Somewhere in Europe, 1945. A village is burning. The citizens are being shot. Women and young girls are being sexually assaulted. The mother of one girl is among them. Later, she's killed by the soldiers as they laugh. The girl gets overwhelmed with emotions to the point that she didn't cry or scream, but stared at her mother's corpse. The corpse which had a dagger sticking out of it.
Furiously, she grabbed the dagger and yelled as she charged at the soldiers with it. Then she stabbed the one that killed her mother. Again and again. But another soldier shot her in the shoulder and she slowly died, cursing them all. Her eyes closed and opened again. She was in a bright space with no injuries. She looked around wondering where she was then heard a voice.
"It hurts, doesn't it." A woman's voice. She looked at the direction where it came from, a glowing woman with beautiful clothes and a beautiful body was seated on a chair with her legs crossed.
"Who are you? Where am I?"
"I am what you'd call a goddess. Nice to meet you. You were mercilessly killed and your body slaughtered. It must have been painful."
After a brief silence of contemplating she asked, "What happens now?"
"I'll give you a new life. A reincarnation to another world."
"What's the point?" She said with a low tone.
The goddess looked at her with pitiful eyes then spoke. "Would you like power? The power that can allow you to fight back."
"What do you mean?"
"I can give you unimaginable power. So much that no one can compare to you." The girl's face lit up. "I can give you a long life. a life that you would have never lived in your world. Wouldn't you like that?"
With a look of determination she said, "What do I have to do."
This was when a hero was born. A hero like none other to ever be summoned. She killed the monarch beast and evil people like bandits and soldiers from enemy countries. While at the same time, she worshipped the one who gave her power. Every week, she went to the church to have a conversation with the goddess. But then one time, as she was speaking with the her, she revealed something.
"Around the entire continent, I am hailed as the hero of heroes. I make everyone happy by getting rid of evil. But you were never happy." she told the goddess.
"What do you mean? You killed the monarch beast as I asked. Of course I'm happy."
"But are you really? You always look like you're anticipating something to happen. Something bad. What is it? I can help you with it."
The goddess sighed and remarked, "You read me like a book. However, its not something that even you can deal with."
"I'm the strongest in the world..."
"Your the strongest among humans. There are many being out there powerful enough to rival even me. Some are even stronger." After a short pause. "Time is moving fast. The prophecy will soon come to life. The one who can kill me will soon appear to the world. They will be my greatest enemy, protected by heaven itself. The Heaven's favored will soon come."
"Then I'll prevent it. You don't deserve to die. You've been so good to the people for thousands of years. I won't let such a kind person die. I will kill all those who oppose you and those that defend them. Let me be your sword." These words brought hope to the goddess.
"Alright. Do as you please."
Then the hero began going on rampages. She killed, and killed, and killed. Demi humans and humans alike. All that were considered enemies by the Holy Kingdom. For hundreds of years. To protect the one that gave her life. Making all kinds of emotions go numb. Eventually, her kill count for humans alone went up to ten million. This made them fear her for what she is. She was unstoppable. No one could even dream of comparing to her, a force they didn't understand.
She thought she was close to finishing her goal. But then, it happened. A Heaven's Tower fell and an entire nation was destroyed. Just like how she was told by the goddess. It will begin with the destruction of mankind. Then she'll be next. The realization that all she did was for nothing enraged her, vowing to complete what she started.
These were her thoughts as she looked at me next to the city that we were building. Everyone evacuated. It was only me and her. We looked at each other curiously. No one said a word. It was quiet.
The night before, Giselle and I went back to the city in a rush. We then called the four lords to a meeting to discuss the hero. In the conversation, as the lords and Giselle gave their sides of the story about the hero, this is what I learnt.
She was first summoned 400 years ago by the goddess to kill the Monarch Beast and his followers. I still didn't know what that 'Monarch Beast' is. After she killed it, she was hailed as a hero by the humans. But then one time, she suddenly began killing demi humans. At first, it seemed like she didn't care about them but later began destroying dwarf territory and burning elf and beast men villages. One of them is where Giselle lived. The remaining demi humans settled in the sectors and were protected by Cassius and Nirvana.
Later, she began wars and at the same time, ended them by killing all soldiers who oppose her on her own. Eventually, the humans began seeing how frightening she truly is and tried to control her by saying that she works for the empire and should therefore obey their commands. Obviously she didn't care about that and warned them that anyone who will try to suppress her will be killed by her own hands.
Due to the fear of going against the strongest human on the continent, they backed away and let her do as she wished. Because of this, she was called the Rogue Hero. For not allowing herself to be controlled.
"So, in summary, she's no joke." I said.
"That's exactly it." Giselle responded.
"We need to think of something to do. Let's consider the facts. She kills demi humans, she's after the lords and she's also after me."
"Three birds, one stone." Cassius said.
"More like three birds caught in one trap and are about to be slaughtered. We need to evacuate. Send everyone away to a secure location. Yourselves too."
"Huh? But we can also fight."
"Speak for yourselves." Giselle said. "I'm an ordinary elf who was just trying to survive. I don't have the 'anything goes' kind of power."
"Then what are you doing here?" Grendel asked.
"I'd ask you the same question you evolved pig!" She replied angrily. "You haven't said a single thing since we got here."
"He hasn't said anything to." He said while pointing at Nephilim.
"Compare the things that we've contributed to the building of this nation. All you did was add a couple of more bottomless pits to feed." Nephilim angrily replied.
"Who do you think are dominating the fields and other hard labors?"
"Beast men and dwarves."
"Its us you ancient pile of rocks crossbred with an insect. I mean, I've been living with you for thousands of years and I still don't know why you have six arms."
"Oh you're gonna regret that." He stood and approached Grendel.
"Bring it."
"That's enough!" Nirvana shouted. "This isn't the time for such petty squabbles. The one that killed our master is now coming here any time soon and all you're doing is shouting at each other? Did living for so long make your heads collapse in on you?" They submitted and sat down.
"As I was saying," I continued. " Judging by how you were telling me your stories, I'm guessing that none of you can match her, correct?" No response. "If that's the case, then I'll be the one to face her. After all, I have a trick up my sleeve. Not only that, but I made an arm, a powerful one, meaning that I'm even stronger. So, this will be my fight.
No one had an argument. We began preparing. Giselle and the others were to move away from the city because she was most likely to come there. The lords were to protect them from other threats or, in case I fail, they were to slow her down so the rest could escape. That was the main plan.
As for how I would attack, I first used the growth skill three times. This way, I won't make it too easy and I could learn from the fight. If she happens to be much stronger than I am, I would keep using the growth skill until I surpassed her.
The next day came. Everyone went to a safe distance away from the city. Just incase damage could be avoided, I also went out to meet her mid way. My blood was pumping. This was going to be the strongest foe I have faced so far. I could feel my anxiety. Time was ticking. She'll arrive any moment.
Then I felt a huge aura coming from the forest. The strongest aura I've ever felt. So did the others. They knew who it was from. The source kept getting closer and closer to me, to the point that I could hear footsteps.
Like heels on asphalt, they kept getting louder and louder as she approached me. Her earring made a clattering sound with every step that she made. We came face to face and stared at each other. Her eyes looked lifeless. Her body was pretty muscular. Her aura was absolutely intimidating.
No one spoke a word to the other. We only observed. That's when her facial expression changed and she visibly became angry, as if she just remembered something.
"You. I will not let you get near the goddess." She said. It surprised me that she knew my true plan.
"You're trying to protect her? A deity protected by a human? Do you know how ridiculous that sounds?"
"I'd ask you the same question. A human going after a deity? It sounds even dumber."
"Not if you have the power to do so."
"Don't I have that power?"
I had no response to that. The only thought I had was if I could beat her.
At the time, I didn't know, I didn't understand her power. That's why it got to where it did a few minutes later. My entire jaw. My mouth. It all burnt. No skin, no blood. Only bones.
While all this was happening, at the knights' training ground in Relvina, border town of Aetheria. The lord of the town met with the knights there. They brought the skeleton that never stopped chanting. "The age of the new demon lord is upon us. Let us take up arms and begin preparations."
The lord only looked at it as it said this in horror then he said in a commanding voice. "Bag it in a sack and keep it in a cell. Prepare the carriages. We are headed to the king. This is a continent level event. We must inform the general public."
"Yes sir."
A while later, they arrived at the king's palace. Everything was informed to him. He couldn't believe it since they didn't take the skeleton to him.
"Are you sure? It's not some kind of trick played by some necromancer?" He asked.
"There was presence of external magic..."
"See. Its just a trick."
"Your majesty, it was demonic magic." This statement came as a shock to him. "Which means that demons are behind this. If so then it proves it all the more. A new demon lord is about to appear."
"But there haven't been any news about this generation's heroes. How is this possible?"
"I don't know."
"This news must reach the empire. I'll write a letter seeking an audience with the emperor." Then the king stood up and left. The others followed.
Somewhere in the forest, there was an abandoned castle where a group of human like creatures wearing cloaks were bowing down to an empty throne. They were chanting words in another language.
That's when one raised his head and looked at the chair. Then he said, "Soon. Very soon. He will return. Preparations must be made, for the new generation will appear. After so many decades... Just 15 years remain."