What? Hero status removed…

This is bad…

Very bad …

Why did this happen so soon?

The monotone voice of the system resounded throughout my head once more.

[System message: defining criteria for [The Hero] have been breached on multiple occasions. By definition you can no longer be classified as [The Hero].

Initializing revaluation process…

…

…

Revaluations complete: Title:[Fallen Hero] granted.

Error: Requirements for related powers not met.

[Holy Sword] has been renamed to [Sword of the Fallen]. Effects of sword will remain the same.]

[Fallen Hero]…?

Vinoessa exclaimed with great haste:

“What Just happened!”

I replied to her in a succinct and concise yet truly shocked manner:

“It seems.. I am no longer [The Hero]”.

Vinoessa had a face full of shock that, over time, subsided into one of quiet grimace.

In a rather fearful yet apologetic way she replied:

“I apologise; as the blame falls on me for the loss of your position in what, to you, must be a new world.”

I replied in a thoughtful tone:

“That is not what you should be worried about. I loathed the position to begin with. The thing I am more worried about is the chance that another hero may arise from this. If the rules are the same here as in the … old world then only one hero can exist at once. The fact that I have fallen from my position as [The Hero] leaves the possibility that another one could arise from some gap in reality; from whatever hellscape they crawl out from.”

Vionessa had a face of hard contemplation as she muttered various ends, and means to those ends, under her breath originating from what she knew. I have seen this face far too often for my own liking. That is the face of someone who is trying to escape a hole; by digging a tunnel through the centre of the planet. With each possibility Vinoessa thought up a short dismissal would follow and more distress would stack onto the already large mound of uncertainty she had on what to do next. I presume she is using my displayed power as a point of reference for how strong the hero would be. Well I cannot say anything for myself. A being that can ignore the linear passage of time is too strong for me to defeat with my current strength. Any infinitesimal times infinity will always equal infinity in the given scope of things staying the way they are. If the hero loses… try again each time getting stronger. Me? one chance; if I lose on any occasion the demons will fall soon after.

In the end she said in a disturbed manner:

“I’m going to need to talk with my superior on this turn of events. I don’t have the authority, or the power, to take any actions under these conditions.”

I sat on the bed with a pensive expression. What are the most logical steps I can take to prevent the cycle?

The thing I have above others in my position is hindsight and knowledge on how [The Hero] operates. I have to be honest with myself another hero will appear if the humans are attacked. I could incite a coup d'etat… no, that would lead to a civil war. Well that’s not important; the information stolen from the king was unreliable and cannot be used as a frame of reference for normality within this world. Nor do I want to excessively use [Absolute Apprehension] as it is one of the most taxing spells I know and it is not ready for use. Mabey I can after I refine it more?

“Very well shall we get back to your superiors?”

I asked having come up with no conclusion as there were far too many variables to make anything more than weak contingency plans that would not be able to clear the root of the problem; the hero that will without a doubt arise from somewhere or another.

“We?” she asked confused.

“Well, didn’t I say that I would follow you back” I said in an equally confused way.

She said, with varying levels of anticipation and worry,

” It is great that you wish to come with me but are you sure that it is a good idea for you to come? The trip is long… and let’s just say tensions are high in the demon race at the moment.”

I looked at her and thought that her repertoire of magic must not encompass speed or space based methods of transport. Well this suits me as the most important thing to do at the moment is to not make any rash actions that would jeopardize the current situation. I do have an idea… will that work? Well I guess it is worth a shot. As to the second point, I am pretty sure my [Transformation Magic] will be up to the job.

“I have no qualms as I also know [Transformation magic] and I need time to think things over and do something.”

Vinoessa let out a resigned sigh and grumbled out in a snarky manner “Of course Vacare knows how to use one of the rarest, race specific, magic’s of the demon race.”

Does she really hold such elementary magic in high regard? If I remember correctly the base magic encoding was obtained from a rare genetic mutation of the succubae race… but that was very long ago. After that part of the genome was mapped and re-encoded into a simple to understand magic formation it became an elementary magic for its ease of use. From this I can see that, in this world, it is still a unique magic as the magic formation for it has yet to be invented.

I replied in a slightly understanding manner

“Well I am sorry that I downplayed the rarity of your innate magic.”

She became flustered and said :

“Don’t listen to my incoherent ramblings… [1]”

She became composed and continued :

”Anyway that’s not the point, when will you be ready to leave for the [Demon Capital Lusteria]?”

“I will be ready at the time of closest convenience for you.” I replied.

She said

“Very well then I will be ready by tomorrow morning as I will have to cover up any trace of me ever being here. Personally I think it would be best to find accommodations outside the castle. The power of my influence can only go so far and some people may… let’s just say ‘greet’ you.”

I feel that what she says is for the best. Many people in the castle, for whatever reason, will try to eliminate me; expel me or set me up on false charges. The upper echelons of the Kingdome of Calradia are rotten to their core and cannot be trusted under any circumstances.

I followed up with:

“I will do just that then. I will settle my own accommodations and expenses; there is no need to worry about me. Let’s depart at the east gate at around high noon tomorrow then?”

She nodded and finished our conversation. She led me outside of the room; we ascended the stairs to the battlements, opening and closing both doors on the way out.

The townscape below me was a sea of dim orange candles with the odd brighter [Magic Light] swimming amongst them. I said goodbye; activated an intermediate, self-made, magic and jumped from the battlements into the metropolis below.

----------------------------------------------------POV Vionessa---------------------------------------------------------------

I stood there with my mouth agape. What the hell did Vacare just do?

It took a good minute of being in awe before I realised I was standing just looking into the ether. I personally am glad from the bottom of my being that Vacare is so reasonable and has sided with us. The matter with the hero is disconcerting but that is in the far future and because Vacare is with us I’m sure we can do something.

What Vacare did earlier only reinforced this. It happened nearly too fast for me to see but It seemed that he, on the spot, casted a magic formation that generated multiple other formations with various unknown functions. The barrier spell surrounding the castle was hijacked and completely recoded to make a small hole in it that he jumped through. The random, constantly reforming, formations of all colours then reverted the barrier into its original state then self-purged itself; removing any signs of it ever being cast in the process. This happened in no less than one second and it would have looked like just a blur to anyone of a lesser rank then me. He travelled at a terrifying speed beyond my own.[2]

---------------------------------------------POV Vacare-----------------------------------------------------------------

I landed in a place far from the still busy main streets. It was a dark and secluded alley with large overhanging buildings flanking either side. The night sky was just barely visible below a canopy of clothes lines and various other ropes running from one building to another. The alley was illuminated by incandescent candles giving the entire scene a tangerine hue. No one had seen my descent from the citadel that was around 1km away from my current position. The houses were dilapidated and the entire place exuded a sense of being rundown. The alley had very few people traversing its various twists and turns. The people who were passing by seemed to be of unlawful descent; though that could just be presumptuous pontification on my behalf. Though I do see myself as a good judge of character I can sometimes be wrong. The entire street seemed to emanate out an almost unbearable pungent, acrid scent. The best way to describe it would be the scent of cheap alcohol; left to ferment for a century or two too long.

I looked to get towards a main street as fast as possible to avoid any possible conflict as I am already greatly fatigued and can go without the obligatory random ruffian appearing. But, in a timely fashion, as ever, I came round a corner and lone behold.

“Eh? Who is this brat?”

A man, no, a thug mumbled out; blatantly being heavily under the influence of alcohol.

At times like these I can only lament that [Mind Magic] only manipulates logical reasoning. I.e. someone without the ability to logically reason will be immune to the effects of most [Mind Magics] as the nature of the magic itself is to modify the freewill/impulse of a person. The man was with two others all of average build stature and of no notable features. I would normally use [Perception Magic](The system of magic used for external surveillance, perception and detection) but it is highly cumbersome to use constantly and I thought the public order of the capital would not be so abysmally low.

They looked to be leaving an, almost out of place, inn; In the respect that the amount of attentive care in the maintenance and aesthetics of the interior and exterior of the building were abnormally high relative to surrounding buildings.

“Oi! Kid you listening?”

The Ruffian said. While drawing a rusty sword; so blunt and crooked, it might as well be called a metal stick

“I have no desire to fight. This is neither the time nor the place to be doing such a thing.”

I said in a slightly annoyed tone.

“Hehehe I don’t thin- *Cough*…. ”

I looked towards the ruffian with a menacing glare clearly relaying the message ‘You are courting death’. It looks like he got the memo.

“Beat it.” I commanded in a slightly indifferent but undeniably cold manner.

“We will need some help with him. Let’s go for now.”

One of the ruffians said and the other ones let out discontented grunts but swiftly complied. I had already gone to the deliberation to use transformation magic to normalise my appearance to the point where I wouldn’t stand out. I had a regular build; almond hair and grey eyes. I looked like the average adolescent by this world’s standards. I also attempted to mask my demeanour as best as possible by ‘acting my age’; though this facade was let down once or twice

I thought the inn before me was well kept enough to at least give it a look as the onset of fatigue is becoming more of an issue. The inn itself had no defining features; neither did it have a particularly notable sign. The sign seemed only temporary as it was a block of wood with the word ‘INN’ engraved into it. If the sign wasn’t there it would be hard to tell apart from an abnormally well-kept house; relative to the area it is located.

I moved towards the sturdy ,and almost immaculate, front door. Abnormally the door handle was coated in a fine layer of blood… fresh blood. This was greatly foreboding appearance. I hurriedly tried open the door to only find it locked. I feel this is a situation that requires some level of intervention. I used another of my self-made magic’s and the door unlocked soon after and I entered the room.

I looked across the scene playing out before me with lamentation and anguish. The bottom level of the inn was a tavern. The stools and tables were flung about in a disorderly manner with many being broken. The floor was flooded with a mix of various alcoholic beverages. The walls were very clean in places where they hadn’t been damaged by stools or stained by the aforementioned alcoholic beverages. The floor was littered with glass shards that evidently originated from the smashing of the various glass drinking vessels a tavern would typically have.

However the most notable and disconcerting imagery within the room was a female of the age of 30; by human standards. Her hair was emerald green and build was of standard proportions. She was wearing an unremarkable grey tunic that was mostly hidden by a white frilly apron. By the looks of things she was of the draconian sub-denomination of the demon race. She had two ivory, jagged horns protruding from her head and a lizard like tail falling from the base of her spine.

Well, that is what she should have looked. The mass in front of me could barely be called a draconian. One of her horns was forcibly torn from her head and was impaling her straight through the centre of her stomach as blood cascaded from her mouth. Her appendages were shattered into angles they shouldn’t have been able to reach or were missing entirely. A pool of blood was mixed into the already large amount of alcohol covering the floor. Her nose was broken and jaw was dislocated. Large patches of her hair had seemingly been forcibly torn out. One of her eyes had a shard of glass deeply lodged into it; as tears of blood fell relentlessly with tears down her cheeks. The other eye was fluctuating between looking towards the third being in the room with great sorrow and the ether.

There was a small half-draconian child, of around the age of 10, with incredibly similar features to the assumed mother. She was crouching over her mother; hysterically mumbling out in a despondent and truly melancholic manner:

“Mommy, are you ok? Mommy…”

Her slit irises were dilated to the point of being almost non-existent. At that point she let out a blood-curdling whale of utter unadulterated despair and terror.

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

The sound reverberated throughout the room and resounded across the entire borough. Ghosts of the past echoed throughout my head and hundreds of scenes similar to this one played out before my eyes. I became full of a terrifying malice that I quickly took under my control with [Emotional Eradication]. The transgressors of such deeds will meet there untimely end all in good time. The woman is still alive; that is more than enough.

I encroached upon the small girl and swiftly chopped the back of her neck sending her unconscious. She does not need to see any more of this travesty. The heavily injured draconian looked at me with eyes of fear and anger.

“Le-ve he- her alon-*Cough*e”

Blood overflowed from her mouth with every syllable she spoke. I replied in a calming manner:

“I am not here to hurt you…”

I guess this would be a fitting time for me to explain the magic I specialise in. I am most proficient in [Recursive Magic] where a magic formation is used to call multiple predefined effects that are invoked at intervals dictated by the base formation. This allows for huge flexibility in the use of magic as you can use each effect as a building block and stack them up with different timings and in different orders to get various effects; especially if you know a colossal amount of applicable effects to apply to the base formation. This magic is incredibly rare as it was rather inefficient and it was difficult to get even the most basic of effects out of it. But, through hundreds of years of careful tentative refinement, it became one of the most flexible and potent types of magic I have seen so far. The effects themselves are specifically made magic formations that will trigger upon predefined invocation points within the base formation(s). [3]

However this is not the only magic I’m proficient in as I am also at a [Grandmaster] level in [Nullification Magic] (The magic system specialising in the nullification of phenomena) and [Darkness Magic](The system of magic that has control over the element of darkness)[3]

In the case of the Draconian woman that could only be called a corpse I used one of my higher level self-made magic’s [Event Nullification] (A magic that has the power to reject events that have happened to any living object for up to a hour). This magic is a combination of the effects of [Nullification Magic] and the control of [Recursive magic]. This particular magic was quite taxing as it was a combination and specific application of two magic systems.

I casted the magic; Two grey magic formations appeared above and below the draconian; both two meters in diameter and spinning in opposing directions. The two formations ascended and descended respectively; trading places in the process. They then both shone brightly scattered into innumerable yellow and grey formations that appeared in damaged regions all over her body .All her injuries were inverted and, over time, she reverted to her original form.

This was of great relief for me. She seemed to have fallen unconscious from the excruciating pain brought about by the process of inverting the damage. At this point I was in a daze. I used a high level barrier magic on the door and put the two to sleep. All the rooms within the inn were vacant. I fell down into one of the beds in a vacant room and, without a second thought, succumbed to the mounting fatigue and journeyed into the land of dreams.

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[1] Ba-BAKA Vinoessa = Tsundere character type confirmed 2015.

[2] OP ness building in process.

[3] Basically functions in a programming context. :L

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I'm tired. The chapter was written over two weeks so expect it to be disjointed with broken engrish.

Thanks for reading and leave your criticisms, plot holes, corrections advice or thoughts below :)