Of course, Zion had never actually met the Demon God before.
In the original text, the Demon God never showed his face, only being recorded in history.
Although it was said that the Demon God was defeated by El Tesoykve and Exceed Rain, it was incomplete, allowing the possibility of his resurrection.
‘The darkness of the three Demon Kings comes from the Demon God. So, the Demon God must possess the same darkness.’
Zion had not only obtained the darkness of the Abyssal King with Exceed Rain but had also cut through it in one strike.
This meant that the blade could reach other Demon Kings and even the Demon God.
No matter how vast the Demon God’s darkness, it couldn't surpass the darkness of Exceed Rain.
‘If Exceed Rain doesn’t work, I’ll just use El Tesoykve together.’
However, only the harmonious resonance of the two Magic Swords could truly destroy the Demon God.
In reality, the resonant power didn't work on the Abyssal King, nor did it increase the destructive force.
Maybe it was due to his and Enrite’s lack of skill, or perhaps they were using the Magic Swords incorrectly.
‘Can they resonate properly?’
When the two Magic Swords resonated, Exceed Rain’s spirit, Lesia, was present.
But now, Lesia had become human, and a new darkness had settled in Exceed Rain.
With the conditions changed, resonance might not occur, or even if it did, the power might weaken.
‘I should’ve checked in advance…’
It was nearly impossible to verify the resonance beforehand.
The resonance of the Magic Swords could only be realized when the wills of their users were in complete harmony.
It wasn’t easy to create those circumstances, so even attempting it was out of the question.
‘Maybe it can resonate with Brecht…’
Now, there was nothing he could be certain about.
The fact that he and Exceed Rain had grown stronger was another variable.
On the positive side, it opened up new possibilities, but negatively, it disrupted the existing flow.
If he could kill all the monsters alone, it wouldn’t matter, but when he hit his limit, it would become another risk.
‘Guerganvo also needs to find its master soon.’
The Earth Magic Sword Guerganvo still hadn’t recovered from the damage inflicted by the Abyssal King.
Although it sought a worthy master, it was challenging to communicate in its current state.
When would all the Magic Swords and their users finally gather in one place?
‘The third princess hasn’t given an answer yet. Is it really this difficult?’
As time passed, the predictable future diminished, and the resurrection of the Demon God and the dragon drew closer.
While they were holding off the three Demon Kings and four catastrophes, it wasn’t a definitive solution.
Moreover, the process was getting twisted just before reaching the goal, making his heart race with anxiety.
‘…Am I doing well?’
He didn’t think he had acted perfectly up until now.
There were many times when emotions took the lead, and he had neglected some things by focusing only on himself.
Nevertheless, he had achieved many successes and now could envision the extinction of the monsters.
‘I never wanted to be a hero. I never aimed for a grand cause.’
He no longer sought his own safety alone.
Not that he wanted to dedicate himself to the Alain Kingdom, but he had somehow become a loyal knight.
It wasn’t to protect many people or become part of history.
He just wanted to find a home with one person.
‘To do that… I have to protect this place.’
If he couldn’t defeat the Demon God and the dragon, this continent, this world, might become terribly twisted.
The Alain Kingdom would be destroyed in an instant, and humans would lose their homes.
It meant that even if he was left alone, surviving would be a struggle.
‘I have to fight for Hanette and myself.’
With him around, the chances of success were higher.
Of course, all the Magic Swords and their users, Setinos Quasar, and other powerful beings would have to gather.
If Hanette awakened the Fire Magic Sword Brecht and became stronger, they might be able to see beyond.
‘Hanette can do it. She can surpass me…’
“What are you doing alone? Why did you leave me behind?”
Zion turned his head with a smile.
Hanette was climbing up the wall with a displeased look.
“I thought you were busy, so I came alone.”
“Talking to Oz is a busy job?”
“I can’t disturb my sister.”
“So I’ve become a bother now. I wondered how long it would take.”
Hanette crossed her arms and snapped sharply.
Zion took it in stride and approached Hanette.
“I never thought of you as a bother.”
“…I know. I just said it once.”
“Hmm… Something feels off.”
“What?”
“Shouldn’t you be arguing more, considering your personality?”
“…Not now.”
Hanette muttered quietly, gazing beyond the wall.
The vast wasteland and dark aura spread widely.
When would the monsters swarm towards Vodeon Castle?
“Are you going to argue later?”
“I have to stay close so you don’t do anything stupid.”
“If it were before, I would’ve asked if you didn’t trust me… but now, I’ll follow your words.”
Zion fully understood Hanette’s feelings.
Besides, he couldn’t leave Hanette alone either.
Being together might be the only way to reassure each other.
“Don’t try to listen to me too much. It makes you look like a kid.”
“Then should I do as I please?”
“Go ahead. I’ll show you what happens.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Do what you want. You’re responsible for the consequences.”
Zion stared at Hanette in confusion but soon accepted it.
Hanette’s stubbornness made it seem more natural.
“…Now that I think about it, I can’t do it alone.”
“What can’t you do?”
“I can’t stop you. I need one more person.”
“Sister, it’s not that serious.”
“What do you mean it’s not serious? Do you think I don’t know you? Just follow me.”
Hanette snapped sharply and quickly turned her back.
Zion hesitated for a moment but reluctantly followed her.
‘It’s nice that she cares… but calling someone else might not be right.’
Vodeon Castle, Sylase Knights' Barracks.
Waltz greeted the lord of Vodeon Castle briefly and then went straight to Enrite.
If it was Enrite, he would know all about the capital's news, Zion Laird's condition, and Caden's secrets.
He wanted only the summarized information without going through a complex process.
“Zion Laird seems to be doing well.”
“…I won't leave him alone anymore. If it happened once, it can happen again.”
“Are you talking about Hanette Adelaira?”
“Yes, I'll be with her too. I hope you understand this part.”
“There is nothing I can't understand. As long as the three of you are together, there's nothing to worry about.”
Waltz saw Zion as a crucial asset.
If circumstances permitted, Zion could potentially fight the three great demon kings or the four major calamities alone.
Thus, he intended to conserve Zion's strength and only send him out in emergencies.
“Is everything okay in the capital?”
“With you guarding the border region, would there be any trouble?”
“Ha ha! It’s not something to be praised.”
“…I respect you. Not as Setinos Quasar, but as a fellow human.”
Enrite's expression remained indifferent, but his voice was sincere.
No one volunteers to stay in the border region.
It was a place of constant battles, where one always risked their life.
Since Waltz voluntarily guarded the border region, he deserved to be treated as a noble human.
“I’m just doing what I was given to do.”
“It's not something just anyone can do. That's why you deserve respect. You've endured a lot, maybe it's time to move to a different post?”
The king had once advised Waltz to step down from the border region.
But Waltz only accepted the suggestion with gratitude and never left the border region even once.
It seemed as if he intended to spend his life fighting monsters.
“You mean to go to the rear and train more?”
“That’s not what I……”
“I know. I’ll take it as a joke.”
Waltz smiled lightly and reflected on the past years.
When he was young, he struggled so much, but now it didn't seem like a big deal.
The time he spent training to become stronger wasn't short, and every time monsters died, the number of his comrades decreased.
After enduring all that, he had come this far. But why did he feel so empty?
“White, I'm getting old. But I'm stronger than when I was young, so I can still fight more. But even I will eventually have to put down my bow.”
“Do you mean you want to fight more until that time comes?”
“Exactly. Why do you think I've held on until now? To fight and defeat the monsters. I lost my family to monsters when I was young. Since that day, I've set a goal to kill all monsters.”
“……”
Enrite had never had a family, but he could somewhat understand that feeling.
After losing his family, anger and hatred must have accumulated, eventually overflowing and leading to a desire for revenge and retribution.
He had endured numerous hardships and adversities, leading to his becoming Setinos Quasar.
“It may sound foolish to say this in front of you, but I've lived a very tough life. I begged on the streets and scavenged for leftover food. It was so hard to live each day that I wanted to give up many times.”
“It doesn’t sound foolish. Everyone goes through trials.”
“…Then I luckily joined a mercenary group. As I recklessly pushed forward, more things came into my hands. I picked out only the trustworthy ones and formed a knight order, which later became an official knight order of the Alain Kingdom.”
“Then you became Setinos Quasar?”
“As I kept killing monsters whenever I saw them, I caught the king's eye. Once I became Setinos Quasar, I feared nothing and fought more fiercely. Killing monsters was my life's joy.”
Waltz laughed for a while, then his eyes turned cold.
Enrite remained silent, waiting for Waltz to speak again.
“But... I couldn’t kill the three great demon kings and the four major calamities with my own hands. They even came to the border region, but I had to let them go. That's when I realized how weak I was.”
“……”
“No matter how much time passed, I couldn’t kill them. I became stronger, but nothing changed.”
Waltz, filled with rage, blamed himself.
A repetitive life, rising to new levels, enemies that wouldn't fall, and an aging body.
At this rate, he would die a meaningless death while defending the front lines.
Despite his efforts to become stronger, only emptiness remained.
“While pondering what to do, Zion Laird appeared. I wondered how amazing he was, and he, along with you, defeated the Shadow Dragon. Didn't he also kill the Abyssal King afterward? Zion Laird ended those I couldn't handle.”
Waltz calmed his heightened emotions and his eyes sparkled.
Enrite briefly read Waltz's thoughts and was convinced.
“If I can't do it, shouldn't I entrust it to someone else? If Zion Laird can eliminate them, I’m willing to give him anything. So, White, what should I do now?”