Wind had gone still…
And only two sounds remained—
the faint clash of steel…
and a rapidly beating heart.
The Hero gripped his sword tightly.
In his eyes, there wasn't just anger anymore…
there was confusion too.
"…You're lying."
he said quietly.
"I don't know you… and I'm not the brother of any Demon Lord!"
Asad stayed silent.
He kept looking at the Hero… as if watching an old story unfold.
Then he slightly tilted his head.
"…You're not lying."
The Hero was taken aback.
Asad continued:
"…But you're not telling the whole truth either."
Silence.
The Hero's grip on his sword tightened.
"…What do you mean?"
Asad raised his hand…
and dark energy slowly began to gather around him.
"…It means this world… is far more complicated than your memories."
Suddenly—
The Hero attacked!
"SHINE BREAK—!"
A powerful beam of light shot straight toward Asad—
FAST—
But—
Asad simply raised his hand.
And—
CLASH!
Light and darkness collided!
A loud explosion echoed—
BOOOOM!
The ground cracked…
and both of them were pushed back.
The Hero's face filled with shock.
"…That strong…?"
Asad slowly stood up…
his cloak gently moving with the wind.
"…Good."
he said calmly.
"…Now the real fight begins."
The Hero raised his sword…
and a glowing aura expanded around his body.
"This time… I will truly defeat you!"
A faint smile appeared on Asad's face.
"…Then try."
And then—
Both of them charged at each other!
Sword and dark energy clashed again—
CLASH!
CLASH!
CLASH!
With every strike, the battlefield trembled…
The Hero was fast… precise…
But—
Asad was calm…
As if he already knew every move.
"…Left."
Asad suddenly said.
The Hero's attack missed.
"…Right."
Again—his move was predicted.
The Hero was stunned.
"…How do you know my moves?!"
Asad took a step back.
For a moment…
something flashed in his eyes.
"…Because…"
"…I wrote you."
The Hero's heart skipped a beat.
"…Stop saying that!"
He attacked in rage—
"LIGHT EDGE!"
A massive energy slash rushed toward Asad—
And this time—
Asad faced it directly.
He raised his hand…
and said slowly:
"…Enough."
Dark energy suddenly exploded—
And the entire light attack—
Vanished.
Silence.
The Hero froze.
"…Impossible…"
Asad lowered his hand…
and looked at him.
"…You're strong."
"…But not yet."
The Hero's sword almost fell… but stopped midway.
His breathing grew heavy…
"…You really are the Demon Lord…"
The Hero whispered.
Asad remained silent.
Then, in a low voice:
"…I am something more."
The wind began to move again…
And in that moment—
An unknown voice echoed from within Asad—
"…Return… to darkness…"
Asad's expression changed.
His eyes darkened slightly…
He held his head.
"…What… is this…?"
The Hero noticed.
"…What's happening to you?"
Asad shut his eyes tightly…
And when he opened them—
He was normal again.
But…
There was a hint of tension on his face now.
"…Looks like…"
"…the original Demon Lord isn't completely gone yet."
Hearing this, the Hero tightened his grip on his sword.
"…So you're not fully in control."
A faint smile appeared on Asad's face—
"…Not yet."
Then he looked at the Hero.
"…Now you decide."
"…Either continue this war…"
"…or…"
A brief pause…
"…try to understand your brother."
Silence.
The Hero looked into his eyes…
And for the first time—
His anger faded… just a little.
But—
He didn't lower his sword.
"…I can't trust you."
Asad smiled slightly…
"…Good."
"…Trust is weakness."
The wind grew stronger…
And both of them stood there, staring at each other…
The war wasn't over yet—
It had only…
paused for a moment.
[Chapter 4 End]