The heat of the battle was intense, the air thick with the smell of blood and sweat. His sword arm was heavy, his muscles screaming in protest, but he couldn't stop. The demon lord loomed before him, his eyes burning with malice, ready to strike with his cursed sword, Zuethen.
"I can do this," he whispered to himself, his voice hoarse and raspy. "Only I can do this."
Gritting his teeth, he swung his sword with all what's left in him. The demon lord deflected his blow with ease, but he was relentless. Over and over again, he charged at him, each strike weaker than the last.
He had no choice but to keep fighting as the lives of his friends and the world lied in his hands.
Suddenly, a wave of dizziness washed over him. His vision blurred, and his legs shaking. He stumbled back, his sword clattering to the ground.
What's happening?
He groaned, his voice barely a whisper.
The world around him seemed to spin, hearing a strange sounds in his ears without a stop.
"Dudum... Dudum... Dudum..."
The sound was getting louder, more frantic. Driving him insane as time progressed.
"What is that? Where is it coming from?" He managed to croak out.
He looked around frantically, but he couldn't see anything. The thudding sound seemed to be coming from inside his head.
This is bad. I'm going to black out.
"The head is finally out!" he started hearing voices he had never before. "Madam, push slowly!"
He blinked, his eyes trying to focus.
Am I hearing things?
"It's almost out" the voice continued, "The heart beat is low!" the sound, sharp and intense than before.
He shook his head, trying to clear his mind.
This can bring me to death. I'm in the middle of a battle, and I am about to pass out?
I need to stay focused. This is either the end of us or him.
With a surge of adrenaline, he forced himself to his feet. He picked up his sword and charged at the demon once more.
The sound in his head was still there, but he ignored it. focusing on the task at hand, on the need to defeat the demon lord and save the world.
The battle was fierce, but he was determined. Dodging its attacks and struck back with all his might. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, he delivered a decisive blow. The demon lord collapsed to the ground, his eyes wide with surprise.
He stood there for a moment, catching his breath, before he sank to his knees. He was exhausted, but also exhilarated.
There's no time to be resting, I need to kill this thing.
The sound continued, growing louder and more insistent. He could feel his consciousness slipping away, the world around him fading into a hazy blur.
I can't stand no more.
He slurred, his voice barely a whisper.
Just this last blow more.
The demon spoke, bleeding "tell... me why... you doing this... young on-"
The loud charters and clattering of metals came to an abrupt end as he held his eyes shut, as if it was waiting for him to, he could hear the sound of the wind. It didn't sound like one on a battlefield, it was calming. The haziness started to recede and he felt more stable.
"Congratulations madam, it's a healthy boy"
He winced as he opened his eyes, the bright light hitting him like a ton of bricks. His head pounding from the sheer sound of the chirps, and his body felt like it had been run over by a carriage, yet he never whined even once, he found himself in a familiar room, held close by someone whose departure broke him.
"Asterius... My son"
He was confused beyond anything.
Am... I... Dead?
He held back his inner pain and accepted the fact that he was dead.
... Must be the good moments flashing before my eyes, before I truly die. I hope they'll be safe.
His eyes teared up at the sight of his mother, a dark haired lady with the kindest heart of all man kind.
"Ah! You made him cry, Callista! Come to papa instead~"
"Zarek, you don't even know how to hold a baby properly. You tried to lift Seliane by her hands while she was still just a newborn"
"I was new to these things okay? Cut me some slack Calli~ you know I'm better now"
Zarek slowly picked him up with great care, his left hand behind the head and the right holding him close by his back.
"Who is Papa's little knight?!" He said with a rather wide smug, that forced a strong stoic face onto Asterius new born face.
"HE STOPPED CRYING! LOOK CALLI! WHAT DID I TELL YOU?!"
"He is probably just scared of that monstrous face of yours"
"How cruel!"
How is all this so detailed? Is this how people feel when they are dying?
The young one was surprised by how long and how sharp these memories were.
"Madam, we need to wash him up" said the old looking midwife who stood next to her by the bed frame.
She picked him up, hands rough but etched with care and gently rested his lower back on a newly bought wooden basin.
"This may feel a little hot, young master"
He could feel it, the warmth of the lukewarm water, washing away the blood and mucus on his body.
These... aren't mere memories?
A sudden pang of pain throbbed his thin blood vessels to his eyes, carving the presence of a blue display in front of him.
"The Heavenly bodies greets the Worldless Monarch"
It was unbearable, the pain, for a body so delicate it was the battle of staying conscious.
"Processing trait transaction"
From his head to toe, nerve to nerve and bone to bone, he could feel himself get warmer, boiling hot.
"Trait transaction: 27%"
He held his lip shut the best he could, but no effort put to avail, a gruesome bawl left from the depths of his soul.
"There, there, it's not that ho-... Si-sir... Could you please come here quick?!" her voice laced with horror rather than concern.
"Trait transaction: 79%"
"Sir... His body... It's getting warmer no matter how much I wash him in cold water"
"Trait transaction: 99%"
His whines getting louder, his arms slouched lifeless, his body too torrid to be held by anyone.
The worried look on everyone was soon replaced with woe. Zarek couldn't put him down, despite being scorched, he held him close. He feared he may lose his child.
"Trait transaction complete"
"Updating trait database"
"Trait updated"
Asterius drooped in his arms, visibly worn out and tired. His body cooled down to a stable heat, his fast paced heart beats back to the normal.
He was fast asleep by the time everything was over, finally all fresh and clean. No one could figure out what had happened, not the experienced midwife nor the young couples, but they both knew that it was best not talked about.