Unseen Borders

'What the hell is that...You're telling me that's Hellgao?'

The being in front of Grid right now could not be compared to the current Hellgao who was but a shade of his past self.

''HELL SUMMONING''

Black and bright red flames burst from the already-scorching earth, it was a sight to behold. The true power of Hellfire that Grid had desired to see for so long was finally revealed, no matter how many times he raided Hellgao, and no matter how many powers he got from him using his runes, Hellfire was never one of them.

'I think I get why now...'

The difference in power and status between the Hellgao he faced and the one before him right now was immense. Hellfire would probably never be gained no matter how many times he raided it, it was because of the so-called ''Balance'' created by Morpheus. The current Hellgao was too weak in terms of status so Hellfire, the strongest fire in hell and the counterpart to the divine flames, would be too much as a reward.

'At any rate, it's time for battle!'

Grid said as hot sweat dripped from his forehead, it was the effect of the intense heat in Hellgao's hell.

'I don't want you to fight Hellgao yet'

'Huh?'

But Muller faced Grid with unexpected words.

'Hellgao was the first 'evil' to recognize me as a rival and not an inferior or fearsome enemy.'

Grid couldn't understand Muller's words, the one before them was a dangerous demon that would destroy the continent if not stopped.

'I understand how you feel, however... Were the enemies you fought until now really your enemies?'

'what are you talking ab-'

[The words of sword saint Muller are diminishing the effects of the curse of 'Wrath']

'what...?'

'A virtuous hero who has fought for the sake of humanity while eliminating all variables, that's who you are, but have you ever wondered why the gods let you roam around for so long?'

Grid's eyes widened at the words of Muller. He thought about it once, but his thoughts had disappeared like a lie as if he was in denial of them, why? Why would the gods let a newborn god roam around freely? Why would they be satisfied by taking away his blessings? Why would Rebecca keep her blessing on him? Today, finally he found the answer, it was given by the system.

[The curse of 'Wrath' has been revealed]

[Enlightenment has been gained]

[The hidden information about 'Rebecca's blessing' has been revealed, the description of the blessing has been updated]

['Rebecca's blessing' has been updated to 'curse of wrath']

Grid shook his head few times, he couldn't understand what was happening yet. Then information flooded his mind. Why did he regard all demons as evil and see them as nothing but disgusting creatures? Why did he hunt monsters like a maniac without caring about anything? Why did he regard mir as disgusting despite his warm words and noble goals? Why did he slaughter armies because they refused to follow him? Why did he treat all non-human races as inferior races reflexively and needed to get over it with effort like in Braham's case? It didn't fit, he may be dumb but he's not a slaughterer or a racist.

[The 'Curse of wrath' has been revealed, the god of virtue tolerates no sin, the Curse has been negated.]

His mind felt clear and serene. He looked at Muller's eyes again, but this time with doubt filling them.

'They have used us, Grid'

'Some demons are evil, but in the end, they are just another race like with humans, they can be good and evil. No matter how much you tried you always had doubts about Rebecca being a benevolent goddess, despite all the proof in front of you. You always thought only 2 options existed, kill or save. However, once you chose to kill you could no longer change your mind no matter what.'

'You're saying... Rebecca's blessing was a disguised curse created to make me enter a state of wrath against Asgard's enemies unless they were willing to work for me...'

'Yes, that's exactly it, the curse weakened as your status increased because your resistance to curses increased, so the effect diminished with time, but it was still there and worked stronger against Asgard's enemies...for instance, Yangbans and Great demons that didn't serve under Baal or Amocrat.'

'The damned gods...All this time...Then Yatan too...'

Then few images passed through Gird's mind

```★There is a chance of getting consumed by your emotions, in which case the ''Sin of wrath'' will dominate your body, You can not distinguish between friends and foes as your wrath brings destruction to everything.```

```Rebecca is silent```

With bloodshot eyes, rage boiled inside Grid, was that also planned by the gods? was he dancing in the palm of their hands like a doll?

'No... I need to calm down, that's exactly what they want from me, to be angry, then I will remain calm to the very end.'

Once again, Grid's determination was strengthened, the evil gods needed to be punished, but he couldn't let his emotions get the better of him.

'Whatever happens...'

Muller's voice seemed to contain hidden rage.

'...Trust no one. the trial today is all the proof I can show you...'

As the scenery unfolded once again, Hellgao's hellfire was devouring Muller's body while Grid was possessing it.

'Should I fight or Should I talk? I don't know anymore...'

However, he didn't hesitate for long. Grid pulled out his sword as he cut Hellgao's hellfire. It was the power of the ultimate sword energy available only to the sword saint. But regardless of how many times he cut Hellgao's attacks, he didn't feel him weakening.

''Is he not taking damage? But how?''

Unlike the other trials he's been through, this time Grid was thrown into a scenario with no explanation or support, it seems that Muller wanted him to forge his own path in his past.

''Matchless heart swordsmanship, first technique...''

The willpower that cut anything and everything was emitted in all directions, it was a demonstration of Muller's genius, that of a sword saint who nearly turned the world into a sword.

''...Counter blade''

All Hellgao's attacks were cut down and the willpower blades which had cut the attacks were redirected at him, bombarding his body relentlessly.

''UGHHHH''

Hellgao struggled as the power of manifestation of will, the higher form of formless will, penetrated his body while ignoring all his defense.

''Matchless heart swordsmanship, 14th technique...''

All the energy in the area that had been chaotic due to the fast-paced battle between the 2 beings suddenly stopped in place before rapidly converging towards Muller's sword along with Muller's sword energy. The sword saint's super sensitivity seemed to guide Grid to the best path all the time, this allowed him to rapidly adapt to Muller's body and face Hellgao. The enlightenment brought by the union of the Godslayer and the strongest sword saint showed unwavering power, finally peeking at the realm of the absolute. As the essence of killing carried from Grid's sword dance enhanced Matchless heart swordsmanship, the new technique was finally created.

[Your enlightenment has reacted to Muller's genius talent]

[The swordsmanship of the undefeated king and the sword dance 'Kill', that express the essence of death, have enhanced matchless heart swordsmanship]

[The 14th incomplete technique of matchless heart swordsmanship that Sword saint Muller worked on until his last breath has been completed]

''...Reverse Annihilation Strike''

The energy condensed in the blade accumulated on its tip. And as Grid extended his arm forward, it vanished like a lie. What was left was the torn body of Hellgao who barely managed to heal after expending all his energy.

''You...''

''YOU!!!!''

Even though Hellgao's voice was still imposing, all of the pressure and strength he possessed vanished. He was but an empty shell of his past.

''I SWEAR I WILL COME BACK AN-''

''Hey, you.''

''?''

Hellgao was confused by Muller's calm tone.

''Why do you invade the human world?''

Hellgao startled as he heard Muller's question, he was seen as a tyrant and a king of evil, wouldn't the reason be obvious to anyone?

''To crush Bugs like y-''

''Shut up and spill it out''

Hellgao's eyes became sharp as he stared at Muller.

'This human... insisting on this question, could it be that he knows?'

''We only do what the faction leader asks.''

''Why would Baal ask you to invade the human world?''

''...''

''I can kill you at any time if I wish to, so you better give me an answer.''

''You think I fear death? There are things to fear much more than death, human.''

Gird's eyes widened as he heard Hellgao's answer, he felt fear in Hellgao's voice as he answered, he thought about it calmly before speaking again.

''Is it the book of sloth?''

Hellgao's body trembled as he heard Muller's words.

'Bingo.'

''Tell me more.''

''I can't! You already know what will happen to me, why would I ever talk!''

''I can help you''

Said Grid with a slight smirk.

This was a trial, this meant that it was a source of information to Grid, he would use anything to gather information on such a rare occasion. Hellgao showed doubt but still spoke, it seemed that his defeat convinced him the human he fought was not trivial.

''A great demon who refuses the order of the leader will be sent to the pit of chaos.''

''Tell me more about it.''

''It's akin to an empty prison, once you fall into it you cannot feel anything. That's where great demons go after their death. The time between our reincarnations is not a blessing it's a punishment by Yatan for our incompetence, we reside in the void for months, years, decades, sometimes centuries, gradually losing our sanity.''

Grid's eyes shook as he heard Hellgao's words, When he met Yatan he thought he finally met a god who cared about his creations. But he was wrong, the gods' actions were never purely out of care, they were always tainted with their desires. Hellgao continued:

''Eventually, the demons who reach high ranks and die take a much longer time reincarnating than the others, this causes most of them to live in terror for decades or centuries. And past some point, all your sentience disappears and you degrade to a demonic beast.''

''What?''

Hellgao ignored Grid's puzzlement and kept going.

''Hell is not our home, Hell is our prison, a prison we can never escape. We were not born as Yatan's kids, we are his servants.''

''The book of sloth was created as a warning to us, once used it can corrupt your soul with corruption and place it in the pit of chaos for eternity as you are cursed with sloth. slowly being eroded by the eternal loneliness and fear, immortality that nobody would wish for.''

Hellgao closed his eyes, as dark veins appeared all over his body, but he didn't stop even though his existence was slowly fading away.

''Beriache found a clue to overcoming the gap in reincarnation and tried to use it to save the others from the pain and insanity they went through in the time gap.''

''She cared about us more than our own father... So she was cursed and banished because she cared.''

''...''

Grid couldn't believe his ears, he doubted that Hellgao was lying but the dark mist that was emitted from his body was no different from the one he saw around Baal's book of sloth, it meant that the more Hellgao talked the worse his punishment would be.

''Human... You will see soon enough, we are but pawns on the playboard of the gods.''

Said Hellgao as he opened his eyes a last time, looking at Muller, hopeful yet sad. It seems he had grown tired of the never-ending cycle and ever-repeating scenes. The dark mist formed black hands that pulled Hellgao down to an unknown place. Grid felt himself pulled out of Muller's body once again.

'Do you understand now?'

Muller's figure appeared before him. Unlike before, this Muller was the hero that humanity saw, the lantern of humanity and Hero king.

'We are all but part of a game, a play enjoyed by the original gods, Grid.'

'But you, the god whose heart longed for love and peace, were different'

'That's why you don't deserve to be a god.'

Grid stood silent while hearing Muller's words, after the curse of wrath dissipated and the other curses of the sins in his body weakened greatly, he could see Muller's point clearly.

'A hero...'

Grid spoke in a calm tone.

'I don't want to be a hero.'

His inner desire was finally expressed, he had worked to fulfill the dreams of others, but deep down he was a greedy man.

'I only want to protect those whom I love.'

Muller smiled as his figure started fading away.

'As you should... I believe in you, Grid. not as a hero, but as a...'

Muller had completely faded and one last word echoed in the empty world.

'Human.'

Grid's eyes opened and he felt himself waking up from a dream, it was time to go back.

[You have completed the quest Trials of a Hero(2)]

[The Hero King quests have been completed]

[You have put together pieces of information you acquired through your journey]

[You have uncovered the truth of the world]

[You are the first to achieve this]

[The consequences are being estimated]