This is the story of a magician and an elf girl.

『——! 』

(——Jack! Jack!!)

Just as Jack was consumed by his own despair and grievance, a warm touch came from the palm of his right hand. The shape was neither big nor small, just like a human palm, and he could still hear the voice just now in his ears.

(Quick! Deploy the magic barrier!! Protect Master Jack!!!)

(Damn it! It’s burning all the way here!!)

(Don’t retreat! We must defend this place even if we die!)

(Jack...Jack...don't give up...get up...get up quickly...)

"...Everyone..." Jack's reason was awakened by the gentle voice, and he remembered something he could not forget.

(…Have you forgotten…you have to fight for our child…Jack…Jack…)

Memories of her kept flashing through his mind. He still remembered the day when the wanderer woke up from the tent and saw her angelic smile for the first time. He had already fallen in love with the girl named Wendy. Being able to fall in love with her and develop a further relationship was the happiest thing in the world for Jack.

And remember, the goddess once said that.

You are also the light, even if you don't think so, you are also the light.

If the magician is the light that illuminates the future, then Jack is the light that continues humanity in this era.

Even though he has denied this again and again, it will not change the fact, because there will always be light in everyone's heart.

"——You must remember that the only one who can control yourself is you——but at the same time, the only ones who can remind you how to control yourself are the people you love."

The words that the wise tree spirit had said to him awakened the feelings hidden in his deepest consciousness. Those were emotions that humans must have, and feelings that only humans could have - a bridge called trust.

If you give up here, it will be the end. Only by continuing on this road can you reach the end. Jack should know better than anyone that his own end, the end of the adventurer, should never end here.

Stand up, she called herself.

Stand up, stand up again. It doesn’t matter if you fall down, just stand up again.

That's what brought you to this point, isn't it?

“Umm…Umm…”

"...You finally have the urge to get up...?"

People can fight to protect what they cherish, but they can also despair when they lose what they cherish. The more he loses, the more Jack understands the cruelty of reality, especially the words said by the magician, which make him understand the nature of human beings.

But so what?

Even if that's the case, so what?

Are people's choices affirmed from the beginning? Do people have no freedom to choose?

That's not right. It is precisely because people are human that they have the idea of ​​making choices. No matter what era or period it is, people can always make right choices or wrong choices. Isn't the "result" formulated for this the ideal that people pursue?

For this reason, Jack must not stop before reaching the "result" and make his choice a "wrong". Only by continuing to move forward can a good result be waiting for him.

"Let me out... I... I still have to... I still have to fight... I have to go back..."

"What can you do with your current status? That invulnerable armor will be useless in the face of the hellfire..."

"Even if this is the case, I have to go! Because Wendy is still over there! I haven't lost yet! That monster is my enemy! I will keep fighting until I kill it! Fight to open up a future for people!! That's why I've been fighting until now!!! I can't give up here!!!"

The cracked ice and gravel due to Jack's brute force gradually broke into pieces as they could no longer withstand his determination. The man who was just lingering in front of the abyss of hell - now had an astonishing determination and awareness of giving everything in his eyes.

"...That's a good realization. This is what a man should be like. The descendants of my generation should be like this - they should have heroic role models."

"Snapped!"

At the moment of the snap, the gravel that bound Jack disappeared, and Zeus, whose voice echoed around him, continued to speak: "I have said it just now... You can't win with just that armor... The only thing that can resist Typhon's power is our authority and divine power... But you are a human, a living person. If you use divine power, you will die. If you don't die, you will lose your life. The only thing you can do without authority and any power is to take a gamble."

"Let's take a gamble..."

"Hercules is a great hero who is half god and half man. Soon after he was born, he was given brute strength to strangle a poisonous snake with his bare hands. He has the courage to fear nothing and the leadership qualities that he will have in his next life. He is an existence that all gods will respect. Now you have not yet discovered that it is not just brute strength or the power of the cursed armor that is sleeping in your body. You have the potential to inherit power, the blood of heroes flows in your body, you have rich combat talents and experience, and a spirit that is more tenacious than anyone else. But even if the probability of adding up is less than 10%, if you fail, you will definitely die, and be burned to ashes with huge thunder and fire..."

"Stop talking nonsense and hand it over. I don't care if it's power or divine power. I don't have time to play gambling games with you. If this is the only power I have that can overturn the outcome of all this, then I don't mind even if you have to take my life."

"... Very good... Very good. Your cheerful smile and your awareness of not fearing death, I like you very much. That's why I have to meet you once. Stand up straight, descendant of a hero. Let that magician and the people of the world see your determination and courage. You are one of the descendants of our god Zeus, a descendant of the unyielding Son of God. Use the light in your hands to open up a new path and the future of mankind! ! Jack! ! "

"Ahhh... I'm on top!!!"

The consciousness awakened by the passionate encouragement rushed through every nerve ending with a powerful force. The trembling feeling of the fur standing up reflected Jack's determination and materialized - the hero opened the window of the soul again, let the light into his eyes, and clenched his palms with hope: "...Jack...Mr...."

"...Sir, what is it... I'm back... Wendy..."

"Jack..."

Wendy, who was crying because of his return, and the hand that she had been holding tightly until then gradually regained its warmth and strength. Jack stood up from the ground and his whole body changed along with the arc of electricity.

"Clap!"

The rough and crude leather armor began to emit light from the cracks inside. The shattered shell fell like the memories of the anger and pain that Jack had once been haunted by. In the end, what was left on him was the lightning armor that flashed with arcs like lightning.

"...Lei's...lion..."

"...That figure...The coat of lightning and fire...Could it be...that you have inherited the power of Zeus..."

""! ""

The stunned Athena knew very well that her eyesight was not wrong - Jack, who stood up from the brink of death, had crackling arcs wrapped around his body. Just a slight wave of his hand could generate uncontrollable power. The hellhound, which was very afraid of that power, had transformed into a monster of hellfire. It should have overwhelming power to ravage the adventurers, but it seemed as if its heart was bound by some force.

That was the mark and proof that Hercules and Zeus had carved into the hearts of Cerberus and Typhon. In its eyes, Jack, who had inherited the power of both, shone like the Son of God.