Requiem Of A Failed Hero

“Ha, so this is how it feels to be human again.”

Hallan Lamar jnr smiled.

“Sir Hallan Jnr, what do we do next, with the awakening of the archons, the world shall come to an end, what shall happen to us? You promised us a place in this new world that the Supreme One wants to create.”

One of the followers of the heresy said to the boy standing atop a rock. The boy whom a new soul had overtaken turned back slowly to respond to the follower.

“How silly of you. The reason for your very devotion stands right before you, yet you recognize it not. When did you all become so self-conceited? A new world?”

All the followers around raised their heads as they looked at him. They had just beaten their way through the sword archon knights who were guiding the amethyst stone used in waking the essence of the sword archon. It was like that around other places too. ｏｖ𝚕．ｃｏ𝚖

Every single one of them had an important role in locating the amethyst stone and breaking it. The stone was what held the essence of the archons and once broken the little essence trapped within the stone escaped, hence causing the archons to wake up.

They all stood in a desolate land which an archon had just awakened from. The sword archon stood with its foot floating on the ground, it had the head of a sword with an intertwined halo, and it just floated and did nothing.

“Look here, before now! I don’t know what you all have been thinking. But I Hallan Lamar, the true Hallan Lamar have been given the grace to reveal the truth to the world, whether you become a martyr for this purpose, means nothing. This on its own is a great privilege, to serve the world is a great privilege.”

“Shit, is he just telling us to shut the hell up even if we die?” One of them said with a quivering tone.

The others had the same expression, like they were about to shit their pants with the nonsense Hallan Lamar jnr was telling them.

Who cared if Hallan Lamar descended? These people followed because they thought that the way the world operated was unfair and they wanted to create a new world. However none of them were ready to die along with the world destruction, all of them looked forward to the new world that Hallan Lamar jnr had promised them.

Sure, most of Hallan Lamar Jnr’s moves were dictated by Hallan Lamar as he contacted the young man and began to explain things to him, making him seem like some sort of great knower. But he didn’t have control over the extent of things Hallan Lamar Jnr told the followers.

A promised place in a new world was never something he said to the new guy. Preachers can be a bit extreme at times. He shook his head at the pathetic morale they carried.

“Fine…if you all are too scared to die for the sake of the world. Then I have no use for you.”

Hallan Lamar had tagged two bodies the moment he came to Therut– two bodies he would be able to hop into should he die. The first was Hallan Lamar jnr whom he first met and who gave him amazing strength, the second was the ant king whom he named.

But the ant king was dead, which meant Hallan Lamar Jnr was his last choice. He gritted his teeth at the thought of it.

‘I should have marked more’

Hallan Lamar jnr sped forward, his speed was very lacking compared to when Hallan Lamar was in the body of a demon. Hallan Lamar smacked his lips at how slow he was, despite being so fast before the eyes of the followers. He skillfully carved his Saber sword into their bellies and swiftly drove through them, leaving them in questionable awe, dying before they even got the chance to ask what the hell he was doing.

***

Balam knelt humbly before Raith, with his cheek swollen and face bruised.

“So now how do we locate them…” Raith asked but the destructive sound took his attention from Balam.

The archons were waking up.

“Just how many is up already?”

There were eight archons, and by the time all of them woke up, it was inevitable Therut was bound for destruction.

“I don’t know where he is but don’t we have something more important to do?”

Raith nodded to Balam’s words. The demon was right, he had to find a way to deal with this, but first, he had something to get from the throne archon.

“Help the heroes, save the civilians… I want to have a chitchat with that archon.” He said as he climbed on top of Noir, who shot into the sky immediately.

Balam turned to the heroes around him, he was supposed to follow Raith’s commands, but it was hard. Raith is one thing, he can always destroy his pride for Raith but the rest of these disgusting humans.

The fact that he bowed his head to Raith does not mean he had accepted all humans in general. Balam gritted his teeth in irritation.

“Lord Balam,” Absalom said as he approached him.

“Huh?” He raised his chin a bit, ‘this one is different from the rest… he is a greater demon… no, a vampire?’ Balam could smell it immediately.

“Who are you?” He asked.

“I am Absalom, the last son of Lilith.”

“Ah, Lord Asmodeus’ bastard.”

It was annoying to be called that, but Absalom didn’t care. If there is one thing being on earth has been helping him do, it was to abandon that lofty privilege he held onto as the son of the greatest demon king.

He laughed sheepishly as Balam scrutinized him with his gaze.

“But what is a demon like you doing in a place like this?”

“Ah, ah, I and Raith go a long way.”

“Huh?” Balam raised his chin higher, “Am I supposed to know who that is?”

“That is the person you just pledge allegiance to.”

Even though the proper word would have been servanthood but Absalom knew how to hold a smooth conversation with these demons who are full of themselves, he too, after all, is like that.

“Ah, so his name is Raith.”

“Raven Raith.”

“Hmm, as expected of the one who defeated me. Even his name is amazing.” Balam giggled.

‘Isn’t he just idolizing him too much, Raith’s personality is shitty… I hope he doesn’t regret his decision’ Absalom shook his head in pity for the life that awaited the demon

“Hey! If it is you, then this is possible. Coordinate the humans, they need to save their civilians from the impending danger of the destruction of this world caused by Hallan Lamar.” Balam emphasized, as though he was trying to weave the blame off himself.

“I don’t think you need to do that…”

“Huh?”

Balam looked towards the heroes, they were already being coordinated.

“Who is she?” He asked, observing the single woman that addressed the heroes around, and after that, they all scattered in different directions to save the people.

“Amazing… human with such impressive leadership skill…” Balam admired her.

“She’s walking towards here.”

“Huh, why is she?” Balam suddenly got flustered. But before he could do anything else, she was already closer, it was like she sprinted but she was only walking.

‘Even her composure is amazing, it is as though she is efficiently expending every bit of her energy without wastage.’

“Hello.”

Balam frowned even though he had been admiring her before now, he became very unwelcoming towards her. His pride!

“I take it that you are a friend of humanity now that your life was spared by Mr. Raven.”

“You dare…” Balam growled, exuding steam from his mouth.

His intimidation did not work on her— her gaze was fixated on his fiery eyes and did not waver one bit.

He sighed and exhaled, letting go of the heavy pressure.

“I see you are indeed an amazing human. But you have little to no time left. The moment all the archons wake up and the shard is revealed, all of you will lose your powers. Before that happens, work your ass off saving as many people as you can.” He said and turned away from her.

“Boy, let’s go.” He spread out his wings as he called on Absalom.

The two flew into the air together.

“Wow, Absalom is powerful,” Kaiser stated.

“I like him more now…” Ryou added.

Meanwhile, Raith was standing before the throne archon.

“And so, are you going to speak to me…”

“Promise me one thing human.”

“I think I’ve made enough promises for one day… I even died to make sure the other archons would not be disturbed. That darn Hallan Lamar.”

“The inevitable has come, we all expected this one way or the other. The moment all eight of us are awake, I suspect that a primordial will come for us, most likely a god. Since I can already feel a faintness of their gaze.”

Raith scrunched up his eyes, briefly remembering the message about being seen by a god or something but said nothing about it.

“And so? Eight of you can’t take care of one god?”

The archon chuckled, “Don’t ridicule a primordial existence… they can obliterate this world in one go, even a god who is the weakest subrace.