'I.. I did it.'
I thought to myself while panting heavily, standing tired and exhausted while looking down at the Demon Lord… That has been impaled by my sword.
"C… Curse you!! I… Zarth, will conquer this world! And you!..."
The Demon Lord Zarth inhaled deeply, his chest heaving while his entire body began to disappear into magic particles, while staring at me with a wicked and sinister expression before continuing to speak.
"You will not live to see the day I do! You can watch from the heavens as I ruin this world, and bring everyone down to my command… While you are unable to do anything about it Hero!!!"
Those were his last words said, even at his final moments he despised me to the fullest.
His entire body then disappeared entirely, my body collapsing on the ground as I landed on my knees, panting heavily due to the amount of magic energy I wasted, along with the damage my body had to endure from Zarth.
My armor and clothes are both ruined to shreds from his relentless attack in our battle.. But in the end, I won.
There was a catch…
My heart suddenly began beating loudly, now starting to beat slowly while I started to run out of breath.
The magic skill: A Hero's Heart. Is a custom magic skill made for the past heroes and for the current heroes to use in case they end up being in a dire situation.
Having the ability to release your innate potential, overlapping and breaking your limiter to the point you'll almost be an Omnipotent being.
Yet the catch was it takes your life away after 1 hour of being in that state.
And I was reaching my time limit…
"Seriously, I won't be able to say sorry to my comrades… or say goodbye to my family?"
I laughed, finding it funny yet painful at the same time. All of this was so I could protect them, I was the only one that could do it.
I left my comrades to face the Demon King alone after wiping out his army, promising the day before today that we would face him together but…
To see them dead was something unbearable to endure, they were precious and they were family to me as well.
And my family… I had forgotten to tell how much I loved my mother, despite being a problematic child, she was always there along with my father, who taught me swordsmanship.
Without them, I wouldn't be the Hero in the first place. I was but a kid wanting to adventure… Now, here I am.
My knees weakened as my heart started to pulse weakly, beating slower and slower… Is this how it ends?
I collapsed to the ground exhausted, tired and my life being drained out of me. I laid on my stomach while feeling my heart beat slowly to the point I couldn't breathe anymore.
A smile forming on my face while having teary eyes, losing control of my emotions… I didn't want to die yet, I wanted to be with everyone. But I had to do my duty… As the Hero.
I heard at the entrance was people's rapid footsteps. I slowly turned my head to see it was my comrades as well as some knights from the Kingdom.
"Every… One…"
I said as my last words, before everything faded into black.
—
I suddenly opened my eyes, to see that I was in some sort of unusual place… The area is filled with nothing but void and bright white dots.
I instinctively tried to move but I was already standing up as it seemed, my body being hollow and nothing, only seeing outlines of my hands and upper body.
"What is this place?"
I asked myself, before walking forward, seeing as I didn't have anywhere to go in the first place.
While I did, I began hearing random noises… No, it was the sound of people's screams.
It wasn't any ordinary screams though, it's as if it was screams of people in a battle.
"Where did that come from…"
I said to myself before continuing to walk forward, not thinking too much about it.
Until a blinding bright light would start appearing in front of me as I continued walking, making me stop in my tracks.
Is it safe? What's there? What is it going to do?
So many questions needed to be answered, but the only answer was to go to it.
As I stepped forward, I leaned my right hand towards it, reaching for it until I was completely engulfed by the light.
—
'Huh?'
My consciousness was suddenly back. I could feel myself breathing and moving. Although when I looked down… I was a toddler.
I looked around to see that I'm in an empty room, filled with nothing but scattered toys on the wooden floor.
'Where is this place? Why am I a toddler…'
Even more questions started flooding my mind, while doing so, I tried to stand up but to no avail. It seems like I'm probably two or a year old to not be walking still.
Without hesitation, I began crawling around the room that I was in, seeing a crib, a bunch of drawers. But there was one particular item that I didn't recognize…
A floating black mirror.
I tilted my head to look up at it, I don't know what it is or what it does but it doesn't seem like it's bad for me.
I do wonder what it does.
Then, I heard footsteps coming to this room, despite being in a weaker form and age, I'm able to maintain a little bit of my physical prowess.
The door flung open with a woman coming out, wearing a lovely floral rosy dress, her hair having a colorful violet as she looked down at me with her eyes happily and cheerfully.
"Look at you playing with your toys! Are you hungry, hmm?~"
She asked with a voice so soothing it's almost able to make me sleep. But I just looked at her intently then at the black floating screen.
"Oh! You wanted to watch?"
Watch? What is she talking about?
She walked by me, going to a desk and grabbing something, then pointing it towards the black screen as it suddenly shined brightly.
I've never seen anything like it.
As I watched, I felt her come from behind me, sitting down with her legs crossed while she picked me up and set me down on her lap.
"It's your favorite show! You know, you're more captivated by that than me… It's making me jealous, you know?"
She said while looking down at me. But she was kind of right, I am currently captivated by what is showing on the black screen as of now, colorful images, moving so swiftly as if it's a show…
And this woman… The way she takes care of me, tends to my needs and is affectionate towards me.
There's no doubt about it.
I reincarnated.
But the chances of that happening is so low… Just how?
My thoughts were suddenly interrupted as the floating screen's film suddenly went black. Then getting carried in my mother's arms. This felt… Comfortable.
"There there, are you feeling sleepy? You weren't making any noises when you were watching, which made me worried… Do you want some milk?"
Milk? Seems like I'm still at such a young age where I need to drink milk.
She set me down gently on the carpet, as she walked out the room to go somewhere.
Until suddenly, the black screen flashed brightly, a man with a suit was talking about something but I couldn't hear it clearly, the only word I managed to understand was: news.
Then the screen changed into something else entirely. I couldn't clearly see it due to the height difference but just in time, my mother returned to the room.
"Oh did you open the TV to watch something?" She said while looking down to me and holding a bottle that consisted of the milk I was going to get.
'I have no idea how to turn it on.'
I thought to myself while looking at her and just raising my arms up for the milk… I feel needy and hungry for it for some reason, is this the baby effect?
She giggled happily, kneeling down to give me the bottle of milk which I happily accepted and started drinking instantly, as she picked me up and carried me in her arms as she focused on the bright colorful screen.
"Is that…"
She spoke which got me curious. Now that I was able to see what the screen was playing… It was a man, in a deserted area filled with rocky plains. Nothing else, no grass or trees.
And across from him was a woman, but it wasn't human at all… The moment I saw her, I knew instantly. It was a demon.
"Hey everyone!"
The man spoke to us, looking at us through the screen as if he knew we were watching. What device is this…
"I thought I might as well stream this for everyone to see! You know, just for entertainment."
He chuckled goofily, although despite that's how he acted, I heard a noticeable gasp from above to see my mother covering her mouth with her hands. Her eyes filled with worry and fear. Is this guy…
—
Rin's POV.
I kept my cheerful act towards the audience, it's been so many years ever since I've been the hero… How time flies.
I know my wife's worrying about me, since this decision was solely made for a reason, and hell, I know she's worrying a lot for me right now. But it's for him, and her. I don't have any regrets.
"Hey hey hey… Really streaming your end for everyone to see? This is why I adore and love you so much!"
She spoke. The Demon Princess whom I've been trying to hunt and find for years, almost for a decade already. The cat and mouse chase has finally ended, and knowing her, she won't go down easily.
I chuckled, responding back. "I mean, it would be better for them to see how easy it's going to be for me to defeat you so I'm not worried at all." Like hell I'm not, I'm worried a lot.
I cautiously ready my double blade, grabbing it by the handle in the middle and spinning it around just so I can look a little bit cooler.
"Ah… It's the weapon that killed tons of my comrades."
"Yeah, and your end is next."
I said looking at her, forming a relaxed stance that had no intention of letting my guard down.
Although it is distracting how her outfit is literally just her with a long robe, a black bra and a black panty. Is this how demons fashion themselves? Kind of weird.
"Ogling me like that Hero… You're so naughty."
She said while putting her hands behind her back, then bringing it back in front of her to show gauntlets that fit smoothly on her. I didn't expect for her to have such a close ranged weapon.
"I should be saying that to you Nava. Every time you escape, you have such a nerve wracking expression towards me."
"Is that so? Maybe because I'm being genuine that I do want you…"
"Sorry but I have a wife and a child to get home to. Better luck next time when we meet in Hell then."
"Oh Hero… No… Rin… I really really really really really really want you even more!"
Her expression suddenly looked crazed and insane, which only made me smile nervously while keeping watch of her before she did anything.
Despite that, her magic energy began jumping through the roof. Ever since the magic power scaling had changed, people can get stronger or weaker, just by their mental state.
Of course no one knew that fact except for me which I had documented for months without letting anyone know even my wife. But I'm sure he will figure it out soon…
If a crazy person were to have magic this would be the result, their mental state being so ruined by something they desire makes them absurdly strong it's stupid.
And I'm the one facing them. Phenomenal.
Before I could even act, in just a blink of an eye she appeared in front of me with her fisted gauntlet also coming in towards my face. Panicked, I instantly blocked it with the wooden part of the double blade, causing it to break in half.
Although in exchange I was sent flying across the rocky plains. I made the right idea of teleporting her to a place where the city was far.
I have no time to think about anything else but to fight her.
3RD POV.
While Rin was sent flying across the rocky plains, he gripped the broken wooden handles of his double blade and immediately reconstructed it to proper handles to make it into dual swords.
He ricochets on the ground twice painfully, but even after that he stood up, only to see a terrifying sight of Nava heading towards him at a fast speed.
The magic camera he had made was still recording this live which means people were still watching.
As he prepared, he would cast magic on himself while preparing an entirely new stance with the dual swords.
"Second Stance: Nightowl."
Engulfed in dark purple magic aura, he rushed at Nava with equal speed, as the brawl between the modern era's Hero, and the Demon Princess had begun.
When they had met, their weapons clashed which created a very strong shockwave around the area, even causing some of the boulders to crack and make the ground shake slightly due to the heavy pressure.
Rin kept his focus, blocking the heavy force of Nava's gauntlets with every bit of strength he had. While she had a distorted expression that looked like she was a predator eyeing her meal.
Rin took the chance while she was distracted, knocking her gauntlets back with enough strength and causing her to catch her off guard.
He swiftly moved his arms back afterwards, swinging widely with his dual swords aiming for her neck in a pincer way which didn't leave her enough time to escape.
But even then she managed to escape, appearing from behind him. He knew it was teleportation magic instantly the moment it happened, as Nava was about to land a bow crushing kick towards the side of his body.
Thanks to his body being faster and swift due to the magic he cast on himself earlier, he managed to outmaneuver his way out the kick, jumping away just in time.
After he escaped a devastating blow, and landed back on the ground, he used enough force to jump back towards her which made her cover herself with he gauntlets to block the incoming attack he was about to do.
"Normal Slash: 500-Fold."
He screamed in anger and fury, beginning to slash her gauntlets with the right blade then the left, causing her to fly just by the force but he wasn't done, there 498 slashes left for him to hit.
He inhaled deeply, before changing the stance of magic he had casted earlier.
"Sixth Stance: Bolt."
And just like lightning he jumped towards her instantly, appearing in front of her while she was still blocking using her gauntlets.
In that moment, the 3rd hit connected, then the 4th, then the 5th. Making him consecutively attack her over and over which kept making her fly away, even crashing through boulders and a mountain that after the 500th slash, he sent her flying towards a ray of mountains, as he landed in plain grass.
Panting heavily, he felt almost exhausted after using so much strength but he knew it wasn't over yet. Rin slowly stood up while sweating a lot, gripping the dual swords tightly at their handles as he looked at the area where he supposedly blasted Nava away.
The ground started to shake crazy, knowing she was coming at him at an even higher speed.
After a few moments the shaking stopped which had him confused, he couldn't sense her energy anywhere, knowing something was wrong.
His senses kicked in as he looked up.
Only to realize his bet was wrong.
Nava jumped out the ground, covered in dirt as she looked at him with a smirk. Rin's eyes looked at her the moment she got out, but he didn't have enough time to react.
"Gotcha dear~"
She said before throwing a heavy haymaker of a punch at his face.
Rin tried to react quickly by blocking it with the sword from his right, only to be shattered in pieces with ease by her gauntlet. Landing a direct hit at his cheek which sent him flying across the trees.
His body bouncing hard against the ground thrice as he lands on the dirt painfully, his body aching like hell. Just from that punch his consciousness almost faded.
He never underestimated the Demon Princess's strength, they were on another level.
As decades, centuries go by, demons grow stronger by age, and by era. He knew he had no chance but as the Hero, he had to save the people. His family.
He shakily tried to get up off the ground, only to see Nava's boots already in front of him. Yet he still tried getting up, which caused Nava to sigh and put her hand on her left hip.
"You know, not giving up is what I love about you. Even after I escape, kill your friends, your comrades. You always try your best just to find me and end me! And now look where it took you…"
She said mockingly at the first part, but she felt rather sad how injured he ended up. Kneeling down to look at him with a twisted smile.
"Hey… Be mine and maybe, I'll let you live. Forget about your wife, your child. Just be with me."
He coughed out blood beneath him as he tried getting up, his arms desperately trying to keep him steady. A scoff came out after he just coughed out blood. Looking up at Nava with a grin that showed that he isn't giving up at all.
"Never. After what you've done to me, to the lives you took… I'm never giving myself to you."
"Mm… Suit yourself."
She stood back up and made her gauntlets disappear on her hands, instead she reached her right arm out, her palm facing towards his face as it began gathering magic energy, preparing for the last and final blow.
"Any last words?"
"Yeah…"
He said before coughing uncontrollably, until he managed to speak the last final words he wanted to say.
"Let's continue killing each other in hell."
The area around them started to shake crazily that her concentration of her magic was interrupted, causing her to almost lose balance. Nava looked at Rin with a terrified expression for the first time. And what she saw. Was the Hero sacrificing himself, risking everything to take her down.
But before the place even exploded, both Nava and Rin charged towards at each other. Nava already having her left hand balled into a fist with the gauntlet still being on due to her cautious nature, would swing very hard towards while screaming Rin's name.
Whilst Rin managed to grip one of the swords with both of his hands when Nava was caught off guard, his mental state slowly decaying and becoming slightly insane just to kill her. Allowing him to infuse the sword with enough magic power that was almost unstable to match her strength. Swinging both his arms widely and quickly, screaming Nava's name at the same time as she did to him.
"Nava!/Rin!"
When both of their weapons clashed, along with the ground shaking, a massive explosion had occurred. The camera Rin had made was caught in the crossfire, destroying it in the process. Making everyone who was watching the stream he had made, only end up in static.
—
After the explosion, the live broadcast ended abruptly, suddenly even. The city, and maybe even neighboring countries from other cities were shocked by the outcome of a very gruesome end.
What the people wondered is... Was that his intention all along? To sacrifice himself just to stop the Demon Princess?
No one knew the answer... With the sole exception of his wife, and the mother of the said reincarnated hero, Oracle.
She already knew what was going to happen, even when she was watching, she couldn't hold her tears back nor stop herself from watching. Throughout the broadcast, she had her left hand on her mouth, stopping herself from breaking down while watching him sacrifice himself in order to guarantee their safety.
'Why did it come to this...' She thought to herself before collapsing on the floor with her knees on the ground, clutching and holding onto the reincarnated hero tightly. Her voice shaking, slowly being filled with despair and dread.
"M... Maa..."
Just then Oracle heard a voice, a childlike voice coming near her ear. Slowly, she pulls her child away from her, carrying them underneath their armpits whilst looking at them with teary eyes, as the child reached his tiny hand out to pat her head gently.
"Maaa.. Aam..."
The child spoke, his first word being her only made her tear up even more, not by sadness or guilt, but happiness. She hugged him tighter and giggled at his words.
"I-If only... Your father was here to hear you say that... Thank you for being here with me Toki."
—
Toki's POV
So Toki's my name, not that bad.
Although it seems like saying Mama was the extent of my English considering I'm still a toddler.
But I'm just glad I managed to make her calm down and happy at least... Is it weird that she didn't bother thinking that her baby giving her a head pat seem unusual?
I looked at her to see that she grabbed a tissue nearby to wipe her tears and her snot away from her nose, before standing up then carrying me and gently setting me down inside the baby crib.
"Okay... Okay! Mommy's going to handle something alright? So just behave there for a bit okay Toki?" She said while I carefully stayed still inside the crib, standing on the soft tiny bed I had and having my hands grip on the wood as I looked at mother and giving a nod, then receiving a kiss on my forehead before she left in a rush. It seems like she's going to be busy for a while.
Then again... To think my father was the hero. Rin.
He was a brave man, I respect him deciding to sacrifice himself just so he can defeat the Demon Princess... Although have demons gotten that stronger? Even the Demon Prince in my era was strong but it wasn't capable of that kind of destruction.
I would've liked to be taught by that father of mine, but unfortunately the responsibility a hero has to burden is for the people and for his family. I know he did it for a reason, and I'm very curious as to what the reason was.
For now, it seems like I have to learn more about this world first and foremost... And most importantly, why I was reincarnated in the first place.
Is the... Demon Lord...
No he can't be.
I gently slap my cheeks with these tiny hands of mine then taking a look at it after. My palms, fingers, and arms being so tiny and small.
I genuinely can't believe I'm alive again, but I know I was brought back to life for a reason, and I'll use this chance to figure it out.
I'll make sure I won't disappoint you father. And I have to know why was I reincarnated, and how. Watch me, I'm going to make sure I succeed without any more sacrifices this time.