The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a mesmerizing golden glow across the sky.
A dark, once-majestic castle lay in ruins, obliterated by the fierce clash of the Hero and the Demon Queen. Dust hung in the air, concealing the remnants of its grandeur.
Amidst the chaos, two silhouettes moved with lethal precision, locked in a dance of death. A commanding, feminine voice echoed.
"As expected! Of all the Champions! You're the only one worthy of challenging me!"
Her stoic opponent remained silent.
With a slash and a boom, the dust cloud dispersed, revealing the combatants. The Demon Queen, a young woman with blood-red hair and a frenzied grin, faced off against the cold and methodical Champion of the Goddess.
This battle, Seraphina thought, was not just about the destruction of this world. It was a release, a chance to escape the burden of being the Demon Queen that she had carried secretly for years. Death was her fervent desire, but it would be a disgrace to die a dog's death, only a fitting opponent would make her yield.
And fate had provided one in a platter of gold.
The air crackled as their weapons clashed, sending shockwaves that billowed their clothes and scattered debris. This battle, years in the making, held the fate of millions.
The Demon Queen spun with lightning crackling in her wake, screeching a challenge that shook the heavens. The Champion, dull-haired and stoic, met every move with calculated precision.
As they clashed, the ground trembled, threatening to tear apart. Waves of energy surged, creating a fractured landscape.
In a deafening crash, both combatants stepped back. Dust settled to reveal the Demon Queen on her knees, a deep, unhealing gash marring her form. The Hero stood poised for the final strike.
It's finally over, Seraphina thought, but at what cost?
"You're the first to bring me to my knees. You should be proud," she sighed with a cheerful smile, hiding the internal turmoil.
"It is my duty," replied the Hero, his monotone demeanor unchanged.
A duty-bound soul, she mused. This hero was unlike the others she had vanquished in the past, who considered killing her a valiant quest for glory. He was but a simple man, and she wondered, maybe, just maybe, there was more to him.
In another timeline, or obscure reality, they could have been friends, but here, cruel destiny had put them at each other's throats.
Teasingly, she said, "To bring me to my knees?"
"..."
C'mon, give me a reaction. Doesn't anyone tell you you're very boring?
He knew what she was thinking from her expression, but alas, that's the way he had always been.
And as though to end the conversation, the Champion dropped his sword on her neck, poised for the killing strike. Serena gazed into his eyes, giving a relieved, peaceful smile.
'This is it. The release I've sought.'
"Do it, Champion. Go for the head."
Surprise flashed in the Hero's eyes, and he nodded slightly, as though he had confirmed something.
He gazed to the sky, and spoke to the silent spectator, the one who had given him his mission, the Goddess.
"According to the agreement we made prior to this duel—"
'Hmm?'
"—and my pact with the Goddess to "eliminate" the "threat" named Demon Queen Seraphina—"
The Demon Queen closed her eyes in resignation.
"—I hereby declare my wish—"
Then her brows wrinkled in confusion, weren't you supposed to make a wish after the threat elimination?
"—I'll be sparing the Demon Queen—"
She opened her eyes in bewilderment, "Wait what?!"
"—Follow me back to my home world, Seraphina"
"Ehhhh?!?!"
The Hero turned away from Seraphina, who remained in stunned disbelief, and muttered, "Think about it," and just before disappearing into a shimmering portal, he briefly gazed at a certain part of the rubles.
In the Divine realm, the Goddess Aria awaited with an expression of utter befuddlement. Her ethereal form radiated with divine energy, adorned in shimmering robes that mirrored the celestial hues of the cosmos.
"What is the meaning of this, Champion? You were tasked with eliminating the Demon Queen, not taking her to your world!"
The Hero maintained his stoic demeanor. "My apologies, Goddess, but I interpreted the agreement differently."
The Goddess frowned, clearly puzzled. "This wasn't the intended outcome. Explain yourself."
"I followed the letter of our agreement. The Demon Queen's influence shall no longer be a concern for Arcana, it shall become my responsibility."
And looking at it from another perspective, creating a pathway back to the hero's world itself exhausted a great deal of her power, meaning she would have to be wrung dry to fulfill his wish, but now that it was just a wish to take the Demon Queen back, it would cost nothing since there would be a pathway open.
It was a well-thought out agreement, even though he made it in the heat of the moment, one that benefited all three concerned parties, but she remained a bit worried.
After a moment of contemplation, the Goddess's stern expression softened. "You've always been an unconventional champion, but this is beyond my expectations. Are you certain this was the best course of action?"
The Hero nodded. "It is a resolution that aligns with the terms we agreed upon. And this is what I desire."
The Goddess sighed, conceding to the logic presented. "Very well, Champion. Your methods are unorthodox, but if it serves the purpose, I won't dispute it further. However, be prepared to answer to the consequences of your choices."
Besides, the Hero's thought process had been mysterious to Aria, and had never revealed any form of want or desire whatsoever, this was a first.
Back in the world of Arcana, Seraphina continued to lay in the aftermath, grappling with the abrupt turn of events. The Hero's words echoed in her mind, and a mix of confusion and curiosity filled her thoughts.
At that moment, the air beside her rippled, and out of thin air, someone's shape was being outlined until it completely revealed a grizzled, middle-aged Demonkin who had a complicated look on his face.
It was her Aide, Mercanis.
"My liege..."
"You also heard what he said, right?"
"W-well, I did, and I think he noticed my presence."
Seraphina chuckled, "It's not surprising. After all, he's the most powerful of all the Champions to be summoned. Nevermind that," she sighed, "what do you think of his decision."
Mercanis remained briefly silent, his eyebrows wrinkled into a frown, revealing his complicated thoughts.
As her confidant, he had long known of her thoughts of death, but he knew that deep down, death was just an alternative when there was no other choice. What his liege truly desired was respite, a life free of worries and responsibilities, unburdened by the hopes and expectations of the Demon race.
And so he knelt with a firm gaze.
"If I may be so bold, my liege, I think you should consider what he said."
Seraphina froze in shock, "Y-you do? But what about our people? There's still a whole lot we haven't done. I can't be selfish when the glory of our race is at stake."
Mercanis sighed, "My liege, you deserve rest; you've done enough."
She wavered. Yes, she knew what she desired, but she had been thrust into that position at a very young age, and the fate of millions rested upon her shoulders.
"Mercanis, for a Demon King to be born, the previous one has to die. If I leave, who will lead our people?"
And at that, he gave a mysterious smile, "The moment you leave this world, my liege, the world has considered you absent..."
"So it's not completely different from me dying." She nodded in realization.
"Yes, my liege. The world will naturally initiate the birth of another. After all, it's the natural law for light and darkness to exist in balance."
Even though this balance was precarious.
Immediately, the glorious Demon Queen collapsed to the ground, laying sprawled in the midst of destruction, and took a deep, long breath, allowing herself to imagine. Since her deepest worries had been soothed, she let her thoughts wander.
What was the Hero's world like? Was it filled with war and pain, just like hers, or was it peaceful? What strange races resided there? Did he have a family? In the first place, what prompted him to make that offer?
In the midst of her contemplations, a portal opened, and Mercanis hesitated for a moment before choosing to stay. After all, he had to remain to bid her farewell.
The Hero stepped out, and briefly, his gaze met with Mercanis, who gave a subtle nod.
Immediately, the Hero let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding. His eyes concealed a bit of surprise at the emotion he felt. Yes, he was nervous, somewhat anticipating a positive response.
He walked to Seraphina, who was in a daze, jolting her out of her thoughts.
"Have you made your decision?"
Seraphina gazed at him, her intense green eyes probing, as though to truly determine his intentions.
But all she received in response was a hand, which she took in a firm grip.
His hands felt warm, his calluses brushing against her skin, a result of intense sword training.
He may not have been traditionally handsome, but at that moment, he seemed to be bathed in a warm and reassuring aura that entranced her.
As he lifted her to her feet, she wondered.
If this wasn't salvation, then what was?