The two demons beat their wings to fly towards an exit, but hit the ground before moving an inch.
"Wh-What?!" [Yandel]
It appeared escaping Kaniard, the first hero, would be more difficult than being able to move quickly.
"Here." [Kaniard]
The two demons heard a loud thud when the first hero tossed something, causing them to cover themselves thinking it to be a weapon. After a moment of silence, they lowered their arms to discover what was thrown.
"M… My wings!" [Yandel]
"How?!" [Balyagha]
It was so sudden that even I was unable to see what happened. It just looked like the wings teleported into the first hero's hand.
"Treacherous creatures. Flying will do you no good." [Kaniard]
As he approached, the two demons picked themselves up and collected themselves.
"Milord, what shall we do?" [Yandel]
"There's no choice other than to fight!" [Balyagha]
He reached out towards his sword laying on the ground, causing it to fly into hand.
"|Fireball|." [Balyagha]
Firing off a spell, he chased after it. I could tell he was using it for cover since magic seems ineffective against the first hero.
"|Slowness|! |All Boost|!" [Balyagha]
As he was about to unleash a flurry of slashes, the first hero scoffed.
"You must be a low ranking soldier." [Kaniard]
Raising a hand, he caught Balyagha's blade between his fingers.
"What?!" [Balyagha]
I can't say I'm surprised. He dealt with me, Wilharrow, Leon, and Raon all at once without batting an eye.
"Sending someone as weak as you to steal from my grave. Such disrespect." [Kaniard]
He applied pressure into his fingers, forcing the sword to snap.
"Eh?" [Balyagha]
I heard the scream of a spirit and felt its presence vanish as the sword's form dissipated into thin air.
("He killed the spirit?!") [Solace]
Before Balyagha could react, the first hero grabbed him by the throat.
"It's been a very long time since I've killed your kind. Even if you are unworthy of dying by my hand, I still relish the moment." [Kaniard]
With no other words, Kaniard pierced Balyagha's chest with his hand. Or so I thought.
"...Disgusting." [Kaniard]
Instead of Balyagha, Yandel was there. It was like they traded places, which led to Yandel taking a fatal blow instead.
"Yandel!" [Balyagha]
Blood spewed from Yandel's chest, but he didn't care. Rather than caring for his own life, he turned to Balyagha.
"My… lord… Please… I beg of you… Live…!" [Yandel]
Between his strained breathing or the difficult position he was stabbed in, Yandel managed to toss the relic to Balyagha before drawing his last breath.
"Yandel…!" [Balyagha]
Balyagha looked crushed and defeated.
"Camaraderie? Companionship? What is this act you are showing me? Demons don't have feelings." [Kaniard]
Having said that, the first hero ripped out his hand from Yandel's chest.
"You damn hero! I'll have your head!" [Balyagha]
The relic whirred to life in Balyagha's hands. In his anger, I knew what would come next.
"|Temporal Stasis-" [Balyagha]
I don't know what I expected, but what I saw was the furthest thing from it. One second Balyagha was activating time stop, and the next was him on the floor with the first hero holding the relic instead.
"The lack of intellect shown by demons knows no bounds. As if a toy like this could ever affect me." [Kaniard]
He then crushed the relic. There was an outburst of pure energy, or rather, mana. I somewhat expected some form of harm to befall us from exposure, but nothing happened. Well, that is regarding my allies and I. Within that moment, what was left of the two demons were reduced to ash.
"He… redirected the mana into them?" [Fina]
The first hero then applauded her.
"Correct. You've quite the keen eye." [Kaniard]
"I… I've been studying." [Fina]
We were all anxious as to what would happen now. Though the first hero was now of sound mind, we weren't sure if he was still hostile to us.
"Hm…" [Kaniard]
His eyes passed over the room, an attempt to assess the situation. It wasn't until he laid his eyes upon my skewered form that the first hero paused.
"A divine weapon?" [Kaniard]
The first hero approached me and pulled out Wilharrow's sword, allowing me to drop.
"Oof!" [Solace]
I hit the ground with a splat, causing blood from my dismembered arms to come out a little more.
"This sword…" [Kaniard]
He inspected it intensely, as if there was something wrong with it.
"This is inferior to the ones I know. What happened? Are the gods no longer blessing these weapons?" [Kaniard]
He then stared at me.
"You… are not the owner of this blade. Who does this blade belong to?" [Kaniard]
The first hero turned to face Wilharrow.
"You." [Kaniard]
The first hero walked aggressively towards Wilharrow, causing my ally to take a few steps back in surprise.
"Name yourself." [Kaniard]
His voice sounded very demanding.
"Wilharrow Strayce. Hero of Metus." [Wilharrow]
"Hero of Metus, what happened to this sword?" [Kaniard]
"What do you mean?" [Wilharrow]
"Its divinity is near non-existent! It's as if a priest of the lowest class attempted to bless it!" [Kaniard]
Wilharrow seemed confused.
"S-Sir… The blessing on it is as powerful as it can be. It was blessed by the goddess Soloi herself." [Wilharrow]
"Preposterous. Her power is not so feeble as to create… this!" [Kaniard]
As they argued, I'm pretty sure I was bleeding out. Actually, I think it's the same for Raon because of his head injury.
"Ah, I get it. You must be a new hero. Who are the |Supreme Heroes| nowadays?" [Kaniard]
"...|Supreme Heroes|? There hasn't been one since a millenia ago." [Wilharrow]
The first hero was taken aback.
"None?" [Kaniard]
"...None. That I know of." [Wilharrow]
The first hero started asking about a lot of current events after that. A lot of it I didn't really get, but the gist of it was that these so called |Supreme Heroes| no longer existed. There was also the part that for some reason the gods lost a great amount of power as well.
"...I see. Perhaps it was for the best." [Kaniard]
I don't know why he said that. I was too busy trying not to pass out due to blood loss. I did try to use |Small Cure|, but its limit was scabbing up my wounds. Maybe it had something to do with Wilharrow's sword.
"The world sounds more peaceful than my turbulent times." [Kaniard]
The expression on his face seemed to be satisfaction, or wistfulness.
"With that out of the way, can you tell me why you and your party have intruded upon my tomb?" [Kaniard]
"Ah… We were trying to stop the demons from getting the relic." [Wilharrow]
"Relic?" [Kaniard]
Wilharrow pointed at the broken scraps that used to be the relic.
"...Hm. This is a very odd feeling. For you, this may seem like an ancient item. For me, I received this not too long ago." [Kaniard]
Wilharrow only let out an anxious chuckle.
"Yeah… It's gone now so I'll just take my friends and leave…" [Wilharrow]
"Hold on for a moment." [Kaniard]
He glanced around a bit.
"Who among you ascended my stairs of burden?" [Kaniard]
"Stairs of burden?" [Wilharrow]
We all kind of looked at the stairs leading up to the first hero's coffin.
("So that's what he called it.") [Solace]
"He's… right there." [Wilharrow]
Pointing downwards, the first hero took notice of an alarmingly injured Raon on the ground.
"...Did I do that?" [Kaniard]
Wilharrow nodded.
"That too?" [Kaniard]
He pointed at me, to which Wilharrow nodded once again.
"And her?" [Kaniard]
He pointed at Leon's broken arms. Needless to say, Wilharrow nodded.
"I know I didn't do that to her, though." [Kaniard]
He pointed at Fina, who was still struggling against the |Demonic Energy| plaguing her. Wilharrow began to grow impatient when seeing this so he dropped to his knees and begged the first hero.
"Oh great hero! Please! I beg of you! Heal my friends!" [Wilharrow]
It was a strange gamble. We knew the first hero was powerful and well versed in… well… killing. How did Wilharrow know if he could heal though?
"Since this was mostly my fault… I truly do apologize." [Kaniard]
He waved a hand towards us, causing this uncomfortable feeling of regrowing my arms to come about. It was also weird that my legs started to straighten themselves out as well. The dark lines on Fina retracted to who knows where before vanishing, Raon's head injury healed itself, and Leon's arms also realigned. All's well that ends well?
"...Huh?" [Raon]
Rubbing his head, Raon had awoken.
"I… passed out? And… I'm alive?!" [Raon]
Just as he began to look around, Raon's eyes met Kaniard's.
"Oh shit! He's still alive too?!" [Raon]
Utilizing his lowered position, Raon attacked.
"|Physical Boost|!" [Raon]
Strengthening himself, Raon let loose the meanest uppercut he could muster.
"That's very humorous." [Kaniard]
In a very casual manner, the first hero caught Raon's fist.
"Eh?! He can talk?! Guys, help me out!" [Raon]
He looked at us for help, but we just stared.
"Calm down, my descendant. I mean you no harm." [Kaniard]
"...Your descendant?" [Raon]
"So it's not some kind of chosen one?" [Fina]
The first thing Fina did when she was cured was get to solve a puzzle I guess. Truly a brainiac.
"Oh. Parthenos." [Wilharrow]
Yeah, the last names.
"Raon Parthenos... Kaniard Parthenos! Chosen as in chosen blood! Like in the stories! Only the chosen blood can ascend the stairs!" [Fina]
Okay, I don't get this one. I've not heard one word of any of the first hero's stories. By the way, I've never asked about this to Fina because she rants for hours on topics like these. Cute side I guess. Though, not so much when you're the one trapped in the conversation.
"How is the family?" [Kaniard]
"...What?" [Raon]
Raon seemed confused.
"I changed your diaper when you were little." [Kaniard]
"WHAT?!" [Raon]
Honestly, we all were surprised there.
"I jest. I was dead before you were born. So, who are your parents?" [Kaniard]
"Duke Belledge Parthenos and Duchess Owein Parthenos." [Raon]
Kaniard nodded with a smile.
"I see, I see…" [Kaniard]
The way he was acting made it seem like he knew them.
"Well, never heard of them. I must have been dead for a very long time." [Kaniard]
Nevermind.
"Putting aside familial matters, I have a question." [Kaniard]
"That is?" [Wilharrow]
The first hero then pointed at me.
"What exactly is he?" [Kaniard]
"Excuse me?" [Wilharrow]
The first hero slowly approached me.
"There are many things that strike me as odd… First, he's stronger than the hero leading this party. Second, the increments of his strength is unnatural. I can vaguely sense the power of death and malevolence surrounding… No, within him." [Kaniard]
That part must be Hema's blessing.
"Besides that, his mana structure is… oddly perfect." [Kaniard]
For a second, I forgot what a mana structure was. I also almost forgot that the Unseeing Sword changed it for me.
"Er… What's that mean?" [Solace]
"It's perfectly human. So perfect that the fluctuations tell me you are an average human. However, you are NOT average. Far from it. It feels too artificial." [Kaniard]
He squinted his eyes with suspicion.
"Well, I'll let it slide. As long as you're not a demon." [Kaniard]
Then he paused.
"...Or a beastman. …Or an elf. …Or a dwarf. …Or a-" [Kaniard]
"Are you going to just name every race that isn't human?" [Solace]
I just had to say it.
"Now that you mention it… I suppose you're correct." [Kaniard]
Oh my gods, the first hero was actually racist.
"You all are a very odd group." [Kaniard]
He then turned his attention to Fina.
"...What a pity." [Kaniard]
The first hero shook his head in disapproval.
"Hero of Metus. You disappoint me." [Kaniard]
"What for?" [Wilharrow]
The first hero went over to Wilharrow, grabbed him by the shoulder, then pointed at Fina.
"I care not that she is a forsaken. I care that you have taken a manaless to accompany you on your journey." [Kaniard]
Other than Leon, Raon and Wilharrow were quite surprised to hear that.
"Manaless?" [Raon]
"I knew she was ill with something, but I never expected her to be manaless." [Wilharrow]
Now the cat's out of the bag.
"Alt, did you know this?" [Wilharrow]
"...If I said I did, what would it change?" [Solace]
Wilharrow seemed to be contemplating something.
"I now understand why you were so against letting her join the hero's party." [Wilharrow]
"Wait, I'm still confused. Manaless?! How was she able to cast spells?!" [Raon]
Fina took out a mana crystal from her travel bag.
"I've been using these to supply my skills and magic." [Fina]
"Ridiculous. You're practically torturing your body. I highly suggest you go back to your home to live out what lifespan you have left." [Kaniard]
That was some unsettling information.
"Wait, what do you mean by that?" [Solace]
"You didn't know? Mana is lifeblood. Life expectancy drops sharply if you do not have mana. Most die before twenty." [Kaniard]
That was alarming.
"Since the girl has been forcefully intaking mana with no vessel in her body, her lifespan is probably even shorter." [Kaniard]
Putting things together, I assumed that the vessel he mentioned is where a person stores mana. So Fina's actions are like charging a phone without a battery, but worse.
"Thinking about it now, it's possible for you to cure her." [Kaniard]
"...The demon lord's heart." [Solace]
"Ah, so you're aware." [Kaniard]
"So that's why you joined the hero's party?" [Raon]
I forget that Raon was mostly in the dark for this kind of stuff. Wilharrow knows a little, and Leon just couldn't care less.
"How important is this girl to you?" [Kaniard]
He directed the question at me.
"Very." [Solace]
It was too embarrassing to say anything else.
"If you're willing to lay down your life, you can also give her your own mana core." [Kaniard]
"So it'll kill me?" [Solace]
"Not immediately. You will also become manaless. Your life expectancy will drop and you will no longer have access to any skills nor spells." [Kaniard]
To sum it up, he means to trade places.
"That will be all of my advice. This old fossil has remained in this new era for long enough." [Kaniard]
He then faced Raon.
"It appears I've broken your weapons, descendant." [Kaniard]
Raon glanced at the scattered metal shards that were once his sword and dagger.
"Uh… yeah." [Raon]
"Then, inherit my will." [Kaniard]
He reached for the swords sticking out his back, drawing both the black and gold sword out of his flesh. I could feel great power emanating from them the moment they came out, both seemingly clashing in energy.
"Take it and I'll be on my way." [Kaniard]
As Kaniard held the two swords out, Raon just stared at them.
"...Are you sure?" [Raon]
"If I wasn't, I wouldn't be giving them to you." [Kaniard]
Raon shrugged as if thinking:
("Fair Enough.") [Raon]
Afterwards, he grasps the handles of the swords.
"Ack!" [Raon]
Raon's face contorted with pain as he held on, energy surging into him. The first hero, on the other hand, simply let go and ascended the stairs to the coffin.
"Wh-What's happening to him!" [Wilharrow]
"His body is adapting to the weapons. Give him some time before you leave." [Kaniard]
There wasn't much else to say after that. We kind of just watched the first hero climb back into his coffin.
"Can you tell my descendant to close the lid for me later?" [Kaniard]
Wilharrow looked at Raon who was writhing in agony prior to answering.
"...Will do." [Wilharrow]
"Thank you. I have to go hunt down the souls of the demons I've killed now. I hope not to see you all too soon in the afterlife." [Kaniard]
We watched him cast some kind of |Holy| or |Divine| spell on his chest before going limp in his coffin.
("...He's not even going to let the demons go even in death?") [Solace]
Talk about new levels of race hate. In any case, we finally got to rest as we watched Raon suffer. Good thing it wasn't me.
"Alert: It has been detected that you are no longer in combat. Commencing retrieval of |Sanity|." [Spirit Guide]
Oh no.