‘What is a hero?’ is a question that haunts theologists, philosophers and lawmakers of Avangarden. It is deeply rooted in tradition and is one of their only remaining connection to the Goddess. However, the definition seems to be diluting more and more over the ages, especially during the 99th era when there were five individuals who called themselves a hero -- an impossibility due to all known evidence.
It is widely accepted that the Endlegion Silverguards included at least one true hero during its existence. Though it is unknown exactly who.
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“The shining beacon of justice! The saviour from afar! The heart of the Endlegion Silverguards! I am Yuta, the Golden Soldier of Avangarden, the 99th hero!” announced the elusive silhouette hidden in their own shadow.
The combatants were confused, flabbergasted even regarding the appearance of this stranger. After a brief moment, Yuta continued.
“...Now could I ask what your names are?”
Instead of introducing himself as if this was an interview or a meeting with a new friend, Reginn began analyzing the figure. According to his estimates, the figure was male with an above-average mana capacity for a human. He was the strongest human he had met so far -- disregarding the first hero -- but such compliments didn’t mean much. Concluding he was not a threat and may even be an ally, he began his greeting.
“My name is Reginn, the child of blood and the second hero.” said Reginn “Know that I fight for the Goddess and the good of the Avangardian people.”
“And this other dude is…?”
“...He’s a demon lord, one I was battling until you intervened.”
“I see, but- wah!”
Embodying his state, Zealot jumped far into the sky to ambush the vulnerable hero. Reginn sighed as he realized that he gained just another baggage instead of an ally. The hero made his way to the crash landing zone, Yuta barely holding up against the demon lord. Reginn was forced to intervene through his magic, creating a collar around the demon lord’s neck and slowly hanging him in the sky.
His pressure was not powerful enough to penetrate his armour to suffocate him, and he soon broke free of the restriction. However, Reginn did succeed in regaining the demon lord’s attention.
“Why you son of a bitch!”
Unexpectedly, Yuta began emitting powerful concentrations of light from his eyes, slightly damaging Zealot. This action confused Reginn to no end seeing their difference in power, so he chose to watch, to try and understand the logic.
Yuta was fast enough to punch Zealot, causing a small rumble. Zealot, on the other hand, did not feel a thing from the attack and chose to quickly eliminate such a threat. The demon lord grabbed hold of the hero’s hand and destroyed it like a dry leaf, the painful crunch of the bone reverberating through the area.
As Yuta wailed in pain, Reginn continued to watch unfazed. He expected him to have at least one trick up his sleeve, and if he didn’t, well, he wasn’t worth saving anyway.
The self-proclaimed hero had enough courage and mental fortitude to stand back up, but tears continued to roll down his face as this was the first time battling a foe physically superior to him.
“Goddamn you…”
“Look, you better run away or you’ll be killed, you know?” provoked Reginn.
Yuta stared at the hero with fury but knew that he was right. He was obviously outmatched, but his pride stood in his way.
In a final attempt to overpower his foe, he grabbed hold of the demon lord and flew high into space, reaching altitude to qualify entering space. However, during the ascent, Zealot forcibly broke free of the hero’s grasp, breaking his shoulders in the process. The demon lord began falling mindlessly back onto the planet, uncaring where he landed. He put his hands behind his head in casual acceptance of random encounters.
Yuta on the other hand, returned to Sol-Aegis, considering the battle a victory with heavy injuries -- perhaps even permanent.
“I… I did it…” said the exhausted Yuta.
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“Great, now you dropped him off at who knows where.”
“What do you mean? I just saved you!”
“Did it look like I needed saving?” asked Reginn, annoyed, “I wasn’t being hunted, I was the hunter.”
Suddenly, radio signals delivered an urgent call to Yuta, the Endlegion Silverguards calling for help regarding a new threat. However, he was basically useless without his arms and required immediate medical attention. Thankfully, he was too damaged to the point where he did not feel much pain lest the brain fry.
“Zzz…mergency….quire your assistance immediately!” shouted a female voice from the radio.
“God… This day could not get any worse…” said Yuta, “Look, let me at least give you a ride back home.”
“...Fine.”
“O-ouch! Watch my shoulder, man!”
Reginn felt a bit embarrassed being carried on the back of a human, but seeing his incredible flight speed, this would be the fastest available mode of transportation other than teleportation. However, the mana in the surrounding area was absolutely ravaged and depleted and the hero would rather fly.
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During the flight, Yuta had many questions after realizing that Reginn was a resurrected hero from the eons past.
“Wow! So you’re from like, two thousand years ago?”
“...Yes.”
“Cool! Does that mean the other guy is…”
“The demon lord of my era. Zealot, the second demon lord.”
“Well, according to mythologies, he’s supposed to be your brother, right?”
“...I am ashamed to say that is indeed true.”
“Wow…”
“I’m wondering, how are you so powerful when you’re not even a real hero?”
“...Excuse me?”
“I can tell from your mana that you were not blessed by the Goddess. Then what is the source of your power?”
“...You got me, but don’t tell anyone else, okay?”
“I don’t care about your secret identity or your public identity, now spit it out.”
“I’m actually an Outlander.”
“I see… So who were you in your previous life to become so powerful?”
“I wasn’t anyone special really, just a student in another world,” said Yuta, “but my life was flipped on its head after I was reincarnated!”
Reginn wondered if he could’ve been an Outlander in another world as well if he wasn’t reincarnated -- he did travel pretty far into the Lesser Imaginary Space after all. However, he ceased the thought as that fate would be worse than even turning into a demon, for he would never see the Goddess ever again.
“Can you tell me a little bit more about this… Endlegion Silverguards?”
“Well, I am a part of the group, but I don’t know much about its history or anything.”
“I want to know where the true 99th hero is.”
“Then you’re on the right track. I mean, you knew I wasn’t the hero the moment you saw me, right? Then you just have to stick around Cadra for a bit, then you’ll get a glimpse of everyone in action soon enough!”
“Is Cadra really such a crime-ridden place…”
“I mean, it definitely can be more dangerous than other cities, especially with the concentration of mages, adventurers, warriors and gladiators, but that’s exactly why the Endlegion Silver Guards exist!”
“Hm…”
Reginn reflected on the current state of Avangarden, slowly piecing together the truth from his short experience in Cadra as well as the others’ statements. The nation seemed to be experiencing a turbulent era, a great change surely lying on the horizon waiting to change the world forever.
It would be his duty as a servant of the Goddess to look after the kingdom while she wasn’t around and was sure that this new threat could easily be solved. Though perhaps it could be a problem he wouldn’t want to solve…
Reginn resolved to himself that he would become greater than he ever was, and the next time the hero faced the demon lord, would be his death day.