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Arthur surveyed the scene before him, his heart a mix of fear and excitement. Gathered for the war's strategic meeting, he and his comrades stood in awe. Despite Arthur's modest rank in the heroes' army, merely being in their presence was deemed a blessing. Heroes were chosen every 666 years by the four great gods:
Auron the Radiant,
Selene the Serene,
Arion the Enlightened,
Drakkar the Valiant.
This generation's heroes were stronger than the last, but so were the demons. Today marked the final battle as they approached the demon god's fortress.
Suddenly, a heavy pressure descended upon them, burdening Arthur's shoulders. He struggled to control his trembling, glancing at his comrades and superiors who mirrored his unease.
"Stop it, Valen. You're frightening them," a voice sweeter than divine elixir soothed the gathering, dispelling the oppressive atmosphere. Without hesitation, Arthur and his comrades knelt, shouting in unison
" With reverence, we greet the chosen ones."
" Hmph you stay out of it Luna. These bastards must be able to handle my pressure, If they can't even handle this how can they handle that bastard's pressure." Valen said with a serious expression while touching the scar on his beautiful face.
During his last battle Valen Dawnbringer the hero chosen by Auron the Radiant was utterly defeated by Thornos the Corrupter, a demon god. Though he got out alive after the battle the defeat left an unforgettable scar on him both metaphorically and literally. Since that time he has been harsh on his soldiers. However the soldiers never felt any negative feelings towards his attitude but would feel happy to be able to serve their god's chosen ones. Their belief was so strong that they would willingly sacrifice themselves if it was for their gods.
" Hmm? You two are already here? " A gentle yet loud voice was heard.
" With reverence, we greet the chosen one." The shout was heard again.
All heads were turned to the person speaking. He was a tall blonde handsome youngman who seemed to be in his mid-twenties. He was none other than Rynn Stormblade. The strongest swordsman to have ever lived of course if 'he' was not included.
" You are here brother Rynn!! I am so gald to see you! " Said Luna with very pleasant smile on her face. Everyone including the two heroes were stunned by her smile. Her beauty and charisma were out of the world being a hero chosen by Selene the Serene.
" Quit the pleasantries and let's start the meeting. The movements of the demon army are way too strange. It seems like they are planning something. " said Rynn with a serious face while pointing the locations of the demon army on a map.
*BAM
The castle door was suddenly blasted open and a silhoute was seen.
" How mean! How could you start the meeting without me? Luna why didn't you stop them hmph. Only brother Elias treats me well and you guys don't even like me. " Said the petite girl who looked like she was in her teenage years. She had a red armour covering her entire body. Her red hair and her fiery red eyes looked fierce. She was Phoenix Sunstrider a hero chosen by Arion the Enlightened.
Hearing the name she mentioned everyone present in the meeting including the heroes gulped hard.
" Don't waste anymore time and start the meeting. The gods are wating for our victory we can't delay their wishes. Those filthy creatures must be wiped out of the earth." A sound was heard.
He was not loud yet the people present their felt like their ears would blast from the sole pressure of his voice. His voice brought everyone present to their knees. Even the heroes were barely able to stand.
With a heavy pressure engulfing them, the soldiers tried to sound as loud as possible.
" With reverence, we greet the chosen one."
He was Elias Justus the strongest hero of all time.Though only four heroes were chosen every 666 years, this time they had an extra hero. Though he was not chosen by any one of the four gods his power was superior than all the heroes. It was rumoured that ever since he lost his family to the demons Elias found love of family in the churches of the four great gods. He was also called as the Fanatic of The Gods due to his faith in the gods. Since a young age he grew up in the churches studying the divine scriptures of all the great gods. He's faith in the great gods cannot be imagined. No man has ever lived after questioning his faith in the gods in front of him. Though no one certainly knew why he was chosen as a hero. He played very vital role in the war. He was the Strongest swordsman to have ever lived and he was also a 8-star light mage second only to Luna who was the 10-star mage.
*WHOOSH
The atmosphere changed like the pressure was never there. Everyone present for the meeting finally took a breath.
The meeting then continued for about an hour and all the infantry were divided and positioned. Everyone was ready to depart for the war. The five heroes gathered in front of the army and each of the them took turns to speak in order to increase the moral of the army. After the four heroes finished speaking and it was finally Elias's turn.
Every living being present were looking forward for what the Fanatic had to say.
" Warriors of the divine, champions of righteousness, Today, we stand not as mere mortals, but as vessels of the gods themselves, imbued with their divine fury and purpose. Look upon the horizon, where the shadow of darkness looms large, threatening to devour all that we hold dear. But know this, my brethren, we are not servants of fear, but instruments of divine wrath! " His voice echoed throughout the land."
Feeling their blood boil from the words "HU! HU!" shouted the soldiers in unison.
" Life, they say, is not about waiting for the storm; it's about learning to dance in the rain. And dance we shall, not in the gentle drizzle of complacency, but in the thunderous downpour of holy retribution! For the gods have ordained this day as the reckoning of the righteous, the purging fire that cleanses the world of wickedness! "
"HU! HU!"
" Let our battle cry pierce the heavens themselves, a symphony of defiance that resonates through the cosmos! Let the gods bear witness to our valor, for we fight not for glory or conquest, but for the very soul of creation! "
"HU! HU!" The soldiers let out a resounding cry, their voices joining in a mighty roar that shakes the earth itself, their spirits united in a primal chant of determination.
" In the name of the divine, we shall strike down our foes with righteous fury! In the name of the gods, we shall carve our legend into the annals of eternity! And in the name of all that is holy, we shall emerge victorious, bathed in the light of divine favor! "
" So, rally to me, my brothers and sisters! Lend your power to me. Let us march forth as one, an unstoppable force of righteousness! Let us invoke the names of our patron deities and feel their power surge through our veins! For today, we are not mere mortals; we are avatars of the divine, destined to claim victory in this holy war! "
" And I Elias Justus the servant of the gods promise you all that I will cut the demons head with everything I got until I wipe them out of this land blessed by the holy gods. So my brethren I ask you to lend me your powers to wipe out those filthy existences. Roar for the holy war my warriors!! Roar for the Gods!! Roar for the victory my brothers and sisters!!."
"HU! HU!"
*BOOM BOOM
*CLANG CLANG
Soldiers started smashing their swords and spears on their shields. The shockwave produced from that shook the castle walls.
"Onward, champions of the gods! Onward, to glory and victory!"
The soldiers responded with another thunderous cry, their voices echoing across the battlefield, a testament to their unyielding resolve and unwavering faith.
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After a while
A lone figure carried the head of Hero Valon in one hand and sword in the other. He gazed solemnly at the headless body of hero Valon before casting the severed head aside.
"I am sorry, everyone. It is the only way to save you. Don't hate me. It is the only way. It is the only way. Yes, it is the only way," the figure muttered to himself, each word weighed down by the burden of his decision. With a determined resolve, he set off towards the horizon, his footsteps echoing the urgency of his mission.
Through the chaos and carnage, he sought out the other heroes, his heart heavy with the knowledge of the sacrifices that lay ahead. But he knew that their salvation depended on their sacrifice. And so, with each step, he carried the weight of their hopes and dreams, forging ahead towards an uncertain future.