Warriors, Demons, and the Savior of Humanity

In the aftermath of Himmel the Hero's death, word spread like wildfire across the land. Even the most remote regions heard the devastating news, including the outskirts of a particular Northern Kingdom, where a powerful demon lay in wait, biding her time.

"Madam, there's been news that the hero is dead," announced a blonde demon, strolling into the cavern with a calm and collected tone. His eyes glimmered with a threatening glare as he shared the information, every word carrying a sinister undertone.

Across the room, the magenta-haired demon seated lazily on a throne carved from obsidian, holding a weighing scale in one hand and resting the other on the armrest. Upon hearing the news, she threw back her head and chuckled, a haunting sound that reverberated chillingly through the chamber.

"Excellent," she purred, her voice a silken whisper laced with malice. "With that insignificant pest out of the way, I can start regaining my strength and wage war on human territories."

As she boasted about her nefarious plan, two more demons entered the chamber, one with pink hair and the other with long blonde hair.

"Madam, we have bad news," the pink-haired demon stated, her voice monotone yet tinged with urgency.

The magenta-haired demon shifted slightly, her interest piqued but her expression remaining unperturbed. "What is it?"

"There was a rumor of someone taking up the mantle of the dead hero," said the demon with long blonde hair, his words laced with consideration.

The magenta-haired demon's eyes narrowed, her amusement replaced by disgust. "Another hero? How pathetic and tedious. The very thought of a new hero appearing to replace that insufferable fool is utterly repulsive."

Hearing the negative response of their superior, the three subordinates were shaken slightly but they kept their cold and emotionless appearance.

"Madam, should we be concerned about this new hero?" the short blonde demon inquired, a trace of uncertainty in his tone.

The magenta-haired demon paused and scrutinized the weighing scale in her hand, her gaze distant and contemplative. After a moment, she scoffed dismissively.

"Let them come," she declared with a sneer. "They will soon learn how futile their efforts are against me, Aura the Guillotine."

The demon subordinates nodded, their worry slightly eased by their leader's confidence. 

"Very well, Madam," the long-haired demon complied. "Is there anything else you want us to do at the moment?"

"Hmm, I want you to recruit the best half-demons you could find," Aura instructed, planning to increase her troop for her conquest.

The blonde-haired demon stepped forward and contended, "What if they refuse to join our cause, Madam?"

"Well, if that's the case, bring me the finest human from their territory," the magenta-haired demon demanded. "Because I will create one myself."

"We understood, Madam," the blonde demon complied, and the others nodded in response.

As the conversation ended, Aura dismissed her subordinates and they left the chamber. Her eyes gleamed with a dark resolve, plotting her next move in the looming conquest for power and dominion.

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[seventeen years later]

There once was a prosperous village in the Klee region, home to red-haired warriors, both young and old. Their armory was filled with various swords and armor of such quality that they could rival any empire. The residents were strong, proud, and courageous, their hearts burning with the desire to protect their land and people.

But one day, disaster struck. A horde of demons, bloodthirsty and battle-hungry, descended upon the village, seeking to wreak havoc and challenge the mightiest of its warriors. At their head was a towering figure, a greater demon known only as the Bloody God of War.

"So, which among you humans can compete against someone as strong as me?" the greater demon casually invited, his demonic eyes scanning across the battlefield.

A moment of tense silence followed before one of the warriors stepped forward, his posture straight, red hair tied sleekly behind him, and his white tunic billowing in the wind.

"I will."

"Oh? And what is your name, brave one?" the greater demon asked, intrigued by his bravery.

The warrior raised his sword without hesitation, and responded, "My name is Stoltz, and I will defeat you to protect this village."

"Very well," the demon acknowledged, brandishing his battle axe. "let us shall begin."

As they were about to commence their fight, the sound of approaching tiny footsteps halted the match. The warriors and demons turned their heads and saw a young boy holding a small dull sword with tears in his eyes.

"B-brother, I want to fight as well!" the boy cried out desperately.

Seeing his attempt at bravery, Stoltz turned towards the great demon. "May I speak with my younger brother for a moment?"

"Whatever, make it quick," the demon permitted, though impatiently.

With that approval granted, the warrior approached his younger brother and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"Stark, I want you to run away as far as possible," Stoltz urged solemnly. "We'll buy you time."

The young boy widened his eyes before shaking his head. "N-no! I don't want you to die!"

"It's alright, you will live," the warrior retorted. "Now, go."

Hearing his brother's unwavering demand, Stark reluctantly turned around and ran away with tears pouring from his eyes. He cowardly escaped, leaving the village behind.

"Now then, shall we continue?" the great demon insisted, gripping his axe excitedly.

Stoltz returned his gaze and readied his stance. "Yeah, let's get this over with."

The greater demon grinned, and without warning, he lunged forward, his battle axe plunging in a brutal arc.

---------------------------------------------------

Meanwhile, Stark was running through the forest, his tears blurring his vision. He gritted his teeth as he condemned himself for being a coward.

"Dammit!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the trees.

He stumbled over roots and branches, but the discomfort was nothing compared to the guilt weighing heavily on his chest. All he could think about was his brother, fighting against that monstrous demon, and he was just told to run away.

Growl...

Suddenly, a deep loud growl reverberated behind him. Stark glanced back and saw a demon sprinting in his direction with a menacing grin. Seeing that, the young boy panicked, hurrying his pace while closing his eyes.

However, by doing so, he bumped into someone, causing him to stumble backward.

"Oi, watch where you going, lad," a gruff voice reprimanded.

Stark opened his eyes and noticed two individuals. The first one was a bearded dwarf with a grouchy expression and beside him was a blue-haired elf with an imposing figure.

"Are you alright, buddy?" the elf asked kindly, giving him a hand.

The young boy was about to accept the stranger's offer when suddenly...

Growl!!

Another growl reverberated as the demon chasing Stark eventually arrived and was prepared to pounce at its prey.

"A lesser demon, huh?" the elf remarked casually, stepping forward without a trace of fear.

Stark's eyes widened anxiously. "No, wait! Don't go near it! That thing's dangerous!"

However, the elf ignored his warning and continued his approach. The demon lunged at him, claws slashing through the air. But then, all of a sudden, the elf swiftly raised his mantle and the demon's head mysteriously fell off.

"W-what just happened?" Stark stammered in disbelief.

The dwarf let out an amused grunt. "The demon had already perished the moment the sword was raised."

"Sword?" the boy repeated before glancing back.

He widened his eyes upon seeing the elf holding a single-edged sword. He used his elbow to wipe blood off the blade and then hid it under his mantle.

Looking back, the elf calmly asked, "Are there more demons nearby?"

"Y-yes," Stark stuttered, his mind catching up with the situation. "Demons are attacking my village! So please, save my brother and my people!"

"Alright, which way was it located?" the elf urged him immediately.

As soon as the boy pointed in the general direction, the blue-haired stranger dashed forward without hesitation, leaving them behind.

"Typical... That man never changes," The dwarf grumbled. "Come on, lad. Let's not dawdle."

"U-understood," Stark complied, following the bearded stranger back to his village.

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Returning to the devastated battlefield, the sounds of clashing steel and fierce battle cries echoed through the air as the red-haired warriors fought courageously against the relentless onslaught of demons. 

The ground was soaked with the blood of both men and demons, the once-proud village was now reduced to a war zone. In the heart of the battlefield, the Bloody God of War dominated over Stoltz, who knelt with labored breaths, his body battered from the intense fight.

"Truly magnificent, brave one," the greater demon commended, his voice filled with malicious admiration. "For a mere human, you've managed to withstand all my attacks."

Stoltz gritted his teeth, struggling to stay on his feet. His sword, chipped and dulled from the endless onslaught, barely held firm in his trembling hands. Still, there was strong defiance in his eyes—a burning refusal to surrender.

"However," the Bloody God of War continued, raising his enormous axe high above his head, "this is where it all ends."

Just as the demon was about to bring down the final blow, a flash of blue dashed across the battlefield. Unfortunately, the Bloody God of War reacted quickly, intercepting the surprise attack with a swift movement.

"Oh? What's this?" the greater demon chuckled, his eyes gleaming with interest. "It appears a new challenger has arrived."

Stoltz, still on one knee, looked up in shock as the blue-haired elf stood before him, locking blades with the Bloody God of War, his expression calm but resolute.

"Me, a challenger? Nah, I'm a savior," declared the blue-haired elf as he launched a powerful kick, knocking the great demon several spaces backward.

The Bloody God of War staggered for a moment, then regained his footing with a menacing chuckle. "That strength of yours... It's beyond ordinary. Supernatural, perhaps?"

"Maybe," the elf shrugged, summoning a battle axe of his own. All you need to know is that I've got enough to take you down."

As the two adversaries sized each other up, preparing for the inevitable showdown, Stoltz heard hurried footsteps from behind. He turned and his eyes widened in shock when he saw his younger brother and a bearded dwarf rushing toward him.

"S-Stark?! What are you doing here? I told you to run away!" Stoltz rebuked, his voice burst with a mix of anger and worry.

The younger boy flinched at his brother's tone but he stood his ground "I couldn't leave you here! Our village will be saved because of them!"

Before Stoltz could respond, the Bloody God of War laughed, his boisterous voice drowning out the sounds of the war around them. "Ah, how touching! The little one returns to face his demise as well. And look who we have here! Eisen, how long has it been?"

Hearing the mention of his name, the dwarf scowled, his face twisted in both recognition and disdain. He didn't expect to encounter a familiar adversary from the past.

Eisen immediately turned to the elf, a hint of urgency in his voice. "Siegfried, be careful! This demon is Rivale. He's stronger and more dangerous than you think."

"I know," Siegfried responded, his voice calm as he gripped his axe. "Which is why I'm ending this, here and now."

Without another word, the blue-haired elf lunged forward, readying to strike. The Bloody God of War grinned and charged towards his opponent, enthusiastic to intercept his attacks. Both adversaries closed their distance and swung their weapons with a loud clang.