Reincarnated as a failed hero?! Watch me Defy Fate! - Chapter 201

Chapter 201: The Warlords Slayer
I was struck by Xir’s ultimate magic—one of the deadliest of all: [Death Count]. It was a curse unlike any other, one that marked the countdown to oblivion. I had only ten seconds left to live.

Ten seconds to defeat Xir. Ten seconds to survive. No time for fear.

“Stay calm, Envi… I’ll defeat him. Ten seconds is more than enough.” I whispered this resolve in my mind, hoping Envi could hear me wherever she was watching from.

Then, without warning, a glowing red notification flashed before my eyes:

[DEATH COUNT HAS BEGUN!!!][10 Seconds Until Absolute Death]

I didn’t waste a single heartbeat. I activated one of my most powerful speed-enhancing techniques—[Kasoseki 2X], doubling my velocity instantly. Several other buffs I had accumulated surged through me, layering on invisibility at high speeds. To Xir, I was already a blur—if he could even see me at all.

In the blink of an eye, I appeared behind him.

Slash!

My blade carved through the air and his flesh, striking cleanly. I landed three rapid slashes, severing both of his monstrous arms in one fluid motion.

“Im-impossible! H-how are you moving this fast, damn it!? AARGHH!!” Xir roared in disbelief, staggering back.

“It’s because that giant body of yours is far too slow,” I replied coldly, slashing across his chest, drawing a black, crackling line of cursed energy through his armor.

“Filthy human! Feel this!! [Ultimate Dark Magic: Endless Void Dream]!”

Suddenly, suffocating darkness erupted around him, expanding into a sphere of pure void. I recognized the spell immediately. It was the ultimate magic of Norx the Void Dreaming—an ancient curse that twisted the minds of those caught within, dragging them toward insanity.

I had faced it once before, and barely escaped with my sanity. But I was no longer the same person. I had grown—stronger, wiser, darker.

“You want to counter my area magic… with your own?” I smirked. “Unfortunately for you… mine is far stronger.”

Raising my hand, I summoned a greater darkness—[High Dark Magic: Shogun Dominion]. A storm of black magic erupted from within me, merging with the night.

It layered over my other skill, [Eternal Nightfall], and in an instant, the battlefield transformed. A suffocating blackness spread out in all directions, devouring the ground, sky, and even sound. The earth beneath us liquefied into black flames, swirling and snarling like the cursed rivers of the underworld.

In this realm, my Dark Magic surged—amplified by 300%. Enemy spells were reduced to a fraction of their strength. Visibility dropped to near zero—for everyone except me.

“W-What is this… my magic… it’s being overwhelmed?!” Xir looked panicked, his spell already unraveling before it could fully activate.

“That’s because you’re weaker than me.” My voice echoed like thunder in the void. His ultimate magic failed to take hold, and instead, it was he who was crushed by the weight of my darkness.

“AARRGGHH!”

[9 Seconds Until Absolute Death]

As the effects of my spell continued to suppress him, Xir tried to resist, boosting his magical defenses. It was futile. I stepped forward through the darkness and sliced off two more of his regenerating arms.

Slash!

“How dare you!!!” he screamed.

“Then die in the eternal silence of the underworld! [Ultimate Dark Magic: Thousand Skeleton Parade]!!”

This time, he called upon the power of Gorx the Living Death, the fourth-ranked Demon Warlord. A shiver ran down my spine as the ground cracked open and hundreds of skeletal arms erupted, reaching out to drag me into the abyss.

I had never fought Gorx, but Arsene had told me stories—about magic that summoned skeletal limbs to drag victims directly to hell. A fitting magic for a Warlord of Death.

I dodged and slashed desperately as dozens of arms clawed at me from every direction. They didn’t stop coming.

Then—BOOM!

A focused explosion tore through the battlefield.

“Leave this to me, Master!” Runa appeared beside me, having already taken care of the chimeras Xir had summoned earlier. She fired a massive [Darkness Bomb Impact], vaporizing the skeletal arms and shattering the spell’s core.

[8 Seconds Until Absolute Death]

“No way… that mutt’s this strong now?! So you’re still alive, Canis!” Xir spat with rage.

“I’m a cat, not a dog! And I’m not Canis anymore. I am Runa Nox now! Remember that name!”

Runa leapt at Xir, slashing across his chest with her claws, forcing him back.

I didn’t waste the opening. I dashed forward and slashed off two more of Xir’s limbs, severing them at the shoulder.

“You pests! Let’s see you escape this! [Ultimate Dark Magic: Pandemonium Labyrinth]!”

Just as I expected. He now called upon the magic of Vorx the Labyrinth Lord, third-ranked Demon Warlord.

Painful memories returned. Vorx’s labyrinth had once trapped me for days, twisting time and space around me. I knew this spell well.

Before the spell fully activated, I used [Dark Magic: Tenshō Kōsen – Dark Version], a long-range slash infused with my aura and magic. It flew like a blade of judgment, striking the sigil on the ground beneath me—Vorx’s magic circle.

I had learned the secret to disrupting it. The labyrinth required an unbroken circle to form. Destroy the circle, and the spell fails.

I was right.

“What!? How did you cancel it?! AARRGGH!!” Xir howled as my blade tore through two more of his arms.

“Vile demons like you aren’t worthy to use Vorx’s magic. I won’t let you defile it!”

[7 Seconds Until Absolute Death]

“GUHHH! Then take this!! Burn to ash! [Ultimate Dark Magic: Darkflare Execution]!!”

A flaming black sword larger than a house formed in his hand. With a furious cry, he slashed down, and the blade erupted into the shape of a demonic inferno—a black fire demon, hurling itself toward me.

But I didn’t move. I didn’t dodge.

BOOM!!!

The explosion engulfed me completely.

Xir laughed maniacally. Runa’s eyes widened in fear. She started running toward me.

“Don’t worry, Runa,” I said calmly from within the inferno. “It’s just… a small flame.”

Runa stopped, realizing I was unharmed. I stood amidst the black fire, flames licking at my cloak—but I was untouched.

Xir’s face twisted in disbelief.

Unbeknownst to him, I possessed [Black Flame], a gift from Zorx himself. Years ago, I had freed both Zorx and Vorx from the chains of the Outer God, and in return, Zorx entrusted me with his flame.

With my skill [Resonance], I didn’t just resist the Black Flame—I absorbed it.

“This is how you’re meant to use this power!”

I swung my sword, now engulfed in black fire, and unleashed it upon Xir. The flaming arc slammed into him, and he screamed in agony. I sliced off his two main arms, leaving none remaining.

“AAARRRGHH YOU BASTAAAARD!!”

[6 Seconds Until Absolute Death]

Xir tried to regenerate, to restore his limbs. But it was impossible. The Dark Fire I had infused into his severed flesh continued to burn, preventing any healing.

Desperate, Xir leaped into the air and tried to crush me with a powerful stomp.

But Runa was faster. She wrapped her tail around his leg, holding him back.

I seized the opportunity, jumped up, and slashed through his left leg. Xir screamed again, falling to the ground, now crippled.

The countdown continued.

..

[5 seconds before Absolute Death]

Xir writhed in pain, summoning more of his chimeras in desperation.

But Runa and I swiftly cut them down.

“How is this happening… What kind of power is that?!” Xir cried out, hopeless.

“It’s pointless to tell you. Now, before you die… suffer.”

I sliced off his remaining right leg. He screamed again. The wound wouldn’t regenerate.

[4 seconds before Absolute Death]

Xir lay helpless on the ground—no arms, no legs. Only a torso and his head remained.

I told Runa to stand down. I wanted to do this myself.

In my mind, Envi was cheering me on, just as eager to punish Xir for nearly killing Amelia.

“You damn demon… I don’t care how much it hurts. This is the consequence of everything you’ve done… You destroyed half this kingdom. You murdered countless innocents. And you—”

“This is for Amelia… for almost killing her!”

SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!!

I lost count of how many times my blade struck his body. The only thing I could hear was Xir’s agonized screams, until they turned to faint pleading.

“F-…forgive me… Please, stop…”

[3 seconds before Absolute Death]

His words made me hesitate. My sword froze.

But then, he burst into maniacal laughter—stealing a precious moment to cast a spell.

“YOU THOUGHT I’D BEG FOR FORGIVENESS? I AM XIR—DEMON WARLORD, RANK ONE! I WILL NEVER GROVEL! TAKE THIS, AND PERISH ALONGSIDE THIS PATHETIC KINGDOM! [Ultimate Dark Magic: The Chimera Womb of Destruction]”

His body swelled grotesquely, glowing with an ominous light.

And then he exploded.

The blast shattered my magic domain, returning us to the heart of Braveheart Kingdom.

But I didn’t let the explosion spread—I absorbed it. Channeling all my energy into [Power of Incarnation].

“Shame… I wanted you to find redemption before the end. But so be it. Die, Xir.”

[2 seconds before Absolute Death]

[Power of Incarnation] surged within me—I was ready to unleash one of my strongest techniques.

“Devour him completely… [Yami Gui no Giri / Slash of Darkness Eater]!!”

My katana cleaved through space, a rift of darkness opening, swallowing Xir’s explosion whole. His presence vanished—erased forever in my eternal darkness.

[1 second before Absolute Death… ERROR!]

[Death Count has stopped]

[!!! NOTIFICATION !!!]

Congratulations! You have defeated Xir, the Singular Calamity!Level up!Level up!Level up!Trait upgraded: Phantom Executioner ➤ The Warlord Slayer!

The Warlord Slayer:Fighting high-level demons in large numbers increases STR by 30%, VIT by 50%, and AGI by 30%.More durable when outnumbered.Deals 70% more damage to warlord-class demons and dark-element monsters.

You obtained: The Singular CoreA condensed magic item that drastically boosts mana and evolves equipped gear.

You obtained: The Akashic RecordMerges with the Grimoire of Darkness. Grants knowledge of all demon magic, including spells from Demon Overlords and the Demon King himself.

—

“This is amazing, Nao… Especially the Akashic Record—it’ll be invaluable against the Overlords!”

I nodded in agreement. We were just about to celebrate when—

A thunderous roar echoed as a chimera crashed down from the sky.

That’s when it hit me. Xir’s final attack wasn’t aimed at me—it was a last-ditch effort to destroy the kingdom.

The skies darkened with descending chimeras. Chaos erupted across Braveheart.

“Xir… That bastard. Even in death, he’s underhanded.”

I ordered Runa to defend the central district and eliminate the creatures. I rushed toward King Aslan, who was with Arsene, tending to Amelia.

“Naoki… Did you defeat him?” the king asked, stunned.

“Yes, Your Majesty. But Xir’s final move scattered chimeras across the kingdom. I’ve deployed my familiar to secure the capital’s center, but the northern and southern districts are still swarming.”

“I see… Well done, Naoki. We only need to mop up the rest now,” the King said, trying to stand again.

I looked to Amelia. “How is she?”

“She’s stable. Out of critical condition… but still in a coma. We can only hope she wakes soon,” Arsene replied, her voice heavy with grief.

I clenched my fists, fighting the rising anger.

Then suddenly—we all sensed it. A demon. Female. Overlord-level. She floated above the capital, absorbing Xir’s lingering magic.

I prepared to pursue her, but I was still needed here to fend off the remaining beasts.

Frustrated, I clenched my fists and bit my lip. The King spoke.

“Go. Do what you must.”

He understood. And though I was hesitant, he reassured me.

Then, from the north and south—two surges of immense magical energy appeared.

They weren’t demons.

They were humans.

I recognized one aura from the north—it was Serena. She wasn’t alone. She was with someone… someone monstrous.

The southern magic belonged to Xerion von Solara, Headmaster of Solara Kingdom’s Magic Academy.

I glanced at the King.

“Looks like fortune is on our side… Reinforcements have arrived,” he said with a faint smile.

“Naoki, I’m ordering you to pursue that demon. She’s likely heading to the battlefield near Mount Archanis—the frontline where our forces still clash with demonkind. That’s where Cain, Lucius, and your father, Tetsu von Blackmore, fight. And… my first daughter, Aria von Braveheart.”

The King’s expression turned grave.

“I have a bad feeling, Naoki. Please… Go to them. You’re the strongest in this kingdom now. We’re counting on you.”

I nodded solemnly. “Leave it to me.”

I shot forward like lightning.

I called out to Runa who had defeated all the chimeras in the city center to return to her mana form and follow me.

I saw the demoness open a portal and step through.

Just before it closed, I activated [The Destroyer of Sky and Earth], letting me fly, and [Blessing of the Thunder], creating an explosive launch force.

I soared through the air, entering the portal just in time.

Exactly as I’d planned. I’d infiltrated her domain.

“You sure about this, Nao? Didn’t you want to see Serena?” Envi asked, concerned.

“It’s alright, Envi. Knowing she’s here helping The Braveheart Kingdom is enough. I miss her… but this comes first. I’ll see her once it’s over. Besides, she’d scold me for putting my feelings ahead of my duty.”

I smiled softly.

“Haha… you’re right,” Envi chuckled.

“But Envi… I think this demoness wanted us to follow her. It’s like she’s leading us somewhere…”

“You’re right, Nao. We need to stay sharp.”

No matter what trap lies ahead—I’m pushing forward.

…