The rivalry between the purple and white blades. It was just a blink of an eye. It was a moment that seemed like an eternity, condensed to infinity.

　My throat was parched with impatience and every muscle in my body was tense. And yet, my eyes were still fixed on the hero before me.

　Heldt-Stanley. The sun rising in the sky. The heroic tale I've longed for. That magnificent figure, now taking up the sword as my enemy. Not one ounce of that ferocious will to hide.

　Very well. There is nothing more to be said. For me, this is supreme, this is the end.

　A slow exhale escapes his lips to relieve the tension, and he holds his sword above his right shoulder. Strangely enough, I didn't hesitate. The sword was telling me that it was the best way to strike the blow I needed to strike now.

　There was no longer any trickery or falsehood in the depths of my heart. I am well aware that the heroes I admire are not the kind of people who can be killed by some kind of trick or trap. I don't remember longing for something like that.

　So just give it all you've got. That's all I wanted right now. That's all I want.

　On the other hand, Heldt readied his white sword at his waist. It was the same stance as that night. There was the swing that had once been out of reach, out of reach.

　The golden eyes have a piercing violence in them. There was none of the finesse or bewilderment that might have been there in the past. There was only pure will.

　He twines his numb little fingers around the handle and narrows his eyes. He breathed in and bit his teeth lightly. Neither I nor Heldt moved from our positions. It was as if we were both dreading the end of this time.

　At some point, sound and time all but disappeared from our surroundings. There was no breathing, no spitting. Only the eye catches the enemy.

　No more words between us. No more tricks. Just waiting for the moment to come.

　Oh, we've traveled a long way just to get this moment. Those days that were so long that I almost fell to my knees many times. Humiliated and resigned, but still longing to continue on this path.

　My body is as tense as a strained string. The tip of the treasured sword wavered as if it were swaying in the sky. Yes, that's right. It's a long journey that I'm afraid to even talk about.

　--The end is here now.

　An inaudible sound rang out. The two of us, Herdt and I, something in our hearts clicked together and drove our legs. Time, which had been stopped since the past, finally began to move now.

　As if they were breathing in unison, the two swings were unmistakably launched at the same time. No one was ahead of the other, nor was there any delay.

　The tip of the treasured sword rang like a neigh of neighs, and the white sword ran through the air, cutting through even the sound. In the darkness, only two lines glittered in the sky.

　I am convinced that it was undoubtedly my supreme and most powerful swing. It is the one that piled up everything I've stepped over so far.

　Even so, it was the deadly white blade that first unleashed its fury to bite through the enemy's heart. The bottomless talent blazes up the ship's eye like a roar.

　The swing was just like a storm. A flash that was going to slash my left armpit, my heart, and then my neck. The sky around me was easily cut in two, giving way to the blade. It is pure to the point of being pure, just for the purpose of grabbing the enemy's life.

　A death that could not be escaped was at hand. A definite death that could not be prevented or avoided.

　Yeah, you knew that. Of course you did. That one swing of Heldt-Stanley would not so easily fail me. I wouldn't make such a dismal assumption. I grit my teeth and squeal.

　That's why I swung the sword down without changing my trajectory. I twisted my shoulder and handled my arm as if it were a thing, in order to reach the hero's blade, even if only a little. Faster, faster.

　Herdt's blade would surely gouge out my back and bite into my heart. There's no way to prevent that. It's the price I'll have to pay if I want to reach the hero. Then come and get him. What, you've already done that once.

　I force the leg that I was stepping on to extend one step and drive it. The distance between us has narrowed to the point where it seems cramped. The one I had shown you once before. But this time it wasn't for protection, just a step to slaughter the enemy.

　It was like stepping into the hands of the god of death himself. Herd's white blade is now biting into my flesh, blood all over it.



　But even so, the trajectory certainly deviated slightly from Heldt's intentions. The blade pierced his shoulder instead of his armpit. It would only be a blink of an eye, but it would take time to bite the life out of it.

　And that was enough for me.

　In the back of my eye, I envisioned everything, assessed it, drew a line. And just like that, I swung my arm. The treasured sword traced its path without the slightest deviation, as it should. In what seemed like a cramped pause, he drove his hips in a circular motion and put all his momentum into the sword.

　There was a flash of light.

　A flash to kill the man who was Held Stanley, the man I longed for, the hero like the sun. In the darkness, purple lightning surges. The insignia of the Hero Killer engraved on the blade shone with majesty.

　A roar escapes from me and Heldt, and the treasured sword and the white blade speak for the Lord's will as they bathe in each other's blood. They were accompanied by a slight tremble, as if they were breathing.

　And then the moment of ecstasy was over.

　I could feel the flesh biting each other in my hands, the smell of spurting blood hitting my nostrils, the creaking of bones breaking all over my body. We were there, spitting out each other's blood, holding our blades as if they were overlapping.

　Neither of us had any strength left. Neither could move or twist.

　It was only natural. The two blades had pierced each other's bodies, and in doing so, had completely cut off the source of life. My vision is blurred, I don't know if I am alive or dead. The blood flowing through my body was abnormal with its turbidity.

　The only thing I could hear was their faint breathing. Apparently, they are still alive. That must be something close to a miracle. And in a few moments, that miracle would be over.

　I could feel something like heat covering my spine. The first time I saw him, I thought he was going to die.

　--I'm going to kill the hero with my own hands and then be killed by his hands.

　I'm not sure what to make of it. With the last of my strength, I opened my lips.

"A fond farewell, Heldt-Stanley. My good rival.

　Herdt's ship's eye widened slightly. Then he speaks as if it were normal time.

"Yes. I hope we can be friends next time.

　That's all he said. After that, there was nothing. Just a strange silence and the feeling of heat being drained from my body.

　There was nothing more to be said. And that was the moment when I tried to let go of my worn out consciousness.

　A cacophony of sounds struck my ears, overlapping each other.

　--Oh, you don't need that anymore, do you?

　I heard the heart, no longer alive, thumping hard. It's a sound I've heard before. Somewhere, a very unpleasant, uncomfortable sound.

　A sound that sounded like a voice, but had no weight to it, like a voice. Now I know it's coming towards me.

　--So now, once again, I will take its soul. For all salvation and all happiness in this world.

　My eyes twitch, and the blood my body continues to spit out is surprisingly cold. My body tells me that the approaching being is a definite threat, even though I can't seem to move a finger.

　A golden head of hair comes into view. A figure that I was once familiar with and even adored. And now it's there, with a different expression on its face than it once had.

　The body doesn't seem to listen to you. And with the white blade still piercing her flesh, even if she did listen to her body, she would not be in a position to move easily.

　Therefore, he only opened his eyes in the face of such a clear threat.

What's the matter with you, you look so scared. It would make me happy if you were a little friendlier.

　Something in the form of my childhood friend, Alueno, was there.