There was something wrong.

Fuu knew that something was off. After the battle yesterday, Yuuna, Tougou and Issei had vanished and it caused quite an uproar. When the remaining members of the Hero Club were about to search for them, a message from Taisha was delivered and told them that the three were safe and would return after their business was done.

The sender was the Miko, Fuu recalled. She's the most important person in Taisha after the Heroes, and her presence can even be compared with the Nogi and Uesato families who are the highest-ranked houses in Taisha's hierarchy.

The girl had something to say with the timing, but she chose to swallow her anxiety down and instead replied with a confirmation followed by a question.

Why did the Vertex attack again?

The response came after waiting for fifteen minutes. Back there, Fuu had some suspicions but the explanation of the Miko convinced her enough that she had decided to let it slide, because...

'I hope to see you soon, for there is something I wish to tell you and the Heroes.'

"...This is seriously a strange turn of events..."

Fuu didn't want to let her friends and family involved more than this. It was her fault for not telling them on the first place and it was also her fault that they had to fight again. Even with the bonus upgrades from Mankai that came in the form of additional Fairy and weapon, there was always a limit to one's endurance and fatigue.

And then… this.

This morning, her junior's parent called in that her son was sick. Fuu's heart pounded as she recalled the strange chills that had appeared when three of her club members suddenly vanished, but she thought that there were always days like these so she told herself that there was nothing to be worried about.

He's fine, Fuu thought, even as the image of Issei stumbling after he dropped down from the sky resurfaced in her head. He's fine, he must be exhausted after yesterday's battle; that's all.

However, Yuuna and Tougou appeared wearing grim expressions that didn't suit them at all when she met them at school.

"…Fuu-senpai…?"

Snapping out from her thoughts, Fuu muttered a sound and looked back at her juniors.

They were in the third floor's hallway. Fuu was on the lead while Yuuna was walking behind her while pushing Tougou's wheelchair. The two had followed after Fuu after she suggested the rooftop as a private place to talk, and now all they needed to do was climbing the last staircase.

Fuu would have made a joke about 'last spurt' or something but she was not in the mood for that.

"Well…" Fuu looked ahead again. "So, how important is this talk about? Can't we just wait for Karin and Itsuki first?"

Her snappy junior and her cute little sister were currently clearing out requests. They also had something to do like group study with their classmates afterward so there was no way to call them back at the moment.

While thinking that, Fuu waited for an answer but since there was no clear response, she turned around after climbing the stairs halfway through. At the bottom of the staircase, Yuuna was moving her right hand and a platform device peeled itself from the wall after she touched a green button on a control panel installed there.

It was an installation meant to help people with disability like Tougou. When the platform was set in place, Yuuna rolled Tougou's wheelchair onto it, then locked the wheels in place. After the black-haired girl gave her approval, Yuuna operated the control panel again so that the platform began to carry Tougou through the flight of stairs.

"That is…" Tougou trailed off. "…It's related with Yuuna-chan, Itsuki-chan, and you, Fuu-senpai."

The disabled girl added a 'but' instead of leaving her sentence finished.

"It also applies to all of us, and it may affect our future."

As Fuu climbed ahead so that she wouldn't obstruct the moving platform, the blonde nodded with her long hair swaying behind her.

"You can't explain it in details?"

"…No. Unfortunately, we can't..." Tougou shook her head. "At least not until we reached the rooftop."

...Is that how it is…?

Whatever it was her juniors wanted to talk about, Fuu hoped it wasn't something serious.

"…Ah, speaking of which," Fuu paused. "You two look like you know something about Issei. What was that exchange of looks for?"

"Huh!?"

What's with that 'Huh!?' huh…? Fuu wanted to rub his forehead with that reaction. She didn't expect her two juniors to try to keep up an appearance even though their covers were already blown up skyhigh. This is starting to get on me too…

"W-Well, umm…." Yuuna's voice trailed away. "It's just, you see…. We're kind of… curious why he isn't attending club activity today."

"Ah… Yeah, that's a good reason to be curious about." Fuu shrugged and unlocked the door leading to the rooftop. "But there's always days like this. Besides, Issei can take care of himself just fine."

She was partially glad that Issei was upfront. Sure, he was a pervert and he tried to ogle a view or two secretly, but at least he easily fessed up and accepted punishment whenever he was caught red-handed.

Still, maybe I shouldn't have asked about him in this kind of situation, too…

It felt rude because he wasn't around.

Issei was already a close friend and a reliable underling to Fuu. He was also close to Yuuna and Tougou because the three of them lived really close to each other that nobody batted an eyelid despite the three of them coming to school side-by-side. Suddenly speaking about the boy when he wasn't around seemed like a recipe for disaster...

"B-By the way, Fuu-senpai…"

Fuu turned around when she realized there was no continuation to Yuuna's words.

She had already entered the rooftop. The winds were particularly strong today, and the clouds were gathering up to render the sunlight obsolete. Even though it was nearing midsummer, Fuu couldn't believe how cloudy and cold today was, and she hoped it wouldn't rain at least until evening.

The laundry won't dry by itself… The elder Inubouzaki sibling exasperated. Why am I fussing about so many things like this?

"Yeah?" Fuu asked as her two juniors approached her. "What is it, Yuuna?"

"Well… This is, um, I'm just wondering…" Yuuna fidgeted. "...What do you think of Ise-senpai?"

"…Now that's quite a sudden question."

Fuu could see Tougou's bitter smile even if it was from miles away now. She must have realized that Yuuna was trying too hard at this point, but someone like Tougou wouldn't want to ruin the moment by saying insensitive things. Karin was busy, and Itsuki was not here to give her trademark witty remarks.

Looks like it's all up to me now…

"If I were to evaluate my junior as a club leader…" Fuu folded her arms under bosom. "I'd give him points for being an earnest person. Double them because he's diligent even though he has no talent at all in pretty much anything, and cut it in halves because of his bad habits and perversion."

Of course, Fuu had already taken count of whatever thing Issei had done while finishing the requests given to him. Karin often helped with her detailed report and though she sucked badly at drawing imagery, she still could be a good judge for a character.

Fuu wondered if it was alright to divulge what she had come to know in regards to Issei but it seemed the boy was good at playing with children and making simple handicrafts.

…Maybe that's because they're on the same wavelength.

That would mean Issei's mentality was that of a child but that wording might be a bit too much if he ever caught a wind of it.

"T-Then…" Yuuna inhaled. "As an upperclassman?"

"He's nothing but troubles."

"Immediate answer!? Eh…!?"

I can't help it, Fuu thought. He always got roped into troubles be it in daily life or even in the battlefield.

They all happened because Issei was in the wrong place at the wrong time, but Fuu couldn't deny that the many decisions he had made created further chaos into the fray. Even the latest battle ended up in narrow victory…

"But well, he's Issei so I don't mind being relied upon by him."

The girl decided that she would not tell everyone the time when she poured her heart out in front of Issei. There was no need to stir the pot more than this.

"As for being a person…" Fuu groaned as he rotated his head to the left and right side several times. "I'd say that I'm fond of him to the point of thinking him as…"

"A-As…?!"

"…As a younger brother, of course."

Yuuna almost fell over to her knees. Even Tougou swayed in her wheelchair but Fuu couldn't help wanting to ask why did they have to be so theatric about trivial things that must be drawn clearly at the very beginning. Being unreasonably demanding and exaggerating was Fuu's forte; not anyone else's!

Also, if this question was what it was supposed to be, then Fuu had something to say to her simple-minded juniors.

"I'll be honest here," Fuu sighed. "I like Issei, yeah. But I can't afford to fall in love and I have Itsuki to take care of. You already know the drill by now, Yuuna."

"E-Err… Yeah, Fuu-senpai did tell us that when we went to the beach resort."

Right? Back there, Issei was knocked out cold so he didn't know anything, but the girls had huddled together in their room to discuss about many things including love story. Back there, Fuu's answer was the same as what she told Issei.

"I don't really have much interests in romance because I have something more important to do. If I can, I'd like to wait until Itsuki can live independently with a good partner-in-marriage. That's why I can't fool around."

"B-But… What if there's a small chance he likes—"

"Alright, let's stop this now." Fuu interrupted Yuuna by clasping her hands together. "I'm sure we're not here to talk about our love life. We also need to hurry since it looks like it will rain. The thing about Issei and romance will be dismissed until later dates!"

Plus, Fuu thought. If there's someone he really likes, there are two girls way better than me here.

Fuu wondered what that boy was doing.

She hoped he could actually give a clear answer instead of leading everyone around by saying whatever crossed his mind. He was a sincere boy, and he was definitely a good person at heart but he was still immature both as a person and as a man.

Issei still had a long way to go, especially considering how he couldn't be trusted when it was all about taking care of himself.

...I better buy some fruit after today's club activity is over, Fuu thought as she nodded to reaffirm her decision. I really hope he's not forcing himself again...

As a cold wind blew past the rooftop, Fuu closed an eye reflexively when she saw dirt kicking up. She made a small sound and she heard her juniors reacting similarly, but as she brushed aside the strands of hair drifting toward her nose, her ears picked up a distinct sound; Fuu looked up to the dull grey sky in wonderment.

"...Issei...?"


Green leaves fell from their branches and scattered into the cloudy sky.

Exiting the cliffs-surrounded lake and entering a thick forest, Heracles looked to the side. He saw a green light flashing through the darkness. It plowed through trees, carved out the land and approached him like lightning.

Heracles reached out using his strengthened right arm.

Excessive amount of life force coated his entire body and heightened all of his physical strength to the extreme limits. His thoughts then accelerated to the point of allowing him to perceive reality in a slower motion.

"Hmph!" With a grunt, the man grabbed his foe's neck and threw him away.

The attacker crashed into an old tree and smashed through it. Pieces of wood scattered along with dust and dirt while the solid sounds of destruction resounded throughout the quiet forest.

"Is that all you have?" The moment he asked coincide with the moment his enemy piercing through the curtains of dirt. "…So you can still fight."

The figure of the attacker was a small dragon.

He had red scales for skins, horns protruded out from both sides of his head, and his left arm wore a red gauntlet decorated with razor-sharp claws as well as two green gems. The dragon's eyes burned red with the intention to do harm unto his opponent, all without logic or even a reason.

It was the eyes of a rampaging beast.

Heracles stepped aside to dodge a right hook. He retreated while swaying to the left and right, avoiding all of the attacks aimed to incapacitate him if not outright kill him.

After a series of misses, his foe exposed an opening so Heracles lowered his hips, pumped magical energy and life force down to his feet and leaped forward.

"Ghak…!?"

A solid sound of impact rang.

Heracles punched the humanoid dragon's gut and further twisted his right fist in. He heard bones breaking, organs and flesh snapping and yet he did not end his attack with just one hit.

"Blow away – Variant Detonation."

A glow appeared from the tip of his right fist and the scenery in front of him vanished in a burst of light.

It was like watching a dozen dynamites explode. The air burst in flames and shockwave, the trees were rooted out and the vegetation turned to ashes within the all-consuming red hazes.

The extreme difference of temperature further caused a windstorm to enter through the battlefield while a mist seeped into existence around him.

As if this much will kill him.

Proving his assumption right, his foe revealed himself by breaking through the flames and smokes. He covered his front with crossed arms – probably so as to not inhale any embers – and he roared out as red armors encased his upper body and his right arm.

So that goddamn tree released more of his powers, Heracles thought with a scowl. As always, Gods are massive pains in the ass.

However—

"Do you think the same trick can work twice!?"

Heracles stepped forward, bent his left arm and executed a flawless uppercut into the dragon's torso.

The armors shattered upon impact. The flesh was struck in the next instance and the miniature Heavenly Dragon flew to the sky with a long red arc trailing behind him.

He did not hear any pained grunt.

He did not hear the dragon's cry.

He realized the boy known as Hyoudou Issei still desired for a victorious outcome.

"In that case…!" Heracles pulled back his left arm and extended his right arm to the sky. "Comet Detonation!"

His entire body flashed with a bright light. Sharp protrusions emerged from around his limbs, his chest, and then his back.

With many roars the objects attached to his body flew into the sky. They all smashed through the winds, surrounded the floating dragon and devoured him in a powerful burst of explosion.

The resulting violent winds crushed some trees and once again shook the quiet forest. Once the sounds died down, Heracles saw a black figure falling down while covered in smokes ahead of him.

"You sure are tenacious." Heracles paced forward. "Forcing me to use my Sacred Gear, Variant Detonation… Even drawing out what I learned while fighting against Echidna's minions."

Though saying that, it didn't seem like the boy covered in soot and dirt could hear him. He looked down at the boy as he struggled to move despite his wounds, and met a pair of hateful eyes directed at him.

It was a look he wasn't unfamiliar with, so Heracles swung his leg and kicked the boy away.

The weakened and wounded boy crashed against a tree. He slid down to the ground, completely helpless and out of strength. He voiced out incoherent sounds that signified the suffering he was put through.

Even so, the boy clawed the tree behind him and stood up.

That act of resistance further infuriated the Champion.

"Enough with the nonsense," Heracles spat out. "What can you do? What have you done other than charging ahead without thinking? What can you even do now that you know the ugly truth?"

Idiot. Imbecile. What a gullible fool.

Heracles knew the face the boy wore. A face that knew hardship yet still refusing to cast away the vain hopes he held in his heart.

It was a dreamer's face.

It was the expression of a true idealist.

"You can't fix a system all by yourself," the Champion said even as the dragon regained his footing and approached him. "You can't change the world without knowing anything. But even after knowing everything, that doesn't mean you have the power or even the authority to twist reality as you see fits."

The world wasn't so kind that it could be altered without any problem cropping up.

Heracles understood that more than anyone. He knew and acknowledged that above everyone else. He who had betrayed his homeland, his family and his friends understood the weight of his crimes and yet decided to soldier on.

But, he thought. This brat doesn't stop walking forward.

The proof of that was how he was still fighting. Heracles had battled the brat for 24-hours nonstop now and yet the wielder of Boosted Gear continued to stand up against an insurmountable obstacle. Just by being empowered by the leylines, he can fight indefinitely, huh.

"...There's no miracle in a world that has long already ended." The man prepared a fighting stance once again. "That's why there's no worth in protecting it. I told you before. All the things you did with those brats are just a pile of childish delusions."

"…so what!?"

The boy re-summoned his scale mail and flew with his boosters firing out swirling red flames.

He headed toward Heracles from the front. He didn't change his tactic and raised his bleeding right arm; a prime example of blitzkrieg without much to say.

In response to it, Heracles stepped back as he parried the attack. Air detonated outwardly, and he blocked the follow-up attacks meant to cripple him.

Amidst the exchanged blows, a yell was heard.

"I know that I'm useless!"

The boy's right fist pierced through the Champion's defense and struck his solar plexus. The man staggered while the Heavenly Dragon used this chance to launch more attacks.

"I know that I can't do anything right even though I put my all into it!"

A right punch smashed into his face and blood sprayed out.

"Even so…!"

A straight hook embedded deep into his gut and popped an organ.

"Even so, I won't give up…! I can't give up…!"

A flurry of blows hammered in, breaking through the shield of life force and magical energy with sheer brute force.

"…Hrrnghk!"

A glint flashed inside Heracles's eyes and he counterattacked. His gigantic fist impacted the dragon's side and blasted him through a dozen trees.

The man leaped in pursuit and passed through the rolling beast. He skidded into a halt, clawed the grounds with his feet and smashed his opponent from the back.

Once again, a sickening sound of shattering bones was heard.

However, Heracles didn't stop at that. His left hand quickly snaked forward and grabbed the dragon's left arm. He lifted the body to the sky and with a yell smashed it into the ground like a whip.

From the sensation, he knew he had both dislocated and broke the arm.

Heracles's right kneecap shot up and struck his opponent in the chest. The red dragon's armors caved in and scattered blood-soaked pieces of iron.

Warm red liquid spilled from the mouth of the beast. Its body floated before it landed with a harsh crash, and it bounced off the grounds before it rolled and came to a halt.

Heracles's shoulders shook as he readjusted his breathing.

He was high on adrenaline and his empowered body made it difficult to not be aware of the details around him. He had to admit there was some fun in hunting a dragon even if it was a fake one, but...

...Any power without a clear direction is just brute force.

Heracles raised his right hand to his chest-level as he looked down upon his disciple. "A power so unreliable that nobody is left unscathed… Is that what you define as the strength to protect your world?"

...Of course not.

Both he and his disciple knew that wasn't the case. That was why Heracles vocalized his thoughts out and accused the boy. That was why the boy could not respond to his questions.

Even so, the boy stood back up and faced him once again.

"…That's your answer, huh," the man said as he narrowed his eyes. "Fine, then."

He walked forward. He approached the boy and entered his range, then he swung his right fist toward him.

The blow did not connect. The boy stepped aside and dodged. He immediately counterattacked with a straight right to the torso.

It's useless, Heracles thought as he activated his Sacred Gear. As long as there's a point of contact, there's no place I cannot destroy with explosions.

When he thought his victory was assured, the counterattack suddenly stopped merely an inch away from touching the place Heracles's heart resided in.

Heracles's eyes widened as the boy gritted his teeth and opened his hand, revealing a tiny green sphere of light in his fist. Before anyone could speak out their thoughts—

A flash of green illuminated the darkness and created an extending line of destruction.

Within the bursting light, the gouged earth and the scattered leaves and soil – there was absolute silence. The roar of destruction only came after the line of light flickered and it became significant once the beam faded away.

It was only after a minute had gone by that the sound of nature returned to the world, but...

In front of the exhausted and wounded dragon, a figure stood like an indomitable wall.

"...How…" The boy looked up as white mist leaked from the corners of the man's mouth.

Heracles's skin and clothes were badly burned, but there was no heavy damage on his body. The ground he stood on had melted somewhat, and the area far behind him had been reduced into a fine wasteland.

Even still, the Champion survived and he attacked.

"Gh…!?"

Hyoudou Issei's right arm broke when he tried to defend himself. The arm was then batted away, leaving the rest of his body exposed to a powerful punch that lodged deep into his gut.

"Ghak…!?"

Blood spewed out from his mouth. The boy staggered back as his body bent forward, and his armors crumbled without being able to regenerate themselves. His feet left the ground and in the span of that instance, another blow smashed into the left side of his chest.

Then a chain of blows arrived.

The forest was filled with crunching and smashing sounds. The earth rumbled, the air shook and the trees trembled as if frightened. The remaining lights of the sun showed moving shadows that depicted violence like no other, and crimson liquids sprayed and tainted the green floors of the forest.

After a while, the noise finally stopped.

When the knuckle in the boy's body was pulled back, Issei fell to his knees and struck the ground with his face.

"You really don't know when to give up, do you?"

The mist filling the forest grew denser.

At the same time, the heated air around the battlefield seemed to call out to the sky. Rain soon fell together with the sounds of crackling thunder, and the crimson painting the grass red was soon washed away by the raindrops.

"You couldn't accept this sort of outcome so you lashed out without thinking. You're a perfect host for a Heavenly Dragon that brought an end to the Old Era."

The drops of water lowered the air's temperature. They also cooled down the melting rocks and put out the flames that had turned the plants into ashes.

All the while the blood on the unmoving figure of the defeated beast was washed away by the tears of the heavens.

"But you know what?" Heracles looked to the side and saw some wet plants drenched by the rain. "If you can't even acknowledge the truth before your eyes, then there's no point in dreaming."

A single flower could be seen hanging down as the rain droplets fell upon it.

It had a trumpet shape with deep blue color and tints of white and yellow. When it hung down, it looked like a bell but it didn't give any sound as the rain continued to weigh the flower down.

"This is the world." Heracles looked back to his foolish disciple. "This is the place that forbids any lies from flourishing. This is the stage I and many before you have arrived at after all of our desperate struggles."

With his arms spread to the side, the divine-blooded Champion looked as if he was presenting the enormously wide sky to the fallen dragon.

"Accept it," the man commanded as he lowered his arms. "Accept your powerlessness. Acknowledge that you couldn't protect anything at the very end of your journey. Relish that despair and burn this scene into your soul."

Then…

"Only then will you be allowed to cry out your sorrow."

The rain fell harder than ever.

The sounds that remained were the teardrops from the heavens. As he felt his clothes weighing him down, he breathed out a white mist and his sight blurred.

Soon, another sound resounded from within the forest covered by mist.

It was a deafening roar.

It was a heartfelt emotion conveyed through an action.

It was the sorrow of the dragon.

"…That's right. That's the proper way for you to face the present."

A beast that did nothing except howling in anger had become a human weighed down by reasons and emotions. Some might said it was a phase of growth, but Heracles thought what he had in mind was better.

After all, this is the best way to communicate for those who are both man and beast.

"Cry out all you want. Pour out your heart and carve your voice in this worthless world."

In front of the man, the boy's hoarse voice reached the land, the sea, and the sky above. He cried and wept as dirt and mud plastered his face and wounded body.

He gave all of his heart, even if it was for the sake of grieving.

"...Endure it all. Your grief, regret, and even your sins..." Heracles turned his back on his disciple. "That's the only thing you can do as someone who confronted the truth."

He walked away and settled down beneath a particularly tall tree with thick foliages that could shield him from the rain. The grasses were wet, the roots of the tree were ridden with mud, dirt and green moss and the trunk felt like it was breathing out humid air.

Heracles didn't mind the weather; Athens was always ravaged by storms and he had fought in harsher battlefields. This much of a drizzle was nothing to him.

Still, he thought. I've become too soft.

The boy was allowed to cry because he was weak.

The boy was given a chance to do so because he had acknowledged his despair and suffering instead of running away from his responsibility.

The boy would get back up and he would grow even stronger if he could overcome his trials.

"…What a lucky bastard…"

Nobody knew how much time had passed.

Even so, it was certain that the hands of time continued to move. The world simply followed after it and continued to change regardless of the feelings held by those who lived under its care.

The man finally caught a stream of light intruding through the deep green foliage.

He looked up to the sky and witnessed an end to the rain. He saw the dark clouds paling as they fled, and he heard the sounds of raindrops growing quiet.

He smelled the scent of wet earth. He felt cold even as the sunlight bathed his drenched body, and he filled his lungs with the crisp air around him.

"…Looks like the next few days will see brighter skies."

If his prediction was right, then that would be nice. If it was wrong, then that was fine as well. I don't really care, either way.

However, as he stared at the drenched figure of his disciple, a thought crossed his mind.

Like this, I can just pull out and return to headquarters with a shiny new trophy.

He could rub his victory in his comrades' faces with that. A Longinus was a powerful addition and something that could double one's power every ten seconds would be an extremely big boon.

...But why do I think that's the wrong thing to do?

The man thought something was wrong with him. He had betrayed his Faction and joined a shady organization no different than a group of extremists. At this point, being sensible would do nothing but to add points for his streaks of infamy. No higher beings would help him and Lady Luck despised people who abandoned their loved ones for an idiotic cause.

...Then why am I questioning myself like this?

Heracles stayed still for a few minutes the moment he gave himself that question.

He pondered about the matter but after a while, he reached a conclusion. The man shook his head, cursed himself for the action he was about to commit and after he let loose a resigned sigh, he got up and approached the boy.

The man extended his arm and grabbed his disciple by the collar.

"Come on," said Heracles as he hung Issei on his shoulder like a strip of towel. "The lake over there has powerful healing properties. You're going to heal yourself there, and then we're going to start again."

What was going to start?

"If that flea-sized brain of yours isn't for decoration, I'm sure you already know." Heracles looked at the entrance to the valleys from before and spotted a stone Torii welcoming him. "You're still alive, and tomorrow will still come, even for this shitty world that already ended. Quitting while being ahead doesn't suit a stupid kid like you."

What suited him best?

What was best for the boy at this moment, and in this sort of situation?

What could Hyoudou Issei even do when he had lost everything he once believed in?

As his mind toyed around those silly questions, Heracles scoffed and answered them right away.

"As long as you have a will, there will be a way," Heracles glanced at the boy and at the path leading him to the lake. "That's what a Hero does best at, Hyoudou Issei."

And you will definitely find something at the end of the path, the man promised. After all…

"Raise your head before you can look forward," the man said. "This descendant of Heracles has decided to help reclaiming what you lost, you half-assed Wannabe Hero."

And you better show me some results.

After all, he was definitely going to receive a fate worse than death for committing a second betrayal.