The large door opens revealing a warrior clad head to toe in shimmering white armor kneeling at an altar. Torches one by one light up in blue flames revealing the boss’ domain. Resting next to him was a golden shimmering sword as he awaited his next challenger.

“Are you here to put an end to my misery?” The Hero speaks.

“We’re here to kick your sorry ass!” Kemo said as she sticked up her middle finger. Brandishing her chain axes.

“Very well then you all will perish like so many before you.” He stands up, weapon in hand as he takes up his stance and his weapon starts to glow.

“Watch out, he’s preparing an energy attack!” Gwendoline says as he swings his sword.

We all dodge the barrage of consistent swings, taking cover behind pillars as the swinging subsides.

“Cover me, I’ll try to paralyze him to give you guys an opening. It’ll take some time, however,” Solomon said as she casted her spell.

As Solomon began to chant the words of her spell, her fingers weaving through the air in a complex arcane pattern, Kemo tightened her grip on her chain axes. "Let’s go, everyone!" she shouted, readying herself for the next phase of the battle. Gwendoline, took a deep breath and steadied her sword, watching the warrior intently.

The Hero’s glowing sword pulsed with energy, crackling with an almost unnatural force as he swung it in a series of wide arcs, the air itself vibrating from the raw power of each blow. His eyes locked onto the group, and a deep growl escaped his lips.

“You will not live to see the dawn!,” he growled, voice tinged with centuries of suffering. He took a step forward, the ground beneath his feet cracking with each movement.

I signaled to the others to spread out. "We need to keep him distracted while Solomon works her magic!"

Kemo grinned, a wicked gleam in her eyes. "You got it!" She lunged forward, her chain axes whirling in a blur of steel, striking at the Hero with blinding speed. Each swing was met with the sound of metal crashing against metal as the warrior parried with skill that only centuries of battle could refine. Gwendoline, right behind Kemo, her attacks were also parried with great speed.

Solomon’s chant grew louder, her voice gaining power as she focused all her energy into the spell. “Just a little longer…”

The Hero’s expression twisted with fury. With a mighty roar, he slammed his sword into the ground, sending shockwaves rippling swords outward from the ground. The shockwave sent Kemo tumbling back, but she quickly regained her footing, ready to strike again.

“Damn it!” she hissed, her knuckles white around the axes. "Why won’t he just die already?!"

“Focus on his movements!” Gwendoline called out.

“Keep him distracted!” I said as I threw fire attacks at him.

Kemo grinned and darted back into the fray, each swing of her chain axes now more erratic, more unpredictable. The Hero blocked and countered with precision, but his movements were beginning to slow, the strain of the battle showing in his posture.

"Now, Solomon!" I urged.

With a final, explosive shout, “BREAK”, Solomon thrust her hands forward, releasing a wave of purple energy that shot through the air toward the Hero. It slammed into his chest, a crackling barrier of arcane power shimmering as it made contact. The warrior staggered back, his sword faltering in his grip.

“Now’s our chance!” I yelled, charging forward with a battle cry scythe in hand.

With the Hero temporarily paralyzed by Solomon’s magic, Kemo, Gwen and I launched ourselves at him while Constantia boosts our speed with her wind enhancements. Kemo’s axes slicing through the air in a deadly arc. I poured all my energy into a vertical slash. Gwen also uses wind magic to perform a fury of fast attacks. The Hero attempted to bring his sword up to block, but it was too late. Kemo’s chain axes slammed into his armor, the impact sending sparks flying.

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The Hero groaned in pain, a flash of something like contemplation in his eyes for the first time. He was on the defensive, struggling to regain control of the fight.

The Hero staggered, his once-pristine white armor now dented and scorched from our relentless assault. His sword, still glowing faintly, trembled in his hand as he fought to maintain his footing. The air around him pulsed with the weight of centuries of war and bitterness, but for the first time, the walls of his pride seemed to crack.

Kemo, always quick to exploit a weakness, lunged again, her chain axes whipping around with a deadly precision. She smirked as one of her blades glanced off his armor, leaving a deep gash in the metal.

"Gotcha!" she hissed, pulling the axes back for another strike.

But the Hero was quick, his eyes burning with a fierce resolve. He shifted his stance, raising his sword just in time to parry Kemo’s attack. The clash echoed through the chamber, and a shockwave of force erupted, knocking us all back several paces.

Gwendoline, ever vigilant, reacted immediately. She cast a wind barrier around herself, shielding her from the blast, then charged in with a series of rapid thrusts aimed at his vulnerable spots. Each strike was met with the ringing of steel, but the Hero was beginning to slow, his movements not as fluid as before.

"He's weakening," Gwendoline shouted, her voice steady even as she dodged another counterattack. "Keep pressing!"

I nodded, wiping the sweat from my brow. The battle was taking its toll on all of us, but we couldn't afford to let up now. With a roar, I surged forward, my scythe glowing with renewed energy. The Hero tried to block, but I aimed low, using the momentum to swipe at his legs. The blade cut through the air like a blade through silk, and the Hero grunted as my strike found its mark.

The warrior stumbled, and for a brief moment, I saw hesitation flicker in his eyes—a crack in the once-impregnable wall of his stoic resolve. He took a step back, eyes flicking toward Solomon, who was gathering more energy for another spell.

"Solomon!" I yelled, urging her on.

With a deep breath, Solomon’s eyes snapped open, her voice once again rising in power. The magic crackled around her as she called upon the arcane forces with an intensity that made the very air hum. "This is it! I just need a little more time!"

The Hero’s sword glowed brighter, but his movements were increasingly erratic. Sweat dripped down his brow, his breaths labored as he tried to focus. He swung his sword in another wide arc, but this time, it was slower—more calculated, yet tinged with desperation.

"He's not the invincible hero anymore," Kemo growled, her grin widening. "He’s just a man... and we’re gonna finish this!"

With a final battle cry, Kemo launched herself at him, her axes flying in an intricate dance of destruction. The Hero raised his sword to block, but it was too late. Kemo’s swing landed true, slicing through the enchanted metal of his armor, the blow sending a shockwave that echoed through the room.

The Hero let out a strangled gasp, his grip loosening on the sword. He staggered backward, his knees buckling as the weight of his century-long battle began to collapse upon him. The sword flickered in his hand, its glow dimming as the magic that had sustained him for so long seemed to drain away.

"Now, Solomon!" I called, sensing the opening.

With a final, desperate cry, Solomon thrust her hands forward, her voice shaking with raw power. The spell erupted in a burst of violet lightning, hitting the Hero square in the chest. The force of the magic was overwhelming, knocking him off his feet and sending him sprawling across the floor.

The Hero gasped for breath, his body twitching as if the last remnants of his life force were being ripped from him. His once-mighty form was now crumpled on the ground, his sword lying useless by his side.

I stood over him, scythe raised, ready to strike the final blow. But something in the air had changed. His eyes, once filled with rage and defiance, now seemed... empty. There was no fight left in him. Only a look of resignation.

“You have bested me and proved worthy of ending my centuries of suffering. You are all indeed strong, now do it…my Ovilia awaits me in the afterlife.” The fallen Hero spoke.

“Solomon…you’re up” I said

Solomon approaches the warrior and with a final cast of lightning, the warrior is defeated. She then knelt down and opened her God’s Blessing.

FALLEN HERO ZENOS DAN MARVEL

PALADIN

WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESURRECT THIS CORPSE?

→ /

With that a shade enveloped the fallen Paladin who’s name now revealed to be Zenos. ANd standing before us was a tall Paladin shadow of the former hero.

We couldn’t contain our excitement anymore and let out a cheer as some of us collapsed onto the ground utterly exhausted.

"You did it, Solomon!" Kemo exclaimed, throwing her arms around her friend.

"We did it," Solomon corrected, a smile spreading across her face. "We all did it."

I felt a warm glow of pride in my chest. We had accomplished something truly incredible today. We had defeated a foe that had bested countless adventerers before us. And we had done it as a team.

A massive treasure chest appeared right before us at the altar where the Paladin once waited.

We’ve all gathered by it eagerly wanting to look inside,

"Well, what are we waiting for?" Kemo said, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Let's open it!"

We all took a deep breath as the chest creaked open.

"Holy shit" I said, my eyes widening as the contents of the chest were revealed.

"That's a lot of gold," Gwendoline said, her voice tinged with awe.

"And a lot of other stuff," Constantia added, her eyes darting around the chest.

"Look there's even new gear in here" I said as I picked up the awesome new outfit, a white jacket, shorts, and shoes with zippers all over it. Guess it's not wanting in utilities. I put it on and asked my Legion members, "How do I look girls?"

"You look amazing, boss" Kemo said

"Wow you look so cool Tsubasa" Constantia said

"You look good," Solomon said, her eyes roving over the outfit.

"I think I look great, thanks" I smiled

"Look there's a new weapon for me too" Gwendoline said as she picked up a new sword, a single-edged blade with a golden hilt and a blue gem embedded in the pommel.

"Ooh, that looks like a powerful sword," Constantia said, her eyes sparkling with admiration.

"It's beautiful," Gwendoline breathed, running her fingers along the blade.

"It's perfect," I said, my eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Yes, it is," Gwendoline agreed, her voice filled with wonder.

"Hey look there's a new scythe for me too," I say as I pick it up and admire it, a large red scythe with a black blade. It even has a chain wrapped around the shaft. This is going to be so much fun.

"Whoa, that's a really cool scythe," Kemo said, her eyes wide with amazement.

"Now onto the money...yeeeah I'm confiscating it all and we won't be telling anybody about the gold lest it gets taken away.

"What but why?" Kemo shouted.

"Legion funds."

Kemo let out a sigh, "That actually makes...sense.

As we gathered all the loot we started to make our way towards the exit...