Part 4 –

Charred remnants littered the burning streets. No matter where Haiyoto looked death was always present. The city expanded far larger than he had thought. The walls somehow made it seem so much smaller than it was from the outside.

His speed returned to normal once he reached the main gates. Before him was a massive street that stretched kilometres across the city. At the end he could see the ever-marching frontline of white and black-armoured soldiers, cleaving away at the Undead.

Anoma was among them.

The broken metal clanked beneath his boots, then his rubber soles squeaked against the cracked stone. And then – the sounds turned to mush and crackles.

Piles of desiccated bodies littered the entrance, most charred beyond compression. The only reason why he knew they were human remains was because there were others here, injured as they were laid down in rows with healers rushing to tend to their wounds.

A mix of the bulky Greater Knights, the normal-classed White Knights, regular soldiers and even adventurers laid there in varying degrees of suffering. A hideous wail of despair nearly caused him to turn back.

To run as far as he could.

But could not just abandon these people. He counted at least a hundred here. Twice more for the blankets that covered the remains of the deceased.

None were given the honour of a burial.

In the corner of his eye, he watched soldiers haul bodies into bonfires. Their carcases burst into embers, releasing a foul stench that violated all five senses.

This is insane… How many have already been killed across the other divisions if adventurers are here as well?

Too many. That was certain. Many were not trained for sustained combat, resulting in mass fatigue within the first hour. It had led to many deaths across the divisions – at least this was what he gathered from the voices around him.

“We’re dead… We’re all dead!” A woman screamed, as she flailed the stubs that remained on both her arms.

“Please! This is my son! Please – please don’t burn him! Let me burry him! I beg you!” A father begged as he fought to reclaim his son’s corpse, which was hauled away by reluctant soldiers.

“How many have died? How many more are going to fucking die!?” Another voice shouted.

“Settle down. Have hope… we number in the tens of thousands. A few hundred is nothing.”

A Greater White Knight stated as they laid with various object impaled in their stomach. It was a miracle that they could even speak. One of the objects had severed his spinal cord, sparing him of a mind-rending agony. But by the colour of their face, and the way their eyes dulled – they had no more than an hour to live, even with the aid of the healers.

[Sixth Tiered] [Healing] magic was required to stabilise a person with critical wound and extensive internal damage. [Seventh Tier] allowed for limbs to be slowly regrown. At best these mages were capable of [Third Tiered] [Healing] magic – not nearly enough heal most lethal wounds.

“For… for a Greater Knight it might mean nothing – But what about us? What about the people who sacrificed themselves for this!? Do we all not matter to you!?” A young woman yelled in fury as she huddled by a small group of dead.

“The Children of Balance already declared us victorious –”

“Screw them! Hope and Despair means nothing if I can’t get my… my friends back. Why did we come here? I thought… I thought we’d manage through. We were promised money to change our service! From Katho… to here… I’m sorry… I’m so sorry… It’s all my fault.” She broke into a sobbing mess.

And she was one of many.

“The Guild Master is the only one that continues forth… What kind of monsters are the Greater Knights? Surely – they’re not human, are they? So it takes a monster to fight another monster.”

Indeed. It was only Anoma’s division that continued to press against the Undead with unrelenting force as far as Haiyoto could tell. For all he knew the other divisions could have already taken a defensive position to recover.

“Where is the Exrenity? The Spirit of Balance? I thought we were blessed! Why… why are we fighting alone against these things!?” A soldier struck the wall of a burnt house and shattered their knuckles. The rage that consumed them numbed the pain as they begged, bargained, and prayed for a miracle to smite the Undead from where they stood.

But what came instead was a young man donned in brilliant armour. From the face of the man to the two blades that hung from his waist and back – this person was undoubtably one of the Heroes of Truebirth.

“Hey… isn’t that – isn’t that one of the Heroes!? The Haiyoto one!” A near-blinded woman exclaimed, finally noticing him.

“So it is!”

“… and they decided to come now. You – Where, where were you when my son was killed!?” The father picked up a stone and hurled it at him. Haiyoto moved his body only slightly to avoid it, and it only further angered the man.

Before he could pick another stone, he was immediately apprehended by soldiers.

“Let me go! Tell me Hero! Why him!? Why was it him that died!? Why was he here… and you weren’t…? Why? WHYYYYYY!?”

His voice faded as they dragged him away. But he could still hear his voice like a ghost in his mind. He froze in place, his eyes filled with shock and guilt.

I’m sorry…

He wanted to say this out loud. While they were out there stationed as scouts normal people were fighting for their home. It was at this moment – as various more noticed and began to parade him with either cheers or insults – that he considered what Truebirth meant to him for the first time…

… what am I even going to change? Why praise me for something I haven’t even done yet? Enough already… I’m sick of this.

“Haiyoto! We’re sorry for their disrespect. It’s been rowdy ever since the divisions were flooded with so many injured. They just came out of nowhere.” A nameless solider spoke as a group of another few adventurers surrounded him… in fact, it felt like a crowd had gathered around him. “Hey – you’re here to save us, right!?”

“Of course! He’s a Hero! Look at his weapons! The Undead don’t stand a chance!”

“With that awesome speed we’ll win for sure!”

What are you talking about…? Please be quiet. Please shut up. Just shut up and let me move…

“And what about your frien –?”

“Please let me through.” He spoke in a cold voice, shutting them down as he pried himself through the crowd. To be seen in such a light disgusted him beyond belief.

Is this how Lizen felt? I can’t even think straight anymore.

His turmoils reached a boiling point once he propelled himself forward into the main streets of Palvel, leaving behind the men and women who stared at his back completely dumbfounded.

Haiyoto wished he had never heard them. His mind was clouded with rage, agonising pain, and endless sadness. They tugged on the corners of his soul ripped his soul into thirds as his heart desperately tried to sew them back together.

The constant chatter of war surrounded him. The crackling of fire, the explosions of high-tiered magic, the engines of one of mankind’s greatest armaments – the airships – and the shouts of brutal combat. All 11 divisions fought on either side to tooth and nail. People weaker than him fought, suffered, and died.

They possessed courage he couldn’t begin to fathom. Everywhere he looked was a calamity incarnate. Along the ruined street he blitzed by many healers and recovery squads who moved up and down, dragging bodies both dead and alive; dissected, and intact.

And then – halfway up the street where no one stood – he staggered off into a shallow alleyway and puked his guts out. The contents of his breakfast and lunch atop the hill spilled over the reddish brickwork, melding into a disgusting concoction of fluids.

How can you call me a Hero… and expect me to save you when I haven’t proved anything yet? All this praise being chosen. Don’t make me laugh… dammit. Anoma. I need to reach Anoma… quickly.

But he didn’t move.

… what is Truebirth to me? How can I be a Hero when I’m so cowardly?

He cringed at himself, wiping away the tears, sweat and vomit from his pale face. As his hands covered his eyes – a sudden croaking sound caused his entire body to freeze.

“… h… hel… help… me…”

Huh?

He couldn’t respond. When he removed his hands from his face, he witnessed a scene that broke his soul.

A black blob of organs and bones rolled pitifully around the corner. It slumped against the wall, quivering in pain. He knew it was an Undead. A disgusting enemy of mankind, humanoids, and the living.

But it spoke to him…

Not the Undead. But the person that the Undead had captured within the ribcage that acted like jaws, each one penetrating into person’s torso as it assimilated them into an Undead. But what shocked him the most was that those ribs were made from many smaller ones…

They were made from children. The mass did not attack him. Neither did it look like it could move very well. They simply waited there, almost as if…

“… kil… kill me… kill… us… please… I… I don’t… want… to… be…come one…”

They seemingly offered her to him to end her suffering. He couldn’t move no matter how much he tried. But slowly as the coldness of reality bit into his nape – he realised something.

… no. That… She’s… not wearing anything like us. No armour. No leather… not even robes. Just a kitchen apron and some rags for clothes. She’s… from Palvel. A civilian. I – I thought…

“Hurry… Please… just let it end… They were waiting… waiting… and waiting… but no… no… on… e… sto… pped… for… day… s. My chi… ldren… please… end us…”

Haiyoto’s body moved on its own as an overwhelming sadness engulfed him. He reluctantly drew his blade, held it in where the sun could never see it and saw himself in its reflection.

And then – he looked down to them with tears in his eyes.

I thought there was no one left… if there’s survivors then… did we just condemn them all to death?

“I’m sorry –” Haiyoto swung with his eyes shut. The sound of flesh being destroyed caused him to hideously wince as he expected to feel it through the handle of his blade.

But he didn’t. He only felt it hit the stone underneath, burying itself inches into it. When he opened his eyes, he found the pulverised remains of the Undead… and the woman. The one who killed it wasn’t him, but a Greater Black Knight that had followed him up the path.

A bloodied sledge-hammer-like weapon easily half the size of an ordinary man was hoisted over his shoulder. He had swung with his only arm and hit it with unparalleled precision and power, causing the Undead to explode in disgusting chunks.

“I didn’t expect to see such a sorry sight.” The Greater Black Knight uttered. “Civilians… I thought this place was cleared of them.”

“Didn’t we all…?” Haiyoto clasped the hand that held his blade to stop it from trembling. “You’re… injured. Shouldn’t you rest?”

“I should. But I was curious. You arrived without using the smokestacks. I thought your news would be worthwhile to protect. And you shouldn’t worry about a Greater Knight. You’re in worse shape than I.”

“Thank you... We did use the smokestacks. We used them all. Everyone did. There was a pillar that rose far higher than all our smokestacks. A sphere larger than any mountain range I’ve ever seen in this world. How didn’t anyone see it?” Haiyoto spoke groggily, as they took refuge against the wall. “I’m… so fucking sick to my stomach. Normal people are mixed in this now… I’m still wondering if it was the right thing to do.”

“Relinquish that, Hero –”

“Oh please… just call me by my name. I can’t believe… civilians are still here. Still hiding. Still fighting… and waiting to be saved.”

“Haiyoto… Ahem. I, Graggur A. Lanker will ensure your message reaches Anoma. Please – we should move now.”

“So formal all of a sudden. Yeah. You’re right. I’m just wasting time here lamenting on the things I can’t change. If I had this courage from the start, then maybe I could’ve fought alongside you guys.”

Graggur shook his head as he began to move. “Then would we have been able to receive this message?”

Haiytoto’s eyes widened. The revelation nearly caused him to drop to his knees, but he steeled himself and slowly looked up to see the broad back of the man called Graggur.

“Fate works in mysterious ways. I don’t believe it is the will of the Gods, but a matter of coincidences sewn together to make it seem as such. Let’s go, Haiyoto. Please prove me right.”

Haiyoto, beaten and battered to his mental limits found hope in this man’s words. As he ran and caught up to him, he remembered the silly words that were spoken only nights ago…

* * *

“That’s –!”

The crew aboard Truebirth’s airship huddled to the edge, peering into the distance where a purple smokestack rose above the black smoke and flames below. The magical bombardments ceased, and all existing magical circles were fulfilled for one final attack on the homes below.

The ruckus above penetrated through the ship’s heavy interior, reaching the chamber where it was manned an operated by a crew of navigators, a captain, and various others, including Talia. This was where she performed her large-scale [Healing] magic, all within the safety of the airship’s rather dull hull.

“Halt! Anoma’s just given the regrouping order! Captain – send this ship back to her division!” An armed man relayed as they peered through various scrying orbs, which allowed them to see the world all around them with near perfect clarity.

“A regroup? Isn’t it too early for us?” The captain uttered. “What’s the situation down there looking like?”

“The same as it was. We’re losing people, but we still have plenty left to fight!” The man swiftly replied.

“Has the fatigue already set in!?”

“I’m afraid so, captain.”

“Dammit… Priestess Talia, is there not any magic in your arsenal than can restore their stamina?” The captain asked.

“[Healing] magic naturally works to help restore stamina. I can’t output more than they expend.” She explained. “Captain. The smokestack is hard to notice, no? Should someone relay this to the other airships?”

“They can see it. One of Pathfist’s airships are already heading there. But the other one doesn’t look like it wants to budge. What’s it trying to do there on the north-eastern end?” A crewmember questioned, moving his sights back to the smokestack. “Captain – Is this really the right call? Something big must’ve happened to make this decision. This isn’t like her.”

“This whole operation wasn’t like her. The lack of pre-emptive strikes was what sealed it for me. We had airships above this cursed city and we didn’t burn it to bits. I think she’s lost her touch since becoming the Guild Master.” The captain criticised. “Ah… forgive me, Priestess. I didn’t mean it like that. This was of course the plan laid out by our magnificent Gods.”

Talia’s heart wrenched at those words.

“My, please don’t worry. Anoma’s plan only coincides with theirs. Their judgement is above our understanding.”

“Would be nice to understand once in a while though.” Someone muttered, right before he was struck in the shoulder by another. “Hey – why’d you hit me?” This man’s name was Alken Su, a Demi-human that possessed dog-like characteristics and features, such as fluffy ears and a tail.

“Dumbass, do you know who you’re talking in front of!?” The person, Alyzan Siru whispered angrily. This young man possessed a face of peerless beauty that women envied, and a lithe body that made them appear unfit for combat. They were an Elf so their masculine beauty made perfect sense.

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“C-c’mon. I wasn’t born here so how the hell am I supposed to know who she is?” Alken rebutted, right as a third crewmember stepped in with a long sigh.

“Hey. Can you two shut up for a second? If all you’re going to do is talk then at least do so with respect in front of our Captain and the Priestess.” A dark-skinned man spoke. “Our apologies, captain. Priestess Talia.”

The person who spoke was Adrian Labar, an Otherworlder who possessed vast knowledge in machinery, engines and the now highly popularised subject in the Institute of Magic, courtesy of Professor Prostranstvo – physics. In other words, Adrian was an engineer, and he played a vital role in maintaining the inner workings of the airship.

Talia only nodded. She was not bothered at all by their minor scuffle.

As she turned back and peered into the scrying glass again, all she could feel was an overwhelming sense of loss. Her smile disappeared as quickly as it appeared, and once her chant neared its end – she uttered:

“– [Snow of Light – Restoration].”

Particles of healing photons fell like snow upon the burning city. They were further – much further away than the divisions, so this magic wouldn’t be able to reach them at all.

No one questioned her however. Talia remained silent throughout the minor journey back towards the division as the airship cruised at full speed. But – the silence around them never returned. It noises only grew louder.

“Another smokestack…? Hey. Captain – what does ‘red’ mean?” Alken the Demi-human asked, instantly causing Alyzan to peer through the same orb with desperate haste.

“Get out of the way! Captain! Anoma’s ordered an emergency fortification! What the hell is she doing!?”

“Red…? Wasn’t that for a last resort!?” The captain suddenly exclaimed.

“Garrisoning within the structures… what could have possibly caused them to –!? Wait… could it mean that they’ve received news of the Undead monster!?”

“Impossible. We didn’t see any of the blue or golden smokestacks!” Talia immediately responded, utterly confused by this. “On the scrying orb – can you see anyone next to her majesty!?”

“One second… almost… It’s – it’s the Hero! The male one!” Alyzan exclaimed, causing Talia’s eyes to widen in shock.

“Haiyoto!? Why is he –!?”

Before Talia could finish her sentence – the world suddenly shook. Everyone was thrown to one side of the airship with vicious force. They were glued to the wall for a brief second before they all collapsed in a messy heap. The stomping from above was cut in half as screams replaced them by tenfold.

Where they were thrown happened to also be where the crewmembers above were huddled to view the smokestacks. In one unseen fell swoop they had lost half of their men overboard. Where magic and fire once hailed – bodies now followed, painting the roofs in red as their bodies splattered on impact.

“Ack… Priestess, are – are you ok!?” Alyzan exclaimed, aiding Talia to her feet right before they noticed the pool of blood underneath their feet.

“Captain!?” Alken gasped, turning the body of man only to reveal that his head had been split open upon impact, his brains spilling like squeezed yogurt. “Urgh… shit! Adrian – you good!?”

“I’m fine… dammit… were we attacked?” He coughed. “What hit us?”

“I don’t think we were hit…” Talia uttered as she sensed a foreboding presence within the centre of the city. “Please – take us to the main division. I’m going to check what’s above! And… my condolences, Captain…”

She rushed towards the exiting staircase.

“Wait – it’s dangerous!” Adrian chased her but relented soon after. If the ship was damaged, then it needed tending to immediately. This was his priority, and whatever Talia needed to confirm must have been hers.

Talia pushed through the metal stairs until she reached the hatch door. With a twist of its locking mechanism and a push that required every ounce of her strength – she was greeted with blinding light –

– And a pillar of darkness that consumed all. It split the world in two halves, originating from the centre of Palvel’s colossal square. The energy that radiated from the colossal beam caused her body to react on an instinctive level, all the while the crewmembers held onto the reams of the airship for dear life.

She stood amid the chaos, enraptured in total bewilderment.

Why do I… feel like I understand it?

She recognised it… no. She didn’t know what it was. But her body seemingly knew. The blood that ran through her veins reacted to this unbound power that she could only call:

“Despair… impossible. The Domain of Realms still exists so how…?” The words were barely able to leave her hung jaw.

The power undoubtably belonged to Despair. This was what her body screamed. The blood that was passed down for countless generations from the first worshipers of Ephyla, the mother of the Children of Balance – resonated with this.

The initial appearance of the beam must have been what caused the airship to violently rock, now seeing the many pulverised structures within one hundred meters of its vicinity.

Even though she understood that it was but a mere fraction of her God’s power – the skies cracked under its wrath.

It seemed oddly calming. Cathartic almost. The pillar of darkness… no, of despair was the manifestation of all their combined despair, transformed into physicality.

But for what it stood to erect was poison to her thoughts, and a disturbing delicacy to her soul. Only Despair held the authority create this, but with the existence of the Maiden of Realms this was all but impossible.

So why was it here?

She didn’t know.

The shouting and screaming almost never reached her until she looked over in the direction of the main division.

“Did Anoma know…? Is that why she made us attack when there’s still countless still in here?” Talia whispered to the air, recalling a conversation she held with Anoma within the Guild. “All to create despair…”

After Calin was made to leave, Anoma stated these words.

* * *

“These plans only exist to inspire confidence in the war. From there, it is all in the hands of our Gods. Talia. I’m sure you realise what that means, and what remains at Palvel.”

Following the silence, Anoma pushed herself away from the table and stood as she finished.

“That’s why you decided to come along. Because you couldn’t bear to face the guilt of sacrificing so many lives. I’m the same… I plan to step down and atone when this is all over. Therefore, let me protect this place one last time.”

* * *

“Anoma…” Talia knew well this was far from Anoma’s fault. In the beginning they were required to fight for their survival. Like rats cornered by a looming threat, they needed to do anything they could to survive. There was no other way to escape the Undead threat, and the Gods had given them a convenient chance at overcoming this adversity.

But little did they know was that their true intentions were far sinister than they could have ever imagined.

Anoma was forced to play a hand of dysfunctional cards against her greater judgement.

“Is it not a beautiful sight? The old mage lost his vision once he beheld this sight.” A powerful voice spoke from behind her.

Cardinal laid in a pool of blood as his chosen mages scrambled to heal him. The pillar of despair was a revelation that robbed him of his conciseness, for his feeble mind had tried to comprehend its power.

Talia instantly turned to voice, only to see nothing.

Yes. Nothing. Her vision was consumed by darkness and fleeting golden particles. Her blood seemingly crystalised as her body refused to move. The very void stared back at her as she tried to fathom what exactly she was looking at…

Desire… The Well of Wishes… why do I know this? Where am I getting this knowledge from!?

“Her blood transcends through the Spirits and the corporeal body. Now that I look at you – you really do resemble her, hm Priestess Talia; the two hundred and thirteenth mortal-born of the nameless Spirit.”

Talia looked behind her again and saw nothing. The voice spoke as if it could read her heart aloud. She clenched her teeth and gazed back into the monumental sphere of darkness that loomed over the north-eastern walls.

“’How couldn’t we see it?’ Is what you’re thinking. Ah. I must apologise, Priestess. How could I be so rude. I am one of the six apostles of Despair, the Overlord of Desire. My body can exist only in one place, but my words exist omnipresent in all hearts within my jurisdiction. I’m sorry, but the castle walls are not the only walls present in Palvel.”

You don’t mean…

“I love how fast you think, Priestess. Your minds are really alike~ As expected. Beyond the walls of Palvel is an illusionary barrier. Do you think they would have obeyed Anoma’s orders if they all saw this too soon?”

Talia bit her tongue till she drew blood.

… Overlord of Desire, if I may ask – How is Anoma involved in all of this?

“Spare me the formality. Your blood’s origin is not too dissimilar from mine. Neither is this our first time meeting. Anoma was meant to become one of my apostles. But I relinquished her from that chance, and this is the favour she shall fulfill. A desire to protect, but at the cost of so many. For our goal.”

Goal?

“This is all to keep the future intact. In the event the Exrenity fails in defeating the Maiden of Realms then at least Despair will have a monumental foothold in this world.”

The Maiden of Realms still exists. That isn’t possible.

“Oh Priestess. We have our ways. Despair’s power will not be required. Not directly. We have acquired all the despair we need to create an Overlord from our vitriolic singularity.”

Create? You – you don’t mean –!?

“Priestess of Ephyla – You and all in Palvel shall bear witness to the birth of the thirteenth apostle of the Children of Balance.”

Talia trembled as the sphere grew ominously closer. Their airship was thankfully fast enough to escape the gravity well that consumed all that laid beneath it. She watched helplessly as the airship of Palvel was slowly dragged into what she could only describe as a destructive stellar body that had fallen into their world.

The crewmembers that jumped overboard in doves were only sucked into the maw of the Well of Wishes. Once they passed through its darkened membrane, they disappeared without a trace The. airship was drawn within and was swallowed peacefully into a black ocean.

Talia nearly cursed at the entity aloud, and near instinctively prepared her magic to combat it if it meant she could buy time to save lives.

But how could she against a near omnipresent entity? As she lamented at the unfortunate situation they had all found themselves in – the Well of Wishes suddenly shrieked, and in its wake – the buildings, the debris, the land – everything it had consumed were spewed out like an omnidirectional volcanic eruption.

And what followed was a disaster on an unpresented scale that she could only describe as a calamity.

* * *

Lizen ran with Amy held tightly in her arms as she followed Khalis and Calin through the blazing streets. The wails and cries of the fallen rung louder than the ominous hum of the black sphere above the skies of Palvel.

They had only just passed through the gates where the injured where held. All attempts at interaction were largely ignored as they ran through with no intentions to stop.

Not that they could either when the world seemingly teared itself apart at the seams.

Amy closed her ears to the world as thunderous thuds and crashes echoed in every direction. Lizen could barely take her eyes off the sphere which spewed debris like streaks of meteors across the city. A devastation only foretold in legends unfolded. A calamity of a scale beyond human comprehension devoured Palvel and brought it to the brink of utter annihilation.

“Keep moving… don’t get hit by any of the debris!” Khalis roared as the streets were instantly showered with rocks the size of wagons, and some as small as Amy’s fist.

“Obviously!” Calin snapped.

“It’s safest where Anoma is! With the number of Greater Knights, it is a given that they will stand their ground underneath a massive combined [Physical Barrier]! Haiyoto is also there! Look! The smokestacks are still rising!” Khalis shouted.

Lizen staggered as she ran, needing to carry the weight of her armour and Amy combined as she manoeuvred through, her eyes rapidly moving between the streets and the skies. Her agility was impeccable, but not enough to catch up with Khalis and Calin who were more than 15 metres ahead.

“Amy – please prepare any [Physical Barriers] you can!” Lizen begged.

“A-already ahead of you!” She nodded. “I’ve got five layers of [Physical Barriers] above us! Just – just don’t get hit! Please don’t get hit! You absolutely won’t get hit, right!?”

“I’ll get hit if you keep talking so shut up!” Lizen retorted back, her mind in near disarray as she navigated through a maze of falling rock.

It felt as though the world itself had turned upside down. Whenever her eyes were set to the darkness above, her mind interpreted it as if she had gazed into the bottom of an abyss beneath her feet.

The sphere of darkness consumed the sky as day turned to night. An eclipse befell Pavlel, empowering the Undead. The battles with these sinister monstrosities around them grew fiercer all of a sudden as the screams of death became more distraught with each passing second.

But she couldn’t freeze now. Amy’s life was in her hands, and her body refused to submit to the madness. The sight of soldiers meeting their unfortunate demise to stray projectiles left her unable to think save for one thing, and one thing only.

Survive.

A blotch of blood from an adventurer… soldier? She could tell anymore. The face of this person was caved half-way into their skull, their blood splattering across Lizen’s face like a broken faucet.

“Quickly Lizen!” Khalis called, turning back to beacon them.

Lizen quickly noticed the structures alongside the streets had gradually grown larger. Most stood up to five floors in height, enough to nearly cover the entire width of the street she followed.

It did not take a genius to realise the threat these structures possessed, and Lizen wielded the foresight to react to the inevitable.

“Tch!” She grunted as she contorted her body to take a sudden alleyway on the side. “Khalis! Calin! We’ll see you there!”

“Lizen –!?” Calin exclaimed.

Her judgement proved to be correct. The buildings toppled over into the street. Had they followed behind their mentors she and Amy would have been crushed to death.

But similarly, if she was fast enough it wouldn’t had mattered in the first place.

They ran down an entirely new street. Stray soldiers and the Undead fought in this new battlefield, neither gaining the upper hand. It was a constant slaughter of one or the other. Entrails were torn out of cavities, heads rolled, and limbs fell all the while everything burnt.

These streets were supposed to have already been cleared by the overwhelming flames. But some Undead persisted, and the men who wandered up here were like moth guided by a lantern’s light. These unoccupied streets were far safer than the main ones and provided much needed protection against the falling debris. Although –

– A stone building was struck by a massive boulder, instantly felling the entire structure.

Their safety was never guaranteed.

Lizen followed a path closest to the buildings and navigated through the street’s odd layout. There was a red river in between the street, teeming with aquatic Undead and schools of necrotic limbs. Some poor soldiers gurgled as their bodies were swarmed by tadpoles-like Undead and worms which invaded their orifices, devouring them from the inside out until they burst from their bodies with bolstered numbers.

Compartments, wagons, and stalls of all sorts were left to rot in the shadow of these abandoned streets. They provided Lizen with difficulty when she needed to manoeuvre past the Undead.

“C’mon… just an opening back to the other side. That’s all we need!” Lizen cried. “Amy… Amy?”

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry…” The traumatised girl repeated over and over.

“AMY!”

“Ah! Hu-ahh! I’m –” She snapped out of her fear, only revert back into cowering under Lizen’s shadow.

“Dammit –!”

An Undead suddenly attacked them from out of nowhere.

Lizen just barely managed to sidestep the swipe of the Undead’s claws, which they had stuck out hoping she’d run straight into it. But Lizen wasn’t so pathetic to be ensnared by such an underhanded attack.

She spun on her foot with mastery over her balance, and with that built momentum, she stuck a clean kick on the Undead. Given the brittle nature of most fodder Undead, her kick severed it into two to her shock.

She had killed an Undead for the first time. A parody of what was once a person. The sensation of her leg cutting through flesh like a blade nearly caused her to stagger, but she remained determined to survive and persevere through this nightmare.

“… don’t look Amy. Please don’t look.” She begged, her body now beginning to tremble at the sight of death. But when she looked down at the girl who could do nothing but helplessly cower in terror, she managed to regain some of her courage. “Don’t worry Amy! I’ll protect you…!”

You know… I’m starting to realise something.

Lizen shoulder charged into another Undead, crushing it between her body and a fallen boulder. It remains splattered all over her body, tainting her in its disgusting fluids. A sudden courage sept into her being, igniting her spirit with sudden conviction to push through the odds… to fight the fear that had gnawed at her for so long.

But even so – Lizen was still afraid.

If I can’t become a Hero for everyone else…

She continued down the road with an unrelenting presence. Amy clutched closely like a child as the Undead grew more in numbers, in speed, and in strength within this darkened world. But she didn’t care. Their ranks were broken with a swift charge, and before she realised it – she had been screaming out at the top of her lungs for minutes on end as she battled with the Undead that sought to thwart their escape.

Not because of pain. Or defeat. It was fear. Genuine fear. Even though she was strong, and she pushed on along these forsaken streets that teemed with death and destruction – she was so very afraid.

Perhaps more than Amy. But she couldn’t afford to stop. The fear of losing her closest friend was the ultimate fear that toppled the fear of dying right this very moment.

The fear which had turned into courage.

So – she didn’t stop.

Then maybe…

An exit was finally found. The alleyway quickly led back into the main street, and when she finally pushed through – she saw the faces of all her comrades waiting at the front with Haiyoto and Anoma. Their faces beamed through the rubble once they saw she was safe with Amy cradled in her warm arms.

As Khalis had said – there was a large-scale [Physical Barrier] erected above the crowd of Greater Knights, who fought at the front lines through the end of the world as they knew it. To see such a sight now inspired her beyond belief. To go through such odds and fight without a candle of light within this darkness made her heart swell with boundless bride.

Maybe…!

“It’s them… Amy. It’s them! Shit… Just a little more!” Lizen exclaimed.

“Lizen…” Amy shakily whispered.

“Don’t worry about me… I’m fine…”

“No you’re not! I… I can walk now… Please put me down.” Amy lied.

“So you can die!? Amy – just shut up and stay put!”

“… ok.” Amy whispered, clutching her dear friend tightly.

Lizen powered through. Fatigue had caught up to her, and her legs had numbed entirely. She ran on what felt like stilts. Only twenty meters separated her from the safety of the [Physical Barriers], which were erected by countless Greater knights.

They desperately beaconed them to hurry.

“Almost there… Lizen, I’m sorry for being… like this.”

“Shut up. Just… stay put for a little longer.”

“Please – if you can’t walk anymore then let me –”

“You can’t walk. You wouldn’t be able to carry me either. Just… keep quiet. Keep your [Barriers] up. Please.”

“Always.”

If it’s only just for one person…

It easily defended them against most debris, save for anything larger than a man. But it was by far the safest place in this hellscape. Lizen imagined what would have happened if she ran in the opposite direction. Would it be any better than Palvel?

Probably. But would she be able to walk the other way again? Never.

Lizen didn’t regret her choice of staying here by Amy’s side. She could have easily given her to Khalis to carry, but – in a way, she was glad she held on. If it weren’t for Amy being in her arms then she wouldn’t have known what courage was, and for that she was thankful from the bottom of her heart.

“Amy.”

“Yeah?”

“Promise me you stop setting Haiyoto on fire.”

“Wha-what are you saying Lizen…? Lizen?”

Eighteen meters… Seventeen… Sixteen –

And then, the catastrophic happened. As they passed halfway through the base of an untouched clocktower, and if directed by fate itself, a massive chunk of debris crashed straight through it. Its stability wavered as Lizen put everything she had into running the final metres…

But she soon realised the impossibility of it. Haiyoto couldn’t use his [Dash] to rescue them either. [Dash] needed the user to meet a specific weight restriction. Khalis stretched out an arm from the protection of the [Barrier], reaching futilely for the two.

Then isn’t it fine? If I can be a Hero for at least one person… then I’m glad.

Lizen did the unthinkable… no. She only did what needed to be done. Her body moved before she realised it, causing a strange warmth to caress her body in these final moments.

“I’m sorry, Amy…”

“Huh…?”

Lizen threw Amy across the final ten meters. But it wouldn’t be enough. Using what little energy she could muster, Lizen drew her oval shield and, with a voice that would make any Greater Knight proud – she screamed her last word:

“LIVE!”

She shoved Amy forward with a shield bash imbued with magic. It was hard for either one of them to imagine what went through each other’s mind in this moment. Amy watched the world move slowly as the clocktower collapsed over her closest friend. In the blue eyes that once bathed in fear were now filled with everlasting courage, far greater than anyone Amy had ever seen.

“… Lizen…? Don’t mess with me. You told us not to die so why are you standing there… smiling at us. Stop it. You’ll live right? You’ll run right? Lizen? Lizen?” Amy’s voice was like the meek whisper of a child as she flew, the world revolving in slow motion.

The clocktower collapsed, and with it – it claimed the life of the Hero Airu Lizen.

“LIZZZEEEEEEEEEEEN!”