Amelia the Level Zero Hero

Wyn Stefard couldn’t believe his eyes. One moment, he was facing down death alongside his [Knight]-Captain and leader Sir Rowland Donovan, believing that his life was about to come to an end. And the next moment, a portal appeared, bringing with it the gaping maw of a dragon.

But it was not any ordinary dragon. Even if Wyn had never seen a dragon before, he could tell by the glistening crimson scales and by the wizened wrinkles on its face that it was an Elder Dragon.

A majestic being that hadn’t been seen in all of Vacuos for over a thousand years.

And it was here to save the day.

“BURN!”

The dragon’s voice echoed, reverberating throughout the palace. And all at once, a blast of crimson flames shot out. The attack engulfed the [Hero King] in his entirety, stopping him in his tracks.

It was a surprise attack. One that nobody could have foreseen. It was almost like a miracle that came down from the World System itself. To save the Astrad Kingdom from having to endure the tyranny of the Kingdom of Kal.

Wyn Stefard stumbled back as he felt the intense heat emanating from the flames wash over him. The sweat that drenched his neck evaporated, and he watched with round eyes as a crimson pillar rose up to the sky.

It spread out like an expanding cone, growing larger and larger the higher it went. Until it blanketed the blue dome overhead and dispersed even the furthest clouds. If this blast struck the city, it would have destroyed everything in an instant.

But the Elder Dragon angled it in a way so that it would only target the [Hero King]. That it would only incinerate him to ashes. And that was why Wyn Stefar could only look on in awe and wonder.

“Amazing…” he whispered as he saw the glistening flames vanish, leaving behind a smoldering cloud of smoke.

This was what King Jalen, Rowland Donovan, and Wyn Stefard himself had been praying for. An intervention from the heavens themselves— a savior to come and rescue the Astrad Kingdom from its fall. Perhaps they had all thought their rescuer would come as a young woman named Amelia.

But instead, it was an Elder Dragon that was here to save them. Or so Wyn thought.

“No,” Rowland said, interrupting the [Knight]-lieutenant’s thoughts. “It’s not over.”

“What?” Wyn Stefard blinked as he glanced at his leader.

But Rowland didn’t lower his guard. He raised his blade as he peered into the clearing smoke up ahead. Wyn himself narrowed his eyes, peering into the gray cloud of ash up ahead. And a figure emerged, completely unscathed.

Kallistus Kal stood there, not a scratch on his body.

“How…?” Wyn asked, and he got no response.

—--

It did not work, just as Grat-ra’zun thought. Even though it had been an ambush, with the Elder Dragon unleashing his most powerful flames— the very same attack that had destroyed half of Mount Arkais— it made no difference.

The [Hero King] stood there with a shadow cast over his gaze.

“Tsk,” Grat-a’zun clicked his tongue as he drew his face back into the portal. “I knew this would happen.”

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That was why he hadn’t wanted to do this. He knew just how powerful the [Hero King] had become, all thanks to the power of the Fal-Deus. And that was not including how much more strength Kallistus Kal had gathered since their last encounter with each other.

Because Grat-ra’zun knew that with the Void’s involvement, the [Hero King]’s strength would grow exponentially.

“The only difference is that this time around, I am the one launching the surprise attack instead of him,” the Elder Dragon murmured. “That’s the only reason why I’m even doing this— because those two fools convinced me that I lost because I wasn’t the one with the element of surprise.”

Shaking his head, Grat-ra’zun began to close the portal. He had tried once again. And once more he failed. He knew when to surrender— when to admit defeat. So that was why he was retreating once again.

Through the portal, Kallistus Kal could be seen emerging from the smoke, slowly striding forward. The [Hero King] moved without a rush in the world, and the Elder Dragon would seize this opportunity to withdraw. Or so Grat-ra’zun thought.

As he began to shut the portal, there was a flash of light. A purple ripple of light washed over the portal, seizing control of the magic over the Elder Dragon. His eyes went wide as he watched the portal open wider.

“What…?” Grat-ra’zun could only stare for a moment.

He could sense the Void’s essence emanating from the portal— he recognized that power which overwhelmed his own magic. At first, the dragon thought that Kallistus Kal was the one who had overtaken the portal. But the [Hero King] came to a halt, eyeing the now purple portal curiously.

“Wait, if that was not him…” Grat-ra’zun started.

Then the dragon’s head swung to the side, facing a figure standing in the cavern with him. He stared at the source of the Void’s essence. The former Lich King stood there with a hand raised, glowing with the same purple aura. It was Arthur who had seized control of the portal and was now keeping it open.

“You— what are you doing?” the Elder Dragon asked in horror.

Marching forward resolutely, Arthur glanced back once. And he replied simply, before crossing through the portal into the Astrad Kingdom.

“Doing what’s right.”

—--

Arthur knew that Grat-ra’zun’s attack wouldn’t have been enough to put a stop to the [Hero King]. Even if the flames had reduced Kallistus Kal to ashes, the regeneration offered by the Fal-Deus would have brought him back to life with ease.

Not that it was even necessary.

Arthur knew what he saw— the flames had barely burned the [Hero King]. Kallistus Kal stood there, mostly unphased as only parts of his skin was singed. The fact that he could withstand such a powerful attack was only proof of just how formidable he was.

The former Lich King gulped as he stepped through the portal. There was a sense of trepidation that clung onto him— a fear that tried to hold him back. Perhaps he was who he was, he would be able to trudge forward without fear of who he was going to face as the Lich King.

But right now, only as Arthur— the bartender and the former [Priest]— could he dare to battle Kallistus Kal to save the world. And that was why he didn’t falter.

That was why Arthur stepped forward to meet the [Hero King]. A familiar pair of [Knights] watched as the bartender came to a halt right across from the quizzical Kallistus Kal.

“Wait, is that—” Wyn started.

“What is that bartender doing here?” Rowland frowned. “He needs to get out of here, right now.”

The two of them stared at Arthur, evidently confused. Perhaps that was the only reason why the [Hero King] hadn’t yet lashed out— because he, too, was confused. Or maybe it was because of the Void essence emanating off Arthur.

“Who are you?” Kallistus Kal asked, tilting his head. It was a gaze of curiosity, but it was not that of worry. “Are you with the Sect of the Abyssal Thorns?”

Arthur shook his head simply. “I am not.”

“Then why do you stand here, opposed to me?” the [Hero King] pressed further.

Taking in a deep breath, the bartender raised his head. “I am not your enemy, Kallistus Kal. I am someone who wants to help you.”

Kallistus Kal raised a brow. “And, pray tell, how can you possibly aid me?”

“Against the Fal-Deus,” Arthur said as he placed a hand on his chest. “I have been in your position before, and I know you are being manipulated by a power beyond your control. You may think that following the will of the Void is going to give you what you seek, however, that is not true.”

That seemed to pique the [Hero King]’s interest. He stood there as he mouthed an, “Oh?”

“I know it may be difficult for you to believe,” Arthur continued. “But you are merely a pawn being used by the Fal-Deus. It has no intention of fulfilling its end of this bargain— whatever bargain— you have struck with it. So please, believe me when I say it is lying to you—”

“I know,” the [Hero King] replied simply.

He raised his head as Arthur paused. The bartender blinked a few times.

“...what?”

Kallistus Kal just stepped forward as he smiled. “I understand that. However, that is why I must—”

And his eyes flickered with a purple light as his voice boomed out.

“Dispose of you.”

As he spoke, a blast of purple flames shot out, engulfing Arthur in his entirety.

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