Ding... Ding... Ding...
The midnight bells from the capital's grand church echoed through the quiet streets of Ranmusia. Their haunting chime carried a sense of foreboding that hung heavily in the air.
Far from the church, within the opulent halls of the Granbell estate, chaos erupted.
"Let me go! Stop!" Elizabeth's scream tore through the night as rough hands dragged her from her room.
"Release Lady Elizabeth at once!" Satella's voice rang out, defiant despite the odds. The maid lunged forward, but the kidnappers quickly subdued her.
"Grandpa! Help us!" Elizabeth's cry was filled with raw desperation, her wide eyes searching for the one man she thought she could trust.
Reinhard Namru Granbell, the former holy knight and hero of legends, stood silently in the doorway. His shadow stretched long in the dim light, a stark contrast to the honor and valor his name once inspired.
Then, without a word, he moved.
Bam!
His boot struck Elizabeth's face, sending her crumpling to the floor. The kidnappers smirked, their job made easier by the betrayal.
Satella's voice trembled with disbelief. "Wh-what are you?!"
Before she could react, Reinhard's fist collided with her face, sending her sprawling.
"Don't do this, Grandpa! Stop! Please!" Elizabeth sobbed, clutching her bruised face.
But Reinhard showed no mercy. When Satella grabbed a knife and charged at the kidnappers, he intercepted her effortlessly, blocking with his foot. The next instant, his powerful kick slammed her into the wall.
"Satella!" Elizabeth screamed as her friend coughed up blood, struggling to stand.
The maid's shaky hand reached for the knife again, but Reinhard was faster. With a cold, calculated thrust, he plunged the blade into her stomach.
Satella gasped, crimson spreading across her dress as she crumpled to the floor. Blood pooled beneath her as her breaths grew ragged.
"Raiden… help... us..." she whispered, her voice fading.
***
Miles away, in the heart of a cursed dungeon, the clanging of swords and roars of beasts drowned out all else.
"Pant… Pant… This is getting out of hand!" I muttered, slicing through yet another wave of summoned monsters. Their sheer number was overwhelming. My sword, Excalibur, gleamed with each strike, severing limbs and cutting through flesh like paper.
"Damn, how can this woman summon so many?!" I shouted, glancing toward the Dungeon Queen.
She stood at the far end of the chamber, her silhouette illuminated by a faint, malevolent glow. Her expression was one of amusement, as if she reveled in my frustration.
"Are you enjoying yourself?!" I growled, dodging an incoming attack from a shadowy beast. My patience was wearing thin.
The thought crossed my mind—why not just burn everything to ashes? I had Mino's powers at my disposal, after all.
Focusing my energy, I let the skills flow into my mind like a torrent. Then, one particular spell stood out, its name almost etched into my very soul.
"Let's see how you handle this… Demon Flame!" I roared, slamming my blade into the ground.
Black flamesliving inferno. The fire spread rapidly, consuming the summoned creatures in its path. Their agonized screams echoed through the chamber before silence fell.
When the flames dissipated, I turned my gaze to the Dungeon Queen. She was on her knees, panting heavily. Her once-majestic aura had dimmed, and her body trembled from exhaustion.
"Still alive, huh? You're tougher than you look," I muttered, walking toward her.
She looked up at me with defiant eyes. "『You…』" she whispered, her voice trembling.
Suddenly, her expression softened. "『Son?』"
"What?!" I froze mid-step, the unexpected word striking me like a lightning bolt.
The voice—it was familiar, yet foreign. It tugged at something deep within me, something buried beneath layers of my identity as Raiden Gleanford.
"Are you trying to mess with me?" I asked, pointing Excalibur at her.
"『No… I am not trying to make you stumble,』" she said, her tone sincere. "『I want answers. Tell me… Are you… Aung Zay Yar?』"
The name sent a shiver down my spine. My hands trembled as I tightened my grip on my sword.
"Aung… Zay Yar?" I whispered. "Why does that name… feel so nostalgic?"
"No!" I snapped, shaking off the strange sensation. "My name is Shinji Tasuki! I am not Burmese—I'm Japanese! I don't know who this Aung Zay Yar is, and I don't care!"
The Dungeon Queen lowered her gaze, her expression somber. "『I see… But you feel exactly like my son from another world.』"
Her words hung in the air, heavy with emotion.
"『You came here to kill me, didn't you? Then please… end it. I've lived long enough in this cursed existence.』"
Her plea caught me off guard. Why would someone so powerful want to die? What pain was she carrying?
"Why?" I asked, my voice softer now. "Why do you want to die?"
She smiled faintly. "『Because I've lost everything… Even him.』"
Her words stirred something in me—a fleeting sense of sympathy I couldn't quite understand.
"Fine," I said, stepping closer. "But before I do, is there anything else you want?"
"『One last thing… May I see your face?』" she asked. "『This is my final wish.』"
I hesitated, but eventually nodded. Slowly, I removed my mask, revealing my face. Her eyes widened, tears streaming down her cheeks as she reached out to touch me.
Her hand was cold against my skin, trembling as it traced my features.
"『Thank you… so much…』" she whispered.
Without a word, I drove Excalibur into her abdomen. The blade pierced through her body, the tip emerging from her back.
To my surprise, she leaned forward and hugged me. Her frail arms wrapped around my torso as she sobbed into my chest.
"『I… I don't want to die yet!』" she cried, her nails digging into my back.
Her grip weakened, and her arms fell limp as she exhaled her final breath. Her body slumped against mine, lifeless.
At this moment, I realised that nothing exist forever. Immortals are not invincible, mortals will die shortly. This is the way of life. Willing or not. This is the fate of all the living, non-living, humans, demons, demi-humans and Angels.
No matter who you are, you can't escape the fate just like you can't dodge a bullet coming at you at speed of sound.
For a moment, I stood there, holding her in silence.
"Rest well," I murmured, pulling my sword free. "I'll give you a proper funeral."
*
The heavy doors creaked open, revealing piles of gold and glittering jewels scattered across the room.
"Woah," we all gasped in unison, marveling at the sight.
Just as I stepped forward, a searing laser beam shot toward me, sending me flying into the wall. The impact knocked the air out of my lungs.
"Sorry, but these treasures are mine," a familiar voice said smugly.
I looked up, my vision blurry but clear enough to recognize the figure standing before me.
"Lucas," I growled. That bastard!
"You son of a—" I started, but he fired another beam, this time at the ceiling. The rocks above began to collapse, trapping us beneath the rubble.
"You bastard!!!" I screamed, my voice echoing in the confined space as the dust settled.