*Clink* *Clang*

Sounds of blades hitting each other in a battle between Heroes. Being on the defensive is annoying when it comes to fighting someone way more powerful than you. It can end up as a single sided battle.

Either you get it or not. We’re fighting for something in this. Does sacrifice have to be so drastic that you become someone you’re not supposed to or does it mean you would do anything to someone and keep your promise to return in one piece.

“You’ve gotten a lot better than before Joseph. What’s your secret?” I asked in a sarcastic way.

Of course he lost his sense of rationality because of his new found powers. And can’t understand me for all I do.

“Is it something about your routine? Is it your lifestyle? Or is it someone else that influences your life?”

I continued asking him while defending myself as much as I could against a fully powered Joseph. It’s surprising I could keep up this long.

“Alan, heed my whisper. Joseph is in a volatile state; you can disrupt it if you can land a powerful blow on him.” Whispered the Goddess.

“I just need to hit him as hard as I can huh. Well give me some time I need to find an opening if I have to do that.” I replied.

“With that it could either end his life or cancel out his rage.” The Goddess replied.

“I’ll see what I could do then.” I answered and ran forward.

*Unintelligible screech*

The screeching noise of a broken man is sad despite all of this. I ain't ending it here with someone dying. I’ll be bringing back this man, this hero back to civilization and wake him up from this chaos he ensued on himself.

*CLASH*

Finally one of my counter-attacks landed. Time for me to finally get my turn into attacking.

*Smack* *Thud* *Smash*

Kicks and punches should do the trick and to finish off while he’s staggered.

“You know there’s a good feature on certain double-barreled shotguns. It has two triggers so I could shoot two shells at the same time.” I raised my shotgun towards Joseph’s chest.

*Bang!*

Two shots into one a loud echo in the room shattering some of the windows. The gunshot sends Joseph to the other side of the room hitting the wall.

I loaded two more shells onto the smoking gun as I walked forward to his position. As I was about to finish off what he started he kicked back which quickly triggered my Counter preventing the attack to hit me at the last second.

I skipped backwards to give distance. Seems like he ain’t backing down just yet. That got me good surprisingly.

Not hurt, just a bit of bleeding but not much, not far off from the training my Father gave me when we were alone and he taught me hand-to-hand combat to protect myself out in the forest.

Who knows who lives off and animals that might try and prey on humans out there. So it’s a helpful skill to learn when living alone out in the middle of nowhere far from civilization.

“Alan, are you okay?” Asked the Goddess.

“I'm good, Lady Agata. Just a bit of roughhousing is not enough for me to go down on. I guess Joseph needs more wake up calls.” I stood up from the recoil of his attack from out of nowhere.

“Make sure you don’t go overboard, you're still new to this kind of combat.” The Goddess seems to be worried but I know I’m slowly chipping away this man to wake him up from this nightmare of his.

I jumped back into action as soon as I stood up and immediately we’re back fighting in equal terms now this time. I landed an attack, he landed his, now we’re even.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Joseph seems to not be bothered by the attacks I gave him. No matter that doesn’t stop me from getting out of here alive and shaken up from his illusions that he himself made.

Exchanging blows and surprisingly resilient after all of the counter-attacks I gave. That would have killed any creature by now but then again he is a Demon Lord so that’s one thing how he’s surviving everything.

“How are you hanging on Joseph? Buddy you looked tired, you okay there?” I asked sarcastically again.

Knowing this will only anger him; this makes him vulnerable to cracking when pushed to the edge. I know this is a risky move but it’s my best chance if I have to get close to him.

“Alan! I found a plan.” The Goddess whispered.

“Yeah? Kinda busy right now can you tell me quickly.” I replied.

“I might need to access your Father’s God Artifacts.” The Goddess wondered.

“My Father’s what?!” I was caught off guard for a sec.

Woah there buddy! As Joseph misses his punch and instead hits the ground with a gratuitous amount of force crushing the ground below him.

“Can you explain it quicker than Lady Agata? I have a lot of things on my plate at the moment.” I told the Goddess I’m in a pinch.

“I’ll be summoning it and I need you to raise your right hand when I say go. The artifact needs time to chant. Just give me a few more minutes and distract him until I say so.” The Goddess told her plan.

“Alright if it’s something to help me win against these odds. Since it’s from my Father, it helps me to be at ease. Just tell me when you’re ready.” I replied.

Lady Agata is getting one of my Father’s God Artifacts? Didn’t know he had some but from the name alone they should be really powerful items from the sounds of it. For now I have to distract Joseph just a bit longer.

Somewhere in the God Realm…

“Titan Surtr, I call for help in these trying times.” Lady Agata kneels and prays.

The sound of a giant kneeling down to look over the Goddess praying on the ground appeared to hear her prayers.

“Aye, Miss Agata, it's been a while?” The Titan sits down by the mountains to chat.

“Indeed it has been a while, Titan.” The Goddess stood up to talk.

“So what do you need for this hour?” Asked the Titan.

“I request to borrow a God Artifact from the Holy Sanctum.” The Goddess told him.

The Titan moves closer to her position.

“For what? Is there something that went wrong with your new Hero?” The Titan asked.

“Yes, we’re on a losing side this time and I want you to meet him after I return the weapon to you but for now I need to borrow Baal.” The Goddess replied.

“I see but Baal is a high risk weapon. No mere mortal could master it apart from the original owner. Who is this new Hero of yours and why do you think he’s worthy of using it?” The Titan asked again.

“Trust me, I know something about him that may intrigue you. I’ll bring him here if you want to meet him directly.” The Goddess replied.

“Aye, ya think it’s that easy to bring a mortal. You’ve done it once already and I don’t expect another one like him to visit this realm not in a hundred years.

But here I’ll summon Baal, just tell your Hero what to do and pray to the Gods, Baal won’t kill that human.” The Titan raised his hand as clouds of thunder started to accumulate.

“Don’t worry I’ll make sure you won’t get disappointed.” The Goddess left the Realm with bearing news.

Back in the Castle…

“Alan, in 10 seconds go to the tallest part of the room and raise your right hand. Find a window until then.” Whispered the Goddess.

“Alright just in time then. Tell me when the weapon is arriving and I’ll be there in a sec.” I replied as I positioned myself just close to the mausoleum placed in the far back of the room.

Joseph immediately jumped towards me just as soon as I stood up on the mausoleum.

“Now, Alan, now!” Shouted the Goddess.

“Sorry, Joseph but it’s my turn now.” I kicked Joseph as soon as I heard the signal

I raised my right hand and lightning struck my hand as the entire room was brightly lit up from the lightning strike. As I felt a weapon on my hand and a Memory Fragment slowly falling from the sky so I took that as well.

I crushed the Fragment and immediately learned what this weapon is and how to use it. Baal, huh. Show me what you’re capable of to reawaken this Hero from his slumber.

“Joseph, it’s now or never. I’ll awake you from this nightmare of yours. This is just not you pal.” I raised Baal and immediately I could feel its power.

This is the end of the line for you.

“Thunderclap Strike!” I shouted as I ran past Joseph.

The speed the ax gave me is unusual. Blink and you missed it as I would say it. I heard something shatter as I went past him. It must have been that crystal that has been affecting him all these times.

“I wouldn’t go this far to save someone from my own world but to be able to save you in time is enough for me to change your fate.” I felt weakened after using it and fell on my knees.

There goes fighting the first Demon Lord into my legacy. Small steps right Father?