"N-No…" Alyndra's voice cracked, "No! No!" his face growing so pale one could miss it for a child who just lost his entire family in a car crash.

At first, just a spark crackled on his armor's protective layer. He instantly called upon every bit of his gravity, trying to lessen the flames by distancing himself from his body, but the gravity itself became the fuel for the flames to rage even more.

"Light Magic: Light of regenerating phoenix." Alyndra's hands moved at unbelievable speeds, making countless hand signs as he used multiple healing spells. But, it didn't matter; his arcana will eventually run out, and he knew that as he looked at us with a dazed look.

"This is also the future you saw?" I asked with a teasing chuckle, which soon died to be an expressionless look. This fight was so fucking close that I didn't even feel a desire to mock him properly.

Alyndra shook his head dejectedly, shutting his eyes close as he raised both his arms, "In your hands, O Eternity, I humbly return with this life to you.

Embraced thee with your tender love; welcome me beside thy glorious home. I feel no sorrow, no weeping or pain, but fullness of peace and joy as I bid farewell to this temporary world for your eternal. Praise the Goddess."

But ironically enough, as he prayed, tears were running freely from his eyes. They clearly weren't tears of acceptance of death, but dread. Though they burned as quickly as they escaped his burning eyes.

The violent red flames spread rapidly, melting his bones through his armor, lighting his head and beautiful, long hair on flames as he still stood tall, regenerating like a vampire.

"Let go, why don't you?" Kael suddenly said in a rather soft tone, his entire body was trembling, knees wobbling like they were begging him not to force them to stand.

His back cried as he forced his spine straight, even though it was shattered with a wide hole at the bottom. I knew what he wanted: to keep standing still, even as he died.

"There's always a chance for me to survive if I stay alive long enough." He replied without opening his eyes, in between chanting "Praise the goddess" in a low voice.

"I doubt someone as cynical as you believes in hope," Alya said in a tired voice as I gave her a hand for her to stand up.

We shared a look as violent warmth exploded and surged through our bodies. As if our regeneration were a dam holding back an entire tsunami, rushed to heal our bodies like a flood. Unbearable exhaustion had vanished completely almost in an instant.

I could even feel my leg growing inch by inch painfully. I nodded at Alya, who immediately understood my intentions, rushing to use her healing skill on Kael.

"You two… There's no point to it." Kael said with a warm, grateful smile. "I have traded all my lifespan but four minutes. Even if you heal me, I will turn to ashes anyway.

Don't waste your energy on me; others need it more." Kael tapped the head of sobbing Sasha, who was bleeding from the abdomen and looked incredibly pale, stopping Alya mid-sprint.

Alya's pupils dilated as she looked at me like a lost child. I could only lower my head.

Shen sighed deeply as a soft smile brightened his wrinkled face, "Hero really does suit you as a title…"

His voice deepened as he pulled Kael in a fatherly hug, "I had seen countless 'Heroes'. Human heroes felt hesitation saving even a beast kin who are fairly accepted, and beast kin heroes weren't any better."

He tightened his hug as Kael smiled, returning the hug as Shen continued, "You gave your life for a vampire. When the hero organization had ordered all members to think of vampires as Onis. When Racism for vampires is greater than anything. When you were literally told to sleep, or a vampire would kidnap you, growing up…

Most could never ignore everything and do what you did. I had never respected a man this much before. Rest in peace, boy." His voice cracked at the end.

I placed my hand on Alya's head, ruffling her smooth hair. Alya's head was fully lowered, her pupils shaking, but they stopped shaking as she felt my hand, a tear flowing down her glowing red eye.

Kael stayed silent for a long moment. Then he nodded once. "I don't know if it makes me a hero… But, I know it makes me a liar." His arms loosened around Shen.

"I hope…" With a bitter smile, he said softly, "I hope she understands one day."

"It's not hope, vampire," Alyndra said vampire like it was a slur. His head slowly glanced at the ceiling, making a Tch sound as there was only darkness and wide cracks, like he was expecting a peaceful sky.

"[Eye from tomorrow] evolved just a moment back. I had seen the end of another possibility. In that, I appeared to have lost, but in the end, I was walking away alive." His now charcoal black mouth curled upwards in a smile. "Maybe, something will happen."

"I have to doubt that." Subaru shook his head as he extended his right leg, lowering his body, and raised his silver katana towards the giants who were merely meters away.

"You are certainly smart. That was barely a Saint-grade artifact, but you tampered with its programming and used it in a way that it was able to get an advantage over me.

I understand your thoughts regarding humans very well, as well. That's a rare mindset for a mortal. But that future might just be a form of coping that your mind developed. I repeat hero's words, you're better off stopping regeneration."

As he observed Alyndra's resolute expression, he added further with a sigh, "…I can see the angels of your god's divine kingdom lurking over you. They possess a similar signature to the chant you chanted. Focus on your hearing, they are playing violins and singing, only you are to hear."

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