---
"I have crossed worlds to find you. And now, in this cursed palace between dimensions… I will end you."
"Jetrin, we're here," a voice called from behind.
"Yeah…" His hand tightened on his blade. He inhaled sharply and roared, "Demon Lord! Show yourself — I've come for your head!"
The air convulsed.
A storm of black wind tore through the hall — wooooshhh — and the light dimmed into despair. Shadows thickened until they formed a figure: a man-shaped void, face and flesh swallowed in pure darkness. He appeared in a blink, and his voice slithered into the room.
"So, the heroes arrive at last. Such eager faces… Jetrin, yours reminds me of a man who lost something precious. Ah yes. The Dark Elf assassin, Akanna, was it?"
Jetrin's jaw clenched. "You dare speak her name!"
Cain chuckled low. "So I was right. I savor this… watching you writhe in despair. It never grows old."
"You're filth," Jetrin spat, drawing his sword. "And I'll carve you from this world."
"Hahaha! Filth? No, Hero. Truth. You live for justice, but you don't even know the true cause of her death. That makes you the perfect hypocrite."
Jetrin flinched. His grip trembled. One of his comrades cried out, "Don't listen, Jetrin!"
"Mavis?"
"I know losing Akanna was agony, but this monster wants to break us. Don't give him the satisfaction. You are the hope of the world. Our hero."
Others added their voices. "Right! Don't give up, Jetrin!" "We'll fight with you!" "Together!"
Jetrin steadied, his teeth bared in a sharp smile. "Yes… together. We've overcome before — we'll overcome again. No turning back. No surrender. I am Jetrin, the blade against despair. And tonight, Cain — your head is mine."
The Demon Lord laughed, shadows rippling around him. "Then come, boy. Let's see if your resolve can kill me."
---
The battle raged until the sky itself seemed to bleed. Steel clashed against shadow, and magic shattered the walls with thunderous force. The night stretched eternal, until at last Cain staggered, wounds smoking, his body breaking apart.
"Hah… defeated… by you," Cain rasped. "Strong, Hero Jetrin. Strong indeed. But before I die… know this, about your comra—"
Steel flashed. His words ended in a wet gasp. Xiao Yan had driven a blade through Cain's skull, severing it with one furious stroke.
"What are you doing, Xiao Yan?!" Jetrin roared.
"I—Forgive me!" Xiao Yan dropped to his knees. "I felt him trying to ensnare your mind. I… I couldn't let him twist you. If I lost another comrade, I would break. So I struck before he could speak. Forgive me!"
Jetrin exhaled, fury fading to weariness. "…I understand. But don't act without me again."
"Yes, Hero. I'm sorry. Thank you…"
A silence fell. Then—"Jetrin." A voice, gentle. Mavis stepped forward, clutching his holy sword. Before he could react, she lunged — the blade pierced his chest.
"Ghh—M-Mavis?! Why?!"
Her eyes were cold, her sigh almost tender. "Forgive me, Jetrin. This is my duty."
"X-Xiao Yan!" Jetrin gasped, blood spilling from his lips. "Do something!"
Xiao Yan only smiled bitterly. "When I said I'd lose my will if a comrade died, I meant it. But you? I never saw you as one of us" He laughed, sharp and cruel. "Not once."
"You—"
Behind him, light flared. Lamia's voice rang like breaking glass as she chanted. Blue fire coiled in her hands. Jetrin turned, coughing blood. "L-Lamia…?"
"Don't speak to me, half-breed," she spat. "I am High Elf. You are filth — a fallen thing, neither demon nor man. Your existence disgusts me. This spell will erase every trace of you. You're clever, Jetrin — surely you know what I'm doing."
"…Why…" His voice cracked. "Why betray me?"
Mavis's gaze cut him down further than the sword in his chest. "Because the King ordered it. You're a threat to his throne. That's all. You were never more than a pawn to us."
Jetrin's vision swam red. Rage boiled in his chest. "Aaaaaaghhh! Puppets! You were all the King's puppets!"
"Look at you," Mavis whispered. "Bound by your own blade, bleeding out like a sacrifice. And you call us puppets?"
The words struck deep, and Jetrin's mind reeled. Mavis warning echoed — the King's pawn, dancing on strings. He clenched his teeth until they cracked. "Then I swear! If politics exists only to destroy, I will destroy politics itself! I will bring peace, even if it costs my life!"
The hall trembled as he forced himself upright. Inch by inch, blood soaking the floor, his body screamed but obeyed. Fear flickered in Mavis's eyes for the first time.
"L-Lamia!" she shouted. "Finish the spell! Xiao Yan, secure Cain's head!"
"Yes, Princess!" they answered.
"Princess?" Jetrin growled, staggering forward. "You played me for a fool. Akanna's death… was your doing! I will never forgive you. Even if my life burns out — I will take revenge!"
The chamber shook. A brilliant light burst overhead — then vanished, leaving silence.
"What was that?!" Mavis cursed. "No matter! Lamia, cast it now!"
"Wait…" Lamia's voice cracked. "Princess… look."
Jetrin stood. His body broken, blood running in rivers — yet he stood. And he was smiling.
Xiao Yan's voice faltered. "He's dead… but standing?"
"Why is he smiling?" Lamia whispered.
That night, Demon Lord Cain fell. And Hero Jetrin, too.
But what none of them knew was that Jetrin's story had not ended. It had only crossed into another world.
---