Dwarf: See now?! We all need you! If not you! Who could possibly end this war?!
Hero: "... I know... The mourning can be concluded later... Right now... Would be the time for everything to end."
Having seen his companions resolve to accompany him to the bitter end. The Hero finally declared his stance.
Human Saintess: "Let us go, Hero."
Elf: "Let's go, my friend."
Dwarf: "Let's go before I knock your head to that cliff over there."
The three spoke in encouragement.
Hero: "... Hahahaha... Alright... I'll be there in a second. You guys can go ahead and make a grand start."
Hearing his words, they were reassured. That the Hero will save this world on the brink of destruction.
Everyone except the Hero: "You bet we will."
They spoke in unison with a grin of smile on their faces as they face the Hero.
Dwarf: "Just come down when you're ready. We will be waiting for you. Hero."
Elf: "See you down below, Hero!"
Human Saintess: "See you, Hero."
One by one, they said their goodbyes as they walked down the mountainous path leading down to the last stronghold of Humanity.
Hero: "I'll catch up to you guys. I swear on my name. This war will end today."
Everyone except the Hero left. Everything went silent. After seeing off the last member of his party go down the mountainous path. He turned his back to face a tombstone with no name on it.
Hero: "Friend... This might be the last time I'll see you. I apologize for where we buried you..."
He looked at it solemnly, expressing his grief.
Hero: "You know... We had a lot of memorable experiences... Alongside you..."
He knelt on one knee, pulling out his sword.
Hero: "This blade... It might look a bit shabby but, please accept it."
Upon offering his sword, he directly shifted his grip, stabbing his sword in front of the tombstone. Buried within the rocks and snow.
After stabbing his sword to the ground. He rummages his pockets within the cold armor, showing a few blade fragments and a broken hilt.
Hero: "In return for the broken blade you have used to protect us... This hilt... This fragments..."
The Hero slashed the mountain walls right behind the grave. Carving out a unique pattern of slashes using the left over fragments.
Hero: "The fragments have been etched in that huge cliff behind your grave as proof of your existence."
Right as the fragments were scattered to paint the mountain walls, the Hero looked at the hilt, shedding tears as he reminisced about their past.
Hero: "As for the hilt... I'll make sure to deliver it back to your loved ones... To atleast have this must mean a lot to them..."
He tightened his grip upon the broken hilt, biting the end of his frost-bitten lips making it slightly bleed.
Hero: "You were my true friend, a big brother who could shoulder anything, a great teacher who saved me from the clutches of poverty, and a person who kept us moving forward along with our insignificant dreams... Lastly... A Hero..."
He then picked out a worn-out golden badge clipped between the two ends of his mantle.
Hero: "I don't think I deserve this title... From today onwards... I renounce myself as the Hero."
The Hero then took off his mantle along with the badge, putting it shoulder to shoulder with the tombstone. After putting it, he then covered his index finger with slight mana, using it to carve words into the nameless grave.
Hero: "Now, although people might think of me as a Hero... But, I, we, your family think that you deserve it more than I do."
Hero: "Rest Well. My friend, My teacher, My Saviour. Our Swordsman... No."
Hero: "... Our Hero."
###
Dwarf: "Where the hell is that guy?!"
At the flat land, just at the foot of the mountain. A surge of Demons kept appearing one after another. With few soldiers left to protect the last line of defense, they were eventually overrun.
Elf: "Just give him some more time! We must hold this line before everything falls apart!"
The Saintess, who was healing the wounded and buffing her teammates, continued to exert more effort as she guided the last of their races inside a temporary sanctuary.
Human Saintess: "Everyone! Evacuate into the church!"
Though, as she was guiding the last survivors into the church covered with Divine Protection, the Hero arrived, holding a makeshift sword.
Hero: "There's no need for that Saintess."
Appearing from the rear, he called out to the Saintess brimming with passion and confidence.
They were all surprised to see him. As he walked down the pile of snow stained with too many bloodshed. His gaze wasn't that of the weak Hero that was grieving but, a Hero that was ready to battle alongside them.
Human Saintess: "... Hero...?"
Dwarf: "Finally! You really took your precious time, haven't you?"
Elf: "You've finally arrived. The last line of defense has already been breached by the surging Demon Army! We must get everyone into the shelter!"
They were filled with joy as they saw him walk towards them.
The Hero continued to walk down their path. He looked at his friends, having a difficult time. Looking at the Dwarf at the forefront of the battle swinging down his huge axe.
He saw the huge axe that was once shimmering with glory had long passed its lifespan. Tiny bits of its cold iron had begun showing a few cracks.
The bow and daggers which was used by the Elf have been strained for far too long that just a mishandled force would break it apart.
The staff, which was held by Saintess, was covered all over with scratches and crumbling fragments.
Hero: "There's no need for that Elf."
Elf: "What do you mean by that...?"
Hero: "Because *WE* are here."
The Hero made sure to return and now that he did, he had to end this once and for all, taking his fallen comrade alongside their pending battles.
Human Saintess: "Hero..."
The superhuman Dwarf who boasts unbelievable strength saw a slight figment of that person walking alongside the Hero.
Dwarfs Inner Thought: "Did I see that correctly...? I think I just saw a glimpse of that person..."
Passing the briefly stunned Dwarf, he unleashes an amount of Divine mana covering his entire sword with its brilliant golden light.