Fitoria arrived with a purpose. "Aki, I have brought the Magic Hero Balthasar Black and his Kitsune here to discuss something important with you," she said to the current Kitsune Queen.

"A Kitsune Queen? Please, come here, little one," Aki said, motioning Emiko to come closer.

Balthasar tapped the Kitsune on the back and gave her a reassuring nod. Once Emiko was within reach, Aki began examining her face and body.

"She's exquisite," the Kitsune Queen remarked, her hand delicately cupping Emiko's face. "A true beauty, with a grace and poise for her age."

Emiko blushed at the compliment, her heart swelling with pride. "Thank you, Your Majesty," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Emiko, remember what we talked about when you meet the Queen," Balthasar reminded the small fox girl.

Emiko quickly composed herself and bowed slightly to the Kitsune Queen. "I apologize for any disrespect, Your Majesty. Thank you very much," she said with utmost respect.

The Kitsune Queen was impressed by Emiko's manners and decided to strike up a conversation. "You are so well-mannered, my dear. Tell me, what did your master name you? Is it just Emiko, or do you possess a last name as I do?" she inquired.

Emiko's response impressed the Kitsune Queen, and Aki couldn't help but interject with a knowing smirk. "He's given you his last name, interesting," she remarked.

Balthasar was curious, "How is that interesting?"

Aki explained with wisdom earned from her experiences, "I have met many of the Cardinal Heroes before meeting Fitoria, and I've seen that many of them had their own mounts - some Dragons, some Pegasi, and others Filolials. The majority of these Heroes gave their mounts their last name when they transformed into their human form. There are only two reasons why they did this - the first being that they never had a child of their own, and the other, that they lost a child and wanted to fill in the hole in their heart."

Emiko's attention was riveted, captivated by the tradition among the Heroes. "I understand," she murmured thoughtfully. "Master has always been like a father to me. That's probably why he bestowed his name upon me."

The Kitsune Queen turned to the Hero and asked, "May I inquire, Sir Hero, which Hero are you? Did you desire a child, or did you suffer the loss of one?"

The Magic Hero bristled with anger at the question. "Does it matter to you, Miss Ran?" he retorted with a hint of venom in his voice, his dragon features flaring.

"Actually, it's of no importance," Aki replied calmly as she searched for her toppled chair. "Moving on, I must request that you refrain from using the Cursed weapon or any of its spells, especially the Chaos Configuration."

"The Chaos Configuration isn't as dreadful as you make it out to be," the Magic Hero replied, causing the Kitsune Queen to jolt back into a standing position.

Aki's expression turned to one of panicked worry as she asked, "Which one have you acquired?"

"I've just unlocked it," The Dragonoid replied, shrugging his shoulders. "I only possess the Sword of Wrath."

The Kitsune Queen regarded the Magic Hero with a firm expression, her concern evident. "I strongly advise you to never use any of these weapons to take someone's life. The toll it exacts is far too great," she cautioned. "Above all else, do not use the Crystal of Gluttony. It drains your enemy's health while increasing your own, but it also saps the health of your allies."

Balthasar raised an eyebrow and asked, "How do you possess such extensive knowledge of the Cursed Series?" as his features returned to their normal state.

~Many Years Ago~

Magic Hero stormed into the estate, employing numerous spells and skills from his arsenal. He seized one of the knights and demanded, "Where is she?!"

The knight began to answer, "Who..." but was cut off as he was slammed against the wall. "Don't you dare test me!" the Magic Hero roared. "You know damn well who I seek!"

"She's locked in the guest bedroom," the knight finally replied before being rendered unconscious by Kuro's Sleep spell.

The Hero and his Kitsune companion raced through the estate until they reached the guest bedroom. Aki forcefully broke down the door, revealing a frail and bloodied Irena.

"Irena!" Kuro shouted, running to his wife and preparing his magic. However, he soon discovered that both his MP and SP were too depleted to cast any healing spells or skills.

"No! No! NO!" Kuro wailed in despair as Irena tenderly placed her hand on the Hero's face.

"I'm sorry, my love. I have been unfaithful to you, Kuro," Irena whispered.

"Please don't speak. We can still save you, Irena," Kuro implored, clasping her hand tightly.

"No, you can't," she replied softly. "I'm just grateful that the last thing I see is both you and Aki."

Irena's fingers gradually released their grip, her hand falling from the Magic Hero's grasp.

"I...Love...You...Both..." Irena murmured, her gaze fixed on the sky as the light faded from her eyes.

"I...Irena," Kuro choked out through his tears, holding her lifeless body close.

"Master, I'm sorry..." Aki began to say, but then she saw a potent and malevolent aura enveloping the Magic Hero.

"Aki..."

"Yes, Master," Aki replied, her voice trembling with fear.

"Stay here," Kuro instructed as his attire and staff glowed with shades of orange and red.

Kuro stepped out of the room and launched a ruthless assault on the estate's inhabitants, leaving a trail of blood and corpses in his wake.

Meanwhile, elsewhere...

"This is not good. The Magic Hero has become more powerful than any of the other Heroes. We must leave this place and inform the Pope of..." started the man wearing a cross, but before he could finish, a fist jutted out from the wall and began to strangle his accomplice.

"Gckk... Reckon Hel-" The man gasped for breath.

With a swift motion, the arm snapped the man's neck and pulled his lifeless body through the gaping hole in the wall.

Emerging from the wall, stood The Magic Hero, donning his Cursed Armor and wielding the powerful Staff of The Seven Sins. Kuro locked eyes with the fear-stricken man before pointing his staff toward him, beginning to recite an unholy incantation.

"By the source of my power, I command thee to decipher the laws of Chaos and bring forth the ever-burning flames of Hell upon my target."

As Kuro completed his spell, a torrent of black flames erupted from his staff, engulfing the man and melting both his cross and flesh to ash.

"Sic Gorgiamus Allos Subjectatos Nunc...We gladly feast on those who would subdue us."

~Present~

Aki Ren, the powerful kitsune queen, spoke with a heavy heart. "Since that fateful day, the man who raised me was no longer the same. He harbored a deep-seated grudge against humanity, dedicating himself to serving and protecting only Demi-Humans alongside the Shield Hero. As we journeyed together, he unlocked the Cursed Configuration and wielded it against slavers and members of the Three Heroes Church. He despised both humanity and himself for his failure to save Irena, to the point where he contemplated taking his own life just to be reunited with his beloved wife."

"As the Final Wave approached, the Four Cardinal Heroes fell in battle, leaving only Kuro and myself to face the overwhelming threat. We were cornered, with the master's health dwindling from his efforts to protect me. His mana and skill points were depleted, and deep down, he regretted the actions he had taken."

~The Final Wave - Many Years Ago~

"Master, we're surrounded. There's no escape," Aki uttered, her voice laced with desperation.

Kuro's breaths were ragged as he replied, "I know, Aki."

He silently prayed for mercy from the divine powers above. "May God have mercy on me," he thought.

"I'm sorry, Aki," Kuro said, his voice heavy with regret, as he shifted his weapon and armor into their Cursed form.

With the Chaos Configuration activated, the Crystal of Gluttony emerged, replacing Kuro's Magic Heroes Staff. In its place was a levitating red crystal ball, with a flaming eye at its center, gazing hungrily at their enemies.

The Cursed Skill, Drain, was unleashed, causing a torrent of green, blue, and red energy to pour into the crystal from both the slain monsters and Aki's fading body. Kuro's body was bathed in a bright glow as he let out a chilling, maniacal laugh.

Aki's body was unable to withstand the devastating effects of the Drain, causing her to collapse onto the ground, her strength ebbing away. One by one, the monsters surrounding them fell to the ground, lifeless. Despite the carnage, Kuro continued to harness the power of the crystal.

With Kuro's health fully restored, Aki reverted to her human form and crawled towards him, her own health plummeting.

Aki gasped weakly, her voice barely above a whisper. Her health dwindled at an alarming rate, and she knew that her time was running out.

"Master... please," Aki begged, her vision fading into darkness.

She collapsed onto the ground, a full foot away from the hero. The darkness consumed her completely, leaving her body lifeless.

"K...Kuro," Aki's voice echoed faintly in Kuro's mind, as he snapped out of his trance and looked around in horror. He gazed down at his fallen Kitsune, her health bar reduced to a measly 3 points.

"Dear God," Kuro uttered, picking up the purple-haired girl in his arms.

"I'm sorry, I'm so very sorry," Kuro whispered, walking away from the battlefield with Aki's lifeless body.

~Present~

"My master brought me to a secluded haven, accessible only with my help or Fitoria's. He vanished without a trace, leaving no farewell or indication of his departure. I found his lifeless body hanging from a tree branch with a rope around his neck. With the help of local Kitsune, I buried him. For years, I believed he took his own life to escape our bond until Fitoria showed me a note stabbed into the same tree." Aki pulled out an old piece of paper from her pocket.

I couldn't protect the woman I vowed to defend, and the guilt consumed me. To ease my conscience, I attempted to keep you safe, Aki, whom I loved like a daughter. But I used a cursed skill that permanently lowered your health and took away your sight, causing you pain. I hurt you, and no parent should ever harm their child. I understand if you hate me for it, but I fear for your safety as long as I'm alive. I am not a good person, and I must remove the last trace of evil in your life. I'm sorry I was not as strong as you. You were my only light in a life of darkness.

Goodbye, Aki. I love you.

"Listen closely, Magic Hero. I implore you, never yield to the temptation of the Crystal of Gluttony. Cast off the veil of anger and vanquish the darkness that threatens to consume your heart," commanded the Kitsune Queen.

Balthasar knelt before the Queen in a solemn oath. "Miss Ran, I swear upon the name of Bahamut that the Crystal will never be wielded," he declared.

As the Kitsune Queen's gaze fell upon the Magic Hero's Kitsune, she stepped forward and bestowed upon Little Emiko a great and solemn honor. "I, Aki Ran, hereby proclaim you as the next Queen of the Kitsunes," announced Aki, placing a resplendent golden crown upon Little Emiko's head. In a miraculous display, the crown vanished and was replaced by a striking red circle in her hair and intricate red markings around her eyes, signifying her new status as the ruler of the Kitsunes.

As Emiko and Balthasar said their goodbyes to the Kitsune Queen, Aki's voice called out, stopping them in their tracks.

"Wait a moment, Mr. Black," Aki said, beckoning Balthasar over.

Curious, the Magic Hero approached Aki, who handed him a piece of black cloth. As he examined it, a sense of unease settled in the pit of his stomach.

"Does this look familiar to you?" Aki inquired.

Balthasar's blood ran cold as he turned the cloth over in his hands. He recognized it immediately, and his voice came out stern as he asked, "Where did you get this?"

Aki's explanation sent a chill down Emiko and Balthasar's spines. His Kitsunes had brought a body along with the cloth, and it was severely damaged. Aki had been using his last remaining Mana points to keep the person alive and ease their discomfort. The story behind the person's injuries was heart-wrenching - apparently, he had jumped off a cliff to save someone and had slammed into three rock formations before landing in a shallow lake. It was a miracle that he had survived at all, and Aki's intervention had helped keep him alive.

Filled with hope, Balthasar couldn't wait to see the person himself. "Is he a Demi-Human?" he asked Aki.

"See for yourself," Aki replied, pointing towards the bed of Kitsunes.

As Balthasar approached, he saw the body lying there, and his heart sank. It was Gray Morningstar, and he was barely recognizable. His clothes were ripped, and bloodied wrappings covered his body. He looked much thinner than before, and his breathing was shallow.

Without hesitation, the Magic Hero ran up to Gray and grabbed his staff, pointing it at the Wolf Demi-Human.

'Holy Embrace'

As Balthasar pointed his staff towards the Wolf Demi-Human, a warm magic glow enveloped Gray, surrounding him in a healing aura. Balthasar watched in relief as Gray's breathing improved and his face relaxed.

Overwhelmed with gratitude, Balthasar turned to the Kitsune Queen and exclaimed, "Lady, I could kiss you right now!" The Queen, however, raised a hand to stop him.

"I appreciate the gesture, but my deep distrust in humans, much like my master's, still remains. Your thanks are all I need," she said firmly.

As Gray began to regain consciousness, Balthasar moved towards him, cracking his knuckles. "One moment, I need a little family time with my brother," he said to the Kitsune Queen.

"B...Balthasar?" Gray whispered as he opened his eyes. But before he could say anything else, Balthasar landed a right hook, knocking him off the three-tailed Kitsunes and onto the ground.

[Number of tails = Strength and size]

Balthasar's anger boiled over as he saw Gray regaining consciousness. "YOU LITTLE BASTARD!" he yelled, his fists clenched in fury. "I swear to God if you weren't half dead already, I would kill you!"

But as he knelt in front of Gray, his anger dissipated, and he wrapped his arms around him. "Don't ever do something like that again," he whispered, his voice choked with emotion.

Helping his brother up, Balthasar made his way back to the campsite, but not before giving the Kitsune Queen a sidelong glance. "You were right," he said, his voice heavy with regret. "I had a daughter at one point."

Leaving the Kitsune Queen behind, he continued, "But she's gone now... taken from me far too soon."

~Time Skip~

The following day at the Filolial Sanctuary, Balthasar couldn't contain his joy as he watched Lily and Emiko meticulously double and triple-check to ensure that Gray was indeed real. Seeing his family back together brought a smile to his face. However, Naofumi was still brooding over Fitoria's harsh words about killing the Four Cardinal Heroes if they didn't unite against the Waves. Despite his bitterness, he kept his emotions to himself and didn't let it out to his companions. As they sat down for breakfast, Fitoria suddenly approached the 2nd Princess and trapped her inside a powerful wind prison. The Shield and Magic Hero were immediately on high alert.

"Melty! Princess!" Naofumi and Balthasar exclaimed in unison as the spell blew the table away.

Melty, visibly shaken, approached the barrier of the spell and recoiled as it left a cut on her finger. "What's happening?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"Cease this at once, Fitoria," the Magic Hero commanded, his voice authoritative.

"I'm sorry, but I must take Melty as my hostage," Fitoria replied in a monotone voice.

"You cannot do that; Melty is my friend," Filo interjected.

"Your Majesty, I cannot allow that," Balthasar declared as he activated his Nullification Skill.

However, Fitoria swiftly appeared in front of the Magic Hero and blasted him with a powerful wind spell at point-blank range, sending him crashing into a wall of the ruins. Gray, Lily, and Emiko rushed to the Hero's aid.

"Balthasar," Gray called out as he knelt in front of the injured Magic Hero.

"...Okay... That one really hurt," Balthasar grumbled as he picked himself up from the rubble.

"Stay out of this, Magic Hero," Aki spoke up as she walked next to the injured hero, her two-tailed Kitsune companion by her side. "This is between Fitoria and the Filolial."

"Why are you doing this?" Naofumi asked, his tone laced with suspicion.

"I need your word, Shield Hero. Promise me that you will reconcile with the others," the Filolial Queen demanded.

"Let Mel go!" Filo demanded, her voice rising in anger.

"And what if I don't?" the Shield Hero asked, clenching his fists. "Are you still going to harm the Princess?"

"I told you, it won't happen. The other three see me as nothing more than a lowly criminal. They won't even listen to a word I say," Naofumi argued.

"Nevertheless, I must ask you to reconsider," Fitoria replied firmly.

"Why are you so insistent on getting us to work together?" the Shield Hero inquired, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.

"Because the Four Heroes must fight as one to combat the Waves," Balthasar asserted as he walked towards Naofumi. "It is the responsibility of the Four Cardinal Heroes to fight the Waves, while it is my duty to protect the people from them," the hero continued, turning to face the Filolial Queen. "And as much as I hate to say it, after what the king showed us during the boss fight in the last wave, the Four Heroes need to work together, even if they are a bunch of morons."

"The Magic Hero is right. I made a promise a long time ago to the Hero who raised me, and because of that, if this world is to survive, the Cardinal Heroes must work together to stop the Waves of Catastrophe," the Filolial Queen added, clenching her fists. "Please, Shield Hero, I beg you to reconsider."

"No matter how many times you ask," Naofumi replied in a stern tone, "I'm not going to make nice with those idiots."

"Then there is no choice. If you Heroes won't cooperate, then new Heroes will have to be summoned," Fitoria stated grimly. "That means I'll have to kill all four of you."

The statement caused Melty, Filo, Raphtalia, Gray, Lily, and Emiko to gasp in surprise, while Naofumi and Balthasar looked at the Queen with fierce determination.

"You'd kill all of us just because we don't get along?" the Shield Hero asked incredulously.

"Kinda petty, don't you think?" the Magic Hero added.

"It is what's best for the world," Fitoria replied firmly.

"Yeah, and considering how easily she killed that monster, she'd have no trouble killing all four of us," thought the Shield Hero.

"But if you all reconcile, it won't come to that," Fitoria continued.

"Although I understand your point of view, I regret to say that I am still unable to comply with your request. Taking Melty hostage won't change that. So if you're intent on killing me, then do it," Naofumi declared his shield at the ready.

Balthasar began to lift his staff, but his movement was halted by the Kitsune Queen, who grabbed his wrist.

"I believe I made myself clear earlier. This is not your fight," Aki reminded Balthasar as she pulled him back to their party.

Naofumi was not one to back down without a fight. "I promise you, I won't go down easily," he warned, shifting to his Rage Shield.

However, Fitoria intervened once again, preventing Naofumi's transformation into his Cursed Weapon.

"I understand your frustration, Shield Hero," Fitoria spoke, her hand emanating a blue magical aura. "I will offer you a chance."

Naofumi was taken aback. "What do you mean?"

"If you and your party can prove that you can defeat the Waves of Catastrophe without relying on the other Heroes, I will spare your life," the Filolial Queen offered.

Raphtalia couldn't help but ask, "How exactly do we do that?"

Naofumi's response was laced with sarcasm. "Well, that's certainly generous of you."

Unfazed, Fitoria replied, "Actually, Shield Hero, I am already familiar with your capabilities as well as those of your Demi-Human companion," she added, pointing at Raphtalia. "It is Filo who must fight me alone."

Filo was taken aback. "What? Why me?"

Fitoria clarified her intentions, "I need to confirm your strength and potential first-hand. If you can prove yourself to me, I will not only release Melty, but also refrain from taking any action against the Heroes - for now," she warned.

Filo was a bit confused, "I don't really understand what you're saying. But if I win, then Master won't be killed, and you'll let Mel go, right?"

Naofumi tried to intervene, but Filo was determined, "Then it's settled. I accept your challenge," she declared, stepping forward and slipping on a pair of magic gloves.

Fitoria accepted the challenge, "I will fight you in my human form, and I expect you to do the same," she said, erecting a visible magic barrier around them.

A magical barrier was erected to prevent Naofumi from interfering, and Filo charged at the Queen with determination. However, her attacks were slow and ineffective compared to Fitoria's agility and strength.

"I'm coming for you," Filo declared, raising her fists.

Fitoria remained calm. "Go right ahead," she replied.

Filo attacked by jumping into the air and throwing a powerful thrust kick at the Filolial Queen, but Fitoria easily dodged it by stepping to the side.

"You're too slow," Fitoria commented, grabbing Filo's dress and tossing her into the air.

Filo managed to regain her balance using her wings, but when she looked around, Fitoria was nowhere to be found. "Where'd she go?" she asked, searching for the Queen.

"Filo, watch out!" Raphtalia warned, noticing something that Filo had missed.

Filo was taken by surprise when the Queen suddenly struck her out of the sky, sending her crashing into the ground. Once the dust settled, Filo struggled to stand, her dress torn and tattered.

Naofumi was at a loss for why the Queen would fight Filo and why they had to fight in their human forms. "None of this makes sense," he thought to himself.

"Filo, you can't keep charging in like that. You've got to use your head," Naofumi advised, urging her to come up with a plan and regenerate her clothes using her own mana.

Filo attempted to send a Wind Spell, but the Queen easily canceled it out with her jamming magic. As the two Filolials fought, Naofumi approached Melty and attempted to free her. However, he was struck by Fitoria's powerful magic, which easily bypassed the Shield's protection and made Naofumi bleed.

"Naofumi! Master Naofumi!" Melty and Raphtalia exclaimed in unison.

"Master," Filo began, but before she could finish her sentence, Fitoria interrupted her with a swift backhand to the face. "Eyes forward," she warned, her voice stern and unwavering.

As Balthasar rushed to heal the Shield Hero, Fitoria explained, "That attack was necessary to prevent him from cheating. He deserved it."

Filo picked herself up, her breathing ragged as she gazed at the Filolial Queen with a mix of fear and defiance.

"Do you know why he did that?" Fitoria asked Filo, her tone softening slightly. "It's because you are weak."

Filo's eyes widened at the statement, and she bristled with indignation.

"Can you tell me what it is you are fighting for?" Fitoria asked, her voice calm.

"I...I would have thought that was obvious...I'm fighting for my master," Filo replied, determination in her voice as she ran towards Fitoria with the intent to strike. However, her attack missed its mark as Fitoria dodged with ease.

"You couldn't even defeat the Dragon last night, and you can't defeat me now," Fitoria chided as she effortlessly knocked Filo to the ground again. "How do you plan to be of any use to the Shield Hero?"

Filo's eyes blazed with determination as she leaped to her feet, refusing to give up. She vowed to become stronger and more useful to the Shield Hero's party.

"I won't lose you! I'll become strong for Master," Filo shouted with renewed vigor. "And I'll beat you!"

Fitoria's response was swift and brutal as she struck Filo down once again. "Not with willpower as shallow as yours," she sneered.

Undeterred, Naofumi urged Filo to watch her enemy's every move, and she did just that. As Fitoria began to absorb mana particles from the air, Filo took note and prepared to strike. Fitoria, meanwhile, had a sudden flashback to her own past, remembering the same words of advice given to her by the legendary hero of old.

With newfound determination, Filo launched her attack, meeting Fitoria head-on.

"You're still too slow," Fitoria taunted.

"Maybe so, but I'll still beat you!" Filo retorted, charging toward the Filolial Queen with fierce determination. Her hands glowed with an otherworldly green light as a pair of golden bird talons materialized, tearing through Fitoria's magic gloves with ease.

"Spiral Strike!" Filo yelled triumphantly as her attack landed, effectively breaking through Fitoria's defense.

Exhausted but exhilarated, Filo reaffirmed her vow to become stronger and protect those she held dear. However, to her surprise, Fitoria suddenly smiled and declared Filo the winner of their duel. Melty and Naofumi were amazed at Filo's progress, while Fitoria revealed that the duel had been a judgment of Filo's character. Having passed with flying colors, Filo was declared the successor and future Filolial Queen. As a symbol of her triumph in the ordeal, Fitoria even presented her with a beautiful crown.

"Filo, I am delighted to appoint you as my successor," Fitoria declared, placing the crown atop the young Filolial's head. The surrounding Filolials cawed in excitement at the news.

"Successor?" Filo asked in disbelief.

"Does this mean that Filo will be the next Queen of the Filolials?" Naofumi asked, astounded.

"Congratulations, Filo," Melty chimed in.

"I have to agree with the little squirt," Balthasar added, placing a hand on Melty's head, much to her annoyance. "You did good, Filo."

"Would you guys stop doing that?" Melty snapped, pushing Balthasar's hand off her head.

As the crown disappeared and transformed into a cowlick that grew out of Filo's hair, indicating her position in the succession line, the young Filolial quickly grew irritated with the new addition. She ripped it out, only to watch it regenerate instantly.

As Naofumi analyzes Filo's stats using the Shield, he discovers that her cowlick has significantly boosted her abilities, and he realizes that as she grows stronger, more cowlicks will emerge. Meanwhile, Fitoria tends to Naofumi and Balthasar's wounds before addressing them.

"I have a gift for both of you," she says.

Balthasar interjects with a smirk, "No cowlicks, please. Nobody messes with the Do," pointing to his immaculately slicked-back hair.

Naofumi nods in agreement and adds, "I agree. If it involves cowlicks, count me out."

Fitoria performs a remarkable feat by plucking two of her majestic cowlicks and placing them on the jewels of the Heroes' weapons, unlocking their powerful Filolial weapons. Naofumi's Shield now boasts the formidable Filolial Series, which had previously been too advanced for him to wield. Balthasar, on the other hand, receives the coveted Filolial Magic Staff, an item he had been unable to use until reaching level 80.

However, before discussing the matter at hand, Fitoria offers to make amends for Melty's "kidnapping" by giving her a ride on her enormous bird form. The Heroes reluctantly agree, and after a satisfying lunch, the Filolials joyfully stampede, taking both parties along to celebrate the coronation of their new Queen. Filo, however, seems less than thrilled with the exuberant display.

As the night wears on and everyone slumbers peacefully, Fitoria once again broaches the subject with Naofumi. She inquires if he has made any attempts to reconcile with the other Heroes or clear his name. Naofumi is taken aback by the question, as he had long ago given up on trying to prove his innocence, convinced that no one would believe him. Fitoria, however, points out that his failure to clear his name makes him no better than those who accused him in the first place.

Recognizing the truth in her words, Naofumi is left to ponder the gravity of his situation. Fitoria offers a solution, suggesting that they return to Melromarc and seek out the closest Hero, giving Naofumi a chance to plead his case and possibly reconcile with his former allies.

The Magic Hero chimes in, "It might not be too difficult to reason with the Sword or Bow Hero, but the Spear Douche will be nearly impossible. I might have better luck convincing my Uncle Walter to stop passing gas."

[Not Gonna Happen!]

However, the Filolial Queen interjects with a stark reminder, "While the Magic Hero's assessment of your situation may be accurate, we cannot afford to have even one of the Cardinal Heroes absent when facing the Waves of Catastrophe. If that is the case, it would be more efficient to eliminate all of you and summon a new group of Heroes."

Naofumi's shock is palpable as he confronts the gravity of the situation. "So you were serious when you said that you would kill us if I couldn't find a way to work with the other three?"

Fitoria descends the steps, her regal presence undiminished as she meets the Shield Hero eye-to-eye, her unwavering gaze conveying the weight of her words.

"I cannot predict when it will happen, but a time will come when all four of you must make a choice about what you fight for - be it for the world or for the people. However, unlike the previous Heroes, you have the Magic Hero, whose job is to protect the people," Fitoria explains.

She goes on to reveal that she holds Balthasar and Naofumi in higher regard than the other Heroes, not only because they have raised Filo and Emiko to be future Queens, but also because she trusts their abilities to unite the Heroes once again. This is critical, as all four Heroes must come together to face the trials that lie ahead.

Fitoria begins somberly, "At present, the five of you are weak and-"

But her words are cut short by the Magic Hero's interjection, "Speak for yourself. I'm already at Lv. 68 and packing the Leviathan in my monster Summon Skill."

Fitoria's expression betrays her surprise, "The Leviathan! That's a monster I haven't heard of in a long time. But as I said, the five of you will perish if not by my hand, then by the waves."

Naofumi realizes the gravity of the situation and vows to rely on his Wrath Shield more than ever. Balthasar echoes his sentiments, declaring that he will require his Staff of the Seven Sins to protect his family. In response, Fitoria grants them a spell to help contain the dark influence of their respective Curse Series.

With a heavy heart, Naofumi agrees to attempt to reconcile with the other Heroes. Fitoria settles down on his lap, and he takes the opportunity to ask if the Hero who raised her was the previous Shield Hero. Fitoria explains that she has forgotten, as Filolials have a short memory span.

"I believe I can be of assistance," Balthasar offered, deftly shifting his default staff to his Crystal Ball Magic Staff. With its powerful Mana bonus of +30 and its impressive Skill set, including Double Cast (Passive), Magic Affinity, Clairvoyance, and Memory Projection, he was confident in his ability to help.

Taking Fitoria's hand, the Magic Hero raised his staff upward and activated his Memory Projection Skill. "Remember, just because something has been forgotten, it does not mean it is truly lost," he explained. As the images began to unblur, Balthasar continued, "Deep down, memories never truly disappear."

While many of the memories remained hazy and indistinct, there was one that stood out with crystalline clarity.

"Look how big you got," The man thought for a moment, his hand resting on his chin, revealing a Silver Shield adorned with a dazzling green gem. "I do believe it's time for a name," he mused, gazing down at the creature before him.

His fingers gently scratched Fitoria under her neck, eliciting a contented purr. "Ah, yes. Fitoria. How does that sound to you, girl?" The Hero beamed, a sense of pride and affection warming his heart.

"Together, you and I shall save this world," he declared, his voice brimming with determination and hope.

Fitoria's response was heartfelt, her eyes filling with tears. "Master," she choked, "Thank you, Magic Hero."

Woah, I liked out this one turned out. Turns out Balthasar had a Daughter, Did you all see that Coming?

I THINK NOT!

And We have Gray back from the Brink of Death
And now shoutouts to the people who helped
xFrostBoltx
KingJoshuaF
camdawg2
WanderingSol
LarryLong5
druidmerlin
AnnihilusHunter
0DarknessInTheLight0
[Wattpad Authors and readers]

All of you help In one way, Shape, Or Form and I thank you all for your help

Get ready for an exciting segment as we delve into the discovery of the Archives by the Bow and Sword Heroes Parties, followed by a gripping battle against The Spear Hero and his Party. Will Balthasar find the strength to overcome the Darkness lurking within his heart, or succumb to the insidious influence of the Curse Series? Don't miss out on all the action, coming up next on Dragon Ba...

"Fucking hell, get the hell out of here, you vile imposter! Go back to narrating your own goddamn show!" the author bellowed in rage as she hurled the imposter out the window.

...Next Time on The Cardinal Hero Of Magic