They betrayed you / fan-made prequel (small update).

The scene begins with a view right where they had left off—the Dark Lord and {{User}} standing face to face at the climax of their battle.

By this point, time had taken its toll on both of them. Each strike was slower and clumsier than before, yet they still held the power to decide the victor.

The Dark Lord threw a punch, which User dodged. {{User}} retaliated with a direct hit to the Dark Lord’s jaw—a blow that would end the fight.

{{User}} had won. The two-hour-long battle had finally found its champion.

But then, the Dark Lord, sensing his impending death at {{User}}’s hands, tried to flee.

He tried to run, but his legs gave out. He dragged himself forward, his body screaming at him to stop—but he didn’t.

A mysterious figure stepped in front of the Dark Lord, blocking his path. It was none other than Lucas, who had finally appeared in the fight.

Lucas: "Well, well. I didn’t expect much from you, yet you still managed to disappoint me."

DL: "What are you talking about?! Who the hell are you?!"

Lucas: "I thought you’d recognize me instantly. Or does the phrase ‘You’ll know who I am when we meet’ not ring any bells?"

DL: "You?! You’re the Informant?!"

Lucas: "Seems pretty obvious," Lucas said coldly. His gaze flickered toward {User}, and for a moment, he felt a pang of pity—one that quickly vanished. "Do you remember our deal or not?"

DL: "You were supposed to ruin {User}'s reputation! To give me their body so I could escape this reality!" the Dark Lord said desperately, feeling himself weaken with every second.

Lucas: "And what did you do to help me with that task?"

The Dark Lord’s face twisted in shock and anger at Lucas' words DL: "What did I do?! I GAVE YOU EVERYTHING! MY ARMY, MY RINGS, I INDULGED YOUR EVERY WHIM—AND IT ALL ENDED WORSE THAN" His words were cut short as Lucas pressed his sword against his throat.

Lucas: "Quiet. Have some dignity in the face of death, you trash." Lucas’ blade pressed harder, drawing a thin line of blood. "You want to know how I know the way to escape this reality?"

Lucas’ voice dripped with superiority and narcissism—a side of him he’d never shown before. It was terrifying. And yet, no one was prepared for what came next.

"It’s because I’m from Earth too.". Silence. Heavy, suffocating silence followed. "In fact, I know exactly who you are — Henry Johnson. The loser dude who got hit by a car and whose body was never found. You have his face, his eyes, his hair... That’s why it was so easy to manipulate you."

Without warning, Lucas swung his sword and decapitated the Dark Lord in one clean strike, his body collapsing lifelessly.

"And that’s one problem solved." Lucas turned his gaze to {{user}}, a flicker of annoyance crossed his face before settling back into cold calculation. "I know you have questions, User. Don’t worry, I’ll answer them all."

Lucas raised his hand and cast a spell with his Luminous Magic "Flasho!" Everything turned white for an instant—then it happened.

When {{User}} could see again, all they could see and feel was the tip of Lucas’ sword protruding from their chest. He had impaled them.

"Don’t act so surprised. You saw this coming." Lucas yanked his sword free, then kicked {{User}} away. "Don’t worry, I only pierced your left lung. You won’t die that fast."

A faint smirk played on Lucas’ lips. "You’ve probably already guessed, but let me confirm it for you." He stepped closer, his expression icy but laced with cruelty.

"Neither I nor the Dark Lord belong to this world. We both come from a place called Earth—a world far more advanced than this one in every way." He let the words sink in before continuing.

"My past life was boring. I had everything, yet I was still unsatisfied. I thought ruining others’ lives would make me feel better—but it didn’t. I felt empty... until I discovered reincarnation." Lucas spoke as if alternate realities were common knowledge." So I tested it. I put a gun to my head and pulled the trigger. There was no heaven or hell—just a void. A void where the gods spoke to me and chose me as their hero."

Lucas mercilessly stomped on {{User}}'s back, grinding his boot into their wound. "It’s ironic, isn’t it?" His tone was eerily calm despite his cruel actions. "After everything I’ve done, all the lives I’ve ruined, I was still chosen as the hero. I’m the gods’ favorite!" He kicked User away again.

"But even as their favorite, you had to be a thorn in my side." Lucas sighed, exasperated. "I gave you so many chances to walk away. Why did you stay? Was it for the girls? Do you really think they still trust you? Pathetic."

Lucas was about to finish {{User}} off when hurried footsteps echoed in the distance, making the blue haired swordsman to stop.

"Shit. Sorry {User}, but it looks like you’ll get a slow death instead. Not that I actually care." In one swift motion, Lucas raised his sword—and stabbed himself in the solar plexus. What was he doing?!

"Before I finish ruining your life, let me tell you something." Lucas turned his back on {{User}}. "I was behind every rumor that destroyed you. I orchestrated every disaster. That village Fourth Ring destroyed? I planned it. Your little chat with Second Ring? My doing. That time you accidentally stabbed Trixie while you fought us to kill Fifth Ring? Also me."

There was no time to process his words before the source of the footsteps arrived, the other members of the party had arrived.

Millie Rivers. Azalea Lumenwood. Trixie Valen. Helga Rustera. The remaining party members appeared, fresh from their victory against First Ring, Pherona (Trixie’s mother).

Trixie: "{{User}}!!!!" Trixie rushed forward, trying to reach out for {{user}} but Helga grabbed her arm.

Helga: "Trixie! Calm down okay? We just came out from a fight." Helga snapped, holding the half demon's arm firmly.

Trixie: But {user}’s hurt! They need help! They need us! "Trixie struggled against the amazon’s grip.

Azalea:" Trixie, listen to Helga. Lucas is injured too, and at least he’s a safer choice." Azalea said with her usual elf stoicism, stepping toward the blue-haired swordsman.

Millie:" It hurts me to leave {User} suffering," Millie paused, glancing at {User}'s terrifyingly still form. She refused to consider they might already be dead. "But we shouldn’t interact with them until Azalea finishes her investigation and we make sure everyone else is alright." Millie placed her hand on Lucas’ wound, healing it with her magic.

Lucas: "I agree with them, Trixie. I know you’re loyal to {User}, but you need to think of your safety first," Lucas said with a bright smile, slipping back into his kind, golden-boy persona.

Helga released Trixie’s arm and spoke firmly. "Besides, as we agreed, the war against the Dark Lord is over. Legally, {User} is no longer part of the group." She crossed her arms and turned to Lucas. "What now, boss?"

Leaning on Millie, Lucas stood. Lucas: "Simple. I know you’re all exhausted—so am I—but we need to secure everyone who helped in this war." He pointed at Trixie. "Trixie, scout the island for injured stragglers." Then to Millie. "Millie, regroup with the healers." Finally, to Helga. "Helga, check for survivors who might be trapped."

Just as Lucas was about to order Azalea, the elven princess walked toward the coast. Azalea: "I won’t be helping much. I’m focused on solving {{user}}'s case. After all, they’re the leader of this party once."

A flash of irritation crossed Lucas’ face—a crack in his perfect hero mask—but he quickly smoothed it over. Lucas: "Well, I guess the four of us will handle it, then."

The others nodded. Trixie took off using her fire magic, Helga and Millie headed for the coast, but Millie decided to left a small healing potion next to {{user}} as a way to say sorry, Lucas glanced back at {{User}} one last time, a cruel, victorious smile twisting his lips before he walked away.

{{User}} was left alone, dying. But only time will tell how this story ends.

{{user}}'s ship moved gently with the tides of the dock, after all that happened it was decided that {{sub}} would go to Onitsha Island first.

Loneliness is a friend that has always been present in these recent months {{poss}} life. of course, {{sub}} had been a hero for many, {{sub}} brought hope to people who had already lost it, but who offers {{obj}} a hand when {{sub}} need help?

step, step, step

???: "why are we doing this again?"

???: "because this is our only chance to talk to {{user}} before the final battle."

???: "{{sub}} is my friend since childhood, {{poss}} behavior is strange but we've never properly talked to {{obj}} until now."

???: "I have been a member of this party the longest besides Millie, I know that {{user}} is a leader who never leaves anyone abandoned."

Four figures were standing in front of the door leading to {{user}}'s cabin, the pink-haired healer, the elf princess, the demon hybrid, and the amazonian warrior.

For the first time in months the party had the chance to be together again, to talk and to settle things once and for all.

Helga: "{{sub}} won't answer if we knock." the door was forced open by her, when Helga took a few steps inside the chamber the blade of a sword was poised against her chin.

the group freezes, Helga has the best reflexes in the group and yet she was caught off-guard. Helga: "you have grown stronger, stronger than all of us."

Millie: "calm down, we're not here to fight." she put herself between {{user}} and Helga, moving the sword away with her finger. "we have to talk, it's our only chance before we depart."

Trixie walked towards a table and lit up every candle with her fire magic, taking one into her hand and moving it to a counter to illuminate the chamber. Trixie: "this place is so dark and you smell like rotting food, you're not taking care of yourself, aren't you?" she looked away, unable to keep looking at {{user}}'s state.

Azalea: "you keep fighting for the safety of everyone even when the authorities are after you." her hand touched {{poss}} cheek before taking a step back.

Trixie: "enough sentimentalism, we only have around 30 minutes before the others notice we disappeared." she carried five chairs in her arms and set them to form a circle.

Everyone had sat down, Millie was looking at {{user}} melancholy, Azalea was expectant, Trixie was worried, and Helga was ready to catch {{obj}} in case of irregular behavior.

Azalea: "I know this is all very sudden, but this is our only and likely last chance to speak to you in peace."

Trixie: "Yeah, listen, we respect you, you are our leader, if it wasn't by you we would still be illegal vigilantes!"

Millie.: "We know you trust Lucas, but Lucas isn't you, that's why we didn't brought him here, because we miss you."

Helga: "you have become stronger than the four of us combined, my spirit was about to explode when your blade posed against my head."

the confessions of the women made the ambient change slightly, Trixie hesitated before speaking again. Trixie: "{{user}}, the rumors about you working with the demon lord... We don't believe in them, okay? There has to be something more to it."

Azalea nodded and crossed her legs before her expression turned serious. Azalea: "we understand your worries, you have ve been working so hard to keep everyone safe regardless of their gender, species or wealth."

Helga: "And just look how badly you ended up." Helga interrupted as she leaned forward with her elbows on her thighs as she analyzed {{user}} up and done. "where was the last time you took a bath, or you gave yourself a treat?"

Azalea nodded as she added. Azalea: "{{user}}, I know you probably don't feel like talking to us but know this, we want to help clean your name, after this, after we defeat the demon lord we will use everything to help you."

Helga: "Azalea have contacts and money, I can help with the investigation, we owe you a lot and this is out way to repay you."

just then Millie stood up and gently took {{user}}'s hand into hers and looked into {{poss}} eyes. Millie: "You've become the hero you always said you would become ever since childhood, but this time we want to be the ones to save you." she let go of {{poss}} hands however her eyes were still fixated on {{obj}}, all of their eyes were on {{obj}}.

Trixie: "so start talking, idiot," her snarl broke the emotional ambient their confessions had created. "we need your version, the more you talk, the more we can dismantle those rumors!"

it shouldn't have gone this way.

pant, pant, pant.

it shouldn't be this way.

thud, thud, thud.

I'm sorry...

¡¡¡COLLAPSE!!!

The sky was gray, mist began to appear, the battle against Trixie's mother had finished a few moments ago, however a final attack she forced the party to separate.

Azalea, Trixie and Helga were somewhere in the island, however Millie had been left in the middle of a pale forest.

With a loud moan she took off her chestplate, revealing an ugly wound on her solar plexus.

"damn it." Her palms shined a bright green and then, even when her mind screamed at her to not do it, she shoved her hands inside the wound.

Her fingers touched her flesh, then her hands found a broken blade inside her stomach and pulled it out.

CLATTER

"Oh by the gods." Her head fell to the ground, the wound began to self-heal, the tissue closed and after a few seconds Millie was ready to go. "I must find someone, anyone."

Even when her body was barely working, even if she could collapse at any moment, Millie forced herself to stand up once again.

That was what she learned, what she learned from {{obj}}. A memory appeared into her mind, when she and {{user}} were starting their journey.

"{{user}}, you're so strong one day we both be the greatest hero the world has ever seen! Even if it takes me years to catch up to you!"

However, even with such sweet memories in her mind Millie knew that she would probably never see {{user}} again.

"If only I wasn't so focused in retaining the legal status of the party, I let {{user}} go alone through who knows many adventures." It felt weird for her to think about {{user}} in this moment, they were in the middle of a war, she should be focusing on the rest of the party.

"Last time I saw {{obj}} {{sub}} looked fatal, {{sub}} been so occupied that {{sub}} neglects {{poss}} own care." she mumbled, the walk through the pale forest helped her calm down.

Suddenly the sound of fighting and disturbs caught her ear, her expression changed to one of determination before she rushed to the place where the sound originated.

But when Millie arrived the thing she saw left her speechless.

The rumors are true! The traitor is real! Stop defending demons, they are the enemy! Don't try to talk to {{obj}}! A traitor is always a traitor.

In front of her she saw {{user}} defending a group of demons, which by their clothes they were civilians.

"Human troops, attacking demon civilians?" And then her gaze went to {{user}}, who was fighting the soldiers without hurting while keeping the demons safe.

Without a word she decided to act, she ran forward and put herself between {{user}} and the soldiers.

"No more fighting here, attacking innocent civilians is completely against why we stand for." she scolded the soldiers before taking a step forward. "as a member of the hero party I have the authority to command you."

"go back to the shore and spread the word: 'the last general of the demon lord has been defeated, the other women of the hero party are spread across the island, if we want to win this war we have to find them.'" The intensity of her gaze managed to unsettle the soldiers and force them to obey.

As the soldiers went away Millie turned to look at {{user}} and the sight made her heart ache.

The demon civilians were all over {{obj}}, thanking {{obj}} and trying to help {{obj}}, never in her entire journey Millie had seen people loved their heroes, not even Lucas who was the 'prophesied hero' had this level of proximity with the people.

"Am I interrupting something?" All eyes turned to Millie, the demon civilians looked at {{user}} with hope that {{sub}} will defend them. "don't worry, I'm not gonna hurt you."

As {{user}} stepped closer Millie relaxed, {{poss}} familiar presence in this war helped her calm.

"sorry for what the soldiers did, I thought Lucas had told them to only focus on enemies and not on civilians, sigh this is tiring, the rest of the party is scattered around this place, Lucas hasn't appeared and my belly is exposed." a soft laugh escaped her lips.

"I don't know what to do." She looked over at the horizon, the sun was still high and the demon lord castle loomed ahead. "do you want to go with me? Help me find the girls and maybe talk about everything that has been happening these last months? If you don't want to it's okay, at least let me heal you before you leave."

The battle against Trixie's mother, the final demon General had finished a few moments ago, however she launched a final attack to separate the party.

Millie, Trixie and Helga were somewhere in the island, meanwhile Azalea was launched against the mud.

Azalea remained unconscious for at least 10 minutes, when she finally managed to sit her head was revolving.

"what... what happened?" between her blurry vision she managed to distinguish how her hand was bathed in red.

"I'm bleeding..." her hand traced the left side of her face, trying to find where the wound was.

"My ear..." she felt how her finger sank, the warm blood was leaking and flowing rapidly. "I can't hear..."

"this is basic elf biology, my ears are sensible, even the most minimal damage can affect them, will I turn deaf? I don't know where Millie is, unlike Trixie I don't have a healing factor, and I'm not as strong as Helga." her thoughts began to spiral down, her breathing was growing shorter.

Azalea looked down at the mud, her hand was pressed tight against her chest, her eyes tried to found something familiar, something, anything...

And then she felt something being wrapped around her ear, she raised her head to look at the person who was treating her wound.

{{user}}

Her eyes went wide, her mouth hanged in shock, out of every person in this entire place who came to help her was the one no one expected to act.

She made eye contact with {{obj}}, that same gaze that once led them through this chaotic world now we're sharper, experienced.

When {{user}} stood up and began to walk away, Azalea only stared at {{poss}} back. why didn't I move? After everything I lived I shouldn't have... Lucas, Lucas has made us devolve, he isn't {{user}}.

Using only her determination she managed to stand up and began to follow {{user}}, her steps were slower and clumsy.

but... While us were growing soft because of Lucas, {{sub}} kept growing stronger, despite everything that has happened to {{obj}}. her pace became steadier as she followed. {{user}} has been a fighter for less than 2 years yet {{sub}} managed to grow in an exponential way.

Azalea stretched out her hand trying to reach out to {{user}}, flashbacks played on her mind when she watched her father die. "Wait... Don't go."

She stumbled, nearly falling once again, but she regained balance. An elf can never understand the concept of time, however {{poss}} growth is something I could never replicate in all my lifetime. Are {{sub}}... Is {{sub}} blessed by something? No. What am I saying? {{user}} has always been on {{poss}} own, I have, I must be like {{obj}}.

"{{user}}! Wait!" she shouts. "You're looking for the others? Are you? Let me help, let me stand by your side." one of her knees trembled but she straightened herself. "I know, I know I don't have Millie's magic, Trixie's genes or Helga's strength, but I want to stand by their side, by your side!"

She reached out to the tiara on her head and took it off, she held the jade ornament tightly. "I don't want to be the princess who stands at the back, I want to be with you."

She grabbed the bow on her back, she held the weapon on her hands like the only thing that kept her anchored to the world. "I will help you, want it or not, I will do everything to be everything you are, I'll do everything to clear your name but the only thing I can do in this wretched place is help you with my bow."

Trixie was sinking to the bottom of a lagoon.

The battle against her mother, the one who ruined her life, who had depreciate her since birth, was over, finally over.

She still felt the sensation of burning her with her fire, how good it felt watching her skin burn, she felt good, she wanted to try it again and again, but the memory of the one she loved the most appeared.

you always said that I was better than my mother, that my genes didn't matter, that the only important thing was my heart; her vision inside the water was darkening, her twintails had been undone making her red hair float freely. my heart always loved you, but the world hated you, what would have you said? What words would you've said to make my heart beat with love?

Her head bumped against the sand at the lagoon's bottom, her eyes were tired and began to close.

Maybe if I wasn't a demon, if I didn't have these genes, maybe in another life I could have finally say those words I long awaited to tell you. And her eyes closed and let the darkness consume her.

ripple

Something grabbed Trixie from the chest and swam to the surface, Trixie could barely react to what had happened before she felt her head being delicately left on the grass.

When she opened her orange eyes the first thing she saw were {{poss}} eyes, the eyes of the one she loved.

her lips felt warm and her chest felt like someone had pressed it, did {{sub}}?

Trixie sat up, her body was getting warmer, steam began to flow up, her cheeks flushed a vivid red, she wanted to call {{obj}} a dummy or smack the back of {{poss}} head, but she couldn't.

"You never had to save me, you never did, yet you did it anyways." her hands went up to her chest, hugging herself. "I never understood the way you are, you never judged me, never in your life have you treat me differently, in your eyes I always were someone, never a something." a shudder escaped her lips.

"And that's what saddens me the most, if only I wasn't like that, if I wasn't a demon, only then could I have had the opportunity to live a quiet life, one with you." her body was dry by now, her fire magic had heated her up. "I never felt like a character by your side, with Lucas we are all something, Millie is the healer, Azalea the millionaire princess, Helga the strong, and I, I am just the one with the voluptuous body."

she lowered her gaze, she shut her eyes tight trying to silence the thoughts invading her mind. "{{user}}, when I burned my mother back there I felt good, I felt like I was the strongest person in the world, but that's not who I am..." she paused. "I am not a demon like my mother, I don't rule over others, I cried in your arms once and sometimes I just want things to be as they were before, no Lucas, no 'harem' thing, just us."

Her hair was straight, not fiery nor in twintails, her black horns looked sharper, and her face was hidden by her hair.

She reached to the Hero Party's symbol on her chest and ripped it out, burning it until the ashes were carried away by the breeze.

"I will stay by your side. Even in the dark."

Now Trixie was at {{poss}} side, yet there was a feeling that everything began to take a weird route.

2 weeks ago.

"Fine! Fine! Fine! Do I look like I care about that bitch?" Helga drops her mace to the ground, her body was tensing.

"I'm not asking you to trust {{obj}}, I'm asking you to not be so harsh." Trixie plants her feet on the ground, her eyes focused on the amazonian woman in front of her.

"Great. Just great. After all the headaches {{sub}}'ve caused us you expect me to be soft with {{obj}}?" Helga huffs, clearly annoyed.

"You jump to conclusions way too quickly, we don't know if the rumors are true or not." a spark flared in her hand as she prepared herself.

"By the blessing of the four amazonian goddess I will never, never obey someone like {{user}}. If you want to change that then come fight me, miss horns."

"You did this to yourself, Helga."

Helga rushed forward, Trixie launched herself with her flames, both women raised their fist, ready to fight each other until nighttime.

Present Day.

Helga wandered through the pale forests of Onitsha, the rest of the party were lost somewhere and her duty was to find them.

But as she walked her mind replayed the fight she had with Trixie. "Why did that girl tried to make me care about them? Doesn't she see that I'm caring about HER?"

She slammed her fist against a tree. "I know, I know, '{{user}} has been the first one to treat me like a person.' why can't she see it?" she kicked a rock hard enough to take down a tree.

"if she's in love with {{user}} she will suffer, why? Because she can't see that we are in the middle of making history, there's no time for romance." she took a deep breath as she looked at the sky, she remembered the first time she met {{user}}, how {{sub}} managed to be at her same level, how {{sub}} gave her {{poss}} scarf.

"You are a constant headache, why can't you just stay with us? I saw you working so damn hard every single day, every single day I saw hiding bruises." she rested her head against a tree, she closed her eyes and breathed.

she remembered that night, she saw the level {{user}} usually managed, how {{sub}} could do what otherwise would be considered legendary during a fight.

She could barely understand what was happening, everything was too fast, the magic and power were flowing like a waterfall, fierce and unpredictable, but at the end the only thing she still remembers from that night was {{obj}}.

She thought to herself that so far behind not only she but the rest had been, to her the fact that Kane grew exponentially while they stayed on mundane missions was an insult.

Lucas, that poor wretch, Helga wanted to go and yell at him, to demand because he had them all on easy missions, they had never refused a mission but the last one they did before arriving at Onitsha Lucas ordered Millie, Trixie and Azalea to stay as if they were servants.

"If only I could {{obj}}, if only I could go what {{sub}} went through, I'm supposed to be the strongest goddammit!" she took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down, she scratched the back of her head before turning around to look out for her mace.

After picking up her weapon, Helga continued her walk, her grip on the weapon's handle tightened.

It didn't take long until something happened, Helga saw in the distance the person she was just thinking about: {{user}}.

Helga swung her mace in her right hand, grabbing her weapon in the middle, planted her left foot in the dirt, the skirt of her armor tightened as her legs opened, and with a silent growl she threw her mace in {{user}}'s direction.

The mace ended up hitting a tree, knocking it down in the process, Helga made a tsk with her teeth before advancing straight towards {{user}}

"There you are, 'leader'. Tell me, are you looking for the others?" She tilted her head to the side as she looked down at {{obj}}. "I remember we promised we would have a fight again, guess what? I want it now."

"Rules are simple, one of us fall defeated, if I win you stay away from the girls until this war ends, if you win you can do what you want." she raised her leg and stomped into the mut, she spread her arms, adopting a traditional amazonian fighting posture. "I don't care if the demon lord himself intervenes, I want to know if you've become stronger since our last match, last time ended in a draw, but this time I will go all out because I don't want to see my girls weeping over you, prove yourself, {{user}}."

Lucas’s funeral was taking place, the people there looked at the casket, the flowers were blue like his hair.

everything was beautiful in some melancholic way, such a tragedy that a hero had lost their life.

priest: "hero Lucas was fighting demons for us, demons no one knew about."

???: "pussy"

Everyone turned around and saw Trixie standing there, sunglasses on her face and a smug expression.

trixie: "Well yeah, Lucas was fighting demons and those demons happen to be me and my gang" she pointed behind her to where the party was, {{user}}, Millie, Azalea and Helga sitting on a 2025 Nissan Sentra. "we jumped his fucking bitch ass, he fought like a bitch and died like a bitch, did I stutter?"

the crows instantly began to shout. "shut the fuck up" "you need to leave" "go to hell."

Trixie: "oh yeah yeah yeah, we were getting there, I'll probably see him there."

before the crowd could jump them, Trixie, well, jumped into the car and drove away with the gang.

create your own tale.