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We arrived at Solara in a flash of divine light, the radiant magic dispersing gently into the high ceiling of the grand throne room. The golden glow of the chamber reflected the solemn majesty of our return—but it didn't stay solemn for long.
"LORD VELSUN!!" Karlos practically skidded across the polished floor, his wide eyes sparkling like a puppy reunited with its owner. He stopped just short of clinging to my arm, bouncing on his heels like he had been holding in an ocean of energy. "I was this close to following you, you know! Solara's fine, I guarded it like you told me, but—man—you should've seen how bored I was!"
I chuckled, the sound echoing through the throne room. "You did well, Karlos. You always do."
Behind him, more composed and dignified presences approached. Darius, my prime minister and once the King of Bermud, gave a deep, respectful bow. His aged face was stoic, but his eyes were sharp—always calculating, always prepared.
"Welcome back, my Lord," Darius said, "Though I sense from the mana disturbance that something… extraordinary has transpired?"
Beside him stood Reinhart—his tall frame clad in crimson and black Solaran armor, his aura humming with power. The famed general, nephew of Darius, and the former Champion of Bermud. He crossed his arms, his expression serious.
"We felt the aftershocks even from here. That wasn't just any battle, was it?" Reinhart asked, eyes locking with mine. "What happened out there?"
I sighed and took my seat on the radiant throne, Zalario standing silently beside me like a sentinel of divine will. The hall grew quiet, all ears turned to me.
"It was a battle of calamities," I said slowly. "The Giant King Ashura was unsealed… and if we hadn't stopped him, the Cardinal World may have fallen. But he has been defeated, and sealed again. The balance holds… for now."
A ripple of unease passed through the court. Darius furrowed his brow. Reinhart's grip tightened on the hilt of his sword.
"But," I continued, "the aftermath left more than destruction—it left hope. I have taken action to reshape the giant race, to end the cycle of madness."
I glanced at Zalario, and he gave a faint nod.
"Zalario and I have returned victorious."
Reinhart clenched his fist, the veins in his arm tightening beneath his armor. His jaw locked, a storm of silent frustration brewing within him.
"What? Ashura…? And I wasn't even aware of it?" The words echoed in his mind like a curse.
His crimson eyes flicked toward Karlos, who was still grinning and chatting at Velsun's side like an excited child. That idiot used to be just an Arch Daemon. I went blow-for-blow with him back in Bermud… But now? Now Karlos stood tall beside a Primordial Angel. And even that being deferred to Lord Velsun.
Reinhart's heart thudded—hard. Karlos has grown so strong… I can't even see his limits anymore.
He looked at Velsun, radiant and calm as ever, like a sun that didn't need to prove its brilliance. He wasn't just powerful—he was transcendent. Divine. The gap between Reinhart and them?
It felt like the distance between a god and a monkey.
His fist trembled.
"Am I going to be left behind?" he thought bitterly. "Am I really just going to stand here and watch history being made by others?"
Reinhart turned his eyes down, hiding the storm beneath his quiet, stoic face.
But deep inside, something ignited—a spark. Not of jealousy. Not of envy. But of a will that had once made him the Champion of Bermud.
"No."
"I will not be left behind. I will surpass my limits. I will rise… no matter how high the heavens are."
Then, as the throne room echoed with silence, Reinhart stepped forward. His boots clanked against the marbled floor with purpose. Everyone—Karlos, Darius, even Zalario—turned toward him as he dropped down to one knee.
"Lord Velsun!" he called out.
I blinked, slightly stunned by the sudden gesture. "Hmm? What is it, Reinhart?"
Reinhart lifted his face, eyes burning with resolve—no hesitation, no shame. "I… I want to become stronger."
The words rang out loud and clear.
"In the war between Glora and Bermud, when Karlos was summoned by Glora as an Arch Daemon… I barely managed to hold my own against him. But now?" He clenched his fist, his voice trembling not with fear—but frustration. "Now, I can't even see him in the same world as me. I refuse to be left behind."
Then, his eyes locked with mine—straight, unwavering.
"Please, Lord Velsun. Take me under your wing. I want to become stronger. Strong enough to stand by your side as a true protector of Solara!"
A pause followed. Everyone waited for my response—tense, expectant.
I looked at him for a long moment, studying the fire in his eyes, the pride in his voice, and the storm of will swirling behind his knightly demeanor. Then slowly… I smiled.
"Heh… I was wondering when you'd ask."
Inwardly, I was pleased. Finally. Reinhart had the fire of a true warrior. I had already been considering it for some time.
"The world remembers Rudra Elsion as the first True Hero… but what if there was one even before him?""My general. My sword. My vanguard. I will make Reinhart into something that history will never forget."
I stepped forward, my golden aura lightly brushing against him. Reinhart's shoulders tensed as he felt its weight.
"Rise, Reinhart. From this moment forward, I shall train you personally. Not just as my general… but as something far more." I reached out my hand.
"You shall walk the path of a True Hero. The dawn of a new legend begins now."
"True Hero?"The thought echoed in everyone's minds.
Karlos looked stunned, Zalario's normally unreadable face tightened just slightly, and even Darius—usually so calm and composed—furrowed his brow. Reinhart himself stared at me, wide-eyed, unable to fully grasp the meaning behind those words.
But I knew. I knew exactly what a True Hero was, and what kind of force Reinhart was about to become.
My expression remained calm, though inwardly I grinned. I immediately called out in my mind:
"Mimir, can you pull up the requirements for someone to become a Chosen Hero? My memories are a bit foggy."
"Aye lad, gimme just a second…"
A second later, Mimir's voice returned, more excited than usual.
"Alright, got it! According to the knowledge you possess, 'Chosen Heroes' are the direct counterparts to Demon Lords. Just like how Karlos received a Demon Lord Seed after ending Glora's remaining army, a Chosen Hero is born when someone receives a Hero Egg."
"This Hero Egg is granted when three conditions are met:
Blessing of the Elemental Spirit of Light or Darkness,
Blessing of the Spirit Queen, Ramiris,
And the will and resolve to protect the world, even at the cost of one's life.
Once the egg is hatched, the hero evolves completely. Their very presence becomes a beacon, a shield, a sword against calamity. Their weapons can ascend to Legendary or even God-grade."**
I slowly turned to Reinhart with a glint in my eyes. This man… was about to become a living legend.
Mimir's voice added one last line with a chuckle.
"Heh, if Reinhart truly awakens… lad, he'll be another catastrophe-tier force in Solara."
"Darius, I hope it's fine if the four of us head out of Solara for a bit," I said calmly.
The prime minister's eye twitched ever so slightly. ("Lord... you literally just returned… and now you're leaving again? More paperwork for me.") His expression was a perfect deadpan, but I could feel the silent pain radiating off him.
Then he straightened and gave a flawless bow."I will handle everything in your absence, my Lord."
I gave him a proud smile. "As expected of you, Darius."
Karlos stepped forward, already holding a teleportation crystal."Lord, should I set coordinates for a teleportation gate?"
I shook my head with a grin. "No need, Karlos. We're going to fly there."
He gave a curt nod. "Understood, Lord."
Zalario simply gave me a nod, already hovering just a few inches off the ground in a calm levitating stance. I was about to take off when I noticed someone was... grounded.
"Reinhart?" I tilted my head. "Why aren't you coming?"
The high human warrior clenched his fists, a tick mark forming on his temple.
"Lord... I think you forgot again." His voice was tight. "High humans can't fly."
I blinked. "Ah... right.""Karlos, carry him, will you?"
Reinhart let out a long, defeated sigh as Karlos wordlessly floated over and scooped him up with one arm like a sack of potatoes.
"Every. Time." Reinhart muttered, eyes closed in resigned embarrassment as we all rose into the sky.
Karlos smirked. "Comfortable, champ?"
"Not. A. Word."
I couldn't help but laugh as we soared above Solara's golden towers, heading toward the sacred place where legends would awaken once more.
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