Make Dark Fantasy Great Again

"What is that?" A usual night walk. The city's guardian, who looked down upon the Bondaless area from the high sky that ground animals couldn't even reach with their gaze, muttered. "First, I should tell Risir." *** The Age of Light. Many people called the current era by that name. Even though darkness was stirring throughout the continent. The darker the darkness, the more brilliant the light that drives it away would feel. And- In such an Age of Light, there were those who considered themselves at the center of that flow. First- The Blessing Followers. They subjugated the Ancient God of Parok, the city of the Beastkin known as the Disaster's Keystone. A great feat that liberated all the beastkin who were enslaved to fate. The Blessing's reputation, which spread widely from Parok as its center, drew many things to it. They drove away the darkness that was drawn by it, and absorbed the light. Countless people were saved, and much darkness was thwarted. Thus fame brought even more fame- At some point, the Blessing Followers had become a force that truly symbolized the entire continent. Their momentum seemed to pierce the very sky. "The Blessing Hero is the true Descendant of the Hero!!!" Thus, a Blessing Follower shouted with pride. A drinking session that took place in the middle of the night. It was something that happened where two groups met. The Blessing Follower who shouted boldly- Upper-Class Knight Rotna downed the full cup of liquor in one breath. Gulp. Gulp. Gulp. Before long, she raised the cup high and poured it over her own head. Not even a single drop of alcohol fell from the completely emptied cup. It was an act that had already been repeated several times. The followers' atmosphere was as heated as Rotna's face, which had turned red from the alcohol. """Uaaaaaaaaahhh!!!""" At the brave prowess(?) of Rotna who represented them, the Blessing Followers let out roars. Her victory in the drinking contest was as if- It was the victory of the Blessing itself! "No!!!" There was someone who put the brakes on their momentum. "The Unyielding Hero is the true Descendant of the Hero!!!" She was a heroine who exuded the same bold atmosphere as Rotna. If there was a difference- Unlike Rotna who gave off a neat atmosphere as a knight, her body was covered with traces of lawlessness. Well-maintained leather armor that still bore scabbard marks in places. Hair braided tightly, exposing her scalp. Thus, the different appearances of the two heroines representing each faction- Seemed to show the atmosphere of the groups they belonged to. "Hey, bring it over!!!" Unyielding Follower, Upper-Class Adventurer Borsa. She roughly placed the cup she had received on the table. Bang! One. Bang! And another one. "Uaaaahhh!!!" "As expected of Lady Borsa, you're fierce!!!" "Borsa! Borsa!!!" When she lifted a total of two cups simultaneously like that, the Unyielding Followers all rose up in unison. Even the Blessing Followers showed signs of being overwhelmed and pale. "Ugh-" Even Rotna unconsciously covered her mouth and dry-heaved. There was no choice but to do so. They had already poured so much alcohol into their stomachs that their stomachs were sloshing. Even if it had been water, it wouldn't be strange if it backflowed immediately. But, on top of that, not one but two cups? "What, what are you doing!? Are you saying we should go two cups at a time from now on!?" Rotna unconsciously questioned her. "Then, since I drank first- I'll have to drink two more cups!?" She herself knew that her current behavior was petty, but she couldn't help it. As they say, the more frightened the dog, the louder it barks. The sight of an adventurer with two cups loaded, her eyes gleaming brightly like that, was threatening. "Can't be helped, right?" Then, Borsa spoke with a bold smile. "Since our Hero carries two Sacred Swords, shouldn't I, who follows him, also set an example? Right!?!" She declared while showing the two cups to the Unyielding Followers. Gulp! Gulp! Gulp! Bang! Gulp! Gulp! Gulp- Crack! "Graaaahh!" Borsa, who had emptied two cups in succession, slammed the cups down on the desk as if smashing them. """Aaaaaahhhhh!!!!""" The Unyielding Followers almost roared following Borsa. Unlike the Blessing Followers, their rough momentum stood out even more, making the place resound as if lightning was striking down. "..." The momentum of Rotna and her followers clearly diminished. It wasn't merely because Borsa had performed the remarkable feat of emptying two cups in succession. "Now, now!!! Don't worry about me, just keep drinking one cup at a time!!!" Another force that claimed to be at the center of the flow of light. The Unyielding Followers. Unlike the Blessing Followers who had the nature of a natural gathering, they had the aspect of one giant Mercenary Group. Similarly, they were influenced by the tendencies of the Hero who served as their focal point. The Unyielding Hero. He drove out the darkness throughout the continent and gathered light with his domineering momentum. He was called the Master of Two Sacred Swords. And also called- Battle Maniac. Upper-Class Adventurer Borsa, befitting one who follows such a person, showed a spirited smile. It was a rough laugh like a chipped blade. "Unlike Lord Kuzan, your Hero has only one Sacred Sword. Isn't that right?" "..." Rotna's expression twisted. Borsa's tone, as if the number of Sacred Swords proved a Hero's worth, had touched a nerve. Driven by stubbornness, she tried to drink two cups herself. However- "One sword or two swords!!! The fact that they're Heroes remains unchanged!!!" "Is that really so!?" "In history, only two Heroes have possessed multiple Sacred Swords- the First Hero and Lord Kuzan!!!" "On top of that, Lord Kuzan was chosen by the Star of Onslaught - Lord Kudillak!!! "A Hero recognized by the First Hero's companion!!! Lord Kuzan is a special existence even among Masters of Sacred Swords! No, a unique existence!!! Lord Kuzan is the one true Hero!!!" "Huh, wait. Didn't something just fly across the sky? Enormous reptilian wings- could it be a dragon!?" "Khahahahat! Look at that guy talking while drunk. Since they're friends who gathered with a light heart, they do have a cute side, huh?" "What? Light hearts? You bastard, what did you just say!? What kind of worthless bandit-like bastards!" "What!?" The voices bursting out from various places gradually became emotional. Soon, the Unyielding Followers began openly ignoring the Blessing Followers. Their originally warlike nature, like that of a Mercenary Group, became more pronounced with the alcohol and atmosphere of the place. Before they knew it, heavy and unpleasant air was pressing down on them. It was definitely not an atmosphere for cheerfully laughing and having drinking contests. "What, is it over already? Then, are you admitting defeat?" "...What defeat?" "What defeat? The defeat of the Blessing Hero." "How does this become our Hero's defeat?" "Haha! Why are you getting serious again? Calm down. This is just a game, isn't it? Huh? Or what-" An edge appeared in Borsa's eyes, which had been cheerful at least on the surface. "Want to give it a try?" "..." Rotna glared at her without backing down. "..." The Unyielding Followers stepped forward and stood behind Borsa. The Blessing Followers also, not to be outdone, stood behind Rotna. Tension that escalated more and more. "Ro, Rotna!!!" It was a young voice that disrupted such tension. The beastkin girl Hamun came running, panting. "Hamun? What's wrong-" "Black Star! A Black Star is approaching- a very large and dark star...!" "...!" Whoosh! Steam rose from Rotna's body. She had driven out all the alcohol through Blue Breath. "A Black Star. What on earth are you talking about?" Borsa also spoke with clearer eyes after driving out the alcohol. Rotna was already standing up and preparing. She spoke to Borsa with a solemn atmosphere. "It means cultist forces are approaching us." "Ha! Those cultist bastards? Here, right now?" Right now, in this place- the campsite, two Heroes and their followers were stationed. Any ordinary cultist group would be driven off as soon as they approached. "It's not a simple cultist group." "Then what?" Black Star. Rotna muttered those words while looking at the beastkin girl. Then, Hamun, who had reached the level of 'Grand Sorcerer' at such a young age, spoke. "A Black Star moving this fast... I've never seen it before. Maybe this- could be different from the cultist groups we've seen so far." "What do you mean different from the cultist groups we've seen so far?" "High Priest..." "...!" "Perhaps- there might be a limb of that Demon." Several of them, at that. At Hamun's quietly added words, the competitive spirit that had appeared on Borsa's face instantly vanished. It was the same for the others. "Hamun, where is Lady Roera!?" "Where is Lord Kuzan!?" They immediately set out to find the Heroes with serious expressions. *** At the time when the followers were in the midst of their drinking contest. A similar thing was happening where the Heroes had gathered. However. There was a subtle difference in the structure. "By the way- I say this again, but it's truly an honor. I never imagined I would meet you in a place like this." A man with a neat impression politely offered his cup. The Unyielding Hero Kuzan. When his counterpart casually clinked cups, he continued speaking. "Outer Sword, Rodan." To that one-eyed man. Rodan immediately put down the clinked cup and said. "You probably know that the atmosphere in this region- the Bondaless area is quite turbulent." "I heard that cultist movements are being reported everywhere-" "That's right. There are those who worry about you all because of that, and I came here carrying out their will." "A so-called guardian, you mean?" "Something like that. Thanks to that, I'm in a position where I have to take a different path before even stopping by Bondaless-... Whew." "Interesting." Kuzan looked at the cup Rodan had put down once, then drained his own cup. "For someone of your caliber to follow someone's 'orders'. It's something I never imagined." "..." The Outer Sword's eyes briefly turned toward the upper right. This Unyielding Hero fellow had been subtly provoking him from the start. 'I realized it when he suddenly asked for a duel upon first meeting- he's quite the character, just as I heard.' The Outer Sword suddenly let out a chuckle. To show the virtue of patience in front of such a fellow. The thought occurred to him that he had really changed a lot. "Well, I owe him a debt." "A debt?" "Yeah. You could say it's a process of settling past mistakes?" "Judging by how you care about such things, they must be quite a frightening person?" "..." It was the moment when Kuzan provoked the Outer Sword once again, causing his eyebrow to twitch. "Hey, why don't you tone it down?" From a distant seat, arms crossed. The woman with a cynical impression, who had been keeping her seat as if she was present yet not present, bluntly spat out. It was the Blessing Hero Roera. "If your body is that itchy, why don't you scratch your back with that Sacred Sword?" "How sharp-tongued." To Roera's sarcasm, the Unyielding Hero replied with a bitter smile. "Please, I ask for your understanding. Opportunities to seek wisdom from people of your caliber are not so common, are they? Please look kindly upon my rudeness in seeking teachings even if it means being pushy-" "..." "..." Roera and Rodan got a strange feeling from such a Kuzan. As he said. From his behavior, desperate to cross swords, no particular malicious emotions could be felt. He was truly and purely hoping for a duel. Battle Maniac. They seemed to understand the origin of that name, which had spread as widely as his title as Master of Two Sacred Swords. 'A cynic and a battle maniac. The so-called Masters of Sacred Swords are all really-' The Outer Sword stirred his body as if it was itching, then quietly began to speak. "So. What brings the Heroes to head toward Bondaless like this? You must know that the atmosphere in that region is quite complicated right now?" "A Divine Oracle came down." "A Divine Oracle?" Kuzan answered immediately as if he had been waiting. He lifted the Unyielding Sacred Sword still in its sheath and looked at it. "A Divine Oracle that a true Hero will be born in Bondaless." "Oh ho. Then, you over there- the Blessing Hero is also here for the same reason?" Shrug. That was the entirety of the Blessing Hero Roera's answer. She looked at the Outer Sword and shrugged her shoulders once, then turned her head away again. "Lady Roera seems to view the Divine Oracle unfavorably, unlike me." Whether Roera responded or not, Kuzan excitedly continued the conversation. "I understand. In fact. At this point, that so-called true Hero is as good as already decided." "As good as already decided?" "That's right, Outer Sword. And that's because-" Kuzan drew out another sword to show. It was the Sacred Sword of Valor. "I am confident that I am the one qualified to be his successor. And so-" Kuzan spoke to Roera. "Blessing Hero. If it's alright, would you transfer your Sacred Sword to me?" Roera didn't even look at him, let alone respond. As if it wasn't worth answering. "Haha!!! Of course that would be the case! Well, that's fine." Kuzan looked at his Sacred Swords. With eyes so resolute they seemed like they wouldn't budge even if thorns were stuck in them. "Fate will bring everything to its rightful place." Tsk. I can't stand being with him. It was when Roera, unable to bear it any longer, was about to leave her seat. "Lady Roera!!" "Everyone...! What's wrong!?" Shaman Hamun. Upper Knight Rotna. Red Magic Tower Mage Gelard. Roera's party members urgently rushed into the place. "Lord Kuzan!" "Borsa?" And there were Kuzan's party members too. "An attack by cultists-... No, I don't know what to call this- anyway, those cultist bastards have come in droves!" The Outer Sword sighed and stood up from his seat. "Damn it, as expected-" His lament was cut short. "Lord Kuzan!!!" "Right, I understand! Let's go right now!!!" The Unyielding Hero. He shot out from his seat with eyes flashing. "Ha, haha!!! Yes! Let's go!" Borsa and the other followers also followed behind him with greatly elevated spirits. "What the-" "Is that really a Hero and his party!?" "Exactly! Gelard- what kind of Hero Party is that! They're just a group of battle maniacs!" While Gelard and Rotna complained and Hamun looked around anxiously- "Hey, Master of the Blessing. Did you see that guy's eyes just now?" "..." The Outer Sword and Roera exchanged glances. Their expressions were already steeped in fatigue. "To prevent trouble from happening, it seems we need to keep a close watch from the side?" Whew. Roera expressed complete agreement with a deep sigh. They followed behind the battle maniac. *** "Damn it-" It was the words that burst from the Outer Sword's mouth the moment he arrived at the scene. "What the hell happened!?" When the Outer Sword asked urgently, a nearby follower answered. "The cultist leader and the Unyielding Hero talked, then suddenly the battle started!!!" At the scene, two expedition forces and the cultist group were already facing off. And in between them- The battle maniac was in the midst of fighting the cultist leader. "Yes, High Priest of Hunger!!! This is the negotiation method we should rightfully take!!! The side that loses in this duel follows the demands of the winning side!!!" "That's what I desire!!! Since Hunger covets you-" In that fierce battle where even the Outer Sword and the Blessing Hero couldn't carelessly interfere, the two madmen were relentlessly blazing with fierce eyes. It was the battle maniac and the cultist High Priest. "Lady Roera! This is serious! According to what those cultist bastards just said- their forces are densely deployed throughout this area. If things continue like this, their reinforcements will come rushing soon!" Roera's gaze turned toward the far side of the field. There, cultists cloaked in the darkness of night stood in lines. "Before reinforcements arrive, reduce their numbers as much as possible." "...Yes! Understood!" The air at the scene was instantly stretched taut. "He doesn't die no matter how much I cut him- is this the power of that Hunger bastard!?" "Kahahaha!!! Hero! Try a little harder!!! This won't be enough to satisfy all of His hunger!!!" Thus. It was the moment when a whirlwind of madness that would never stop until one side was completely annihilated was about to rage, centered on the two madmen. Flap! The atmosphere stirred. It was due to massive wingbeats originating from the sky. "High Priest! Look over there!!!" "Hero, over there...!" Everyone's gaze turned toward the sky in unison. Flap! It was a majestic sight. Wings massive enough to cover the entire sky were flapping and pushing against the atmosphere. At that moment. The night turned upside down. Along with a thick pillar of light that rose like lightning striking down, something crashed to the ground. "What the...!?" "Guh...!!!" Even the two madmen who had been engrossed in battle in a state of ecstasy were startled and had no choice but to step back. Thus- A massive impact occurred at the spot where the two madmen had been standing just moments before. Bang! Thick clouds of dust rising up. Then a raging wind swept away the dust- A man gripping two swords roughly in each hand revealed himself. Blood was gushing from his face. Without delay, it looked at the High Priest and spoke. -You are the last one. "Ah, ahh...!!!" The cultist High Priest. The rampage of that madman, which seemed like only a demon's voice could stop, came to a halt. He began to back away as if running. After that. One-sided domination began. Sword Aura swept along with the gale. Massive trees that suddenly sprouted from underground scattered divinity, neutralizing the cultists' power while simultaneously binding them. As the stream of blood gushing from the man's face grew increasingly fierce- Bang! Once again, the night turned upside down. Where the man had been standing, the Knight of Chaos now stood. "..." Kuzan. The battle maniac, who seemed like he wouldn't stop until he poured out all his boiling fighting spirit, was standing quietly in place with a gentle expression.