The sky was burning.
Crimson flames devoured the heavens as if the world itself had been set ablaze. The air trembled with overwhelming pressure, thick with killing intent so dense it felt like breathing through blood.
At the center of it all stood the Demon Lord.
A towering figure cloaked in darkness, his presence alone warped the space around him. Each step he took cracked the ground beneath his feet.
And before him…
Stood the Hero's party.
Humanity's last hope.
Kael clenched his sword tighter.
His arms trembled—not from fear, but from exhaustion. Blood dripped from the edge of his blade, his chest rising and falling heavily as he stared at the monster before them.
This was it.
The final battle.
They had come so far—crossed continents, survived countless battles, lost friends along the way… all for this moment.
And after this—
His gaze softened.
"…After this, we can finally rest," he murmured.
A gentle hand slipped into his.
"I told you," a soft voice said, warm despite the chaos around them. "We'll make it back."
Kael turned slightly.
Lina smiled at him.
Even now, covered in dust and blood, her eyes still held that same unwavering light. The light that had carried him through countless nights of despair.
His chest tightened.
"After this… we'll go back," Kael said quietly. "We'll get married like we planned."
Her cheeks flushed faintly, but she didn't look away.
"…You better not die before that," she whispered.
Kael let out a breath that almost felt like a laugh.
"I won't."
He couldn't.
Not when he still had a future to protect.
"Enough."
A voice cut through the moment like a blade.
Cold. Sharp.
Unfamiliar.
Kael frowned and turned.
The Hero stepped forward.
Arden.
The chosen one.
The man destined to defeat the Demon Lord.
But something was wrong.
His expression… was off.
There was no determination.
No courage.
Only—
Fear.
"We can't win," Arden said.
Silence fell.
For a moment, even the raging battlefield seemed to freeze.
"…What?" one of the party members muttered.
Kael's eyes narrowed. "What are you saying?"
Arden didn't look at them.
His gaze remained fixed on the Demon Lord… trembling.
"We can't win," he repeated. "If we fight like this, we all die."
"…So what?" Kael snapped. "That's why we're here. We knew that!"
"No," Arden whispered.
Then slowly—
He turned.
And smiled.
Kael's heart dropped.
Something was wrong.
Terribly wrong.
"I found another way."
The Demon Lord chuckled.
A low, rumbling sound that sent chills down everyone's spine.
"Ah… so you've made your decision," the Demon Lord said.
Decision…?
Kael's grip tightened.
"…Arden," he said slowly, "what did you do?"
Arden's smile widened.
"Isn't it obvious?"
A dark magic circle ignited beneath their feet.
Kael's eyes widened.
"—Wait!"
Too late.
The ground lit up with blinding crimson light.
Symbols twisted and expanded, forming a massive ritual circle that engulfed the entire party.
Power surged violently.
Not from the Demon Lord—
From them.
"W-What is this?!"
"My mana—!"
"I can't move—!"
Panic exploded.
Kael dropped to one knee as something tore through his body.
It felt like his very soul was being ripped apart.
"Arden…!" he growled, forcing his head up.
"WHAT DID YOU DO?!"
The Hero looked down at them calmly.
Cold.
Detached.
Like they were nothing.
"I made a deal," Arden said.
"With him."
The Demon Lord stepped forward, amused.
"In exchange for his life," Arden continued, his voice steady now, "and a place by his side…"
His smile deepened.
"I'll give him all of you."
Kael's mind went blank.
"…What?"
"No… no, this isn't funny," someone choked.
"You're joking… right?"
No one laughed.
The ritual intensified.
Power—mana, life force, everything—was being drained.
Pulled from their bodies.
From their very existence.
Kael screamed.
Not from pain—
But from rage.
"YOU TRAITOR!!"
But Arden only watched.
Unmoved.
"I was never going to win," the Hero said quietly. "Not against him."
His gaze flickered toward Kael.
"…And not with you around."
Kael froze.
"You were always stronger than me," Arden continued. "Even if no one noticed."
His smile twisted.
"I was the Hero. I was supposed to be the strongest."
Realization hit like a hammer.
This wasn't desperation.
This was—
Jealousy.
"Pathetic…" Kael spat, his vision blurring.
A weak hand grabbed his.
"…Kael…"
He turned.
Lina.
Her body was fading.
Light—her life—was being torn away piece by piece.
"No—no, no, NO—!"
Kael dragged himself toward her.
"Stay with me! You promised—!"
She smiled.
Even now.
Even like this.
"You always… worry too much…"
Her hand trembled in his.
"…You have to live, okay?"
"Don't say that!" he shouted. "We'll survive this! I'll get us out—!"
"You always say that…" she whispered softly.
Her eyes dimmed.
"…But this time… it's okay."
Kael shook his head violently.
"No—!"
Her fingers tightened weakly around his.
"…Live…"
And then—
They went still.
"…Lina?"
Silence.
"…Lina?"
Nothing.
Something inside him broke.
"AAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!"
The ritual reached its peak.
The last of their power surged into Arden.
His body radiated overwhelming energy.
Stronger.
Far stronger than before.
The Hero exhaled slowly.
"…Finally."
Kael collapsed.
Empty.
Broken.
Dying.
His vision faded.
Darkness crept in.
"…So this is how it ends…"
Footsteps echoed.
Slow.
Soft.
Not the Demon Lord.
Not the Hero.
Someone else.
A figure stepped into view.
A girl.
Silver hair.
Crimson eyes.
Small horns curved from her head.
A demon.
But unlike the others—
Her eyes weren't cruel.
They were… sad.
"…You're still alive," she murmured.
Kael couldn't move.
Couldn't speak.
But his fading gaze locked onto her.
"…Do you want… another chance?" she asked softly.
Then Darkness swallowed everything.