Wish all he might, the conflict Shinji faced was not approaching its end. He also did not have an idea how long it would be before that end would come. This uncertainty made his journey back to the castle devoid of any sense of victory he could muster. Even seeing his stronghold in the distance only made him feel assured he would have responsibilities that needed to be addressed.

These were only a few of the things Shinji could think of at the moment but would not even have a chance to contemplate them for long. A mighty sound resonated from the distance that caught his attention while those who remained of his army were still making their dutiful march. He knew for sure everyone had to recognize something might have been disturbing the quiet that was earned.

Shinji found himself relieved as soon as he heard Mayumi announce, "Shinji, there is something coming this way."

Looking behind him, Shinji asked, "You hear that too?"

Mayumi corrected, "No, it's another presence."

Shinji turned back in front of him to realize what appeared. A pair of dwarven clerics and a handful of elves appeared in front of him as they stepped out of a shining blue light. The portal disappeared with a flash before everyone could see Yersia keeping hold of her side while the others looked on in anticipation of a savior.

The sight of Yersia injured made Shinji rush forward to place a hand on her before asking, "Yersia? What happened to you?"

She kept herself from collapsing from her wounds before answering, "It is… the statue… Shinji… He is headed this way…"

Shinji remembered what he heard earlier but kept his focus on Yersia. He would not allow any threat that came his way to harm her even if it left him vulnerable. Having to endure so much in this one day should not have been wished on anyone. Whatever enemy was challenging her from before did not share the same values as him.

Mayumi took the initiative to prepare several healing spells before she encouraged, "I'll provide her the assistance she needs. Something is doubtless headed this way."

All speculation for what happened ended as soon as Shinji turned around to see what was making its way towards his location. Him and his remaining soldiers saw a mighty contraption crushing the trees and stones beneath its mighty roller. It was also the only thing any of them had a chance to see before forcing himself to the side to avoid becoming its next victim.

The ground Shinji stood under before was flattened and riddled with gaping holes that came from the massive object that came across the ground. For a massive construction, he found himself amazed it could move as fast as it did, let along come so close to crushing him. He also had little chance to comprehend what he was fighting as it made a mighty turn around.

He only had a few seconds before he could make sense of what he was facing before he could recognize what was challenging him. It was a sight that gave him a firm idea of just how far technology was able to go within the limitations of this world. A physical engine of mass destruction that was prepared to crush everything in its path without mercy.

Goldo adjusted the controls from his seat as he prepared to charge forward while asking, "Tell me ovlerlord. Do you still feel victory in your grasp?"

Even hearing the question would not give Shinji the chance he needed to answer his opponent as he saw the rolling cylinder rush its way towards him. Dirt and pieces of debris flew out of its way as it crushed everything it its path while the few soldiers trying to gain an upper hand were crushed beneath the force of the weapon. A new battle had already begun without warning and no one could summarize their immediate strategy.

Shinji recovered his footing before watching Rollie pop up from the ground and make a spin in the air. The mighty thud that came with the impact made him realize he was about to face another attack as it rolled its spiked roller towards him. He was once again without a chance to defend himself as he rushed to the side before searching for someone to assist.

He heard Mana in the distance ask, "Shinji! Are you still alive?"

Shinji rushed to her side as soon as he saw her on the ground before rushing over to her. He scooped her in his arms before rolling away from the charging steam engine. The massive tank of destruction made another sharp turn before facing him and rushing where he stood.

Shinji did not have to roll out of the way this time as he saw the tank make a soar above the ground and into the air before it landed right behind him. He looked back to see a pillar of earth Mayumi summoned from the ground but was not enough to cause any discernable damage to Rollie. No one had time to evaluate their next action as Shinji's followers prepared to counter with their own attack.

Shinji gestured his mace to the construction while ordering the Rei clones that remained, "Attack it there!"

One of the Rei clones leapt onto the back of Rollie and struck at its backside with her sword. The attack caused the construction to shake from the damage before spinning around. Rollie let out a bellow of flame from its front to shake the clone off before charging away where it fell.

Only enough clones to form a circle around Shinji were still alive as they stood their ground. No one could find a weakness from the mighty vehicle other than the one area where the earlier clone was successful. With such a brief window to work with, Shinji could not imagine what would give him a fighting chance.

He found himself afraid of the situation until he heard Jewel make her way up to him to warn, "You have to stagger it before attacking it. That is the only way to handle Goldo's tank."

Mana joined Shinji in making an escape from the steam engine's path of destruction asking, "You knew he had this thing?"

Jewel kept up with them answering, "I thought he was supposed to have been killed, I didn't think we would be fighting this."

Yersia looked at what had been achieved with the previous attacks asking, "What do we have that can slow it down?"

Mayumi got an idea of what she could do answering, "The earth should have what we need to pull this off."

No one needed to ask what Mayumi had in mind as she used her magic again to draw from the earth beneath her. Everyone could tell what she was trying to do but found themselves in edge as they realized what they saw Rollie charging its way towards them. Their concerns were addressed as soon as a mighty rumbling came from the ground that summoned a mighty boulder that shot up in front of the charging steam engine.

Rollie was capable of crushing many things in its path before it came to the ground Shinji held. Being forced to handle a solid stone object it was not capable of crushing brought it to an immediate halt. Gears whined and steam bellowed from Rollie in its struggle to fulfill its purpose of crushing what was in front of it.

Goldo shook his head to regain his focus before realizing, "So you have a few tricks left in you! They were not enough when you fought me properly!"

Rollie backed away from the boulder but realized too late it had several Rei clones latching themselves to the back side. Goldo did not find them to be a challenge as he swung his axe at the opening window. He kept the army from scaling his construction but realized he was struggling against what remained of Shinji's army in the meantime.

Shinji was not pleased to see the casualties continue to build. Even this feeling made him remember what was at stake as he considered his next move. The dwarven king continued to be a great obstacle that threatened to take hold of what he had of this world.

The brief window he needed to catch his breath was closing as soon as she heard Jewel warn, "He isn't going to let us hurt his baby much longer."

Rollie shook to relieve itself of the Rei clones before making a rapid turn and sending out a bellow of fire from its flamethrower. It was the only warning everyone had as it made another charge. Everyone ran from the crushing roller but saw the dwarven construction make another rapid spin preparing to crush what was in front of it.

Shinji ran alongside Jewel as he tried to comprehend what they were facing, "Can we damage that thing?"

Jewel leapt onto the branch of a nearby tree before answering, "He has a rearview window he looks out of. We just need to stop him from moving again and then we can have a shot. More importantly we need to get a bomb in there to make that thing collapse."

Realizing how unprepared he was for such a situation, Shinji asked, "You wouldn't happen to have any would you?"

Jewel smiled before taking out a small spiked sphere answering, "Always be prepared for this sort of thing. Just need a way to throw this in now."

Rollie turned around as it bellowed another burst of fire from its front before charging towards one of the remaining sections of forest. It did not have the element of surprise it once had however as it saw Shinji and Jewel run opposite sides of its general charge. The massive monstrosity was caught in the woods for the moment as it spun itself around to prepare for another charge determined to shed more blood from its enemies.

Shinji could see those who remained in the distance as he continued his rush away from the others and found the first area he could stage his next attack. He was fortunate to find Mayumi scratched from the flying debris but prepared to utilize more of her magic at the next opportunity. The next attack would prove to be the most vital for their side and could not work without her.

He asked her, "Can you bring up another boulder?"

Mayumi knew it was the best shot they had as she answered, "Just find the next spot!"

Shinji, Jewel, and Mayumi all ran from the incoming dwarven monstrosity as they found a way to lure it into another path. The lack of judgement on Goldo's part came as a benefit to them as he made Rollie charge to his determined targets. It was all Shinji's group needed to prepare for their next plan of action.

Shinji found the opportunity he was waiting for as he guided everyone away from the incoming roll. The rapid plan he and Jewel was the best either of them come up with in the moment. It was also the only hope either of them had as they struggled against such a mighty foe.

The most crucial part of the plan was completed as Mayumi prepared herself announcing, "I found another boulder! I'll have him stopped soon!"

Shinji knew there was a great danger to the action being planned but kept himself from commenting any further. He knew too much speaking would either give Goldo a precious moment of time to catch them off guard or give away whatever their plan was. Action was needed and they needed to be ready to sacrifice what was necessary.

Mayumi stood alone as she watched Rollie make its way towards her prepared to take even just one target for its own. She could look into the cockpit where Goldo sat to realize he had cast aside all sensibility in favor of desperation to destroy one target. Being denied a crucial victory for as long as he had been left him unable to think ahead of what he was putting at risk.

He came within moments of crushing Mayumi underneath the might of his roller instilling him the hope he was achieving another vanquishing of his enemies. Such anticipation was lost as he realized what he was falling for a second time. A mighty boulder shot up from the ground and stopped him right in his tracks resounding another mighty crashing sound across the land.

Goldo's best efforts to keep himself from being shaken by the force of the impact were not rewarded as he was shaken. He knew he could not let himself be caught off guard but the limitations of his body did not let him resist against what he was facing. All he could accomplish was setting Rolie in reverse in a desperate hope to crush anyone behind him in his moment of weakness.

Jewel saw the moment she was waiting for as she announced, "Yersia! Get ready!"

Yersia watched Rollie continue its reverse while watching Jewel prepare one of the small bombs. She brought the tip of an arrow to one of the nearby flames before she saw her throw it towards the open area in the back of the dwarven construction. The crucial moment of attack was rapidly approaching as she stood behind Rollie while waiting for Jewel to fulfill her part.

Leaping into the air, Yersia took aim with her arrow while Jewel threw the small projectile towards Rollie's opening. The flames on her arrow remained burning as she pulled it back and aimed for the projected area where the bomb was headed. In one release of her fingers she sent the burning arrow soaring through the air towards the arrow where the bomb was headed.

Many perfect conditions had to be met in order to make this decisive attack worth the effort. The relief everyone had could not be described as soon as they saw a mighty explosion erupt on contact. Jewel's bomb erupted within the confines of Rollie before setting ablaze a mighty fire its flamethrower was not built to release.

The moment the explosion simmered down to a simple blaze was the moment Shinji and the others feel a sense of accomplishment. Rollie did not move anymore as it remained stuck against the boulder Mayumi summoned from the ground. What remained of Rollie was only shattered remains of what was once a dangerous enemy that claimed many of Shinji's soldiers.

Shinji let out a sigh of relief while Jewel cheered, "My overlord! Can you believe we accomplished that?"

Mayumi approved of their accomplishment observing, "I have to admit, I never imagined one of the former heroes would willingly assist us in such a crucial way."

Yersia agreed, "This is a fight I will not soon forget. I hope we will have this same fortune when we face the Wizard."

Shinji did not have a chance to add anything as he realized something move from the top of Rollie. Not debris from the dwarven contraption but a figure that refused to succumb to the demands of the flames. There was only one possible individual anyone could determine was willing to defy the condition of defeat after struggling so much.

Goldo Golderson forced himself out of the flames before collapsing to the ground. The flames scoarched his flesh, reduced his beard down to a stubble, and caused pieces of his armor to fall off from their damage. He might have called himself king of the dwarves but the current image of defeat he exuded did little to make anyone think he might be a threat by now.

Goldo threw his left shoulder plate off before taking hold of his axe and staring Shinji across the field. The sight of him caused Shinji to reflexively take hold of his mace as he waited for the king to attack. All the times he forced himself to accept ending the life of his enemy had become a demanding test for him in order to determine just how serious his desire for victory would be.

Shinji hoped this would be clear to the dwarf king as he announced, "I don't want to kill you if I don't have to. I know your son can still forgive you."

Goldo's hands seared as he forced them to take hold of his axe's handle as he asked, "You believe I give a damn about that traitorous boy of mine by now? After what little he was able to do for me?"

This question made Shinji resign himself to what he needed to accomplish as he accepted, "If that's what you've accepted, I will honor your demand. I'll make sure he doesn't have to hear these sorts of words from you. There was nothing more he wanted than to be the one your treasured most."

There was only greed in Goldo's voice as he limped towards Shinji denying, "No. Never… I will never surrender the greatest treasure I can ever have. Not when it belongs to me. It will never belong to anyone else."

Shinji looked over Goldo to see the debris of Rollie before he saw what brought the king to this state. The back compartment of the monstrosity fell open as it revealed a great treasure that was shielded from the battle. The Mother Goddess statue that had become the object of so many was held by Goldo in this moment and he refused to let it be handled by anyone other than him.

He struggled to keep himself from making the first strike as Shinji asked, "Gold really has clouded your mind from those you should value the most."

Goldo raised the axe above his head before throwing it towards Shinji. The attack was so weak that it was easy for Shinji to parry the weapon away from him. It also provided the opening Goldo had been hoping for.

Shinji realized the error he made too late as Goldo reached for his pocket and threw a shard he had was carrying. One of the few shards from the axe he used as projectiles that tore the land asunder with its destruction. The growing light that made its way towards him made Shinji leap backwards to avoid being hit.

He was fortunate to see the projectile fly above his face as he bent backwards to defend himself. Shinji lost all intention to remain on the defensive by now as he prepared to answer for this attack. He thrust his legs into the air as soon as he was sure he could plant his feet on the ground at the end of his flip before summoning magic within him.

Yersia prepared for the next attack by shooting an arrow towards Goldo's hand. The battered dwarf king felt the head of the projectile shoot its way through his hand and felt the shard he held fall to the ground. He flinched in pain in a struggle to keep himself steady to stagger him for Shinji's decisive attack.

A burst of wind shot from Shinji as he sent Goldo flying backwards from the blunt of the attack. What little strength Goldo had left was gone as he found himself flying backwards into the very rubble he crawled out of. A resounding sound made itself pronounced as Goldo was impaled by one of the loose beams from Rollie's remains as his body went limp. Goldo Golderson, the most persistent hero Shinji and his company had fought yet, was finally no more.

Shinji dropped his mace as he let out a sigh before looking at the destruction that had been wrought. This battle against such a persistent foe had taken its toll on him physically but also left him drained in ways he could not imagine. The battle against this one individual had been so long and demanding that he could not perceive anyone being challenging than what he had gone through.

These were the thoughts that dominated his mind until he heard Yersia make his way up to him and ask, "My overlord. Are you alright?"

Shinji let out a breath before answering, "I'm sorry. I should be better than this."

Jewel broke the silence by praising, "Taking him on was never going to be an easy one. Seems like you didn't have to defend yourself against an entire army before this."

Mayumi added, "He also didn't have to handle battles as personal as this one before either. It seems like this particular struggle challenged him in ways that he did not anticipate before."

Shinji picked up his mace as he admitted, "I had to see so many suffer at the hands of Goldo's machine. Now I'm worried about what I'm going to be good for soon."

Recounting the stories of what brought them to this point made Yersia remind, "You have already slain most of the heroes by now. There is only one left remaining."

Jewel confirmed, "The Wizard is the only remaining challenge now."

The final foe was indeed a creation Shinji had to remember. He was reminded many times what he had to do in order to liberate this world from the clutches of the fallen heroes. Seven fallen heroes needed to be slain by the hands of his army and his minions before the fighting could end. This recent victory had brought him to the brink of victory.

Summoning what conviction he had remaining in him, Shinji prepared himself for what would be a penultimate battle as he asked, "So we at least have an idea of how we can prepare to face him right?"

Jewel sheathed her blades confessing, "It is difficult for me to determine where the Wizard might be. He does not usually keep himself in the presence of company. This Apprentice of his is the first I heard of him interacting with anyone in years."

Yersia observed, "It seems appropriate the most powerful would make himself the last opponent we would have to face. Ihe could have achieved much more if he was willing to work with the others. It must be that the corruption is so great he cannot perceive working with others."

Mayumi confirmed, "That is what we came to determine. Everyone is similar to Goldo in one way or another."

Jewel tried to keep her excitement tempered as she asked, "Speaking of which, what are we supposed to do with the Mother Goddess statue anyway?"

He could not help but feel there must have been an ulterior motive to her question, but Shinji knew there was a serious matter that had to be addressed. The Mother Goddess statue was supposed to be a matter for both the elves and dwarves to determine where it would be placed. It had taken the final defeat of a mad dwarven king to determine its fate only to discover its fate was once again in his hands.

Turning away from the flames, Shinji determine what might have been the best choice for him determining, "Goldo was defeated but it seems like there's still a chance somebody could try to take this from us."

Jewel raised her eyebrows while eagerly agreeing, "Yes…"

This display of anticipation was lost on Yersia as she suggested, "Right now I would imagine we would be the ones who could keep it safe the best."

This addition made Jewel look on while holding her excitement before adding, "Yes…"

There were alternatives Shinji could think of but none of them could make him feel as though the results would be secure. The statue was an important artifact to Yersia's people and many more people would do anything to make sure it could be claimed for themselves. Taking on any responsibility after such a decisive victory was a difficult proposition that left Shinji on edge now that there was only one hero that needed to be faced. He also knew it was probably the only way disaster would not strike again.

He finally made his way through the troubles answering, "Maybe we should head back to the castle and think about it there. We'll have to take the statue with us and hold it for now."

Hearing this decision made Jewel grin from ear to ear as she heard this while Mayumi agreed, "At least this way the Wizard won't try to take it for himself. Whatever the reason might be."

Another battlefield had been formed on the grounds of the world Shinji and the others found themselves taking hold of. One by one, each hero that defended the world from the old evil that came to corrupt them was meeting their demise at the hands of the new challengers. What hold the Glorious Empire still had over the world was being challenged by the day now that a new overlord was making its hold over the world.

One individual who bore witness to this growing change in the world was someone who had the pleasure of watching from afar. The mysterious individual only known as the Wizard did not allow many in his presence when it came to others. Such an individual being an exception made his very existence an elusive one that onlookers struggled to imagine.

Even fewer could imagine the relationship the two had between one another. An observation of the two brought up many questions of how their partnership was supposed to function. It was not a dynamic Goldo would have a chance to contemplate any further after giving his life to face Shinji one last time. He only cared that it would be an opportunity to reclaim what he desperately wanted to be his and did not have time to contemplate either the Wizard or the Apprentice any further.

The Apprentice left his room while carrying a crystal ball in his hands to announce, "My master. Goldo Golderson has met his final demise. You are now the only remaining hero of this land."

The Wizard turned away from his balcony at this news to greet his apprentice. The tower both he and his protégé occupied was hidden from much of the world as they observed the ongoing developments. Even he realized he would be struggling to establish his case for why he would be the final hope for the original state of the world.

Such fears were far from his mind as the Wizard determine, "So with the exception of the traitorous Jewel, we are the last standing against the encroaching grasp of the overlord. We have lost much but we must use it to our advantage now."

The hope of discovering another part of his master made the Apprentice observe, "It is unfortunate that sending them one after another was the only choice we could have made. I'm sure the Emperor will be inquisitive towards allowing them to slain and could place you under much scrutiny for what allowed everything to come to this point."

Such an observation made the Wizard dismiss, "He might wonder about such a development. But he also knows what the best choice for maintaining this world shall be."

There was confidence and assurance in the mind of the Wizard that made the Apprentice suggest, "You seek to have control over this portion of the world for yourself. That will require the demise of the overlord before it is a possibility. If you wish to ensure your success, I would like to assist you in this final battle."

This suggestion made the Wizard clench his right hand in anger denying, "I do not require assistance from anyone. I only required you for one task and I assume you have accomplished that much."

The Apprentice held out his crystal ball confirming, "It has indeed been achieved. He has claimed the Mother Goddess statue just as I foretold."

Hearing such confirmation of his accomplishment made the Wizard grind his teeth before denying, "You might have achieved such a minor achievement. You will not be the one to take everything that belongs to me."

Few could keep themselves strong in the face of the Wizard's anger but the Apprentice proved himself to be an exception. He did not look up to his master as he kept his eyes hidden underneath his cowl but demonstrated complete commitment to remaining unintimidated by his master's displeasure. The tension hanging in the air between the two could be visualized as the space between the two of them was closed by the Wizard's approach and his intent to make his prominence over the matter known.

The Apprentice finally gave his acceptance for the conditions, "If that is what you require, I will be sure to inform you where they take the statue once it has been settled."

What sense of anger was behind the Wizard's initial observation was calmed as he backed away and prepared to make his first chance to face the overlord promising, "I am pleased you are willing to follow such a commitment. There will be a place for you in this world once the overlord has been destroyed. Your loyalty will not remain unrewarded after all this time."

The Apprentice made his way out of the main hall of the tower while holding the crystal ball. He gazed into it to view the movement of the Mother Goddess along with the remainder of Shinji's army and its journey. It was the only task he was assigned at the moment but he was greeted with another visitor upon entering his own quarters.

An elf was situated at the balcony of the Apprentice's quarters as he asked, "You have confirmed the Wizard's next course of action?"

The Apprentice was compliant to answer, "His planning was indeed to serve his own purposes. Now he has a perfect opportunity."

The mysterious elf nodded in confirmation at what had been established as he reasoned, "So it was. He believes he will have what it takes to challenge the Empire itself. Well… That time is about to come. We will discover who the true ruler will be"