Why must the devil be Defeated?

"————"

Silence.

A deathlike silence.

When that world-shaking power burst forth from Moro's body, all sounds between heaven and earth seemed to vanish.

Someone sensed something, their expression drastically changing.

Someone noticed nothing, showing a look of confusion.

Some exchanged glances, uncertain and wary.

Some were palpitating, feeling that something momentous had happened.

And the people of the Empire were still astounded, panicked, and at a loss due to the pitch-black sky and the blood-red earth.

They were completely unaware that at that moment, a terrifying being was born into this world.

"You...!"

In mid-air, Shane's expression also changed.

For, his deadly strike with the Holy Sword, at that moment, was actually blocked by Moro with one hand.

Moro's mouth was smeared with blood, and his body still bore fatal wounds, yet the oppressive and imposing aura he emitted was now beyond compare.

Under such circumstances, Moro spewed blood while extending a clawed hand, firmly grasping the Holy Sword Shane had slashed at him.

On that hand, astonishing Death Qi fluctuated, even as the Holy Sword's radiance continuously purified it, it still seemed to boil vigorously, blocking the Holy Sword.

"Get lost!"

Moro, like a dying flash of brilliance, shouted at Shane.

The terrifying Death Qi exploded from Moro's body, instantly overwhelming the heavens and the earth.

"Bang—!"

The pitch-black sky shattered, revealing the originally clear skies.

"Bang—!"

The blood-red earth broke apart, allowing the brown soil and green forests and grasslands to return.

The sacrificial Magic Array that Moro had spent a whole ten years setting up under the Empire's ground also vanished at this moment, quietly ending its mission as if it had accomplished its purpose.

Only the most terrifying large-scale Death Qi that had ever erupted from Moro's body informed everyone that everything that had just occurred was no dream.

"Bang—!"

Shane didn't even have time to react before he was blasted away by the incoming terrifying Death Qi.

The Holy Sword's radiance enveloped Shane, reducing 99% of the damage, and the remaining 1% was nearly completely absorbed by the "Inner Destiny."

However, Shane still felt a painful sensation he hadn't experienced in a long time, as if he had been fiercely hit by a mountain thousands of meters high, his head ringing and nearly losing consciousness.

"Roar!"

You Lin immediately surged up from below, catching Shane with her body but also got knocked back hundreds of meters by the impact, unable to suppress a groan of pain.

Moro's released power was terrifying to this extent.

"Spurt!"

But Moro, who had unleashed the most terrifying power, actually spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, her injuries seemingly worsening, causing her immense pain.

Undoubtedly, Moro had now obtained the most startling power in this world, becoming one of the pinnacles of this world.

It was even a realm that transcended the limits of life itself, reaching true Transcendence, a state even "Reason" could not bind.

But Moro knew what entering this realm meant for her.

It meant that her life was also coming to an end.

Not because her body had been messed up by the Holy Sword's power, leaving her on her last breath.

Nor was it because the battle wasn't over yet, and even with such power, victory wasn't necessarily guaranteed.

Moro's life coming to an end was something that had been anticipated a long time ago.

After all...

"Looks like a 'Fake' like me really can't accept the power of the Branch of Resurgence..."

Moro, feeling the incredibly powerful force inside her body, showed an intoxicated expression while also realizing that her very existence was gradually being eroded by this power.

She believed that before long, this Great Spirit Body, both shattered and "borrowed" from someone else, would completely collapse.

Moro wasn't sad or disappointed, only utterly satisfied.

Because reaching this point was exactly what she had planned, what she had hoped for.

Her mission, up to this moment, was completely accomplished.

Next...

"If I could kill this detestable Hero before I die, my merit would be complete."

Moro shifted her gaze to Shane, who was caught by You Lin and swaying his head on her back, barely standing.

A flicker of murderous intent flashed in her eyes.

"Boom!"

The next second, Moro, regardless of her internal injuries, unleashed all her power.

That power transformed into endless Death Qi, like a black fog that obscured the sky, soaring high into the clouds.

The terrifying pressure enveloped the whole world, causing countless people to stare at the sky in horror.

"This is bad...!"

Completely unsure of what to do, Tielle and Cappelen, holding Harvis, both turned pale.

Rocque, Sarilo, and others were the same, all struck with horror.

If it could be said that before, Moro's power was enough to wipe the entire Imperial Palace off the surface of the earth, then at this moment, the power she unleashed could surely erase not just the Imperial City but the entire Empire from the surface.

That terror, strong enough to sink continents, made countless people horrified and desperate.

Moro was ready to expend her last bit of strength to erase Shane and the entire Empire together.

This was her ultimate revenge against the Hero and the Land of the Brave.

"Die!"

Moro issued his final decree.

Thus, a world-destroying Death Qi Storm formed in the air, rapidly condensing until it became a massive dark energy mass resembling a pitch-black sun. Driven by Moro, it plummeted toward the earth.

It was a sign of the apocalypse.

It was the embodiment of "death" itself.

When that "pitch-black sun" fell upon the earth, everything beneath would be erased.

The people of the Imperial City stood agape, watching the dark sun, larger than the city itself, slowly descending with no further reaction.

Including Tielle and Cappelen.

"It's over..."

Cappelen's face turned deathly pale.

"..."

Tielle bit her lip hard, bitterness involuntarily surfacing in her eyes.

Rocque, Sarilo, Tilly, Geno, and others trembled, their faces bitter, fists clenched, or fell to the ground. None chose to resist.

That power was beyond human means to contend.

If one were to say, in the Human Realm, that there was anyone who could compete with that force, there would be only one.

——"Hero."

"Die?"

Shane finally stood from You Lin's back, gazing up at the slowly descending black sun in the sky and roared in anger.

"To hell with dying!"

On Shane, a magnificent blaze erupted, brighter than ever before.

In his hand, the light from the mightiest Holy Sword burst forth, transforming into a golden brilliance, illuminating heaven and earth.

Immediately, the Hero soared into the sky.

Like in every legend told through the ages, wielding the most powerful weapon capable of defeating the Demon King, shining light on the hopeless hearts of the people.

It was a rebirth of myth.

It was the making of a history that would become myth.

Even countless years later, this scene would still be etched in the hearts of everyone who witnessed it.

This was the first and most dazzling stroke of the Hero, summoned to this world after a thousand years, painted in this era.

Thus, the pitch-black sun fell.

And thus, a bright blaze and brilliant golden light transformed into a shooting star streaking across the sky.

As if countless years passed, or perhaps just a second, they collided above the Imperial Palace under the watch of countless onlookers.

The impact and brilliance, like Mars colliding with Earth, erupted.

"■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■————!"

An indescribably terrifying boom sounded in midair.

The atmosphere was obliterated by a ring-shaped shockwave.

Countless people on the ground were swept away by the sudden violent winds.

One building after another shook and even began to crack and crumble under the roar and winds.

Above the Imperial City, a devastating impact appeared and exploded directly.

That day, many people witnessed this scene.

Underneath that impact, the Imperial City bore the scariest of repercussions, although not destroyed, it was nearly reduced to ruins with much damage.

No one saw, at the center of the impact, the Holy Sword's slash broke through the pitch-black Death Qi, the fearsome impact, and the massive energy orb like the sun, cutting it in two.

Wrapped in dazzling flames, the figure holding the brilliant golden light appeared to be scorched, streaming with smoke, tattered as it shot into the sky.

In the end, he came before the one responsible for all of this.

"...!?"

Moro, spitting blood continually, watched this scene, his eyes widening suddenly.

"Impossible..."

"Impossible" — this word, Moro couldn't utter.

"Phew!"

Cutting through all despair, the Holy Sword once again sliced through space and time, striking Moro, effortlessly cutting him in half.

Moro was split by this truly lethal slash, turned into fragments, and collapsed on the spot.

"Cough...!"

Within the splendid blaze, Shane coughed up blood, his body like a kite with its string cut, no longer able to hold on, and plummeted toward the ground.

This time, You Lin would not catch him again.

You Lin had been blasted away by the terrible impact, whereabouts unknown.

Shane fell directly toward the earth.

Until...

"Bang!"

Nearby, the only surviving black Evil Barrier from that terrible impact suddenly exploded.

Inside, the small Goddess finally reappeared, fluttering her twelve pairs of black wings at astonishing speed, dashing toward where Shane was.

Quickly, the small Goddess successfully caught Shane.

The Goddess gently looked at the Hero in her arms.

Together, the two descended toward the direction of the Imperial City below.