Darian stared down the dying Hero in front of him with tears streaming down his eyes.

He watched every second as the Hero's chest started to slow. He watched the blood seep out of his neck alongside his life. Finally, he witnessed the Hero take his last desperate gasp and forever cease to move.

I...did it...but why do I feel this way.

After watching Landon die, he didn't feel any sense of satisfaction. Rather, all he felt was emotionless emptiness. A deep, unfathomable murky ocean of incredible sadness and nothingness.

Soon, he looked back as he saw Jauvin collapse.

"Jauvin!"

For the first time ever, Darian ran over to the pot-bellied Demon's side in concern.

Straining, Jauvin looked up at Darian mildly surprised to see him concerned. However, he decided now wasn't the time for that as he started to speak.

"That was some good shit there kid," Jauvin replied coherently with a smile for the first ever. "I finally got rid of this burden I've been carrying for centuries."

"Wait! What's wrong? You clearly don't look well at all!"

Jauvin let out a light chuckle.

"What? The fact I can talk like a normal Demon being makes me unwell?" He lightly mocked then switched to a more serious tone. "Even then, there's nothing that can be done. I'm gonna be dying real soon."

"No! There's gotta be a way!"

Darian didn't want to accept that more people in his life were about to die. Even Jauvin, for all his crankiness, showed up in the end and did his best to save them.

"I'm sorry Darian. I've been living way past my due date already." Jauvin replied while stopping Darian from freaking out.

Afterwards, he extended his right hand over a ring on his left. Suddenly, a white ball of energy burst out of nowhere and shone. Soon, the mass of energy condensed into a small pearl and sunk into the metal ring.

Next, he reached out and took off that band. He then grabbed Darian's hands and placed the ring inside.

"That right there's my ultimate [Spatial Ring]," he commented while reminiscing. "It's an infinite storage device that also contains all of my magic books, items, and potions. There should also be some top-grade healing potions you should try on your father and Valurn."

"Why are you giving this to me?" Darian asked in wonder.

Jauvin lightly laughed. Thinking a bit more clearly, it was a bit incredible. He used to hate this youth as did he likewise. Even so, he had a feeling that the Darian in front of him was fated for huge things.

"No particular reason," he replied while smiling. "Anyways, I do have one request."

Darian's ears perked up as he made sure not to miss Jauvin's next words.

"When you find a capable magician, give them that white pearl. I'll trust you'll find the right person for it. You'll know what it's for when the time is right."

With a nod, Darian replied with a promise.

"I promise I'll fulfill your request! Thanks for all you've done Jauvin!"

Jauvin chuckled as he put up his hand to stop Darian from talking.

"Don't call me Jauvin. Call me by my true name Demyriak. I want to hear that name once more before I die."

Tears formed in Darian's eyes.

"Demyriak. Thanks for everything Demyriak!"

Demyriak nodded in satisfaction at hearing his true name spoken out loud. It's been centuries since he's been last addressed by that name. Hearing Darian say that name in front of him filled an empty void in his heart he's carried for so long.

"Alright now. Hurry and try to save your father and Valurn."

Darian nodded while wiping off his tears. With one last goodbye, he left and went towards his dying father in a hurry.

Demyriak watched the red-haired youth run off. For the first time ever, he wasn't scared of death. Instead, he only felt satisfaction from having a sense of purpose once more. After running away from his purpose in life for so long, he finally embraced it and sat there ready to die happy.

Avenge this village for us Darian.

And thank you for helping me die happy.

Slowly, the world grew dark as his body ran out of life. However, through it all, he only felt peace and warmth until he no longer thought anymore.

Darian rushed over towards where his father was.

In the distance, he saw his father laying in a pool. Surprisingly, he also saw Valurn hobbled over right beside him. The two of them looked to be talking about something as he ran right towards them.

"Dad! Valurn!"

The two of perked their heads as they saw Darian run towards them. Levion had a melancholic expression on his ghastly pale face while Valurn's face was grave as he came towards them.

"Hurry up and drink some of this!"

Darian activated the [Spatial Ring] and brought out two [Healing Potion: Top-Class]. He quickly shoved the two bottles in each of their hands and urged them to drink it.

Immediately, Valurn quickly uncapped the glass bottle. He brought the bottle to his lips and began gulping down its contents.

However, his father was reluctant.

"Hey, Darian it won't--"

"Just hurry up and drink it! You don't have much time!" Darian interrupted his father as he tried to speak. He didn't want to hear or see anything until he was sure his father and Valurn both drank those potions.

Nodding hesitantly, Levion gave up and also joined in with Valurn.

Soon, the both of them were surrounded by a glow of white light. Sparkles and light combined in harmony as the potion started to take effect. The huge gash on Valurn's leg slowly closed together and healed as if nothing was ever wrong in the first place.

However, for Levion, the results were much different. The bloody circular wound on his left side showed no changes despite the glowing light surrounding him. After a while, the light surrounding him shattered like glass as it failed to do anything to remedy his injury.

Darian stared at the result in shock.

"Bu...But why didn't it work? This shit's supposed to be the best healing potion in the world!"

He yelled out in fury and anger as he saw the potion fail. His emotions welled up as he was unable to make sense of anything. Nothing could get him to understand why his father was still bleeding out and dying.

Levion looked upon his despairing son in sadness. However, he knew he had to get his son to face reality.

"It didn't work because this wound's fatal. I think my kidney's done for along with other internal organs. There's nothing that can prevent my death."

Darian looked back at his father with a crazy expression on his face. A mixture of despair, disbelief, and insanity showed as he began to mutter.

"No..nonononononononono. Stop trying to fuck with me.You're not dying. No way you're dying!"

However, Levion shook his head sternly as he looked at his despairing son.

"I'm dying. There's no way around it."

Hearing those words once more, Darian couldn't handle the pent up emotions inside of him anymore. Like a broken dam, he started to wail and yell.

"NOOOOOO!!!!!"

He ran to his father and embraced him while crying. He didn't want to face the fact his father was dying. He didn't want to accept this reality where the Tanquai village was no more.

He wanted to go back to the days of simple hunting, farming, and training. He wanted his father to cook breakfast and joke around with him. Hell, he even wanted to go back and get his balls smashed by his dad some more so long as it meaned he was alive and there.

He didn't want to separate from his only parent in his life.

Levion closed his eyes in sorrow as tears also fell out from him. In his weakened state, he reached out and gingerly hugged his agonizing son. He himself didn't want to go like this, but the alternative would've been to see his son die.

That he would never let happen.

If he had the choice to save his own life or his son's again on repeat, he'd always sacrifice himself a hundred times out of the ten. He'd never let the son of him and Evelyn die if he could have it.

After a while, the two of them parted as Levion let out a bloody cough.

"Father!" Darian cried out in worry.

Levion smiled reassuringly as he began to talk some more.

"Don't worry so much about this old man. Anyways, I gave Valurn my books and extra tools on how to learn some of my skills and martial arts. He'll be taking care and mentoring you and Alicia from now on."

"Wait, but--"

"Nope," Levion interjected. "He'll be your caretaker from now on. Listen to him like you would me. I won't make it so stop trying to run away from reality."

Darian's eyes moistened up once more. He loved his father deeply. He didn't want any of this to end.

"Dad..."

Soon, the two of them embraced. As they hugged each other, Levion started talking once more.

"I have one more request."

Darian perked his ears up but didn't say anything as he continued hugging harder.

"Make sure you never lose your blue gemstone on your necklace. And find your mother for me. When you do, tell her I'm sorry and that I love her." Levion weakly asked.

Darian nodded his head and promised his dad he would.

Levion smiled in satisfaction while hugging his son. After a while, his grasp started to get a little weak and he collapsed.

"Father!" Darian yelled out.

Levion smiled and looked up at his son as he felt death draw near. His focus was getting fuzzy and his vision slipping. However, using the last bit of willpower in him, he managed to get his last words out.

"Son...I..love...you..."

Afterwards, Levion breathed his last and collapsed to the ground forever. Darian embraced the corpse of his dad once more as he wailed and mourned his death.

A woman was sitting clutching a red gemstone clasped on her necklace. Her face was riddled with tears as she gazed upon it.

"Levion...why wouldn't you let me save you?"

Everyday, she would circulate her power into it, checking on her beloved's condition. Everyday, she would gaze happily at the dancing red glow that proved he was alive and well.

However, when she checked on it today, the red glow never came. The once vibrant shining gemstone reverted back over to a plain dead one.

She wanted so badly to stay with him forever. Although her situation forced her into hiding, the woman cared for none of that wishing she could embrace her husband and child once more. However, her loved one in question forced her into a vow to never interfere with his life again.

Tears spilled out as she continued mourning her husbands death. Hours upon hours continued as she poured her emotions out through her tears. Finally, she calmed down as she put down the forever dormant red gem.

Afterwards, she brought out a blue gem. Fear clawed inside her as she worried that it wouldn't shine either. However, seeing the blue light shine and dance gave her a sense of relief despite her depressed mood.

"Please stay alive my son."

She clutched the blue gem towards her chest as she cried once more.

Alicia slowly awoke to the reality in front of her.

What she saw broke her.

She looked around at the destruction in disbelief. The scorched dirt, the mutilated bodies, and the smoke rising everywhere. The Tanquai village she once grew up in and loved was no more.

Rubbing her eyes, she tried to make this reality disappear. She tried slapping herself over and over. She even pinched herself trying to wake up from this nightmare.

Yet nothing worked.

After trying so many times, nothing changed. Everything that met the eye was utter devastation. The flat black dirt was a reminder that many of her loved ones were forever gone.

She thought about her friends Faveon and Chloe. How those two have been with her and Darian through so many adventures as children. How they've laughed. How they cried. How they've built up their friendship and promised to have each other's backs forever. Their dreams of adventuring together and rising up in Demon society.

She thought about her parents. Their love and affection that they've always shown for her. Their willingness to put up with her princess act and encouragment towards that dream. How they were always there whenever she was hurt, sad or crying.

She longed for them to come up and tell her everything was fine. That this was all a bad dream.

Then, she saw a bloody Levion unmoving on the ground with Darian crying right beside him.

After seeing that, nothing coherent formed in her overloaded brain. Too many emotions and feelings piled up against one another as they pushed the very limits of her sanity. Her thoughts were jumbled and scrambled as she tried to evade reality.

"Darian...this is a nightmare right? This isn't real...this can't be real right?"

Darian continued blankly at nothingness.

An insane-laced laugh lightly chorted out of her as she continued.

"Mama and Papa aren't dead...Faveon and Chloe are well...Father is fine...everyone's fine right?"

She turned her crazed face towards Darian. Her eyes reached out begging him to tell her this was all fake. That this living hell in front of her was not real.

Sullenly, Darian turned his face towards Alicia, his own eyes puffy and looking like a bottomless well of sadness.

"Th...this is real. They're all dead."

Something inside Alicia broke and shattered as she heard those words. Any sense of reason left within her was thrown out like garbage.

"NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!"

A blood-curtling scream sounded from her throat as she lost her sanity.

Darian watched as Valurn used [Force Sleep] on Alicia while his heart was in turmoil.

He had witnessed the most horrible day of his life. A day that will forever scar him.

The day his village was completely destroyed. The day peace and harmony was lost forever in Tanquai. The day when many innocent lives vanished. The day his loved ones and friends disappeared forever.

The day his father died protecting him.

All because he was too weak to do anything to prevent it. All because he was too blind to the cruelty of the world.

All because of a Hero.

Right there and then, he made a vow that would forever set his fate in stone.

"I swear...I will forever eliminate all heroes for good."

Only then could he create a world where every race can live in harmony.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Conditions for [? ? ?] met!

Unique Class [Hero Assassin] unlocked! Starting level [1/20].

Unique Skill [Detect Hero] acquired!

Unique Skill [Hero Kill] acquired! Starting level [1/20]

Unique Skill [True Appraisal] acquired!

[Falsify Status] Skill acquired! Starting level [20/20]

No upgrade paths found. [Falsify Status] level MAXED.

Titles Awarded: [Hero Killer] [One Who Seeks Vengeance] [Anti-Hero] [Fated One]

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★