"That may be sweet, but always remember, Nico. You, and only you, can be the main hero of your own story."
"Elena.. I don't doubt you but, it looks like the main hero is chosen by the people"
He hears a slither in the back of his mind.
"Oh, dear"
Nico: (shocked) "WHAT–"
"Wha- where am i?..."
A slithering giant figure appeared in the Imperius. It growls and shouts out its cry, summoning another set of colossal flesh of the dome, forming a protective barrier for the slithering figure.
A digital screen appeared in Jeonne's peripheral.
Secret Quest: Kill or Assist in Killing the Incarnation of Envy
Reward: +100 Levels, and hidden rewards
Description: "Kill the enemy or be in the quest area to assist. Failure to complete will result to death.
Van: "What? Icarnation? What the hell is this? I' going to die if I fail?"
Jeonne opens his eyes, his head dizzy from the explosion. Fortunately, they were protected by Jaime's most powerful shield skill that protected the people near them. Jaime's shield was able to protect people within a 100 meter radius. This powerful skill cost Jaime's stamina and strength, incapacitating him out of the battle. However, those who were not in the range within Jaime's shield, turned into something sinister.
The Bounty Hunters in the area woke everyone up and aiding their recovery. And then, various demon-like monsters appear from different directions in the city.
Baron: "Everyone! Be prepared! Monsters in every direction!"
Baron "Ishia! Michael! Leora! We'll take the front! Those who can fight defend the right and left! I suppose I can leave the Extravagant to the rear?"
Danslief:"Leave it to us!"
Van: "What the hell happened!"
Danslief:" We don't know!..."
The military leaders were in a disarray. They contacted for back ups and called the Generals, however, a report had arrived to Jirou from an officer.
Officer at HQ: "Sir! All of them are away from an operation."
Jirou: "What? At this exact time? Fuck it! Send every troop and aid the survivors!"...
[Zephyrion Facility]
The prison that Geldric was in shook as the earthquake struck. Guards guarding him retreat, leaving him alone.
Geldric:"Hey! What's happening?"
The guards were too busy to answer geldric's questions and left him alone.
Geldric: What...What the hell is happening?..."
A few minutes later, the prison was empty. Curiosity piqued Geldric's interest and he decided to try taking off the chains that were binding him. However, he couldn't shake it, nor break it.
"Hey, is anyone there?" Geldric shouts.
The key to his restraints just was in front of him, hanging along the room. While Geldric was thinking of a plan in reaching it, a child had entered the room.
"Hey, you! What are you doing here? You should reunite with your mother."
"Where's my mother?" The child asked.
"You want your mother? How bout you fetch me that key. I'll take you to your mother."
Child: "Do you promise?"
Geldric: "Yes I promise."
Child: "Is that a pinky promise?"
Geldric: "Listen here you little bitch! Fetch me that key now so I can take you to your mother!"
Geldric frightened the child and he realized it was a mistake.
Geldric: "Hey, hey. I'm just joking. Oh right. Do you want candy? I can give you candy. Here, take it in my pocket."
The child was reluctant, but her desire for candy made her reach out to Geldric's pocket and grab a candy.
Geldric: "I can give you more if you hand me those keys."
Without hesitation, the child handed the keys to Geldric.
After Geldric broke free, he took the child with her to find her mother, however, when he turned a corner, it turned out that the mother's child was working in this prison, and she just got crushed under the debris of the explosion.
Geldric attempts to cover the child's eyes to make sure she doesn't see her mother's state.
Geldric: "Let's leave them because they are sleeping. Let them rest."
As they stepped out of the facility, a crowd had already gathered. People whispered in confusion, pointing toward the horizon. Their voices fell silent when they saw it, Imperius City, obliterated, smoke and rubble stretching as far as the eye could see. At its center loomed a massive dome of dark energy, pulsing like a living shadow.
Geldric's expression hardened. He could feel it, a battlefield was about to unfold. Kneeling down to the frightened child beside him, he spoke firmly, his voice steady despite the chaos.
Geldric: "Listen, kid. I'm going to find your mom and be the hero here. There'll be enemies ahead, but don't be scared, I'll cut them down and bring her back. For now, stay close to these brave imperial soldiers. They'll keep you safe."
Child: "O-okay..."
Geldric gave the boy a reassuring smile before guiding him into the arms of a waiting imperial police.
[East District, Imperius]
Shadows of what seem like the people of Imperius are seen roaming around the city. After the explosion, the colossal creature spawned demon-like enemies that attacked anyone on sight.
Baron used two machetes to slice monsters in his path. And then, a flying demon caught Baron in the air.
Michael used his lance to throw it to the monsters, and it dropped Baron. While Michael was preoccupied by saving Baron, a demon sneaked up from his behind unnoticed. Ishia witnesses the impending doom, so she casts her lightning magic projectile towards the demon behind Michael, saving him.
Michael: "Thanks. I owe you one."
And then, another wave of demons appeared, overwhelming Michael. And then, other multiple demons target Ishia.
Michael: "Zoren! Baron! Help Ishia!"
Michael's path towards Ishia was blocked by demons.
Michael: "Someone! Save Ishia!"
Jeonne's thoughts raced as he clenched his fists.
Jeonne (internal): "Shit! What do I do? No... I promised myself I wouldn't use this power. I swore it. But I don't have a choice—not this time. I have to save my friends!"
He tried to summon his sigil, forcing the energy out with all his will. Nothing happened.
Jeonne: "What? Not now! Damn it—how the hell did I do it so easily last time?"
He gritted his teeth, trying again, straining every nerve in his body. Still, the power refused to answer. His mind scrambled, searching for an answer. He remembered the fight in the forest—the Titan's crushing blow. He had felt the pain, but his body had endured. That was when he realized: he was stronger than most people because of the gift from his system. But before he could piece it all together, a demon charged at him, its claws outstretched.
Jeonne tightened his stance, abandoning the sigil and relying on raw strength. As the demon lunged, he threw an uppercut with everything he had. The strike connected, staggering the creature back. For a moment, pride lit his face.
Jeonne: "Hah! Come on!"
But in his moment of boast, another demon slipped behind him. Its claws were already raised. Baron spotted it from the side and hurled himself forward, tackling the beast before it could tear Jeonne apart.
Jeonne (turning): "Baron—!"
His relief lasted only a second. The first demon recovered and drove its claws straight into Jeonne's stomach. His body jolted with pain, blood spraying from the wound. He dropped to his knees, clutching at the claws buried deep in him. The demon pulled back to strike again—
—but a lance ripped through the air and pierced its skull, killing it instantly.
Zoren landed beside Jeonne, pulling him up by the arm.
Zoren: "Are you okay? Hang on to me!"
The claws had left Jeonne's body torn and bleeding, every movement agony. While Zoren tried to steady him, another demon pounced.
Zoren: "Damn it! Somebody help me!"
But the others were still fighting for their lives, too far to reach him. Zoren struggled to keep Jeonne safe, barely fending off the relentless attacks.
On the ground, Jeonne's vision blurred, rage and despair swirling in his chest.
Jeonne (internal): "Damn it! I'm so weak! Am I really going to die like this—without doing anything?! No... fuck no! I won't forgive myself if I fall here. Not like this! I'll survive. I'll kill every last one of these bastards!"
His fury boiled over, shaking through his entire body. The battlefield seemed to tremble with it. His breaths grew heavy, violent. He pushed himself up, blood dripping from his wound.
Then it happened.
His sigil burst to life. His eyes blazed with orange fire. Silver plates of armor burned into existence, glowing with power, wrapping his body in light and steel. His presence warped the air, shaking those nearby.
A towering figure now stood in Jeonne's place; burning, armored, unstoppable.
The Legion Knight appeared.
The Legion Knight's power burst across the battlefield, his armored fists and blazing presence forcing the demons back. But it quickly became clear—this strength alone wasn't enough to kill them. His blows rattled bones, dented hides, and sent demons crashing to the ground, yet none of them truly fell.
Jeonne: "I need a weapon!"
He turned to Baron, urgency in his voice. Without hesitation, Baron tossed him his machete. Jeonne gripped it tightly, the blade glowing faintly under his burning aura. With it, his attacks finally carried lethal weight. He struck one demon down, then another, cutting through them with a mix of fury and precision.
Still, he wasn't fast enough. Ahead, Ishia struggled against a demon, her hand already sliced open, blood dripping from her fingers. Jeonne's eyes narrowed. He dashed forward, the ground cracking beneath his steps, and with a clean swing, he split the demon open before it could finish her. Ishia stumbled back in shock, alive but shaken.
The battle slowly shifted in their favor. Survivors began to regroup, clinging to the hope that spread with every demon that fell. Dansleif, still injured, pulled civilians to safety, while others fought to clear paths through the burning streets. Baron, seeing Jeonne holding the demons at bay with sheer willpower, chose to focus on rescuing people instead of fighting at his side.
Jeonne pressed forward, armor blazing in the firelight. Every strike of his machete forced demons back, even if it didn't kill them outright. He fought like a wall of steel, unshaken and relentless. When he reached the imperial soldiers, they froze in fear at the sight of him. To them, he looked like a monster born of flame and armor. But when they saw him shielding the weak and driving demons away, they hesitated no longer and joined the fight beside him.
Jeonne (internal): "I can do this. I can save Nico."
Fueled by that single thought, Jeonne advanced deeper into the ruined city, determined to tear through anything that stood in his path.
[West District, Imperius]
The Imperial Police led by Captain Jirou Arcarcias and the Imperial Army were locked in combat with the demons. Their forces were scattered across the ruined city, saving civilians wherever they could. Every street echoed with chaos, yet through their coordination, casualties were kept to a minimum as they carved escape routes for survivors.
While patrolling through the broken streets, Jirou spotted a lone survivor stumbling through the debris. Relief turned to alarm when a bulky demon emerged from the shadows behind the man, raising its massive weapon to strike. Jirou cursed under his breath. He was too far to intercept.
Before the blow could land, Geldric burst onto the scene and knocked the demon back.
Jirou: "Hey, you. Take that man with you. I will handle the rest."
Geldric: "And who the hell are you to order me around?"
Jirou: "I am Captain Jirou of the Imperial Authority. An Imperial Order. Now take him and move."
Geldric: "Tch. No. You take him yourself. I will deal with this one."
Jirou: "Are you insane? I am ordering you to evacuate him."
Geldric: "Then save him yourself, Captain. Do not expect me to play errand boy."
Jirou's eye twitched in frustration.
Jirou: "This bastard. Hey, you. Can you run? I have cleared a path outside. Imperial Police are stationed along the way. You will be safe if you follow it."
Survivor: "Y-yes. Thank you, sir."
Jirou: "Then go, now."
The man bolted, leaving the two behind. Jirou turned a sharp glare at Geldric, sizing him up.
Jirou (thinking): Bare hands? Does he really intend to fight like that?
The demon roared and swung its massive weapon toward Geldric. With speed that surprised even Jirou, Geldric slipped aside, stepping back out of reach.
Jirou (thinking): Fast. Agile. Impressive.
Geldric: "Shit. I need a weapon."
He ducked and weaved, evading every crushing swing. His movements were quick, but without his Anima Arsenal, his strikes left no lasting damage.
Jirou: "Good. Keep its attention on you."
Geldric: "You sick bastard. You are using me as bait."
Jirou: "You catch on quick."
Geldric: "And how do you plan to bring that thing down with your little sword?"
Jirou: "You will see."
The demon's focus stayed locked on Geldric, and in that opening Jirou struck. His blade swept forward in a flash. At the same instant, an enormous sigil-formed hand wielding a katana mirrored his strike. Both blades cut cleanly through the demon, splitting its body in two.
The corpse hit the ground with a heavy thud.
Geldric: "Hah. A spirit-type sigil. Not bad."
Jirou's sigil, Lord of Blades, manifested as a towering spectral arm, its massive katana striking in perfect sync with him, a weapon designed to overwhelm any foe.
[Officer observing in a high ground to all Public Speakers]
"Attention! To all warriors fighting inside the domain, demons spawn nonstop to stop anyone from entering the dome. However, we've located three cocoons scattered around the dome. I f you destroy this cocoons, it will stop spawningthe demons. Currently, we have received reports that the Cocoon 1 is currently being destroyed by Bounty hunters, the 2nd Cocoon is being dealt with by the Imperial Police. However, we have no one in the 3rd Cocoon. We lack the squads to deal the 3rd one. The reinforcemnts are in their way."
Jirou: "Cocoons? Hey, you mysteriously strong guy. Maybe you are a bounty hunter or I don't care. Think you can keep up? Let's destroy some cocoons."
Geldric: " Who do you think I am. Of Course, but i need a weapon."
Jirou: "Weapon you say?"
Jirou handed one of his katana in his back to Geldric.
[East District, Imperius]
"My sigil is very powerful. Also, with my stats focused on strength, I can do this. I can save Nico."
The deeper Jeonne got into the city, the more colossal veins were visible.
[Public Speakers]
"Attention! To all warriors fighting inside the domain, demons spawn nonstop to stop anyone from entering the dome. However, we've located three cocoons scattered around the dome. I f you destroy this cocoons, it will stop spawningthe demons. Currently, we have received reports that the Cocoon 1 is currently being destroyed by Bounty hunters, the 2nd Cocoon is being dealt with by the Imperial Police. However, we have no one in the 3rd Cocoon. We lack the squads to deal the 3rd one. The reinforcemnts are in their way
As he walked towards the empty streets, there was someone hiding behind boxes. He approached this man and found out that he was a survivor. He tried to help this man, but Van's appearance terrified him so he ran away.
Jeonne: "Wait! I'm just a human. This is my sigil! I'm here to help!"
The man was so terrified that he ran away towards a big dome and Jeonne chased him. Until, they found a glowing socket in the air that was connected by veins.Jeonne and the man had found the cocoon that was responsible for the resurrections of the demons.
And then, this cocoon was strangely making an uncanny noise, detecting Jeonne and the man in the surroundings.
Jeonne: "Oh, shit! I feel like something bad is going to happen."
Jeonne leapt to the man and tried to make him understand that he was here to help.
And then, something or someone appeared out of the cocoon.
Jeonne: "Oh, shit! Come!"
Jeonne grabbed the man and they fled away. However, just as Van was sprinting towards the outside, an unknown projectile hit him and they fumbled.
The projectile was an attack by a new enemy and it tore Van's right shoulder. The man he was trying to help got obliterated.
Jeonne: "NO!."
And then, it appeared. This new enemy was a doppelganger of his Legion Knight, but its appearance was all pitch black. A darker version of him.
Jaime taunted the dark Legion Knight and it lunged forward to him. The enemy performs a downward barehands crush, Jaime activated Turtle Shell and braced. The impact rang out, but his reinforced body held firm.
Rosetta dashed in, her blade flashing in rapid arcs. She carved shallow lines across the dark knight's armor, forcing its attention to split. When its claw came sweeping toward her in retaliation, she activated her nullification, the blow bouncing harmlessly aside—but the sheer force still sent her skidding across the ground.
"Rosetta, now!" Jeonne barked.
She planted her sword into the ground, flipping back just as Jeonne charged in. He smashed his fist into the dark knight's gut, the power behind the blow enough to crack its armor and stagger it.
The enemy reeled—then Jaime struck. He slammed his shield down, activating Venom Guardian. A spectral snake coiled around the shield, releasing venomous energy that burst against the dark knight's legs. Its movements faltered, slowing as paralysis began to set in."Good hit, Jaime!" Jeonne roared.
Without hesitation, Rosetta returned, her blade a silver blur. She unleashed a clean, precise slash across the dark knight's exposed arm. Jeonne followed immediately, seizing its moment of imbalance. With a grunt of exertion, he wrenched the enemy's arm and tore it clean off, ichor spilling as the monster let out a distorted shriek. This enemy attempted to charge an energy coming from its mouth, but Rosetta finished the enemy off by cutting its head before it could shoot another projectile attack. Then Rosetta destroyed the cocoon.
Suddenly, the energy dome in the center disappeared. A slithering figure was visible. This creature had a colossal body with a height of 70 meters tall. However, on top of its forehead, was Nico Dunebarren. His body connected to this creature....
-EPISODE 19: END-