Chapter 916: Usurping the Usurpers

Clementine’s glare sharpened, but the blindfolded man continued before he could interrupt.

"You possess no remaining prestige within the Holy Order, the Empire, or most human kingdoms that have heard what occurred. Nobody can lower a reputation already lying upon the floor."

"As I explained, Clementine is temporary," Clementine said coldly. "If your purpose is merely to describe the obvious, this meeting has little value."

"That is precisely why we can help you," the blindfolded man replied. "We will give Clementine a convincing death and provide someone else with an equally convincing beginning."

The table grew silent as he tapped one finger against its surface.

"You discard the name, the face, the history, and every accusation attached to them," he continued. "We make certain that the next man cannot be connected to the previous one."

Clementine watched him carefully, suspicion replacing some of his hostility. "Such assistance would not be offered freely. What does your council expect in exchange?"

"There we are," the man said, his smile returning. "That is finally the correct question."

Izalith moved closer and rested one hip against the table. "What we want is simple. We intend to start again."

Clementine’s eyes narrowed. "Start what again?"

"The journey of the Hero and the Demon King," Izalith answered.

Several seconds passed before anyone spoke. Clementine understood first, and his expression shifted as he considered the implications.

"You intend to restart the cycle," he said.

"The cycle has been disrupted," the blindfolded man explained. "Ludwig Hart continues eliminating the Usurpers, and his progress has become increasingly difficult to ignore. "

The name alone changed the atmosphere within the chamber. Several holographic figures shifted uneasily. One disappeared entirely, while another flickered as though whoever projected it had nearly severed the connection.

"That man brings no issues to the Order, his god doesn’t interfere with us." Clementine said.

"That is not what happened in Solania, when he took down the false descent of the Demon King alone."

"I could have gotten him if I had the time," Hiro said.

No one cared enough for him to even deign him with an answer or reply.

"He destroyed Wrath, Envy, and Pride," the man continued. "Now he has eliminated Sloth as well."

Clementine’s eyes widened despite his effort to remain composed. "Sloth is dead? When did that happen?"

"Recently enough that the wider continent has not yet understood the consequences," Izalith replied. Her earlier amusement had disappeared. "Ludwig is accelerating, and every victory makes the next one more likely. We cannot allow such variable to affect our mission."

"Every Usurper he destroys moves the board farther from its intended arrangement," the blindfolded man said. "We cannot allow that movement to continue without creating pressure elsewhere."

Hiro looked between them, struggling to understand why his presence mattered. "What does Ludwig killing the Usurpers have to do with me?"

"It has everything to do with you," Izalith answered. "A Hero and Demon King are not merely two powerful individuals destined to fight. Their existence creates movement throughout the world."

She ran one finger along the edge of the table as she explained. "Armies form around them, kingdoms choose sides, gods intervene, resources are consumed, and ancient powers awaken in response. Most importantly, attention shifts toward their conflict and away from matters we would prefer remain unseen. They are the reason we exist."

"You want that attention moved away from Ludwig," Clementine said.

"Exactly," the blindfolded man replied. "The Hero’s journey must begin again, and your current circumstances provide us with an opportunity to arrange it."

Clementine folded his arms. "You claim this will restore me, but I see no position within your plan that benefits someone with my history."

"It gives you a role, although the precise nature of that role depends upon the identity you choose," the man explained. "We can provide a new body, a credible history, and connections strong enough to place you wherever your abilities will be most useful."

Hiro finally understood enough of the conversation to become angry again. He planted one hand against the table and interrupted them.

"You are discussing my journey as though I have already agreed to participate," he said. "I have not, and I will not work with demons merely because Clementine wants another chance at power."

Nobody answered him immediately. The blindfolded man continued watching Clementine, whose expression had become almost bored by Hiro’s objection.

Hiro struck the table harder. "I said no. Whatever arrangement you make with him does not include me."

The blindfolded man finally turned toward him. "We heard you the first time."

"Then stop talking as though I belong to your plan," Hiro demanded. "I will not help a servant of the Demon King manufacture another war."

Izalith placed a hand against her chest with exaggerated offense. "I am a Duke, not a servant. If you intend to insult me, you could at least use the correct title."

"I don’t care what rank you hold," Hiro snapped. "You serve the Demon King, which makes you my enemy."

He turned toward Clementine. "You can sell yourself to these people if you want another name badly enough, but I am not becoming part of this."

Clementine barely looked at him. "You have never understood when a decision has already been made."

Hiro returned his attention to the blindfolded man. "Whatever plan you created, forget it. I refuse."

The man smiled again, and Hiro immediately hated the expression.

"You misunderstand your position," the blindfolded man said. "There was never an option for you to accept our proposal."

Hiro froze. "Then what exactly are you saying?"

"I am saying there was never an option for you to refuse it either."

The chamber became completely silent. Hiro felt something cold move through the air behind him and tried to turn.

He was already too late.

A hand punched through the center of his chest.

Hiro’s eyes widened as the impact lifted him slightly from the floor. For one suspended second, he felt nothing, and then the pain arrived with enough force to empty his lungs.

Blood spilled across his lips as he looked down. A black hand protruded through the center of his breastplate, having passed through the holy metal rather than searching for a gap. The armor had folded inward around the wrist, and blood ran along the creature’s fingers.

Something remained clenched within its grasp. Something red, wet, and still beating.

Hiro stared at his own heart as his sword slipped from his fingers. Clementine slowly turned toward him. Izalith watched with quiet interest, and the blindfolded man retained the same composed posture at the far end of the table.

Hiro tried to speak, but only blood escaped his mouth. The black hand tightened around the organ in its grasp, and his heart stopped beating.

The Hero died within this hidden sanctum, unknown to all, without fame without achievement, without glory, and without having completed his mission.

"Your turn now," The blindfolded man said as he looked at Hoyo gripping the heart in his hands.

"I never tired this before," Hoyo said.

"You have the ability to graft anything onto your body, why not graft the hero’s journey itself. You don’t have much time, do it before the gods call for another summoning. Now they don’t know, but It won’t be long before they do."

Hoyo nodded, "I’ll still need some body parts. But for now, I’ll take the heart." He said as he withdrew.

Izalith grabbed the corpse and placed it inside a dimensional storage ring while Clementine turned to the blindfolded man and said, "Now you got your hero, what’s your plan?"

"Simple as is," the Blindfolded man said. "We will first need to make sure the Graft is in perfect condition." He looked at the retreating figure of Hoyo who went to a side chamber.

"Once it is working, we’ll begin his journey, a hero needs a beginning, a history, and a background. It isn’t much to do, but with Ludwig heart present, it leave too little for Hoyo to achieve."

"Lust." Clementine said.

"What do you mean?" the blindfolded man asked.

"Send him to Lust, if he can defeat her, he will gain the achievement you want." Clementine said.

The blindfolded man frowned, thinking for a bit. "That will only help Ludwig in killing another usurper."

"It will steal one of his kills, if Hoyo is able to kill Lust, that will give him enough weight in the world to contend with Ludwig’s growing accomplishments. And he will be a hero for the people, unlike Ludwig who acts alone. Not to mention, if Hoyo consumes Lust, he’ll also deny Ludwig the upgrade."

"The Heart of Lust isn’t the same as the Heart of Wrath."

"I know, I missed the Heart of Wrath for myself, but the Heart of Lust allows one to control the masses. It isn’t desire, no Lust is fixation. It’s not merely pleasure. It is attachment without understanding." Clementine explained.

"You know your stuff."

"I’ve been studying the Usurpers for a long time. Her power can move the masses, if we have it, we wont need grand parades or epic battles, all we need is the victory. And once that is in our hand, the power of the people, their faith will grow large enough to empower the new Hero, to the point he is able to contend with the true Demon king."

The blindfolded man thought for a moment, turned to Izalith and asked, "What do you think?"

"I think he makes a surprisingly strong point. Though I have no idea how you’ll be able to defeat Lust. She isn’t just a pleasure indulging woman. She is very powerful."

"I have my ways. Now, about my role?"

"Ah, yes, let’s talk about that then."