Former Hero

Entering the archway, he experienced the familiar sensation of being transported by such intense mana. The best way he could describe it would be what a powerless person felt when being carried off by a whirlwind or pulled by a damning tide. A compelling and dreadful drag that instills fear and unwillingness due to complete loss of agency. Fortunately, the sensation is brief and minuscule, or every teleportation would induce a certain mental trauma that eventually develops into a phobia of portals. When one is strong enough, they could cancel teleportation through willpower alone and the nauseating sensation disappears altogether. The fact that the sensation was so potent despite his strength already told him that it was beyond his capabilities.

That was the downside of power. With an increase in power came an increase in awareness. The exception being political or unearned power. With increasing competence came an overwhelming sense of cognizance. The ability to comprehend the scale of injustice and your inability to combat it regardless of influence, the ability to gauge your opponent and understand the abyss required to defeat them, the sensory information overload which results in knowing too much without wanting to, and the hesitation it causes.

When the pull weakened, he was once again greeted by the unsuspicious grassy plains. Resembling a meager forest dungeon, it was a place that feigned weakness. Unlike other dungeons, this one was unique in many ways. It consisted of multiple floors which were numbered in the double digits and would take years to conquer if someone competent enough actually tried. The first ten levels were a joke, the next twenty levels resembled that of an average dungeon, and then afterward, there was a city. If one chose to go past that city, they would be bombarded by creatures from legends, environments against life itself, and would struggle to survive regardless of competency. Even the one managing this dungeon or tower as she called it, did not know what was at the top. She did note though that if the tower was not attuned with her, then climbing the tower would be beyond even someone of her caliber.

Deeply inhaling the fresh air filled with mana, the person sighed. The disparity between his and her strength seemed to have increased. It was not like they were competing, but it was still disheartening. Sometimes, he even doubted his own identity. Was someone as feeble as him really the one that defeated the Demon Lord?

'Maybe, all my achievements really were only from riding her coattails', he thought to himself as he was reminded of his former companion which has long since departed.

He knew his strength was exalted and something innumerable would yearn for, but his glory had withered at the most inopportune moment. Formerly, his strength would be contested by none but less than a dozen. Now, he was struggling to reach the peak once again. Despite having defeated the Demon Lord, none would recognize his achievements. After a tumultuous departure, he reluctantly returned to report to the King that he had succeeded in his task. During the report, one of the many heroes who thought of him negatively and noticed the departure of his companion and the subsequent decline in strength, decided to exploit the opportunity. Through brute strength and taking advantage of his already sullen mood, the hero humiliated him and gave him the moniker of "The Fake Hero". Since then, he only lived to seek greater strength and shunned the memories of his past.

Before he took another step, he raised his sword. Less than a second later, it contested a powerful swing. Turning to gaze at his attacker, he then said, "Strong but you chose the wrong opponent".

Overwhelming the attacker with one hand, he then struck towards the attacker's ribs.

Instantly, the pressure dissipated as the person disappeared and his sword began to swing downwards towards his own outstretched fist. Effortlessly he canceled the attack and charged forward. Relentlessly unleashing a flurry, Atlas could only deflect the slashes and could not find an opening to change the situation. Each successful strike caused a crack to form on the blade and as the cracks started to connect, the blade finally shattered. Having disarmed his opponent, he then went for the killing blow and thrust the sword towards his opponent's chest. As the lethal end neared its target, the trajectory was abruptly thrown off course. He had been parried by a sword on the verge of shattering.

Attempting to still his shaking hands, Atlas was unable to react in time to the sudden blow to the ribs. Sent flying a great distance, his back came into contact with a tree that had its trunk and bark minced. As Atlas tried to get up, the intruder abruptly appeared in front of him with a readied fist.

With its very motion, the air felt radioactive. As the strike neared, a barrier suddenly appeared. The strike collided with the barrier like a meteor. The resulting shockwave caused branches to tear themselves from their tree and voided an entire area of its vegetation.

"That's enough", a familiar voice commanded.

Turning away from the slightly cracked barrier, he stared at the individual brimming with Mana to the point that they generated an aura.

"I see you still haven't given up, Eliza", he remarked as he noted her increase in strength.

"Same for you, Aster", Eliza stated.

"This for a different purpose", he muttered.

As the two conversed, Atlas couldn't help smiling. This was it. A fantastical world where the arcane bestowed wonder upon the world, where the natural order of things could be defied, where rigid limits and institutional collectives could shatter as easily as glass, where power was derived from greatness not machinations, where platitudes were not disguised as enlightenment, and where the possibility of beings as unbelievable as gods, deities, or dragons existing not being nil. A reality that did not disappoint.

Ignoring the broken ribs and blood dripping from his mouth, he even started to laugh.

Aster turned to stare at Atlas and then stated to Eliza, "I can't tell if you're helping people that are broken or completely beyond hope"