The land was withered and barren.
Black clouds filled the sky, and a parched wind blew across the dead trees stripped of all leaves.
The lakes and rivers were clear, yet tinged faintly with red.
At the center of this demon realm stood the Demon King’s Castle.
Deep within its throne room, the Hero and the Demon Lord clashed in a fierce battle.
……
Only one more strike left.
There was no choice but to put everything on the next blow.
The Hero could feel it.
His body was covered with countless cuts and abrasions, each wound sapping his strength merely by existing.
He had to finish this before exhausting any more of his energy.
Focusing all his power into his sword, the Hero watched as it began to glow with a pale blue light.
The glow grew stronger, brighter, charging with sheer force.
He adjusted his breathing and locked eyes on the Demon Lord.
She too was battered and bloodied.
Their powers were nearly equal.
Yet he had never imagined that the Demon Lord he was meant to defeat would be a woman.
He had expected someone more imposing—but in the throne room stood a slender young woman, appearing no older than a human in her early twenties.
Her skin had a faint purple hue, but otherwise she seemed human.
At first, he hesitated, facing such a seemingly delicate opponent.
But from the moment their battle began, her incredible physical ability and overwhelming magic made him reconsider.
Before him was no fragile maiden—she was the Demon Lord to be defeated.
He poured even more power into his sword.
Sensing that the Hero was staking everything on his next strike, the Demon Lord infused her black blade with power.
It began to radiate a deep, black light.
The force from their swords shook the ground and the air, sending tremors rolling through the castle.
The Hero glanced back.
His four companions, along with two of the Demon Lord’s lieutenants, lay fallen.
After fierce battles with the lieutenants, his companions had somehow defeated them, but the effort left them unable to move.
Without them, he could not have reached this point.
Thanks to their sacrifice, he was able to face the Demon Lord one-on-one.
But if he struck now, the Demon Lord’s counterattack could easily reach his gravely wounded friends.
It might even cost them their lives.
Yet this strike was his only chance.
Should he unleash it now?
A grimace of anguish crossed his face.
“…Don’t… worry about it.”
One of his companions, the mage, struggled to rise despite his injuries.
“I’ll create a magical barrier to protect everyone.”
Trowas—the mage. Though foul-mouthed and rough, he always kept his word and was the most reliable ally in a crisis.
If Trowas said he’d protect them, he would.
The Hero’s hesitation vanished.
“Alright! Demon Lord! This… this strike ends it all!”
He charged at her with all his might.
The Demon Lord met him head-on.
“Uoooooo!!”
Clang!
The blue and black swords collided with a deafening clash.
At that moment, a black sphere the size of a softball appeared beside them.
It grew rapidly.
“W-what is this? My body is being pulled in… is this your magic?”
The Hero and the Demon Lord struggled to maintain their grip on each other, but the sphere’s gravity grew stronger, dragging them both inexorably inward.
“This isn’t my magic. Hero… we should leave this place, now.”
They attempted to disengage, but the sphere’s pull was overwhelming, growing faster and stronger.
“I… can’t resist any longer.”
Before they could react further, the sphere swallowed them whole.
Then, just as suddenly as it had appeared, it vanished.
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