“That’s one major combat achievement in the bag!” Strong said with a guffaw.
“We couldn’t join the fighting last time, so it’s all fair now! ☆” Leen added.
“I guess we’ve now graduated from being the champions of mock battles alone,” said Stephan. The three of them had been unable to join the battlefield during the previous demon attack. This was their first official combat and demon extermination.
“This hunk of junk was pretty close in strength to those provisional Black Stars we fought last time. We’ve undoubtedly grown stronger,” said Griffith.
“Looks like ramping up our training to an absurd degree after meeting the Seven Heroes bore fruit,” Lynel said with a strained smile.
“I really thought it was going to kill me,” Chris said, a similar expression on her face.
After the Seven Heroes showed them the pinnacle of strength they should aim for, the six of them had trained to an extent incomparable to before. Their training was already so hard-core that none of the other members of the Humanity Defense Coalition could keep up, but their new routine made people see them as a little crazy. Fortunately, their youth increased both their growth rate and learning efficiency. This new generation of warriors had improved by leaps and bounds in a short amount of time.
“I’ll be catching up with you soon, Mister Alan,” Griffith said to himself.
The sound of clapping with some metallic clanging mixed in suddenly drew their attention. “Bravo! Excellent! Marvelous!” said Loki, the half-mechanical man and their supposed enemy, clapping all the while. He walked toward them at a leisurely pace. “You’ve all done an amazing job. What a stimulating and comical performance. Now, shall we dance together next?”
Griffith gulped as he watched the slowly approaching Loki. “It’s finally time, huh?”
Their foe was one of the New Seven Black Stars and a shenmo, a monstrosity far above the likes of Heavy Rain, someone they’d been crushed by not too long ago. Part of him was consumed by fear, just like his five companions. He could sense their tension and terror.
“Whatever we’re feeling...the Seven Heroes have already fought and defeated a few of them, haven’t they? Then there’s no way in hell we’re going to turn tail and run here.” The other five nodded in agreement. “We’re taking you down, Black Star, and then we’ll be on par with them!”
✦ ✦ ✦
Around the same time, Alan and Beelzebub had arrived at a mountain district in the First Kingdom’s suburbs, a place that was mostly filled with vegetation.
“This location should be acceptable,” Beelzebub said.
“Yes, we should be fine so far away from any populated areas,” Alan agreed with a nod. “Step back, Rosetta.”
“I wish you luck,” she said with a bow.
“Thanks. But even if luck isn’t in my favor, I’ll figure something out.”
Rosetta nodded in response, then trotted away from the two of them.
“Oh, that reminds me. Another member of your group defeated one of the New Seven Black Stars. You Seven Heroes truly are a magnificent bunch,” Beelzebub said.
“Is that so? Thanks for the compliment.” However, Alan couldn’t see any concern in Beelzebub’s expression. In fact, he looks delighted, doesn’t he?
Beelzebub didn’t actually want to lose, but as the absolute strongest existence, he thought that the stronger the foe he set his sights on, the better.
“On the other hand...it is truly such a pity.”
“A pity, you say?” Alan raised his eyebrows.
“Indeed. You humans grow old and eventually perish. While you possess brilliant strength, it will decline given time. In the end, it vanishes altogether. That is something I find terribly unfortunate.”
So that’s what he meant, Alan thought. Since demons had unlimited life spans, it was natural that they would see things this way. “I disagree.”
“Oh?”
“The next generation will grow up and take our place,” Alan said. He remembered the confident smile of that cheeky young man who’d broken his record for the fastest medal award. “Even after we’re gone, new heroes will surely be born.”
Alan looked far into the distance toward the Seventh Kingdom. Griffith and the rest of the Great Six must have been fighting at that moment, with Yoshida’s support.
“And that’s exactly why...” Alan slowly drew his sword, the one he’d received from the empress herself, and pointed it straight at Beelzebub as the light reflected off its tip. “I can’t let you bring an end to humanity here.”
“Hmph, I see.” Beelzebub also drew his sword in response. “Very well. I don’t care what your reasons are, as long as you fight with everything you have.”
The Champion and the demon lord stood against each other with swords bared like fangs. They had walked until it was evening. The sun sank behind the horizon as the sunset dyed the scenery in the color of red flame.
“Here I go, Alan Granger.”
“Come at me, Beelzebub.”
Claaaaaaang!
A shock wave spread around as their blades collided. The duel between the Champion and the demon lord had started at last.
Humanity had three hard-won victories under its belt, but it would only take two losses for it to be wiped off the face of the world. The human race was still in the midst of an unprecedented crisis.