Despair.
It usually began subtly in the form of doubt. Then it would continue to fester until it became fear, eating deeper into one's soul.
Until finally… it would grow into sheer despondency.
Zephyr was currently in the second stage—FEAR!
His hands trembled as his eyes widened at the sight of his shattered blade, and his lips quivered in confusion. It had all happened so quickly, so Zephyr was unsure how his most prized weapon had suffered such loss.
That small moment of shock made him vulnerable, enough for the man before him to reach out to touch him.
'A-ahh… I messed up!' By the time Zephyr realized what was happening, it was too late.
His mind was too far gone.
~SHIIIIIIINNNGGG!~
A golden barrier suddenly appeared, shrouding Zephyr in an energy field to shield him from Legris' touch.
If it weren't for that, he knew that his end would have arrived.
Almost as soon as the barrier was erected, yet another shocking scenario occurred.
~WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!~
An intense wave of energy descended from the heavens, like a bolt of lightning. It had four different colors—red, blue, green, and orange—and it possessed so much power that the entire area screamed in response to the descent.
The wave of energy fell, not on Zephyr, but on Legris.
~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!~
Like a pillar of destructive light, it consumed Legris wholly, sucking him into the oblivion of illumination.
"Haa…?" Zephyr's eyes widened in relief, and his expression was a fine example of pleasant surprise.
One look at his reaction was enough to prove that he wasn't the one responsible for that final attack.
Then… who?
"You've gotten rusty, Zephyr."
"To think you didn't deal with someone like that so quickly."
"It's a good thing we sensed something was up and arrived as quickly as we could."
"Marceline's message was helpful as well. Seems like trouble if you weren't able to finish him in one blow."
Appearing one after another, as their voices echoed in the air, were Zephyr's old comrades: The Hero Party members.
The first one who had spoken with his gruff tone was a stout and short old man. He had beards tied in three knots, and he appeared with his complete set of armor. He was a dwarf, and the hammer he wielded with both hands was proof of his expertise; both in forging and crushing.
The second who appeared was a Fairy. She looked tiny, and while she glowed with orange light, her clear skin and cute face could be clearly seen. She was dressed in her simple gown, and a small wand was carefully held in her tiny hand.
The third was a human. He had a mage's hat, and while he had long flowing grey beards that complimented his elderly apperance, a youthful glow remianed in his eyes. He donned a long mage's gown, and right on his hand was his crooked staff.
The final individual was an Elf, and he had small cap that sat on his long white hair, nearly cascading over his pointy ears. He had a bow in his grasp, and his eyes gleamed with filial affection as he spoke.
"Y-you guys!" Zephyr beamed in delight.
All his closest friends, and his brother in law, were present. They had arrived right at the point he needed them.
"Drun. Aisha. Liam. Marcus. Thank you for coming!"
The Dwarf, Fairy, Human, and Elf nodded as Zephyr called out their respective names. What were friends for, after all?
"This is why you should have continued adventuring like us. You've grown too rusty, which is why you're having issues with someone like this." Drun, the team's Tank smiled, caressing his hammer as he spoke.
Zephyr didn't know what to say to the old man.
It was true that he had gotten very rusty over the years, but that was only in the sense of experience. His power, battle senses, and every skill in his arsenal remained the same.
When he got reincarnated, Zephyr was granted a lot of gifts from his Constellation, which made it impossible for him to relapse in power.
He had a perfect body, an automatic defense, unparalleled battle senses, and power unlike any other in this world.
He also possessed the power of his Constellation, though he was forbidden from using it on anyone else other than the enemy of the world at the time; the Demons.
With so many abilities at his disposal, he was guaranteed victory no matter how long he had stayed without battle.
Yet…
"I don't think that's the case. He shattered my Heroic Blade. He's no ordinary guy."
"W-WHAT?!" Everyone burst out in shock the moment Zephyr uttered those words.
They simply couldn't believe their ears.
Everyone knew about the strength of the Heroic Blade, especially the members of the Hero Party who had seen its power firsthand.
"No way…" Aisha whispered, her hands covering her mouth as Zephyr showed everyone his blade's hilt.
"By the Gods…" Liam muttered.
"What in the world?" Even Marcus, the most collected of everyone, found himself gasping.
However, the one who seemed to be the most affected by this news was the Dwarf among them.
"How can such a guy even damage the ultimate treasure of the Hero?!" Drun exclaimed, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.
He simply believe that a nobody from nowhere, who didn't even leak out any malevolent aura like the Demons they had beaten in the past, could have damaged the greatest weapon ever.
Perhaps he was like this because he had made it his life's mission to replicate the power of the blade, yet failed every time.
How could such a perfect work of art and destruction be ruined by a nobody?
It made no sense!
"Such a guy, huh? That hurts to hear, you know?" A sudden voice suddenly leaked out of the pillar of light.
Eveyone's eyes widened with shock as they simultanously looked in the direction of their supposely lethal move.
"I really wish weaklings like you wouldn't look down on me so much…" Emerging from the multicolored layer of destruction was a grinning Legris, completely unharmed.
"It makes me look bad."
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[A/N]
The battle continues.
The Hero Party members should give their all to subdue this demon of a man!
If they succeed, then Jared and co will have less work cut out for them, don't you think?
