Battle Harem of the Heavenly Sword

Chapter 94 [Vol 1 Epilogue]: So Long As They Need Me 3

?"I was amazing! But I also got cocky and proud. I save cities with one swing of my sword. Tales of my deeds spread, protecting countries, ending wars, and stopping calamities was just a normal day for me. I was the hottest commodity Valorious ever saw. Luckily I remained faithful to my harem and didn't pick up chicks left and right.

"But I pretty much did everything else. I lorded over the masses, my word became law. I executed any who opposed me. Entire countries bowed to my will. Kings and Emperors groveled at my feet, offering even their own wives and daughters to come under my protection. The power, prestige, and authority intoxicated me like a drug. But then they came."

"Their armies arrived without warning and eradicated towns and cities overnight. I went out and fought them. But no matter how powerful I was, I couldn't fight everywhere all at the same time. For every city I saved, ten more would fall. No matter what I did, people died. Even the ones that survived blamed me for failing to save everything."

"It was a battle that I couldn't win. Even with such grand titles, skills, and power eclipsing the entire world it was impossible. While I couldn't be killed, the same did not hold true for everybody else. Even the girls... In an attempt to cover more ground, we split up. But they attacked in ways you cannot even imagine. I lost the lights of my life one by one.

"When Raylene, Jade, and Vanessa died. I stop caring and annihilated scores of them in anger, vengeance, and retribution. After years of such a lifestyle, I lost hope and gave up fighting. I forgot what I even lived for... I wanted to die but couldn't, I should have just forced the girls to run away to earth or something.

It was then that Patches brought me here to this reality as an outworlder. I donned armor that removed any indication of who I was. Choose a title to embody and a new name. I became Gideon and I have wandered this reality for millennia.

"Abandoning the reality I transmigrated to behind. What happened to me affects you and what happens to you affects me. Similar to time paradoxes in anime, two versions of the same person cannot exist in the same reality."

Black Hiro listened quietly but his body was riddled with signs of impatience. From the tightening grip on his weapon, clenched teeth, and even erratic heartbeat, this was a lot to take in. But his high intellect simulated what he would have done in the same situation.

As he had a benchmark of how powerful White Hiro was, he couldn't understand. Just how numerous and fearsome was this enemy? Why couldn't he stop them? Why did no one else fight them? What was their purpose? The tired warrior in front of him continued his tale.

"I opted to remain hidden, but Filia over there wanted to help you return to your senses or die trying. The only reason you are coherent now is because I am suppressing you. But that won't last forever, due to me exposing myself to you, to correct this reality I will be erased by the Regalia."

Seeing the inquisitive face of Black Hiro, White Hiro chucked as he commented. "Haha, my face does indeed look stupid when it shifts expressions, is this how everyone else felt? Anyway, the Regalia is another one of the secrets that cannot be spoken of. Even If I tell you, you will forget it anyway.

"The important thing to know is that you did not come here by chance, you are part of a plan that took forever to take shape. You are arguably the most important piece of it. Should you be marked by the [Forsaken] as its Herald that plan automatically goes kaput.

"Two guardians were dispatched to prevent such an event from happening. One is the Servant of Eternity, the other is the Heir of Dragonblood. These two have been protecting you for thousands of years and across lifetimes. Protecting us. But something changed, in the latest realities both have been unable to full fill their duties."

White Hiro then walked closer towards still the shadow-covered transmigrator. While Black Hiro didn't attack, he never relaxed his guard. He merely pondered on what he heard thus he looked stoic.

"I am the first of the realities of which they have failed. And you are about to be the last. You lasted this long only because the guardians are in this reality. If even you fail the Regalia will erase [Hiroyuki Mitsurugi] and doom the entire universe."

Unable to remain silent anymore Black Hiro then rebuked the White Hiro in anger. "Do you actually believe I have any idea about the shit you are saying to me right now? How is you showing up now suppose to help me when my wives are missing?"

White Hiro chuckled, then disappeared. Black Hiro suddenly felt his left arm, both legs, and a large chunk of his stomach ripped away from his body. As the Black Hiro fell to the ground with severe injuries, the pain threatened to break his mind. White Hiro's words then echoed in his ears.

"By taking your place and becoming the herald instead of you."

Black Hiro tried to look for his counterpart but couldn't find where he stood, instead White Hiro's words continued to resonate in the air.

"My reality is gone Hiro, Rhyne and her master won in it. I am a being who lost his place. Unable to die yet not having a place to return to rest. I am a Venator. A hunter whose only chance to live is to hunt my branches. When I saw our girls, I couldn't do it. Thus a became a being without a goal or purpose.

"I followed Filia here as Gideon. Venators have only one of two endings, to get caught and erased by the Regalia or steal the place of their counterparts in another reality.

"Luckily you gave me a third alternative. I can now stick it to these fuckers one last time in a blaze of glory. Remember, other Me, never become complacent. You need to become a thousand times stronger than Leonidas Dominii if you want any hope of surviving what comes next."

Choking on blood due to his injuries Black Hiro tried to talk but failed, however, he then noticed the shadows plaguing him earlier were nowhere to be seen. In an inhuman display of power, White Hiro removed all the parts of his body governed by [Malice].

Black Hiro saw the system telling him he lost the status of Herald of the [Forsaken] and the [Lost] modes. As a consequence, he suddenly began suffering from Stat deficiency. Black Hiro's mind turned hazy despite his best efforts to stay awake. He then vaguely heard White Hiro's final instructions.

"Hiro, in Valorious weakness is a sin. Grow stronger, stronger than I ever was. Stronger than anything and everything. This is the only way Raylene, Vanessa, and Jade will survive. If not for me do it for them. I don't deserve them due to my stupidity. But you are different, you still have the chance to make things right."