In the Hero’s Party, Ian played a significant and central role.
On the surface, he was merely assigned to support both the front and rear lines indiscriminately.
However, in reality, this meant Ian had to perform multiple roles, unlike the others who were tasked with only one specific duty.
‘If the vanguard seems like it’s about to collapse, I step in to assist. If an attack targets Glendia or Illian in the rear, I block it. At the same time, if Ariel tries to pull something reckless, I cover for her.’
This was why he was constantly on the move without a moment’s rest.
If he were to be absent, the party would undoubtedly face a significant void.
While it could be argued that such an overwhelming workload was unfair, Ian never voiced his dissatisfaction.
Perhaps it was because he saw it as an obvious duty.
‘That’s the role of a supporter, after all.’
It was a fate bestowed upon him by the heavens.
Even if he did complain, what good would it do?
He knew no one else was as suited to this role as he was.
Dwelling on unchangeable circumstances would only lead to hardship.
‘Even if it’s tough, it’s better to keep my mouth shut and focus on my duties. That’s the best course of action.’
This was why Ian carried out his duties without a word of protest.
It was only natural to him.
To protect his party members, to defeat Lucifer, to break the endless regression, and to finally achieve a life unbound by its chains.
The burden he bore was far too heavy for a single person, and yet, this was Ian’s role.
“Argh!”
“Ariel! Are you okay? Hold on, I’ll help you!”
“No, Instructor Haley! I’m fine, please protect the others first!”
It was no surprise that those remaining struggled to fill the gap left by Ian.
Lucifer’s relentless attacks elicited cries of pain from Ariel.
Haley, prepared to rush to her aid, hesitated at Ariel’s request, frowning as she instead moved the injured to safety.
Watching this unfold, the light began to return to Ian’s eyes.
“Glendia, what happened while I was unconscious?”
“That is…”
“Take your time. I’m fine.”
“Hah…”
Glendia hesitated, unsure whether to reveal the current dire situation to Ian, who had collapsed after delivering a severe blow to Lucifer.
Yet, knowing that they couldn’t resolve the crisis without Ian’s help, she steeled herself and finally spoke.
“The one who emerged from that wound… was Lucifer. He shed his human form and awakened as a true Demon God.”
“…So he’s fully awakened.”
“Yes. You were swept away by the storm of demonic energy unleashed during his transformation and fell unconscious. Illian quickly brought you to the rear. In the meantime, Ariel has been holding the line.”
Ian listened silently, catching his breath as his gaze shifted toward Lucifer.
‘It’s true… He seems to have abandoned his human form.’
The being now towering before them resembled the giants of myth, lacking any discernible shape.
Its body resembled a galaxy, and its many protruding arms wielded weapons forged of dark energy—spears, axes, swords.
The oppressive aura alone was enough to make one’s body tremble.
Naturally, Ariel, who was trying to hold him off, wasn’t in a normal state.
Thud! Crash!
“Argh!”
Far from retaliating, she was barely able to block his attacks to protect her companions behind her.
If Ian hadn’t prepared defensive equipment to bolster her endurance, she might have already lost her life.
Lucifer, already overwhelmingly powerful, had now awakened. Clenching his fists tightly, Ian turned to Reina and Eri.
“Then why are you here?”
“The demonic onslaught on the empire has somewhat subsided, so we came to support… But given your condition, Ian…”
“It’s already tough for you. I’ve just made things harder.”
“And yet you say such things in your current state?”
Eri trembled with frustration, her head hung low.
Seeing Ian disregard his own well-being, even after narrowly surviving, filled her with a mixture of exasperation and anger.
She couldn’t forget Glendia’s words when Ian had first been brought to them, unconscious.
‘It’s a miracle he’s alive… He likely won’t be able to move for some time.’
She had worried about whether he would ever wake up again.
And yet, the moment he stood, he uttered such words.
Eri wanted to scold him. Words of reproach had risen to her throat, but she couldn’t bring herself to say them.
After all, there was no point in berating someone who was already injured. Besides, Ian wasn’t saying those things without thought.
‘He’s just pretending to be okay… so we won’t worry.’
Understanding Ian’s true intentions, all Eri could do was watch him in silence.
Tears welled up in her eyes, and as she tried to turn away to hide them—
Thud!
“Ian?”
“Don’t cry. I’m really okay.”
The moment Ian’s scarred and calloused hand brushed against her tear-streaked cheek, a rush of shame flooded through her.
Under normal circumstances, she would have denied crying outright.
But now, there was no need for words between them.
“…”
Their bond had grown to the point where a mere exchange of glances was enough to convey their feelings.
Just a fleeting moment of eye contact… that was all it took to replace any conversation.
Swish!
Releasing Eri’s hand, Ian forced a smile and turned to Lia.
“Can you help me up, Lia?”
“What… what are you trying to do, Ian?”
“What else? My younger sister is out there fighting. I need to go help.”
“You’re planning to fight in this condition? You can’t even move on your own!”
“It’s fine. I know my body best. I probably won’t last in prolonged combat.”
He had known the moment he woke up that his body wasn’t in a normal state.
Even now, he couldn’t stand without support. There was no point in pretending otherwise.
Swinging his sword even once might be the limit of his strength.
Ian had already realized that. He had no intention of engaging in a drawn-out battle like before.
All he wanted was a single strike.
One decisive blow to end this fight.
‘I’ve seen the truth with my own eyes.’
The path that had brought him to this moment had been arduous.
Afraid of losing his precious connections, he had distanced himself from others.
Unwilling to experience loss again, he had abandoned happiness within reach and started another hellish regression.
Having witnessed his past firsthand, Ian now understood.
‘This time, with these bonds intact… this is the perfect chance.’
Even if it meant sacrificing himself, this time, he would bring an end to his cycle of regressions.
Ian engraved that unyielding resolve deep in his heart.
“…Alright.”
Lia nodded and carefully helped Ian to his feet.
“Haa…”
“Are you sure about this, Ian?”
“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”
Despite his battered body, Ian stood upright and reached for Neltalion’s hand.
‘Neltalion, use all the divine power you have left.’
– All of it? Do you just need an arm?
‘No, not a full arm. Just enough strength to move my body for a little while.’
– Got it, Ian. Oh, and take this…
While channeling divine power, Neltalion retrieved something hidden within her robes.
It was a sword with a black blade—Rebrion.
So that’s where it had gone. Neltalion must have snatched it during the chaos and kept it safe.
‘You did well. Thank you, Neltalion.’
– But the sword is broken… I’m sorry, Ian…
With a remorseful look, Neltalion handed over Rebrion, now shattered into two pieces.
It was clear that Lucifer’s attack had been devastating.
‘Don’t worry. It’s fine. I already have a plan.’
Ian wasn’t particularly concerned.
The broken sections could be repaired with Ether.
And he only needed the sword to last through one attack.
“Yes… one strike is all I need.”
It was only natural for his worries to fade away.
***
With his body temporarily restored by divine power, Ian headed straight for Ariel.
The sight of Ian, severely injured and yet moving again, left those around him staring in disbelief.
“You’ve held out well. Now, take a rest for a while.”
“Oh, Brother? Are you okay?”
Ariel, who had been holding back Lucifer’s attacks alone, was just as shocked.
The idea that Ian, whom she thought had no chance of rising again, was back on his feet and ready to rejoin the battle—it was beyond belief.
‘I can’t believe he’s standing again…’
Though she didn’t say it aloud, Ariel and the other party members had all but resigned themselves to the notion that victory in this battle was hopeless.
After all, they were barely hanging on against the awakened Lucifer, unable to counterattack and enduring a relentless onslaught.
Even their stalwart tank, Hexar, and Ian had lost consciousness, leaving them with little choice but to think they were doomed.
‘I thought we couldn’t win and was just buying time.’
At that moment, Ariel had started considering retreat as a viable option.
If Ian regained consciousness, she planned to withdraw with the injured, regroup, and return better prepared.
But the situation was unfolding in an entirely unexpected direction.
“Rest, you say? Are you seriously planning to fight again? You don’t have to do this!”
To leap back into battle the moment he regained consciousness—how could this even be happening?
Ariel tried to stop him, bewildered.
“You don’t need to worry about me. I can still move.”
But as soon as she met Ian’s gaze, she couldn’t bring herself to say another word.
His eyes burned with hatred for Lucifer and a resolve to end everything here.
How could she suggest running away or waiting for another chance when faced with such determination?
There was only one thing Ariel could do.
“…Alright.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
Accept Ian’s resolve and follow his lead.
As someone still inexperienced as a hero, that was the best course of action for her.
“So, what’s your plan? I hate to ask, but you’re not seriously thinking of throwing yourself into combat again, are you?”
“I can’t. I’m in no shape for that. But I can manage one attack. Just one.”
“One attack… then what do you need me to do?”
“It’s simple. I’ll use this attack to weaken Lucifer to the brink of death…”
“Okay…”
“And you’ll deliver the final blow. Can you do that?”
“I’ll try.”
To be honest, Ariel wasn’t sure if she could.
She was terrified of failing, scared that she might lose her life in the attempt.
But she couldn’t bring herself to refuse Ian’s plan.
If anyone here was afraid, it wasn’t her—it was Ian, who was far more battered and broken.
‘My brother, even in this condition, is doing everything he can…’
As someone chosen as the hero, Ariel had never truly lived up to the title.
She had always leaned on others, craved the spotlight, and let petty jealousy cloud her judgment, often causing strife among her companions.
At times, she had even considered giving up entirely, convinced she wasn’t worthy of the role.
‘I’ve lived like that my whole life. I know better than anyone that I don’t deserve to be a hero. But since I’ve been chosen…’
If the heavens had deemed her destiny as a hero, then shouldn’t she at least try to live up to it, even if just once?
That’s why—
“Be careful.”
“I will. I’m counting on you.”
As Ian marched forward, Ariel found the strength to grip the handle of Elysion tightly.
With the plan relayed to Ariel, all that remained was to deliver a fatal blow to Lucifer.
Facing Lucifer alone, Ian stood unflinching.
Fwoosh!
“You’ve awakened, and yet you haven’t lost your will, have you?”
Though there were no words exchanged, the dark energy radiating from Lucifer carried a potent killing intent.
It was as if Lucifer wanted to ask how Ian had risen again, why he had returned to wield his sword when only death awaited him.
Rumble!
The ground began to quake as the dark energy swirling in the air coalesced into the weapons in Lucifer’s hands.
It was as if Lucifer was drawing on the very essence of all energy in Astelgia, a display so overwhelming it was almost awe-inspiring.
But Ian couldn’t afford to merely be impressed.
“So, there’s no need for words. Fine. Ether.”
Ian, too, summoned all his mana, reforging the shattered Rebrion with the essence of Ether.
Kwang!
All the memories Ian had accumulated over the years began to meld into his mana.
Pain, sorrow, despair—memories he would rather forget—he refused to let go of them.
He knew these experiences had helped him grow, so he could never discard them.
He poured everything into his blade, raising it high with unshakable resolve.
Whoosh!
Ian and Lucifer’s energies began to dominate their respective domains, their power suffusing the battlefield.
Soon, their weapons would clash, and the victor would be determined. The loser’s domain would be obliterated, their life forfeit.
But at this point, Ian felt no fear.
Screech!
“Come!”
BOOM!
Their attacks collided. Dark energy and mana—forces that could never coexist—began to devour each other, refusing to yield.
Rumble!
“Argh! Deploy Valhalla! Glendia!”
“Ariel! It’s dangerous there!”
“I’m fine! Protect the others first!”
The entire battlefield was consumed in chaos.
Lucifer’s domain, imbued with the intent to annihilate all life, clashed with Ian’s, filled with the determination to protect and give up nothing.
As the two forces collided, a deafening roar and a tempestuous gale swept through the area.
“Huff… huff… ugh!”
Ian grimaced, taking the brunt of the clash head-on.
‘I thought my body had recovered with divine power… I pushed too far, didn’t I?’
His body had long since been wrecked.
Outwardly, he looked intact, but internally, he was utterly broken, coughing up blood as his injuries worsened.
He was little more than a walking corpse. Once the divine power was fully consumed, his life would surely come to an end.
‘Lucifer’s resistance is more ferocious than I expected… I need to end this quickly.’
Soon, his body began to fail him.
His arms trembled uncontrollably, his strength drained from his body.
As the divine power rapidly diminished, he could no longer support himself.
Although Lucifer was sustaining serious injuries, Ian knew his condition was far worse.
‘Damn it… is it hopeless?’
He couldn’t be certain how much longer he could hold on.
Even though he had resolved to burn himself out entirely, he felt failure creeping in once more.
BOOM!
“Urgh!”
Ian’s domain began to falter. Lucifer’s power started to devour Ian’s, overwhelming him.
“I… I don’t have the strength to lift my sword anymore.”
His domain had shrunk to barely surround his body.
Was this the end? Was eternal death all that awaited him?
As the thought of the end filled his mind, Ian closed his eyes tightly.
Clasp!
“Hold on just a little longer. I’ll help you.”
“Haley… Instructor?”
Ian opened his eyes to see Haley, gripping his hand as she pushed back against Lucifer’s overwhelming force.
Had she broken through the domain to reach him?
“How…?”
As he turned his gaze to her, struggling to speak, Ian saw it.
“Your… your arm…”
“I sacrificed my arm to survive the shockwave. But it’s fine, so don’t worry… it’s just an arm.”
Her right arm had been torn off. To withstand the destructive force of the battlefield and reach him, she had used a curse that demanded a part of her body as a price.
She had sacrificed her arm to help him.
Staring at her in disbelief, Ian couldn’t understand. Haley let out an awkward chuckle.
“I couldn’t even apologize… I can’t let you go, right?”
“You did this because of that…?”
“Well, partly, but there’s more to it. The others behind us aren’t just standing idly by either.”
As she finished speaking, mana began to flow from Haley into Ian.
But it wasn’t just her mana.
The mana of Illian, Glendia, Eri, Lia, Bianca, and finally Reina—all of his companions—flowed into him as well.
Everyone was giving everything they had to support him.
‘Hah…’
So, they weren’t just standing idly by.
Receiving the mana of his comrades, Ian felt a mix of astonishment and a faint sense of shame.
While those at the rear prayed for victory, he had, even if briefly, allowed himself to imagine defeat. He didn’t feel worthy to meet their eyes.
‘If they’ve gone this far to support me.’
The least he could do was to grant their wishes and secure victory.
“This is a bit much for me alone. Will you help me?”
“Of course… even if it costs me my life, I’ll help you.”
Feeling the warmth emanating from Haley’s hand, Ian let a small smile cross his lips as he channeled his remaining strength into his sword.
‘I was wrong. Just accepting my memories isn’t enough to defeat him.’
Looking back, it seemed his approach had been flawed from the start.
To be honest, Ian had once believed that reaching the pinnacle of Grand Master would guarantee victory over Lucifer.
But now, he realized how utterly mistaken he had been.
Simply embracing the memories he had once avoided wasn’t going to allow him to surpass a god.
‘It’s not enough to accept them—I need to forge them into my very being.’
He needed to pour everything into this attack.
The meaning was simple.
He had to combine all the experience forged through 1,083 regressions and every memory he had as Lee Hyun-Woo.
‘If I pour all those memories into this strike, they’ll vanish forever. But that’s okay now.’
For a true happy ending, losing memories steeped in suffering wasn’t such a bad trade.
‘What I’ve always wanted is a life shared with those I hold dear. Every step I’ve taken has been for that dream. If I can gather all my memories to achieve that happiness…’
He would gladly let them go.
At that moment, a message appeared before him.
[You are preparing a final strike by pouring all your memories into it.]
[All memories, except from this timeline, will be erased. Are you sure you want to proceed?]
‘Why even ask?’
As Ian smiled at the floating message—
‘Of course, I’ll do it.’
[All memories from 1,083 regressions are being converted into experience.]
[The experience is being infused into your attack!]
Crack!
The moment he poured his memories into the strike, Ian’s faltering domain began to regenerate.
The mana surged to life with a force that far surpassed anything before.
“Grrrrk!”
Lucifer, sensing something was wrong, doubled his efforts to overwhelm Ian.
But it was too late.
Whoosh!
“GRAAAAAAH!”
Ian’s mana, bolstered by the experiences of 27,075 years across 1,083 lives, swelled uncontrollably, pushing back Lucifer’s dark energy.
Slash!
“KRRAAAAAK!”
Ian’s greatly expanded domain obliterated Lucifer’s malevolent energy, and his sword tore through Lucifer’s form.
“Now, Ariel!”
With a blood-curdling roar, Ian shouted his final words as his vision blurred.
The last thing he saw was simple yet profound.
“Leave the rest to me, brother.”
Thud!
“Kraaaaah!”
Ariel drove the Holy Sword Elysion into Lucifer’s exposed heart.
Ding!
[You have defeated the Demon God Lucifer!]
[Well done, Ian Volkanov… no, Lee Lee Hyun-Woo.]
Hearing the notification he had yearned for, Ian smiled faintly and closed his eyes.
