The whole city was burning in black flames
Cries and screams could be heard from everywhere.
In the middle of this fire stood a person, wearing white medieval battle armor with gold designs
While everyone was running away, trying to get out of that place
This man was heading towards disaster.
A disaster called the "Black King"
In the middle of the black flames, sitting on top of ruins with a black mask on, was the Black King.
He was dressed entirely in black and wore a black crown with a shiny purple jewel.
The man in the white armor approached the black-clad figure and said,
"Brother, why did you do this?"
The Black King, upon hearing the word "brother," began laughing loudly and then, with a joyful and tipsy tone, said,
"Ayan, I'm glad you still consider me your brother."
The Black King paused and then continued,
"But, unfortunately, I am no longer your brother."
Then the Black King removed the mask from his face and showed his face to the man in white armor, whose name was Ayan.
Ayan's eyes widened upon seeing his face.
Ayan didn't know what to call what he was seeing now.
Ugly?
Terrifying?
No, this was still his brother's face, and Ayan couldn't allow himself to say such things.
A few moments later, the Black King put his mask back on, and his face disappeared.
"I knew it, this face is unpleasant even for you."
Ayan tried to say something,
"No, I..."
But the Black King raised his finger and said,
"There's no need to say anything."
The Black King picked up a sword that was on the left side of him on the body of a roughly 10-year-old child and pulled it out of its black sheath.
The blade of the sword was as black as its sheath.
So black that it seemed as if all the sorrow, pain, and darkness of humans were trapped in its blade.
After pulling out the blade, the Black King spoke,
"Ayan, now is not the time for talking."
The Black King paused, as if he wanted to say something, but at the last moment, he regretted saying it and continued with his previous words.
"Now you and I are no longer brothers. Now I am a disaster for humanity, and you are the hero who will save humanity from this disaster."
The Black King pointed his sword at Ayan and said,
"Today, this point, is the beginning of the end and the end of the beginning. The fate of the world will be decided here and now."
Ayan gave a bitter laugh and, as tears streamed down his face, said,
"Yes, now you are no longer my brother Akash. I am now standing against the 'Black King.'"
Ayan also drew his silver sword, which was a symbol of the mercy of the gods for humans.
The sword shone so magnificently it was as if it was a piece of the sun.
Ayan shouted and said loudly,
"Akash, Black King, you will pay for all your sins at this moment."
And then he smiled and, with a calmer and kinder voice, said,
"So let's do our final sword dance."
Even though it wasn't visible through the mask, Akash was smiling too.
Without a moment's hesitation, they both rushed towards each other. They met with unbelievable speed, as if they had always been there. They were constantly striking with their swords.
Their fight was like the dance of night and day, light and darkness, and finally, the dance of the hero and the devil.
The sound of their clashing swords echoed through the place.
After a few minutes of fighting, both were wounded, and at that moment, the Black King, Akash, said something,
"Ayan, let's end this in one strike."
Ayan gripped his sword with both hands and said,
"Agreed."
They both came towards each other, aiming their swords at each other's hearts.
They were just a few centimeters apart, but it seemed Akash's sword, being longer
They were just a few centimeters apart, but it seemed Akash's sword, being longer, would pierce Ayan's heart first.
But, something unexpected happened.
Ayan didn't even have time to think.
Ayan had prepared himself for death, knowing he couldn't
but something strange happened.
Ayan didn't even have a chance to think.
Ayan had prepared himself for death; he knew from the start that he couldn't beat his older brother.
From the beginning, Ayan was meant to be the one who dies.
But...
Now the one who had shaken the world, killed countless people, and spread terror across the globe,
now had his heart pierced and was holding Ayan in his arms.
Ayan, in disbelief, thought back to a few seconds before this happened.
Just when Ayan had prepared himself for death and Akash's sword had reached his chest, Akash suddenly dropped his sword and opened his arms to embrace his brother.
And he took Ayan's sword to his own heart and accepted death.
Even though Ayan should be happy for killing the disaster of humanity and saving the world,
he couldn't stop his tears.
When Ayan's sword was soaked with Akash's blood and still in Akash's heart,
Akash, while holding Ayan, whispered
Akash, while holding Ayan, whispered in Ayan's ear, his voice sounding like it was his last moments,
"Ayan, for our final conversation, I want you to say that line you always used to say to me before all of this happened."
Ayan, trying to control his tears, said with a trembling voice,
"I love you, big brother."
Akash, hearing this, gave a deep smile and said,
"Don't waste time blaming yourself and always live the best life you can, because from now on, you have to live for both of us."
With those words, Akash slowly started to turn into bright white light particles
Ayan, watching his brother crumble, couldn't hold back his tears.
He dropped his sword and tried to hug his brother, but he was gone, turned into light.
Even his clothes were destroyed.
The only thing left was a black crown lying on the ground.
Ayan bent down and picked up the crown, which suddenly turned into white light and entered Ayan's body.
At that moment, a floating screen appeared.
[ System Message ]
[ Condition 1: All required souls have been successfully gathered ]
[ Condition 2: The soul of one of the user's dearest individuals has been successfully gathered ]
[ All healing conditions met ]
Reading these messages, Ayan cried even harder.
He felt his wounds healing, even the deep wounds to his soul inflicted during battle, which had constantly caused him great pain.
Ayan, smiling and crying, said,
"So brother, everything you did was all for me.."
On the other side, Akash's soul was moving through endless darkness toward a patch of light at the end, when suddenly a screen appeared before him.
[ System is dissatisfied with your performance ]
[The system takes you back 20 years to correct your mistakes]