Requiem Of A Failed Hero



Raith's elation knew no bounds as he embraced the prospect of his impending demise.

Never before had he anticipated death with such fervor.

Fifteen levels up from one death, of course, he would probably not be able to have fifteen level-ups again the next time he dies at the hand of this demon but he would still level up.

Such jubilation was evident on Raith's countenance as he unabashedly provoked Balam, relishing in the taunting game they played. However, this incessant needling had begun to grate on Balam's nerves.

It defied all reason that a mere human could rival him.

'His confidence knows no bounds. Oh, how I yearn to shatter him and reduce him to a pitiful state of supplication,' Balam contemplated silently, fixing his gaze upon Raith.

"Foolish human! Your transitory power blinds you, leading you to believe that you can contend with the might of a greater demon like myself. Pure insolence!" Balam's voice reverberated with an air of superiority.

"Yea yea blah blah blah blah,"

Unfazed by Balam's words, Raith persisted with his relentless taunting. It was the only way to goad his opponent into unleashing another deadly assault upon him.

Balam raised his hand, to the sky materializing a portal crackling with dark energy above Raith. From within the vortex emerged an immense bolt of obsidian lightning, hurtling toward Raith with blinding speed.

Reacting with lightning-fast reflexes, Raith swiftly rolled to the side, narrowly evading the destructive force. The lightning bolt collided with the ground, triggering an explosive eruption that sent debris hurtling in all directions. The resulting shockwave shook the very earth, threatening to dismantle the very foundation of their battleground.

Another portal materialized precisely where Raith had sought refuge, multiplying in the expansive sky until an onslaught of black lightning bolts rained down relentlessly. Each bolt aimed at Raith's every movement, forcing him into an arduous game of perpetual evasion. No matter where he leaped, the malevolent lightning struck, leaving him with no choice but to keep fleeing from one patch of ground to the next.

Determined to turn the tide, Raith mustered his strength and charged at Balam once more. He weaved through the onslaught of the bolts of lightning with his movements like a dance of defiance and resilience. Bal arced through the air, leaving trails of dark smoke in its wake as it clashed with Balam's magical barrier.

Balam stood in awe, marveling at Raith's remarkable speed yet again.

The strike between the sword and the demon's transparent barrier resounded through the entire battlefield. Each strike of Raith's echoed with a ferocity that reverberated through the very core of the air.

The demon helplessly looks at Raith as he struggled to break the barrier with the sheer strength of his sword, Balam never in the slightest way thought that breaking the barrier would be possible, this was after all a special skill he had received from Tinshemet after he swore loyalty to her.

The realm of demons was a complex and vast domain, far beyond the comprehension of mortals. Within this realm, greater demons had the ability to form alliances and allegiances with one another, even though they hailed from the same race. Strength was not solely determined by one's race but by their individual prowess and mastery of their abilities.

It was entirely plausible for a greater demon to surpass the might of an archdemon who lacked the ambition or understanding to harness their own power.

And so even amidst each other, they bestowed skill on each other, serving their own self-interests and seeking ways to enhance their dominion.

It was impossible for Raith to break the barrier.

As Raith relentlessly hammered his sword against the impregnable barrier, the clash of metal against the invisible force field intensified.

Each strike resonated with sheer force, sending shockwaves of energy rippling through the battlefield. The air crackled with tension as if the very fabric of reality trembled under the weight of their clash.

Raith's eyes gleamed with determination, how far did he have to will it for his sword to be able to slice the barrier? That was what disturbed and revolved his mind as he pressed against Balam's shield.

Qq+qqqqq

Balam, realizing the tenacity and unwavering spirit emanating from Raith, began to comprehend the true extent of the swordsman's indomitable will. It was a force that transcended mere physical strength, an unyielding determination that defied his common sense thus far, a common sense that was cultivated through his experience as a greater demon.

He had always admired humanity for its unyielding resolve and will, and that was one of the reasons why he was simply awed by Raith.

A flicker of reluctant admiration danced in Balam's eyes, mingling with a tinge of consternation. He realized that Raith's resolve was not to be underestimated. However, the demon king remained steadfast, refusing to relinquish an inch of ground.

Thus, the battle waged on, the entire battlefield consumed by the tension of the unyielding clash between Raith, the unwavering swordsman, and Balam, the all-powerful demon king.

As Balam observed Raith, he couldn't help but deem him a pointlessly foolish individual.

Whereas Raith knew what he was doing.

'Eight hundred two hundred and forty-four... damnit Bal, how long till I actually strike for real and tear down this mad thing.'

'Calm down, this is a perfect time to get used to the weight of the sword. Now that the time is intense, there is pressure around and your senses are sharpened and heightened. There is no better condition for you to get acclimated to the reduction and increase in my weight than now. Once you do that, perhaps you will have better chances at drawing out an absolute sword'

'Absolute sword?' Raith wondered after hearing it from Bal but the sword did not say anything more about it. Leaning Raith to nothing but swinging.

Bal was right. Each time Raith swung the sword, a surge of speed accompanied the upward motion, straining his arms with its tremendous force. Conversely, as he brought the sword down, a sudden reduction in speed made it seem as if Raith had succumbed to sluggishness. He had to swiftly adjust his strike at the last moment, constantly adapting to the unpredictable rhythm. It wasn't like Bal stuck to this routine all through.

And so, Raith pressed on, tirelessly delivering strike after strike. Nine hundred swings had already been completed, his body glistening with perspiration, yet the barrier remained unbroken. Breaking it was not his foremost concern; Raith's focus lay elsewhere.

He sought to become intimately acquainted with the sword's nature, to synchronize his movements with its weight fluctuations. The barrier's resilience mattered little to him, for his purpose extended beyond its mere shattering.

"Foolish human, how long will you persist in these futile actions? No matter how many times you swing your sword, you cannot breach my impenetrable barrier," Balam taunted with a sneer.

Meanwhile...

A sudden notification interrupted the battle:

[Congratulations]

[You have completed a thousand swings of the demonic sword]

[You have completed a thousand swings of the demonic sword]

[Due to THE UNDEFEATED COMMANDER KING's body constitution, your body easily adapts to the weight of the sword]

[The sword becomes an extension of your being]

[You have entered phase one of an Abstract Epiphany (Absolute sword)]

[Upon completion of all phases, you will awaken sword intent]

Raith's eyes widened as he read the message, a sense of accomplishment welling up within him. This was the first time he had achieved something without having to die.

Wham!

Before he could fully grasp the implications of this newfound revelation, a powerful gust of wind jolted him from his thoughts. King Balam's black obsidian wings unfurled from his back, stretching wide and casting a malevolent shadow over the ground.

'Something is changing about him.'

Just as Bal said, a realization dawned upon Raith as he observed the changing demeanor of King Balam.

There was an unmistakable sense that the demon king still held more cards up his sleeve. And Raith wouldn't have expected anything less, as he eagerly anticipated the unique and extraordinary deaths he would experience at the hands of this formidable adversary.

The clash erupted once again with a deafening boom, as Balam unleashed a relentless barrage of dark spells. His magic crackled through the air like ethereal lightning, challenging Raith's every move. However, with supernatural agility, Raith deftly danced through the onslaught, skillfully deflecting each assault with his swift swordplay. The collision of steel and spell created a spectacle of explosive power, its reverberations resonating throughout the very essence of existence.

Balam conjured illusions that twisted and distorted reality, unleashing phantasmal monsters that surged forth with grotesque forms. It was a testament to the demon king's mastery over the dark arts.

Yet, Raith's honed senses surpassed the ordinary. With his [Metavision]he easily pierced through the veils of deception, his strikes unerring as he cleaved through the illusions with calculated precision.

'How?'

Balam found himself questioning the rationale of the situation.

How could a solitary human display such prodigious strength against a greater demon? Even though Balam wasn't at his full potential, having been summoned into this realm, he couldn't help but admire Raith's resilience and unwavering might.

Frowning, Balam observed as Raith closed the distance that had once separated them.

However, this proximity alone meant little.

The two engaged in a fierce exchange of blows, Balam's punches inflicting excruciating pain that nearly brought Raith to the brink of unconsciousness. Yet, Raith clung to every ounce of strength, seizing every opportunity for a counterattack.

Balam's tough skin rendered Raith's sword strikes largely ineffective, until the moment he had executed the one thousand swings, disguising his true intent to break through Balam's barrier.

Of course, he still intended to achieve that in due course.

WHISH!!

A swift and precise slice cut through the air, Balam's eyes widening in disbelief. Raith's sword effortlessly sliced through his hand as though it were mere bread, sending it flying over his head. Silence seemed to descend upon the battlefield as the realization struck Balam—he had been cut.

"Impossible..." he trembled, his voice laced with disbelief and vulnerability.