A kingdom that had stood for hundreds, even thousands of years could be destroyed overnight.
Not by a natural disaster or a monster, but by someone.
Someone who had been given the responsibility to protect it.
Someone who had dedicated and even sacrificed their life to protect it.
For the price of great power, they had to choose a different path.
They could forgo their own desires.
They had to shed blood even when they didn't want to.
They had to be wounded even when it hurt.
They had to stand strong even when they were grieving.
They were willing to do anything for the sake of their kingdom.
But after all that suffering, what did they get?
Peace, praise, and happiness?
No.
What they got was betrayal.
Betrayal from the very people they had protected.
A betrayal so painful that the darkness embedded in the abyss reached out to them.
The darkness from the deepest abyss of the world that changed their identity, their strength, and drowned their hearts.
The Abyss.
Said to be the deepest abyss of the world, containing a mysterious darkness that cannot be explained with words alone.
A bottomless darkness, without beginning and without end.
Terrifying creatures that defy logical explanation live there. Waiting to devour the souls of those living on the surface.
Once a person's soul is devoured by the Abyss, they will never return to their original state.
And when they die, their soul will merge with the Abyss and become an Abyss dweller.
The demon race. The most unique race among the other races.
Unlike other races that have their own families and descendants, the demon race was born from the energy of the Abyss.
Therefore, they can live in areas with a high concentration of Abyss energy. Even though they live in the dark abyss, they are not corrupted and still retain their common sense.
Could they not be called the inhabitants of the abyss? No.
Like humans who live in harmony with nature, that is how they are.
Are they evil creatures? Not really.
Just like other creatures, they will only harm if they are harmed, but even then, not all of them are like that.
Although the demon race does not have bloodline or family tree like other races, they are all one family.
Although they do not have childhood and no one knows how long their lifespans will be, they still have emotions.
Some are good and some are evil. Well, just like other races.
Really similar.
The demon kingdom, Ashvorn.
Unlike other races where the king and hero are sometimes different people, in the demon race, the demon king is definitely also a demon hero.
But doesn't that sound a bit strange?
A demon king is a hero?
Doesn't that sound contradictory?
Of course, many would think so. Just bearing the name of the demon race immediately arouses hostility among other races.
Why? Don't vampires and beastmen also sound a bit scary?
Just hearing the word "demon" would immediately make people think of them as evil.
They only know that the demon race is born with Abyss energy, and the Abyss is a dark abyss that can be called hell.
So, if they are born with it, doesn't that mean they are no different from monsters?
If so, then what about the vampire race?
Although not related to the abyss, vampires are even more terrifying because they drink the blood of living creatures.
So what's the difference?
Well, they all just don't know each other.
Although often viewed as cruel by other races, the demon race believes that the god who created them must have a good purpose.
Although they don't know when that purpose will be realized.
Although sometimes having to listen to evil words, as long as the god is still with them, everything will be fine.
Does everyone hate or fear the demon race? Not really.
Everyone has a different view.
Some say they are terrifying, while others say they are helpful. Some say they only know how to attack, while others say they have been protective.
The demon race loves science and the diversity of other races. However, different views produce different results.
The destruction of the five kingdoms has spread widely.
Because it happened simultaneously, it could be said to be the destruction of the continent. Or even the destruction of the world.
The heroes who had gone berserk and been corrupted by the energy of the abyss would no longer be able to restore their true selves.
With their own hands, they destroyed the kingdoms they were supposed to protect.
Was there no warrior who could stop them?
No.
Not even themselves.
So what?
Even the world has a lifespan.
So, would this really be the end of the world?
All living things will surely die.
Even inanimate objects will be destroyed when the time comes.
And the world will surely end.
So will this world truly be destroyed?
Unfortunately, life is a mystery. No one will ever know what can happen in this life. Even miracles are not impossible.
The king and hero of the demon race was looking up at the sky.
For over a week, the sky had been filled with thunder and lightning.
He had heard of the destruction of the five kingdoms and the heroes who had been corrupted by darkness.
He could also feel the overflowing energy of the abyss growing stronger.
If this continued, the Abyss might actually reach the surface.
What would happen if the Abyss reached the surface? Then the entire world will be corroded by the darkness of the abyss and die.
But can't the demon race survive the energy of the abyss?
They are only born and live side by side with it. If they continue to be exposed to it, they too will disappear.
For some reason, looking at them, it feels like they were created to withstand or minimize the energy of the abyss that comes from the surface.
Well, no one knows.
His purplish black eyes stared sadly. He was lamenting a regret that was not even his own doing.
The heroes who should have illuminated the world were now walking on a path filled with darkness.
Their expressions looked terrifying because of the anger that consumed them.
Their light had disappeared.
Like a crazed monster, they only continued to slash everything in front of them.
But even so, they were crying.
The tears of blood that flowed from their eyes looked very painful.
They screamed, but it was not anger.
But the sound of crying was so suffocating.
Was this really the end of the world?
A portion of the continent had become a sea of fire, a kingdom razed to the ground, corpses falling, trees withering and withering, the sunlight obscured by black clouds and lightning, and hands crawling out from the depths of the abyss.
Even the leaves of the World Tree, which never withers or falls, were turning black.
It was truly the end of the world.
The hero of the demon race closed his eyes. He clasped his hands together.
Inside the church they had built, he began to pray.
"Oh god... I beg you to hear my plea."
But isn't it impossible to speak to a god?
The hero, still bowing his head, heard a voice. It was faint yet majestic.
[Ihear you, my son.]
Although surprised, the hero still closed his eyes.
"I beg you to save this world." He said earnestly.
[I understand, my son. But unfortunately, even I cannot directly interfere in the affairs of the world.]
"I understand. But I still beg you. I am willing to do anything."
[But the price will be great for you to bear.]
"No problem. I am willing."
"..."
Even in front of the god, the hero's resolve remained strong.
[Ihave a question for you, my son.]
"Yes. I am listening."
[You know that the world will inevitably end, so why do you beg so hard for the world's salvation?]
[Isn't your race viewed negatively by others? Why don't you just ask to save your own?]
[Also, the cause of this disaster were the heroes of other, more revered races... do you wish to be the world's sole hero and repair your race's image?]
The god's question surprised him slightly.
But Varjha didn't waver. He smiled.
"That's because, like everyone else, I believe the world deserves a second chance."
"This world is beautiful, yet terrifying."
"And the other heroes never wanted this disaster to happen."
"They were simply angry. They were disappointed."
"But even so, even now, I can still hear their hope."
"Even though they have been consumed by the darkness of the Abyss, they still desire light for the world. A better world. A world of peace."
"They are heroes who love the world."
[Ifthey love the world, then why did they fall into the darkness of the Abyss and cause destruction?]
"It is because of that love that they feel such deep disappointment."
[Then what about you?]
"I am the same as them."
[Let's say you succeed in saving this world, what if this happens again?]
"Then there will surely be those who pray for the world's salvation again."
[What if the same thing happens again?]
"Then that would be the fourth chance."
[Then the world will never end.]
"Even though I know the world will end, no one ever truly wants it to happen."
[But someday the world will end.]
With his head still bowed, Varjha inadvertently opened his eyes slightly.
Those mysterious, purplish-black eyes remembered someone.
Someone who, funnily enough, he had once asked the same question that the God asked.
"Then if the time has come, let it happen."
With a smile, he offered the answer he had heard from the figure he remembered.