As I lay sprawled out, that voice prompted me with urgency.

Announcement Voice: 『Please proceed further.』

Kai: “Guess I should go… I could die if I don’t get treated soon…”

I stood up, mustering my last ounce of strength. I didn’t have enough power to fight, but I could still manage to walk. Blood was dripping from my chest, and I almost found it funny that I was still alive.

I made my way towards the dark door from which they had come. The door shone brightly, a passage only accessible after defeating a boss. It seemed a little game-like.

I picked up my discarded smartphone and belongings, slowly moving towards the door. I was glad that my phone, though severely cracked, hadn’t completely broken. It had saved my life, after all, and I owed it some gratitude and a repair job. Maybe I should invest in a military-grade metal case next time.

Kai: “It’s blinding… Where am I?”

Beyond the radiant door was a small room. It was about the size of a classroom. There was something old within it…

Kai: “Armor and a sword? Could this be…”

It was the white knight, with whom I had just engaged in a life-and-death struggle. A knight clad in white and yellow armor, wielding 『Lightning』.

However, there was no sign of movement. The armor was rusty and looked ready to collapse at any moment. The knight sat alone on a stone chair in the room.

Kai: “What on earth…”

I approached the knight. It seemed ready to move at any moment, but there was no response as I got closer. There was a silver tag around its neck.

Kai: “It’s the same as this tag…”

As I touched the tag, it happened again. Like with the golden Cube, scenes started flowing through my mind.

◇

Boy: “Lightning-san! I swear, I’ll become a strong knight just like you!”

A young boy was standing in front of me. Was he around the same age as me? His eyes sparkled, and he looked at me with a face full of respect and admiration.

A boy clad in a white gi-like uniform, clutching only a wooden sword. Was this a kendo dojo? Was he practicing something? Many boys were around, all holding swords and practicing swings.

And a pair of small wings on his back.

Was he not human?

Boy: “How can I become stronger?! I don’t have much magic power, but I’m determined not to lose to anyone in swordsmanship!! I’m confident that I’ve swung my sword more than anyone else!!”

The boy’s head was then patted by a knight wearing white armor.

Lightning: “Haha! You can’t rush the exams. You’re going to face the knight selection test of Lady Athena. The details of the trials aren’t disclosed, but it’s not just about being strong. However, if I were to give you one piece of advice. Be strong, don’t stop thinking, and above all, be filled with boundless love. I’m sure, at the end you’ll…”

As soon as I thought my line of sight had aligned with the boy’s, I was smiling at him with a gentle smile.

Lightning: “…become a light that illuminates the darkness. I’m looking forward to it, my disciple. Lancelot”

~

Suddenly, my vision darkened, and I was on a battlefield.

Lancelot: “Lightning-san! I can’t hold on anymore!!”

I was fighting. My opponents were the black knights, and the white knights were desperately resisting. Not just black knights, but various monsters were there as well. Vicious monsters known as King-types and Emperor-types.

Lightning: “Don’t give up! Princess is trying to complete the final ritual now!! If it’s you, you should be able to protect the princess for sure!! We must not let them break through here at any cost!!”

The white knights fighting against an enemy force that was tens of thousands times larger. All of them were knights with strength far surpassing my current self, each worth a thousand soldiers.

I raced lightning that thundered across the battlefield, incinerating a thousand troops.

And yet…

Lancelot: “Ugh!!”

The enemy was overwhelming.

I, like a bolt of lightning, was dashing across the battlefield. But even that was reaching its limit, and I was finally taken down by sheer numbers. Pierced through the chest, I knelt on the spot.

Lightning: “Haa, haa… This is it…”

Just when I thought it was over, light overflowed from the center of my body.

Lightning: “This is… haha, I see, you’ve done it, Lancelot…”

The light enveloped the surroundings and began to absorb the black knights one after another. I mustered my remaining strength and declared to the black knights,

Lightning: “Wait, darkness. One day… one day, someone who has gathered our power, our light will appear. That person will surely destroy you all and become a light that illuminates the world. Absolutely! But until then…”

And along with the light, which had now formed a colorful square box,

Lightning: “Along with our lives, sleep.”

◇

Kai: “……What was that, just now?”

I had returned to my original room. Along with that light, my vision turned pure white, and the next thing I knew, I was back in my room. The silver tag I was holding turned into particles of light and disappeared.

Perhaps I had been assimilated once again.

With my mind still in a daze, I tried to touch the armor before me. This was probably the person I just assimilated with, a journey into his memories. And likely, the one I had just battled too.

Kai: “What on earth happened in the past……Lightning-san?”

The fight from earlier was one where a single misstep could have meant death. Yet somehow, I couldn’t bring myself to think of that white knight as evil. Even if he was an enemy, he wasn’t evil, or rather, he might not have even been an enemy at all.

It was at the moment when I touched the rusted sword held by that ancient armor.

『……Individual name: Kai Amachi. Promoted to awakened knight, skill: Lightning acquired.』

Kai: “I see……”

The moment I touched it, the rusted knight turned into particles of light and disappeared. One of those light particles slowly entered my body. The moment it did, that inorganic voice announced my promotion and acquisition of the skill.

Kai: “I was entrusted with it, wasn’t I…… power and…… feelings.”

He was a person I had never met before. Yet, from a moment of assimilation, I knew this person was very warm. I even felt a warmth akin to a father’s.

After the knight turned into particles of light and disappeared, there was a message written on the chair he had been sitting on. I touched those characters and read them.

『May the golden light one day wipe away the darkness that overshadows the world. Knight of this era, do your best.』

The same phrase was written on that golden cube, with the addition of a cheer for me.

The moment I read those characters, I was enveloped by particles of light. This was the same phenomenon as when I cleared the cube.

So, probably.

Kai: “It’s over, huh…… I didn’t understand anything in the end…… But even so,”

I fell to the ground on the spot, collapsing. Lying on my back, I muttered as usual.

Kai: “I’m always walking on thin ice, aren’t I?”

◇

Tanaka: “Kai-kun! Wait──…oh, you’re severely injured!!”

Kai: “I’m sorry, Tanaka-san. I’m going to be selfish. Please take me to the hospital. I can’t go on…”

The moment I was transported back to my original place, I immediately asked Tanaka-san for help. My clothes were soaked red, and my wounds were still open. Until a moment ago, adrenaline kept me moving, but its effect was wearing off.

I was no longer able to move, and I collapsed face down on the spot. I wanted to go to sleep right now.

Tanaka: “Got it! Let’s move you right away!”

Tanaka-san took me straight to the hospital. I was put in a car, laid down in the back seat, and although I soiled it with blood, I’ll compensate for it later.

Kai: (Ah, can I just go to sleep now…… I feel like throwing up, my consciousness is fading)

My usual anemia is hitting me, and today, the cuts all over my body are burning hot. I laugh dryly, thinking this will require a blood transfusion. Yet, even with my barely maintained consciousness, I’m being supported by Tanaka-san’s shoulder.

It seems we’ve arrived at the hospital, which was really close.

While I was being carried into the hospital on his shoulder, Tanaka-san told me,

Tanaka: “Kai-kun. This might not be the right time to tell you this… but I should at least let you know. The God-Destruction Cult has appeared in Tokyo, and Chairman Kagetora and the others are dealing with it. I need to return to Tokyo first.”

Kai: “Eh……but……I’ll go too──Goh!”

Tanaka: “It’s impossible in your condition, let me be clear, you’ll be a hindrance. If you want to come… get treated, then come. I need to return and deal with the situation locally. Nagi-chan and Aya-kun shouldn’t be on the battlefield, so don’t worry.”

Kai: “……I understand.”

In my fading consciousness, I clenched my fist and nodded. It’s true that going in this condition is pointless and would only be a burden to protect me. So, it’s better to get healed quickly, get a blood transfusion, and then go as a combatant. Even the questioning here is a waste of time.

Then the doctors came running in a hurry.

Doctor: “We’re moving him right away! On top of this!”

Is it called a mobile bed? They ran over with something like a tank used to transport the severely injured. Tanaka-san must have made the call from the car, disregarding the violation of law.

I was about to be put on that bed. I couldn’t think of anything else, and I was about to lose consciousness any moment.

But still, I mustered my last strength to take one step forward.

Tanaka: “Hm? What’s wrong, Kai-kun……”

Kai: “I’ll go… soon……”

Tanaka: “Kai-kun!? …Then, doctor, please!”

Doctor: “Yes! Ijuin-sensei is here, there’s no problem. Hey, move quickly!!”

Then, Kai lost consciousness, and was carried away as he was.

Tanaka: “Kai-kun…about an hour, huh…It’s a shame, but it can’t be helped. Reina-kun, Ryunosuke, and the Chairman are strong. The only option is to leave it to those three…”

Tanaka looked at Kai’s back as he was taken away, then left for Tokyo.

An hour had already passed since the Chairman and the others headed to Tokyo.

◇ Some time later, Tokyo. Japan Dungeon Association, Tokyo branch

Tsubaki: “C-Chairman…I’m sorry.”

Tsubaki, the ace of the Dungeon Association’s Awakened Crime Countermeasures Division, had fought. But she had been defeated and now lay on the road. It wasn’t a fatal injury, but she no longer had the strength to fight.

Her consciousness was dimming, and he was about to fall into darkness at any moment. Even Tsubaki, an A-Rank upper echelon, could only buy time. The battle was over.

And one of the helicopters that were broadcasting the battle…

News Caster: “Can you see it…? Tokyo is in chaos right now. This morning around 9 a.m., four people claiming to be high bishops of the God-Destruction Cult attacked the Dungeon Association. The association with many A-Rank members being led by Sayuri Tsubaki, also known as the Chairman’s trusted sword, fought back… but as you can see, the result…”

An announcer on a broadcasting helicopter relays this information to all of Japan. Ahead of them is the burning Dungeon Association, a section that looks like ruins. Standing atop the debris of that building are four figures shrouded in robes.

Below them, there are numerous bodies.

Dungeon Association employees who died trying to protect it, and elites from Avalon who rushed over in response to the national crisis. All of them were renowned Awakened ones, even A-Rank Cube clearers. They were undoubtedly among the world’s top-notch.

Their number had reached up to 100.

However, all of them were defeated.

In the face of the S-Rank’s godlike power, they all fell, as insignificant as dust particles. Despite their cooperative tactics, elaborate maneuvers, and strategic plans, they couldn’t reach the overwhelmingly violent magic power.

Barely buying time might have been part of the God-Destruction Cult’s plan.

Cameraman: “This is dangerous! If we get any closer, we’ll be killed!!”

A cameraman yells out the danger.

New Caster: “What are you saying! The God-Destruction Cult, right? Right now, we have the highest viewership ever!!”

Cameraman: “Is the time to be saying that!! I don’t want to die!!”

New Caster: “Don’t be silly, you won’t die. In fact, it’s more dangerous if we stop reporting.”

Cameraman: “Huh?”

New Caster: “They probably won’t attack us. The opponent is an S-Rank. If they’re serious, they can knock down this helicopter in an instant.”

Cameraman: “So why!!”

New Caster: “They want to show off, to this entire country, no, the entire world. That’s why we’re allowed to live and allowed to report.”

Cameraman: “No way…”

New Caster: “I’m going to continue, delivering their arguments to the citizens. Good or bad, we tell the facts, that’s what journalism is about, sending the facts to Japan, no, to the whole world!!”

Cameraman: “You’re too fired up!! It’s dangerous… Mom, I might die…”

However, the announcer doesn’t flinch. She continues her live commentary from the Tokyo sky.

Cult Member: “Can you hear me? Employees of Japan’s Dungeon Association. There must be some of you still breathing.”

Then a robed man makes his voice heard to the burning association below. His stature, larger than Chairman Kagetora and shrouded in a black robe, is like a massive boulder.

At his voice, the defeated who still have breath raise their faces.

Cult Member: “Let’s reiterate our demands. Hopefully, your perspective has changed a bit…”

And the man stated his demands once more.

Cult Member: “Bring out Kai Amachi. If you do, we will inflict no further harm on this country.”

Their demand was for Kai to be brought out. They had attacked Kai’s house, but luckily, no one was there.

That’s because Kai is in Okinawa right now, and only those involved know this.

The God-Destruction Cult misunderstood, thinking that the Dungeon Association was hiding Kai. Although, they’re not wrong about the fact that he’s being hidden.

Cult Member: “Our demand is simple. It’s not difficult, just hand over one man and this country will be saved. There’s no need for hesitation. If our demands are not met…”

A slender man compared to the one speaking loudly behind him raises his hand.

What appears next is like a small sun.

A magician with magic power surpassing modern weapons known as S-Rank. That basic technique, Fireball. Although its power is not quite equivalent to a nuclear weapon, it has enough power to turn an area with a radius of 100 meters into a scorched field. This weakened attack was what hit the Dungeon Association headquarters in the first strike.

Magician Cult Member: “We’ll drop this above your heads. And then all over Tokyo. Until Kai Amachi comes out, it won’t end. We’re willing to turn the whole country into a scorched field. Don’t think we’ll hold back.”

If this is dropped on a densely populated area of Tokyo, it’s hard to tell how many people will die.

Evacuation has begun. From the vicinity of Kasumigaseki in Tokyo, where the Dungeon Association is located, many VIPs and ordinary people are fleeing in a frenzy. The Vice-Chairman of the Japan Dungeon Association, who should have taken command, was the first to flee, followed by others.

Fortunately, they were successful in evacuating civilians from the surrounding areas in an hour. However, the man from the God-Destruction Cult demanded that Kai be brought here, threatening to drop this all over the country if not.

His words were broadcast throughout Japan.

Civilian: “Who’s this Kai Amachi!”

Civilian: “Come out already, it’s your fault!!”

Civilian: “Why do innocent people have to die!!”

Civilian: “Whatever it takes, just come out!!!”

The nationwide backlash is directed at Kai. There are many people with families in the Association, and their displaced anger twists and turns towards Kai. The public voice gradually turns to anger as if it’s Kai’s fault.

However, one staff member stands up, saying that’s not the case.

Staff Member: “Huff, huff… We cannot… accept your demands…”

It was Tsubaki. She supports her trembling legs with her hands as best she can and stands up again. Despite being covered in blood, the flame in her eyes does not fade.

Tsubaki: “Kai Amachi is… an important citizen of this country. We can’t hand him over… to terrorists like you…”

Cult Member: “So it’s okay for many citizens to die for one man? Isn’t that a pretty thing to say?”

Tsubaki: “We don’t weigh lives. Our country… has a long history and has shed much blood, we’re a rule of law country where only the law can judge people. We will never surrender… to terrorists… or to force. No matter how trivial the demand… that will not change. We will never accept… your way, your rule by force… that’s the pride… of our country.”

The man, strong as a rock with his eyes full of determination, bloodied yet unbroken, smiles slightly.

Cult Member: “Pride, huh… a troublesome thing indeed. But a strong woman like you… I don’t dislike. However, we too have an objective, a justice, a cause. Hence, we can’t afford to stop… even if it means burning all the people of this country to achieve it! How long can you uphold your shred of pride?! Freya!! Do it!!”

The man referred to as Freya raises his hand once again. A small sun is born, and it flies straight towards Tsubaki. The scorching flames, a S-Rank magic, are cast upon Japan, burning even the air itself.

It’s almost reminiscent of the massive bomb that ended the great war of the past.

But this is not the flame of the beginning, nor the flame of the end.

Tsubaki: “…I’m sorry, Chairman,”

It was when Tsubaki, looking at the fireball, had resigned herself to her impending death and closed her eyes.

Chairman Kagetora: “You did well, Tsubaki!! That’s why you’re my subordinate!! Reina, stop that fireball!!”

A familiar voice echoes. Always teasing, but in critical moments, it’s more reliable than anyone else’s. It belongs to the man who, despite being over 70, still stands at the top of this country.

And then there’s another voice, as clear as crystal.

Reina: “Shield of Light…”

Along with the voice, a silver wall appears in the sky. The fireball collides directly with the wall, but it’s as if there was nothing there to begin with; the shield of light protects everything.

There’s not a scratch on Tsubaki and her team, not even heat can penetrate it.

And finally, one more person. A man who looks like a mercenary, holding a jet-black sword, his face covered with stubble. He grips his sword so tightly it looks like it might shatter, the veins on his arm bulging.

He always appears lackadaisical and lazy.

But today was different.

The man crouches down in front of one of the scattered corpses. Gently, he closes the corpse’s wide-open eyes with his hand.

Tendou: “…I’m sorry, I didn’t make it in time.”

Then he looks up at the four archbishops, who claim they can kill a god.

Tendou: “…You guys… you’re ready, aren’t you…”

It’s the image of the strongest samurai in Japan, truly enraged. His entire body emits a black magic power that erupts like an angry black dragon, making even the air tremble.

The black dragon－ roars in anger.

Tendou: “To get fucking slaughtered!!”