Only I Am A Reader

Guardians, people that have the duty to protect something. Although the meaning of the world was very simple, the term had a different definition when it came to the complex relations between the Demon World and the various dimensions that it sought to swallow whole at one point.

The knowledge known to one world within many was definitely limited, but a Guardian was a unified term used to describe the existence possessing the ability to repel an invasion.

While their starting points might be different depending on the power systems used in each world, the origin was one. Their abilities were given birth to by studying the power of the demons and developing its absolute antithesis!

It was hard to trace how it all began. Some believed that someone who succeeded in protecting his world roamed around other worlds, leaving a spark of hope for others to follow through, while others thought it was a myth used to explain the coincidental process…

Regardless, the degree of study and the trial and error put into the project still defined the maturity of one's ability as a Guardian. As such, only a world that had once defeated a Demon Lord before could produce a complete Guardian.

"Wait… wait!"

Complete suppression of special abilities, superior offensive edge… A Guardian in his peak form was a menace to all demons. That was exactly why ending one Demon Lord was the same as getting a permanent vaccine to all invasions.

However, nothing was truly absolute, this specific Demon Lord was an obvious variant. He could not be dealt with using old-fashioned combat… Or so it seemed to be for a moment.

"This is actually real?!"

Powerlessly watching as the scarlet particles enveloped his body in its pre-regeneration state, the Demon Lord's molten face experienced a plethora of expressions.

Back when he was still seeking methods that could bring his miserable life to an end, the Devourer had heard a rumor that some guardians possessed a guaranteed ability to exterminate a Demon Lord regardless of the circumstances.

Unfortunately, his search quickly came to a stop. Every crack he opened meant the destruction of a world, so he couldn't go around trying his luck. In the end, it was better to accept the fact that he was fate's inevitable tool.

And now, surpassing all of his expectations, just when his beliefs had been cemented in their place, the changed Demon Lord was met with his ultimate nemesis and cure.

Rather than delivering damage as they had done so far, the scarlet particles were grabbing his own particles and disintegrating together!

"So… You can't accept dying to grant your people eternal peace, but you have no hesitation when it comes to dying with me?"

The truth behind was nothing but mutual destruction!

This was the final quality that defined a complete Guardian, their last option as well as the world's last saving grace.

"Heh, do you really think that any sane person would believe in your twisted beliefs? If giving up was truly the only answer, then what meaning is there to live up to this point?"

Demon Purging, its principle was as simple as it could get. Using the anti-demon characteristic embedded deeply within a Guardian's body, they liberated everything starting from their energy to the last bit of their flesh and bones to grab into the demon they had targeted!

Like antibodies that the immune system had spent days and days developing to combat the same virus, they bit into every particle of the virus, engaging in mutual destruction to rid the world of its sickness.

It didn't take much for the Heavenly Demon to make his choice with a smile, but the Demon Lord was having a mental crisis for the first time since his enlightenment. The solid heart that accepted only one fact was shaking!

Was it right to accept his own end now and achieve the peace he desired to deliver? Was this the end that fate had planned for him? Right!

"Can't you see it? What you are doing now is just another one of fate's ploys! I had done just enough not to defy it and spread merciful peace around the miserable worlds, yet its answer was setting up this meeting between us! You have no choice in this, just like me, you are being used by the so-called destiny!"

Even if he tried to shake them off, the scarlet particles only floated away with parts of his main body, the animation suspension that he was currently forced into additionally disabled his ability to shapeshift!

As his eyes opened widely, he reached another crazed enlightenment. Fate couldn't accept his kindness, he truly wasn't suited to be an invader. Perhaps only a cruel Demon Lord that enjoyed the act of killing itself would be satisfactory in his role…

"It's fascinating, isn't it? The one that has been preaching about peace upon death is the one who is most scared when it's his time. On the other hand, I can't help accepting it more with every second… Sheesh, you should look in the mirror."

In the Heavenly Demon's eyes, the crazy creature glaring at him looked like someone who had just chickened out at the last minute. In his last death throes, he still couldn't stop making excuses that it wasn't his time to die just yet.

"Just like a puppet-!"

"Shut it, you say that I never had the choice from the very beginning, but I believe otherwise. I do have a will, and this is my choice."

He could have still tried to drain his energy at the chance that the Demon Lord would be bluffing. However, knowing that he wouldn't be able to utilize Demon Purging once he ran out of energy, Cheon Ma picked the harder choice, and he did so willingly!

Free will might be an illusion to some, but it all depended on perspective. In the Heavenly Demon's opinion, blaming fate was nothing but childish bantering.

"But this is not the end! You just refused my kindness and chose to hand this world to the next invader that would come after me!"

"Hmm? And why should I care? I'm already a dead person. It will be their problem to deal with. Someone else just has to pick up the flame that I'm passing… I think they will be doing a very good job at that."

Taking a few heavy steps to stand next to the Demon Lord, the Heavenly Demon looked down at two armies, spectating humanity's last stand. As his gaze ended up at a certain figure that almost stood at the front, his smile grew more comfortable until… all of his body dispersed into nothingness.