[Somewhere Far, Far Above…]
Above the skies of Melromarc, beyond the stars and divine barriers, something stirred.A meteorite of living obsidian cracked open, revealing a throne made of pulsing voidstone, upon which sat a silhouette cloaked in celestial flame.
The Astral Reaver had awakened.
"The Cardinal Heroes have returned. The Seal weakens. Initiate Starfall Protocol."
[Back in Melromarc: Awkward Hero Summit Time]
King Aultcray had reluctantly gathered all the Cardinal Heroes—and their full parties—for a historic summit. The council chamber was tense, and someone (probably Thorfinn) had brought snacks.
Naofumi sat stoic with Raphtalia, Filo, and Takimaru at his side.Thorfinn wore a cape that looked suspiciously like a shower curtain. His familiar (a tiny bat in shades named "Lil Drac") chilled on his shoulder.Ren brooded with his silent swordsmen.Motoyasu was surrounded by a fan club of suspiciously identical women.Itsuki polished his bow with an attitude so smug it could legally be arrested.
The king cleared his throat.
"The stars have changed… A wave outside the Wave is coming."
Thorfinn (mouth full): "So it's a double wave. Like a Big Mac of apocalypse?"
Naofumi: "Please stop talking."
[The Starfall Protocol]
The royal mages revealed that ancient prophecies—written in forbidden starlight—warned of a coming Cosmic Convergence. If the heroes didn't unite, a god-tier invader would bypass the waves and crash into their reality like a cheat-code-wielding final boss.
Worse? The waves were beginning to fracture, opening rifts across all kingdoms, not just Melromarc.
[Thorfinn's Vision]
That night, Thorfinn dreamed—or more accurately—was dragged into a blood-drenched astral realm. A giant mirror floated before him, cracked in seven places.
From it, a reflection of himself grinned with glowing red eyes, dark wings spread wide.
"You're not ready… But I am."
He woke up in a cold sweat. Takimaru was reading beside him, sipping tea.
Takimaru: "Did you just scream 'Bro me from the mirror realm' in your sleep?"
Thorfinn: "You know what? Don't even ask."
[Cosmic Countdown: 30 Days Until Impact]
The summit concluded with the announcement: 30 days until Starfall. A literal countdown now pulsed above the heroes' HUDs like a cursed notification.
Each hero party was assigned a region to defend:
Ren: Sicklefang Caverns
Motoyasu: Lotus Bloom Lake
Itsuki: Skyreach Monastery
Naofumi and Thorfinn: Gloomfang Region – Ground Zero
Thorfinn: "Awesome. We get the spooky place. Again."
Naofumi: "You attract cursed forests. Like it's a skill."
[The Pact of Unity]
Before departing, the heroes made a pact—one final agreement to put aside their beef, train, explore, and defend their regions, then meet again at the center of the convergence for the Final Push.
They sealed it with a mixed drink made of:
Phoenix tears
Vampire blood
Filolial egg yolk (Thorfinn's idea)
And pure Mana Infusion
It exploded.
[Final Scene: A Rift in the Stars]
Above the continent, the sky cracked like glass, and for a moment, the silhouette of a massive horned being stared down at the world below.
The Countdown dropped from 30 days to 27.
And it whispered a name lost to time…
"...Takimaru..."
Next Chapter…
Chapter 15 – Regions of Ruin: Training Arcs, Side Quests, and Star-Cursed Secrets