Chapter 3 - A True Hero

My name is Anesidora, Dora for short. I'm a young emissary of the Avatar branch and a former member of the Shining Sword party, but today, more than anything else, I am...

"Free!!! We are finally free!!!"

Dora spun joyfully in a field, pieces of bread swirling around him like a halo. He had just purchased a dozen loaves, and with a snap of his fingers, three slices took flight, landing in the hands of a peasant, a child, and a stray dog.

"Enjoy! The king invites you to the feast! To the glory of freedom!"

With another flourish, Dora raised his right arm in a thumbs-up gesture. A whirlwind emerged, scattering nearby flowers into intricate crowns. With a playful snap, the crowns floated toward the villagers, who looked on with amused bewilderment.

One larger crown, resembling a funeral wreath, hovered before him.

"Ah, this one's special. Let me save it for the grand occasion: Dora's funeral… from the Shining Sword."

Collapsing onto the ground, he erupted in laughter, basking in a happiness he hadn't felt in years. Could this be why people turned to crime? The sheer exhilaration of liberation?

"No more missions, no more meetings, no more girlfriend, and… no more morals."

Reaching into his pocket, Dora withdrew a single coin, the last remnant of his generosity.

"And no more economic problems."

He flipped the coin into the air. As it fell, it multiplied, transforming into a cascade of gold coins raining down upon him. The spectacle was enchanting, yet deceptively simple. Dora was a master of magic tricks, a collector of odd skills.

He could turn one coin into many, make water into wine, teleport through mirrors, or make objects vanish. These tricks were the delight of his days, though some of his former companions saw them as frivolous.

Dora didn't care. They brought him joy, and that was reason enough.

In an instant, an intense speck in the distance swooped down towards him with unimaginable speed and crashed into the ground, causing a horrifying explosion.

A dense cloud of smoke enveloped the area where the object had just landed, but as it gradually dissipated, it revealed a human-like figure: short black hair, blue eyes, and a fist firmly planted in the crater it had created.

It was Hope, another Hero.

His expression was filled with anger, yet his eyes widened upon discovering a golden coin in place of Dora.

"Hopy, what a surprise." Dora looked up and saw Hope lying on a bed of flowers several feet above him.

"You... Get down here!"

"Hmm... Don't feel like it."

A vein appeared on Hope's forehead.

"Get your ass back here, you coward! How could you run away like that? Come here!"

"But the air is cooler here, you should come here instead. You look like you need some meditation."

Dora snapped his fingers, causing flower petals to swirl around Hope, but the boy drew a wooden sword and spun around, scattering the petals.

"I'm not here to play! I considered you my rival, I admired you, and you promised that one day we would become the best rivals in the world... But I heard that you left your party to stay in the village."

Hope, a young emissary from the Hero branch, was both a friend and a rival to Dora, as per Hope's own definition. They would often spar together, honing their skills. Despite Dora's efforts to recruit him to replace him in his team, Hope always declined, insisting that rivals should not be on the same team.

"If you give up on your dream of being the best fighter in the world, then I don't want to sit on a losing streak against you! I'm going to defeat you and end this stupid rivalry!" He pointed his weapon at Dora.

Dora's eyes sparkled. "Oh? You? Defeat me? How would you do something you could never have done before? Just thanks to your determination?"

"Shut up! My determination is bigger than your dreams! I will knock you down!"

"Then go ahead." Hope clenched his jaw and a subtle glow enveloped him before he slashed his sword towards Dora. The strike created a luminous blade that swiftly headed towards him but ended up obliterating only the flowerbed, sending petals flying everywhere.

"You won't run away this time. Show yourself!"

The petals scattered all around, yet Dora was nowhere to be found. Hope's anger intensified as he concentrated his energy.

(Focus your energy and feel the universe... Yes, like that... I can see... I can... What?!)

His heart skipped a beat as he suddenly comprehended that the petals were not falling but rather floating in the air, morphing into balls of flowers.

"Damn it! Acceleration," he shouted.

Swiftly, he propelled himself into a minuscule space, maneuvering skillfully to avoid the encircling floral orbs. Yet, to his dismay, a ball materialized right before his face and exploded upon his touch, triggering the explosion of the other flower balls behind him. Dora reappeared several meters away.

"Well, since you dodged the first one, I was going to say you got better, but... You still ended up getting one-shot by a single bomb so..."

Abruptly, a glimmering blade of light gently brushed against his face, leaving him astounded. Emerging from the dissipating smoke, Hope appeared before him, his clothing bearing the marks of a minor burn.

"Aah... So? Aaah... Have I improved enough?"

Dora put a hand on his cheek and pulled it back, noting the red dye it had just taken.

Hope was smiling.

"I love that new expression on your face. Now, if you'll excuse me, it's my turn."

"... No, now it's personal," Eratz spoke, with a little flash in the eyes. "Let me correct this kid."

The clash between Hope and Dora intensified as they relentlessly exchanged blows. Hope's wooden sword clashed forcefully against Dora's freshly conjured flower sword, creating a spectacle of explosive power.

With his unparalleled boost ability and his sword infused with his own formidable powers, Hope dominated the hand-to-hand combat.

However, Dora possessed a unique connection with the environment, making him a formidable adversary.

Swiftly evading a barrage of radiant blades with a graceful leap backward, Dora showcased his mastery. Unyielding, Hope pursued, his sword aimed directly at his foe, its tip shimmering.

"Thunder Sp... Shit!" He narrowly avoided a flowery javelin aimed at him from the back, but Dora intercepted it and transformed it into a halberd.

He swiftly spun it around and delivered a strong strike towards Hope, who barely dodged it. The acceleration technique was starting to irritate Dora.

Hope took a few steps back, assuming a defensive stance, as flowers around them grew rapidly and shaped into different weapons like spears, swords, and axes. The field of flowers had become a deadly arsenal, with Dora holding the power to unleash it while Hope was visibly exhausted.

"Aaah... It's not... So easy... Aah... Is it?"

"It's not easy, but we know how it will end. I will laugh, and you will crawl like a worm."

Dora extended his hand towards Hope, commanding all weapons to charge at him. Hope lowered his sword, ready to accept his fate.

Could this be the end? Despite his relentless efforts, he seemed to be slipping away.

The relentless use of his powers was draining Dora's energy, leaving him exhausted. As an avatar, he suffered from the excessive consumption of energy, but Dora was a master in concealing his fatigue.

Time seemed to slow down as the weapons closed in on Hope, and his ability to Accelerate seemed to have vanished. However, a sense of unease washed over Dora.

Suddenly, a blinding explosion of light erupted.

"W... What?"

Before his eyes, covered in an aura so bright it was hard to watch, Hope raised his sword.

"Are you done attacking now? That means it's my turn."

"Stop saying that bullshit... What the hell is that?"

"The ultimate Hero Class Skill: Hero Time."

The aura covering him shone brighter. For the very first time since Dora knew him, Hope made him doubt victory.

"Hero Time is a technique that boosts the user's abilities tenfold for a few minutes, so at that moment, I'm the most powerful in the whole village!"

"But... It doesn't make sense. Hero Time is a technique accessible only to the advanced Hero class. You shouldn't be able to use it. It's impossible. You're impossible!"

He smiled, delighted with Dora's astonishment.

"It's true, a normal Hero wouldn't make it. But what about a transcendental Hero?"

Dora remained silent in the face of this statement, understanding the true meaning.

"Are you... An Avatar too?"

Hope shone brightly like a star through his Hero Time ability. Hero Time was a technique known to provide a significant boost to individuals of the Hero class. It was rumored that if the strongest Hero utilized this technique, they would surpass all others in the world, across all categories.

However, the hero standing before Dora was not just any ordinary hero, but an Avatar. Avatars amplified the power of their actions at the cost of draining more energy. In essence, it was like adding cheats to a cheater.

"Since when?! Since when are you an Avatar???"

"Listen... I'll tell you everything... Once I beat you."

"Forget it. How did you get a skill of a higher class, in this village?! There are barely any E-rank monsters. Where did you find it???"

"Oh... You're right to fear me. That power is too much for an E-rank emissary, isn't it?... It's... Wait, stop distracting me!"

"Huh?... I'm not even trying..."

"Hero Time can make me the strongest, but the downside is huge... I have to defeat you now."

Dora's ears trembled.

"What kind of downside? With this power, you will crush me. I have no way out. Aren't you being a little too careful?"

"No, right now I can only use it for a maximum of 5 minutes, and after that I... Well, whatever! Are you done talking?"

"Yes, my apologies and… Thank you."

Hope swiftly grasped his sword and lunged towards Dora, soaring through the air like a bullet in motion. The amplified prowess of Hero Time had transformed his techniques into a formidable force, particularly his Acceleration ability.

As Dora approached the range of his sword, he swiftly swung it, oblivious to the malevolent grin of his opponent until the final moment. The impact was cataclysmic, causing the ground to erupt and a cloud of smoke filled with debris to rise into the air.

"You won't get me with this anymore!"

Hope spun around, swinging his sword into space, the cloud of smoke dissipating.

(Concentration... Feel the universe...)

He closed his eyes and his aura took on a less agitated form, becoming more and more like a bubble.

"With this, you can't hide anymore. I can sense you anywhere! I can... Huh?!"

He stopped abruptly, and as the cloud lifted, his eyes widened.

"Where? Where?! Where the hell are you?!"

"Ouch-ouch-ouch... My fingers are numb, I shouldn't have gone to melee."

He took a quick bath and sat on a couch, pouring himself a cup of coffee, and then staring at a clock on the ceiling.

"So... 1 minute equals 5 here, so 5 minutes equal... 25? Let's go to 30 just to be sure," he muttered to himself, smirking.

The warmth of the coffee cup in his hands and the gentle hum of a cartoon playing on the TV eased his mind. He chuckled softly at the antics of animated characters, the tension from earlier dissipating.

Time melted away as his eyelids grew heavy. The world blurred, and before he knew it, sleep claimed him.

A sharp, grating alarm jolted him back to reality. He sat upright, momentarily disoriented, before shaking off the drowsiness. Stretching, he switched into more comfortable attire and walked briskly toward a door that shimmered faintly as if it existed on the edge of reality.

In a blink, he stepped through the doorway and reemerged outside. His surroundings came into sharp focus: the field was quiet, with the golden hues of the setting sun casting long shadows.

Not far away, Hope sat with his wooden sword planted firmly in the ground, his head bowed in deep thought. The air between them felt heavy with unresolved tension.

Dora sauntered closer, his steps deliberately casual.

"Are you crawling yet?" he asked, his voice carrying a teasing lilt.

Hope didn't look up immediately. When he did, his glare was sharp enough to pierce steel.

"... Bastard."

"Hey, come on, don't look at me like that. You're going to hurt my feelings," Dora said, trying to stifle a laugh. "So? Ready for round two?"

Hope's face twisted into a scowl.

"Never talk to me again! You're not my friend anymore!"

"What? I'm only cheering you up. Your determination is bigger than my dreams, remember? You can do it!" Dora smirked. "Oh wait, my bad, you used Hero Time. You're helpless now... Wait... Are you crying, bro?"

Hope's eyes welled up, but he quickly looked away, furiously wiping at his face.

"Am not! Leave me alone!"

"There, there," Dora said, crouching beside him. "I can't just leave you here. Your mother would kill me."

"... I'll tell Mr. Albert that you keep calling him my mother," Hope muttered, his voice tinged with annoyance.

"Why is he wearing lipstick then?" Dora quipped, earning a begrudging chuckle from Hope despite himself.

They shared a laugh, the tension easing as Dora placed a glowing hand on Hope's shoulder, channeling a small healing spell. "So," Dora began, "what's with the dramatics? It's not like you to pick a fight like this. Especially over... Shining Sword."

Hope hesitated, gripping his sword tightly.

"Say, why did you leave your team?"

Dora's smile faltered for a moment, but he quickly recovered.

"Straight to the point, huh? You don't waste time."

Hope's voice grew firmer.

"Everyone in the village is talking about it. Erick's been running his mouth, saying you're weak, that you cheated on Sana, and... it's unbearable. They think you're pathetic. But we both know that's wrong!"

Dora's gaze softened.

"Do we?"

"Of course we do!" Hope snapped. "I'm almost stronger than Leon, but I've never beaten you. Do you know how frustrating that is? I'm not a liar, so I won't pretend otherwise. But when people laugh at you, it's like they're laughing at me too."

Dora let out a short laugh.

"You're much stronger than me, Hopy. With Hero Time, even Leon couldn't touch you. I only win because I'm smarter."

Hope's eyebrows shot up.

"Smarter? Like when you spammed magic attacks from a flying deckchair until I passed out?"

Dora snorted.

"You had no counter for that. Too tempting not to use."

"And the time you made copies of yourself to attack me while the original sat eating eggs at a farm?"

This time, Dora broke into full laughter, nearly doubling over.

"Okay, okay, stop! You're killing me!"

Hope shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips.

"See? You're not weak. So why let people talk like that about you?"

Dora's laughter faded, replaced by a thoughtful expression. He rested his chin on his hand.

"What's the point in fighting their opinions? Words are just noise."

Hope's eyes narrowed.

"It's not just words. It's about respect. Don't you care?"

"Not really," Dora admitted with a shrug. "I've got nothing to prove to them."

They sat in silence, watching the sun dip toward the horizon. Dora finally broke the quiet.

"Tell me, Hopy. What do you want most in life?"

Hope stared at the fading sunlight, his expression contemplative.

"I want to be the strongest man in the world. I want people to remember my name, to call on me whenever there's an S-rank Rift. I want to save the world from the most powerful monsters... and gain recognition from you and my sister."

Dora smiled warmly.

"That's a good dream. Ambitious, but it suits you."

Hope's face reddened.

"What about you? What's your dream?"

Dora's smile wavered. He looked down, his voice quieter.

"I don't know."

Hope frowned.

"That's cheating. I just told you mine..."

"Do you know that I live with my adoptive family?" Dora interrupted, his tone uncharacteristically serious.

Hope blinked.

"You mean Mrs. Malia and Wendy?"

"Yeah. It was my adoptive father, Mr. Rudy, who took me in when I was six. I don't know where I come from or who I am. The only thing I remember is my name: Anesidora."

Hope shifted uncomfortably.

"That's... deep."

"You want to ask why I'm bringing this up, but you're hesitating because I mentioned my father, right?" Dora teased, though his voice lacked its usual levity.

"Ah! No! I mean, maybe..." Hope stammered.

Dora chuckled softly. "Relax. I'm not a kid. I won't cry over it. I was too young to understand when he died, and honestly, I'm glad. I don't want to fight for the world or fame. I just want to live happily with my mom and sister. That's enough for me."

"Is that why you don't want to become the strongest emissary?"

Dora nodded.

"Exactly. I'm already an emissary. But aiming for the top means leaving them behind, and I'm not willing to do that."

Hope absorbed his words in silence as they began walking back toward the village. The warm hues of the sunset painted the landscape in gold and purple. Their peaceful moment was interrupted by the sound of applause.

"Magnificent! Simply magnificent!"

Startled, they turned to see a tall woman perched on a nearby rock. Her long black hair cascaded down her back, and her sapphire blue eyes gleamed with a mix of authority and amusement. Her presence was commanding, exuding a power that made her identity unmistakable.

"S... Sis?" Hope stammered.

Standing before them was none other than the most influential emissary of the Kingdom: the advanced Hero-class emissary, the Legend, Elizabeth.