The moment I grasped the banner, the darkness lifted.
The darkness that had hung over the world’s end was not gone. The black sun floating in the sky still scattered ominous light, and the powers imposed by the Nameless One continued to stain the world with dullness.
What had lifted was the darkness that had been thick for a thousand years.
The victory I truly longed for was obscured.
My heart’s desire.
I felt refreshed. At the same time, it was absurd.
How ridiculous to be outside of humanity.
How ridiculous to have wanted to escape humanity.
Yet, how I had most wished to remain human.
Sure, I couldn’t deny that.
In that dreadful Battlefield, nestled among monsters, I, Frey, had.
Because I wished to remain human until the end.
To stay human.
To hold onto a human heart.
Because I wanted to achieve what I couldn’t, “together.”
Then what of my unique ability, victory?
That was merely a tool needed in the process.
So, I twisted.
So, I got tangled.
In the end, I couldn’t achieve complete victory.
“Hehe.”
I let out a pleasant laugh as I embraced Noah, who was wobbling right in front of me.
“Kar, Tia…?”
A height that didn’t even reach my chest.
A small frame that could be cradled in one hand.
A girl so small, it was hard to guarantee she could navigate the hardships ahead, gazed up at me.
That girl, Noah, gently caressed my arm with trembling hands.
“Your arm is…”
“Isn’t it amazing?”
I found it amazing too.
Kiki-
As I stroked Noah’s arm, I looked again, or rather, examined the newly formed arm.
It didn’t feel uncomfortable to move.
Every control, every shape, color, feel.
It was just like the original arm and hand.
My once blurry vision returned clearer than before. My body, which had been riddled with wounds, was the same. In fact, I felt healthier than in my prime.
Well, given I was now a spiritual entity, I guess that makes sense.
Still, it left a slightly bitter taste in my mouth.
“So, what about the banner…?”
“Oh, this-”
I turned to the flag in my other hand, not holding Noah.
The flag was radiant. And blue.
It waved vigorously in the dry wind, proudly displaying its presence, gradually pushing away the darkness of the black sun.
So, how to describe this existence?
Just as I recalled various splendid phrases I had heard until now.
“Your arm has… grown?”
Brunhilde’s voice cut through my thoughts.
“Did you fight against lizards, and end up becoming one yourself? It’s a rational approach, but… you’re just too creepy, you know?”
Brunhilde looked at me with genuine disgust, trembling, and turned away.
“Well, at least it seems like you really made a proper choice. A bit late, though.”
Then, spreading her membranous wings wide, she took off.
“Make sure you keep it together. There’s no time.”
Next was Valoran.
Valoran, who had been smiling faintly at me, said nothing.
They simply flapped their wings and turned away.
“What’s the matter? Didn’t you have something to say?”
“I have many things to say, but I think it’s best to keep them to myself.”
“What the hell?”
“I believe it would be best for you to gradually come to understand the questions I have regarding you.”
“What kind of bullshit is that? How am I supposed to understand your questions-”
Hoo-
The flapping of wings cut off my words.
The dark feathers scattered behind me, and Valoran’s voice was enough to calm my irritation.
“That way, you won’t develop any regrets.”
“…What?”
“With just that one question you held moments ago, I believe I’ve sufficiently repaid the favor for being trapped in the dimensional rift a thousand years ago.”
Finally, with a soft gust of wind, Valoran soared into the sky, leaving only black feathers behind as they chased after Brunhilde.
“Has that bastard lost his mind too?”
Regrets?
I had already died once.
I’ve seen everything that can be seen and everything that shouldn’t be seen.
From the moment Noah pulled Frey up, my time had begun to flow towards its end.
I had been marked for disappearance in this world.
For me to have regrets?
Tsk, I clicked my tongue and plucked a feather that had landed on Noah’s head. Then, I brushed away the dirt clinging to her cheek.
At that, Noah’s slowly rising eyes met mine.
Inside them were red, murky orbs.
Perhaps it was because she couldn’t see ahead, her gaze was vacant.
Having faced despair repeatedly, she had lost her light and seemed dead inside.
Yet, the will that seeped through her was still there.
The hand clutching my clothes trembled violently, but the other hand didn’t let go of the Great Sword.
Her once bright smile was gone, replaced by a contorted expression stained with pain.
Her lips, which always drew arcs, were tightly sealed, forming a heavy straight line.
No matter how you looked at it, it was a visage filled with nothing but denial.
I brought a finger to Noah’s face. I massaged her forehead to smooth out the wrinkles. I pinched her nose to relieve some of the tension and gently lifted her lips.
“Heh, this is a bit better.”
Yes, this inadequate fool wanted to see Noah smile again.
I wanted to see her happy, laughing, and getting tangled up with the mundane.
I wanted to see her gobbling jelly, beaming brightly, and handing it to me.
Rubia and Noah.
These kids of mine.
My distant descendants.
Humanity.
In the same time, under the same sky, in the same place.
Seeing, feeling, and sharing the same things.
Not dying, but living.
That was what I wanted to see.
But this feeling isn’t regret.
It’s a vulgar greed for something beyond my reach.
Such things should not be kept.
They should not even be left behind.
Not only is it unbecoming, but this melodrama isn’t fun at all.
So I will.
I will turn my gaze away from this rising greed.
I will not hold onto regrets.
I will not utter unnecessary words, and I will speak only what is needed for the current situation.
“Noah.”
Swish- As Noah’s face tilted, her flowing hair brushed against my wrist.
“The battle isn’t over yet.”
It would be great if it ended.
Or at the very least, if we were given a moment to rest, that would be nice.
But in this damned world, there’s no such thing.
“After we defeat that primordial beast-”
At that moment, a jolt sent an unexplainable chill ringing an alarm. Both Noah and I turned our heads towards the sky.
“What is that…”
A red moon.
In the dark sky, a blood-red moon was rising.
A blood-red moon pouring forth crimson blood. It wasn’t the crescent moon seen during the past battle with Valoran but a complete full moon appearing instead.
But that wasn’t all.
Following a crimson tapestry flowing from the moon, flames burned as if to scorch the entire world. Hellfire. It resembled a disaster that would arise from sheer terror.
“Good grief…”
Valoran and Brunhilde.
They hadn’t become stronger after becoming the Monsters of the End.
They had weakened.
Having had their strength siphoned by the Nameless One, with their minds torn apart, they had disappeared from memory, denying their very existence.
But that isn’t the case anymore.
Having regained everything, they were on a different plane than the beings alive on Earth.
Their declaration to drop and smash the sky was no mere madness.
Gulp- My dry throat swallowed a dry gulp.
Unconsciously, I tightened my grip on the banner.
Feeling the cold sweat running down my spine, I calculated the potential outcomes when I clashed with them now.
There was no calculation suggesting I would lose.
However, there wasn’t a certain confidence that I would win either.
To win, I would need at least one arm.
And that wouldn’t come cheap; if things went awry, I’d have to surrender all my limbs.
Yet.
As I thought, it was frustrating.
Those bastards, if they had come out like this from the start, I wouldn’t have had to struggle at all.
I clicked my tongue as I looked at Noah.
I had to finish what I started saying earlier.
But before I could, Noah shook her head.
As if to say not to speak.
As if her expression might crumble at any moment, she shook her head. However, I still started to speak.
“When the primordial beast is slain, and the false paradise’s descent reaches its final stage, the ancient dragon will inevitably appear.”
The ancient dragon, Sirinius.
The name that was familiar to us.
“Sirin.”
Thud- Noah’s head, hanging weakly, buried into my chest. A shuddering breath escaped her tightly closed lips.
I sighed softly, gently stroking Noah’s head.
Why.
Why did Sirin come down to humanity and share affection with us? Why did they help Noah, and why did they nurture her?
I don’t know. I can’t comprehend.
Yet, it must be done.
Sirin.
To subjugate the ancient dragons.
That way.
I can delay the awakening of the End.
That way.
I can save Rubia, swallowed by the Nameless One.
I gently lowered Noah’s body from my embrace.
Then, I raised her head, which still wouldn’t rise, meeting her gaze.
It was a meaningless action for Noah, who felt the surroundings through her spiritual sense, but still, a person has feelings.
“Hey, Noah.”
Her lips parted. However, no voice came forth.
“The angels sought to descend, while the demons sought to break through.”
Noah’s vacant eyes gazed up at the sky.
“And humans sought to reverse heaven.”
Slide- Her weakly tilted head leaned into my embrace.
“Descending and breaking through are clear intentions. To drop and smash the sky. But reversing heaven isn’t a clear intention.”
I released Noah fully from my embrace.
“Besides, these days, they can’t even perform a proper reversal of heaven.”
I carefully seated the wobbling Noah.
“So, I’ll show you. The true reversal of heaven.”
And then, I drew the sword that had been sheathed at my back.
From that point.
Thud- The roots of the ash tree, visible in the distance, were pulled up. The gigantic Yggdrasil, which connected heaven and earth, crumbled toward the ground.
And, —Crack!
The dark sky cracked open.
A rift in the very foundation of the world formed.
Concepts twisted. Regulations flipped upside down.
The blood pouring from the crimson full moon drenched the world. The flames consuming everything surged towards the sky.
Finally.
The sky is falling.
The sky that had never been touched.
The sky that had reigned over everything from high above.
Is falling.
Is breaking.
Is shattering and igniting.
Tragically.
Turning to ashes without leaving a trace.
I stand beneath it.
Stepping on the blood-drenched ground.
Slicing- I returned the sword I had pulled from its sheath.
Once sheathed, there was only one action I could take.
Drawing the sword.
Quick Draw.
Well, there have been many tales throughout history stating that using the friction between the blade and sheath allows for quick swordsmanship.
But that’s all bullshit.
A sword is fastest and strongest when simply pulled and swung.
Even so, the reason for using quick draw techniques is.
Because it looks cool.
Drawing the sword and immediately slicing with a quick draw is undeniably impressive.
Of course, style isn’t important in battle.
The one who wins is the coolest, after all.
Except when it comes to the sword.
The sword must maintain its style even if it loses in combat.
And.
The end of a hero announcing a new era.
And the beginning of a hero heralding the end of a past era.
Must be more splendid and stylish than anything else.
So I will.
Engage in this stupid, foolish act.
I closed my eyes.
I gripped the hilt.
I stepped on the stance.
I twisted my waist.
I exhaled.
And as I drew the sheathed sword, I now think of what I desire most at this very moment.
To drop the sky, smash it, and flip it.
And finally.
To defy the sky.
I declare.
“Reverse Heaven.”
