“Haah… Haah… …Rrraaaaaghhh!!”
Noir howled. Losing strength by the minute, he focused all his remaining life force into a thundering roar.
When did it start?
As his body weakened Noir retreated to the dark, dusty confines of his mind.
When did it start, I wonder?
The creeping feeling of inevitability. How long ago had it begun? And when did it replace the drive of youth?
His arms were tired. His vision faltered. His legs, like withered trees, refused to obey him anymore.
The gods’ blessings could only prolong his life so much. Soon enough, the realities of the flesh began to sink in.
I suppose…
He was getting too old to be a hero. He could hold his own for now, but another three years, and who knew?
I suppose it’s time to hand off…
His life. For hope. For the next generation.
“Listen to me, all you tired old dogs out there! Let’s show the little ones how it’s done!”
By Noir’s side, the dwarf Dyne lay down a challenge to all his peers. With a burly arm, he lifted Noir back to his feet. Bahra patted the dust off his back and laughed a boisterous laugh.
“We’re goin’ on ahead to take all the glory!” she yelled. “If you don’t like it, then try to keep up!”
Even if they couldn’t see her face, anyone could imagine the brazen smile across her lips as she invited the city’s old veterans to their final feast.
“You Loki Familia scoundrels…” muttered one, an animal man. “Always showin’ us up!”
“Tryin’ to egg us on, are ye?” growled a dwarf.
“You think we’ll let you outdo us?” snarled a human.
Senior adventurers from every familia grinned and set out to uphold their pride. Leaving the future in their juniors’ hands, those old men and women each embarked on a one-way trip to the city center.
In the southern stronghold, Falgar looked on in shock as the older cohorts set off on their final journey.
“You… You’re kidding, right? Don’t go!!”
He tried in vain to stop them. They all departed with a daring smile and a twinkle in their eye.
“The veterans… They’re all leaving!”
Asfi’s eyes quivered like the rippling surface of a lake. It felt like she was reliving the past, watching her captain say good-bye for the very last time.
Over in the southwest, Shakti barked after her deserting subordinates.
“Where do you think you’re going?! Return to your posts! Jaf! Rahza! Kain! Have you all lost it?!”
These were people who had defended Orario long before she became captain. Tears formed in her eyes as she called out to them.
“Please don’t follow in Adi’s footsteps!”
Long in tooth and claw, these grizzled warriors hurled themselves into combat, a smile on each of their faces. Though the monsters’ breath scorched them, claws tore at them, and jaws bit down on them, their noble charge could not be stopped.
Together, they beat back the monster horde making its way to Central Park, leaving the melody of war that thrummed at its center untouched.
“…You old bastards. What are you doin’ here?”
Allen paused and glanced toward Noir and the others. He had headed to the center of the city straightaway and had been fighting here ever since, yet the old men and women were no less tattered and bloodied than him.
“Sorry, Vana Freya,” Noir replied with a grin. “After this, the rest is up to you.”
The old man paused only to answer Allen’s question before sprinting off once more. Allen said nothing, but his gaze wandered ever so slightly downward.
“…The adventurers, they’re followin’ Noir and them into the center of town…” muttered Loki. “It’s like they’ve all chosen to die…”
Her usual devil-may-care attitude was nowhere to be seen. She didn’t have any of her usual jokes. She, Alicia, and the other members of her faction simply watched from the parapets in silence.
“Be seein’ ya, kids! Take good care of our god after I’m gone, yeah?”
“Master! You can’t leave us! Masteeer!!”
An elderly human said his final farewells and left. His disciple, too wounded to move, could only watch as his figure grew smaller and smaller.
“Don’t worry, the bonds of blood will always connect us!”
“Wait! Waaaait!!”
An old animal woman mage smiled at her daughter, her apprentice, before heading off to give her life for the cause. The stronghold walls were like the bars of a cage, preventing the young girl from giving chase.
“This is the song of those whose names will not be remembered…”
Hermes muttered a few sad words, like a eulogy, as he watched the city’s greatest sacrifice.
“Or perhaps…this is just another page in the familia myth.”
“What’s the big idea?” Valletta spat, watching it all play out. “You think a few old bags of bones are enough to stop this monster horde?”
The laughable production put a sneer on her face.
“Go ahead! Throw your lives away! It ain’t gonna change a goddamn thing!”
Maybe, thought Noir as the laughter of evil and the roars of crazed beasts rang in his ears. His clothes were stained red with blood, but still he fought.
“Roaaaaaahhh!!”
Dyne and Bahra were just like him. Marks of crimson ran down their cheeks, but their fists and ax could not be stopped. They were not alone now—all around them, many of the city’s most venerable adventurers gave their lives to halt the monstrous advance for even just a single second.
To safeguard the voice of a hero.
It was just then that Olivas appeared on the scene, accompanied by his loyal followers. From atop the roof of a building, he yelled down at Noir and the others fighting in the streets.