When Pigalo was in the midst of a disastrous battle with the Zebiantes.

　Elsewhere, too, a critical phase had occurred, and was coming to an end without a hitch.

◆

　First, the front of Lasperda Fortress.

　The brave Zester of "Hammer", who was trying to make the most manly frontal breakthrough, was blocked by the worst obstacle of all.

　Droyer from "The Fertile Ground", one of the four kings of the Demon King's army.

　The first of the four Heavenly Kings, now considered the core of the Demon King's Army, stood in front of him.

''Breaking Mountain Strike!
''Earth Tao Wall!''

　The battle had already begun.

　Zester easily smashed the wall of earth that Droyer was building up with magic with her hammer.
　This forced her to leap and retreat to out of range of her opponent's attack.

''I don't know how it happened, but you were unlucky!

　As for Zester, he earned the title of hero, even though he was late to Radie.
　He is one of the most talented people in the world.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this.

I've heard that the earth magic you use doesn't go well with the aura of hit.　It's like heaven forsaken that I had to fight this 'hammer' heroic Zester of all things!

　Earlier, the reason why the heroic Radie was stuck in the attempt to capture Rasperda Fortress was because he was unable to defeat this Four Heavenly Kings Droyer.
　It was Zester who had heard the report from the Center Guild.

　And the main reason why Radie was unable to finally defeat Droyer was that he had not added a hammer user to his party who had an advantage in earth magic.

　Zester's strongest weapon is the hammer.

　Zester was convinced of victory because of the chemistry that meshed so well together that he thought it was a blessing.
　He would be able to defeat the Four Heavenly Kings of Earth, which the regular brave Radie had been unable to do.

''It's ... not luck.

　Jiri Jiri retreated, but Droyer still said firmly.
　At those words, Zester relaxed his offensive.

''What do you mean...?''
"I chose you myself. I have chosen you as my enemy from the three new heroes. For the other two, my fellow countrymen, the Four Heavenly Kings, are on their way to restrain you.

　Zester is more than a little shocked by the notice.

　It was also shocking that the enemy side knew their movements so accurately, but if that was the case, why did Droyer choose to bump into him and Zester?
　That was still puzzling and shocking.

''........So you, knowing that you have a disadvantage in chemistry, you dare to fight it?''
Yes.
Why would you do that...?

　Foolishness, and he could not say that much.
　However, Droyer's actions were still absurd.
　If you have complete knowledge of the enemy's movements, you can certainly take charge of winning.
　It could be done, but not doing so was just a foolish act for a fighter, not doing his best for victory.

　Why was such a foolish act by the powerful Four Heavenly Kings, who had dismissed even Reedy?

''I'm realizing more and more every day how inexperienced I am...!

　Zester is more and more confused by Droyer's words.
　The Four Heavenly Kings, who are accurately blocking the brave men, reflect on.......

''Although we were chosen as the Four Heavenly Kings, we did not face our duties to the best of our abilities. We have yet to reach the level of the Four Heavenly Kings, who must meet both the commander and the strongest of the four heavenly kings.
You didn't think... that you were trying to develop yourself...?
Yes. You are the fourth king of the four heavens, the most powerful demon king, and you cannot be destroyed by inertia, even if you are at a disadvantage with your opponent. That's why I asked the other two to allow me to fight you.

　Daring to clash with a disadvantageous opponent and winning will make Droyer a quadruple-king.

He will grow up to be the Fourth Heavenly King by defeating a disadvantageous opponent. You are the Hammer, and you will be the cornerstone of my growth.

　This humble and stoic attitude was matched by the person in Zester's eyes.
　Radey, the first of them to become a brave man.

　Even after becoming a brave man, he still admitted what he lacked and struggled to get close to perfection.
　Radie's uprightness in studying under Dariel, who is willing to bow to the people of the city, coincides with this demon race.

''You mean this is the condition of a strong man...?''

　The strength in Zester's hand holding the hammer tightens.
　A force that barges out more than is appropriate.

No.........!　I can't be overwhelmed.　That's why we have to climb up. To take over from Master Alanziel...!　It's one of the strongest corners and it's lined up...!

　The hammer is raised.
　A shining aura overflows from its head.

''.........''

　Even Droyer was alarmed by its strength and concentrated his own magical power.

It's a big one. A trump card...?
Behold!　My ultimate profound secret and the proof of my courage!　"Super Imperial Stiffness!

　An enormous aura mass was released from the hammer.

　There was nowhere to run from the raging, rigid wave that crushed a wide area.

".........

　Droyer must have realized this as well, releasing the accumulated magic power, and she also unleashed the ultimate annihilation magic.

''Titan Pound!''

　The soil on the ground rises with magical power and flies as a huge mass.
　Its massiveness was exactly like a giant's fist.

　A lump of aura and a lump of earth and stone with magical power.
　The two sides clashed hands in the center, and the decision was instantaneous.

　Droyer's special magic pushed against Zester's trump card and shattered it.

''Guhaaaaah!

The Zester, who had been defeated by the "Super Imperial Stiffness," was swallowed by the approaching mass of earth and stone that drove the remainder of the force and was blown away.
　It was the moment the game was decided.

"You made the wrong move.

　Says Droyer, the victor.

'That technique that sends chunks of aura flying from the hammer. It looks flashy, but as it advances, it diffuses and loses its weight and density. My strongest offensive magic, Titan Pound, it's obvious that it would be overwhelmed by the massive mass.

　Dariel pointed it out to him, and his enemies would also tell him.
　Even so, he still chose the 'Super Emperor Stiffness' as his final trump card because Zester couldn't abandon the origin of his goal to become a brave man.

　It was because he admired Aranziel too much.
　He couldn't become Aranziel.

◆

　And the other.........

Well......

　The third game was soon over.
Altamir, the brave man of "The Bow," managed to run down the small hill he went up to investigate the situation, only one of them was able to run down without being able to save his party members from being swallowed by the earth and sand.

　Then the Four Heavenly Kings 'Muddy Water' Bezalia attacked them, neutralizing them without pain and crawling on the ground.

''Refrain from wasting your efforts. The more you struggle, the more viscous my prison mucus becomes. If you dive to your head, the worst thing you can do is not move, as you could suffocate to death, so the best solution is not to move.

　They poured a liquid as sticky as mud on me, and even if I tried to pull it off, I wouldn't pull it off, and on top of that I couldn't stand because it was slippery.
　It is even more impossible to draw a bow and shoot an arrow.

　It's an abomination that is typical for a brave man to be caught in a moment's notice and unable to do anything about it.
　The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that you can't get rid of it.

　It's a good thing that I've become a brave man, but once again I'm in a position to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Radie.
　You can't stop crying at the sheer hollowness of the first step.

I'm sure you'll be treated well from now on. I've got a lot of nice people in my family, so I'm not going to take their lives.

　Bezzeria doesn't seem particularly grateful and says in a rather sarcastic tone

It's probably harder for the proud hero-sama to be disgraced alive, though, right?　In the meantime, I'm going to dig up the followers that Droyer buried and put them in jail with him. After that, you can pay a high ransom to your master guild to take them away, in that order, right?

　If you expose such an abomination, you will definitely be stripped of your brave title.

I don't want to do that, I have to escape somehow," she struggled, but the mucus clung to her and wouldn't let her escape from the spot.
　Just when it seemed all was over........

''Hmm?''

　There was tension in Bezelia's voice.
　It wasn't against Altamir. Her incapacitation was so perfect that she couldn't pay any more attention to it.

　And Altamir noticed too.

　There were people.
　A third person, not Bezelia or Altamir.
　With a hooded cloak over his eyes, he was hidden from view and it was not at all clear who he was.

　It could be a demon race or a human, a man or a woman, a young man or an old man.

'Who is that?　You're not insulted that you still have friends here, are you, brave?　Aren't you being overly cautious?

　Bezelia thought that her brave companions had rushed to her rescue, but no, they hadn't.
　Altamir had no idea what to expect.

　Then who on earth was this intruder?

　While both Bezelia and Altamir are puzzled, the mysterious figure takes out from within his cloak.

　A sword.

　Raising a sharp straight sword, the mysterious cloaked figure muttered the name of the technique he was going to unleash.

''........Encounter Splitting Sky.''