"Ryutaro, wake up! This isn't like you!" Grace shouted.
Ryutaro ignored her words, having already lost control of himself.
"If that's how it is… I have no choice," Grace said.
She immediately unleashed her technique.
"Hell Fist!"
As soon as Grace used her attack, Ryutaro staggered back a few steps.
"Good, it worked," Grace muttered.
But it didn't end there—Ryutaro countered with his own technique, striking Grace directly.
"Inferno Abyss!"
The attack hit Grace instantly.
"Ugh… Cough… cough… This attack… it's so powerful," Grace groaned.
Not long after, Ryutaro prepared to unleash the same attack again, but this time on a much larger scale.
"Ryutaro, wake up! If you use that attack, your own land will be destroyed!" Grace pleaded, clutching her chest.
Still, Ryutaro ignored her words. Just as he was about to release his technique, Grace rushed toward him. She embraced him tightly, hoping to bring him back.
"Ryutaro, wake up! This isn't like you!"
In a desperate move, she kissed him.
---
Inside Ryutaro's subconscious…
"Where is this?" Ryutaro muttered.
He looked around and saw a shadowy figure resembling himself.
"Heh, so you've finally regained consciousness," the shadow said.
"Who are you?" Ryutaro asked.
"I am you, and you are me," the shadow replied.
"Huh?" Ryutaro was confused.
Before he could process it, the shadow attacked him.
"What are you doing?!" Ryutaro exclaimed.
"Isn't it obvious? I'm going to eliminate you so that I can fully take over this body," the shadow smirked.
"I won't let that happen!" Ryutaro declared.
He unleashed a newly learned technique.
"Wind Cutter!"
"Interesting… but didn't I just tell you? I am you," the shadow sneered.
"Dark Wind Cutter!"
Both techniques clashed and disappeared upon impact.
"What?! How is that possible?!" Ryutaro gasped.
"I told you—I am you, and you are me," the shadow grinned.
"So that means… you can copy all of my techniques?" Ryutaro asked.
"Exactly. But not only can I copy them, I can make them even stronger," the shadow replied.
"Now… disappear!"
The shadow unleashed a soul-draining technique.
"Soul Devourer!"
"Goodbye, Ryutaro. Don't worry, I'll take good care of Grace," the shadow said with a smirk.
"Is this… the end?" Ryutaro thought as his soul was about to be consumed.
Then, he heard a voice.
"Ryutaro, wake up! This isn't like you!"
"That voice… Grace?!" Ryutaro's eyes widened.
"I CAN'T DIE LIKE THIS!!!"
A golden light erupted from within his soul.
"What?! This power… how is this possible?!" the shadow gasped.
Ryutaro suddenly felt a surge of strength.
Then, a long-dormant system activated.
BEEP!
HOST HAS AWAKENED A NEW POWER!
"Alright then, let's do this!" Ryutaro grinned.
In an instant, a spear of light materialized in his right hand.
"HOLY LANCE!"
"Don't underestimate me!" the shadow roared.
"DARK SHIELD!"
Ryutaro hurled the spear, striking the shield.
"No… I refuse to lose!" the shadow growled.
But slowly, the shadow began to fade.
Just as it was about to vanish completely, Ryutaro used a healing technique.
"Divine Revitalization!"
"Why… why are you healing me?" the shadow asked.
"Because I might need your strength one day. We can work together, can't we?" Ryutaro smiled.
"Is that really the only reason?" the shadow questioned.
"Yeah, that's all," Ryutaro chuckled.
"You're a strange human," the shadow smirked slightly.
"And you're the shadow of that strange human," Ryutaro teased.
They both laughed.
"Then, let's work together," the shadow said.
"Yeah! By the way, can I give you a name?" Ryutaro asked.
"A name? What for?" the shadow asked.
"So I don't have to keep calling you 'shadow'," Ryutaro replied.
"Fine, do whatever you want," the shadow shrugged.
"Hmm… how about Alex?" Ryutaro suggested.
"Not bad. Alright, I accept that name," the shadow—now named Alex—nodded.
BEEP!
CONTRACT ESTABLISHED. BEGINNING EVOLUTION…
Suddenly, Alex's body radiated a bright light.
"What the—?! I just gave him a name!" Ryutaro exclaimed.
EVOLUTION COMPLETE!
CONGRATULATIONS, HOST! YOUR CONTRACTED BEING HAS EVOLVED INTO A SUPREME DEVIL!
"Congrats, bro, you evolved into a Supreme Devil," Ryutaro chuckled.
"So this is what it feels like to have a new body," Alex smirked.
"Yeah. Alright, I'm heading back now," Ryutaro said.
"Take care. If you need help, just call me," Alex replied.
Ryutaro smiled and waved.
---
Back in the real world…
After Grace kissed Ryutaro, his body lost consciousness and he collapsed. For three days, she took care of him without rest.
"Please, Ryutaro… wake up," Grace whispered, holding his hand.
Suddenly, the dark aura surrounding his body slowly faded.
"What's happening?" Grace gasped.
"Looks like that brat managed to control his power," the legendary hoe muttered.
Slowly, Ryutaro opened his eyes.
"Where… am I?" he asked.
"Are you really Ryutaro?" Grace questioned.
"Yeah, but… why are you crying, Grace? I never thought a Demon Queen could cry," Ryutaro teased, trying to cheer her up.
"You idiot! I've been waiting for you to wake up for three days!" Grace wiped her tears.
"Three days?! I thought it was only a few hours," Ryutaro muttered to himself.
"If you ever get hurt like this again, I won't forgive you!" Grace scolded.
"Alright, alright, I'm sorry for making you wait," Ryutaro said, patting her head.
"Fine. But you have to promise me two things," Grace demanded.
"What are they?" Ryutaro asked.
"First, promise me that you won't push yourself too hard again," Grace said.
"I'll try my best. And the second?" Ryutaro asked.
"The second… make me your wife," Grace said.
"I can't refuse, can I?" Ryutaro smiled wryly.
"You can, actually. The second promise isn't mandatory," Grace chuckled.
"Then, I refuse," Ryutaro said.
Hearing his response, Grace's smile faltered, and tears welled up in her eyes.
"I see… I'm still not good enough for you," she whispered.
"No, that's not what I meant. I refused because you're the one proposing to me. Shouldn't it be the guy who proposes to the girl?" Ryutaro explained.
"So… what are you saying?" Grace asked.
Ryutaro got up from the bed and knelt before her.
"Grace, will you marry me?" he asked, blushing.
Tears of sorrow turned into tears of joy.
"I accept," Grace beamed.
They embraced each other. Their relationship had changed forever.
Meanwhile, at the royal palace…
"Your Majesty! Urgent news!" a royal mage reported.
"What is it?" King Albert asked.
"The heir to the first hero has appeared in the Black Forest region!" the mage said.
"Oh? Then prepare our army. Capture the heir alive!" the king ordered.
Following the command, the mage relayed it to the general.
What will happen next? Will Ryutaro fight to protect his newfound happiness? And what will the king do when he learns that the hero's heir… is Ryutaro himself?
Find out in Chapter 5!