1 Alab and the Regressor: THE PRINCESS' SACRIFICE

On top of a cliff stood a girl whose beauty transcends even the gods. Her silky smooth golden hair swayed with the chaotic air as she released a ragged breath. Her golden eyes flashed with worries as she glanced at a city behind her.

Finally, tears escaped her eyes as she couldnt ponder the fate that this dear capital of her would undergoe any second now.

Before her, millions of demons were marching forward, wreaking havoc in their path. Their faces flashed with carnival, drools dripping from their deformed mouths.

The girl gulped at the scene of millions of demons.

She knew that her life would be in doom beside them but she also knew that as a princess, it is her duty to save her remaining subjects residing in the capital in her back. Even if it means sacrificing herself and falling into the demon lord's embrace.

Waterfall of tears escaped her eyes as she remembered her subjects who died helplessly under the marching demons. The King and Hero alike couldnt do anything against these demons. And now, as last resort, the princess had to fulfill her duty.

"Demon Lord Greed, I know you can hear me. I have decided. I... I agreed to your proposal, I... I will marry you so please, please spare my people"

A low yet determined voice escaped her mouth. All these for her people. And as she thought, the demon lord clearly heeded her resolution.

A wicked laugh resounded, bringing horror to the King and the Hero on the capital.

"Kikikiki, Had you chosen to be my bride years ago, you wouldnt have lost so much of your dear people. But what?! You chose to believe in that wicked and weak Hero of yours KIKIKIKI", the voice halted.

Seconds seemed to stop for the people in the capital. Their worries of dying gruesomely under the demons claw still linger within their hearts. They couldnt help but ponder the reality in the voice's remarks.

Indeed, had the princess chosen to sacrifice herself earlier, needless death could be avoided. Clenching their teeth, the helpless people cursed the princess in their hearts.

"But, as a kind and just demon lord I am, I would kindly accept your proposal Kikikikiki, I SHALL MARRY THE PRINCESS KIKIKIKI"

At that remarks, the entire marching demons threw their arms in the sky, releasing the evilish screech they could. The entire world of Athena was enveloped by misery.

Falling to her knees, the princess fall into trance as her heart stopped beating for a second. Thoughts of being under the demon lord's arms once again invaded her mind.

She didnt want to be with the demon lord, she only yearned to be with someone she loved.

Still, regrets may had captured her entirety, but she was helpless. She had to marry the demon lord for all these sufferings of her people to finally come to an end.

And it was at this moment, that a picture of a man cloaked in villainous aura entered her mind. Her heart released from rampage as a soothing emotion caressed her. A gentle smile escaped her rosy lips.

"Selena, what are you doing?"

On her side, a familiar voice of a man pricked her ears.

Shocked, Selena tilted her head as she glanced at the man beside her. With a defined jaw holding his small face, the man looked at her with his azure eyes flashing endless worries. A fresh blade cut tracing from his left eye down to his smooth lips.

No matter how angelic he seems, one should not be tricked because after all, he is a villain.

"N--- Nathan what are you doing here?! You should be healing by now!", Selena muttered as she stood up and face the man.

Nathan, on the other hand, didnt mind her question. He reached out his hand, touching the milky skin of Selena. His hand caressed her face, wiping the tears that endlessly shed from her eyes.

"How can I rest when my Princess is suffering?", Nathan uttered as he embraced Selena for the last time. This left Selena finally wailing, releasing every pain she endured for years.

"I didnt want to do this... I dont want to marry him... I only want to marry you, Nathan", Selena wailed as her tears wet the tattered clothes of Nathan.

"I know, I know", Nathan replied as he caressed the back of Selena with his bruised arms.

After a while with the demons unhalted marching, Nathan coldly released himself from Selena's warm embrace. Pushing her gently to the side, Nathan stepped forward as he faced the demons down the cliff.

With his determined voice, he muttered.

"A hero would sacrifice you for dear greater good but I, a villain would BURN this world for you, Selena"

And with that word, Selena fall to her knees as tears invaded her face once more. She regretted being a slave to her duty and choosing to be the Hero's fiance when it was clear as day whom she loved.

Now she had a single thought in mind, Had she believed in the villain, would something change all these years?

"N--Nathan", on her knees, Selena wailed like a child.

Nathan stole a last look to Selena. Her beauty and selflessness that had captured his heart still engraved in his heart.

"Indeed... I, a villain, has fallen in love to the Princess.", he muttered as he tilted his face forward. His eyes flashing red as his vision zoomed in to the demon lord behind the masses of demons.

Laughing maniacally, the demon lord met his gaze.

"Villain, do you chose to be the Hero now? Kikikiki", uttered the demon lord.

"But... What can an injured villain do against my armies?! Nothing! Kikiki", he added.

With the dying out of the flames in his eyes, Nathan finally unleashed his skill.

"Unleash your power of death... Arise!"

After his words, surge of mana escaped his bodies as several undeads began forming around him. Kneeling on the polluted ground, dead knights, bone dragons, and skeleton armies unleashed their aura of death.

On the sky, a lich and several dark mist flew.

It was an irony that the horror that these armies should emit, appeared warm to the wailing princess behind Nathan. She once again witnessed the power of undead that gave Nathan the villain title.

Among the undead, a dark mist taking a form of large man with a huge axe on his back, walked towards Nathan. Bowing his head, he muttered.

"I, Azareth, the god of death has sworn to hunt these evil to the end of the world. As the lord desires."

Crying out of the undead, voicing their determination to weave the path of death once more, battled the screeching of the demons.

It took a short time before finally, Nathan commanded.

"My loyal army of undead, even to death you have accompanied me. Lets meet at the afterlife, if there is... Burn them!"

"ROAR!"

"ALL FOR THE LORD!"

"KILL THE DEMONS!"

Tremors could be felt in the area as the army of undead and demons commenced the days of war.

The unusual battle of Evil Vs. Evil bathed the World of Athena that day.

In no time, Nathan removed his tattered clothes, revealing the fresh blade cuts he suffered a day ago. His defined body screaming extraction.

With a last look, he glanced at Selena.

"Someday... I will bring you to my world, as promised.", with a soft smile, Nathan strode forward, joining the battle along with his armies.

Selena could only wail and pray in her heart that Nathan would emerge safely.

------

After three days of battle, Nathan laid on the ground. His limbs torned off his body as he battled for remaining seconds of his life.

Beside him, the headless body of the demon lord oozing green blood drenched the pit they were in.

Around them was a mountain of demon corpses along with undeads that were now reduced to their original lifeless skull and bones. This gruesome scenery stretched for dozens of miles.

Heaving his last breath, Nathan released a smile, relieved that Selena was finally free from constraints of fate...

Or so what he thought.

Sounds of footsteps pricked his ears as two people seemed to approach him. It couldnt be demon as he was certain that they had kill them all.

'Is it Selena?', Nathan thought, glad that he could see the princess before he met his end.

But, his hopeful thought turned into fury as a face of a blue-haired man welcomed his sight. It was the hero.

In his arms, the princess, Selena, wailed in pain as the Hero dragged her.

Escaping his hold, Selena ran towards the limbless Nathan.

"Nathan...", she could only mutter as she could not save him. Even her healing powers could do not save a man near-death.

"S---sorry", she cried as her tears dreanched the torned chest of Nathan. The blade of the demon lord piercing his heart.

"Worry not, villain. All these merits of yours will not be left unclaimed. Even the princess, I will make sure to take EXTRA care of her", said the Hero as he pulled Selena. Opening his mouth, he licked Selena's face.

Selena couldnt utter a word as the Hero shut her mouth with his hand. Her eyes releasing tears.

"Now, I shall go and announce my victory. I, the hero has saved the world. BWAHAHA", laughed the Hero before he strode forward.

Selena, however, bit his hand as she then strode towards Nathan. Her lips touching Nathan's as mana visibly escaped her body at unimaginable speed.

Vitality escaped her body, her golden hair turning black.

The Hero was warry for a moment as he pulled Selena from Nathan intensely. He was worried that she would heal him. But, his worry was for nothing as he witnessed no change to Nathan.

His limbs still torned off and his eyes wide opened, not blinking, fixed at the serene dark sky. He died. The villain has met his end.

"Woohh, I was worried for nothing.", the Hero uttered as he looked at the princess on his arms, only to be surprised as the beautiful princess was nowhere to be seen.

On his arm, an old lady devoid of beauty was at...