The Forging of Hero Style Swordsmanship

One day, while racking my brain over strategies to conquer the Abyss, one of my companions spoke up. She said the techniques I was using were too messy. That I was grabbing skills haphazardly and forcing them into use even when they didn't fit. So the combos never linked up, wasting power left and right.

'That's why we need to consolidate all the techniques, redefine them, and create a proper swordsmanship. That's the only way to eradicate the Abyss.'

'Problem is, we don't have time for that. And what's with the tone? It's giving me chills.'

'...I'm being serious. Anyway, you always think alone, so you say there's no time. But what am I here for? Is my role just to swing a sword at the Abyss and call it a day?'

I was pondering how to respond when she drew her sword.

'So I'll make it for you.'

'You're gonna make it? Hm... yeah, you might actually pull it off. So what's the name of this swordsmanship?'

At my words, she shyly turned her head.

'You're saving the world, so how about Hero Style Swordsmanship?'

Her face flushed with embarrassment. Kid-like naming sense, as expected. I just stared at her silently, and she shook her head and stood up.

'F-fine...! Pretend you didn't hear that.'

'Nah, I like it. Hero Style Swordsmanship. Sounds good.'

'R-really...? I'll make it right now. I have a sequence in mind. Let's go!'

The name was childish, so I hadn't planned to use it. But the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠swordsmanship she taught me was stronger than anything in the world. Worthy of the name Hero Style Swordsmanship.

"Doesn't matter! Doesn't matter!!! I'm way stronger than back then!!! I'll devour it all!!"

CRRRACK—!!

Mouths burst from the entire body of the colossal bear of death. The Abyss's power over souls and death unfolds. A monster that devours souls in the pitch-black underworld with the Swallower's Power. A bear towering like three buildings stacked. Its mere movement makes the underworld quake. The Abyss's magic crushes and swallows everything.

Evan raised a finger toward the overwhelming Abyss monster.

WHOOSH—!

Without warning, the bear's upper body vanished. Like multiple suns in the sky igniting and exploding. With his power restored, Evan's mana concealment and control had reached perfection.

GRRRR—!

The Swallower's obliterated upper body writhed and regenerated. Overwhelming recovery speed.

"Pfft. Heh. Heh. Heh. That's it? Man, Hero buddy, you're scary. If that had hit a moment earlier, I'd have been done for. Whew, close call."

The Swallower's voice, which had screeched in panic, calmed down.

"But this is the underworld. I'm the king of death here. I cannot die in this place." It had shown its immortal power countless times before, opening the underworld when it was a monster that needed killing a thousand times over. The underworld's opening had restored Evan's power, but in turn, granted the Swallower immortality.

"Yeah? Then I'll kill you until you stay dead. Let's see how long you keep regenerating."

Evan spread his hand and clenched it as if grasping something. At his gesture, the remaining suns in the sky began converging.

"Think I'll let you!?"

CRRRACK—! RUMBLE—!

The Swallower clasped its paws. The underworld's terrain split and collapsed. Crashing earth mixed with rising stone pillars. Gravity twisted chaotically across the underworld's sky and ground. Heaven and earth became a world of rock and boulder. The massive bear's body vanished amid the turmoil of earth and sky blending.

As Evan plummeted into the sea of stones, he spotted a dark green glow. Focusing, he saw the Swallower beyond the stone sea, preparing an attack. It gathered death magic into one mass, drawing in underworld souls to form a single spear. Eerie wails from the spear pierced the crashing stones, shaking flesh and soul.

Evan gauged the distance. With the ground flipping and the Swallower hiding behind, it was considerable. He saw its intent: to force him to expend a sun to break through.

"But I don't just use fire, you dumb snake."

At Evan's will, the starlit weapons dancing in the void spun. One layer of the stone barrier vanished.

"Too late!!"

The stone sea still surged. The Swallower sneered, raising the spear of death. Its shoulder pulled back—for a throw at Evan.

"Says who."

He invoked Swiftness. His body grew nimble; the world slowed. He saw the Swallower's fangs roaring in slow motion. The distance was vast, stone barriers remained. He pierced through.

One explosive step shattered every stone barrier. He arrived at the Swallower's side as it readied the throw. The snake's eyes widened like lanterns. It swiftly shifted to a downward thrust.

SKREEE—!

The spear of death wailed chillingly. Its scythe-like power of annihilation plunged toward Evan's head. With immortality gained, the Swallower had grown larger over time—now over 500 meters.

One-shot it. He compressed the six brought suns. The compressed orbs, spewing endless heat, spun and merged. Repelling each other, they amplified the blaze. Overwhelming inferno. Forcing fusion cracked their shells, spilling cataclysmic flames.

FWOOOM—!

The massive Swallower's body was surpassed; the stone sea of twisted sky and earth entirely incinerated by the heat. The pinnacle of fire magic. A spectacle born of overwhelming might. But it wasn't over.

"Tch."

Evan clicked his tongue and looked up. A pinky-tip-sized fleck of flesh floated. Before his technique hit, the Swallower had escaped a tiny fragment. A mouth sprouted from it, snapping and devouring. The Swallower's body restored. The bear form had shrunk—exhausted from crafting the death spear and fleeing.

CRUNCH—!

The snake's fangs, laced with panic, kept snapping at empty air. Devouring endless underworld souls, it recovered strength.

"Don't make me laugh. Don't make me laugh. Don't make me laugh. DON'T MAKE ME LAUGH!!!! I'm immortal!! The devourer that revives endlessly and consumes all. You think you can erase me, who even devoured death!!!"

The snake bellowed. It unleashed full power at the glaring Evan.

VRMMM—!

Death magic fused with druidic soul arts. The Swallower's mana rippled the underworld sky.

GRRR—!

A massive stake tore through the sky. Chains dangling from it wailed, summoning nearby souls. Countless devouring mouths on stakes and chains chewed up the underworld's magic and souls.

The Swallower summoned the underworld stake that annihilates souls. Confident in its advantage, it roared at Evan.

"That last spell was your max, right? You can't destroy the Soul-Devouring Stake!!! I devoured your magic!"

As Evan eyed the stake—per the snake's claim—it had swallowed the flames while fleeing. WHOOSH—! Dark green flames of death and Abyss blazed across the sky.

The Swallower's Power. An unreasonable Abyss force that devours all and steals strength.

"Guess I'll give it a shot."

He slammed the last remaining sun into the stake. It exploded, spreading heat. Flames engulfed the massive pillar. Unfazed, it plunged toward Evan—accelerating, shattering the sound barrier.

"Pfft. Heh. Heh. Heh. Idiot...! Useless!!"

"Told you. I don't just use fire."

Mana reversal. CRASH—!

At Evan's will, the sun's heat blanketing the stake froze instantly. The massive chain stake halted midair. From fire magic's pinnacle to ice's apex in a heartbeat—an archmage's might.

"What!!!?"

The Swallower panicked, but ice couldn't destroy the stake. True to a mage's nightmare, the devouring power built magic resistance with each swallow. Another method was needed.

CRRRACK—!

"Doesn't matter!! Devour the ice too!!!"

Devouring mouths pulverized and consumed the ice. The stake resumed its plunge. It didn't matter. The goal was buying time.

"Hayes."

No more words needed. They'd fought together countless times—they knew.

Evan's shadow rippled. A hilt emerged. He drew it in one fluid motion. A surging greatsword. Subduer of Demons. A blade that hunts spirits and severs the profane. Its trait dominated spirit-based foes.

Gripping the Subduer of Demons two-handed, Evan aimed at the stake. Tearing the sky, it plummeted. Its overwhelming size hit home—twice the 500m Swallower. Undeterred by the stake's soul-annihilating majesty, Evan's stance held firm.

"Hup—!"

He held his breath, focusing power in his hips. Abyss-slaying light gathered on the Subduer of Demons.

"DIE, HERO!!!!"

The Swallower screamed in desperation. Evan swung at the stake.

SHWING—!

One swing cleaved the massive stake in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠half. Soul Sever's power didn't end there—it sliced the hiding Swallower beyond. Severing its soul stripped immortality.

"Impossible. Impossible. Impossible. IMPOSSIBLE!!!!"

The shrieking Swallower. Its bear body and snake face scattered into oblivion. Half-erased in an instant, yet it denied defeat and erasure.

"Can't end here...! How am I reviving!!!!! I haven't had a satisfying meal yet!!"

RUMBLE...!

As the Swallower faded, the underworld collapsed. Through cracks in the dark sky, Adenia's sky peeked. Simultaneously, the vanished Drift debuff returned to Evan.

"Persistent bastard. Magic seal right on arrival?"

Half his traits locked too. As Adenia's sky darkened, Drift sealed his power. The omnipotence filling flesh and soul dispersed. An unpleasant sensation of unprecedented might slipping away.

CRRRACK—!

Suddenly, the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠collapsing underworld horizon split open. The dark sky and earth resembled gnashing teeth.

"Fuck."

"Revenge...! Revenge!! Devour devour!!! Can't go alone—I'll devour you all!!!!!!"

The Swallower's voice echoed across the world. Using death and devouring power, it consumed itself, imprinting on the underworld. Evan unleashed Soul Sever once more with the Subduer of Demons. A slash crossed the horizon maw. It cleaved and vanished. But the teeth reformed infinitely. To erase the Swallower, the opened underworld itself had to go. Time would allow it, but with Drift returning, Evan had none left.

"Evan..!"

Hayes rushed, grabbing his hand. Her body restored by the World Tree Fruit. She unleashed mana. Reversing her death magic, she tore the underworld's entrance.

"Quick, through here...! You go first..!"

Through the rift, Shadow Forest appeared.

"You can go alone. You want me to leave you?"

Evan still had reserves; he knew the rift's state.

Tears welled; Hayes bowed her head.

"...Better than watching you die.. I was dying anyway..."

Hayes' resolute decision.

"At least I got to see you at the end."

Always melancholic Hayes smiled tearfully at her reunited mate as Evan vanished.

"What the—"

WHOOSH—!

Shadows bound Evan, dragging him through the rift. Alone in the collapsing underworld, Hayes eyed the horizon. It opened and closed, devouring elements.

"At least I said goodbye."

Facing death, Hayes smiled. Her precious mate hadn't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠abandoned her. Seeing him save the world after 50 years filled her with joy.

"Goodbye, Evan. Goodbye, my mate. I was happy with you."

He'd saved her from rotting away without experiences or warmth. He led her from her world. To her, everything new, he taught with smiles. First foods—spicy sensations bewildered her; he laughed, offering alternatives. Waking on feathers, not leaves, felt refreshing. Above all, opening her eyes to his smile.

Killing Abyss foes earned thanks—words unheard by her cursed birth. Something tickled inside. Bewildered, looking up, he stroked her hair, promising more new things.

The journey continued; more companions joined. Fights, reconciliations, laughter. Days she, cursed-born, never dreamed of—he gifted her. Truly, happy. Yes, truly.

SCRITCH—! SCRITCH—! SCRITCH—!

Death approached. A tear fell from Hayes' smiling face.

"...Still, at the end... I wanted to watch the starry sky with you..."

The stars they'd seen after he saved her were breathtaking. Recalling happy memories, she gathered mana.

"Who says goodbye?!"

To a voice that shouldn't reach, Hayes turned. The rift that should've closed with his departure remained open.

SPLURT—!

A massive greatsword burst through. The rift widened around the Subduer of Demons; Evan's black eyes appeared.

"...! No, your power's gone..!! Let me instead!"

CREAK—!

"Shut up."

Evan pried the rift with sword and hand. Stats limited by Drift. Forcing power tore muscles, bursting blood.

"Hoo..."

Evan emerged, returning to the underworld.

"Why!! Why!!! Why come back!!!"

Hayes sobbed, shaking her head, pounding his chest with fists.

THUNK—!

Evan flicked her forehead in return.

"—!!"

Hayes yelped silently, looking up at him.

"Shut it, you brat. 50 years passed? And you're still a dumbass."

Hayes remained the fool who thought and misunderstood alone.

"I'm not dumb! You're losing power now...!!"

As Hayes said, back in the underworld, Evan's strength wasn't the same. 70% restricted by the collapse. Yet he smiled.

"Nah, you are dumb. I never saved the world alone. We did it together."

"...!!!"

Evan extended his hand to Hayes.

"So now, we do it together too."

Dazed, Hayes naturally took his hand. Their mana surged. Hayes' mana flowed into him through their grasp.

RUMBLERUMBLERUMBLE——!!

The crumbling world. In the darkness devouring and erasing all.

He and she joined hands, raising the sword. The horizon maw gaped endlessly to swallow everything.

From the blade, a starry sky swept away the world's darkness, unfolding endlessly.