The first sentence that came to the Hero's mind was: "What the hell kind of witchcraft is this?
My boy, I think you've lived long enough to not be shocked to see magic. However, he was right to be surprised because what he was seeing was not magic! This shocked everyone in the audience or at home. At the Grave house, all the children were ecstatic to see their protector flying over the Hero, Lelelitio, carrying the baby orc named Hir'kra, was elated to see his lover and friend capable of such an act.
- Liline, I am so proud of you.
Nevertheless, for the other inhabitants of the upper part of the city, especially the fairies... what a humiliation he had just suffered! It was not uncommon for people to use levitation spells, even that was forbidden in the most populated parts of the kingdom so as not to create accidents - while there were few people who had the level in the whole kingdom to use levitation spells to fly. However, what Malalalivia had used to fly was in no way magic, no incantations, no magic circles, no glyphs, no amulets or any other foreign magic. People immediately remembered what it meant to be a Grave, to belong to the lineage of the fourth Fighter-King, the fallen one. Malalalivia Talemilia had human blood in her and therefore, possessed a genetic attribute. They could accept it from a human like the Hero, but never, ever, a fairy, especially of royal blood, would know how to use the powers of a human being in inhospitable territory towards these so-called humans.
But the most troubled and humiliated here was of course the Wingless Fairy. She didn't care that she was a genetic attribute, that she had human blood or any other race. No, what she saw was the disgrace she had just inflicted on her, a disgrace so violent that it made her not want to exist anymore. She, who only wanted the throne to get wings to be like her peers, while she was pointed out many times the selfishness she showed because of her absurd wish, had in front of her eyes a woman who did not need the throne to acquire the wings she wanted to fly. And that's when she realized, it wasn't the fact of having the ability to fly like her companions but to be able to parade around like, what's the point of flying if she couldn't strut around with beautiful wings?
Malalalivia did not feel the heavy atmosphere that arose around her and in the whole kingdom, she was only proud of the impression she gave to the Hero. His amazed expression made her feel better.
- Amazing, isn't it...
The fairy received a stone in the back, she turned around to see where it could come from, then received a second one in the face hurting her forehead and letting her blood run down her face. She didn't understand what had just happened to her, and she didn't have time to think about it when she received other projectiles that ended up deflecting from their target. She tried to throw them back, but a strange rustling sound echoed among the onlookers, and then the rustling sound became audible enough to become a word: "Heresy" could be heard. This word was repeated and chanted by all the spectators, spitting it in Malalalivia's face without mercy. Whether it was the lowly people, the rich or the nobles, they all vomited their hatred in his face, without any shame.
Malalalivia did not know what to say, her lips trembling, she lowered her head, ashamed of the feat she had just done, ashamed of being what she is. She tried as best she could to hold herself back from crying, but the insults and projectiles - be they rocks, bricks or food - that were flying everywhere prevented her from containing herself.
Lelelitio, seeing the tumult that was created in the stadium, was enraged not to be able to intervene. The clenched fist his anger could not be contained, he had to intervene but who could take care of the children in his absence, if there was someone to keep them, he would be there.
- Band of...
- Why do they say these mean things to Livia?" the children asked.
- I... I don't know. It's just stupid grown-up stuff...
Suddenly, someone came to knock at their door, the baby in the arms, Lelelitio came to meet this impromptu visitor, he opened and saw Cassandra, the mule who was helped by Malalalivia during the canteen services.
- Uh... sorry but if you're looking for Malalalivia, she's...
- I know about you, I'm coming to you.
- Why?
- Your princess needs you.
- I can see that, and that's why we came!
- We?
Lelelitio looked over his shoulder and saw a gaggle of Netherland civilians standing behind Cassandra.
- You have to join her," said one of the residents.
The elf hesitated, but the children urged him on. Seeing that he had no choice, he set off for the arena.
In the arena, the insults continued to come from everyone without exception. Malalalivia tried to hold on, but fear and shame took root in her mind, she lost all desire to fight and prepared to give up. A queen whose people reject her legitimacy cannot be a good queen.
- Caesar, my queen, I want to...
- SHUT UP!" shouted the Hero.
All the cries of the terrible beasts ceased under the anger of the Hero, before one of them resumed calling him an "Abomination" or a "demon", "the spawn of the Feline", and they all ended up attacking the Hero as much as his opponent. Then the Hero gave in to his fury and raised his hand to the sky to call her. The one that was bound by chains, seals and other precautions easily escaped and pierced the ground and the royal castle to appear in the heart of the arena in the hand of the Hero. The Hero had just regained possession of the Nemesis' weapon, the Arm of the Titan Ymir.
- Stop!" the queen shouted at him.
But this one didn't care, he was going to settle this story as fast as it was provoked. He went against the one who had thrown the stone at Malalalivia's forehead, created a staircase of ice and was going to confront the person who had dared to throw the projectile by giving him a punch that sent him waltzing to the other end of the audience and before he landed, the Hero threw the cursed sword in his direction and crushed it against the ground with his two fists and pretended to want to slit his throat
- In honor of the promise I made to the Queen, I will not kill you. But know that I despise you more than anything. Who do you think you are to insult her? Can any of you claim to have accomplished as much as she has? Are you here shouting at her that she is a monster, a heretic? You want to observe what a monster is?
The Hero tore off his hood, his top, got rid of his leggings and tore off the fabric that was at the level of his shins, then, made his stain shrink to the point that it covered only his shoulders, his neck and his face. All his wounds were visible to everyone, from the suppurating scars, to the nodules that were appearing, to the alopecia that he had on his hair... All the inhabitants of Sylvania, all without exception, including the queen and the fairy who had given him a bath, discovered with fear the ravages of the unknown disease with which the hero had to live. Under the looks filled with disgust towards him, the members of the Hero tensed, he felt humiliated, but he had to hold on, he was not going to leave a girl as admirable as Malalalivia.
- You call Malalalivia Talemilia Grave, and yes I did say that cursed name, abomination, demon, waste, all because she had her wings amputated. Aren't you ashamed to be the source of her disability because you laugh at the poor? If she is in this situation it is because of this system that you have put in place, traditions without tail and head, and there are even those who were born without wings who are raising to be part of the whiners ...Now that you know the source of my nickname of Faceless-Demon, dare to insult me, dare to throw stones at me, because if that happens, I will reduce you to ashes with the weapon of the man who condemned you to live under a carbon sky, whether the queen fights me or not, I will live you because only he and God can kill me.
He came down from the stands to the battlefield and followed through with his threats.
- Whoever has the balls to still be a son of a bitch to insult him, get up, get down and face me, whether you're ten, twenty, a hundred, a thousand, a million or a billion, I'll beat you up and kill you all. If you want to fight me all at the same time, well come on, we'll fight like in a fucking battle royale!
"...like a fucking battle royale!", this last sentence too was uttered on the day of Audiselia's fight at the previous tournament by Elena. He didn't have the same blood, but they still managed to look alike. That didn't make her forget the horror of the Hero's body, that was what Elena had to deal with since she had taken him in, what hard work she had to do? How much pain must the Hero have been in without the various treatments he was getting in the hospital? His skin must have been completely inflamed. All the fighting he had done... The pain that must have resulted was unimaginable. How could he keep smiling?
Then the queen remembered that when she came, he did not have it. Helmir's descriptions and what the Fairy told him showed how much the Hero was suffering. And yet, there he stood, every month defending the honor of his princess, every day at Sawyer's trainings, and, to this day, chasing his mother's killer.
- It is simply...
- ... Unbearable, said the Queen's Saints rookie, how could a fifteen year old kid put up with that?
The Hero spread his curse all over his body and came back to Malalalivia and lifted her up.
- Kid, the fight goes on, right.
- But I can't fight you in this state.
- What are you talking about? We've been fighting ghosts and I've beaten all my opponents so far, so don't get cocky.
- Are you sure of yourself?
- Livia, do you want to show me that you are worthy of being the heroine of legend or not?
- Of course!
- So get back into the mindset that you came to fight with today because I will be merciless.
Malalalivia nodded and the two of them moved to a safe distance before Caesar called for the fight to resume. The Hero threw Ymir against one of the walls of the stadium and told the mages present to put their magical protective tarps around the audience to protect them from the final battle leading up to the tournament finale.
- Aren't you going to use this sword?
- Have you come to face the hero of the legend or the Faceless Demon?
The princess of the Basfonds answered only with a small sneer.
The Fairy had again taken for his rank. This time, there was no misunderstanding, she had understood very well what he was reproaching her for, and had done it in full view of everyone. As she had said earlier, she loves everyone and treats them with the same deference regardless of their status or not. Today she had found herself in the place of the slanderers, while yesterday she was the one protected by the Hero. She couldn't have changed because he had done the same for her, so maybe... she was selfish not just for the sake of her dream, but simply by nature? So did that mean she was embarrassed by the Hero's nature?
The queen was still amazed that the Hero had taken it upon himself not to cause diplomatic trouble by murdering a citizen of her kingdom. A few months earlier, she wouldn't know if he would have the same resilience, perhaps not going so far as murdering him but injuring him, she could be sure he would have one arm less - the punch is light.
- Who is this boy that you let him attack your people like this?" asked one of the ambassadors, "Isn't he critical of your regime?
- Oh let it be, he's my son, he's a little short-tempered," she smiled, "and as far as the plan is concerned, he's right, we've implemented new policies by getting rid of undesirable elements like the other misfit who tried to attack us.
The foreign dignitaries were astonished and murmured among themselves. The queen was not in the least interested in their palaver.
After putting "things in order", the Hero was obsessed with only one thing: the mysterious power of the Lowland Fairy that allowed him to fly and deflect objects. As they said, it wasn't levitation, but he didn't think it was psychokinesis or telekinesis, the deflection was abrupt. Usually, in everything he had observed, manipulations of this type created circular movements, not straight ones, especially since...
- You ask the nature of my power, kid?
- Huh? Huh? Yeah. Like you're gonna tell me?
- Why not? After all, you defended me, I'm willing to do you a favor.
- Either you underestimate me, or you're dumb enough to let me know, or... you have complete faith in this one.
- According to you.
Despite the confidence she displayed, the insults didn't seem to have dispersed in her mind, it's true that the shock must be quite violent since she had only stayed in the Nether with the outcasts for years being forbidden to go up to Upper Town before the tournament was set up or under the orders of the queen herself.
- Livia, if you want to face me, you'll have to clear your mind and forget what these people think of you, otherwise you won't be able to answer the question I asked you?
- What question?
The Hero dashed towards the fairy and attacked her.
- "Who and what are you fighting for, Malalalivia Grave?" is the question so that I can entrust you with the Heroic Will.
The fairy pushed him away and aimed at him with her double joust.
- So before answering this one, I'll answer you on the question of my power...
Suddenly the front javelin shot at him, he narrowly dodged it before it hit him.
- My genetic attribute is about... vector manipulation!
- What?
The Hero had not noticed that there was a chain attached to the javelin and he found himself with the javelin wrapped around him.
- It's not possible!" said the Hero, "You're going to tell me that you master all the vectors.
- Not all of them, the heat vectors and others that are not used in combat or that can disturb me, I do not use them, but indeed the gravity vector is very useful.
It increased the gravity around the Hero which made him bend his knees. He had not expected to encounter such power here. The range of possibilities with the power of vectors was endless, but the good news was that she did not have complete control over her power so he had to understand the limits of her power. He was strong enough to hold up against a gravity heavier than the earth's, but he needed to get out of the fairy's grip and thus break free of the chains of Malalalivia's weapon. Fortunately for him, he had made some modifications to his gloves. With a simple pressure on his wrist, the gloves turned into an armband and blades of fire came out of his elbows, he sawed the chains and turned them back into a glove and took off out of the pressure zone of his vector. He drew on the protective shield set up by the mages.
Malalalivia knew that she did not yet master her power strongly enough to maintain a being as strong as the hero of the legend but she knew that it was not completely out of reach, she was going to have to play more on the deflection of objects and others to be able to defeat him, fortunately, it was not her only assets. Today was her time and she was going to prove that she is worthy to be the hero of the legend.
The Hero took off again to run at her with a kick, but she deflected him from his trajectory and landed on the wall behind her. He quickly understood that Malalalivia's power would be no small matter to deal with. It was necessary that he identified correctly the operation of this genetic attribute before being trapped once again by this one.
Malalalivia went to pick up the other end of her weapon and re-packaged it so that it would become one. She won't be able to use the chain to capture it, so she'll have to be careful when she throws it back.
The Hero wanted to try an experiment. He went back to her, passing low to the ground, but once again, she deflected his trajectory. However, as he passed by her, he did not see that Nalo had untied one of his gloves, and it hit the chin of the lowland fairy who lost her concentration and withdrew her power from the Hero. The champion of the fabled fairy flew away to retrieve his accessory before it reached the heavens, then he came back down to Earth. His experiment was successful because what he suspected turned out to be true: Malalalivia's power really worked with the rules of vectors, it was not his whole body that was subject to Malalalivia's power but only the middle of his body, so if he detached himself from an object, it was not subject to his power.
- From the look of your satisfied face, you think you've understood my genetic attribute...
- Right, so let's get started!
The Hero sent a dense beam of fire to her which she dismissed, he charged at her and kicked her which she countered with her shield, Nalo used his shield to go behind her and put a double blow in the back of the fairy causing her intense pain which she endured and then turned around to put a javelin blow on him, he propelled himself backwards to dodge it. Then, the fairy cast a spell to create a sea of sharp rocks in the direction of the Hero, he ran to the wall behind him, climbed it before doing a backward somersault and propelling himself to the side with one of his repulsor gloves falling awkwardly on the ground.
He did a somersault? The Fairy was amazed, did he really succeed?
Yes. The Hero had indeed continued his flexibility and agility training even though they had stopped seeing each other and despite his injuries, he had managed to achieve enough flexibility to stop taking hits.
- Earth, you who were dust, become dust again and be my weapon to defeat my attackers: Sand magic: Piloris of the Dunes.
A jet of high pressure sand came out of the ground and rushed at the Hero, he narrowly dodged it by rolling but others came out of the ground and hit him, he countered his blows by sending beams of fire to counter them creating glass because of the heat generated. She repeated her attacks incessantly while pursuing him by flying. The Hero then surrounded her by creating a circle of fire around her that crystallized the sand on the ground, trapping her in a glass prison.
- If you think that's enough to stop me. The girl that Lelelitio told you about is no more, my powers and my magic are not limited to stone but to all minerals.
With a wave of her hand, she broke all the glass that was around her and sent them at the Hero who was flying in the air to dodge them. As he watched her, he realized another thing about her vectorial power: she had to stop in order to use it. So he fired a myriad of fireballs at her, but the fairy dodged them with barely any movement of her body, and instead of hitting the ground, they stagnated in the air before returning to the sender. Malalalivia's power went beyond simply deflecting projectiles or increasing gravity around a person, she had much more control over vectors than the Hero would have thought: as soon as an object was in her sight, no matter where it was, she could send it anywhere she wanted, it was as if she had a save point on it.
The fighter generated huge boulders that she sent at the Hero who spun around to dodge the first one before running on the second one and dashing at his opponent, except that he was taken by surprise by the return of these two boulders that hit him in the back and sent him back to the ground.
Damn, the attacks at distance against her, it's dead, thought the Hero, there is only the close combat that works on her... So let's speed up the pace.
He took out a crystal of magic and put it in the receptacle of his glove and began to produce lightning, but not just any lightning, that of Queen Audiselia. Nevertheless, the queen had warned him that compared to fire, her lightning was unstable and if he wasn't careful, he would suffer damage himself. However, there was no time to be cautious, he had to beat her at all costs, and if she wanted to answer the question, he would have to use one hundred percent of his strength.
Malalalivia did not resent the queen for supporting him since she was the one who had financed his current weapon. However, she knew that in the hands of the Hero, such power would surely not be taken lightly.
Without further ado Nalo charged Malalalivia with a jumping kick that she narrowly dodged, but it wasn't over, the Hero came charging back, whirling around, grabbing her arm and knocking her to the ground before getting back on her feet. Despite the fact that he was quite agile with his technomagic gear, moving with fire as a magical engine was different than having lightning. He was much, much faster than before.
The fairy got up with difficulty, not being prepared for such a speed, the celerity had increased exponentially, if he did not put himself on his speed, she would be caught short and would surely lose. The only way to counter this lightning speed was to create obstacles to stop him in his tracks since he was not yet used to this velocity.
As soon as she perceived that the hero wanted to run again, she created a stone field that hindered Nalo's run, making him hit rocks and not reach his target, and each time he tried to catch her in this way, the fairy repeated the process tirelessly until Nalo tired of running headlong into her obstacles.
Wounded, dripping with blood, the Hero exploded with anger and reduced all the obstacles that stood in front of him to ashes under a rain of electric shocks that fell everywhere on the ground.
Malalalivia dodged them all, but did not realize the smoke screen that Nalo had just created under his fake tantrum. She was surrounded by sand and dust, looking for the Hero with her eyes, since she could not be seen thanks to her magic, before spreading more lightnings coming to her. One of them missed her, but it was only a distraction to prevent her from realizing that in the dust Nalo was charging a super-powerful attack. Under the pressure of the energy of this attack, the dust dissipated leaving her to see, with her hands enjoined, a blue ball of fire from which lightning bolts were shooting out that crossed the crux of the palms of her Hero's gloves that had lengthened to become gauntlets.
- Let's see if you survive this!
Who had taught him such a maneuver? the queen wondered.
The ball of energy growing in the Hero's hands was far too powerful for anyone to have taught her in Sylvania. But the Fairy recognized it, well, she recognized the position the Hero had put himself in and the description he had given her when he told her about a book with pictures, a story about crystal balls scattered around the world.
There was no time to think, a gigantic beam of light and energy was projected against the adult winged fairy, but he forgot about his vectorial power which allowed him to change the trajectory of any physical body. However, the Hero suspected that while he was pleased to have used the attack of a hero he admired, it was only a distraction to catch her in the act. As she deflected the attack into the sky to bring it down to the ground so as not to create another week of heavy rain, the Hero appeared from behind the pillar of light, propelled by his left gauntlet, smiling, happy that his ploy had worked, he charged at the princess and slammed a right into her cheek sending her tumbling to the ground. The shock was so violent that her hair fell out and she started to spit blood.
He blew a good blow before putting his hands on his hips, disappointed by this beginning of fight.
- If this is all you have to offer me, I might as well give up the role of queen, fairy and heroine of the legend...
- And then what? bellowed Malalalivia, a trickle of blood coming out of her mouth, I have to honor my promise...
- What promise?
- To honor the two women from whom I borrowed the names!
- So that's your answer?
- Yes," said the fairy, rising to her feet, "this is my deepest conviction. I will protect those of the Nether, by honoring the memory of these two people.
Thanks to the magnetism provided by the queen's magic, the hero drew his sword to him and approached the princess.
- I'm sorry to tell you, but that's not enough.
He struck her a violent blow of sword that she managed to block just barely, the force of the blow made her whole body resonate. He struck much more violently than at the beginning of the fight. With the silence of the stadium because of their resentment towards the Hero - a silence that was just disturbed by Caesar's melodious comments - the blows sounded rather sinister, but no one except the queen and the holy knight took pity on the fairy's situation.
- Aveline..., said the Hero.
- It's not my name anymore!
- Avelinélia!" he repeated even louder with his full name, giving an even stronger blow with his sword, "if you only act through the promise you made to yourself in memory of yours, you will end up cursing them! Maybe you already did that when those jerks threw stones at you and spat at you, huh?
Malalalivia clenched her teeth before spitting at him:
- What would a fifteen year old human kid know about how an adult should be?
- What would a twenty-six year old fairy girl who has always lived here know about that kind of thinking, huh?" he retorted, kicking her in the stomach.
She ended up against the wall of the arena still spitting blood.
Caesar glanced at the queen to ask her if he should declare the Hero the winner of the battle before it went bad. The queen refused, she knew her apprentice, she was much tougher than that, but especially that outside the kingdom, apart from the queen, Sawyer, Globox, Lelelitio and Morvian, he had no competition, only the Fairy could perhaps stand up to him in terms of magic but never, ever, could she have him on the battle strategy or the battle itself. That's why she had to face the Hero: to see how far she could go.
Malalalivia got up and leaned against the magic barrier, glaring at the Hero.
- Do you really think I could do it, Nalo?
- Yes, he answered her dryly, during those moments of uncertainty when you don't know where these incessant fights are leading you, when you wonder if your choice is the right one, when you wonder, with your body still bruised, if it's better to let yourself die... Yes, Avelinélia, all these questions, I asked myself. Saddened, weakened, I cursed my mother and the first hero to make me live such an ordeal. And I came out of it with my decision. Now you have a choice, and your deepest motives will determine your choice. So tell me, what are your motivations?
The warrior princess stood guard.
- I told you before: I will honor my parents for taking care of me by taking care of others.
The Hero charged at her and tried to hit her, but the princess was barely saved by the rebound of the sword on the magic barrier. Then he started a series of sword strikes, without stopping, an unstoppable hammering. The Fairy could not counterattack because of the disarray that the interrogation of the Hero had left her with.
- So that's all they're worth? asked the Hero.
- Who is it?
- These children you take care of at home, of Lelelitio who takes care of you as much as you take care of him, of these filthy people who are starving, of these people martyred by the powerful whether they live with madness in the mire and the mud or in the high spheres of this fairy state... are they worth less than being the consequence of a promise you made to yourself?
- What are you talking about?
- Do you protect and care for them because of your promise or because you care about them, Avelinelia?
This last question echoed in the mind of the princess of the Underworld. The Hero had already asked her the question, but until then she had never separated the two things because for her it was the same thing. But with Nalo's interminable question, she came to understand his reasoning: if the link between her promise and the well-being of the people was less and less, would she abandon them to their fate? The difficulty of fighting until now was palpable, hated despite her efforts, she would end up reviling the source of this promise and start moping again, abandoning any link with the world outside her home, any desire to express herself, to express her desires, she would return to the loneliness and monotony she had experienced after her back injury.
"Do you think Lilivia will bring us grilled fish today?".
That voice, the princess thought, could it be the voice of Etino? I had promised him that we would eat fish within a week.
"You will see Malalalivia, she is the strongest! Once I saw her stop a buffalo at the ranch, with her bare hands!"
What are you talking about, Jasazir? I only slowed it down," laughed Malalalivia.
"Malalalivia has always been a lovely girl. He's lucky to have that kid... that... that... Lelelitio! Let's hope he makes it in time."
What are you talking about, Cassandra? Leleli is with the children.
Then suddenly she heard in her mind the boy's panting, she heard him running to the arena, to her, running through the Nether.
"Wait for me, Lili, I'm coming!"
Then she received a flurry of voices encouraging her, complimenting her, thanking her, watching her on the screen in the Nether. Not directly, but they were talking about her and supporting her. There was only one person who could do this: Queen Audiselia. Although they had disagreements - and maybe with the help of the Hero about the queen's mental state or because he had suggested it to her, we don't know, right? -She was still his ward, and if she needed encouragement, she could provide it.
Then, while she still couldn't bring herself to let go of that promise so easily because it was the only thing that connected them to those two women who had raised her, she heard a voice reach her that was far different than any she had heard during that game, but a voice that was more than familiar and made the fairy wistful speak to her:
- What you have grown, Aveliline! exclaimed Malalalivia, look mistress how beautiful your daughter has become!
- That's what I see," says Talemilia calmly.
The wingless fairy thought it was a prank by the queen and was about to insult her generously, but all her certainties were shaken when she felt a soft hand touch her shoulder. A great shiver ran through her, her heart did not know what to choose between fear, sadness or choice. There was no way this could be real.
- Co... co... like...," the fairy stammered without being able to finish her sentence.
- Didn't you study our beliefs?" Talemilia asked him, "No matter where you are, in every leaf, every tree, every stone, every grain of sand... we will be with you.
- Mom!" she cried, "I lost my wings!
- I know," they said in unison.
- We have seen many of your misfortunes..., said the fairy mother.
- ... but also to many of your joys, added the elf mother, and we could see what a great girl you have become! Isn't she great?
- It bothered you not to be able to tell him, laughs Talemilia.
The audience did not understand what was going on, they could not hear the conversation between the Basfonds fairy and her parents, they could only see the fairy's lowered head. The spectators in the arena felt a strange sensation coming from the champion of the Basfonds, both cold and warm.
- Why don't you beat her?" the Fairy asked the Hero.
- That's not the way to fight. I don't know what's going on with him, but I'll wait.
- What if she was in a coma?
- Seriously? said the Hero, dazed by this thought filled with no gumption.
The Fairy had to be the first to apprehend what was happening to her competitor, but it was the Hero who had no hold on magic who sensed what was happening. It was like what he was experiencing with the Will. Perhaps it was the one that had to accompany him.
- Mom... I was never brave enough. I always have to rely on Leleli and besides, when you died, we were just fighting...
- We know everything, my little one, said Malalalivia, no need to explain. Unfortunately, we can't stay with you for long.
- So we want you to know that you don't have to have our names to make us proud.
- But...
- Aveliline... I chose a beautiful name for you to wear, she smiled at him, you are my little flower of lami and for nothing in the world you would have needed to struggle so valiantly to prove to us what a brave girl you are. We have never asked so much of you.
- Especially since we have witnessed your exploits!" exclaimed the fairy princess's servant, "and today you are facing the hero of the legend and standing up to him. Can you believe it?
- But I always wanted to be like you mom. To live up to your adventures with the heroes of legend. Everything you went through... You were a hero on par with them!
- I have always been a heroine equal to them, rectified Talemilia, hero of the legend, it is presented as such because different races can be, even fairies.
- So could I ever be like you?
- According to Fate, you can be even more, and you don't need the Will to be a hero. You are already a greater heroine than we are, you the protector of the Underworld, and I think this boy understands that. I think that's why MIRA chose him.
- Who is it?
- Nothing. You don't need to know that right now! So stop fighting for us who are dead, fight to the end for those who are still with us by removing these weights from your heart. Do you agree?
- Okay," said the fairy, nodding her head genuinely.
As she listened to all the people congratulating and encouraging her, she realized that it had been a long time since she had fought for the promise she had made when she took Lelelitio's and her mother's names, but for them. She no longer needed her crutches to fight. She clutched her chest with her hand and stared at the Hero with a wide smile and tear-filled eyes.
- I know that now. I got the confirmation!
She raised her head, valiant, sure of herself, she repelled the Hero's assaults and planted her double joust in his shoulder before throwing him into the center of the field and making him roll on the ground. The Hero did not expect such a riposte, and he did not have time to get back on his feet when hands made of sand surrounded him and took him prisoner, letting only his head escape, compressing his whole body.
- Is this controlled magic?" asked Mananélia Diasiré, her eyes widening.
- It looks like it," answered Roxanélia.
- It's impossible!" cried Marina, "No princess can reach this level without having validated her evaluations.
The queen giggled as she heard the confusion of the other princesses.
And to think that you dare to reproach me for calling you a genius?
The lowly fairy flew at the boy and he did the same and their forearms collided. Their eyes sparkled with excitement as they exchanged a flurry of blows ranging from jumping kicks, to arm locks, to knee strikes with their arms... Each of their blows expressed their determination and desire to fight.
The Fairy didn't know why, but in her chest, watching her two fighters fight with such intensity and exaltation, while she was repulsed by fighting, she felt a touch of jealousy.
Whether it was the champions, the princesses or the ordinary spectators, they were all amazed by the demonstration of strength and dexterity shown by the fairy and the human. They could see the years of training and fighting they had endured to get to this level. Only one word came to their mouth: prodigious.
Avelilinélia didn't like to fight either, but she knew that it was her duty to be strong and to feel this strength that was impregnated in her animated her with a crazy energy. She felt more and more confident to be able to defend the others and take the title of hero of the legend from her opponent, but especially to finally put it off...
- Nalo, I, Avelilinélia will become the queen of Sylvania because I want to help these people to live better, we will live better, all together. This is what I am fighting for and nothing else.
- Is that your determination?" he shouted with a smile on his face.
- Yeah.
- Very well...
The Hero stepped away from the fairy and cracked his neck.
- Let's see where you'll take this courageous determination, Avelinelia... If you don't defeat me, I'll kill everyone in the Nether.
On his way, Lelelitio found Sawyer and Morvian carrying a dead body.
- Where are you going?
- What about you? Weren't you supposed to stop the fanatics who were killing children?
- Well, as you can see, we got their leader," Morvian replied.
Lelelitio recognized the mark on the corpse's torso, he had seen it when they went to spy on the place of worship of those madmen, but he could not recognize Globox because his corpse had been stripped of it.
- There, we go to the other people connected to the assault. But you still haven't answered? Why the mad dash to Uptown? Did you get a ticket to watch your princess fight?
- No, but I have to go! She needs me! You who have the power of teleportation, you can take me there, can't you?
- That might have been the case if I wasn't as exhausted as I am now, Sawyer justified himself, but surely I can get you into the stadium. Morvi take him to the others, I'll take care of the kid.
- It works, chief.
Once again, the knight and the servant set off in pursuit of the endangered princess who at that very moment needed his help more than anything.
The Hero had decided to fight with his bare hands and his blows became more and more violent against the princess. She blocked his attacks which were of a staggering pressure, able to deform her shield, then he enchained with a blow of turned over heel propelled which made bend the knees of Malalalivia. The resistance of the fairy was put to the test against this wild fighter. He didn't let her any moment of respite, hardly had she straightened up that she underwent a backhand of the heel in the ribs which projected her on the burning sand of the arena.
The amphitheater of the arena was unrecognizable, it looked more like a miniature battlefield than a real place of combat, bits of rocks everywhere, broken glass, pebbles just above the heads of the spectators... Nalo and Avelilinélia were fighting with all their vigor but unfortunately for the princess, the Hero disarmed her by telling her that he would exterminate all the Nether if she lost. At first she didn't think he was serious, but his glowing eyes and stern demeanor seemed to indicate otherwise, and fear began to take over the Nether Princess's mind again. The thought of losing and condemning the Nether to mass extermination made her turn livid. And the Hero seemed to take his threat very seriously, and she knew that the guards of Sylvania would do nothing since they had done nothing when a hundred fairies of the Nether were about to be kidnapped.
Sawyer and Lelelitio arrived at the stadium faster than expected thanks to the shortcuts that the knight knew and found themselves in front of the big entrance of the arena "spectator side", blocked by two guards.
- Are you kidding me?" asked Sawyer, "What do you mean you won't let us in? I don't like to use this kind of phrase, but do you know who you're talking to so carelessly?
- We know that, Saint Sawyer, but we can't let you go in with that filthy boy.
- Even if he accompanies me?
- Even if it accompanies you. The law is immutable and inviolable.
- I'll give you immutable and inviolable laws," grumbled Sawyer.
As the Queen's Saint argued with the two guards, Lelelitio slipped away for a few seconds, activating his Silencio spell and sneaking behind the guards, once inside, he signaled to Sawyer that it was okay and went to find the entrance to the spectator seats. Sawyer lured the guards for a few more minutes until Lelelitio was no longer seen.
The Hero calmed down before slowly moving towards his opponent.
- It's good to be determined, to be motivated, but now we have to prove that all this is not just a pipe dream. If you doubt my threat, remember what Tadzi said about me and you will know deep down that I am serious.
- Why?
- Do you really think I'm going to let you fight unhindered?" laughed Nalo, "Heroes have so many things to protect. Do you think that from up there we know a good view? Only in the hearts of the "believers" are we on a pedestal, while like them we pray to our gods for the success of the mission we have been given. We just see the people we were and still are unable to protect, and despite all our determination, it did not change anything because the sky is still black. So if you want to become the heroine, you have to be aware at this moment of this sword of Damocles that is and will always be over your head.
The fairy got up once again, but also took another round of blows from the Hero, which eventually broke Malalalivia's protection into a million pieces. Although she had managed to go beyond her current abilities and use her mastered class magic, it was still not enough to defeat the Hero, as she was exhausted by the Hero's incessant and destructive attacks.
I don't think I can go any further, lamented Avelilinélia, there is an impassable wall that I won't be able to overcome. Sorry, mother and mother Malalalivia, I could not keep my promise.
- If that's all you can do," said the Hero, "you might as well get rid of your old promises and your old determination right now.
And just as the Hero was about to knock her off her feet, he received an unexpected blow out of nowhere in the cheek that knocked her to the ground. Princess Avelilinélia heard the impact of the blow, then looked up and saw Lelelitio giving the Hero a right. He had jumped from the princely lodges - he had managed to get lost while it was the place where he used to train with the queen and Sawyer - to throw himself into the battle and protect his princess. Caesar was about to call the guards and sound the disqualification of Avelilinélia when Audisélia and the Hero told him to let it happen.
- You childish brat! insulted Lelelitio, who do you think you are to hand over the determination of our princess to everyone in the Nether? Not only do you not know anything, but you are also putting on airs as if you had all the rights.
The Hero quietly stood up, dusting off his torn stocking and bruised body, then turned to his interlocutor.
- Because I'm lying maybe?
- Yeah.
- So let's check it out here and now with you as an example.
Nalo rushed towards him and punched him in the stomach, which made him move back a few steps, before the Hero chained him with punches, keeping him close to him by crushing his foot with his own.
The princess was powerless before the outburst of violence that the Hero engaged in.
- Stop..., begged the princess, stop...
- No!" said the elf, "I won't let you take my princess with impunity. She is the jewel of the Underworld, among all the garbage that can be found there, she is the most resplendent, the most adorable, the most beautiful thing that is there and I will not let you spoil her when she embodies all our hopes and dreams.
- Really?
- Yes !
Avelilinélia tried to get up but her limbs gave way under her weight, she had endured too much damage for her not to feel anything or for her body not to give way under the Hero's blows.
- Stupid elf! Lelelitio, stop, he is too strong for you...
- So get up instead of playing dead! yelled Lelelitio to him while taking the Hero's blows and trying to give him back, you act as if this fight was the underworld when we've been through much worse and we've faced much worse! A prepubescent fifteen year old human boy is not going to change anything! If I came, it's because I'm worried and ashamed of not doing my duty properly because of my weakness, whether it's today or the day you had your wings ripped off. So, stand up for all the voices that support you from Down Under.
Avelilinélia, through the queen, could hear all the people she was fighting for, calling her, encouraging her to continue the fight through the different names and nicknames they had given her.
Lelelitio dodged one of the Hero's blows and ventured to punch him in the jaw, but the Hero saw far too much opening in him than in his mistress, which gave him the illusion of seeing in slow motion. He countered the blow of the elf and gave him back a violent punch in the abdomen making Lelelitio spit.
- I beg you... stop...
- The Nemesis didn't stop when he burned my village to the ground, when he killed my mother, he didn't stop for all the crimes he committed against the people and the other heroes. Begging me won't change anything, Avelinélia. As for Lelelitio, there is no rule that forbids me to kill a person from the Nether here and now, so I might as well take advantage of it.
Avelilinélia saw in slow motion the fatal punch that the Hero was going to give to his servant, to his friend. She was going to end up alone once again, she... she had to act, here and now. While the Hero was planning to finish his fictitious bludgeoning - he was giving her real blows, but was not going to kill her in any way! He wasn't raised that way, ladies and gentlemen - the lowly fairy stood up to the Hero and received the attack instead of his elf servant in the forehead. The Hero had not come at all, his speed of action was amazing. In the whole fight, she was never so fast. The fairy's forehead began to drip with blood, running down the Hero's fist before dripping down the princess's chin and onto the human's phalanges.
- What gives you the right to pick on Lelelitio, huh?
Avelilinélia's fear had disappeared in favor of losing the dearest being she had left. Faced with the fury of the fairy-fighter, the Man withdrew his fist from his forehead and took a step back, then two, then three... He had really managed to piss her off.
The fairy charged the Hero by releasing her double joust, and returned blow for blow, those he had given to his friend and to herself, the Hero could only take them by putting his arms in cross and squinting at the overload of attack of the pretender to the throne, which made him not see her fly at his feet, grabbed his leg and threw him like an old garbage bag against the protective barrier of the queen. The projection was so violent that a part of the barrier gave way and broke under the weight - ? - of the Hero. She turned to Lelelitio and told him to walk towards her and then she grabbed him, she sent him back to the princely stands. As soon as she had put him there, guards came to seize him, except that he had not noticed their coming, but the Fairy defended him by lying that he was her guest.
- We all know that you are lying.
- Prove it, she retorted.
The guards could only gnaw their teeth, since it was not two lousy guards who would question the word of a princess of Java-Aleim.
- It is not by taking his defense that you are going to redeem yourself with your protector, underlined Mananélia of a mocking tone.
The Fairy did not answer and sat back down.
During this short period of time, Lelelitio continued to support, alone, the one he would have liked to protect. All the citizens of Upper Town stared at him, screaming to show his support for Avelilinélia, the champions mocked him for being unable to protect his princess, the princesses openly mocked him and this mockery spread to the whole crowd, even to foreign dignitaries. But the elf did not care, he continued to support her against all odds.
- Beat him! And let's go home to celebrate your victory with the others, Queen Avelilinélia!
The crowd laughed even louder.
- OF COURSE!" replied Avelilinélia.
The energy with which this sentence came out of the princess' mouth silenced all the slanderers and scoffers. Even the queen was amazed by the strength of her protégé's voice. Avelilinélia was transformed, the girl who was afraid of being powerless in the face of her own powerlessness, insults and mockery was now showing a new power. Outside the kingdom her cry resounded. In the Netherworld, their desire to see Avelilinélia win was invigorated.
The Hero who had been stunned by the surprise attack of the fairy princess was awakened by the cry of his opponent. He had expected a retaliation from her, but not so violent, it seemed that her strength had doubled... no, it had increased tenfold! However, he had not seen her use any magical strengthening, and to think that she unlocked some kind of power boost because of her nervousness was a fiction.
No. It was simply a confirmation of the Hero's doubts: consciously or unconsciously, Avelilinélia had held back the whole fight. He remembered the fact that she had stopped her blow at the party organized by the queen, she may have helped herself to the blow of the Hero's opponent, but if she wasn't strong, she would have become a meat cheese pancake.
Nalo tried to get up but every time he pushed with his right arm, his limb pushed in the opposite direction, he watched what happened to him and discovered that his right arm was turned over. He could have torn it off to regenerate another one, but since Avelilinélia was "unleashed", or rather, was going to fight without restraint, he could not weaken himself "unnecessarily". The Hero tried what he was trying to do in the hospital with the help of the doctors: to manipulate his regeneration to restore his limbs, most of these tests were unsuccessful, but on this day, he had to succeed. He concentrated the power he had in him and twirled his arm in one direction until it was right side up. He clenched his fist and saw that his nerves and muscles were working properly.
Subsequently, he was able to stand up and confront the princess.
It had been a long time since he had felt so cornered since his fight with the queen, even his first confrontation with Nemesis Prime. His blood began to boil, intoxicated with adrenaline, he had to test Audiselia's strength to see how far she could go. And like every time he felt this excitement in battle, his body began to produce steam as his brain conditioned itself to surpass itself to be able to defeat his opponent, but for the first time, unlike the other times, this happened before the fight - although it had already begun. But in any case, it meant that the Hero was getting serious, and this, but especially the queen who had witnessed it, felt it.
He came out of the wall and walked towards his opponent, cracking his neck.
- What is all this steam?" asked Avelilinélia.
- Nothing very important, the Hero answered, just the consequence of one of my innumerable chronic illnesses.
Roh, exagerration ! He only has one linked to his unknown genetic attribute.
The fairy warned him that the fight would resume as soon as he was ready.
What fair play!" laughed the Hero.
She seemed to want a fist fight so he let her have the privilege of choosing the weapons. As soon as they were both ready to resume the fight, both of them started a violent battle with fists and feet. However, contrary to what the Hero had imagined, the princess had never said that she would only use her body to fight him, the versatility of sand was far too opportune not to use and abuse it. Having attained mastery of magic, she pushed the sand into different forms until it was restored to its rocky shape.
Just as the Hero had made a big jump to dodge one of Avelilinélia's blows and was about to fall back, she created a spike block of rock under him. He activated his podo-propellers and flew away but he became an easy target for the princess who could combine her vector powers with her sand and rock magic which made her attacks unpredictable. Dodging the compressed sand jets became difficult but if in addition through these jets she could shoot at him with high density sandballs made any dodging incongruous. The only solution for him was the simplest of all: the attack. And that, Avelilinélia knew it well and knowing the strength of the Hero who could tear the body of a Fenrir with his bare hands, there was no doubt that he could burst his jets of sand, so she might as well face him on a ground where she had the advantage compared to a fairy: the air!
Splashing with sand, his ears too focused on his opponent's magic, the Hero did not perceive her arrival in the air and received a violent kick in the stomach, unfortunately for her, the Hero managed to grab her leg and sent her away from him.
He pursued her, but she easily dodged his attacks, despite his two months of training, the Hero could not compete with a flying being despite his loss of wings. He sent her a salvo of fireballs that she stopped one by one to send them all back at the same time, he went around the rain of flames and tried to kick her in the head that she blocked with her arm.
But he got what he wanted: to get closer to her.
This is where a real arm wrestling started between the two fighters, she could fly as much as she wanted with her vectorial power, she could not escape from the Hero who did not intend to let her go. So she went in his direction, if he wanted to play it rough then she was also going to put herself at his level.
She dodged one of his attacks and then hit him before a violent kick in the belly whose force was multiplied thanks to her vectorial power, folding him in two. She sent him in the air, then followed him and arrived before in the sky and hit him with the joined hands which sent him back to the ground and before he arrived there, she received him by pushing her fist in his chest. Unfortunately, this last blow, the Hero saw it coming and stopped it at the last second, she felt her own phalanxes digging in.
Having his arm, he turned her and struck her with a violent elbow going down her arm, she got out of his grip by hitting him with a headbutt and took advantage of him being unstuck to execute her spell to make her fists as solid as iron and hit him with a right hook. Less than a second later, the Hero returned with a left hook. It is at this precise moment that the two opponents came to fight in a sequence of blows on the ground: Avelilinélia put a downward punch that the Hero avoided by putting his head on the side, he tried the direct blow but the fairy turned on herself and, with her back turned, put a backhand punch in his face. The hero of the legend where a movement of recula but came back to the charge with a jumping punch that Avelilinélia countered by striking in her fist and sent back the impact of his blow thanks to a reverse vector, what wounded the arm of the Hero who regenerated immediately by reflex, but it is not that that was going to stop him, he melted again against the princess and she also ran on him and both clashed in a barrage of seizing punches
The public was skeptical about what they were observing, of all the fights they had been able to attend, it was the only one where one could witness a burst of violence and such a great dexterity that was not unilateral, the tactics, put in place by the two fighters to defeat their opponent, were striking. Nobody would have bet a copeck on the fairy of the Basfonds and yet, there, at ten hours twenty-six of the morning, they were in front of a true miracle. Whether they were from Downbelow, Upper Town, the Sanctuary or living in Java-Aleim, they were all transfixed by the fight or glued to their screens at the possibility that the Hero might lose. Whether it was the ferocity of the princess' desire for victory or the excitement of the fight that invaded the champion's body, these emotions were transmitted to all.
The children in the Nether swore by Audiselia's name and convinced themselves of her absolute victory: "She can't lose, she's Livia, after all!", "Lady Malalalivia is too strong to beat a human!", even the chirping of the baby in Lelelitio's care was in Avelilinelia's favor.
Other spectators joined the people of the Basfonds, they were none other than the invasion group of the Marrynélia sect who settled with the poor people of the Basfonds. Exhausted, none of them had the strength to go all the way up to the top to watch the biggest fight in Sylvania from home or in the arena. They were welcomed and made comfortable with the needy. Lin and Mina sat with the children's group because all the adult seats were taken.
- Mister, who are you for?" a child asked Lin.
- For the boy.
All the children turned to him and Mina jeered at him, whistling.
- What did you expect? It's the wingless fairy from Down Under who is their mascot here.
- Malalalivia is not a mascot, interposed a little girl.
- Calm down! I didn't mean it in a bad way," she said with a wry smile.
- Children, stop bothering our guests," Cassandra intervened, "these young people are part of the saviors of the Nether, the ones who fought the kidnappers of the Nether and saved your lives.
The children then came to surround Mina and Lin, their eyes full of stars.
- Did you really beat them?
- We beat them," boasted Lin, "and we even saved one of our friends.
- Unbelievable, they said in unison.
- But it doesn't change that Malalalivia, the first boy said.
It seems to me that he is right, Mina thought, the champion of Princess is in a very bad position.
It is on a cross-counter that the Hero lost control, his body was too much tested, he felt too much cornered, he had to ask for his full power to confront Avelilinélia. It was then that, by instinct, the Hero's body broke half of the seal to recover his heroic power and that of his curse. Violet lightning without electricity shot out of the disintegrating seal, but this did not frighten the fairy who fought with even more energy and felt that the Hero was gaining strength. He kept on repeating the sentence: "Go beyond yourself! Go beyond your limits! You are accomplishing the impossible, kid!", and this boost of motivation was amplified by the encouragements that she perceived in her mind.
Avelilinélia freed the Hero from near her, this one, recognizing that the fists were not enough, he called his sword by magnetizing it to him, the fairy created a small mound under his double joust. The Hero understood something new when he saw the gesture of the princess that he associated with other information he had observed during the fight: she cannot use her vector power only on objects or living beings in movement, but also that she can use it only on one system at a time, no matter how fast she does it, and according to the power or/and the weight of the system, her power will take more or less time to set up. Nevertheless, all these shortcomings were counterbalanced by the intelligence of the princess who knew how to overcome this with her magic or with her athletic body. He was going to have to redouble and of speed, if he wants to beat her because of her return of impact, the more he will become strong by finding his heroic force, the more the return of impact will be violent to him, moreover, with the fact that she could amplify it with her power...
- Let's get it over with.
Both of them threw themselves into a battle that made the iron of their weapons tinkle and sparkle. The sword twirled, fluttered, twirled and tried to penetrate the princess' defenses, but the double joust used it as a spear, trying to pierce the Hero's guard. The Hero tried to hit her from the side but the fairy stopped him with her vector power and turned him around, allowing the Hero to try to punch her with her free arm, but she caught him and threw the Hero away from her.
Then he ran on her at the speed of lightning but she generated once again rocks to hinder his run but this time the Hero managed to stop before hitting a rock, he landed on the rock before with the help of claws that were no longer on the back of his hand but on the tips of his fingers. This allowed the two to examine the state of each other.
Avelilinélia could see that the Hero was getting stronger and stronger, but she could feel that as the fight went on, his stamina was getting shorter and shorter, although his abilities were extraordinary and he could bear the pain quite well, to feel so much pain must have had a huge effect on his physique. And this steam that was escaping from him was also a sign of his fatigue, since the more the fight progressed, the more visible it was - or was it related to his strength? She didn't really have time to doubt. If, despite his strength, the queen managed to knock him unconscious, then she too could.
Beautiful spirit, commented the queen.
The Hero, perched on his rock, also perceived his opponent's fatigue and according to what he had learned of his power, his next blow would not be deflected but he would have to do it from above to ensure a complete victory.
- I think we came to the same conclusion, Nalo, said Avelilinélia, you will not regain all your strength before you pass out.
- Yep," he nodded, "and you can barely stand on your feet.
- So let's get it right here and now.
- Go beyond all your limits and show me what you are worth!
The boulder where the Hero was hanging began to dissolve before turning to dust, the Hero jumped on the boulder in front of him pulling with the fingers of his gauntlets on the princess then ran on the boulder vertically. Avelilinélia chased him by wrapping her lower chest to catch him. The two of them propelled themselves into the air, but the Hero was at a greater height than her so he took the opportunity to rain down a shower of lightning flames on the princess. Avelilinélia could have deflected or avoided them but knowing that the last move of the Hero would be the last one, she had no margin not to be defeated, so she took this infernal rain.
At the top of the arena, just as he perceived that the fairy's magic was just lining up behind him, he activated his thrusters to turn around and once again commanded his hands to charge that same attack that the fairy had deflected but to a whole new level. The lightning and heat emanating from the Hero's hands ravaged the entire field, slamming into the protective wall and cracking it - there was still the power of Queen Audiselia. A huge mass of energy accumulated in his hands and he spoke these words:
- KA...ME...HA...
Avelilinélia, after having received this rain of fire, was trapped in front of the Hero's attack, her only alternative was to stop this attack with all her strength, but exhausted, she could not admit defeat... all in all, that's what I would have said if the Hero had not just been fooled by the princess. The Hero was taken aback by the expression on the princess's face, and then discovered with amazement when the princess's body did not disintegrate and turned to dust. This Avelilinélia was not a colored sand clone like the colored statues she offered to the children of the Nether. The Hero realized that he had just been lured but could do nothing more, the princess, still electrified from where the lightning that came out of her body, was right behind her, he could only turn his head to see Avelilinélia preparing her most powerful punch, her amethyst eyes piercing, her pink and blue hair spreading in the sky, the muscles of her arm tense, he knew that he had just been defeated.
- Today, I will not only be the heroine of the Nether, but also of all Sylvania! she declared
The princess clenched her teeth and threw a right jab into the Hero's jaw, amplified by her genetic attribute, he resisted as best he could the descent of Audiselia's fist with his thrusters, but even his gloves were not powerful enough against the strength of Audiselia who was in a position of strength since she was in height.
Finally, he was going to be defeated even with some of his heroic strength back. Wasn't this proof that she was destined to be the hero of the legend? She had the support of everyone they cared about, cheering her on, calling out her name... He was alone in facing his fate. In the end, like his mother and the other predecessors, they had only been vessels to the one who would truly become the heroine of the legend. It was surely this immense solitude that the other heroes must have felt...
"Fight!" he heard. "Fight!".
Those screams must have been her princess screaming at her to keep fighting so she could get her wings.
I'm sorry, kid, I won't be able to fulfill your wish...
- You are absolutely not alone! If you think you're alone, then what am I? Don't give up!
Had she heard his thoughts? Had the queen sent him? It's true that he had her, this unbearable, egotistical, absurdly indecent girl who could talk like a cartoonist. But did he have the strength to continue?
The strength to continue stalking me?" the Nemesis asked him in thought.
When he heard these words, it was as if time had stopped. He felt this evil energy surrounding him, this dark look that stared at him from nowhere and everywhere at the same time. Where was it hiding?
It seems not. All our back and forth, our fights, our insults, only to have you end up giving the Will to a leper. She's the one who's going to avenge your incompetent mother or find Zelda. All because of your weakness. I expected almost nothing from you but I'm still disappointed.
- Oh! You..., he replied with his mouth closed.
If you have something to tell me, win and come find me!
This temporal pause ended and Avelilinélia's victory was about to be realized. But the Hero was revived by the intervention of the Nemesis who plunged him into a ferocious hatred, the Hero grabbed the arm of the fairy, she felt her vectorial power disappearing when she touched the Hero, which surprised the fairy. This allowed the Hero to get the upper hand before propelling himself to the ground and the fall of their bodies produced a huge cloud of dust. Once the sand settled, the audience could discover the winner of the semi-finals of the succession tournament: the champion of the Fairy Princess-No Name-No Wings, Nalo!
They may have insulted, but the spectators could not help but applaud the performance of the two participants, they shouted with joy at having witnessed such a match. The Hero, standing over the princess's body, holding her face down and her arm, was not as happy as the crowd.
Avelilinélia began to sob.
- You have won, Aveline..., said the Hero in a dejected voice, you have won...
He got up and walked towards the princely boxes. Although he was cheered, he didn't seem to be in any way happy to have won. He joined his fairy, she wanted to jump into his arms but pushed her away, he whispered to her:
- I made you win so you better do something for the Nether.
She nodded her head.
So he patted her on the shoulder and left without looking at anyone despite the congratulations.
In the corridors of the arena, out of reach of torchlight or bioluminescent gastropods, he sat on the floor and held his head.
- Why did you make me the hero when I deserve nothing, Mom?
Because you were going to die, stupid...