The once-green forest now lay dead — trees reduced to ash, the ground carved with black cracks still humming faintly with corrupted mana.
Inside Despair Dimension — The Demon's Torment
The High Demon screamed endlessly as shadows clawed at his flesh.His body regenerated only to be torn apart again — the same pain looping forever, every second feeling like years.
High Demon (screaming): "STOP—PLEASE! END THIS!! I'LL DO ANYTHING—!!"
A voice echoed — emotionless, endless.
The Demon's mind shattered completely. His eyes turned hollow as he sank into the abyss.
[Outside Despair Dimension]
The black mist that once surrounded Ortho and Aeth began to fade.The battlefield was silent — no birds, no wind, only stillness.
After what felt like forever, a faint glow emerged from Aeth's body.
System: "Regeneration complete. Mana core — partially restored."
Aeth's eyes slowly opened. His vision blurred, his body weak.
Aeth (groaning): "Ugh… wh-what happened…? Ortho…!"
He looked around — Ortho lay unconscious beside him, his body covered in black scars, his aura completely drained.Raika and Ors were lying near them, breathing weakly.
Aeth's heart pounded.He clenched his trembling hands and muttered softly.
Aeth: No It's Not good Human Might come Here in some time.
Aeth: "Don't worry… I'll take us home."
He struggled to stand, barely managing to channel mana through his weakened core.
System: "Teleportation spell possible — but risk of collapse: High!"
Aeth: "I don't care… Just Go A Head"
He gathered the last of his strength, raising his hand over the group.A faint blue circle appeared beneath them — flickering weakly, then stabilizing as Aeth poured everything he had left into it.
Aeth (weakly smiling): "Let's… go home."
System: "Teleportation — activated."
And Aeth fell to the ground.
A flash of light swallowed the scene.
Next Morning
Aeth Tried to open his eyes but his whole body trembling because of the teleportation spell.The familiar wooden scent of their treehouse surrounded him.
Raika and Ors lay beside Ortho, their bodies weak but still glowing faintly.
Raika: "M-Master… are you okay?"
Ors : "Let us… heal them faster."
Raika: "I'm already on it."
The two familiars placed their hands near Ortho and Aeth, releasing gentle waves of mana.Healing light spread across the room, filling it with warmth.
Aeth blinked, regaining focus. His wounds closed, and strength slowly returned to his limbs.But when he looked at Ortho, his heart sank.
Aeth: "Ortho…"
Raika and Ors were desperately channeling their remaining mana into Ortho, but the boy's expression was blank — peaceful, yet frighteningly still.
Aeth quickly raised his hand.
Aeth: "Appraisal!"
A status screen appeared before him. His eyes widened.
Ortho Serfend —HP: StableMP: 0 / ≈ -100k
Condition: Mana drain critical
Skill Active: Sin of Ultimate Despair (Residual effect)
Aeth(Shocked): "His mana… it's not regenerating, and his mana is -100k "
System: "Due to continuous execution of Sin of Ultimate Despair – Stage 3, so much mana has been consumed.
Normal healing will not accelerate recovery until the skill is terminated.
There is a 1 High Demon inside the Ultimate Despair Space."
Aeth (urgent): "Then stop it! Take the demon out of the chamber and deactivate the skill — now!"
System: "Command accepted. Sin of Ultimate Despair – Stage 3 successfully deactivated. Demon extracted from Despair Space and locked into High-Level Barrier."
The dark aura that had been faintly lingering around Ortho faded away. The oppressive pressure in the air lifted.
Aeth exhaled shakily and looked down at his younger brother.
(thinking)He… he gained this power because of me? Because I almost died?
What kind of pain… what kind of despair did he go through to awaken that?
He sat beside Ortho, silently watching his chest rise and fall — steady, but faint.
Aeth (softly): "Sleep, little brother. You've done enough."
He looked toward the glowing interface still hovering near Ortho's body — the System.
Out Of No where Aeth Suddenly asked
Aeth: "System… can you erase memories?"
System: "It is possible. However, there are consequences. Memory erase may also remove skills learned within that time frame. Additionally, user status may decrease depending on the extent of erased experience, and there might be a chance of body damage."
Aeth: "Can you nullify that pain and fix his wound with my skills? take my mana to restore his body."
System: "Conditions accepted. Pain nullification possible. Body regeneration aided by party members' skills."
Aeth (calm, determined):"That's fine. Since the demon is caged, there should be no problem now. Can you just erase everything from the moment that demon stabbed me?"
System: "Confirmed. Target range: from event 'Aeth Serfend – Critical Damage' until 'Sin of Ultimate Despair Stage 3 Termination'. Probability of partial skill loss: High. Possible losses — Sin of Ultimate Despair Stage 2 and Stage 3.Do you wish to proceed?"
Aeth hesitated, then looked at Ortho's peaceful expression — the faint traces of dried tears near his eyes.
Aeth (whispering): "He doesn't need to remember that pain."
System: "Awaiting confirmation — proceed with memory erase?"
Aeth: "Yes. Do it."
System: "Acknowledged. Memory Erasing commencing… 3… 2… 1…Using healing skills from Aetheria Serfend
Party Member do not have sufficient mana Taking mana From Caged High Demon.
Starting to heal Ortho Serfend."
A faint light surrounded Ortho's head. His body relaxed, his breathing steady and calm — the torment in his mind fading away.
Aeth: "Tell me, System — how did Ortho even get that skill? What was the requirement for Sin of Ultimate Despair?"
System: "Requirements are as follows:
— User must not be a native of this world.
— User must possess Dark Element affinity.
— User must experience a hidden sequence of despair conditions.
— A personal sacrifice is required — an event that drives the user into ultimate despair."
Aeth(thinking):A hidden sequence… a sacrifice that leads to despair…So that means…
it was me. My death — even for a moment — was the price he paid.
Aeth (quietly): "You fool… you didn't have to bear that alone."
System: "Memory successfully erased. Partial data lost — Sin of Ultimate Despair Stage 2 and 3 inaccessible. Skill sealed and hidden."
Aeth leaned back against the wall, exhausted but relieved.
Aeth (softly): "Sleep peacefully, little brother. This time… I'll protect you."
The forest around the Serfend brothers' treehouse was quiet. The air carried only the soft hum of mana and the rustle of leaves.
Inside, Ortho still slept soundly, his breathing faint but stable. His face was calm — almost peaceful — after the storm that had consumed him.
Aeth sat beside him for a long while before whispering,
Aeth (softly): "You've done enough… now rest."
He placed Raika and Ors near his brother. Raika coiled softly, electricity crackling faintly across her fur, while Ors lay close to Ortho's side, guarding him even in sleep.
(thinking)I need to finish that quest before it expires… or the guild will start asking questions.
The whole party fell asleep.
The Next Morning
Aeth's body had recovered enough to move freely again. His mana still fluctuated — unstable, but usable.
He stepped deep into the forest, the same one from which they had first emerged into this world.
Growls echoed between the trees.
Aeth (smirking): "Bears… perfect."
Lightning Strike flashed through the woods. The scent of scorched fur filled the air as Aeth dispatched each monster with calm precision. Within an hour, several massive bears lay defeated, their corpses sealed into his inventory.
Aeth (exhaling): "That should be enough."
Teleportation light flickered, and Aeth appeared near the village gate.He hid his aura, lowering his stats, then entered the Adventurers' Guild.
Guild Receptionist: "Ah, you completed it! That was fast… and just in time. The deadline was near."
Aeth (smiling slightly): "I don't like to miss deadlines."
After processing the quest, she handed him a pouch of silver coins.
Guild Receptionist: "Good work. You can use the alchemy shop across the street if you want to learn basic potion crafting — you look like the type who'd need it."
Aeth nodded, studied the recipes, and soon learned Healing Potion Recipe (Basic).He bought supplies, then teleported back to the treehouse.
There, he gently lifted Ortho's head and poured the potion slowly between his lips. The faint glow of magic spread through Ortho's veins, stabilizing his mana flow.
Aeth (quietly): "Hang in there… you have to rest some more."
He told Ors to stay beside him for protection.
Raika, now fully recharged, slithered toward Aeth.
Raika: "Master… what now?"
Aeth (coldly): "Now… it's time to deal with that thing."
They walked far from the treehouse — far enough so Ortho couldn't be harmed. The demon sat trembling inside the barrier — unable to sense what lay beyond.
Aeth raised his hand, eyes sharp and expressionless. With a low hum, he deactivated the barrier.
The air split apart as the barrier dissolved — and the demon finally saw him.
The High Demon froze. That same overwhelming pressure he'd once felt from Ortho — now came from Aeth.
He stumbled backward, his instincts were screaming , Demon was Ready to Run Away From Aeth.
Aeth (cold, commanding): "STOP THERE. DON'T MOVE AN INCH."
The demon froze completely. His blood ran cold — not from fear of death, but from the realization that the one before him…was far more dangerous than despair itself.