The Hero's Debut – Death's Putrid Stench Over the Tense Battlefield
A vicious fragrance of death hung over the tense frontlines of the debut battle. Rotten flesh, the hate-filled wails of vengeful spirits, and at the helm of it all, the Lord of Death, Eldritch.
Everything was supposed to proceed smoothly. Today, he and his undead horde would sweep through the Regarium Kingdom, claiming new minions—whether they were the kingdom's splendid knight orders or the remnants of the once-mighty church that had dubbed itself Absolute.
This was a dramatic moment, as if the stars themselves were pushing at his back.
-Whoosh!!
"...Huh?"
That was until a massive beam of divine power, pouring down from the heavens, arrived.
"My Constellation, what is that...?"
Eldritch asked his constellation with growing unease.
-....
No response came.
"Constellation?"
The Fleshless Prophet of Death, who had also fallen silent, finally replied.
-Something's amiss, no doubt. Humans are skilled in illusions; they've surely tricked your eyes somehow.
"Indeed."
It made sense upon reflection. The presence of both an Absolute and a Holy Sword in that divine power was utterly absurd.
First, the Holy Sword. His constellation had personally blocked the stellar alignment that would summon a Hero, and hadn't he himself wiped out the village of the Sword Saintess meant to aid that Hero?
And then, the most ridiculous part: the existence of an Absolute.
-That bastard couldn't possibly be here. We confirmed it—erased from all existence in this world...
Not just him, but all the other constellations had verified it. To be erased meant their Absolute power, the very essence composing their body, had vanished. Unless some force in this universe could anchor their existence, an Absolute could never return here.
They must not return.
Therefore.
-Don't fall for their clumsy tricks. Press on with expanding our forces.
"...As you command."
With renewed faith filling his hollow skull, Eldritch commanded his army of the dead.
The invasion has begun!
And at that moment.
"Look at these fools."
Even as he unleashed his divine power, Ron watched the red dots charging like moths into flame, his interest piqued further as he gazed down at the Hero cradled in his arms.
"Whoa..."
"What do you think?"
"It's sooo coool..."
The young Hero, utterly captivated by the sensation of floating in the sky, paid no heed to the urgent war unfolding below. Ron smiled at her pure innocence and prepared to make his move.
Devotee, 'Lisia' beholds your presence.
Devotee, 'Herien' beholds your presence.
'Yeah, yeah.'
Meeting his two devotees was important, but right now, this stage was for the Hero—and the Hero alone. A tale of the Hero saving a kingdom in peril.
'How am I supposed to hold back?'
"Ready?"
"Huh...?"
Elion looked up at Ron with innocent, questioning eyes. Knowing the truth behind her doubt, Ron met her gaze with a smile of unwavering trust.
"It's okay. You're okay."
His steady demeanor washed away even her faint anxiety. With pure light now filling her heart, Elion smiled back and resolved to follow his lead.
'What a perfect blessing.'
Not just an Advanced Blessing, of course.
Heavenly Armor (S)
Protects the caster and nearby allies from all physical and curse damage.
And even further.
Heavenly Aura (S)
Supreme faith skill that nullifies all threats in the area.
These supreme faith skills enveloped the pair softly. He'd even cast contingency skills for any emergencies, reducing the odds of anything in this world harming them to zero.
'She really is a human weapon.'
He had no intention of doing so, but if he hurled Elion into the enemy ranks right now, her mere presence would turn that undead horde into hell on earth.
'A tactical nuke, basically.'
She already had the progress to make it possible, so there was no helping it.
-Grraaah...?
Glancing at the undead horde staring up dumbly, Ron selected a landing spot.
A perfect debut required a strong first impression over flashy heroics.
'Here.'
The end of the defensive line where Lisia and Herien stood—a bit further forward. He locked in the coordinates.
"Let's go."
As he spoke, Elion clutched the fabric of his clothes tightly, steeling herself.
Possession had already been activated from the sky. Thus.
Judgment's Gleam (S)
-Whoosh!!
Holy light poured fiercely from the heavens. The area, shrouded in darkness by the undead's influence, blazed bright once more.
"...!!"
Both sides' forces froze in real-time shock at the phenomenon.
Among them, the one catching Ron's eye was naturally the ringleader, the horde's commander.
'Eldritch, huh.'
Among liches, only a rare few evolved into the more powerful Eldritch. Ron had hunted them before, but this one's aura felt stronger than average.
'They put some effort into this one.'
Ron pictured the Fleshless Prophet of Death observing from afar. They must realize by now how utterly wrong things had gone. But it was too late to retreat—Ron had timed it perfectly.
Next, his devotee Lisia entered his view.
This was their first face-to-face during Possession, but the intense bond between constellation and devotee brought instant understanding.
'My dutiful daughter, as expected.'
Thanks to her prior notice of returning, there was no misunderstanding like with Belladys. The deep trust and ecstasy filling her eyes gladdened Ron too.
Enough with the fan meet-and-greet with his devotee. Ron announced the true debut.
"Ngh...!"
Fierce divine power and whipping winds drove Elion instinctively into Ron's embrace. At her childlike reaction, Ron smiled faintly and sought to bolster her courage.
"Elion, which side do you want to stand with?"
Her sky-blue eyes turned to the lines at his gentle question.
One side: the kingdom's heavily armored knights.
The other: terrifying undead mad with blood and flesh.
The answer was obvious.
"I... the nice uncles."
Satisfied with her natural choice of the humans, Ron guided her to the next step.
"Then, will Elion help those uncles?"
"Me...?"
Ron's gaze fell to the back of Elion's hand in his arms—the emblem marking her as the Holy Sword's master. Heroes used it to activate, deactivate, and store their blades.
"Mmm..."
She'd followed without hesitation before, but now anxiety crept in. Clouds darkened her once-trustful, delicate face.
But Ron had no intention of letting her back out.
Using Soul's Echo (A) on Devotee 'Elion'!
The skill description promised to dispel mental abnormalities in allies and grant bonus stats. But in practice, its effect was—
"...!"
It planted faith in young Elion's heart firmer than any devotion.
'Not a lie.'
The strongest church in the world was his, after all—giving her boundless confidence a solid foundation.
"Pretty brother, I... I...!"
"Yeah."
She looked ready to charge out and obliterate the undead horde. The buff had landed perfectly.
'Motivation's set.'
Ron channeled more divine power, manifesting radiant wings of light behind him.
"Whoaaa...!"
Elion marveled from his arms at the beautiful sight. Her reactions to every move fired him up.
The overwhelming divine spectacle had both sides frozen, unable to react properly. The perfect moment.
'Time to drop.'
Deeply satisfied with the ripened situation, Ron prepared to herald the birth of a new Hero before all.
Everything was supposed to be smooth.
"C-Constellation."
Eldritch, now unable to deny reality, pitifully called to his constellation. But again, no answer.
Instead of reassurance came—
-Whoosh!!
A dense holy power so intense it seemed to blind the eyes and sap life just by looking.
Eldritch had never witnessed such might.
-Greeek...?
A ghoul, flicking its tongue in anticipation of slaughter, turned to Eldritch.
'Boss, is this for real?'
All Eldritch could do was share the sentiment from his newfound dread.
'No turning back now.'
The trigger was pulled. Fleeing now meant annihilation at best, total extermination at worst.
"Slaughter every last one of those vile humans."
With his constellation silent, Eldritch made his call. All-in, clash with full force.
-Groooaaar!!
-Keeeaak!!
The undead horde roared in response, charging the enemy lines with murderous fervor.
"Hyaah...!"
And then, with a deflating shout, they met—
-BOOM!!
A Holy Sword wave rivaling a dragon's breath, incinerating a third of the horde to ash.