*Zoom*

What a bleak place. One where the sword was placed and never again used. No one harnessed its power, no one use it, as it does not comply, it only comply to one and nothing else…

“Rosia, you’re out of it” Ah, I was spacing out around it again… no, it was like I was remembering something… no that doesn’t matter, the fact that I was spacing out still hold true.

“My bad. Let’s try to take the sword for ourselves” I said walking up to it. I am the one who is meant to hold it after all, no one else will.

*Grip*

…

“So? Can you feel its power?” Maova asked. There was more to that. Way more. What is all of this. I don’t… 

*Zoom*

“So the soul has awakened from its slumber” 

“Huh?” Without realizing it I take out the sword with zero effort, looking at the one saying so. It was the sage herself, Yeig, or rather Kaa-san, and with her Mother also came by as well… Mother? That sounds so wrong to say…

“I know you two will show up, now spill it out, what grand revelation were you two going to reveal?” Maova said with complete seriousness that isn’t a common occurrence to witness.

“Hmph, you really want to take winds out of our sails huh? No matter, let us tell a tale” Kaa-san said as she walk around the room with Mother, each walking in different direction. 

“Two centuries ago as the threat of the Demon Lord creeped up on humans of this land, one person appeared as one of its key figures” Mother said, staring off looking at the bleak room.

“She with her beauty and strength, revered as a hero by many, some considered her the actual hero destined to end the Demon Lord” Kaa-san followed… It was such a stupid thing to think about, I cannot comprehend what people were saying on such a topic.

“Her sword, created by those no one know, shines bright in her quest to attain peace, and all that came by were more troubles” Mother continued. Why can’t everything just ended cleanly?

“Clashing against the demon on the other side, yet does not falter in her selfish beliefs, her simple reason for living” Kaa-san followed once more. It’s ridiculous to go against her, but there’s not many choice that could be made.

“In the end what does she get out of it all? Title that she doesn’t care for, attention that is nothing but a hindrance, what does she truly gained at the end? What fulfillment is there for her?” Mother said. All of this was just needless sophistry, all of this was pointless for me, and look what that made me as I am now.

“Her life was not anything truly fulfilling, and it ended, just like that. Now I ask of you, is there any chance for that peculiar soul to find fulfillment? To find love?” Kaa-san said looking straight at me. How I am now… 

“Does that need to be answered? Can you not see what’s in front of you?” I asked in return. Maova throughout all of this look on with composure, listening attentively. The two stopped walking and turn to look at me.

“Heh. Hahahahaha! Seems you have truly woken up” Mother… Vermilla… No, it doesn’t matter anymore, I’ll just call her like I have always done in this life and nothing of the past.

“So you can laugh!” Maova commented jokingly

*Stab*

“Stay there and don’t say anything” Kaa-san said, stabbing Maova in the gut with a white spiral lance pinning her to the wall, with a massive amount of force behind it as well. She certainly doesn’t get any slack from her parents despite getting a lot of support, she takes this well all things considered.

“So Isora. What will you do with this awakening?” Mother asked, hopefully she only use this name for old time sake.

“What does it change? Be real here” I replied.

“I should’ve expected that, regardless I will say that seeing you back is like seeing an old friend, so at least I got that out of these whole ordeal. Anything you want to add Yeig?” Mother answered.

“That sword of yours, how does it feels getting a hold of it again?” She asked.

“Certainly feels like a part of me is back, I’m not certain of it myself but ever since I got close to this place again something of myself came back” I answered. Ever since we began ‘infiltrating’ the household where the sword is stored, something about me began coming back. Looking back that’s why I know the name of the sword, I’m the only one who know its name in the first place, it all began to make sense.

“The irony the radiates from this fact alone make me laugh, and that’s no easy feat” Mother replied with a straight face, so that’s why she laugh way back when, from a hero to a villain so to say, how can one not be entertained by such irony? Even if it all happened without being aware of it myself, I can’t really blame them for finding amusement from it.

“And so the one who many considered the true hero, what will you do now?” Kaa-san asked.

“It’s simple. Nothing will change, former hero or not, different life or otherwise, now I am on the side of the true demon, Rosia Zana, shall and forever be the demon who hold the sword of a hero, a fallen hero with no regret” I declared. That is what I am now.

“Good answer. I know full well someone like you wouldn’t change side due to something of this scale, a former human I actually have some respect for, and someone I very much support in your endeavors with Maova” Mother responded.

“And with this, your awakening is completed. Do not disappoint me, ‘fallen’ hero, you as well Maova” Kaa-san said.

*Zoom*

And with that both of them disappeared. That was truly surreal, and I wasn’t really any different than before either, it was like someone in a dream waking up.

*Pull* *Gush*

“What a complicated… situation this truly is” Maova said pulling out the divine looking lance and blood gushing everywhere so she can move. She managed to stand but it won’t be for long.

*[High Heal]*

Perhaps that wasn’t much but it’s the least I could do, her regeneration means it’ll close up quickly anyway.

“Haah… so how are we connected again? Part of my soul, and your soul, are parallel of each other, and now as it turns out, the other part of my soul and your past self, are former enemies” She said sitting down with her left leg knee up and right one down, still holding the lance in her hand drenched with her own blood.

“It certainly sound complicate does it not?” I asked, even if it’s obvious.

“Yeah, it sounds like a mess for certain, but we both know full well neither point will change our love” She said with a confident smile, what I like to hear.

“Exactly, any and all revelation can’t break us, of course neither really detracts our affection in the slightest” I replied.

“Alright then… Let’s go, time will come for you to play hero, you have done it once, you can do it twice” Maova said storing the lance away standing back up, reaching out her hand to me like she always does.

“I can, and I won’t fail you on that front” I said, storing away Suemosa and responded in kind.

*Zoom*

 

#####

 

“So how much time do we have left?” I asked as we sit down at a table outside the colosseum, designed for sitting down and eating before the round start, we’re not eating but it’s still a place to stay put.

“If we’re talking about before the next round start, about twenty minutes” She answered. I should look over the plan once again, we’ll fight in the tournament and end the event with myself as the winner, I’ll summon Suemosa to the last battle and win with it, get called the Hero, and Maova will summon a massive attack that I’ll barely block, ending with the people panicking still even though the supposed hero truly came, and our plan after that… well Maova haven’t thought that far but she should be able to improvise.

“That’ll be quite some time. How about we scout out any possible problems? We remember that [Appraisal] exist now after all” I suggested.

“True enough, I’m quite curious as to how strong our opponents are, otherwise we’ll just one-shot them accidentally” Maova replied playfully, then stand up, I do the same.

 

#####

 

[Appraisal]

 

Name: Yutal Trania

Gender: Male

Age: 22

Race: Human

 

Level: 71

Class: Spell Fencer

HP: 6,231/6,231

MP: 444/444

Strength: 288

Magical Prowess: 267

Dexterity: 280

Agility: 279

Luck: 259

Vitality: 225

Magical Resistance: 226

 

Weapon Proficiency 

Sword: A

 

Elemental Proficiency

Fire: C+

Lightning: C

Light: C

Life: D+

 

“Hm? Do you two have some business with me?” He asked since we stared at him for a bit getting his information. 

“We’re trying to figure anything out about your battle capability. We’ll have to face each other soon after all” Maova replied, that’s true but he surely don’t understand the half of it.

“You two are still waiting for the preliminary are you not? I suggest you two inspect the capability of your foe then than now would be better would it not?” He curiously asked.

“One of us is destined to win, so I don’t see the point” Maova replied.

“Destined? A rather peculiar way of saying it, but I guess I’ll leave it at that… also I hope you two don’t converse with me for too long, interacting with a noble will be troublesome on both side surely” He responded. Well we already get what we came for so we in fact should leave.

“True enough, let’s go Rosia” Maova said leading me away.

…

“So what would you say about him? Aside from him standing zero chance against us” She asked. 

“On a well-rounded side I would say” I replied.

“Yeah, he can be flexible in his approach, so regardless of what we throw at him he’ll come up with something to ‘counter’ it more than likely. Going to be interesting to deal with” She responded.

 

#####

 

[Apprisal]

 

Name: Teelen

Gender: Male

Age: 33

Race: Human

 

Level: 81

Class: Magic Archer 

HP: 6,882/6,882

MP: 471/471

Strength: 285

Magical Prowess: 299

Dexterity: 293

Agility: 295

Luck: 254

Vitality: 229

Magical Resistance: 230

 

Weapon Proficiency 

Bow: A

Hidden Weapon: B

 

Elemental Proficiency

Wind: B

Earth: D

Life: C

 

“So… it’s you two again” He noted looking at us with caution. This guy isn’t very tough and wouldn’t do well in close combat, he use both physical and magical attack just like the other guy.

“What a happy coincidence to see you here” Maova said with a tint of sarcasm.

“I wouldn’t say that… regardless I wouldn’t have expect you two to enter, what motive do you have?” He asked.

“Are you sure that’s the right thing to ask? Considering your impression of us” Maova retort.

“I would already be dead otherwise. I know my boundaries” He said.

“How clever. Well let’s see how that’ll help you in the end shall we?” Maova said with malicious tone, if not really meaning anything of it.

“I could only hope that ‘end’ never come to pass” He said looking stressed already.

“Now now. I’m here to have fun” Maova said as she leaves, with me following her along.

…

“Now you’re teasing with them” I commented.

“Well it’s quite fun to do so does it not? Anyway those are the two we have our eyes on, needs to make sure to look out for the rest as well” Maova replied.

“But of course, and now it’s time to wait” I said.

“True, and better not miss out on anything” She replied.

“And so we have to wait…” I said trailing off…

 

#####

 

Now we’re in the colosseum watching round seven. One guy seems to be of the clergy so there’s that. I never believe in this god or whatever, seems like something imaginary people made up to pin something on, regardless they got a lot of privilege despite that, what a bunch of ingrates.

Immediately people began rushing at each other, some cluster around like animals while others acting more sensibly, look at their surrounding, be on guard at all times, try to not get caught in the chaos, with that priest guy being on of them.

“I would say that priest guy seems like the obvious winner if we simply took the face value” Maova commented.

“You’re not wrong, but I doubt that’ll always be the case” I responded.

“Yeah yeah” She replied.

*Shine*

“Those who are not worthy… Begone! [Smite]!” The priest said as light began manifesting and then...

*Blast*

Blasting away all other participants. Many were knocked out and only a few still stands. Of course such an action will get everyone to aggro you, is he just overconfident? Unlikely.

“You damn!-” One guy said trailing off.

“[Prison of Judgement]” He said as-

*Chained*

Everyone in the field get chained up, not something too different from what Maova or I did.

“Begone! [Smite]!” He use that light blast again, and of course they can’t take the same blast twice, just one is a lot already.

“Say, he use light element like us right?” Maova asked.

“Yeah I can see that, what are you insinuating?” I asked in return.

“Nah, just pointing something out. Seems like a religious bigot, probably will be fun to deal with, at least outside of the arena” She ominously said, guess she doesn’t have a good impression of him either.

“Next! Those of round eight go down there!” A staff member said.

“Hm! I’m already the victor, but sure let’s entertain the idea” A massive guy with rather unpleasant face and low amount of hair said, then walk to the arena.

“An arrogant type… they’re pretty fun to tease and taunt” Maova commented.

 

#####

 

“Start!” A man shouted.

“Raaah!!!” That arrogant man shouted swinging his massive axe around wildly, crashing into many participants, it’s more like a slaughter more than anything else.

“What a mess of a show” I commented. He continue to brute force his way through everyone.

“None of you can stand against me! No one!” The guy boasted after defeating all of the participants combined, his might is great but his skill and attitude is lesser than that of a rock.

“You quite beefy but that’s about it. What a bore!” Maova declared loudly, it’s like she’s trying to stir things up. A great deal of the crowd, both our and normal audience went silent...

“Oh dear” Yuuna’s brother said no doubt concerned with the provocation.

“The fuck you say you bitch!” He shouted hearing what Maova said.

*Leap* 

He leaps up to where we both are, quite a leg strength on with so much muscle that are leaking out.

“Exactly what I said, you’re so unrefined with nothing but strength it’s such a bore, no, comical is a better word” Maova smugly said. The man’s face is quite red and distorted with anger.

“You dare say such a thing!? I’ll kill you!” He said.

*Swing* *Grab*

“Wha-!?” He’s completely perplexed at the sight he’s seeing.

“How did!?” Yuuna’s brother said startled as well.

“See? You’re just a worthless ingrates” Maova said mocking the guy. No doubt the sight of a lean woman with no clear muscle on her catching the blade of the massive axe like it’s nothing will make everyone look in awe and horror. It is after all not something one registered as a normal occurrence, no one would expect something like this as common sense held them back.

“P-Please the participants of round nine, enter the arena” A staff member said breaking the silence. Maova casually released the axe aside with a smile on her.

“If that’s the best you can do, don’t even show up, at least be competent enough to entertain the Hero” Maova said with a glare that could kill sounding dead serious.

“W-What?” Yuuna’s brother let out looking slightly paled.

“H-HOW DARE THAT WOMAN SAY THAT TO MEEEE!!!” The giant guy shouted, while the other participants of round nine all hesitate in going down there against her.

“C-Can I quit the tournament?” One guy said.

“A-Ah, that’s alright with us” The staff on the scene said. You made quite a commotion Maova. It’s quite a sight to behold if nothing else.

 

#####

 

In the end only six people enter the arena, with Maova having an evil grin on her, like playing with her prey. Everyone else is extremely nervous around her.

“Just who is she?” Yuuna’s brother pondered out loudly. He just have to be close to me… at least I could expect him to not do anything shady.

“Just my partner. Pardon her attitude” I said, which he picked up on.

“And what does that make you?” He asked in return.

“Just someone following her own path, nothing more” I replied, and he went silent. I don’t think the other winners of the past preliminary match are here, so they probably won’t know what they’ll be up against. As for the giant man he have be forced to leave the area, however hard it was, for now.

“S-Start!” Even the announcer guy is scared.

*Dash*

Immediately Maova rushed in, she doesn’t have any weapon on her but she doesn’t need it. At the sight of her movement the other fighters flinched at the sight and paralyzed in fear.

*Slam*

Slamming her elbow against the guy in front of her, right in the chest and he’s immediately knocked out. This also snapped the other contestant out of their trance and process what just happened, which Maova responded by immediately targeting the one closest to her, if the last was a slaughter this is closer to a killing game, where the murderer delightfully done the victim in.

*Dash* *Kick*

Next she kick a guy close to her and knock him out as well, the speed and precision of her attack should be clear for the others to see that she’s no brute.

By the way all of this happened in less than a few seconds, so those of untrained eyes probably can’t processed the events that unfold.

“Now now. Don’t get discouraged now, how about you show bravery like a hero should have?” Maova said very much meant to be taunting the remaining participants.

“This is… Just absurd…” Yuuna’s brother said clearly stressed out.

“She is a sage after all, they’re all absurd” I responded.

“Huh? Is that true?” Yuuna’s brother asked.

“Yes, with approval from a guild master as well” I replied.

“I see… but I thought sage are those with great might and knowledge in magic? Not master of close combat” Yuuna’s brother noted.

“She’s weird. That’s all I can say” I replied. 

No one else dared to go against her, with Maova looking rather disappointed.

“How disappointing, guess this is all you people can do” Maova said.

*Sprint* *Smack* *Smack* *Smack*

And smacks the three guys in the neck, so much for holding back for more entertainment value, but I guess she couldn’t be bothered to wait that long.

And with that the rounds end, there was no fanfare, no yells, nothing, just silent annihilation.

“Good grief… I have to go against someone like that…” Yuuna’s brother muttered. He handled the situation better than most, considering he can even speak at this point.

 

#####

 

“So much for pulling your punches” I snarked as Maova sit down next to me, everyone else looking at her anxiously.

“Hey, you probably would need to pull off some steam as well if things started to get dull” She retort, ignoring the stares she got.

“So how will your opponents in the rounds after even act? They’ll probably be in fear more than bravely fought against you” I asked.

“If that’s the case then I’ll show them the consequence of being a coward” She ominously said with a grin on her, she’s really not trying that hard to make herself less threatening, at this point someone will actually think she’s the Demon Lord.

 

#####

 

Round ten was an absolute bore, and the next round I’ll be the one down there.

“Participants of next get down there already!” A staff shouted, so I walk down and toward the arena with my sword in hand, just the normal sword for now, there’s no need to show off.

“Get ready… Start!” The announcer yelled and everyone began moving around, some fighting and others looking around for the time being. I myself am standing there on guard waiting for someone to approach.

And here comes the vic- I mean the opponent, a man with a sword, that’s the best I could describe the guy.

*Swing* *Evade*

I effortlessly dodge his sword swing and can determined easily that this guy is not a threat.

*Smack*

I quickly regain balance and smack him in the head with the side of my blade, since his head will go flying otherwise. Now who else want some? No one? Then I’ll just help myself.

*Dash* 

“What the!?” This guy managed to register my presence as I get behind him striking from his left, but unfortunately he can’t move his body as fast as he sees.

*Slash*

I deliberately strike at an awkward angle so he wouldn’t receive the full might of the attack, but it was still enough to knock him out easily.

“Haaa!” A pikeman shouted.

*Thrust* *Evade* *Grab*

I grabbed the spear as soon as I dodge it, but I’d rather not copy that guy’s move, instead…

*Swing*

“W-Whoa!” He let out in surprise.

*Crash*

I swing the spear in an arc vertically and smash him onto the floor. I look up to see Maova and wonder if she wants to say something… ‘End it now’... that’s what I picked up from her gesture.

*Dash* *Slash*

I quickly jumped into the fray and immediately cut down people-non-lethally of course-and finished the match up in a few seconds.

“O-Oh… the match is over!” Seems the announcer is quite surprised at the speed at which I defeat my opponents, but it matters not to me, now with both of us clearing the preliminary round we’ll be in the situation Maova would consider more ‘interesting’. The one-on-one. We’ll have to sit though every other match first, but that’s just how it is.