Ch.134Fallen Hero

# 1.

The Abyss.

The main character of the three remaining bad endings and the great evil that must be eliminated.

Black Wolf looked at Nahan and asked after passing on all the information about him.

“Will it be possible?”

Since he understood what was being asked without further explanation, Nahan gave a faint smile as he was leaving Black Wolf’s mental world.

“Even if it’s impossible, I must succeed.”

The conversation ended there.

For a moment, Black Wolf’s lips moved, but instead of what he was about to say, he offered words of encouragement.

“Stay strong.”

With those words, the mental world dispersed.

More precisely, it wasn’t the world that disappeared, but Nahan’s soul being expelled outward.

【The time of <Balance> has ended.】

【Your soul is returning.】

As the suspended time began to flow again, the black and white world regained its light.

And in the next moment.

“…Come to think of it, everyone fled to the surface, didn’t they?”

The previously frozen Abyss also moved, stretching its hand toward the high ceiling.

【Warning.】

【<Abyss(Ex+) – In Fusion> activates its 1st skill – Annihilation.】

【Annihilation approaches.】

A streak of black lightning fell from the ceiling so high it could touch the stars.

Then came the question.

“Tell me, are you accustomed to loss?”

The terrible malice emanating from that question.

Nahan instinctively sensed it.

‘If that falls on the surface, not only the island but also the nearby territories will be annihilated.’

This was also information that Black Wolf had shared.

-The Abyss has four main spells.

Since this world had no concept of skills and ultimate techniques, Nahan reorganized them in his own way to understand.

The skills possessed by the Abyss, as he organized them:

Wide-range, large-scale 1st skill – Annihilation.

Small-scale, limited 2nd skill – Obliteration.

Movement 3rd skill – Pathway of the Abyss.

And finally.

After merging with the Dragon Elder, requiring a certain amount of time to gather power before activation,

‘Ultimate technique – No Return.’

Black Wolf had said that skills other than the ultimate technique could be blocked by others like Black Wolf or Glory, but,

‘It’s merely a hypothesis based on ability values, nothing certain.’

Therefore, only Nahan himself could fully block the falling [Annihilation].

He needed to jump up immediately to block it, but Nahan hesitated briefly.

Black Wolf had said that before merging with the Dragon Elder, the Abyss was a being without divine status, at best comparable to an ancient species.

-That is the only opportunity.

He said there would be no more chances once the fusion was complete.

In other words,

【<Abyss(Ex+)> attempts fusion with <Dragon Elder(???)>.】

【Phase 1.】

【Unsealing… 32%】

Now, before the fusion was complete, was the best opportunity to deal with the Abyss.

The Abyss knew this too, which is why it had taken the people on the surface hostage.

He looked at the contemplating Nahan and stretched his mouth into a wide grin.

“After losing so much… it seems you’re still not used to it?”

A provocation with clear intent.

From the Abyss’s perspective, needing to complete the unsealing of the Dragon Elder to take over its body, it would want Nahan to leave to save them.

“Shouldn’t you go up then? If you want to struggle, at least.”

With countless people held hostage, Nahan had no choice but to follow his words.

…Thud.

Nahan’s foot finally moved.

He quietly declared to the Abyss, which was still keeping him in check.

“I will kill you by any means necessary.”

“I look forward to it. Though that too will be a futile struggle.”

With that, the conversation ended.

【The Savior of Possession, Nahan, activates his ultimate technique – <Usurpation(Ex+)>.】

【Target: <Castler(Ex+)>】

【Usurped Skill: <Shadow Movement(SSS+)>】

Nahan immediately moved to the surface.

# 2.

Asha recalled.

-Ian Red was just a fictional character, not a real person.

The uncomfortable truth revealed that day by the man she had so despised.

And,

-I won’t ask for forgiveness. But you need to help. Right now, I need your… no, all of your strength.

The request that man had made.

Left alone, Asha followed the man’s instructions and moved to Black Wolf’s hideout, where she learned the whole truth from Flora.

The true mastermind of this world was Eclipse.

Even the burning Mirabel, which had been the beginning of all misfortune, was their doing.

Before Asha’s shock could subside, Flora calmly conveyed the information.

That the Empire’s <Emperor> was also a victim of Eclipse, and even the <Black Wolves> were those who had lost everything to Eclipse.

All the crimes committed by <Black Wolf> were for the purpose of eliminating <Eclipse>, and <Black Wolf’s> goal was the salvation of the world.

Even while under Marine’s magic that would kill her if she lied, Flora conveyed the truth without hesitation, and everyone in Glory had to accept that it was the truth.

That was why she had made the decision.

-…I’ll head to the island, so the rest of you please go to Gardner territory.

If all this was true, then she had been a villain deceived by evil.

A dull and foolish villain who had stood in the way of those trying to save the world.

-Go… check the truth once more, and if it’s correct, help them.

Afraid to accept such facts, she had headed to the island, avoiding Black Wolf.

Upon arriving at the island, Asha searched everywhere for Duke Hallorand.

-Duke Hallorand is also part of Eclipse.

If what she had heard was true, he too was an evil that needed to be eliminated.

However,

-Come here. You don’t have to struggle alone anymore, Hero.

Thinking there must be some reason for the man who had always walked the righteous path.

Hallorand.

He was the person who had taken her in with love when she barely survived the training camp.

The Empire’s only conscience and hope, restraining the ruthless Emperor.

And,

-If I return after defeating the demon race… may I call you father then?

-…It would be my honor.

Along with Ian Red, he was someone to whom she had completely opened her closed heart.

That’s why she was even more afraid.

If all the faces he had shown her, even those feelings, were lies…

‘…I would…’

She would collapse helplessly.

Her life had always flowed this way.

-Little one. Where is your village?

The person she had befriended outside the village led it to destruction, and,

-Don’t worry. I’ll protect you.

Even the one she met at the training camp after fleeing the burning village had left her.

The nobles had used her in political strife, and even the only man to whom she had opened her heart turned out to be Black Wolf deceiving her.

That’s why Asha desperately hoped.

‘Please… at least let Duke Hallorand not be deceiving me.’

Upon arriving at the imperial palace.

As ominous energies swirled and surged together, familiar figures emerged from the widely spread shadows.

“Black Wolves, evacuate everyone remaining in the palace immediately!!”

Lactea, the vice-captain of Black Wolf.

After her loud shout, the rest of the members followed the order and moved.

“No way…!!”

She was about to stop them, thinking they were attacking people, but soon realized.

“It’s the captain’s order!! Complete it by any means!!”

“Yes, Vice-Captain!!”

They were doing their best to evacuate everyone in the palace.

“…So, Black Wolf’s words were true?”

The truth revealed as the situation intensified.

Wavering eyes,

Trembling hands,

Tightly closed lips.

As Asha stood frozen, unable to move either way, her thoughts in turmoil.

Someone who appeared belatedly approached her and placed a hand on her shoulder.

“You seem troubled.”

A familiar voice.

A faint smile appeared on Asha’s face as she immediately recognized who it was.

“Duke…!!”

Hallorand.

A former war hero of the previous generation who had risen to the position of duke from commoner status, known for his strategic prowess.

Asha turned to face him, slightly loosening her grip on the holy sword.

“Actually, Black Wolf… no, he said that beings called Eclipse…!!”

Words poured out haphazardly as she didn’t know where to begin.

After spilling all the information she had heard, Asha grabbed his hand and asked.

“You’re… not one of them, are you?”

To those anxiously trembling eyes, Hallorand answered with a consistent smile.

“I am.”

“…What?”

“You asked if I’m part of Eclipse, didn’t you? I am. To be precise, not a member but a collaborator.”

After a moment of silence at his plain answer, Asha finally opened her mouth.

“There must be… you must have had a reason, right?”

Her hand holding onto Hallorand trembled.

Hallorand gently removed her hand and answered in a calm voice.

“Of course I did.”

“Ah…! Then that reason—”

“I hated this world.”

“…What?”

“A world that repeats endlessly. A wretched life that doesn’t end even in death, so I decided to use anything to end it. Well… anyway, it seems this will finally reach a conclusion.”

That was clearly not a reason for good deeds, but an excuse for evil ones.

Asha found herself shouting.

“Is that all…!!”

The words you have for me, the words you who I considered family my whole life have for me,

“Is that all you have to say…?”

To Asha’s desperate question, Hallorand thought for a moment before bluntly stating.

“Well… thank you for your hard work, Hero.”

Hallorand turned and left.

Asha, abandoned by everyone in the end.

Her heart felt like it was burning black, so she raised her head seeking light, but,

【Warning.】

【<Abyss(Ex+) – In Fusion> activates its 1st skill – Annihilation.】

【Annihilation approaches.】

The sky turned red, making even Asha’s small wish impossible.

【Bad Ending 14 – <Fallen Hero> is set up along with Bad Ending 13 – <Seed of Destruction – Germination>.】

Her eyes, originally sky-blue, began to turn a murky navy color.