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Chapter 377: The Story After (9). [Side Story 9]

“I… I can still fight….”

“You cannot.”

Ketal cut him off coldly.

Bayern showed determination, but he was in no state to even stand.

His blood had soaked the ground so much that it would be no wonder if he died from blood loss.

Even if he was of the Hero Class, such a wound was near fatal.

Worse still, the injury had been inflicted directly by the Bear—making it all the more dangerous.

“Rest quietly.”

Ketal’s fist slammed into Bayern’s head.

With a thud, Bayern collapsed, and the Tower Master caught him.

[You’re rough.]

“If I don’t, he’ll keep trying to fight. I’m leaving him in your care.”

[Understood. His wounds are severe. I’ll take him directly to Helia.]

The Tower Master soared into the air, Ignisia following close behind.

Left alone, Ketal smiled brightly as he looked at the Bear.

“Thank you for fighting me, Bear.”

[…Grr.]

The Bear growled.

The sound carried a strange force, but Ketal replied cheerfully.

“It is power I gained from the Outside. Unlike here, that place is quite delightful. Would you not like to see it yourself?”

[Grr.]

The Bear leaned back against a cliff, showing he had no such intentions.

Ketal waved his hand knowingly.

“It was fun to see you again. Let’s meet again some other time.”

Ketal left the snowy field and rejoined the Tower Master.

“How is Bayern?”

[I brought him to Helia. She was shocked, but although the wound is critical, she should have no trouble healing him.]

“Then that is a relief.”

Ketal muttered.

The Tower Master watched him for a moment, then spoke as if he had resolved himself.

[Ketal. I have a request.]

“A request? What is it?”

The Tower Master proposed something.

Ketal’s eyes widened.

Soon, his expression brimmed with joy, and he nodded vigorously.

* * *

A year passed.

The beings of the continent devoted themselves to restoration, and the world improved greatly compared to a year ago.

Flowers bloomed, broken roads were restored, and seeds planted in devastated forests sprouted green once more.

From here on, it would simply be a matter of letting nature recover at its own pace.

The people rejoiced at this rare peace and held festivals.

And at that time—

Several Hero Class beings gathered in one place.

Karin murmured with a strange look on her face.

“A magnificent sight…”

The Saintess of the Sun God, Helia.

The High Elf Queen, Karin.

The King of the North, Bayern.

The Red Dragon, Ignisia.

And the Tower Master himself.

Five of the Hero Class together in one place.

Among them, Helia and the Tower Master had long been known as the strongest beings on the surface before Ketal’s arrival.

Even during the great wars against Hell, such a gathering was rare.

And the reason for their meeting was a single thing—

Personal desire.

“To be honest, I don’t particularly want this.”

[But you are curious. That’s why you accepted my proposal.]

“…Mmm.”

Karin couldn’t deny the Tower Master’s words.

In the end, her curiosity had won.

Soon after, Ketal appeared.

“So everyone has gathered. Just the five of you?”

[Yes.]

“Then let us move.”

The Tower Master snapped his fingers.

Space itself folded, and they were transported to another place.

“Oh?”

They arrived in a vast desert.

The Tower Master explained.

[The Kashian Desert. A massive wasteland spanning a thousand kilometers in radius. No life exists here. It is so dry that within a single day, it drains all moisture from any living thing. It is one of the Surface’s great Forbidden Lands.]

“What an interesting place.”

Ketal scooped up a handful of sand, enjoying the sensation of it slipping through his fingers, before turning his head.

“In a place like this, the aftershocks won’t spread outside. Then let’s begin.”

[…Very well.]

The heroes tightened their grips on their weapons.

* * *

The day Bayern had fought the Bear,

The Tower Master, unable to hold back his curiosity, had made Ketal a proposal.

[Would you be willing to fight me properly, just once?]

Ketal’s immense power, his alien authority—never once had it been directed against the beings of the surface.

There had been times he fought seriously, but compared to what he was capable of, those had been little more than play.

And now Ketal had grown even stronger.

What were his limits?

How far could the beings of the surface resist him?

The Tower Master could not suppress his curiosity.

[Of course, not alone. I will ask other Hero Class beings. Those who consent will fight together.]

One-on-one, there was not even the faintest chance of victory.

It would take several Hero Class beings striking together just to make it meaningful.

Thus, the Tower Master proposed a duel, and Ketal accepted immediately.

“Of course!”

To fight the great heroes of fantasy—together, combining their powers—against himself! What reason was there to refuse?

“Then let us set a date! It will be hard to gather such mighty figures otherwise. Best to wait until after things have settled. When exactly shall we—”

[Wait. Calm yourself.]

The Tower Master had expected Ketal to accept, but not to be this delighted.

And so, a year later, when peace had returned, the proposal finally took place.

Those who joined were Ignisia, Karin, Bayern, and Helia.

Four in all.

Ketal drew his axe.

“Shall we begin immediately?”

[No. Not yet.]

The Tower Master shook his head.

[We would like an hour to prepare. I am a mage—I need to set my spells. Helia and Karin as well.]

Both nodded.

Ketal agreed.

“Then I will remain here, unmoving. After precisely one hour, I will start.”

[Agreed. Then…]

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“Let it begin.”

Ketal smiled and closed his eyes.

Immediately, the heroes scattered, each preparing for battle.

‘Now then.’

What would they show him?

How enjoyable would this be?

Ketal’s heart pounded with anticipation as he waited.

And after exactly one hour—

“Then let us begin.”

His heavy voice pressed down upon the desert.

Ketal opened his eyes.

“…You did not move at all?”

“They may be planning something together for victory.”

Bayern spoke quietly.

“But I am not interested. The only reason I accepted the Tower Master’s proposal was for one thing.”

Ketal.

The barbarian of overwhelming strength.

To fight him one-on-one.

That was Bayern’s sole purpose.

“If any of you interfere in my fight, you will face my axe.”

Bayern bared his teeth as he declared.

Somewhere, there was the illusion of a sigh.

Ketal grinned and hefted his axe.

“Enthusiastic, are you? Very well!”

Bayern charged, his axe swinging down.

Ketal countered.

BOOOM!

Axe clashed against axe.

Sand erupted, clouds twisted by their force.

Clang! Clash!

Each strike met with a counter, Ketal bursting into admiration.

“You’ve grown stronger!”

Bayern’s power was clearly greater than when they had last fought.

It was not mere physical growth—it was closer to mystical control.

Ketal quickly understood.

“You’re focusing your mystic power temporarily to strengthen yourself!”

“I learned it from you!”

Ketal had once focused his mystical power into parts of his body to draw out extreme strength.

Bayern had observed this and made it his own.

“Hahaha!”

And Ketal couldn’t have been happier.

For it was proof that he had left an impact on this world of fantasy.

BOOOOM!

Their powers clashed.

Ketal was pushed back, laughing as he steadied his axe.

Bayern had grown truly strong.

His mystic enhancement made him so powerful that even Ketal, barehanded, would struggle.

So Ketal drew upon his own mystic force.

Aura coursed through his veins as he swung his axe.

CRASH!

“Guh!”

With a single strike, Bayern’s insides were shaken violently.

He staggered, barely keeping his footing, but he had taken severe internal injuries.

“…As expected, you are monstrously strong. But!”

That only made it better.

Bayern roared.

BOOOOM!

He stepped forward and swung, the shockwave shaking earth and sky.

Truly the power of a Hero Class, one who could shake the world.

Crack. Craaack.

Fissures spread across Bayern’s axe—it could not withstand such force.

But instead of stopping, Bayern only struck harder.

CLAAANG!

Finally, the axe shattered.

Normally, this would mean his defeat.

But Bayern had been waiting for this.

In the moment Ketal’s strength dispersed, Bayern closed in.

He hooked his arms around Ketal’s neck and waist, sweeping his legs.

“Rrghhh!”

BOOOOM!

Using the broken axe as bait, he disrupted Ketal’s balance and attempted a grappling throw. It had been his plan from the start. Ketal realized this and laughed.

“You prepared well! But unfortunately—I, too, know my way around joint locks!”

Ketal yanked Bayern’s wrist, dislocating the joint.

CRACK!

With his arm useless, Bayern’s grip faltered, and the hold failed.

He tried again desperately, but the moment had passed.

Ketal seized his other arm, tripped his legs, and lifted him onto his shoulders before slamming him into the ground.

BOOOOM!

The desert floor caved, sand fused into glass from the crushing impact.

Ketal pressed down hard upon Bayern’s chest, crushing his heart.

Bayern coughed up blood.

“Khuhhh!”

He struggled to rise, but the injuries were too grave.

Ketal grabbed him by the neck and hoisted him up.

“That was fun!”

Then hurled him away.

In an instant, Bayern was a dot, vanishing into the distance.

“Phew!”

Ketal laughed heartily.

“Now then, the rest of you! Come at me!”

“…Good grief.”

Helia sighed from where she stood.

“It was obvious it would end like this. I told him we should join forces. But no, he had to fight alone…”

“Well, if that’s what he wanted, what could we do?”

Karin smiled bitterly.

Bayern was out.

Now it was their turn.

Helia lifted her head to the sky.

“Then, Ignisia. If you would.”

A massive shadow fell over the desert.

Above, a colossal figure spread its wings.

Ketal gasped in delight.

“A dragon! Ignisia!”

Ignisia did not reply, only drew in breath.

Then unleashed a blazing breath of fire upon Ketal.

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