The loud drums surrounding the room echoed throughout the crimson dungeon in an intimidating rhythm. We fought long and hard to reach this final level — we couldn't get scared now.

The door closed behind us the moment we stepped into this final floor. It vanished, leaving us no way of escape.

Only the four of us were inside. The four of us and him.

In the center of the room, sitting on a huge, spiky throne, was Bastildon, the demon king. He was enormous. His body black with marks in the color of blood spreading across his arms and legs.

Even for a [Noble Demon], his body was too big and strong. His horns looked like black scythes, ready to split you in half with the softest of touches. He looked even more terrifying than he was described in all these tales.

All this time. All our efforts. Everything was for this one moment. The only thing left to do was one last fight, just like the other ones we fought. Just like the other ones we won.

"Gendor. Sheila. You know what you have to do." I spoke to them as calmly as I could. They nodded and immediately scattered, each of them taking one of the flanks.

"Jan," I said.

Jan turned his head and looked at me. He betrayed no emotion and had a reassuring smile on his face. But I knew better. We started this journey together so long ago we could tell what each other was thinking. He was just as scared as I was.

"Let's do it!" we both said simultaneously.

And we charged. With all our might we charged. The sound of the drums was now drowned by our roars and the sound of our weapons as we dragged them on the ground.

The demon king stood up. He was even taller than I thought. With a voice that sounded like the death of worlds, he said:

"You dare oppose me, mortals? You will regret this!"

With a swing of his right arm, he created a fiery gust that blew towards us.

The burning sensation from the ember wind was too strong to push through, forcing us to break formation and rush to the sides until the wave was over.

We jumped back and tried to get back into formation while Sheila was attacking the demonic beast with crows of dark energy coming out of her black cloak.

Stolen novel; please report.

Bastildon was busy evading and blocking Sheila's manifestations and this gave us time to reform and go for another attack.

We charged once more. Flames of determination coming out of our eyes. No holding back this time.

Jan and I jumped high, a powerful swing of my sword followed a vigorous slash by Jan's axe, slicing the demon's neck from both sides, while Gendor shot a thunderous arrow right through the creature's heart, leaving a smoking hole in its place.

His head fell motionless on the ground and rolled as I landed on my feet next to it.

We all looked at each other. Proud and excited. After all these years. It was finally done.

"We did it... I can't believe it! We actually di—"

Before I had time to end my sentence, the claws on the demon's left hand cut through Sheila's body like she was not even there, splitting her in half and leaving her inside a pool of her own blood.

My eyes widened in fear.

"W-Wha-What's happening!?" I yelled.

The hole in the king's heart closed, making it look as if he was never pierced by the arrow. His head started floating in the air, until it landed back on his neck, re-attaching itself. Not even a scar left to show that he had just been beheaded.

"You thought it would be that easy?" The demon king chuckled and a small flame came out of his mouth.

"oppose me..."

  The demon charged at Gendor. A blink of an eye and he was already a breath away from him. His movements were way too fast for any of us to keep up. Not even a second later, Gendor was kneed into the wall by Bastildon dying instantly. His soulless body fell on the ground. His eyes looking at me. Empty. Devoid of life.

"...and die!"

This is all my fault

The demon king turned his head to me and Jan.

This is all my fault

I could tell he was getting ready to attack.

This is all my fault

A split second later, he was next to Jan.

I couldn't let it end like this.

He was about to grab Jan with his right hand. If he succeeded, it was over.

"Leave him alone!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, tears running down my eyes like a river. I threw my sword and pierced through the demon king's hand, pinning it on the wall.

"Jan, run!" I yelled as I ran towards the demon. I was going to fight him until Jan found a way to leave this place. I could hold.

With a swift move of his head, Bastildon bit Jan's upper half, detaching it from the rest of his body. The only thing left was his legs and pieces of his organs spilling out as they fell on the ground.

I stopped in my tracks. Paralyzed by my anger, fear, and sorrow.

The beast turned at me, still chewing part of my best friend's body.

"Any last wishes?"

This is all my fault. All my friends. My dearest people. Gendor. Sheila. Jan. They all died in vain. They all died because of me.

I wish it wasn't so.

I wish they were still alive.

I wish I never brought them here.

I wish they never met me.

"I WISH I COULD MAKE IT DIFFERENT!"

Ember flames engulfed me, burning my every cell. As my body was fading away into millions of scattered particles, the only thing I could hear was the drums. The only thing on my mind were my friends.

Until I vanished into the ether.

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Reinitializing character......

Resetting stats......... Done.

Resetting abilities......... Done.

Resetting memories......... Error.

Resetting memories.............. Error.

Resetting memories...................................... Done.

New Life Initiating.