse into the potential for redemption within the most unlikely of candidates."

"It is a fate that could not have been changed, but with you and the Goddess. The world will no longer birth Demon Kings nor Heroes."

"If you wish to know more answers... find those memory fragments. The System will tell you. Farewell..."

With those words, the Guardian's form began to fade, leaving me alone in the quiet glade.