A Few Minutes Before the Battle…
"You're seriously going to fight him alone?" Norman stared at me, his eyes filled with doubt.
"I won't win, but I can hold him off for a few minutes. That should be enough time for you to call Zareth." I explained, making sure my voice didn't waver.
Norman swallowed hard. "But… Zepr isn't just any opponent. Do you even know what you're doing?"
I gave him a faint smile. "I know this is insane. But if we don't do something now, this village will be reduced to ashes."
Silence.
"There's one problem," I continued. "This area is surrounded by a magic detection barrier. No one can leave without being noticed. And Norman, the mark on your forehead will let Zepr track your every move."
"Then who's going to call Zareth?" Norman asked anxiously.
"I can."
We all turned toward the voice.
Yena.
I was surprised. "Why you?"
"If you can distract Zepr, I can slip out undetected. My mana is too weak to trigger the magic detection. I can send a messenger bird to Zareth."
I smirked. Her plan was risky, but if it worked, it would change everything.
"That makes sense," I muttered, nodding. "Yena's mana is natural and not strong enough to be detected."
I turned to Norman. "Do you know where to find Zareth?"
Norman nodded. "Yeah, but what if Zepr notices?"
I took a deep breath. "A bored demon with an ego too big to show his true power openly? He'll be too distracted."
Norman thought for a moment before finally nodding.
"…Then we have to win."
I smiled, finishing my tea in one gulp.
"Let's show them just how terrifying human intelligence can be."
---
The Final Battle
The sky was overcast. The wind howled. The air vibrated with the dark aura surrounding Zepr.
He was no longer human.
He was a demon.
But…
With Zareth's arrival, hope flickered back to life.
Zepr laughed loudly. "Hahahaha! Zareth! You finally showed up! I've been waiting for this day!"
Zareth simply stared at him coldly. His silver hair swayed in the wind, and his blue eyes gleamed.
"You think I'm the same as I was ten years ago?" Zareth crossed his arms. "This time, I only need one strike."
Zepr licked his lips, his eyes burning with madness. "Let's see who dies first."
BOOM!!!
The battle began.
Zepr lunged first, a black shadow slicing through the air, sending shockwaves that shook the ground.
But Zareth dodged effortlessly.
Zepr's attack cut through empty space.
I watched in horror.
Zareth wasn't attacking—he was only dodging.
"Why isn't he fighting back?" I murmured, my head pounding with pain.
Zepr grew angrier, his attacks more erratic.
BOOM!!!
A black explosion struck a house at the battlefield's edge, obliterating it instantly.
The villagers screamed in terror.
Damn it!! This is bad!
I forced myself to stand despite the unbearable pain coursing through my body.
"Over here!!"
Someone was guiding the villagers. I turned toward the voice—Norman.
My body swayed, nearly collapsing—until someone caught me.
I looked up.
A merchant.
He scoffed. "Kid, you're wasting my time, you know that?"
I gave him a weak smile. "Looks like I even annoy people here, huh?"
---
Minutes later, I realized something.
The magic detection barrier trapping us here—was gone.
I turned to Norman. "Norman!!"
He looked back. "Nao! You okay?"
I smiled weakly. "I'm alive. That's good enough."
He touched his forehead. His eyes widened.
"The mark… it's gone?"
I nodded. "We did it."
Suddenly, Yena appeared, panting as she ran toward me.
"Over here!!"
She stopped in front of me, her face filled with relief—and a hint of pride.
"Yena, are you okay?"
She looked at me seriously—then hugged me tightly.
I felt her tears soak into my shirt.
"Thank you."
I froze.
Slowly, I smiled.
"I'm still alive. That's enough, right?"
A war trumpet shattered the silence.
I forced my heavy eyes open.
At the end of the road, dozens of men in golden-white armor marched in.
On their chests was an emblem of power—The Divine Inquisitors.
An ancient order that had maintained balance in the world since the First King.
The villagers burst into tears of joy.
We won!!
Thank goodness!!!
Yes!!
Different reactions echoed around me—some crying, some celebrating, some both.
Sounds that brought warmth to this broken place, even if only for a moment.
I exhaled deeply.
I was grateful… that I wasn't dead yet.
But… my eyelids grew heavy.
At last, everything… was over.