Chapter 10 - Return of the the Demon King

I don't own Rising of the Shield Hero or Live a Live…

For we the damned. Rewrite the tale. Just so! Your statues seven are my ink and quill. With magic potent, singular... Pure hate! I'll take up arms. Assume the guise we share. For we are Odio... and we will win!"


At the City gates, Garland, riding on a large horse-like creature, along with a handful of knights, arrived at the capital. After securing Seaetto Territory from being taken by some greedy nobles, he heard the news that Cid's daughter - Eclair, had arrived at the castle; he ordered most of his legion to protect the land while he returned to the capital.

"Lord Garland!" Speaking of which, Garland saw Cid's pupils - Squall and Quistis, rushing towards him, before bowing to the general; he got off his mount and gestured to them to stand up, their worried expressions. Before they could speak, one of his knights called the general's attention upwards; they turned to see various floating images in the night sky; it seemed the broadcasted spell was active. "Aultcray is about making an announcement," he thought

However, instead of the king, it was Retainer Sentinel Jasper, who announced that one of the holy heroes was accused of a vile crime, image change for the throne room

And everyone was shocked to discover that the trial was for… the Sword Hero, restricted and accused of rape. Some guards looked on in shock, Garland groaned in annoyance when the supposed victim was revealed to Matly… the 1st princess.

As he passed through the street, he heard gasps, the screams of outrage and gasps of confusion. Squall explained to the General that Jasper ordered the capture of the knight, no doubt on princess's orders, but judging Aultcray's expression, he was also surprised by this…

"No, tell me, he was planning on framing the Shield hero," he thought, so when Malty told them about 'the assault', Aultcray probably thought it was the shield. As they approached the plaza, townsfolk gathered to witness the trial; some started yelling, outraged at the woman, and guards attempted to calm them down. Quistis added that Jasper got into a fight with the accused hero inside the church. "He claimed that the knight resisted arrest, but a nun says that it was Jasper who acted first by drawing his blade at him," she exclaimed.

When Mein/Malty recounts what happened, when she got interrupted by the Shield Hero defeating the knight. To Garland's shock, the nun acting as the swordsman's attorney agrees with the shield. The man chuckled at this, and Quistis asked the General how to laugh at this…

He explained that while the situation was dire for the knight. But if the king were to declare him guilty, it would trigger a backlash that would reverberate throughout the entire kingdom, not just common folk, but noble and the church as well. So the best thing is to order an investigation and put a pause on trial. Then he falsified evidence to prove the knight's innocence like making an assaulter to be a pretender. Thus clearing the hero's name and making it Matly wasn't lying…

Squall didn't like it, since it would mean the princess would get away, As they walked through the town plaza, the broadcast showed His Highness yell "order" since the throne room was in the outroar, they noticed Jasper middle in of the plaza trying to calm commonfolk down, just as the king ordered for an investigation just as the general predicted. Jasper was shocked "What? That fiend assaulted that poor–" he began, only to be interrupted by a familiar voice. "You know, for a rising star, you have proven yourself to be rather unlawful..." The Retainer Sentinels turned to see Squall, who met Jasper's fierce glare. "Oh, you! Listen, you fool, I captured that fiend before—" Quistis interjected, stepping forward with a sharp tone, "You attacked the swordsman!" Upon seeing the blonde bowing towards the librarian "Ah, Lady Quistis, it's good to see you—" Jasper began, but before he could finish his sentence, his eyes widened in shock as he spotted the imposing figure of General Garland. "Lord Garland!" he gasped, quickly bowing in respect. "Flirting with you here wouldn't change the fact that you attacked a hero on holy ground," he scolded, displaying a clear lack of professionalism despite his indifference towards the church.

Jasper's expression shifted as he scrambled to defend himself. "But, sir, I was only trying to bring him in! Then he—"

"Umm, my lords…" one of the guards interrupted, drawing their attention. Everyone turned to see the guard pointing at the broadcast…


Meanwhile In Medical Nave of the Church; Biscas arrived in a large medical room filled with multiple beds. Priests and nuns surrounded a single bed where a woman lay. Upon noticing him, they made their way, and to his shock, he recognized one of the seven shadows sent to keep an eye on the Shield Devil until the right moment to kill him or if that proved impossible, to eliminate the 'princess' to frame him instead.

However, clearly, something had gone wrong. Of the seven, only this one had returned. According to the healers, her name is Kilika, and most of her body was badly burned. It was only thanks to healing magic that she had survived, despite her severe injuries.

Kilika stared blankly at the ceiling. The healer attending to her informed the pope that the knight had crossed paths with the devil. She explained that somehow he had noticed them; five of the shadows tried to retreat, while the other two attempted to kill the devil. Unfortunately, while they managed to hold him off – The Sword Hero slayed Besaid, then when Kilika attempted to strike, he unleashed an otherworldly spell at her and remaining Three shadows were butchered by the knights, including her leader, who was killed while screaming.

Everyone gasped in horror, now worried that they had brought down the Sword's wrath. The Pope assured everyone that it was fine; as long as the man believed the Pope's fabricated story, he wouldn't seek revenge. Biscas gently held Kilika's hand and promised her that they would get the devil next time. But suddenly, she grabbed him by the collar and shouted, "THE F*K THE SHIELD! THAT… THING… IS A TRUE DEVIL!" The healers attempted to restrain her as she continued to insist that the knight was the devil himself, somehow wielding the Holy Sword.

The Pope looked blankly at her, contemplating the implications. "The Devil?" he thought. Surely, the man was powerful, and if not handled carefully, he could become a significant threat, but calling him a devil?

A priest interrupted his thoughts, shouting, "Sir! We have a problem!" He and the Pope rushed out of the room and into the corridor, where crowds of people were watching a broadcast. The priest pointed at the screen. Biscas's eyes widened in shock as he saw the sword hero laughing, and then the Shield Devil tried to calm him down. The knight grabbed him and removed the bandages covering his mouth, revealing his red eyes. The crowd gasped in horror as the knight threw the Shielder at the Queen's throne and killed two of the guards. Then suddenly, the broadcast glitched and turned to static.

Everyone looked horrified as they still heard screams coming from the audio.


In the throne room, chaos erupts as two guards are hurled against the wall; both Mein/Malty and Sister Victoria were hiding behind a pillar, gasping about and seeing the guards' bodies crumpling with a sickening thud. Victoria felt nausea before glaring at the red-haired. "This Is All Your FAULT!" She shouted.

Malty snapped at the nun. "How is this my fau–" She began, but was abruptly cut off as the nun yanked him by the collar, pulling her close.

"YOU FRAMED THE HOLY HERO! OF COURSE HE WOULD F*KING SNAP! YOU R* WHORE!

As emphasized the point, a piercing scream echoed through the air as one unfortunate soul was brutally impaled by 'The Knight's' katana. The Man's armor has changed to a dark red, matching his eyes.

"Ahahaha!" The chilling laughter reverberated off the stone walls as he stood over the lifeless bodies of the fallen guards. The Court and the remaining Guards were terrified, as a red magical barrier was blocking the door, blocking their escape. Turning upon hearing a sickly sound of scraping, the swordsman slowly approached them, dragging his sword's tip across the ground along the floor, a deranged smile on his lips…

"Hey, Asshole!"


Music: KH - 13th struggle by hyuman

'The Knight' turns to see the Spear Hero Motoyasu lunge his spear ahead. "Why don't you pick someone your own height?" He exclaimed as he thrust at the swordsman, but the strike was slow and telegraphed, and the swordsman sidestepped easily, his blade flashing in a quick cut that narrowly missed the Spear Hero, who staggered back.

The swordsman eyes him with a smirk, shaking his head. "You're holding it wrong," he taunts, stepping forward. "A spear isn't a stick to swing wildly around.

The spear-wielder glared at him as he attempted a wide swing, but 'Oersted' deflected the attack, the sound of metal striking resonating throughout the room as they clashed their weapons.

"Really?" the swordsman scoffs. "That's the best you've got? You've got the reach, but you're not using it. A spear is about precision and control, not flailing." he said with a bored expression as he swung ahead with a quick, fierce blow, knocking the spear hero off track and knocking him off balance.

The Knight attempted to strike but was hit in the shoulder, staggering back. He glares at the archer, who releases another arrow at the knight, but he deflects the arrow.

The archer started shooting swiftly one after the other, each shot targeted with bold accuracy… but the knight deflected every shot with ease. The archer gritting his teeth, swaps to -Bunicorn Bow- to fire a volley of [BuniHorn Arrows], each one crackling with electric energy.

Yet, the swordsman, exhibiting remarkable speed and relentless resolve, surges forward, closing the distance between them with astonishing quickness. In a heartbeat, the space that once separated them vanishes. The swordsman strikes, his raw power nearly overwhelming the archer, who, in a moment of desperation within the confined space of the room, releases another shot, which he easily defects, causing it to hit the ceiling.

The Madman laughed, a cruel sound that echoed in the air. "Is that the best you've got, boy?" he mocked, his arm coiling as he prepared to strike. But the archer was ready; with a flick of his wrist, he released the arrow once more. Oersted, quick on his feet, deflected it… Allowing Itsuki swapped to Stone theme bow and to unleash a volley of Stonehog arrows, striking the man, especially on the face.

Oersted staggered back, wincing as he clutched his face in pain. "Don't underestimate me!" Ituski shouted defiantly, firing off more arrows, forcing Oersted onto the defensive, deflecting the arrows. Two glared at each other… until Oersted grinned at the younger man. "Perhaps you have more fight in you than I expected," he conceded, a spark of respect flickering in his eyes.

However, the Spear hero got back on his feet, now brandishing what resembled some sort of a hammer, he shouted [Spiked Mace] and swung at the swordsman, forcing the knight to parry the blow.

The archer, undeterred, darts in with another shot, firing at point-blank range, but the swordsman ducks beneath the arrow's path, spinning to counterstrike with a powerful kick at Motoyasu, causing him to cough. However, he grips his spear tightly as they trade attacks. The spearman strikes hard, trying to overpower his foe while maneuvering around the swordsman's strikes and easily parrying the next one. "You have no idea what you're doing," the swordsman mocks, grimacing as Motoyasu grits his teeth in response. He swaps to the -Viper Spear-, which resembles a red serpent with a spear blade protruding from its mouth. He swings it at the swordsman and declares, [Serpent's Fang] as Oersted attempts to parry the blow. However, the spear coiled itself around Oersted's arm before stabbing into his hand. Staggering back, he notices the strange heads-up display informing him that he has been poisoned.

Motoyasu smirked… Only to winded when the man staring glowing, "ha ha fool, you poisoned me? My body heals from it" Oersted declared as grins grips his katana shouted [Serpent Whip], causing the blade with an imbued dark aura, which extends and changes it into a whip. Must to Bow and Spear shock. "… that cheating" Spearman murmured, before the knight swung at the Blonde, coiled around the archer's leg with surgical precision, yanking him their feet, before he could react, they slammed into the ground with a heavy thud…

Itsuki baring his teeth "Seriously what are you?!" he asked, as the Spear hero struggled to recover, the knight pounded for a moment before "I am the Demon King"...

Meanwhile, the two guards attempted to awaken the Shield Hero. "Come on! Come on! Wake up! We really need your help!" The Guard said, as her sister was healing the hero, who was starting to open his eyes, "Aaaah, we… Where am I? He said as getting up; he saw two red-haired twins, who looked… familiar.

"Who?..." he was about to ask, but one of the guard twins grabbed him. "Is Us from 4 days ago, but that's beside the point! Others need you," said the dark red-haired twin, who Naofumi now recognized as one the red-haired twins of Nier, the lighter red-haired wielding a staff pointed towards the hall.

The Shield turns, and to his horror, he sees dead guards on the floor and Oersted, now wielding a katana, trading blows with the other heroes. The archer fires ] as the spear-wielder tries to thrust with [Electric Spear], but with each move, the swordsman remains unfazed, mocking their efforts. "Is this all you've got?" he calls out as swings the whip sword at both heroes. Sweat formed on Motoyasu's forehead as he dodged the knight's strike, Itsuki attempted to fire again, but Oersted simply swung his sword whip, not only deflected the arrows, but struck the Archer, staggering back and gritting his teeth… only fall to knees, as he's informed that he was poison

Knight grins at the archer as the blade returns to normal before turning towards the Spearman, who leaped up towards him, attempting to slam him with his spear. But The knight deftly blocks the attack with the flat of his blade, must the boy's ire.

"Spear isn't just about lifting a stick," the swordsman said with a smirk as the spear-wielder swung his fists in desperation, but the swordsman evaded every wild strike with ease. "Let me show you how it's done," the swordsman added, his voice with malice; gripping the blade, he unleashed a flurry of slashes at Spearman, which wouldn't be blocked, and staggered back in pain. "You have to think like a predator," he growls, imbuing his blade with a dark red aura, shouting [Warlord's Grudge] and swinging at Motoyasu while he manages to block, the impact was enough force to send him flying on the balcony, breaking rail, knocking him out, and causing him to drop the spear below…

The Onlookers gasped in horror as they witnessed the spear hero's defeat. The Knight erupted in laughter, a mocking tone in his voice. "Ahahaha, is this really your champion?" he taunted. Just then, the archer sprang into action and unleashed a barrage of arrows, forcing the devil to dodge and take cover on Piller.

With a fierce glare over his shoulder, the Knight began to chant, a menacing red aura surrounding his free hand. In an instant, he peeked around the pillar and fired a shot that struck the archer squarely in the shoulder, causing him to collapse in agony. As the archer writhed in pain, he caught a glimpse of the Knight brandishing a [Flintlock] pistol, the weapon gleaming ominously, before it vanished in a puff of smoke.

He stood over as Itsuki gripped his bow, before slamming his foot on the boy's arm, causing him to be let out of the bow; Oersted quickly kicked the weapon across the room. After that, looking down at the glaring bow hero, he chuckled. "Hehehe, I must say, I'm impressed that someone so young like you can be so powerful; if you were in my era, you would have been a great soldier," he said as he flicked the blade menacingly against Itsuki's throat. "But you proved to only threat in this room, so I can't–""

- Thud -

He turned to see Mein had stumbled over the lifeless body of the guard. "Well, well," he said menacingly, glancing at the archer with a grin. With a swift motion, he swung his blade at a nearby pillar, causing it to topple toward them. Panic surged through Itsuki, but Oersted raised his hand, halting the pillar's descent as he fixed his gaze on the boy. "Hold this," he instructed, stepping aside just in time for the pillar to crash down. The bowman found himself pinned beneath the weight of the crumbling stone, desperately trying to support it with his arms and legs. "F !" he muttered in frustration.


As Mein crawled away in a desperate attempt to escape, she suddenly heard a chilling voice. "Filthy rat," it sneered. Slowly, she turned to find the knight, who she tried to humiliate towering over her, his eyes glowing like a pair of blood-red moons against the dark sky. He gripped his katana tightly, glaring down at her with an intensity that made her heart race.

Trembling with fear for her life, Mein stammered, "I... I... am Sor—" But before she could finish the knight kicked her in the mouth. She cried out in pain, collapsing onto the floor, only to have him mercilessly slam his foot onto her stomach. The hatred in his eyes was palpable. "You rat," he spat, pressing the cold steel of his katana against her forehead. Panic surged through her as she stared up at him, begging for mercy.

The knight leaned closer, his grip on the katana firm. "I will not be brought low by vermin like you!" he declared, preparing to swing the blade, when suddenly…

"Never!"

He turned to see the old king swinging a blade at him, but the knight effortlessly blocked the attack. The sound of clashing metal echoed through the room as the two began to engage in combat. The king wielded a large, medium-sized blade with both hands; his swings were impressively powerful yet unsurprisingly slow, allowing Oersted to evade each strike with ease.

With a smirk, the knight began to wield his blade with just one hand, parrying the king's attacks as if to mock his opponent's efforts. Then, he surprised the king with a swift lunge, using his free hand to deliver a powerful punch that caught the old man off guard, staggering him back.

The king lunged forward, swinging his blade with ferocity, but the hero deftly wove in and out of the man's reach, dodging and redirecting each blow with remarkable finesse. As the king attempted to cast a spell, Oersted leaped forward, his katana arcing down with brutal precision toward the old king.

The man raises his sword just in time to block the mad knight's strike, the force of the impact sending a shockwave down their arms. The two fighters are locked in a precarious standoff, blades tangled in a deadly embrace. With unwavering resolve, the swordsman grips the hilt of his katana with both hands. As their blades clash fiercely, the king reaches for a small cane attached to his belt, attempting to strike back. However, the hero swiftly grabs the king's arm, twisting it with precision until the monarch drops his sword and collapses to his knees.

"Oh, oh, oh, what? Were you planning to hit me with a stick?" the swordsman taunts, casting a dismissive glance at the cane, which resembles a wand, yet there is something off about it… almost as if it possesses a life of its own.

He shakes off the strange feeling and turns his attention back to the king. "You know," he continues, twisting the king's arm further and eliciting a cry of pain, "if you're going to summon a being from beyond your world..." His voice rises with intensity, "Make sure you can control it!" The king trembles in fear, the weight of his failure evident in his eyes.

"who… What are you?" he asked in pain, 'the knight' pressed his sword against the man's throat, Aultcray felt his skin cut, but he felt a dark presence on the sword, the voices of the dead, screaming at him.

Oersted grinned as he saw the terrified expression of the king. "You feel that? That's What I Am! I am the Devil Daimyo, the Master of Dark Arts, I AM–

"ODE IOU!"

He widened his eyes as he and everyone turned to see the Shield Hero standing resolutely near the thrones. The man smirked at the hero before kicking the old man aside and slowly approaching the raven-haired boy. "Say that again", he demanded. Naofumi recoiled of fear, but he stood his ground and shouted back, "You're the megalomaniac Daimyo from the Edo period who tried to reignite the flames of war to destabilize Japan and overthrow the Tokugawa shogunate, so you can take the country for yourself!" His voice echoed in the air, shocking everyone, including Itsuki, whose eyes widened in disbelief. "wh… What?" he stammered.

The Warlord just applauded the hero, a sinister smile spreading across his face. "Good! It's Reassuring to see I haven't Forgotten…" His eyes narrowed as he brandished his blade menacingly at the hero before him. "But don't be so Foolish as to Think you Know Everything about ME. I am Far more deadly than the History Books would have you Believe." His words dripped with confidence.

The Shield Hero prepared a defensive stance, and Iou paused, before outburst out laughing. "Ahahaha! Are you serious? You may be Smarter than that Blonde fool, but you can't fight! You just a Shielder" he taunted. But Naofumi glared defiantly at the warlord. "Oh ready? Was that what you thought before you got your ass kicked by the Shinobi and Sakamoto Ryōma!" he retorted, shocking Iou and Itsuki. "what?" said the latter as some guards helped him out of the pillar. "The Hero of Meiji Restoration?" The young hero exclaimed in shock.

Iou fixed his gaze at the shield hero, stunted. "How do…" he said, there was no way he would have known… Unless he's a….. as that thought crossed his mind a crimson aura erupting around him. He gripped the katana and glared at the boy. "EMMA!" he growled, dashing toward the Shield Hero. Suddenly, vines burst forth from the ground, ensnaring him.

As Iou struggled and cursed the hero, Naofumi swiftly switched to his Bullfinch Shield and charged at the demon, slamming the shield against him and sending him flying. However, Iou managed to land on his feet, snarling at the hero.

"Rrrrhh! Why you Vermin!" he roared, the two locking eyes in a tense standoff. "Don't think you're on the same level as the Shinobi!" he growled fiercely.

Naofumi held his ground, glaring back. "You're right; I'm nothing compared to Oboromaru. But that doesn't mean I'm going to back down. Now let us face… the Megalomania!" he exclaimed, determination radiating from him.

Everyone stared at him in bewilderment.

"What?"...

Music: Live a Live - Megalomania

Naofumi suddenly rushed and slammed his shield against the demon, but he managed to block and leap away, before summoning flicklock and firing it, forcing Naofumi to dodge. As got his footing, the Warlord used Poisonous Scourge, spewing dark purple sludge at the hero from his mouth. Fortunately, He narrowly avoided it and quickly swapped to his newest shield -Bladed Shield-, A Small silver-colored kite shield with a pointed part.

He charged at the warlord and traded blows with the demon… Only to discover how impractical the shield was, especially when he landed a hit on the Warlord, which just did light damage. But it was enough to piss him off as he began to chant, causing four kanji symbols to appear around Naofumi, which, realizing what he was doing, leaped away, avoiding the [Assured Mantra] before it detonated.

Growing in frustration, Ode Iou summons another flicklock, Naofumi immediately swaps to the -Vine Shield- before activating [Prison Shield]; as the warlord fired, the Hero was encased in a ball of the vines. The Demon Daimyo screamed using the Warlord's Grudge, slamming the ball against the wall. Naofumi attempted to swap shields but received a warning message \Warning Unable change weapon - Cooldown: 20 secs/

Raven Hair Hero widened in annoyance. "Oh, there's F-ing cooldowns?" he shouted; as saying that sentence, the ball dissolved, and Naofumi was faced with an enraged swordsman, who lunged forward, his blade slicing through the air. In a split second, Naofumi ducked to the side, narrowly avoiding a fatal strike. The swordsman's weapon became lodged deep into the stone, and with a grunt of effort, he braced himself, yanking his sword free while growling in fury, his eyes ablaze with bloodlust.

Naofumi attempted to throw a [Vine Bomb] at the swordsman, but he easily sliced it, before charging, unleashing a flurry of vicious cuts aimed at the Shield Hero; who skillfully avoided and blocked the onslaught, but only to further enraged the warlord, then raising his sword high, preparing to bring it down upon him. Just then, he was struck by a stone arrow, causing him to stagger back. Naofumi turned to see Itsuki back on his feet.

With a feral growl, the swordsman dashed towards the archer. However, Naofumi stepped in front of him just in time, resolutely blocking the incoming strike, the warlord hisses at the defender. "EMMA SCUM!" he spat as he punched the hero in the face… who simply exclaimed "Ow!" must to everyone's shock


Meanwhile, Motoyasu was by the two Nier red-haired twins. "Did we win?" he asked; the younger twin narrowed on him before pointing at him at the fight. The warlord stared at the defender in disbelief. "What do you mean OW?" he snapped before Motoyasu drop-kicked him, sending him staggering to the ground, clutching his face in pain. The Spear Hero turned towards the others. "Hey Guys, so I've been cold for a bit - What do I miss?" he asked.

"Well Oersted currently is being possessed by the spirit of an Edo period Warlord…" Itsuki began, much to Motoyasu's confusion. "...who apparently engulfed Japan in war and took it over… but a Shinobi and Sakamoto Ryōma stopped him. Now he just somehow returned and is pissed off at Naofumi because he thinks he's a… Emma?" he asked Naofumi. "The Emma are a ninja clan that sent the Shinobi," he explained. The two heroes with bewildered expressions. "...how do you do this? By any way he reacted, it seems his defeat isn't public knowledge," Ituski pointed, surprising the Blonde.

Naofumi gave a nervous look, and Motoyasu widened in realization. "Naofumi! Don't tell me you're a ninja?!" he asked, the raven-haired hero snapped at him. "what? NO!... *sigh* Look I'll tell you guys later, but first we…" trailed off noticing something missing. "…. Where is your Spear?" the blonde hero asked, causing me to give a nervous smile. "ah, I think I dropped it," he said; Ituski widened in horror. However, Naofumi asked the blonde. "Can you summon it?" asked, confusing the two; he clarified. "You know, like a keyblade," he replied; the two stared blankly at the raven-haired hero, unsure of what to make of his words. The lancer glanced at his hand, then extended his arm with an open palm. In an instant, a spear materialized in his hand in a flash of light, much to their shock, Motoyasu. But before they responded, the warlord suddenly tackled Naofumi to the floor; he attempted to strike the downed Shield Berger. Motoyasu thrust his spear while Iou managed to parry it. Itsuki fired arrows at him and struck him, gasping in pain. Motoyasu used an Electric Spear, stabbing him, Staggering him glared at them as Naofumi stood up, all three of them were straining him the demon down

Ode Iou glared and snarled; he never thought in his long life that he would be so humiliated by a bunch of nobodies, not even that accursed Shinobi managed to enrage him this much. The Aura re-embraced as he glared at them. "I Wouldn't be Humiliated by pests lower than vermin" He yelled as the crimson aura intensified, the warlord's glowing red. "Ahhh!" he grows in pain as his aura slowly morphs.

Ugh, ghhhhh, graaaahhhh!

Three Heroes reeled back in horror as the man dropped to a knee, the aura forming into… "Mine" his eyes snapped open, shining brightly, "All is!" The Aura forms into a large semi-humanoid frog-snake demon glaring at them.

"MINE!"

Warlord cried in a demonic roar before lunging towards the three and aiming a ferocious swing at Naofumi's head; while he managed to block, the immense force caused the ground to shake violently and sent three flying before landing with a thud. Three Heroes stood up, Naofumi taking charge of the situation, trying to tell them that they needed to coordinate, while Lancer was a bit reluctant; Archer initially refused, and Naofumi shot a piercing glare at the archer. "Do you still think this is a game?" He glared at him, much to his shock, before the shield hero sighed. "Fine, you want to play this game? Fine! Let's do it your way. I'll take the hits and draw the enemy's attention, while you guys outflank him. And if anyone requires healing, I've got some potions ready." With that, he prepared his stance, the other two exchanged glances, before steeling themselves.

The Three dashing the demon with Naofumi slammed his shield on him, which he blocked, the two entered a struggle… one the shield knew he wouldn't beat. Motoyasu caught the demon off-guard, thrust his spear striking Ode Iou's leg, causing him to drop on a knee, allowing the Naofumi to use [Bullslam] stunning him, and allowing Itsuki to fire a volley of horn arrows. Ode cried in pain, snapped out his stun, and spewed more Poisonous Scourge toward the archer. The panicked Itsuki barely managed to evade the worst of it, but still suffered a splatter of the toxic substance, leaving him poisoned. "Oh, come on!" he exclaimed, desperately trying to drink an antidote.

The warlord lunged forward, but fortunately, his followed' heroes were there to tackle him out of the way. Naofumi took on the swordsman, distracting him while Motoyasu attempted to heal the injured archer, his frustration evident. "Seriously, how the hell am I the support guy?" he grumbled. Itsuki remained silent, but doubt crept into his mind—this was no mere game. Sure they were still alive, yes, but the demon was pushing them to their limits, and panic began to set in.

"We need…" the younger hero stammered, confusing the blonde. "Huh?" Itsuki snapped back. "We need to STOP ACTING LIKE THIS IS A GAME!" he shouted, causing Motoyasu to look at him in surprise at the archer's outburst. "Look, this is a real life-or-death situation, and…" he trailed off, looking away. "I don't want to die… again, not like this," he admitted, fear lacing his voice. Motoyasu, despite his annoyance with the younger hero, felt a pang of sympathy.

Suddenly, he gasped as he saw the demon grab the shield hero by the throat, but Naofumi quickly intervened, delivering a flurry of strikes to the demon's face, forcing it to release its grip. Ode Iou staggered back in pain, glaring at Naofumi while starting… but regained his composure. It dawned on him that the boy was trying to tire him out; they were surprisingly evenly matched, neither inflicting significant damage on the other. However, he knew the shielder had the advantage in stamina. If this kept up, he would face a death by a thousand cuts. Suddenly, the shield hero lunged forward, delivering a headbutt to the warlord that sent him reeling. Ode stumbled back, placing a hand to his mouth in shock; he felt something off; looking at his hand, he discovered blood was trickling from his nose.

The others were equally stunned by this turn of events; Itsuki was left speechless, while Motoyasu couldn't help but laugh at the swordsman's predicament. Meanwhile, Aultcray watched the battle in disbelief as Malty was tended to by one of the twin guards. He was astonished to see that, despite everything thrown at him, the Shield de…. Hero was not just managing to hold his ground against the demon but was proving that he was more than just a man.

Ode Iou looked hand at hand, before locked eyes with Naofumi, his expression twisted with hatred. "You dishonorable brat!" he roared with rage before activating Serpent Whip extending his sword and beginning to swing it wildly around at them while he managed to block, Bow and Spear heroes' shock used he Warlord Grudge, slicing through some pillars.

Naofumi attempted to block the strike but sent him flying. After landing next to the other heroes, he growled in pain, the spear hero glared at the two. "Oh OK, does ANYBODY HAD A PLAN?" He yelled; Naofumi gave an annoyed look before staring at the demon, before his gaze flicked upward, drawn to a jagged crack running along the ceiling. Dust and small debris had begun to fall. Getting an idea, he then asked Itsuki if he had any that could stagger or disorient a target; then he turned towards the Twins who were still helping the King and that lying bitch.

He gestured at the spear hero to attack, and with fierce determination, Motoyasu lunged at the warlord. The two clashed in a brutal confrontation, just as Iou managed to land a strike. The archer seized the opportunity, firing a Stone Arrow that struck Ode Iou squarely, staggering him. This allowed Lancer to swing his Spiked Mace at the demon, forcing him to his knees. Lancer followed up with a thrust, but Iou deftly parried the blow and began chanting a spell that surrounded Motoyasu in an energy circle., which detonated it; while it didn't inflict much damage, it did manage to poison the spear hero.

As Iou aimed to strike at the blonde hero, he found himself thwarted as Motoyasu thrust his spear at the demon's leg and the Archer fired a volley of arrows, pushing him back. The warlord roared in frustration, glaring at the… duo?

"Fireball jutsu!"

Ode turned just in time to see a fireball hurtling towards him. He parried the attack, but before he could regain his composure, the shield hero, enveloped in an odd glow, rushed at him, throwing a Vine Bomb that ensnared the demon. This allowed Naofumi to strike him multiple times, but with a fierce roar, Ode broke free, landing a brutal strike on the shielder's arm, drawing blood and causing him to lose his footing and fall hard onto his back.

With a predatory gleam in his eyes, Ode Iou lunged forward, grabbing the fallen hero by the throat, ready to deliver a punishing blow. But just then, Motoyasu charged in, thrusting his spear and piercing the warlord's chest. The impact staggered Ode and broke his threatening hold on the fallen hero, who quickly threw one last Vine Bomb, ensnaring the demon once more.

The demon glared at them, until noticing the archer, the king, and some guards aiming their weapons upward. He turned to see a fissure in the ceiling and his eyes widened in panic as desperately as he struggled to break free. Just then, they unleashed a volley of arrows and spells at the crack above. With a thunderous roar, the ceiling collapsed, and in the chaos, Motoyasu seized the opportunity to help Naofumi escape just as heavy chunks of stone and plaster cascaded down, burying the demon beneath an avalanche of debris.

Breathing heavily, Naofumi and Motoyasu exchanged glances, their hearts racing. "That was… insane," Motoyasu painted, a grin spreading across his face as he chuckled. "Nice thinking," he added, giving raven-haired a friendly pat on the back as they stood up. The king approached them, and the three of them shared a moment of silent acknowledgment before the king expressed his gratitude.

Suddenly, Mein came out of the pillar that she was hiding, catching Motoyasu off guard. Itsuki explained that Naofumi had instructed the twins to cast support spells on him while Mein distracted the demon with her fire spell. The blonde hero praised the girls for their quick thinking and Mein smugly appreciated it, but the twins revealed that Mein had initially hesitated to help until Naofumi threatened to punch her in the face. This caused the blonde to glare at Naofumi, who merely rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, I'm not going to punch her," he shrugged nonchalantly.

But before they could catch their breath, the ground beneath them trembled ominously, and a shower of debris rained down from above, the result of a distant roar and the rumbling that echoed through the stone corridors. With a crash, a warlord emerged from the collapsing rubble, much to everyone's shock

The Warlord, panting as he dusted himself off, glared at them with renewed intensity. "I must Say, I Underestimated you all – especially you two!" he pointed at Itsuki and Naofumi. "But now, I won't Hold back!" he roared before throwing an empty potion bottle in frustration, Naofumi realized that Ode Iou just healed himself.

Everyone took their stances, ready for battle, except for Mein, who ran in fear. Naofumi rolled his eyes at the scene before glaring at the Warlord. "Bring it… ODIO!" he declared boldly. But Ode Iou merely stared blankly at the raven-haired hero. Naofumu blinked as he noticed the bewildered expressions on everyone's faces. "Was that something I said?" he asked, confused. Motoyasu narrowed his eyes on him. "Dude, you called him Odio!"

"How…?"

Everyone turned to see the Warlord suddenly panicked, dropping his katana as he paced back and forth, murmuring to himself in a frenzy. A bewildered Itsuki turned to Naofumi. "What did you—"

He was cut off by the demon's roar as SEVEN VOICES erupted in unison. "HoW DO YoUuu K̵n̶o̵w̵a̴R̸r̵r̸!" they screamed; the king became pale, the man… the demon's aura once again intensified, but it shifted shapes, first that frog monster, then to a horse, then a Serpent Dragon, a Bird, a bald man, a wingless dragon, finally an horned monster. Aultcray was shaken with fear as the demon slowly approached them. But without hesitation, Naofumi switched to his Spiked Shield and rushed at the demon, howling defiantly.

"̷̘̌W̸̅ͅȆ̶̳ ̵̖́A̵̲̓R̴̼͝E̵̮͝ ODIO,̸̟́ ̷̠̽W̶͎̆E̶̹̽ ̴̣̈́W̵̥̊I̴͉̓L̵̦̎L̵̟̂ ̸͓̐W̷͉̔—̴̪͌"̷̡̀

But before he could finish, Naofumi struck with a powerful Bullslam, sending the demon flying with a CRITICAL HIT that landed with a resounding thud. Naofumi collapsed onto one knee, struggling to catch his breath, while Motoyasu hurried to aid him in standing, but then he noticed an odd red cloud of smoke bursting from the knight's body. The guards moved in on the now-unconscious swordsman, confirming that he was indeed out cold.

A collective sigh of relief swept through the group as the barrier began to dissipate, allowing a wave of armored figures to surge. Among them was the general, flanked by two men clad in distinct armors: one with blonde hair tied back in a ponytail, adorned in gold and silver, and the other possessing striking white hair, donning a suit of white armor accented with dark spikes and a brown scarf featuring blue stripes around the neck.

The blonde officer rushed towards the red-haired maiden, "Milady, are you alright?" he inquired, to which the woman expressed her gratitude, prompting him to smile and bow respectfully. "I live to serve—" he began, but was abruptly silenced by a sharp smack from the white-haired officer. Garland shot a glare at the woman before shifting his attention to the king, who averted his gaze in shame.

Itsuki stood in stunned silence, then approached the knight's sword. To his astonishment, the Cardial sword reverted to its Default form, yet its blade had darkened, and the blue jewel now glowed red. He knelt to grasp it, but a sudden, foreboding presence surged through him, causing him to drop it in alarm.

"Hey, are you alright?" Motoyasu called out as he and Naofumi approached the sword. The Former attempted to grab it but was met with an electric shock. "WHAT THE HELL?" Motoyasu exclaimed as the three heroes began chattering. The King and Garland observed them intently. The Duke spoke up, "Umm, I'm going to call for Rose to bring everyone to the medical wing, including—"

"including the three of our Heroes, yes," the King finished, surprising everyone. "Really, Sir? The Shield Hero included?" the white-haired duke questioned. Aultcray shot a stern look at the Duke of Baron. "Yes, Cecil, the shield included!" he asserted. Cecil saluted and quickly ordered his guards to follow through with the command. Garland chuckled, which earned him a fierce glare from the King. "How can you laugh at this?" he remarked dryly.

"And whose fault is it?" he pointed out. Aultcray sighed, "Just take the Sword Hero to the dungeons and place some limiters on him until we figure out…" he glanced at the unconscious knight, "...what to do with him," he concluded. The General nodded and signaled to some guards to escort the hero to the dungeons.

As three heroes were escorted out of the throne room along with the nobles, the General noticed the nun clutching the holy blade. He swiftly snatched it from her grasp, and despite her protests, he inspected it closely. He could sense a malevolent presence within the blade. After a moment, he turned to the glaring nun. "Sorry, sister, this is too dangerous for you. I'm keeping it for safekeeping," he declared, much to her shock. "Y-You can't keep it! It is the most Holy of Holies—HEY!" she exclaimed as the General turned and walked away.

King Aultcray, seeing it and everything just happened, stared at the gaping hole in the ceiling, with one thing on his mind. "...Mirellia is going kill me"asl


LATER

As Oersted awoke, he found himself in a place that felt all too familiar - A dungeon. The oppressive darkness enveloped him, only partially illuminated by the pale moonlight and flickering magical lights that danced along the damp stone walls. He struggled to piece together the chaotic events that had led him here. "I was in the church, there was a group of guards, "They… Oh, God." A wave of despair washed over him, and he clenched his fists, slamming them against the cold floor in frustration. He wanted to cry, to scream, to butcher those who had wronged him... Instead, laughter escaped his lips. Perhaps this was for the best; he was worthless, unable to help anyone… not even to himself.

As he sat there, Oersted became acutely aware of the rough branches binding his wrists. Just then, a voice echoed from the other side of the cell, pulling him from his dark thoughts. He snaps toward the other cell in front of him; he would like to make out any form or figure in the shadows.

A figure emerged from the shadows, drawing closer. "Uranus?" he called out instinctively, but to his surprise, it was not the old monk who approached him. Instead, a young woman with striking pink hair stepped into view. "Sorry," she said, her voice laced with sadness. "It seems your friend wasn't in this cell," she added, empathy evident in her tone.

The Knight stares at the woman wearing Melromarc armor and seems at the same age as himself. He looked away, struggling with his thoughts. "Sorry? It's just…" he stammered, memories swirling in his mind as he leaned against the metal bars. After a moment, he asked, "So, what's your name, miss?"

"Eclair…" she replied softly.

"Oersted," he sighed, sinking down onto the floor. "How long was I unconscious?" he inquired. Eclair responded, "The guards brought you in not too long ago. They seem to be really afraid of you." Her expression conveyed confusion and concern, and Oersted remained silent, the woman wouldn't but feel pity for the mysterious warrior.

"Hey, look, I know this looks bad, but I believe we can get out of here… We just need to hold on to hope," she assured him, but he fixed her with a steely gaze. "Hope for those who deserve it… I don't—" he began, but before he could finish, another voice pierced the air—one he never thought he would hear again.

"Oh, you're giving in once again to despair," it sneered. Oersted gasped, turning to see the Minister engulfed in flames. The man's lips curled into a smirk, his clothing transforming into vibrant red, yellow, and purple Japanese robes. Oersted watched in horror as the Minister's features warped, the hair burned away to reveal a frayed topknot and a thin mustache formed above a cruel grin.

"Ode Iou," Oersted murmured in recognition as he faced the warlord, who erupted into maniacal laughter. "How are you here?" Oersted asked, bewildered, but the warlord raised a hand to silence him.

"Me? Don't you mean US?" he taunted, and suddenly, six specters appeared, each one engulfed in flames. Panic surged through Oersted as they morphed into forms he knew all too well.

"No…" he whispered.

The King materialized as a tall, younger man dressed in a black and white kung fu outfit, a striking red circle emblazoned with a dragon at its center. "You thought you could escape your sins, foul demon? Hehe hehe ahahaha"


So Yes, the Seven Specters are Odio's incarnations, now returning as seven cursed weapons. Now Oersted had new challenges ahead of him. as they going act as secondary antagonists, inspired by the Dark Prince from Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones

As for the fight, this was the real test for Itsuki, Motoyasu, and Naofumi, showing their power… showcases how dangerous an incarnation of Odio can be, since despite Oersted/Ode Iou having their level reset, he did gained a few levels by slaying the guards only managed gain… let's say 9 levels and only a few Equip bonus unlocked.

But he was still able to take down the heroes; it was only because Naofumi unintentionally enraged him and the three fighting together that they were able to defeat him. However, if it was just Naofumi fighting him, while Ode didn't have as much stamina as Naofumi had, he would have won against the shield hero.

As for why the church would want to kill the bitch, I thought it would make sense, if Marty wouldn't be framed for every reason, then the church would opt in for killing her to frame Naofumi for murder. Aultcray, in his grief, would refuse to listen to reason and attempted to execute the Shield Hero… But since she decided to go with Oersted, they sent shadows to keep an eye on Naofumi until further orders…

Next time; We see the fallout, meeting the rest of the Retainer Sentinels and Naofumi will finally reveal the truth about Oersted (aka Aultcray will realize how must he f*ck up)...