Nevermind

- Today sure is my lucky day! - Tobias exclaims. His enthusiasm is disturbing.

- Why is it always you lot? - Guson questions the party calmly, not taking his eyes off of Tobias, who stands menacingly a few feet away.

The General, in a combat stance, holds a white longsword adorned with a royal crest and the initials K.G. on its blade.

- I wonder that myself too - Kai sighs.

Guson quickly peeks at him.

- I can see you are still alive - his tone carries a slight relief.

- Uuh, yeah?

- There are some matters I would like to discuss with your group, but they can wait. Brief me on the matter at hand.

- That guy over there killed the imperial family, brought the demon race back from extinction, and is trying to create a semigod just to beat him afterwards - Lirika explains, pointing at Tobias.

- Wait, really?! Him? I would never have guessed - Kai is genuinely surprised.

- That was… Quite the summary. And your friend who ran away?

- We found a lead that points to a secret within the palace that can save Fesolgu. Please, General. Help us hold him until she comes back! - Nicholas offers an alliance.

- I accept. However, holding him won’t be necessary. This criminal must be brought to justice for his heinous crimes.

- Oh? Is the great Kirys Guson aware of my deeds? I’m honored.

- Kai, I’m leaving the fight to you and the others. I’ll try to keep Tien alive - Nicholas says, focusing his attention on the unconscious exorcist fighting for his life in front of him.

- Got it.

- Corrupter Tobias! By the authority bestowed upon me by Your Majesty, the king of Alcus, I shall grant you the death penalty!

- Bring it on! - Tobias shouts, letting out a sinister grin.

He blinks.

Guson is right in front of him, about to attack. As he swings his sword, bright lightning follows. Tobias barely has the time to defend it. As the blades collide, electric energy flows to the katana, causing Tobias to receive a high-voltage shock that burns his hand and forces him to drop his weapon.

Then, a second strike in a heartbeat. A deadly blow that makes a clean cut from his shoulder to his chest. Guson sheathes his weapon as his enemy falls to his knees.

- It’s over - the knight firmly declares.

- Good fight, everyone… - Kai is both relieved and disappointed that it ended so easily.

- Now, I shall cease the emperor’s suffering once and for all - Guson aims his sword at the creature peacefully sitting in the middle of the courtyard.

On the other end of the battlefield, Nicholas desperately tries to do something to help the exorcist brothers survive. He drags one of the multiple nearby corpses closer and attempts to use his sword ability. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work.

- Of course, it would only work on living beings. Okay, his ice powers stopped the bleeding, so he is stable for now. This wound on his chest, though… Oh God, what am I supposed to do here?

- Asai - working as his assistant, she offers him a handkerchief.

- Thanks, little one.

- Have you tried using my talismans? - someone by his side points out.

- I tried. For some reason, I’m unable to use them. Maybe the effect only triggers when an exorcist holds it? - he answers, too focused on saving his companions.

- Hmm, it does make sense. If only there were a better vessel nearby. This corrupted body blocks me from using my arts.

- There’s gotta be a way to-

A second to think straight. Who is he talking to? Nicholas slowly looks at the figure crouching by his side. It's a living corpse.

- Ah! -

- Calm down. It’s me, Xien. I left my brother’s body and possessed this one to help you.

- You can do that?

- Yes. Now use that ability of yours to transfer his wounds to me.

- It doesn’t work unless both sides are alive. Why don’t you possess me instead? In my body, you could probably use your exorcist arts.

- I’ve tried, but there is something truly powerful protecting you that doesn’t allow me in, no matter what.

Rasnati? The sword?

- Then… - Nicholas looks down, helpless.

- I’m telling you. Use that power of yours. Although this thing is not alive, it has a soul inside. It might work.

- You are right. It’s worth a shot.

With his motivation restored, Nicholas rests his right hand on Tien’s chest and puts his left hand on Xien’s vessel shoulder. He breathes deeply and concentrates.

After a few seconds, Tien’s body reacts with a desperate gasp.

- Yes! We are bringing him back! - Nicholas can’t hold back his tears of joy, relieved to see that it’s working.

This moment of happiness doesn’t last long. As Tien recovers his conscience, he grabs him by the collar.

- You must stop… Xien… He is trying to sacrifice himself for me - he manages to get his words out in a weak, trembling tone.

- What…?

This is enough to make Nicholas halt the process.

- Don’t listen to him. Keep going!

- Shut up, brother! He needs to hear me… Xien can’t come back to this body after he left… When you finish the process, he will die.

- And if you don't, we both die! Now, continue!

- He is right. However… This is not the only option. If you reverse the flow of your healing… You can save Xien instead of me…

- Nonsense! This suggestion is absurd!

- Nicholas, please… Xien died in an accident during our training when we were kids.... I managed to keep his soul alive in me using forbidden knowledge, but it was all my fault... He lost his life because I was reckless.

- I sacrificed myself to save the only family I have. To give him a future in exchange for mine. Nicholas, you can’t listen to him.

In shock, he trembles, unable to make such a hard decision.

- My fate has been decided long ago! Letting me go is the right choice!

- I beg you… I can’t lose my brother a second time…

Nicholas breathes fast and sweats. What should he do? He must choose, or both will be gone. Can he bear being responsible for the death of one of the brothers?

Asai gently puts her hand on his shoulder and nods, showing him a kind smile. Maybe it was just a gesture of comfort from the usually oblivious little elf, but it gave him back the confidence he needed.

- Kai and Pia have been making a lot of hard choices since we came to this world. I can’t fall behind them.

Back to where the battle happened:

- Guson!

Kai throws his sword at the General.

Immersed in his thoughts on how to put an end to the monstrosity before him since his physical attacks weren’t effective so far, Guson is taken by surprise by this sudden stab in the back.

Lirika, realizing Kai’s intentions, casts a spell that speeds up the sword mid-air and changes its trajectory to guarantee a hit on its target. Guson dodges it effortlessly, exactly like Kai predicted, opening the way for the sword to pierce Tobias, who was about to attack the knight from behind.

Tobias takes a few steps back, and Guson repositions himself near his allies, still surprised by the whole situation.

- Haha, you got me - he gives a mischievous grin, putting his hand on the back of his head and sticking his tongue out in a gesture of fake innocence while Kai’s sword is still lodged in his torso.

- How is that even possible?! - the royal knight shouts in disbelief.

- You didn’t think it would be that easy, right? I mean, guys, I can revive dead species. Bringing myself back was obviously part of the package - the corrupter speaks in a mocking tone, taking out the sword and tossing it aside.

- Tobias… You… - Kai looks at his wounds, concerned.

A pair of narrow, glowing red eyes replaced his lost one. A dark green horn, resembling a broken halo, grew from his forehead. From his shoulder down to his left arm, his skin transformed into strong draconic scales, wicked claws now adorning his fingers. Leaking a dark aura, the deliberate cracks designed by the demon race stand as prominent marks of imperfection, mocking Tobias as a flawed demon.

- Yeah, yeah. I admit, this is unexpected - he says, inspecting his new features.

- Hmph. A monster not only on the inside anymore, it seems - Guson states, disgusted.

- I don’t want to brag, but I'm feeling very powerful. Are you ready for round three?

- Come.

As soon as the General offered Tobias the first move, they suddenly disappeared. The sparks created by their blades colliding and glimpses of their figures preparing devastating attacks are all Kai and Lirika can see as the courtyard suffers the impact of their fierce battle.

- I guess that’s the side character's view as the protagonist beats the villain… - he sighs, sitting on the ground.

- Yeah, right. Have your fun. It’s not like we wanted to participate anyway - she complains, annoyed by the power gap.

- Uuh… Can we help somehow?

- I’m dropping a fireball on both.

- Please, don’t.

–—//–—

- This was easier to find than I expected…

Pietra stands in front of a double door she found hidden behind the throne room. The door is covered with talismans and seals, creating a magical barrier that prevents any conventional attempt to open it. It bears a hilt-shaped slot for a handle. Pietra’s sword perfectly fit in the slot, breaking the barrier and unlocking the door. She ventures into its depths, ready for the secrets it hides.

In a dark, empty room, light from the sky reveals a feminine figure curled up on her knees. Her long, straight hair has a faded tone of yellow, perhaps sepia. Looking at it gives Pietra a strong feeling of nostalgia, like when you look at an old photo of times that will never come back. She wears a colorful short dress made out of brilliant threads, each having a different color, very similar to the ones Pietra can see thanks to her sword.

She turns her attention to Pietra, but her eyes remain closed.

- I see. I curse you one last time, man of faith. For you not only broke your promise, you also brought my eternal ruin - her voice is emotional and distant, almost melancholic.

- Who are you? What are you talking about?

- I am the manifestation of the fallen goddess of bonds and memories, betrayed and killed by my peers long ago. My name is Saudade. Sealed here lies a fraction of my power that awaits to be merged with my true, revived self. Or so was I promised.

- I don’t understand. I was expecting someone else here. What you are saying only makes things way more confusing.

- They will make sense soon.

- Please, I was guided here in hopes of finding a way to save Fesolgu from demons. Do you know how?

- It seems we were both fooled by the same trickster disguised as an honorable man.

- You know Giovanni? - Pietra confidently asks, as if this brief description was enough to know who the goddess was talking about.

- Aware of the plot that would cause my death, he offered me a plan. Fragment a small, living part of me from my body as a backup in case my assassination was a success, and have a portion of my power hidden somewhere to give energy to the last fragment of my existence and complete my revival.

- First time being manipulated by good old dungeon master Giovanni, huh? Let me guess, he lied and used the last remaining of your being for something stupid? - she speaks, picturing the whole scene in her head.

- Indeed. He used it to forge the sword you carry.

- Well, it could be worse. Maybe?

- The moment you came inside this room, the process to forcibly merge what is left of me with your weapon began. I'll cease to exist briefly.

- Oh…

- As my final wish, all I ask of you is to give a divine beating to the trickster if you ever find him.

- Gladly.

Saudade’s figure slowly dissipates into beautiful particles that are absorbed by Pietra’s sword. She stares at her weapon.

- What in the hell are you doing out there, Giovanni?

She takes a few seconds to reflect on what just happened. Then, a realization.

- I forgot to ask if I’m getting a new ability or something.