-The greatness of a hero is measured by the quality of his villain.
Somewhere in the world, far from any living being, was a breathless person. Battered, countless wounds covering his entire body, what had once been armor lay broken and cracked.
"Bah"
The person groaned deeply before getting up from his kneeling position. Clenching her trembling fist he forced her hand to grasp her knife. The footsteps on the volcanic ground where he was standing did not affect him, his state protected him from this type of environment.
How long had he been fighting? Maybe… it was only a few hours. But they felt like days.
The man lost his balance before getting back on his feet. Just a little more, please hold on dear body. Just a little more.
His body was broken, that was clear. But there was something undeniable, his will will never be broken, his eyes showed it, those red spheres showed so much strength... As if the fight was nothing for him.
The man moved slowly across the ground, a few more steps taking him to a gaping hole. He had no choice but to go in, despite no longer having any hope of changing things, there was one thing he had to do, only then could he rest easy.
He looked at the small abyss before jumping.
"Just wait, family, goddess… Aiz. I will be with you soon, very soon.
Regardless of whether he was victorious, tomorrow he would be with his family.
The few seconds in the air allowed him to see the person responsible for the state of his body and his suffering. The ground, getting hotter as he descended, became more and more bothersome.
His thoughts went back to that person who was capable of taking him to this point and surviving.
On second thought... The only person in the world who could even face him.
The cause of his ills was no better than him, he made sure he didn't do it after all.
Collapsed on the ground as if it were a corpse, that's how the man was.
The wounded man landed several meters from the man on the ground, trusting that he was dead was as unlikely as there being another living creature in the vicinity.
Red eyes looked at the collapsed man, he wanted so much that he would stay this way, that he would not get up again...
Hoping for that was useless, that guy was like a cockroach, no matter how many times you hurt them, he always comes back.
In the blink of an eye, in less than a fraction of a second, that collapsed man was cutting off the red-eyed man's head.
The result was strands of white hair falling to the ground. The attacker looked to where a severed head should be, but there were only strands of hair, a little faster and it wouldn't be just strands.
"Now, now, why don't you come over here? Bell."
The voice of a young man, in this way it could be described, if someone heard it without being aware of what it was capable of, they would think it was the voice of a kind and good-hearted young man.
All a hoax. Bell Cranell guessed.
Red eyes, white hair, the bearing of a hero. This person was the epitome of bravery and heroism.
Bell Cranel, a world famous hero. Whoever hasn't heard his name must have lived under a rock. He recognized throughout the continent as the King of adventurers.
In the world they resided in, he might have had no rival, after all… Who could match the most powerful adventurer in the world.
The one who reached the greatness of the ancient Zeus and Hera families, thus reaching level 9.
And even with that, the mighty Lv9 was gasping for breath, hiding behind a rock catching his breath. What a pathetic image. Bell thought.
"Where are you Bell? Come out right now, are you afraid that I will do to you the same thing I did to the Warlord?"
The corpse of a six foot tall man with colored hair and boar ears came to mind. Pierced by a sword in each of its extremities, anchored to the ground as if it were a skewer.
It was not the most dignified end for a warrior of such caliber... Another reason to demand justice.
The image was enough to rekindle the flames inside him. He couldn't be called a hero anymore, but he would make sure the person in front of him didn't do any more damage.
Taking a breath he got up to continue the battle, his hands holding a completely black knife that had accompanied him since he was a child.
"I thought you'd never come, I've been waiting a long time. ". A smug voice made Bell look up ahead.
Bell frowned, his angry gaze falling on the person in front of him. His enemy, who was no better than him. Full of wounds and with a punctured shoulder.
"…"
"It's so boring when you pretend you don't care what I say..."
"I don't care about you, you stopped doing it years ago." Bell replied nonchalantly.
Bell looked ahead, his eyes met with himself, as if it were a mirror.
Red eyes, white hair, a handsome face with a pleasant voice. That was the way they described Bell, the same applied to the person in front of him. A trace of himself.
Some might think that it was a clone, something similar to what the Elf Filvis once did. I wish that was it, so Bell wouldn't have to face a person she's known for literally his entire life.
There he was, his twin brother, Timer Cranel.
Some corner of his heart just waited for his brother to sigh, shake his head and tell him to go home, that training was over...
"tch"
Fantasizing about absurd things at this point in his life… Oh my gosh, he was 19 years old! He should have stopped being the deluded fool who believed everyone could be saved.
Just looking at his brother's eyes brought him back to reality, those red eyes with slits similar to his own and at the same time so different. Opaque, cold, totally heartless.
With identical appearance they both looked at each other.
"Kekeke, will this be the day our story comes to an end?" Timer bowed slightly, in his hands a completely white knife.
"…He asked me, if you manage to beat me…what are you going to do next?" She asked her as he went on guard.
Timer's posture faltered, for a moment his eyes wavered, the mocking look gone. It was an instant in which both looked at each other without resentment.
Only so that later, a laugh resounds in the volcanic terrain in which they were.
"Hahaha!"
Bell shrugged as he waited for Timer to finish laughing. He could attack, yes, but it was better to wait for his already closing wounds to finish healing.
He could hate the one who was once his brother... But to what end, and for what? There was nothing to gain from that. His brother was guilty of countless crimes, all of which were committed by his insanity. He definitely deserved to die, and he would see to that himself.
"Ah, haha."
Maybe he was acting? Bell could see how the wounds on Timer's body were smoking slightly, his brother also wanted to kill time, it was beneficial for him anyway. His own wounds also smoked, the benefits of the abilities granted by the falna.
"And good…? You did not answer me"
"It amuses me how ignorant you are, so many years and you still don't realize it." Timer wiped away the tears that welled up in his eyes from the laughter.
"You're so enigmatic," Bell said wryly. "You should know that keeping up with you has always been difficult."
Teasing or not, Timer just snorted. Bell refused to hate him, was it because she was his brother? Yes, that was the reason, poor fool.
"…How many gods do you think inhabit the Gekai, Bell."
"Considering that you have been in charge of extinguishing them, I would say two. Maybe there's another one out there, but it's unlikely."
Timer sighed before smirking.
"Loki and Ate then, the last goddesses to inhabit the Gekai." Timer's smile only grew larger. "Hmm, I see you, and I only see an empty shell, you didn't even frown. You are so indifferent to my actions… When did you become like this?"
Bell just shrugged, he looked at himself and noticed that his wounds had almost healed.
Bell attacked with a quick swing of his arm.
Timer blocked the knife, before Bell knew it, he was already rolling towards the hot wall.
A black orb held him in place, his eyes widening as he recognized the orb. He used all of his strength to break out of the barrier, a second later a segment of the wall was consumed by the orb.
Inanis Sphaera, Timer's magic that draws everything to them. Tch!, she hoped that after hours of fighting the effect would already be over.
"That was close, Bell. Are you coming to kill me, or are you seeking death for your ineptitude?" He clearly emphasized her contempt, Bell didn't say anything.
"You know, when I finished off your blonde you didn't have the courage to do it, you didn't have the courage to kill me, I doubt you can do it now."
A wave of killing intent radiated throughout the room, the monsters desperately fleeing in the face of Bell's wrath.
"Yes, those are the emotions that must be transmitted in a battle."
Bell's eyes narrowed at his brother's words. For an instant later, everything will return to normal.
"You were always this way, you always enjoyed the pain of others, and hated when they didn't recognize you. Even though you hid it well, I always knew it." Bell's calm demeanor had a purpose, he may not hate his brother, but the grudge he bears is unmatched, and the best way to piss off Timer was to pretend he didn't care.
"And you didn't change, you didn't when Kami-sama accepted us into his family, you didn't when we met Lili, or even Welf... You were willing to let Wiene die." Bell watched as his brother approached with a smile, spinning her white knife in his hand.
"Thinking what you want is your decision, stand up. Before dying by my hands I want it to be worth it"
Little by little Bell rejoined.
"I never tried to kill you, Bell. You were my little brother after all, but right now I don't care."
"Tch, if you can..." Bell sliced his brother in half only for him to parry his knife with his own.
"Don't play around, Bell. Show me your skills, let's fight with all our arsenal, let's fight knife against knife, metal against metal. With Hestia-sama's gifts." Timer's voice was still mocking from the start.
"Kami-sama would feel ashamed seeing what you have become." Bell's mask cracked at the mention of his goddess
They both fought, they were evenly matched, their attacks were identical, like fighting against a mirror.
If any mortal were to manage to watch the battle, they would only be able to see shockwaves so powerful that they could destroy the monsters within the dungeon.
"If I remember correctly, you fell in love with the goddess Freya so many years ago, you are the cause of the war against the Freya family, the same war where the goddess Hestia lost her life. So who do you think she would be more disappointed in?"
"Shut up," Bell muttered.
Their weapons clashed. "No, I won't shut up, Bell. It was your fault!" The impact of his knives caused friction and a few sparks flew through the air, each applying force to win the match. "She died because of your actions, don't try to blame me." As their weapons clashed, the Black and White knives gleamed.
A blue light gave off Bell's weapon, symbolizing the spirit within the knife. Quite the opposite of his brother's weapon which lacked that life-like glow, the White knife belonging to his brother gave off a dull red glow. A cold glow representing suffering. His brother had corrupted the soul of his knife.
His brother continued speaking "These knives are Hestia's twin knives. While you later changed your name to Vesta, I decided to call mine Fornax, do you remember?
Bell kicked his brother's feet. As he fell to the ground, Bell spun on his foot and put his hand on his brother's chest while he was in the air, then shouted his signature magic.
FIRE BOLT!
A bolt of fire shot out from Bell's hand which sent his brother flying to the ground causing the floor to shatter.
The place where they were falling was the Dragon Urn. Exactly on the 54th floor.
In the fall a Valvang dragon tried to bite Timer, causing the dragon's head to explode from the force with which Timer was falling to the ground.
The dragons fled in terror as they witnessed the titanic battle. Right now their claws, teeth, and whatever else the dragons have at their disposal would be useless. The difference was as big as that between an elephant and a fly.
With his knife in his hand, Bell walked towards the rubble.
"Black and White, that's what we call them. Although later we changed the names to Vesta and Fornax, when you were still sane. In the beginning you weren't ruthless- No, you were, but at least you were evil against those who threatened us, like when we met Takemikazuchi Familia or in the battle against Apollo Familia."
A look of longing came over Bell's face. That time when dangers had not yet exploded in his face.
"You never tried to harm others who didn't deserve it, how much I wanted to go back to the past to live those moments... But then you changed, and you were never the same again." Bell stood over the crater in the ground his brother was lying on the rubble staring up at the ceiling.
Bell's magic grew stronger with each level up, Fire Bolt was probably as powerful as when he was once charged with Argonaut at Lv2.
Even with that, Bell's brother was intact, his clothes were still intact, without scratches. As if the gigantic impact just now hadn't mattered.
Bell immediately understood what happened. His brother used magic, specifically one that is capable of nullifying magic attacks. Silentium Regnabit.
His brother's magic that allowed him to ignore magic spells and block out noises.
His brother started laughing like crazy, Bell looked at him again with pity.
"Kekeke" The brother still on the ground raised his legs and jumped to his feet.
"When you'll have enough, Timer." Pity was the only look she could give him. Why there was no hope for him, just as there was no hope for himself.
"Oh, Kekeke. That you see me with such pathetic eyes disgusts me." Timer spoke condescendingly.
Bell didn't reply "At the time I was hoping you would change, but... it seems my brother is dead." Bell spoke solemnly.
A sad smile seemed to spread over Timer for a moment, his eyes took on another color for a moment. "At the time of her I also had her, but it is impossible to fight against nature, Bell. The wind blows, the rain falls and… Timer Cranel brings destruction. Kekeke." And then he just laughed like crazy again
Bell took a better look at his brother, in his past Timer had bright green eyes and black hair. Was it disturbing to go from that to a carbon copy of himself?
Something that Bell did not agree with is the way his brother spoke, as if everything was already written.
"So that's your excuse, that's how you clear your conscience for everything you've done. Simply blame the world for your actions."
Timer was surprised when Bell appeared behind him, his knife digging into Timer's leg before going to his neck.
Before the sharp black blade touched his skin, Bell's arm was repelled back, a black sphere pulling back.
If Bell didn't move now, he would have lost his arm. It was only a second, but that was enough time for the sphere to catch a small part of his forearm, exposing the bone.
"Ugh!" Bell didn't have time to look at his wound as Timer had already jumped on him.
Timer watched as his last sphere almost served its purpose. I don't know, he thought twice and threw his knife into the air, then smashed his shoulder against Bell.
The pure white knife was descending at an alarming rate right at Bell.
The knife that was aimed at Bell's body crashed to the ground. Timer watched as his brother simply disappeared to stand several feet on the ground.
It wasn't speed, it was an instant change of position.
Timer walked towards Fornax, she slowly looked at her weapon that was glowing white, she refused to fight by his side. The knife burned her hand, but nothing that imposing her will did not solve. Fornax was losing her color to turn red.
"You could have done the world a lot of good, but no. You decided to go with Evilus, you decided to go against any moral value and ally yourself with the enemy."
Bell was angry with himself, for an hour he had the upper hand in the battle, Timer's arm had been useless, his body lying on the ground almost lifeless.
But from one moment to another the battle turned against him.
"You still don't understand… I'll explain it to you, The goddess Ate you despise so much told me a story. Everything must always have a balance, the world likes to be balanced, the world loves! Be balanced."
As Timer continued to look down at the ground, Bell wondered if he should attack now, yet against his better judgment he decided to wait for his brother to continue.
"The world chose you to be its hero, Bell. You are a man loved by the world, the last hero, the chosen one who will bring peace to the world, finish the three great missions and everything else, you are special, pure, good-hearted and loved by all. Timer's voice slowly changed to one of hatred.
"And… Since you were the representation of everything that was good in the world, a balance was needed. I, Timer Cranel, am the opposite of everything you stand for. You are the light and I am the darkness, you bring salvation and I bring destruction, we are opposites. When we were young I was jealous of you… I tried, you don't know how hard I tried just to smile and say: Bell is my brother and I'm happy for him. But I did not succeed, I did everything I could, but these feelings did not leave me. The greatest hero was born right next to the greatest villain, I wish you had just been a stranger so I wouldn't have this regret inside of me.
"Being myself bothered you? But if you did everything, how are you supposed to be the hero?" Being considerate of Timer after everything he had done was not possible, even he had his limits.
"Yes! Of course I did everything, but who did the family turn to when there was a problem, me? Of course not. It was with you that they went, it was always with you. I see you finally grasp something in that dense brain of yours. Awesome."
"…"
"Now, now, Bell, where do you think it all started to go wrong? The death of the grandfather, When we reach Orario, the level up, the war against the Apollo family, the war with the Isthar family, the war against the Freya family. You have so many moments to choose from.
I take their fighting stance, the fight would be tough, both of them are Lv9, strong enough to break through these walls like paper.
"When we arrived at least you tried, trying to improve day after day, I think everything changed… When she left. Beside her it was as if you were another person, smiling openly became a habit... genuine smiles. Those years were when I thought you would change, years I had faith in." Instantly, Timer's face lost all trace of humor, she narrowed her eyes dangerously.
"Everything changed when she died, when H-."
"Don't you dare speak his name!" Timer's eyes blazed with fury at the audacity, Bell Cranel almost commits an outrage to Timer.
Before he could say the last word, Bell was attacked by the sword, he didn't have time to block it with his knife, he tried to maneuver to get away, but Timer was relentless.
Timer disappeared from his sight, he felt an upward kick to his back that sent him floating to the ceiling, colliding with it and as he began his descent Bell rejoined to look down on his fall. Timer was there frowning, Bell saw Timer's lips move.
Again, Timer disappeared from sight and reappeared with an arm across his chest.
FIRE BOLT!
The fire beam was fired again, with one difference, it was not Bell's product.
It was Timer, using Bell's own magic, the beam shot him to the ground crashing with a crash.
"Say his name and I promise you that your death will be tortuous. I intend to give you an honorable death, don't make me change my mind." Timer spat out his saliva towards Bell's body crashing to the ground.
The saliva didn't get to touch him, it melted before touching his skin, Timer stared at him, his clothes were intact, Fire Bolt was useless because the attack was useless.
Like Timer, I use Bell's magic, Firebolt. Bell used Timer's magic, Silentium Regnabit.
"I never liked using your abilities, your magic silences the world, all noise is lost, like in an abyss." Bell spoke kneeling, it may become immune to magic attacks, that does not mean that the impact is nullified.
"Maybe why I don't want to hear anything is the sense of ability? Genius. And I don't like your skills either, they're outrageous for my liking."
Silence settled over them, Bell decided that this had gone on too long, and he pulled the sword on his back from its sheath.
Both returned to wield their knives, since weapons become as strong as their bearer, we had the most powerful weapons in the world.
"I will kill you, Bell. I won't play with you like with Ottar or the others." His words were confirmed when Timer began to sing.
'I am misfortune, the one who brought torment to the world.'
"So he will use that" thought Bell, desperately he attacked without stopping, his intention was to interrupt her chant.
Timer's most powerful magic might be able to wipe out Balor in a single attack.
Timer was constantly dodging attacks, not a single one hit Timer.
The situation changed when Bell retreated and began charging Argonaut.
The waiting time for Argonaut was eight minutes, he didn't have that time.
For a moment he stood still before the biggest sigh of his life was drawn out, the pressure in his chest growing more and more.
"Timer… I… I'm sorry for everything, I'm sorry that it ended like this, I mean from the bottom of my heart… I love you, you, our family, my goddess, I love you all. And my love for you, despite everything that happened, will continue until the day I die.
After pronouncing those words that denoted Bell's deepest feeling towards his brother, the white-haired man was illuminated in a resplendent white light.
Timer stood there, his chant halted as he looked at Bell, who was once his brother, his friend, and his rival.
For a moment Timer was silent and then a big smile spread across his face.
However, that did not stop her singing,
'All heads must bow.'
Timer's chant began as a command.
Bell didn't think about it anymore, he had to act, and he had to do it now.
"Why me, show my divine presence."
Unlike many songs that were prayers to the gods or commemorate events of the past, Timer's was a demand, an obligation that had to be granted.
"I force the gods to give me their power."
Bell for his part, renewed his motivation.
With his motivation to save the world from Timer's existence, Limit Off unlocked the full power of Argonaut and combined it with the most powerful magic at his disposal.
"He whose will breaks the heavens"
"I forbid you to turn your head."
Argonaut was his trump card against his brother, it was the only ability between them that Timer wasn't able to use.
Using Argonaut requires the will of a hero, Timer lacks that.
"I swear here that I will be the light that the world needs"
"Fear my greed"
Bell didn't stay still, after singing he continued with his attack, cuts everywhere rained down on Timer.
They were both running Cantos Concurrent, so they both continued to fight with no problems.
"He whose light illuminates the darkness"
The radiance emanated by Bell was growing with each passing second. Argonaut was going beyond Limit Off.
"Look up to the sky, fear my presence."
What Bell didn't expect was a black glow emanating from Timer, he watched in amazement as the same energy slowly increased every second.
"Evils flee from my gaze."
"Why am I already going down."
Neither of them stopped their singing, faster and faster, the words of both came out in a blink.
"Then the name of the one who once walked the earth will return."
Bell was unable to understand how that energy was increasing the mana accumulated by Timer, it was exactly the same as what was happening with Argonaut.
"And I bring ruin to all existence."
It should be impossible for Timer to use it, how was he able to use a hero's will?
"And so as I go from boy to hero.
"Accept this fatal fate."
"kekeke! Now, now, get ready to meet: Antinaut."
The will and desires affect the Falna, that was known by the adventurers. So, as a result, Timer's will corrupted the ability. Now it wasn't the will of a hero, instead, it was the greed of the villain.
"Sword of the hero, Jupiter."
"Hybris"
From the 57th floor to the surface, all mortals managed to feel the impact. As a result 5 floors up and down were destroyed.
The Cranel brothers, one destined to be the last hero while the other fate played against him, wanting him to become the greatest enemy of humanity.
Before seeing the outcome, we must return to the beginning of everything.
The place where it all began.