Prologue: The Hero and Demon Lord

In the far land of Indivia, the Seventh Realm of Yselvrias, lies a castle floating between two ravines. Countless chains held the castle upward, elevating it from falling into the deep dark abyss where not even light from the pale moon can reach down to its depth.

“It’s over! Your reign ends here, Demon Lord Kain, surrender yourself and withdraw your armies from the border of Arias.”

Where the voice came from, was a dark haired young man, looking no older than sixteen judging from his adolescent face. He wore heavy armor, dark as midnight sky and decorated with sigils of an unknown kingdom. In his hand a red decorated blade pointed at the demon whom he addressed just moments ago.

“You came into my beloved castle and started shouting demands like you own the place, you humes really are a bunch of savages.”

Kain snickered, scanning the three man party of the hero and his cohorts. He wore a half robe armor, embroidered in symbols of unknown language. On his head were two horns from the side of his temple, at the center between the horns a light in the shape of a crown. He lifted his hand up to the ceiling and motioned the artillery from the second balcony to ready their guns and arrows to shower upon the heroes.

“Quite a reception, you say we’re intruding, but with a welcoming party like this, I ought to bring a house welcoming gift.”

The voice came behind the hero, it was a tall tanned skin young man, his blonde long braided hair reaching down to his shoulder. His features were chiseled, as if carved from stones, and his handsome face would make any opposite witness faint on the spot.

“Shut it Bee, your words are wasted on this demon, we got orders from the royal court, it’s time to clean this up, and then we have a banquet with the princess after this.”

This time it was a different voice, coming from the hero’s right side, firm and kept, with a cadence of a playful attitude. Another young man, his short red hair with white highlights, he had a pretty face, with looks that can charm any woman whenever he gets his hand upon.

“Can you two focus, Luke, Bee, our esteemed guest here looks annoyed at your exchanges, we’re about to be riddled with holes in the next few minutes if you keep this up.”

The hero finally spoke up, his name was Yato, a hero whose name clearly was not of this land. It was said to be the royal family of Erebon, conjured a summoning spell, to summon a warrior not of this realm to fight for their cause against the fiends. Beyond this realm, on its boundary was endless war against the hordes of demons with the only purpose being to eradicate all living things. Their motives in the history of Yselvrias is unknown, but it’s very clear the fiend’s only interest was to wage war and chaos on this world.

“Hero Yato, you were summoned here were you not, why fight for these boring humes, a warrior of your caliber would shine bright on the battlefield,” Kain offered to the hero, clearly trying to persuade them from fighting.

“I've been in this realm for three years, I've seen what your kind do, your toxic honeyed words won’t sway me, demon,” Yato fired back sternly. It’s true, demons summoned fiends to do their bidding and ravaged this land until there was no life left. Once they finish pillaging and destruction, they would move onto the next realm to initiate the cycle of strife all over again.

Hearing Yato's response, the demon dropped his hand towards the banquet of heroes, ordering all artillery be fired simultaneously. Alas, the heroes were prepared, clearing the smoke where the cannons should’ve landed created a crater in all but the spot the three young men were standing. A few seconds before the blows landed, Luke began incantation under his breath, and erected a barrier shape of that of stainless glass.

“Making me use Aias and wasting mana like on things like this, you’re really are savages,” Luke flick his wrist, and the glass mana barrier was dispelled.

“I’m not a magician, Yato, give me back Arondight,” Luke complained, pointing at the sword which Yato was holding.

“I would but my sword broke on the way here, and we need some cover fire, I’d say you’re promoted to a more dedicated job, Luke,” Yato responded playfully, Luke could be seen making an annoyed face.

“What about Bee? He has two chakrams, surely he can spare one,” Luke said, pointing at Bee’s oversized circle blades.

“No way, I need two for proper momentum, it’s like telling a circus performer to walk on tight rope with one rope to balance,” Bee responded.

“Not you with the performative analogy you circus freak,” Luke said sarcastically.

As they were arguing, another cannon shot at the heroes, this time Yato effortlessly deflected the round to a nearby pillar, completely destroying it.

“Enough rabbling, it’s time for this journey of yours to close here,” Kain declared, now standing up from his throne, clearly intending to enter the fight personally.

Yato readied the red blade in his hand, Luke and Bee expressions completely changed from their banter to the target right in front of them. Luke readying his golden chakram, and Luke started incantation for their next clash. Their mission was the subjugation of Demon Lord Kain, killing him would halt the advance of the demon army from moving to the Irises Kingdom.

Their battle at the demon castle would wage on through the evening, clashes of magic and steel can be heard outside the fortress. Kain had noticefully gotten weary from the prolonged battle, his soldiers had all been perished by the heroes. Yato skillfully avoided all of the demon attacks, while Luke would lay covering fire magic as follow up. Bee would always sneak behind the demon blind spot and swing his chakram at Kain, catching the demon off guard in an attempt to sever his limbs.

“Cursed you, bloody Hero, where in the nine realms did you learn those techniques, and those weapons, where did you obtain them,” Kain was panting painfully from the cuts and open wounds inflicted by the band of heroes. He was referring to Arondight, an ornate red broadsword that showed no sign of tear or chipping. It belonged to Luke, he had said it was his family heirloom for generations. He only entrusted Yato the blade for this journey since he was unarmed upon entering this castle. The golden chakram, however, belonging to Bee was a weapon not from this realm. But the eerie feeling when Yato had tried to hold the blade, it felt like the weapon itself was trying to devour his arm. Only in the hands of Bee it was wielded proficiently.

“You look like you're on your last leg, Kain, maybe it’s time to give up,” Luke snickered at the demon, but truthfully they were all worn out. The fight had been drawn out as the sun was dawning on the horizon. Its ray beaming through the opening cracks of the wall formed by the fight.

Yato took a deep breath and lunged at the demon, preparing for one last maneuver with his remaining mana in his body. Seeing the hero resolute to end with one last attack, Kain muttered an incantation in his hand. Forming at the palm was a magic formula, with symbols indicative of wind and light.

“He's trying to escape, Bee!” Luke shouted, recognizing the spell Kain was casting, signaling the performer.

Bee, without hesitation, threw his chakram at Kain's arm, cleanly cutting off his limb before falling on knee from exhaustion.

Yato, who was still in midair, saw the detached arm from Kain committed to his attack and drove Arondight deep into the center of the demon lord's body. In many circumstances, demons can heal from any mortal wound inflicted by any normal means. However, what was in Yato's hand was not a normal weapon but a holy sword.

“Hellfire, Meteor Drive,” muttered Yato under his breath.

The next moment, Kain's body exploded in red flames. Streaks of silver light can be seen from the fire, indicating the holy magic from the blade was preventing the demon from regenerating. Kain's agonized scream was swallowed by the sound of fire before turning to ashes.

Yato looked back at his entourage of heroes, Luke's face was twisted in annoyance, like someone had stolen something from him. Bee on the other hand was propped up by his chakrams on a seating posture.

“Is it finally over?” asked Luke, completely groveling all over the stone floor.

“Finally, the demon lord's subjugation quest is over, time to collect the rewards when we get back for some wines,” Bee laughed, he looked like he was about to pass out.

Yato looked back at his friends then looked over to the throne, next to it lying on the floor was Kain’s arm, laying creepily on the floor with no sign of decomposing. It was a creepy sight, it should’ve turned to ash upon the main body perish, but strangely it was still there. Then the very next moment, the arm twitched like an undead being brought back to life. It in turn conjured the very same spell that Kain had casted earlier, but this time a dark serpent appeared from thin air. It looked like a snake with features of a dragon, it was very small, almost the size of a cobra. It had small wings flapping in the air to lift its weight, its head had my spike and horn jotted outward, under its eye a scale resembling a tear drop.

It’s a wyrm!

Yato thought to himself, before turning Arondight in a reversed grip with the intention of throwing the blade at the serpent. However, the spell had finished, and the wyrm disappeared alongside the light of the magic circle. Yato jammed his blade through the stone floor, cursing himself unable to stop the wyrm from escaping.

“Not good, have to report this to the kingdom at once, our mission might be extending,” Yato exclaimed before peering at the vacant throne that was once seated by a demon lord.