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The gate approaches once more.

Unlike the first time I came here, this time the opponent has a complete gate, making it impossible to combat the demons with the heroes’ assault.

Everyone fights from their respective positions, and I’ll take on the Demon King.

It would be great to defeat the Demon King, but this time I may also need to consider striking the gate to create an opening.

“Zion.”

As the enemy lines get closer, Hanamana has quietly joined me, riding alongside.

“I’ll stick close to you, Zion.”

“Thanks, Hanamana. I appreciate it.”

Having a healer like Hanamana by my side is a great comfort when I’m armed and ready for battle.

Moreover, having Hanamana with me is more than I could ask for.

“Prepare for bombardment!”

As we approach the Demon King’s castle, dark magic begins to rain down.

Under command, barriers are formed, and our mages start launching their spells at the Demon King’s castle.

Soon, direct combat begins on the ground, and in an instant, the area turns into a battlefield.

Although monsters keep being summoned from the now-complete gate, the soldiers gathered here represent the largest force ever assembled from all over the world.

Each unit is led by the strongest heroes and the best commanders, operated for maximum efficiency, which allows us to maintain the front line even against the endless tide of monsters at the gate’s doorstep.

Previously, the frontline got pushed back due to being surrounded by the gate.

The unified alliance’s breakthrough, with concentrated forces, must surely be a surprise even for the Demon King.

Moreover, the dark magic pouring down now is being directly cast by the Demon King, receiving power from the gate, so if I can break into the castle and engage with the Demon King, then this bombardment will cease, and if our main force has the luxury to do so, they might even shatter the Demon King’s castle.

“We’re going straight to where the Demon King is, so stick close.”

“I figured you would say that.”

Thus, I plan to charge ahead with Hanamana and break through the castle gate.

The gate was completed not long ago, so the demon’s summoning in the castle is still not fully operational. The Demon King will probably be right there when we get in.

We reach the castle gate, but there’s no formidable demon coming to obstruct us. The Demon King’s generals are struggling to fend off the heroes and soldiers.

It seems the Demon King has judged it better to face me directly rather than sending minions to block my way?

Dismounting, I send my horse back to the formation and take my stance with my sword raised.

This will be the second time I’m breaking down this gate.

“High Strength, Maximum Agility, Divine Force, Holy Enchant.”

I finally come to realize just how incredible Hanamana’s buffs are.

The last time we invaded the Demon King’s castle, I had to hide my injuries, so the buff effectiveness was almost non-existent apart from the enchant.

“Erase resistance, gate destruction!”

I strike the gate multiple times with immense force, shattering it into pieces.

The wood and metal that made up the gate scatter noisily in all directions as I step boldly inside, revealing the throne with the gate behind it, as expected. There sat the Demon King, eyes closed and concentrating.

“Letting your guard down.”

It seems the Demon King is preoccupied with supporting the forces outside.

Wait, letting your guard down?

‘Normally, a hero would shout for the Demon King to face them when storming the castle…’

I glance at Hanamana, putting a finger to my lips to signal her to stay quiet, then stealthily approach the gate behind the Demon King.

While I could swing my sword at the Demon King’s neck, this might be the better chance.

“What are you doing, Hero.”

“Ah, hahaha…”

Looks like that didn’t work~

With their eyes wide open, the Demon King stares coldly at me despite remaining seated on the throne.

I had thought I erased my footsteps with resistance.

“You’re doing something unfitting.”

“Oh really? What do you mean?”

“Weren’t you just about to sneak up and strike me? A hero engaging in such cowardly behavior.”

“I’m no longer a hero.”

“Hmm… If you’re no longer a hero, wouldn’t it be better to just leave here and go back?”

“If you go back first.”

“Unfortunately, I’m still the Demon King, so I can’t do that.”

“That’s really too bad.”

Dropping the hero persona and speaking to the Demon King, surprisingly enough, was yielding some dialogue.

With entirely black skin, white eyes with a dark background, and long violet hair, it was hard to tell if they were male or female.

Yet, despite having no visible expression, it was clear that the Demon King exuded a striking and elegant aura.

“Hey, Demon King.”

“?”

“Why are you doing this?”

“What act are you referring to?”

“Why are you opening the gate and trying to kill the humans from the Mortal Realm?”

“Obviously because…”

The Demon King pauses for a moment in thought.

Does this guy have a reason of their own?

I, without any reason other than being a hero, opposed the Demon King.

Then what possible reason could the Demon King have to stand against me?

Perhaps it was a challenging question as the normally expressionless Demon King turned their eyes away, frowning.

Are they focusing on something else rather than me right now?

‘Opportunity!’

– Pop!

I was curious, but that could wait for another time. Seizing the brief lapse, I dash straight toward the gate.

“You bastard!”

The Demon King reacts swiftly to my movement.

But in this fight, transcending supersonic speed, finding a momentary gap must surely be the decisive factor.

Before the Demon King blocks my path, my holy sword touches the gate…!

“……?”

I thought so, but the sword halted before reaching the gate.

‘Space?’

The space was blocked. This petty spatial severance…!

“Erase resistance, drop!”

“Genocide Stream.”

– Ting!!!!!

The attack I launched to break through space was canceled out by the Demon King’s own spell that arrived just in time.

Mirae isn’t here, so why is there a spatial barrier at the gate?

This gate was completed with a boost from Mirae’s power using time acceleration for its finishing.

Did they somehow prepare a spatial severance in that short span?

“Herooooo…!”

“Tsk, what a pity!”

Though I made a few more attacks at the Demon King, focused on defense, they were not easily pierced.

I withdrew from the gate, preparing my stance while looking for another chance.

“Space, huh? That hit me good, didn’t it? Did that happen when you borrowed Mirae’s power?”

“I have no further answers for you.”

“Haha, how unfortunate. I was hoping we could resolve this through dialogue.”

“…….”

It seems like the Demon King is now intent on attacking first, indicating that they’re no longer interested in conversing.

“Void Darts Arrow. Auto Targeting.”

Twelve foreboding gray arrows rise around the Demon King.

They silently hover up, blending with the colors around the Demon King’s castle, camouflaging their presence.

‘The void is coming.’

Divine powers may be favorable against darkness, but the strongest demon, like the highest-ranking cleric Hanamana, isn’t someone one can easily overwhelm with alignment.

The highest-level dark magic embodies characteristics of the void, making it near elemental.

Even the top dark magic, Obliteration, cast by Mirae, barely matches non-elemental magic, and spells involving void cannot be countered by holy incantations.

Divine powers are weak against non-elemental forces, so at the highest level of the world view, divine magic may get overpowered by darkness. That magic can even harm my holy sword.

“Fire and erase them.”

As the arrows are fired simultaneously, I maneuver to evade and buy time.

The arrows pierce through the ground of the Demon King’s castle but then rise again to pursue me.

Real powerful attacks tend to be deceptively unremarkable.

These attacks, silently closing in without any sound or presence, piercing and erasing the space they traverse, used to give me a hard time…

“Creator of all, your creations ask for power.”

I had certainly faced this attack before. Hanamana raises a prayer immediately.

There are two ways to counter the void: one is to erase matter equivalent to the magic power contained in the void. The other is creation.

However, the races belonging to this land can only beseech the Creator for power to achieve creation.

The Demon King rushes towards Hanamana to interrupt her prayer.

“Erase resistance, mental explosion!”

As arrows chase me from behind, I block the Demon King’s advance while unleashing a series of attacks.

If the attacks aren’t enough to push the Demon King back, my movements will stop.

I must somehow force them back…!

“…….”

To block the sword strike, I must obviously swing my sword, and to swing my sword, I need to assume my stance.

That’s what I expected, but the Demon King does not prepare a stance, instead charging towards me with their magical barrier and shoulder armor.

Though the Demon King was somewhat struck by my holy sword, my rapid successive attacks barely grazed; meanwhile, the void arrows are pursuing me from behind, and the Demon King is barreling towards me in front.

If I evade, Hanamana praying will surely be in danger.

The choice at a moment like this is…

‘I trust my companions.’

I don’t leave this place, using the same protective gear to charge into the Demon King.

“Ura!! Hanamana!!”

“Create Divine Sword.”

In the moment I momentarily bought, Hanamana finishes her prayer, and a sword appears in my left hand.

Utilizing the inertia from the Demon King’s continuous pressing force, I redirect the impact to launch myself into the air.

And as I convert the force into rotational power,

“Erase resistance, Dual Wielding, Heavenly Circle!”

As I perform the Heavenly Circle in midair with both swords imbued with the power of creation and my holy sword, I annihilate all twelve arrows.

As I clash with the void’s strength, the Divine Sword dissipates from the impact.

Though the holy sword suffers slight damage,

“…….”

The Demon King, too, has begun to be consumed by the impact of my holy sword.

Indeed, the sensation of clashing swords is significantly different from before.

Now, without the support of Now Troiat or Iris, I can hold my own in exchanges, and I can even challenge a clash I could never have dared to do before.

Moreover, I can protect Hanamana, who is praying alone.

Fighting from a disadvantage and lacking when awakening, fraught with previous misfortunes, I barely managed to strike the gate last time. This feels entirely different.

Confidence surges within me that even in a one-on-one against the Demon King now, I might be able to match them.

The Demon King seems focused on stabilizing the divine power trying to penetrate within.

“Create Divine Sword.”

During that time, Hanamana offers me a second sword.

‘Thank you, Hop Harvey. I will definitely win.’

This entire situation could only happen because he was here.

To save the world I will return to him, I once more grip my sword tightly with both hands.