[Name: Eleanor
Level: 5
Age: 10
Race: Human
Occupation: Hero
Skills: Lower-tier Survival - Mastered
Special Abilities: Enhanced Five Senses (Lower-tier)
Exclusive Abilities: [Eye of All Things], [Silent World]
...]
The flesh that writhed and grew wildly returned to calmness, the endless mana that cleansed her body disappeared without a trace, taking all impurities with it, and the divine light that filled the sky also dissipated, leaving behind only a perfect circle in the clouds, revealing the azure sky beyond.
Eleanor stared at the golden, translucent lines of text before her, instinctively comprehending them all as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"I thought I couldn't read..." the girl muttered incredulously. Concurrently, she noticed the changes to her body; the excruciating pain beneath her ribs had vanished without a trace, and her exhausted frame was now filled with vigor. Yet, the entire battlefield was eerily silent, save for the whistling of the wind.
The girl sat up, surveying her surroundings, only to find that everyone within sight was looking at her—all had ceased their previous actions, even those locked in mortal combat had paused.
"... What should I say or do?" For the first time in her life, to be scrutinized by so many left the girl dumbfounded. Sitting there, head hung low, even the days she spent stealing food in the Eastern Capital didn’t compare to this embarrassment.
---
[Heracles Kingdom's Sacred Decrees:
...
Article 7, Clause 1: The Hero is the embodiment of the World’s Will and the World’s Darling. The emergence of a Hero signifies the intent of the divine. It is a decree that cannot be defied. Upon recognition of a Hero, all within the Kingdom must cease hostilities and congregate around the Hero until the demonic races are vanquished. Those who defile this law stand in defiance of humanity itself.
...]
This clear legal article surfaced in the minds of all those present who were familiar with the Kingdom’s laws.
As a compulsory subject in the academy for nobility, [Kingdom Laws] had made countless scions of prominent houses weep during exams. At that moment, the three war commanders on the field realized a fact—the tides of war had completely turned. The most valuable resource, or rather, the most precious chip, was right before their eyes.
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
To control the Hero was to hold legitimacy, morale, and the initiative in war and peace!
The awkwardness Eleanor felt and the silence that had fallen over the battlefield did not last long. Soon, the air reverberated with three commanding shouts:
"Royal Guards, on my command! Bring the Hero back safely!"
"Mages, full firepower—suppression fire!"
"All forces, attack! Take back the Hero!"
Hero? Eleanor's thoughts stalled. Wasn't that the legendary champion of humanity, said to bear all the world's finest virtues, as cherished as the world's most beloved child? But what did that have to do with her...
But no—that was wrong! Eleanor recalled a familiar scene; those golden, translucid letters floated before her again, and upon seeing the luminescent words "Hero," her mind short-circuited anew.
The battlefield became a powder keg, and the commanders’ orders were the spark that ignited it. Every soldier, no matter the rank or class, began converging on Eleanor. Fireballs, ice spikes, wind blades, sword qi—every attack consciously avoided her, fearful of even grazing the child.
Due to earlier advances, Eleanor happened to be nearer to the Northwestern alliance's lines. Seconds after the detonation of orders, someone seized her slender arm, hauling her up from the ground. She looked up to find the expressionless soldier who had fired at her.
Yet now, his face was lit up with excitement and jubilation, for bringing the noble’s so-called Hero back promised a brighter future—a leap from commoner to something more, a chance to propel his household out of obscurity.
A piercing whistling sound descended from above. Eleanor looked up only to see the fountaining neck of the previously driven middle-aged man.
The man took one more step before collapsing forward, the strength in his hand having not waned in the slightest. Eleanor stumbled, nearly falling onto his lifeless body.
The next moment, Eleanor was hoisted from behind; an eager voice bellowed, "I've got the Hero—cover me! Cover..."
A massive hole had been bored through the man's left chest, his heart conspicuously absent. As he slumped, Eleanor toppled down, her head knocking against the softened earth.
Thankfully, the dirt was loose, and Eleanor felt only slightly dazed, not having time to collect her thoughts before people erupted into combat around her, creating a cacophony of chaos.
Passed from hand to hand in the throng, the girl changed possession several times, yet not one person who touched her lived past two breaths. Eleanor's mind recalled a memory from begging in the Capital: three street urchins scrapping over a morsel of jerky only for her to snatch it away rather neatly.
Might someone swoop in and snatch victory now? The girl mused.
Suddenly, a firm grip seized her arm, yanking her out of the turmoil and upon a sturdy back.
Looking sideways, she saw an old man in ornate armor, moving so swiftly her eyes couldn't keep pace.
Who was he? As the question surfaced, the golden words reappeared:
[Name: Grey Alwyn
...]
Even in peril, Eleanor felt a trace of relief. With this inexplicable power, she could make a living guessing names on street corners, charging but a copper coin each time, surely averting danger of starvation, and that's not the least of it...
"Watch out, old man!"
A robust voice rang out, tinged with age yet laden with energy, reminiscent of a strongman performing in the lower districts.
A dazzling white beam streaked towards them from behind. Arwin ducked just in time, sparing himself but losing a piece of his shoulder armor. The castle wall in the distance now sported a human-sized breach.
The light seemed eerily similar to the one that had bathed Eleanor earlier, yet this one didn't carry warmth but deadly intent.
After the light flashed, the girl looked back on the old man's back and saw a middle-aged man wearing a white matte robe chasing after her. There was not much distance between the old man and that General Milton. Fifty steps later, the distance is still slowly closing.