The heavy steel blade in my hands was shrouded with flames as I parried the axe from Godric 'Thunder King' Perun, Rank 5 Hero, his golden axe shrouded in an azure glow that sparked and crackled against my flames.
Pushing some more mana into my left side, I blocked the arrows that rained down towards me from Yngrave and the other archer, Xerxes 'Devout Arrow' Samaras, Rank 3 Hero, their strong arrows melting against the wall of flame.
However, they were never ones to attack from the front, instead using that to distract me as much as they could and allow our sneakiest comrade a small, minuscule window.
A dagger sliced against my side, shredding the metal and leaving behind a thin gash on my skin, which was likely already turning black from the poisons.
Jing 'Naga' Fei, Ranked 10 Hero, was the woman that I feared most inside this gathering of traitors; her blades were coated in lethal poisons that not even Mariana could heal, with only Jing knowing of the antidote.
Forever silent and masked, none of us knew much about our silent companion, and considering that the dagger only sliced my side and didn't pierce my back, I could only assume she wasn't amongst the people who wanted to be here; she was cautious by nature, and against me?
The Naga wouldn't want to die so easily.
Leaping back, Jing Fei allowed the deadly odachi of the Rank 7 Hero Oda 'Ronin' Kanei to take her place, the gold armored man trying his hardest to tear away the chestplate I wore.
Slapping Godric's axe away, I stabbed my sword towards his chest, the man's blue eyes widening in fear as the weapon cut into his flesh, the fire spreading across his torso.
Stumbling back, he was replaced by Greg, the wooden man growling as he began to punch towards me, using the power of his blows to send waves of air outwards, keeping distance between us.
Mariana rushed to Godric's side, her silver staff raised as a blue light spilled out from the large crystal at the top.
The sound of liquid splashing against his armor made me frown, which Greg instantly noticed.
"Haha~! You think we came unprepared, Tiberius?! You underestimate the craziness of the Alchemist!"
An older woman frowned at that, her hefty robe covering her wiry frame as she took ahold of another vial of liquid, throwing this one towards me instead of at Godric.
"I don't appreciate that, Greg... However, I do hope you'll maintain our agreement. I find this... distasteful. If the knowledge Tiberius hoarded wasn't in the picture, I wouldn't be here..."
Seraphina 'The Alchemist' Grimhildr, Ranked 8 Hero and inventor of magical marvels, as well as someone who slipped under everyone's notice when compared to the rest of us; she wasn't a 'Hero' in terms of physical strength, but her inventions are... potent.
As I found out when the vial exploded above me, shattered by a small rock that had been shot from the staff of the last member of this party, the Ranked 6 Hero Gaelin 'Elementalist' Verdanis.
"Sorry, Tiberius..."
The young Elf man smiled sadly at me, his emerald green eyes only able to meet mine for a few moments before he looked away, lowering the wooden staff in his hands.
A purple liquid splashed against my flesh, and I grit my teeth as I felt the mana inside my Core being drained from my body, the flames around me sputtering.
Emboldened by that, Greg launched his fists forwards with renewed vigor, forcing me to block each blow even as arrows pelted me and a heavy odachi slashed into my back.
Channelling my mana only into my blade, I slashed out towards the wood skinned giant, surprising him as I scored a deep gash from his left temple all the way across to his right cheekbone, the flames consuming the wood and leaving behind ash.
Screaming in agony, Greg stumbled backwards, and I took that opening to spin around, confronting the golden Oda and parrying his heavy curved blade.
However, Godric roared in anger as he stomped forwards, his axe cleaving down into my arm and nearly slicing it off, my mana enhanced flesh weakening as that liquid seeped into my body.
Ignoring the pain, I gripped my sword in one hand and stabbed it into Oda's thigh, before hissing as Jing Fei's daggers found themselves in my side.
Four arrows thunked into my other side, while lightning coursed into my body through Godric's axe.
With their mana now more powerful than my own, the 9 Heroes all let their worry of my flames go, approaching me as I knelt on the mountaintop, the damage to my body done.
My organs were failing, Jing Fei's poison doing its work, while my mana continued to drain away thanks to Seraphina's alchemy.
"Tiberius... You annoying bastard..."
Greg growled at me, his face scorched - yet healing.
His wood covered hand reached down, grabbing my skull as he yanked me up, staring at me.
"Tenacious until the end, huh? Never knew when to quit..."
Blood dribbled from my lips, and I stared past the annoying face of this crude man, my mind traveling through the various vaults of memories I had, dredging up everything that I would miss from this world.
The sweets from Molly's bakery...
Sister Deruca from my hometown, the first woman I ever loved...
The relaxing sun overhead at the Academy when I skipped class...
Running with Bert through the streets, before he had joined the Army, leaving me behind...
Memories that I did't want to see right now made their presence known, and I sighed as I looked down towards the now barren mountaintop, the blood loss making me feel cold and tired.
There was still so much I wanted to do, but now..?
Well, I guess now I get to rest, even if it's in hell...
Doubt I'll reach Heaven, don't think Purgatory would take me, and since I had forwent any true religion, well...
All that waited was hell, I guess.
At least it'd be warm.
Greg was speaking, and I could hear the others murmuring and jeering as the world lost its color, turning grey and lifeless as I felt my blood seep from my body.
Then, it went dark, and I ceased to think.