The Naivety of A Hero

[1063rd Round]

A puppet… a mere puppet… that's what I was.

Thunder roared, wind howled, and the storm raged.

But even amongst the chaos, against all odds, a bright golden light was slowly reaching out and embracing me

As if announcing the start of a new era…

The muffled echos of divine melodies, the loud prayers of those damned followers of god

"Disgusting…" I muttered under my breath, those followers of that fucking being who proclaimed himself as a god that would bring salvation, I just wanted to slit their throat and shut them up already…

My mind was blank, my vision was blurry, I could barely hear the sounds of the prayers from those bastard any more

but even so, that… voice somehow once again still managed to reached my deepest part of my soul

"- re chosen! Let's do our best, Atanas!"

As I lifted my gaze, the same scene in my once forgotten memory filled my vision again, a beautiful blond haired girl cheerfully smile and danced not giving a care in the world as she radiated mystical blue light

As my eyes, that has already been devoured by despair, met with her deep blue eyes, still filled with great hope, the wave of regrets and pain came rushing back

It always felt like nothing even mattered in this rotten world when I'm with her

I just wanted to leap up and embrace her, telling her how much she meant to me, telling her how much I love her, telling her that I won't fail to protect her again…

But, the only thing that I can uttered was, "close your eyes, Lavenza…"

I'll do anything…

"Hm? What for?" Lavenza asked with the same adorable smile that once stopped the world for me

"Please… just do it… for me" I pleaded and forced a smile

Even if it means that you'll hate me for it…

"Okay!" She cheerfully said as she closed her and covered it with her hand

"I'm sorry, please understand, Lavenza…" I muttered as I created a sound barrier around us with wind mana

Then I gathered the sparse aether particles and mana particles and condensed them into a small black droplet before letting it fall onto the ground

As long as I won't feel the pain of losing you once again…

[Unique Aether Art - Armageddon]

It was dead silence for what seem like eternity, until the ground suddenly distorted into that of an endless void

I'll do anything…

Jet black arms slowly rose from the ground as they clawed and drag the inhabitant of the village and everything in their way into the endless void

Immediately, shrieks of terror filled the tiny village that shaped our childhood, and in mere moments the village was no more

"Lavenza…" I called out

"What is it?~" She asked with a still cheerful tone

"Please promise me… whatever you see when you open your eyes… don't ask question, and just listen to my last words"

"Atanas, you've been acting really weird, what's wr-" Lavenza stopped in her track as she opened her eyes just to witness a flat landscape filled with blood and remains of broken houses

"W-where's the village!" She shouted

"I destroyed it… and I told you, don't ask question" I answered with an indifferent expression

"Huh…? You're joking… right?" She asked as her face distorted that of absolute confusion

"No… I'm not…" I answered

Lavenza's heart dropped as she hear my answer, "Huh…? This mana signature… it can't be yo-….You massacred the entire village… ? For what purpose?!?"

Her words seething with anger pierced my heart like a spear

"It's too early for you to know the truth… but for now please… go along with my selfish wish" I spoke as I conjured up mana strings and sealed her movement. I extended my hands and held her soft little face, before imprinting my mana carrying a message deep into her core, "Lavenza, heed my words, in this rotten and corrupted world, the concept of fairness no longer exist, there are only 4 warriors including me that you can consider an ally, otherwise, trust nobody"

I released my mana string and released her face

"What are you going on about Atanas…?" She spoke, tone clearly hinting that she's in fear, but this is not the time to be worrying about such trivial matter

"I don't have much time left, when you meet them you'll know, but otherwise… trust nobody" I repeated the message again for her, before giving her one last smile, "remember, no matter what happen, and no matter what you think of me, I'll always be there to protect you, I'm sorry but… this is farewell, Lavenza…"

"W-wait…." Seeing that smile, Lavenza was convinced that Atanas was still in there somewhere, but it seem as if he's carrying the burden of the entire world on his shoulder, "Atanas… where are you leav-"

I put her to sleep, and cast an emergency protection spell that would protect her in the brink of death, then I used almost all of my mana reserves and gathered the remaining aether in the area to conjure up a pitch black entity, its lower body made of jet black cyclone, its body was filled with ancient runes, and in each hand a blade made of aether

"Hide in her shadow, protect her even if it costs you your life…" I ordered

The entity bowed before merging with Lavenza's shadow, it's presence completely vanishing from the world

I nodded before starting to walk towards the direction of the Forest of Divine Mana Beasts

in this cruel world, the concept of fairness no longer exist, and I was the one that broke that balance

"No more tricks, no more mind games, no more manipulation…" I seethed as my killing intent began to violently leak out, "I'm sick of it, I'm sick of following the script, I'll do it my own way now, I'll eradicate all of your loyal dogs, then this time I'll kill you, Enyo, and break this endless cycle once and for all"

—-

[0th Round]

I was a hero that was loved and admired by all, I was destined to free this world from the clutches of the demon lord.

"You ready? This will be our final battle…" Lavenza asked with a smile as reached out her hands and grabbed mine

"Yeah… we'll free this world once and for all…" I nodded as I held her hand tightly

"Hahaha! save the kissing for later you two! It'll taste better after we kicked some ass!!" The muscular man shout in vigor as his body began glowing in dark red hues

"Tone it down Fenrir, you're literally informing the whole damn castle about our attack…" a pure white haired girl, Aurora, sighed as she began to ready her spell

"I don't know what kind of fate would awaits us beyond this door, but even if we were fated to die, I can say with conviction that I have no regret accompanying you all on this journey" an elegant handsome young man with silver haired and pointy ear, Eland'orr, declared with passion

If I only I knew I would suffer a fate worst than death…

We entered the throne room of the Demon Lord Leviathan

"Welcome, I congratulate you for making it this far, Heros…" The Demon King voice echos within the chamber

"Let's end this… Leviathan…" I hissed as I unsheathed my sword and augmented it with aether

"Ah… truly marvelous… Hero Atanas, the last aether wielder of this world…" Leviathan excitedly spoke as raised his great sword, "Once I dispose of you, nothing can stand in my way any longer!"

"Shut it! Let's go at it you fucking fuck!!" Fenrir shouted as his body began to distort and morphed into that of a giant wolf

"As expected of the King of the Demon Wolf tribe, what an amazing range of vocabulary" Aurora calmly remarked as she raised her staff

"Although this battle shall decide the fate of this world, let it be a glorious one in which we can remember even after death… Demon Lord Leviathan" Eland'orr spoke calmly as he manifest his bow and conjured a mana arrow

"Drop it with the Leviathan… my real name is Ifrit…" The Demon Lord revealed his vicious smile as he charged forward

Our battle lasted for hours and hours, with no sign of ending until…

"Urk…" Ifrit gritted his teeth and collapsed in pain as my aether coated blade finally penetrate his mana core completely disabling it

"This is the end, Ifrit…" I declared as I raised my sharp, violet blade against his throat

"Aw man!! You really messed me up this badly, You're crazy strong!!" Fenrir shouted as he slowly stagger his way to the demon while semi-transforming his hands into claws

"Please be cautious, everyone…" Lavenza warned before casting healing magic on the party

"Thank you, Lavenza…" Aurora thanked Lavenza before raising her staff and began casting her most powerful condense ice mana art,

"Any last word, Demon Lord Ifrit?" Eland'orr asked as he held up his bow and conjured up a wind arrow

"Haha…Truly it was a gr-"

*Slam*

It was at that moment the door leading into the Demon Lord Throne Room slammed open

"BY THE ORDER OF KING ALDRICH AND THE DIVINE HOLY CHURCH, THE HERO'S PARTY ARE TO BE EXECUTED FOR COMMITTING TREASON!" A red haired man wearing a wicked smile shouted as he enter

"Huh…?" Eland'orr unconsciously muttered

"What's the meaning of this!" Fenrir shouted as he began boiling in anger

"Treason…? My father ordered it…?" Aurora spoke as her expression distorted to that of confusion

"That's right… King Aldrich has declared that the assassination of the Queen of Alzes was the work of the Hero's party" The red haired man continued with that same wicked smile on his face, "Oh, the admirable and brave Heros of this world… I never would've thought they turned out to be such hideous criminal~"

"Ha… hahah… HAHAHAHA" although I already know what was going on, I couldn't help but laugh, "How exhilarating… to think I would fall into such a simple and obvious trap"

"Trap..? Could the Hero have gone insane gaining knowledge of his crime~?" The red haired man asked feigning ignorance, "but no matter… that artifact that all of you are wearing that was granted by the royal family… with just a flick of my command, neither your mana, transformation nor your 'aether' art would work, accept your fate Heros… your era is over…"

"So, this is how you end, Hero… truly it's a shame" the demon lord Ifrit muttered in a regretful tone

I turned my attention back to the demon lord before using my blade and penetrated his heart, "It was great battle, Ifrit…"

"It truly was a great battle… however… in the midst of our battle, I sensed a much more dreadful and endless calamity approaching your fate… Hero Atanas… may the goddess of luck smile upon you…" The Demon Lord spoke his last words before lifeless collapsed on the ground

"Everyone… run…" then I gave a single order to my allies

"No! I'm fighting! If you're dying, I'm dying with you…" Lavenza refused

"Don't give me that bullshit, Atanas, We promised each other that we'll return alive, if you're breaking it, I'll follow you as well…" Aurora hissed as she got ready into her battle stance

"My pride would never allow me to abandon a comrade!" Fenrir shouted as he got ready to charged

"They are right, leader… we are and will forever be inseparable till death…" Eland'orr spoke with conviction

"Please… I'm begging you… heed my last selfish request" I desperately pleaded, "stay alive… for my sake…"

"Atanas, I'm telling you I'm dying w-"

I forcefully mustered a smile "Lavenza, I love you, I love you so much more than I could have ever express with words alone… please live on for me… Aurora, I'm sorry for not being able to keep our promise… but I promise I'll buy you tons of food when we meet again… Fenrir, you're always so trustworthy… therefore, I'm entrusting you to protect these guys… think of it as honoring your dying comrade's last wish, and lastly Eland'orr, you always talk as if fate is absolute, but I believe that you have the potential alter the course of fate itself… so, stay alive and turn that fate against those bastard… and don't let them have their way"

"How emotional… but sadly… nobody is leaving this place alive…" the red haired man reveal a sadistic smile before raising his hand,

"Run, damn it!!" I cried in despration

"No!! Atanas!!!" Lavenza shouted with tears in her eyes as she tried to rush towards my side, but was ultimately stopped by Aurora

"This is no time to hesitate… he has entrusted the fate of this world to us…" Aurora bit her lip in despair and picked Lavenza up and began to ran as tears violently rolled down her cheeks

"Atanas, my friend….I swear upon my title as the Great King, Eland'orr, who once ruled over the High Elves Tribe, that those rotten and corrupted bastard shall receive the retribution they deserve for the sins they commit on this day…" Eland'orr vow as as his killing intent seethed

"Rest assure leader…I'll protect them, even if it costs me my life, I'll protect everyone til my very last breath..… Orahhhhh!!!" Fenrir gritted his teeth and held his tears as he let out a cry before smashing through the wall of the castle with his abnormal strength, "Hurry!!!"

"Soldier! Kill them all!!"

"If you want to get to them, you're gonna have to step over by dead body… Erix" I declared as I revealed a vicious, bloodthirsty smile

"Surrender yourself, Atanas… our numbers are over thousands, you're just a mere soldier without your aether art… you don't stand a chance…" Erix said with an indifferent expression

"Pfftt… HaHAHAHA a mere soldier… huh? How laughable… very well, allow me to show what what this 'mere soldier' is capable of…" My words echoed throughout the chamber as I suddenly vanished into thin air

"WHAT!?!" Erix exclaimed in surprise

It was at that moment, shrieks of agony resounded throughout the Demon Lord Chamber

"Arghh!! Kill him!!"

"He's just one man!! Finish him!!"

"Be cautious damn it! He's a hero!!"

"Sorry to disappoint you, I'm just a mere soldier…" I grinned as I sliced his head off

"Forget our initial plan!! Support Mages!! Use your buffs!! We're killing this bastard no matter what!!" Erix shouted desperately

"What a cowardly tactic…" I muttered as I continued to massacred the soldiers while swiftly dodging attacks by a hair's breadth, "but, that's just like you, Erix…"

As the battle goes on, with each slash of my blade, the adrenaline continued to rage within my body

"So… this is what it feels like to go against death itself… how intoxicating…" I revealed a vicious smile

[Forbidden Dragon Art - The Great Surge]

my speed immediately exploded and broke the sound barrier and limit of my fragile human vessel

"How is he getting faster!?!? Isn't his aether and mana sealed?!?"

"Mages! Where's the buff?!"

"I-its r-ready!"

"Oh no you don't…" I muttered as I decapitate another soldier before stealing his daggers and launching them at high speed towards the mages

"Kuak!… urg…" the mages dropped dead as the daggers penetrated their head with deadly accuracy

[Forbidden Dragon Art - Cry of Calamity]

As I let out a cry that could shook the heaven upon the battlefield, the souls of the soldiers writhe in agony as they felt the true might of my bloodlust

I glared upon the battlefield, and watch as hundreds of warriors and mages collapsed, but in the midst of it all, my cold gaze fell of the sight of a red haired man falling on his back, cowering in fear

"Haa…" I exhaled, 'Cry of Calamity's effect won't last long enough… also, for a human to use the Forbidden Dragon Art…'

No matter the outcome of this battle, the only destiny that awaits me is death…

"Haha…" I didn't know what to do other than laughed at my miserable state, "let's end this…"

I used my last bit willpower to forcefully draw out a small bit of Aether from my sealed core

"Gr…Urk!" I writhed in pain as felt my core , that is resisting the seal, shattering in the process

there's no turning back now…

"Haha… I'm sorry, Lavenza… Aurora… Fenrir… Eland'orr… but, I'll be going first… " I muttered softly with smile as I slowly lifted my aether clad finger and pressed it against my temple

[Forbidden Dragon Art - Berserk]

It was a blur…

I watched as I massacred thousands of soldiers mercilessly…

My sword pierced Erix's heart as he struggled in futility…

A child wearing a mask with golden ruins stood in front of me

I collapsed on to my knees as my Berserk state ended…

"A puppet fated to be shackled by the Endless Cycle of Regression… Enyo… what kind of monster have you created…? And for what purposes…?"

Then, came darkness…

—-

So, this is what death feels like…

When I was opening my eyes, I was expecting to meet with an eternal darkness, but…

"….huh…?" My eyes widened to the limit, and tears violently rolled down my cheeks, barely being able to muster a sound

"We're chosen! Let's do our best, Atanas!"

"L-Lavenza…?" I uttered softly

"Hm…? What's wrong?!? Wh-"

before I knew it, I was already embracing her in my arms

Nothing mattered anymore

A Hallucination..? A Delusion…? A Dream…?

I don't know what this was…

But I do know that I never want to wake up from it…

"Atanas?!? What are you doing?!?" Lavenza blurted out as he pushed me away with flushed cheeks

"I missed you so much…" I muttered

"W-what are you saying? Are you alright, Atanas? Did you hit your head?" Lavenza asked as she pulled my head in to check for any injuries

"Hehe so you still haven't had enough isn't that right?" I joked as I wrapped my arms around her and held her tight

"W-what w-wait no t-that's not it…" she muttered but didn't try to struggle free again

My aether and mana are circulating just fine

And this feeling and warmth is too distinct for it to be a dream…

The blue light radiating from Lavenza… and the golden light covering my body…

This was 10 years ago… when we were first chosen as Hero…

Did I regressed back in time…?

'If so… that means…' I turned towards the entrance of the village expanded my sense using aether and mana

And as expected…

A large carriage protected by warriors and mages are heading our way

Aurora… just like 10 years ago she came due to the Chosen Hero Prophecy…

"If I have truly regressed… then I could start over again and save everyone from this corrupted world…" I silently muttered as a smile slowly crawled up my face

Oh how naïve I was to think it was that simple…