Chapter 738 The Corrupted Hero's End
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Julio was Jonathan's first disciple. An upright young man that awakened the legendary-rank class, Hero of Darkness. He was destined to be someone as great as Jonathan, and the church quickly appointed his teachings to him.
He always looked up to Jonathan, the Sunlight Hero, a young man that became a famous hero of the Empire of Light, their face and pride. Someone that conquered dozens of dungeons, killed millions of monsters, and protected humanity.
"I-It is nice to meet you, Hero Jonathan!" Julio said back then, young and na?ve, bowing his head nervously before Jonathan, who had just recently hit 24 back then.
"Hahaha, you don't have to be so nervous! Calm down for a bit." Jonathan said with a smile, extending his face. "One day, we will become complete equals, Julio, so let's get along. I'll teach you everything I can, and I'll help you grow stronger, we'll be sticking with each other for a while, so let's get used to one another."
Julio looked at his hand with shiny eyes. Back in his village, he really admired the hero, and wanted to be someone just like him.
"Y-Yes sir!" Julio nodded, giving him a handshake.
Their journey together started that day. From day to night, the two trained and explored the vastness of the beautiful continent of Midgard. They shared many adventures, and many challenges and trials.
In their travels, thanks to the church's red of information, they learned about the Sorceress of Blazing Flames, Anastasia, recruiting her into their party, and later on, they ended having another person join them temporarily.
Maria, a Dark Magician that had become a D Rank Adventurer. Compared to them, she was actually quite weak, but possessed unique Abilities, her Unique Skills, allowing her to conjure magic with ease and to absorb mana, having an endless source of it.
Over time, Julio and Anastasia realized Jonathan shifted his attention to Maria, he slowly fell in love with the snarky and funny girl, that seemed as if she had come from another world by how different she was from other girls.
Over time, Julio and Anastasia harbored a great jealously of her… And as the two saw how their growth stagnated, while Jonathan continued earning many more feats, and always getting the spotlight with Maria, they slowly changed.
Hate blossomed in their hearts, and as the church slowly corrupted itself from its former righteous teachings by Odin himself, who commanded a new priest of light to change the church's pacifist ways even more, they were slowly convinced they were special, that they did not deserve this treatment.
The love and admiration they had for Jonathan became second before their hate and envy. The upright young man changed, as Julio grew corrupted by slowly being influenced on his weakest point.
Over time, a plot to take back the sealed Evil God Fragments from the families of the old heroes surged… And Julio and Anastasia were at the head of this. Their target was obviously Maria, member of a family that had one of these fragments.
With the help of nobles, they were falsely framed, and detained. Maria was not there when it happened, but aside from her aunt and her little brother, her two parents were executed, and the sealed fragment was stolen.
When Maria was falsely framed as a witch, Jonathan tried to defend her, but Julio and Anastasia were there, using their bond with him, and with the help of the corrupted church, they were forced to separate… Of course, threatening his family and holding them as hostages did it for them more than any other threat or emotional talk.
Jonathan could still remember that time… The words of Julio and Anastasia, their false pity, their fake empathy, their words… Once, they were his beloved disciples, those he fought with and taught.
But now… they changed.
And Julio, the innocent and na?ve boy he always protected and took care of as if he was his own child now became a monster beyond his own comprehension.
After doing so many atrocities… could he even forgive him?
There was a really good chance before, but after he learned he was even behind Maria's parents' death, and what happened to her mother before her agonizing death… he couldn't forgive him.
"Hahah… HAHAHAHAHA! I AM INVINCIBLE WITH THIS POWER!" Laughed Julio. "Master, your teachings were useless, good for nothing! I have become much stronger, all by myself!"
"This is not your strength, Julio…" Sighed Jonathan. "No, you're no longer Julio, but a husk of his former self. I once had a disciple named Julio… but you're no longer him."
Jonathan's eyes glowed bright gold, emanating a powerful divine light like Julio had never seen before… Only for him to realize that Maria was nowhere to be seen, in fact, she had fused with Jonathan.
"Maria… Please, give me your strength and resolve!" Jonathan shed a tear of sorrow as he readied his sword against his once beloved disciple.
"Of course! Now that we are united, I will always be there for you, Jonathan!" Maria whispered to his mind, filling him with the strength he needed.
Sunlight and Moonlight Divine Energy converged together, as one of Jonathan's eyes shone brightly with the golden light of the sun, while the other shone with the silver light of the moon.
A divine power unique to the two as they fused as one.
"[Divine Eclipse Blade Arts]: [Eclipsing Radiance]!"
Both of their voices echoed together, as Jonathan's Divine Blade echoed with a tremendous combined power, piercing through Julio's eternal darkness, and then, his core and soul.
SLAAAAAAAASSHHH!!!
And slicing him in two perfect halves…
Crack…
"Huh?!"
Crack, crack…!
"W-What… happened…?"
Crack… CRACK!
Julio didn't even realized what hit him before his Demonite Core… shattered into pieces.
And so did his soul at the same time.
CRAAASH!
"I-Impossible… T-They… promised me… A power even beyond him…"
Julio's consciousness slowly faded away, filled with frustration and regret as an explosion of sunlight and moonlight consumed him completely.
BOOOOOOMMMM!!!
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