"I will do my best to heal Alfia." He declared firmly.
"And Black Dragon… I'll take care of you too." His voice was calm but powerful, like a vow etched into the heavens themselves.
"By then, evil will no longer exist. The good will know joy. And all suffering… shall become a thing of the past."
His gaze turned toward the horizon, as if peering through the veil of fate.
"Orario will usher in true light and peace. I will make that dream a reality."
Then, he turned to Zald and said, voice steady, "So, you don't need to sacrifice yourselves anymore."
That statement alone was enough to shake Zald to his core.
Akira didn't believe that the so-called Evilus could truly threaten Orario. If they could, they wouldn't have needed Erebus to bring out two trump cards just to stir up chaos.
In the golden warmth of twilight, Akira seemed wrapped in a soft halo, his silhouette glowing with an almost sacred brilliance.
Zald gazed at him, and in his heart, a certain name echoed, the name granted to this boy by the goddess Astraea.
Morning Star.
The brightest light that appears just before the dawn. A star that shines alone in the deepest darkness, heralding the coming of day.
In this moment, Akira was exactly that.
The Morning Star of their new era.
"…So that's how it is." Zald murmured under his breath, a tremor in his voice as emotion swelled in his chest.
He finally understood the meaning behind Astraea's choice and the reason she pinned such high hopes on this boy.
Zald's hardened face softened, warmth glowing in his chest as he looked upon Akira. Without another word, he stepped forward and put a massive hand on the boy's shoulder—solid, heavy, and filled with trust.
He said with conviction, "Akira, just from those words alone, I believe you can do it."
Then, Zald grinned and added with a trace of mischief, "Don't worry. Since we're still alive, we have no intention of being anyone's stepping stones."
Who the hell wants to be a noble sacrifice if they can still walk around breathing and cursing?
Akira blinked in surprise at his response, but then burst into a relieved laugh.
"Uncle, that's more like it. Why be a stepping stone when we can just rewrite our destinies together?"
Zald let out a hearty chuckle and nodded in agreement. "That's right. I, Zald, have survived all kinds of storms and disasters. But being remembered in history as some kind of villain or pawn? No thanks."
If the end was coming, and he only had a few days left to live, then fine. He'd gladly cover himself in mud and bear the mark of a sinner. But things had changed now.
Akira gave a satisfied nod and rose to his feet, dusting off his clothes. "Then it's settled. I have to return and make preparations."
He turned back, his smile calm and assured. "Uncle, if you can convince Alfia… meet me back here at the church tomorrow."
He waved a hand in farewell. "See you then."
Zald watched Akira's figure as he strode toward the church doors, gradually swallowed by the fading twilight. His face softened into a grateful smile.
He remained standing there for a while, silent, as the last light of dusk slipped away, and night descended.
— — —
"Haah... After all that, it feels like there's somuch left to do. My head's spinning already."
Akira ambled down West Street, hands casually folded behind his head, mumbling to himself with a tired expression.
As expected, the two "Overlords" brought in by Erebus had stirred up Evilus' movements considerably. It had turned the city into a hot mess.
The Astraea Familia and Ganesha Familia were now working at full throttle. The so-called guardians of the city, Alise and her companions, were too busy even to catch a proper breath, let alone sneak in a romantic date with Akira.
At most, Alise would throw herself into Akira's arms at night for a brief cuddle session—purely to recharge energy, of course.
"Ugh… and now I have to treat that snarky lady tomorrow." Akira groaned, puffing his cheeks. "No idea if it'll even work."
To ease his gloom, he tilted his head back and looked skyward.
Magic gently stirred around him like a considerate partner, guiding him through the throng of pedestrians with surprising elegance.
All around him, vendors hawked their wares, and parties of adventurers bustled by, creating a noisy but vibrant tapestry of city life.
Unlike his previous world, where one had to rely on telescopes to glimpse the stars, here, the heavens spread openly before him.
Like a grand velvet curtain scattered with glittering gems. A masterpiece painted just for dreamers.
Then—
BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!
A sudden roar shook the air, tearing through the serenity. Flames burst into the night sky, and thick smoke billowed toward the stars. The light of the explosion momentarily eclipsed the moon itself.
Akira froze, the corner of his lips twitching.
"…Am I really this unlucky?"
Panic spread like wildfire. The once calm crowd erupted into chaos.
Akira squinted toward the direction of the explosion and muttered, "Hmm… isn't that the magic stone processing plant?"
He clicked his tongue and sighed.
Sigh... the life of a protagonist really never gives you a break.
Without hesitation, he turned and stepped into a dark alley nearby, his movements fluid.
As he stared into the shadowy depths of the narrow passage, Akira couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "Am I Ultraman or something? It's not like I'm going to transform or save the world in a flash. I'm literally just teleporting to check things out. Why am I being so dramatic?"
He grumbled at himself, face full of helplessness. Still, as if acting on instinct, he raised his hand. His fingers glowed with a soft azure hue as he activated one of the hidden magic circles he had carefully inscribed near the magic stone plant.
The air shimmered faintly as magic surged through the intricate lines, the blue light dancing like ripples on a lake.
Inside the scorched ruins of the Magic Stone Processing Factory, the explosion had left a deep scar but it was in Warehouse No. 3 where the real battle was raging.
Kaguya's silhouette danced like a whirlwind through the flames. Her blade shimmered under the flickering firelight, swift and merciless. With each swing, Evilus members fell—one blow, one body.
Just beside her, Lyra hurled several explosive bombs with trained precision.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Each blast rocked the warehouse, creating waves of fire and smoke that shielded the girls' movement and disoriented the enemies.
Sparks rained from the ceilings, debris flew through the air, and the whole place was engulfed in thick smoke, it was near impossible to see anything past a few steps.