Thud. Thud.
Dusk Bringar staggered out of the barracks and walked the streets.
She did not care that her long black hair was getting soiled by the falling snow or tousled by the hot wind blowing in from the east, she just kept walking forward until—
She paused when she saw a group approaching from the opposite direction.
"Ho..."
Dusk Bringar murmured in admiration.
"They all seem quite... fierce."
The ones advancing toward her were heroes affiliated with the Monster Frontline.
From Lucas with his Demon Sword, to the heroes wielding Dragon Slayers, to those adorned with Nightmare Slayers...
All of them looked as if they were draped in dragon's blood, with dark visages and eyes not hiding their boiling vengeance, and faces stained with dried blood-tears, not thinking of washing off as they walked together towards the east.
The heroes stopped briefly before Dusk Bringar. She gestured eastward with her chin.
"Why head east? Right now, that place is nothing but a sea of fire spewed by the Black Dragon."
"...That's why we're going."
Lucas replied with his eyes shimmering blue.
"There's no better place to forge our spirits."
"..."
"Our bodies seem to have recovered somewhat, so there... we'll make preparations to confront the Black Dragon."
The Demon Sword, Dragon Slayers, and Nightmare Slayers...
Not only these weapons, but darkness emanating from within the heroes themselves swirled behind them like heat haze.
A brake called Ash was once there, where it was impossible to enter beneath that darkness... All were deeply submerged.
Dusk Bringar laughed hollowly.
"You all are turning into fine demons, raksasas, and asuras."
"That's because only then can we achieve our lord's vengeance."
Lucas snapped dryly.
"It seems the Duchess still retains a human shape."
"Don't worry. My ugliness is no less than your resolve."
A dangerous red light scattered within Dusk Bringar's eyes. Sensing it, Lucas narrowed his bright blue eyes.
As they passed each other, Dusk Bringar whispered softly.
"Children. It's okay to dip your feet in this mire, but don't go in too deep."
"..."
"There's no need for you all to fall to the very end of hell."
Dusk Bringar's small figure headed across the street and soon disappeared into the blowing snowstorm.
"...Blabbering as if you know everything."
Lucas growled and resumed his walk. Behind him, the heroes followed with fiercely narrowed eyes.
And.
"..."
Evangeline watched the unsettlingly flickering image of the heroes crossing paths from atop a nearby tower.
Behind her stood other heroes with equally worried expressions, who had not given themselves over to the darkness.
Damien, his eyes still unseeing and bandaged, leaned against the tower wall in silence, his complexion wan.
'What's going to happen?'
Evangeline clenched the flagpole she held in her hand.
'How are we...'
The long black flag representing the World Guardian Front whipped violently in the gale.
Evangeline pressed her hot eyes with the back of her hand.
Everyone was becoming tainted by darkness in pursuit of the vengeance they held dear, and Evangeline could well understand their feelings.
She felt like she might go mad with rage and hatred herself.
But... was this really the path Ash wanted?
If Ash were here, what would he have wished for them to do...
'Senior...'
Evangeline looked down at her shield.
Her own frail, thin shield that seemed too small and weak to protect the entire world.
'What can I still protect?'
***
Temple. Infirmary.
"Ugh..."
Serenade's silver eyes snapped open as she lay twitching in bed.
Her entire body throbbed. Her head felt foggy. It was hot and her body felt heavy.
Barely able to keep her eyes open, Serenade surveyed her surroundings.
"Where is this?"
"My lady?!"
Elize, upon noticing Serenade regaining consciousness, rushed to the bedside urgently.
"My lady, it's Elize! Do you recognize me?!"
"Ah, Elize... Of course I recognize you... What's wrong? Something happened... ugh."
Serenade, attempting to rise, clenched her teeth due to the intense pain surging through her body. Elize held her and gently laid her back down.
"Huh... Why am I in the infirmary...?"
"My lady. About that..."
Elize explained the situation.
It was about how the building of the Silver Winter Merchant Guild was swept away by the breath of Night Bringer.
By a stroke of luck, other employees were in a neighboring warehouse at the time and escaped harm, but Serenade was seriously injured by the main building's collapse.
She had been transferred to the temple and had been receiving treatment for more than a day now.
"The other employees of the guild also suffered injuries, both minor and major, but everyone is safe. You were injured the most, my lady."
"That's a relief then. No one else was seriously hurt..."
Serenade reached out and gently touched Elize's hand.
"And you made it back alive too."
"My lady..."
Elize tried to force a smile, but her expression hardened at Serenade's next question.
"By the way, Elize. How did the expedition go...?"
"..."
"Did we defeat the Black Dragon? Is His Highness, is he alright...?"
Elize gulped down her saliva.
How should she respond?
Hesitating and closing her eyes tightly, Elize tried to lift the corners of her mouth.
"Of course, my lady. His Highness, the Prince is..."
Elize intended to lie until Serenade's condition improved. She did not want the gravely injured Serenade to weaken further in spirit.
However, she couldn't bring herself to continue.
Tears slowly welled up in the always sharp, ice-blue eyes of Elize.
In front of the blinking Serenade, Elize eventually let her tears drop.
"I'm sorry, my lady. I'm so sorry..."
"Elize. What's wrong? Why are you crying..."
"It's my fault... because I'm inadequate... I just, couldn't protect His Highness..."
Elize ended her sentence with a choked voice.
The color drained from Serenade's face.
Elize slowly but surely reported the outcome of the hero expedition. Serenade murmured in a daze.
"He's, gone...?"
Struggling, Serenade propped herself up against the headboard and pressed her spinning forehead with her hand. She tried to think positively.
He had been missing last year too, hadn't he? And he returned as if by a miracle after half a year.
That was just like him. He would leave suddenly without a word, go very far away, and then return casually and smile mischievously.
Even if her heart was scorched black with worry, spending countless nights in tears... when he returned and smiled innocently, all the words of blame would dissolve inside her without being spoken.
He was that kind of man.
So, maybe this time too. Maybe it would be alright this time too...
'Ah.'
Serenade clutched her chest and bent forward.
But she knew it had to be different this time.
The world was falling apart, and destruction was imminent. And the person who had stood at the forefront to stop it had fallen at the very bottom of hell, bleeding.
Serenade was a merchant. And not just any merchant but the owner of one of the most renowned merchant guilds in the world.
She was shrewd. That's why she could swiftly and naturally estimate the conclusion of this event.
It was the end.
Everything was.
'If he's not here, I also...'
It was hard to breathe.
Thin tears streamed down from Serenade's wide-open silver eyes.
Serenade felt as if her whole body was being torn apart, falling apart with the crumbling world.
'There's no reason to keep living...'
Her spirit seemed to sink down to the depths.
Serenade's body, wavering, slowly fell to the side.
As she fell, she thought blankly that it would be nice to fall down there where that man had fallen.
Thud—
Just then.
A firm hand reached out and supported Serenade's shoulder, catching her as she was about to fall.
"Don't do this."
It was a tired, yet firm voice.
"It's too early to despair. So, calm down."
Startled, Serenade looked around blankly, and there—
Sitting in a wheelchair, holding a sleeping Sid, Lilly faced Serenade with a strong expression.
"Take a deep breath. Now. Slowly."
As Lilly gently stroked her back, Serenade's breath, which had almost stopped, resumed.
"Inhale. Exhale. That's right. That's right. Well done. Inhale again, and exhale..."
Lilly whispered softly, firmly holding Serenade's trembling shoulders.
"The world hasn't ended yet."
Lilly's voice was layered with pain and, even more so, with a stronger will.
"So, breathe."
Serenade closed her eyes tightly, then opened them.
That's right.
Someday the world will end. Maybe in just a few hours, maybe minutes, or perhaps seconds.
But, yet,
It hasn't ended yet.
So...
"Live."
For now.
We must fight.
Serenade's trembling subsided.
Lilly smiled gently. Serenade looked back at Lilly and slowly nodded.
Even if that person never returns... there are things that must be done.
For the purpose he left behind.
We cannot just sit here and die.
Lilly hugged the calmed Serenade tightly. Serenade, unable to voice her thanks, pulled Lilly into an embrace in return.
After a brief hug, Serenade took a deep breath and looked towards Elize.
"Elize."
Facing her master, who had quickly regained her sharpness, Elize straightened up and awaited orders.
Serenade, considering what she could do, cautiously asked.
"Among the collapsed buildings, is 'that warehouse' safe?"
***
Lake Kingdom Dungeon.
Between Zone 9 and 10 - The Great Bridge.
Below, a thousand fathoms deep into the darkness.
The lowest place, hidden, the survivor's residence, Bottom Town.
Boom! Rumble...
The vibrations that had been intermittent since the day before were now intensifying.
Did this dungeon beneath the lake know that the end of the world had come, as it violently shook?
"It's chaos, utter chaos..."
A disheveled old man dressed like a beggar mumbled as he surveyed the shaking world.
He was the village head of Bottom Town, the Sword Demon. Next to him, his wife, the Spear Demon, leaned on her spear like a walking stick and clicked her tongue.
"Looks like this damned world is finally coming to an end, dear."
"That's right. Wife. Looks like our unbearable honeymoon is also about to end."
"You want to die that eagerly? Just say the word. I would have skewered you with this spear long ago."
"Oh, behave. Listen well, woman. The honeymoon is ending, isn't it? Now the real married life begins."
"Heh, never knew honeymoon could be this long. They say marriage is the grave of life, and they're not wrong."
"Haha, let's be buried together a bit longer under this grave, my dear."
The laughing couple suddenly closed their mouths and turned their gaze towards the center of the village.
"By the way, that young fellow, didn't bring the gold coins he promised..."
"What in the world is this mess now."
Center of Bottom Town.
There, a massive orb of black blood had formed, swirling around...
Ash was submerged within it.
His eyes tightly closed, his face deathly pale.
Deep in his chest, a severe sword wound was visible, and the dark blood around him flowed in and out of the wound.
"Hoo..."
Standing in front of this orb of black blood was King Poseidon.
Holding a trident, covered in burns, King Poseidon controlled the orb of black blood despite his severe injuries, his focus solely on Ash's condition.
"..."
"..."
Sword Demon and Spear Demon quietly observed this bizarre scene,
Boom! Rumble...
The entire Lake Kingdom shook once more.
And then.
Thud. Thud.
Footsteps sounded from behind.
Turning around, Sword Demon and Spear Demon saw emerging from the darkness behind...
"So."
Slowly lowering the flute from his mouth, adjusting the white smiling mask, a man dressed as a jester—
The court jester of Lake Kingdom.
Crown.
With cold eyes gleaming from behind the mask, Crown asked.
"When does this insane 'surgery' end?"