Demon Lord's Reincarnation

After Ren dealt that devastating blow the ORIGIN had weakened immensely but not enough that he could be killed. Now there were only two incarnations of the Strongest Mortal Soul left.

One was, of course, the original incarnation the strongest of them all the one who started the system of reincarnation. The other one was Rei Kuraki who had gained the powers of all incarnations except for Ren and the original incarnation. These two were leagues above the other incarnations of the Strongest Mortal Soul which was why it wasn't so surprising that they were able to last until the end.

"Now only the two of you remain. So are you still going to foolishly fight me, or are willing to join me in the new reality I will create?"

The ORIGIN despite getting hurt so much by the incarnations of the Strongest Mortal Soul and the madness that was eroding its existence still showed benevolence to his favorite son.

"Heh, sorry to disappoint you again, but I must repeat it no matter how many times you ask. If you wish to destroy this reality and erase everything that we have made with our own hands, the memories that we shared, then my answer will remain the same. I will never join you! Also, I do have a promise I need to keep."

The original incarnation declared as he gripped his weapon tighter the smile on his face grew wider.

"... I see... A smile to hide away the fear was it? A promise to meet again. The promises to move only forward. Are those things that are holding you back?" The ORIGIN spoke while stopping his relentless attacks.

The original incarnation and Rei Kuraki sensed that something was wrong so they stood side by side with each other to lessen their blindspots.

"I wonder what would happen if I took those events from the flow of time and plucked them out. If I do that will you finally join me?"

When the original incarnation heard what the ORIGIN said he was visibly shaken for a second, during that time the ORIGIN launched a surprise attack. Rei blocked the attack for the original incarnation who snapped out of it.

"It seems those things really are the things holding you back. Normally such threats would never work on you. I guess that's just how much you value those memories. How unfortunate that when it comes to your past I can't interfere with it, even though it is events that happened in the flow of time that I should be able to control fully. When it comes to you and your reincarnations everything becomes weird."

The air crackled with tension as the ORIGIN's words hung heavily between them. The original incarnation steadied himself, the shock fading from his expression, replaced by a fierce determination.

"Memories are not just chains; they are the very essence of who we are. They are the very things that made me as strong as I am now."

"Is that so?... But surely you have felt it around now that even with your skills that go beyond destiny itself you and that single reincarnation of yours won't be able to win."

"We already knew that from the start... I knew that very well, we all did."

The original incarnation sighed as he realized that victory truly wasn't within their reach. Seeing the original incarnation's reaction the ORIGIN felt that he was finally able to change his prodigal son's thoughts.

"Have you finally come to terms with it? Are you finally willing to accept my offer?" The ORIGIN sounded excited as he spoke.

"Like I said before there will never come a time that I will accept your offer to join you... It's just that I finally accepted that I'm truly not the one to end you."

"You speak as if there is someone else that could end me besides you. I have scoured all of reality, and there is no one strong enough aside from you and your many reincarnations that could possibly end me."

"Wrong like how I went beyond destiny that day, surely someone else can do the same. Unfortunately, I finally realized I'm not the hero of this story, I'm not the one destined to end you. A true hero is someone who can rely on others to win."

The original incarnation closed his eyes and the memories of his many reincarnations remembered the characteristics of the so-called heroes. It seems that even at his best he was just an imitation of a true hero.

"I who only relied on myself can never be a true hero. Despite siring many children, gaining many lovers, many friends, and allies, no matter the reincarnation not one of them truly trusted those others to fight for them. Even in this final battle, the only ones I brought to fight were just reincarnations of myself, but we are in a sense one. It means I fought you alone, that is not how a true hero fights."

"A true hero is one that is selfless, who puts the best interest of others above oneself. A true hero inspires others through their actions and values not to battle like I did. A true hero must have compassion, one who understands others and emphasizes their plight. A true hero is one who achieves victory alongside others no matter how much despair is before them. I was never a hero, I was a selfish b*stard that only lived for my enjoyment and the promises I made."

The original incarnation made a hollow laugh as he fully accepted the fate he himself had written.

"I understand my role now, I will block you here for as long as possible until the true hero that will slay you appears."

"Do you truly think such a person will come to be?" The ORIGIN asked intrigued and amused by what the original incarnation said.

"I believe it! If a fake like me could appear then surely there is a true one somewhere, sometime, someplace, and to make sure that whomever it is will come. I will do this!"

The original incarnation placed his hand on his chest and was now pulling something out. The ORIGIN did not know what the original incarnation was trying to do but the ORIGIN decided to stop it.

The ORIGIN unleashed an unrelenting barrage of attacks to stop the original incarnation of the Strongest Mortal Soul in what he was doing, but the ORIGIN was interrupted by Rei who protected the original incarnation.

The original incarnation took out a part of his soul, this would be his final reincarnation the one who will find and guide the true hero that will end the ORIGIN. The original incarnation then tossed that part of his soul into the secret universe that he created, a universe outside the prying eyes of the ORIGIN.

The ORIGIN tried to intercept the escaping soul but was blocked by the original incarnation and Rei.

'I place all my hopes on you my final reincarnation, bringer of light, Meyer! The hope that you can find a true hero and guide whoever it is to save everyone in all realities.'

...

The final reincarnation of the Strongest Mortal Soul arrived on a planet similar to the birthplace of the original incarnation. In that place, the final reincarnation named Meyer who had received all the skills and memories of every other incarnation of the Strongest Mortal Soul from the original incarnation to Ren started his search for the true hero.

No matter how long the search will take Meyer would never stop until he found the true hero that would save everything.

"Whoever you are, wherever you are," he murmured to the skies, "I will find you. I will guide you until the day we save everyone including him."

Thus began the final journey of the last reincarnation of the Strongest Mortal Soul.

...

Even in the deepest darkest horrors of reality, the light of hope will guide us to a better tomorrow.