Ch.72Twisted One (2)

The shockwave scatters around.

The purple magical defense spell ripples greatly. Battles between non-standard beings always brought intense aftereffects.

“Durin!!”

The hero’s eyes were fixed solely on Durin. He looked nowhere else.

He showed blind hatred toward the one who had killed his mage companion.

CLANG!!

He pounded the black armor with his fist, veins bulging. Though having only one arm made him completely unbalanced, he didn’t care. If he could hit, he would strike without hesitation. He leaped into the red battle aura to kill the red-eyed demon.

THUD!!

CRASH!!

Even as Durin countered appropriately while retreating, the hero remained fierce. Though his body was soaked in magical blood, he only grew more ferocious.

Like a berserker, he howled with each new wound carved into his body.

“AAAAARGH!!”

His speed gradually increased. He paid no attention to his body completely falling apart.

His dignity as humanity’s strongest noble was erased. He charged through the magical energy like a warrior.

He found openings between Durin’s gauntlets that had been holding back.

“Not bad.”

Durin commented while watching the red battle aura continuously exploding.

It was weaker than when facing Azakiel, but the momentum was different. The hero’s goal was clear.

To exact revenge on Durin.

The will of a human armed with desperation instead of arrogance surpassed even an archangel’s faith.

“You could be useful if trained.”

The regent smiled. Joy bloomed from behind the black helmet, revealed through the red battle aura.

The thrill of battle enveloped him. He embraced blind hatred with delight. It contained acknowledgment directed at one who was more demonic than anyone.

That only fueled the hero’s anger.

“Grrrr!”

He could no longer even utter proper language. He let out sounds closer to a beast’s howl.

Attack instinct. The only remaining power was controlling the human body.

He pushed himself to the limit and swung at Durin.

BOOM!!

His battered fist cut through the magical energy. A will that far transcended common sense unfolded solely to reach Durin. It was a destructive power that would be difficult to block even if an archangel came to intervene.

“Excellent.”

However, the regent remained calm as always. He blocked the fist calmly, as if accepting a child’s tantrum.

The gauntlet revealed through the roughly torn magical energy caught the fist. There wasn’t even the usual sound of rupture.

The hero’s strength was completely devoured by Durin.

“GRAAAH!”

“But you need proper education. This just won’t do.”

The red eyes briefly frowned at the chaotic babbling. He lightly shook off his hand.

Though it was an infinitesimally small movement, the hero was easily knocked away.

“Kuh!”

He rolled across the ground without even letting out a single scream. The red battle aura spread around left countless wounds on his human body. Blood flowed as if he had rolled through a gravel pit.

It was pathetic compared to his violent rampage earlier.

“If you had a holy sword, it would have been more enjoyable, but it’s a shame.”

“……”

“I’ll grant you one later. For now, I’ve merely confirmed your will.”

“D-don’t talk nonsense.”

The hero gritted his teeth. He raised his body that wouldn’t move properly.

His eyes, the only thing still shining in his battered body, stared directly at Durin.

“It’s not over yet.”

“Truly excellent. You are indeed a warrior worthy of being called humanity’s strongest.”

Durin joyfully acknowledged his courage. He admired the warrior-like attitude that was far superior to those insignificant angels.

“I should show proper sincerity to one who has shown such fighting spirit.”

The regent infused power into his gauntlet.

CRACK!

Space distorted. Magical energy gathered, overwhelming even the power of unknown origin.

He merely clenched his fist. Like the hero, he displayed raw power, but the class was different.

“We shall meet again when you regain consciousness.”

The greeting was brief. Before the hero could respond, the swung fist shook the world.

BOOOOOM-

A heavy shockwave exploded outward. The aftershock alone shattered the lower part of the eastern tower.

Dust rose, turning the area into a scene of devastation. Fragments blocked by the magical barrier crumbled and rained down like precipitation.

The battlefield became opaque as if shrouded in fog. Only Durin’s red eyes emitted light in that place.

The hero who had faced him lay sprawled across the ruins.

The light disappeared from his eyes, which had somehow survived his shattered head. His body, grotesquely twisted, was in no condition for a soul to remain.

Complete defeat. The flame of life extinguished with a single blow.

“Durin!”

Once the situation seemed settled, Ludmila hurriedly ran over.

She shouted at him with a voice of astonishment.

“What have you done? Weren’t you planning to use him later?”

Her dismay was evident as she looked at the corpse. With even the Witch of Prophecy appearing, she couldn’t gather her thoughts after this sudden reversal. The sorceress who couldn’t glimpse the distant future grabbed the regent.

“Explain to me. I need to know the future you’ve seen so I can respond.”

“There’s no need. Instead, look over there and you’ll understand.”

The regent turned away coldly. Though he was responsible for the earlier chaos, he seemed to care about nothing.

His heavy military boots passed by Ludmila, heading toward where the Demon King waited.

“What on earth…?”

Bewilderment turned to incredulity. Ludmila looked at the fallen hero with a hollow laugh.

That moment was the turning point.

Crack. Crunch.

The shattered body twisted in reverse. Torn muscles reattached, and broken bones solidified.

Magical energy settled into the vanished head, constructing a new form.

Skull, eyes, and hair. Vitality fluttering in the aftermath still swirling within the protective spell.

“……”

Ludmila was left speechless.

A dead man? One resurrected? Or a monster defying all natural laws?

What exactly was this human chosen by fate?

“The power to resurrect once from death. That is the greatest blessing God bestowed upon humans.”

The Witch of Prophecy, who had approached unnoticed, whispered to Ludmila.

“When the vitality barely held together by Durin’s power completely collapsed, the power activated, so it’s time to welcome a new chapter.”

Was this battle for this purpose? Or was it merely entertainment to satisfy an instinct?

Ludmila’s mind became complicated. She felt as if she had touched a fragment of the future that should not be disturbed.

“My great daughter Ludmila, whom fate watches over.”

The Witch of Prophecy approached her.

“Don’t think too heavily about it and just go with the flow. The current will eventually lead you to a scene of mythology.”

With those words, she moved on. Her gentle, beautiful voice was enchanting enough to make the whole world follow. But when it went beyond the realm of understanding, it became terrifying.

“What is happening here?”

She had initially jumped in to stop Durin’s authority, and had maintained her position as the highest sorceress by getting entangled in power plays. She had been satisfied with her position that allowed her to keep watching the future, but now she strongly felt that she shouldn’t go any further.

This was a warning.

The beckoning of fate was not simple. Perhaps it could drag her into a deep quagmire.

“This is maddening.”

The highest sorceress could only curse.

She blankly watched as the Golden Guard transported the hero’s body, cursing the fate that remained.

#

Eili.

He called the name of his vanished comrade. No voice came out.

He feared death. Eternal separation was a great sorrow.

I…

He couldn’t continue. Because he hadn’t accomplished anything.

Revenge, subjugation, God’s will.

The hero had no value for existence. The reason to live had long since disappeared.

For no one would assign duty to a one-armed hero.

‘Take revenge.’

Impossible. What power do I have?

‘Wake up.’

How? Isn’t this the world of death?

‘Foolish.’

What do you even want…

“Haaah!”

His breath returned. Like surfacing from deep underwater, rough breathing woke him.

“Cough, cough.”

A dark space greeted him. The hero jerked upright.

“……”

He blinked blankly.

Blurry vision. White bedsheets visible beyond.

To shake off the haziness, the hero rubbed his eyes.

“Wait.”

He was suddenly startled.

In the world that became clear, two hands welcomed him.

The hand that should have been shattered by Durin and the other completely ruined hand were both intact.

A strong cognitive dissonance hit him.

“Is this a dream?”

He felt disoriented enough to shake even his sound mind.

If he recalled his previous memories, clearly…

Before he could complete the thought, he looked around. The dreary space indicated he was still in the Demon King’s castle.

It resembled the tower where he had been imprisoned.

Creeeeak!

At that moment, the door opened. Someone entered from the much brighter outside.

“Kael!!”

Someone rushed to him. He could smell the deep forest scent.

The hero recognized them immediately.

“Eliya?”

“Yes! You recognize me!”

“Heh heh. Good to see.”

The following voice was also familiar.

“Turan. You too?”

“Yes, friend. You have no idea how hard we worked to find you.”

The stocky warrior laughed heartily. Kael found it difficult to accept even this situation.

Clearly all his senses told him this scene was reality, but all his memories up to now denied it.

He also considered the possibility it might be a hallucination.

“What happened to me?”

“You went terribly wrong.”

Turan admitted frankly. Though full of mischief, the countless regrets contained within were conveyed clearly.

“Enough to twist our fate.”

“What does that mean, Turan?”

The hero turned his gaze. He also asked the elf sitting on the bed.

“Eliya. You answer me.”

“Um….”

She too hesitated to answer. She fidgeted with her lips.

“Well…”

“You will speak with me. Everyone else, step aside.”

Reality arrived amidst what seemed like false happiness.

Everyone fell silent. Military boots clanking crushed everything.

“You’re more intact than I expected. We could enjoy ourselves again next time.”

The red-eyed demon with a sneering expression.

The Demon Realm Regent Durin was looking down at Kael.

“So it wasn’t a dream after all.”

“This is the terrible fate you face.”

As he took his place, the elf startled and pressed against the wall, full of fear.

Turan blocked the middle, creating space for the hero and demon to talk.

“What do you want? Why did you keep me alive?”

“Your hatred and vengeance have all drained away. Truly remarkable blessing.”

“I’m surprised at how calm I feel.”

“What a cruel fate. Perhaps you don’t remember?”

The hero answered without hesitation.

“I vividly remember fighting you one-armed. I remember everything.”

“Then you should still be angry.”

“The problem is I also remember our conversation in the south.”

He pulled back the blanket. He stepped out of bed.

The hero faced the great demon.

“I still hold revenge and anger, but reason takes precedence, so I can speak like this. A hero always chooses the best option.”

“Do you wish for the mage’s resurrection?”

“You said it was possible.”

“Of course.”

Durin signaled with his hand. Several soldiers entered the room.

They carried a black bundle. The hero instinctively understood.

“Is that Eili’s body?”

“It was well preserved in the castle. If you wish, I can show you the contents.”

Though fear came first, he nodded.

Durin rose from his seat and untied the bundle.

“……”

The appearance of his dead comrade revealed to the world.

He was left speechless. Though she had clearly died from a broken neck, the exterior was clean.

With her eyes closed, she looked as if she were merely sleeping.

Even the robe torn during battle was neat, making it seem like they could have a conversation at any moment.

“The castle’s sorcerers used their power. It’s crude compared to your blessing, but they were able to restore it.”

“Can you really bring Eili back to life?”

“If your companion saved her soul, it’s possible.”

The hero turned his head. The two people by the wall nodded.

His heart suddenly raced.

“If you cooperate, I can help with the resurrection.”

The demon whispered to him.

“Not only that, I’ll give you a chance to restore what you’ve lost.”

The one who had taken everything from the hero extended his hand.

“Don’t you want to know the root cause of everything?”

He should clearly be hostile.

Durin had killed his companion and taken everything from him.

But the situation was peculiar.

His body was restored, and he was even given a chance to revive Eili.

He should have responded with simple emotion, but the body resurrected by blessing gave him reason that was cold to the point of being ruthless. Instead, questions arose.

What was the oracle that came to me?

Why did the angel and God diverge?

“Can you tell me?”

“Not me, but there is a primordial demon in our castle who can see the flow of fate.”

He wanted to dig into the fundamental aspects.

So the demon’s whispers penetrated deeply.

Should this be called reason? Or had desperation numbed his mind?

He questioned himself, but the answer was singular.

“If I can save Eili.”

“You would extend your hand even to the murderer who killed your companion?”

“Because that’s the only path given to me right now.”

If others saw this, it would be worthy of condemnation.

A hero abandoning human ethics and trying to grasp a demon’s hand to save his companion.

It was such a strange moment, but no other path was visible.

The hero’s choice, departing from both oracle and reason.

It showed a strong pull that made one wonder if this was fate.