"I don't know?"
Losing is agonizing. It is frustrating and painful.
Even more so if my precious people were to suffer from such a tragedy....
"It feels like my heart is tearing apart, like I'm swallowing blades."
For the sake of the woman he loves. For the sake of the miracle her family left behind.
Grind—!
"You think I don't know that?"
They are fragile beings who could scatter hollowly before a catastrophe.
Yet, they are miracles who broke through hundreds of millions of variables to come out into the world and meet me.
"That child of mine."
Creeeak—!!
"Has become a hero on his own and now considers sacrifice to be a given."
Even in the face of the black flames burning his own body, he is willingly standing tall to save everyone.
"What the hell do you know?"
"....."
"You, who have spent your days doing nothing but wailing while trapped on an island."
"But..."
"Shut your mouth. I didn't give you permission to speak."
[The Story of a God and Their Kin].
To put it another way, [The Story of a Parent and Their Child].
"He is a child born from my heart, a child I want to protect even at the cost of my life."
"He is my family and my younger brother."
Who the hell are you to think you can sacrifice a child like that?
"Who the hell do you think you are!!!!!!!!!!"
How dare you inflict such pain on children who were smiling just a few days ago.
Boom—!!!!
"...!! Even combining Bell's skill and Haruhime's Level Boost, we can only barely divert its trajectory..."
"Mikoto's gravity is also reaching its limit...."
At that moment, as if their time had run out, Bell and Mikoto were finally pushed back.
"Blaming one another. How truly unsightly."
Clang—
"This time, vanish in your hideousness!!!!"
Epimetheus aimed for the opening they had shown.
"Punish, [Kafkas]—"
"Everyone~~~~!!!!!!!!!!"
"!?"
"Catch this~~~!!!!!!!!!!"
Just then, the voices of the blacksmiths echoed from afar.
Whoosh—!
"....A greatsword without a handle!?"
"Connect Hestia's Knife to it!!!"
Welf threw another sword of flame to Bell.
Whoosh—
"A shield....?"
"Go all out for once!!!!!! Akumo!!!!"
Hephaestus threw a grey tombstone to Akumo.
"Punish! [Kafkas]!!!!!!!!"
Flare—!!!!!
"No, kill. [Kaua]!!!!!!!!!!!"
Screeeech—!!!!!!!!!
Filled with hatred, he aimed for the detestable world that refused to grant his wish even after he had staked his life on an unwanted choice.
Rumble—!!!!!
Black flames rode upon a violet slash, aiming for the necks of Akumo and Bell.
Kiiing—!!!!!!
"Hyaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Bell combined the weapons.
The Heaven's Flame within his body surged, pouring power into the blade.
Slash—!!!!
"!! He... cut through [Kafkas]..!?"
Bell magnificently sliced through Epimetheus's attack, protecting the group.
Drip—
"Now, we're really out of time!"
Akumo willingly lowered the shield and took the attack head-on.
"You....!"
"I haven't given up, so just answer me."
"....What more do you want me to do...."
Despite Akumo's words, Rhea simply couldn't meet his eyes.
"Beg."
"....Pardon?"
Akumo had only one thing to say.
"I'll personally be the hero for you~"
Grin—!!
"Tell me to save you. Tell me to rescue you."
Say that you want to live, that you want to be happy, and that you want to finish your story with a happy ending.
"Say it with your own mouth!"
"!!"
Even as he spoke, Bell would be fighting Epimetheus using the 'exterior' of the divine blade.
"Hestia's ordinary knife has turned into a massive sword.... It looks incredibly cool for some reason!"
"To think they'd combine... and the knife would become the sword's hilt...."
Gripping the weapon forged by a god, Bell overcame the trial with everyone's strength behind him.
"To be blunt, I... no, we are uninvited guests, you know?"
Epimetheus would surely focus only on Bell now.
"A [Divine Artifact]....! You mean a 'weapon that can even kill gods' from the heavens!?"
Clench—!
"To think it's the same as the [Flame Eagle] I possess..."
Just as he thought, the man's gaze turned toward Bell with a smirk.
".....Interesting. I shall test just how long that piece of scrap metal you threw together on the spot can last!!"
It seemed the competitive spirit of the worn-down Great Hero had been piqued.
Drip—
Clang—!
Despite Epimetheus's attack, which should have crushed everything, Bell's weapon and body did not break.
'It's not just the weapon's durability! Power is overflowing from my body too!'
Flare—
'Is this the [Blessing of Flame]....?'
The Heaven's Flame had descended, being wielded according to their mutual will.
Rumble—!!!
"The purification will begin soon...."
Even though blood was gushing from the massive laceration on his back, Akumo spoke nonchalantly.
"Why do you.... how much must you resist.... how much must you fight before you are satisfied...."
'Just how crazy do you have to be....'
Following Bell's words, the rest of the group headed into the temple first.
"He's not crazy, Priestess."
"I think he is quite mad, actually. Hedin."
"!! You all are....?"
To be precise, it was the group excluding Hedin, Horn, Freya, and Artemis.
"Yes.... everyone is completely mad."
'To live as an adventurer.... to live as a hero....'
"It's all madness. And that is why it is worthy of respect."
The Great Hero of the past who wants to kill both the world and heroes.
The Adventurer who became a light of hope with his [Heroic Desire].
And the Jester who came as an uninvited guest to stake his life.
"Swallow everything along with my hatred. O [Polluted Flame]."
Thoom—!!!!!!!!!!
They were all mad.
"Is it still maintaining its form..."
Step, step—
Epimetheus once again overwhelmed and struck down even the empowered Bell.
"To protect your comrades and survive yourself.... As expected, the Falna of [Aedes Vesta] is unfathomable."
Grin—
"But once I have this altar in my hands... no one will be able to stop me!"
Epimetheus laughed, raising his cursed sword.
"....Cough...."
"What's with that look? I knew children were truly innocent, but...."
Chuckle—
"Only when one who believes they are righteous grows old and withers do they finally realize their own madness.... What a worthless tale."
Boy, have you ever experienced despair? Have you ever agonized over right and wrong?
"True loss is killing oneself!"
"One cannot live in the same world, and to be reborn, one has no choice but to become a completely different person!!!"
There is no way a brat like you could endure the three thousand years of pain I've suffered.
There is no way you could understand.
Schwing—!
"[Kaua]!!!!"
Finally, just as the blow that would end the entire story was about to fall.
Crackle—!!!!!!!
A powerful divine presence stopped Epimetheus in his tracks.
'Charm....!?'
Zap—!!
"No... is it lightning?"
Epimetheus, who did not want to understand the world and had given up on understanding others.
"I didn't think of you as an uninvited guest, but..."
Flare—!
"Since you gave this fire to me."
Epimetheus looked toward Akumo's group, who would be with Rhea.
".....!!?"
Epimetheus, who had wanted to believe in himself and repay those he loved.
"Make sure.... to repay them, Akumo!"
"Everyone dies if we fail anyway.... You must succeed no matter what!!"
Thud—!
He could see Hedin and Horn collapsing as their strength failed them.
Rumble—!!!!!!
"What is that....?"
"[Divine Spear]..."
Then, starlight descended from the heavens.
No, he could see a god-slaying spear fired by a powerful god from the far north.
"Odin... you really haven't changed...."
He could see Freya, who had manifested her divinity to save a hero and willingly used her charm to stop Epimetheus.
Drip—!
"You finally got a hole put through your body because of a woman."
"I'm not in the mood for jokes, Cough...!"
Akumo's instincts as he spat blood felt death, but at the same time, his reason thought of survival.
"I'd rather you just died like this...."
"Horn, it's sad if you're being sincere, and it's sad even if you're not...."
"Shut your mouth and tell me what needs to be done."
".....Shall I? Ahaha!"
Looking at his state, Horn truly could not understand him.
—'So you're Horn?'
"...."
A miraculous magic that could be called the unknown of the lower world.
With that power, Horn was able to change her identity into that of a goddess.
She had willingly lived a life in the shadows for the sake of the goddess.
—'You're really going through a lot because of Freya...'
—'What are you talking about? What trouble could I possibly be in because of her...'
She thought that was enough, that it was sufficient.
—'You're Freya, right? Or should I call you Syr?'
But change had come to the Familia that served the beautiful, beautiful goddess.
Clang—!!!!!
Clash—!!!!!!
The man who recognized her magic at a single glance.
Every time she got involved with that man, the framework of her daily life shattered.
—'This bastard is at it again!'
—'You're the one who came looking for me, Akumo.'
Whack—!!!!!
Ottar, who was always stoic and stood firm, would exchange fists and blades with that man while wearing an unusual smile.
Grin—!
—'They get along so well~'
Freya would watch that scene with a smile.
Freya, who had been somewhat anxious and obsessed with the existence of a partner, now wore a bright smile.
—'....Unbelievable.'
Unable to believe it, Horn had questioned those around her directly.
—'Akumo? That guy.... he's not a bad fellow.'
Stroke—
—'At least he's easier to talk to than the bastards here.'
Hedin, lost in thought for a moment with his hand on his chin, had evaluated Akumo that way.
—'...Why don't you hate him?'
The White Elf's Magical Spear. Hedin, known by that name, looked as if he were talking about a reliable comrade.
But he was also part of the Freya Familia.
As much as he worshipped the goddess, wouldn't he hate the man who brought change to her?
—'Of course, I was suspicious at first and we fought quite a lot.'
However, he was able to see it.
—'[Lævateinn]'
His pioneering that brought victory to Orario by defeating the strongest of the previous era.
Grin—
—'If he were a guy who only wanted to satisfy the goddess, I would have killed him long ago.'
But Akumo wasn't looking only at Freya.
He filled everyone's stories and listened to everyone's tales.
—'There was simply a difference in when we realized it.'
That was why they had followed Akumo, believing in him.
They believed in the goddess who believed in him, and they believed in him who believed in the goddess.
"I'll just say one thing, okay?"
Splurt—!!
"Ah~ I'm dizzy."
Amidst his fading vision, Akumo opened his mouth to say just one thing.
"Save me."
Akumo, who could have been stronger and more arrogant than anyone.
Crackle—!!!
Such a man sincerely believed in them, believed in the goddess, and even staked his life.
And then to irresponsibly ask to be saved....
"[Eternal Maiden, Immortal Saint]."
Crackle—!!!!!!!
An arrogant but wiser and stronger elf than anyone.
The unknown magic that Hedin Selland could use only for one he truly acknowledged.
The effect that magic brought was....
Thud—!
It consumed all of Hedin's Mind, healed all of the target's wounds, and imbued their body with the miracle of lightning.
"Lady Freya."
"Are you sure you'll be alright? Even your soul could die."
Swish—!
She wore a worried expression as she watched Horn change her identity into that of the goddess.
"....Of course."
Grin—!
"I am Horn, your alter ego."
Had she also been able to move forward a little by watching the heroes' adventures?
"[O unreached ladder, O forbidden gate. On this day, this body of mine turns its back on the laws of heaven—]"
'I am the girl named Syr, after all.'
For the sake of the goddess.
No, for the sake of the happiness of the mother who had saved her.
Rather than sending jealousy or hatred toward the person who would fulfill that happiness.
"[Hollow soul, shallow craving. Under the divided true name. Descend, daughter of the gods—]"
She would willingly lend her strength and squeeze herself into the story as well.
"....Honestly, when did you grow up so much?"
Grin—!
"Thank you, everyone, my children."
Seeing the souls of her kin shining so purely and brilliantly, Freya's trembling stopped, and she was filled only with joy.
Whoosh—!!!!
Then, as if the divine spear were beneath her notice, she released her divinity, which she had sealed for a very long time.
"""Akumo!"""
For the sake of hope, for the sake of everyone's story, she unleashed it.
"In the end, all you're doing is trying to die together!! You foolish bastard!!!"
Horrified by the divine spear descending from the heavens, Epimetheus immediately tried to raise his sword to slice through it, but.
"I am not your opponent."
Step, step—
"Face the final opponent of your story with everything you've got."
Akumo, his body enveloped in golden currents, slowly walked past him toward the direction from which the divine spear was flying.
"What....?"
Swish—!!!
"...!!!?"
A massive flaming slash immediately flew toward Epimetheus, who was questioning his actions.
Clang—!!!!!
"You... arrogant... piece of trash...!!!!"
"You're a hero who made the wrong choice...!! That's why I can't afford to lose even more!!!"
Even having seen the end of a hero, he would not abandon his stubborn innocence.
"Even after seeing the despair where you are shunned by everything, leave nothing behind!!! And only your crumbled dignity remains rolling on the ground!!!"
Clench—!!
"No matter what delusions you spout!!! I will continue to hate the world!!"
"Even seeing me like this, you still intend to fight!!!!"
It was a matter of course.
"Because I want to be a [Hero]. "
"!!"
Together with one who was like a father, together with family.
For the sake of the one he loves, for the sake of those who give him love.
No matter how many times he experienced success or failure, the reason for fighting was so simple...
"You.... brat...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
And thus, it was a truth that even a hero of three thousand years could not refute.
========================
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