The wave is finally over and our heroes emerged victorious. Now, it's going to be a little while until the next wave hits, allowing the heroes to grow stronger and gain even more new abilities. I've got some interesting ones lined up along the way, but for now, we come to one of the most epic moments in this entire series. Now normally, this part would have the shield hero pitted against the spear hero, but if you can make any guesses by the title, then i'm sure you can guess where i'm going with this chapter. Oh, and lastly, my internet source currently isn't strong enough for me to look up my sources for material, so i'm going in blind on this chapter with only my memory to help. Wish me luck! Now, with that out of the way, enjoy!

When the evening came around the next day, a party was hosted for the five cardinal heroes for their victory during the wave. Even Naofumi was invited despite the recent accusations against him. The party was hosted in the ballroom of the royal castle. All the heroes were spread out, each having crowds around them except for Naofumi. Motoyasu was surrounded by a crowd of women, while Ren and Itsuki were surrounded by their own party members. Around me and Neela were a mix of guests who thanked us for our service during the wave. "I hear you were able to defend a nearby village from an invasion of monsters. You two must be mighty strong for doing that all on your own." One of the guests said to me as he took a sip from his drink. "Thank you, but we weren't on our own. We teamed up with the shield hero and his party member to defend that town. We actually made a pretty good team." I explained as some of the guests began to look a little disgusted. "You team up with him? Why would you do such a thing? Who would want to even be with a monster like the shield hero?" A woman said. "Oh give me a break. He's one of the cardinal heroes, just like me. Without him, you may not even be alive. So show some respect. Sure, he might have done some questionable things in the past but he still did his duty and defended the land from the wave. So zip it!" I said to the woman as I walked away and over to Naofumi. 

He and Raphtalia were standing away from everyone by a window. Raphtalia looked like she was trying to get Naofumi to try some cake. "Not one for parties?" I asked him. "Just not a fan of the crowd. I know that i'm not really wanted here." Naofumi said to me. "I'm sure that's the case for most here, but at least you've got the two of us." I said, referring to myself and Neela. But, as we began to have a conversation, Motoyasu appeared and interrupted us. He had taken off one of the gloves on his hand and he threw it at Naofumi's feet. "Naofumi.... it's time to fight." He said to him with obvious anger in his voice. "Why would you want to fight me?" Naofumi asked him. "Don't play stupid. I want to fight you because of what you've done to poor Raphtalia." Motoyasu said. "And what exactly have I done to her?" Naofumi asked. "She's your slave! You have her under constant abuse!" Motoyasu explained as I had to step in. "That's enough, Motoyasu. You clearly haven't had your eyes open at all! Naofumi hasn't been abusing Raphtalia! Just look at her! Doesn't she seem very happy to you!? But go on, tell me she looks like someone who's being abused!" I said as Myne, now a member of Motoyasu's party stepped in. "I hear the shield hero isn't the only one with a slave. You have one too, axe hero!" Myne stated as everyone in the ballroom began to turn their heads toward us. "Yes, actually, I do. But take a look at her. Does she look like she's suffering? Or i'm abusing her? No. I don't treat her like a slave. I treat her like i'm her mother. And the same can be said for Naofumi and Raphtalia." I said, staring directly at Myne. "And you could be easily lying about it all. There's no way for either of you to prove it. Now, stand aside axe hero. Mr. Motoyasu has challenged the shield hero." Myne said to me. "I don't think so. Come on, Raphtalia, we're leaving." Naofumi said as the two of them began to leave. Myself and Neela followed as we were through with this whole party as well. 

However, as we made it to a staircase, we were stopped halfway down by some royal guards. We were blocked from in front and behind us and the guards grabbed Neela and Raphtalia, taking them away from us. "What's the meaning of this!? Return my friend to me, now!" I demanded as the king appeared. "It has come to my attention that you and the shield hero have slaves in your parties. This is unacceptable. But, I have decided to make an acception, provided you agree with my terms." The king said as I turned to listen to him. "The shield hero and the spear hero will do battle. If the spear hero wins, then both of you must release your slaves. But, if the shield hero wins, then you may keep them." The king explained. "Seeing as you probably won't give us back our friends if we refuse, it seems we have no choice. But, instead of Naofumi, I will be the one to battle Motoyasu." I said as the king sighed and then nodded. "So be it. Let us gather in the courtyard where we will witness the battle between the spear hero and the axe hero!" The king said as we headed to the battleground. 

I was escorted into a waiting area. I now waited for the battle to begin. This was a fight that I could not lose. I had to win, not only for myself, but for Naofumi, Neela and Raphtalia. We've all come too far for us to be taken away from each other now. I gave up everything and i'm not about to have it all be taken away from me again. I held my axe in my left hand and took some deep breaths as the doors to the battlefield opened up. I stepped through and saw Motoyasu appear from the other side, his spear ready in his right hand. I looked around and saw Naofumi sitting in the crowd, giving me a somewhat concerning look. But, what was more concerning was what had happened to Neela and Raphtalia. They both sat behind the king, each of the with their wrists tied to chairs and gags in their mouths. "That's how you treat someone who you're trying to free? It's more like someone you're about to execute." I thought as I turned my attention back to Motoyasu. "Prepare to meet defeat, Ayuma. I will be the one to set Raphtalia and Neela free." Motoyasu said as he pointed his spear at me. "In your dreams. You're too blind to see the truth, so i'm just going to have to beat it into your thick skull. Prepare to lose." I said as I pointed my axe at him. The king then stood up from his chair and spoke a few words. "Let the battle between Motoyasu, the spear hero, and Ayuma, the axe hero, begin!" He shouted as me and Motoyasu charged each other. 

We met in the centre of the battlefield and we locked weapons with each other. We entered a shoving match and neither of us were giving each other ground. "Why does someone like you need a slave in your party? I understand Naofumi but why you?" Motoyasu asked me. "Because I had no other options for finding party members. I gave up everything I owned. My levels, my money, even my clothing, all gone so I could change the rules of the game." I explained as Motoyasu began to look confused. "What the heck did you do?" He asked me as I kicked his knee with my leg, making him lose balance and allowing me to push him away from me. "Since you're so curious, I made it so I can travel alongside the shield hero without our weapons restricting each other. But know this. I did not join his party." I explained as Motoyasu grew angry. "You did what!? Why would you join scum like him!? Or are you two working together in some sort of deal!? Whatever it may be, I will not lose to you! Infrerno spear!" Motoyasu yelled as the blade  of his spear changed forms. It was now wider with a red and black blade. It then ignited into flames and Motoyasu charged me again. "Ice Titan axe!" I yelled, morphing my weapon, chunks of ice emerging on its blades. We swung our weapons at each other again and created shock waves upon impact. The combination of our fire and ice began to create steam on the battlefield, making it harder to see each other. We both decided to step back and jump away, now going out of each others sight. 

"If we can't see each other, then I guess I have the time to change tactics. "Now, Soaring Thunderbird axe!" I said as my axe changed again. It now dawned dark brown feathers on the sides of the blades. The blades themselves now began to produce electricity. I rushed forward, assuming Motoyasu was still in the same spot. "Sparking thunder slash!" I yelled as my axe produced multiple bolts of lightning as I swiped it in front of me. But my weapon made no connection to anything. Motoyasu was not here. "Venom drench strike!" Motoyasu yelled as he appeared from my left. His spear now had a purple blade with some sort of ooze dripping from it. Judging from the name of his attack, it contained some sort of poison or venom. I tried to dodge by leaning my body out of the way but Motoyasu was able to just cut my left arm. "Got you! Now your strength will slowly begin to diminish thanks to the venom in my blade." Motoyasu said but I felt so changes to me. "Looks like the joke's on you, Motoyasu. This new armor of mine grants me immunity to some poisons. And it looks like your spear has no effect on me. So now, let's see if poisons affect you! Twin Serpent axe!" I said as my weapon changed once again. The grip now had two snakes coiled around it and the blades were a dark purple colour. I swung my axe at Motoyasu and I just barely landed a hit on his left leg as he attempted to dodge. He let out a small grunt and looked to his leg. "Unlike your venom, the poison in this axe will cause paralysis after about 3 minutes. Don't worry, it'll only last for about 15 minutes after that. But, you'd better act quick if you wanna beat me." I said as I charged him again. "Now, Barbarian Minotaur axe!"  I shouted, changing my weapons form yet again, increasing my striking power. "Specter Whisp spear!" Motoyasu cried out as his spear turned completely black in colour with gray lines running up and down it. He then thrusted it forward and emerging from the end of his spear were two spirits that flew towards me. They stopped me in my tracks as they flew through my chest and then around me. I attempted to hit them but my axe simply went right through them. They didn't seem able to do any damage to me though. "Damn it! I can't touch these things! They're so annoying! Fine! If I can't hit them directly, then i'll just blow them away instead!" I yelled as I slammed my axe against the ground. This axe was one of my strongest and each attack I used would create a shock wave. The shock wave I made blasted apart the spirits. "Cut it with the lame tactics, Motoyasu! Strike me head on, like a real man!" I said, pointing my axe at him. 

"My armor doesn't protect me from poisons like yours, and judging by how long it's been since you hit me with it, i'd say I have only a minute left. So hear me, Ayuma! I, Motoyasu, the spear hero will claim victory with this final attack!" He said to me, pointing his spear at me. "Your confidence is too high if you think you're gonna beat me right here and now. But, if you're going all out, then i'll match you and give you everything I've got as well! Dragon Heart axe!" I said, morphing my axe to its most powerful form. Symbols of fire and dragons appeared on the grip and blades of my weapon and it began to emanate and intense heat. Meanwhile, Motoyasu's spear tip began to spin and electricity began to shoot out of it wildly. We both stared down each other and after a few seconds, we made one last charge. The blades on my axe ignited into blue flames and I readied my weapon to clash. "Lightning Spear! Searing Dragon's Roar" We shouted at the same time as we struck each other. Our weapons became interlocked once again and the force of our attacks was shaking the entire battlefield. Huge bursts of flames and bolts of lighting were shooting off everywhere and the people watching backed away to avoid getting caught in the damage. We both went for one final push, trying to gain the ground needed to land that final strike. We glared into each others eyes, screaming at each others faces, showing our determination to win. However, I could see Motoyasu's veins were popping out and turning a darker colour. The poison was beginning to take effect and in just a few seconds, he would be able to move. In just a few seconds, I would win. But, as I gave one last push, I suddenly felt a huge gust of wind strike me in the back. It made me lose balance and Motoyasu began to overpower me, pushing me and my axe back. "Now fall!" Motoyasu yelled as he struck me in the chest. The power of his attack was tremendous, the electricity coursing through my body and shocking me beyond belief. I was blown back away from Motoyasu. I landed on my back and slid on the ground a few feet. My body didn't want to move for me. All I could feel was my head. I tilted it around behind me so I could try and see what made that wind before. Out of the corner of my eye, standing in the shadows of a gate was Myne with a twisted smile on her face. "That bitch! She.... cheated!" I thought as Motoyasu stepped in front of me and pointed his spear down at my neck. "Yield!" He commanded as I saw he was struggling to move. My poison was in effect but he was somehow powering through it and still moving. I had no choice. "I.... admit defeat..." I said as Motoyasu took his weapon away from me. 

He slowly backed off and I stood back up, the sting of defeat surging in my body. Or maybe that was just the electricity from before. Regardless, I had lost. But, I wasn't going to stay quiet about what happened during that last exchange. "There we have it! The spear hero is victorious!" The king announced as the crowd began to cheer and clap for Motoyasu. "That's enough! This match has no winner! There was interference from Myne when me and Motoyasu clashed for that final time!" I claimed as the king looked at me curiously. "Interference? I saw no such thing." The king said as I grew furious. "What!? How can you be so blind!? It happened right after we locked weapons! Motoyasu, didn't you feel that intense wind!?" I asked him as he shook his head. "I have no idea what you're referring to. Stop being a sore loser and just accept your defeat." He said to me. "Enough! The winner has already been decided! With the spear hero's victory, the two demi-human slaves will now be set free!" The king commanded as Naofumi ran onto the battlefield. "Ayuma isn't lying! I saw Myne use some sort of wind spell to knock her off balance!" He said as a small feeling of relief came over me. "Oh thank god, someone else saw it happen." I thought to myself as the king stood up from his chair. "Silence, you swine! Your word means nothing here after all that you've done!" The king yelled as my feelings of relief very quickly shattered. "Admit it, you were beaten fair and square by Mr. Motoyasu. Stop sulking and just move on." Myne said, appearing from the gate where she struck me. I turned and marhed over to her, my axe in my hands. I walked right up to her and held my axe up to her neck. "Why did you interfere with the battle!? Afraid to see your dear spear hero lose!?" I said as she just kept on smiling. "My, aren't we desperate. I did no such thing. All I did was watch the spear hero defeat you." Myne said as I readied myself to strike her with my axe. But before I could, Ren and Itsuki ran onto the battlefield and held me back. "Stop, Ayuma! You need to control yourself! Think about what you're doing! She's the princess of this kingdom!" Itsuki said to me which took me by surprise. "She's the... princess?" I said as I lowered my weapon. "Yes! Malty Melromarc, adventurer name: Myne. She's the princess, so you can't do anything to her." Ren said as I clenched my weapon hard in my hand. "Princess bitch is more like it." I thought as Raphtalia and Neela were brought onto the battlefield, now free of their binds. 

"We will now set the two slaves free! Everyone, rejoice in their freedom from these two fallen heroes!" The king said as I attempted to run over to Neela. However, Ren and Itsuki continued to hold me back. Naofumi did nothing and only had the most shocked and saddened expression on his face. We were both about to lose the only companions we had. We were basically about to restart all over again. I dropped to my knees as I watched a man come through a gate, holding some weird looking paint brush. My best guess would be that it removed the slave emblem from Neela and Raphtalia. Neela was struggling as the man went to her first. He found her emblem and moved the paintbrush over it. He was erasing it off of her body. My status then opened up and I watched as Neela's name was taken off my companion list. "No! Please! Don't take her away from me!" I screamed as I suddenly blacked out. 

When I awoke, I was laying in a dark room with nothing but a light shining down on me. "Where... am I?" I said as I stood up. My axe was gone and I couldn't see anyone or anything around me. "Hello!? Is anyone there!?" I yelled out but I got no answer. "Helllooo!" I called out again. "Hello, Ayuma Saruwatari." A deep and grizzled voice said to me. "Who's there?" I asked. "I am nothing, but I come offering you a gift." The voice said to me as screens popped up all around me. They were showing videos of my experiences with Neela. I saw her growing up with me, all the way up to when we fought during the wave. "What kind of gift?" I asked as a ball of black mist appeared and floated in front of me. "A gift of power. To never lose anyone again. All you must do is touch the object before you. Unleash your anger and walk the path of champions." The voice said as the black mist floated closer to me. "Never lose anyone ever? I... I want that. I want Neela. I.... I.... I accept your gift." I said as I reached out and touched the mist. My status opened up, showing the webbing of weapon upgrades. However, a secondary webbing appeared, all black in colour. "Demon Axe unlocked" popped up and a feeling of hatred and strength entered my body. "Motoyasu.... Myne.... they..... they cheated! They took away the one I hold dearest to me! I want to.... I want to kill them!" I yelled as my axe suddenly appeared in my hands. Only instead of its normal form, it now was completely black in colour, symbols of darkness all around it and a dark aura emanating from the blade. "I feel the power. It's so strong! It feels good.... really good! I... will slay the spear hero with this mighty weapon!" I shouted as I suddenly blacked out again. 

"Mommy!" A familiar voiced yelled to me as I woke up. Neela was with me, hugging me as I was still on my knees. She was crying into my shoulder. I quickly pulled up my status and saw her name was still gone. I then disabled my status and hugged Neela back. I could feel tears beginning to roll down my eyes now. "I'm so sorry, Neela. I will always treasure our memories together. Now go. Enjoy your freedom. Live your life to the fullest." I said softly to her as Neela sobbed even harder now. "It's true I may be free now.... But the truth is.... ever since I met you... I've always been free. And... If you'll let me... I'd love it if you let me rejoin you.... as your faithful companion." Neela said as an overwhelming amount of tears emerged from my eyes. I was so happy and sad that I could barely even speak. "I... I... I... I would... Really.... like that. Please... don't ever leave me again. I can't... do this... without you, Neela." I said as I did my best to wipe away the tears. My status opened back up and it asked me if I wanted to add Neela as my companion. I said yes and her name was re-added to my list. Everything was still there as well. He levels, skills and stats all remained the same. I then closed my status and looked over to Naofumi. Similar to me and Neela, he was also on his knees, hugging Raphtalia. And if what I just went through told me anything, I would say that Raphtalia is staying with him as well. "What's going on? They were their slaves. Shouldn't they be happy to be free now?" Motoyasu asked. I then ooked directly at him and Myne, giving off the most intense glare I could. "You don't know the first thing about how I treat others. I treat everyone as part of my own family, no matter who they are. I treated you the same way during the beginning of all this. But now.... if you come between me and my family ever again... I swear that I will kill you both where you stand." I said intensely as I could feel the dark aura from before beginning to surge through my body. "Miss Ayuma, please!" Neela said as she grabbed my right arm and held it tightly. The aura disappeared and I looked to her. "Please.... just no more." She said to me as I gave her a slow nod. I then looked back to Motoyasu and Myne. "We bid you farewell for tonight. But know that if we cross paths in the future, I will show no mercy to you." I said as me and Neela left. We exited the royal castle and stayed at an inn for the evening. I heard Naofumi and Raphtalia enter and receive a nearby room but I didn't want to bother them anymore. The only things that now concerned me were if Neela was okay and what exactly will this new power give me? What's so special about this Demon Axe?