The Extra Can't be A Hero

Chapter 265: The New Order (2)

Amon stood alone in the centre of the broken meteor, his face beaming with both exhaustion and adrenaline. Fire and ash enveloped him, yet he didn't look worse for wear. Instead, he looked like a phoenix reborn, sauntering through the destroyed capital with the poise of an emperor.

The work was done.

Starfall had halted.

Amon had stopped the final meteor that would have utterly destroyed the capital. Around him, there wasn't a single clenched jaw as they widened their mouths in complete shock. Not the Solaris Lord, not the Sword Saint, and not even the Sky Spear, the ancient man who had served by the side of the Clay Emperor as he fought the heavens.

Amon had stunned them all.

Nyx's black blade was covered in dust and soot, yet everyone instinctively felt fear when looking straight at the Heroic-grade sword. No, with the destruction of the meteor… perhaps it had advanced into a never-before-seen grade.

One that surpassed the Holy Blade altogether.

Not that it mattered now.

Amon loosened his shoulders and returned to the stunned audience. And the first person to catch his eye was a black-haired beauty who stood in his path.

"You are?"

"... Agios Solaris, the Solaris Saint."

"Ah, you were summoned from Ascalon."

Amon instantly connected the dots when he saw Leon's Ascalon radiating with holy power. He gave the pair a nod of acknowledgement before saying:

"Thank you for helping. More lives would have been lost if you hadn't shown up."

"... Heh, you aren't even fazed."

"Why should I be?" Amon grinned and pointed to the sky. "I just ripped a hole in the sky."

"Heh, how cocky." Agios shook her head but didn't deny his words. "No, you earned that right. Amon Solaris, huh? It's a pity you weren't born in my era."

"True, it's a pity that you weren't born in mine either."

"..."

Amon's words struck a chord in the Solaris Saint's mind. Yes, who was she to determine that he was better than her? Amon was only a few years over twenty, which gave him plenty of time to grow into a legend beyond herself.

No, given that his path was completely different from hers, Amon was practically guaranteed to surpass her.

And the thought of seeing a completed, invincible Amon… sent shivers down the Solaris Saint's spine.

"You're right… HAHAHA! To think that I could only taste something like this after my death… How very bitter indeed."

"..."

"We shall meet again, I will make sure of it."

With those parting words, Agios' body was reduced back to clay and mud, as her spirit returned into Ascalon. Leon let out a sigh while Amon smiled back and said:

"Good luck with that."

"Hah, thanks."

Leon took some time to gather his wits before finally standing eye to eye to meet Amon. It had been a while since Leon had taken some time actually to look at Amon, and he couldn't help but notice the difference.

Now twenty-three, Amon had grown into his prime—tall, muscular, and strikingly handsome. His black hair and golden eyes once carried an intimidating edge, lending him the air of a transcendent god. With a physique built like a fortress, his very presence used to make ordinary people avert their gaze.

At least… that was how it should have been.

The sharp, domineering aura he once exuded had softened. The change in him was unmistakable. Empathy and quiet concern now simmered in his golden eyes, making him appear more human… more than ever before.

"Amon, just what kind of monster have you become?"

"Monster? Heh, I guess I have gained a little strength."

"A little? You call this a little?"

Leon scoffed as he scanned his surroundings. The meteor that would have spelt certain doom to the capital had been utterly destroyed. The Demon Cult, which would have wreaked mayhem, was forced to retreat by his hands. And finally… Amon didn't look like he'd given it his all.

Although Leon could guess that he didn't hold back… that didn't mean Amon was utterly spent.

In fact, if he so wished, Leon was sure that Amon could fight another Apostle or two with ease.

"Hah, you're right. I've become quite the monster." Amon laughed while tapping on Leon's shoulders. "So hurry up and catch up, Leon. Else, I'll take the 'hero' spot away from you."

"... Amon, you've changed."

Seeing the light flicker within Amon's usually murky eyes, Leon couldn't help but comment.

"Changed? How so?"

"You seem more… human."

"Ah, that's right. I just had… something lifted off my chest. That's all."

Amon realised what Leon was talking about and waved it off entirely. After all, he couldn't just divulge his entire life story to Leon. At least, not yet.

"We'll talk about that next time, now… we have more pressing things to do."

"R-Right!"

Leon jumped and, without needing Amon to elaborate, immediately got to work. While the threat of the Demon Cult and Starfall has passed, there was still the need to launch a rescue effort. Eldorin and the Hyades Army had done their best with the evacuations, but there were definitely some who didn't manage to escape in time.

That's where Leon came in.

"Wait, take Ellahan and your mother along. They'll be able to help far better than I could."

"On it!"

Ellahan was the Saintess, while Aluria was the Ocean Goddess. Both of them excelled in the healing arts and possessed magic that aided rescue efforts. For instance, Ellahan could use her nature magic to lift rocks while Aluria could use water to locate people hidden within the rubble.

With them accompanying him, Leon could freely execute his duty as a hero.

Amon watched the young man leave with the two women and dropped his shoulders. Feeling a wave of exhaustion hit him, he fell to the ground and took a long, deep breath.

"Heh, you were putting up an act? Could have fooled me."

The Sword Saint approached Amon, his gaze playful yet cautious. In the past, he'd deemed Amon as the most talented youth he'd ever seen. However, after his dominating display, there was a real chance that Amon had surpassed him and now stood as the most powerful Knight on the planet.

"Stopping a calamity that could have destroyed the world isn't easy, Sir Kassadin."

"I know… I was just lightening the mood."

The Sword Saint stood next to Amon with his arms behind his back. As he looked out at all of the death and destruction the capital experienced, a wave of sadness brushed across his cheeks.

Although he had abandoned his role as Lord Protector of the Realm, it still pained his heart to see the capital he once cherished and lived in reduced to ruin.

"Zephys is done. They won't be able to rebuild the capital with this much damage."

"I know."

"Without it, the Hyades Republic will likely fall. The High Council will dissolve, and each region will become autonomous. They will then fight for supremacy and land, starting a civil war that the Republic has never seen in centuries."

"That's likely the case."

"The Demon Cult will take advantage of this mayhem. They will gain more followers by the day, and eventually, they will swallow up the entire continent."

The Sword Saint sighed, slightly regretting his choice not to join the Demon Cult. After all, from his point of view, his side was now the losing side.

The Hyades Republic was fractured. Faith was at an all-time low, and the rotten parts of the republic had been revealed to the public. They failed to protect the capital, the crown jewel of the republic, and their oversight led to the deaths of millions.

On the other hand, the Demon Cult was going to thrive. They could promise eternal life, immense power, and anything a mortal mind could imagine. And in the coming age where suffering was bound to occur, they would gain followers faster than a river could flow.

It was clear to anyone with half a brain who was on the winning side.

However…

"Well… That won't happen."

Amon shook his head and declared confidently.

Yes, the Demon Cult may have succeeded in destroying the capital, but Amon managed to save at least half of it. More importantly, due to Leon and Eldorin's efforts, they managed to start the evacuation efforts early, saving millions more.

The Demon Cult may have succeeded, but only partially.

And more importantly…

"We have heroes on our side. People who can change the world."

Amon said it jokingly to Leon, but he honestly didn't believe he was the hero of this story. In the end, even with his emotions back, his heart was filled with selfish desire. Amon could never live for the sake of someone else and would do anything in his power to make himself happy, even if it meant killing an entire city of innocents.

But Leon was different.

He was the true hero that Hyades needed.

Leon would always do the 'right' thing, no matter the cost. If he were put in a no-win situation, Leon would always find a third and hidden solution, saving as many people as he could.

That mindset was something Amon didn't have, and he didn't wish to have it.

And it wasn't just Leon.

There was the Saintess who lived for love.

The Necromancer who yearned to let the dead rest.

Eccentric inventors who could progress humanity's technologies, charismatic warriors who could inspire the hearts of youths, and even magicians who could give hope to those who are downtrodden.

Amon's Eldorin had grown into a spectacular force, one that he'd always envisioned.

"The new will always replace the old, and this time… It's no different."

Amon spoke solemnly as his golden eyes reflected something that the Sword Saint had never seen before in the young man… hope.

"If the Hyades Republic is done for, so be it. We'll create a new order in its place."