"Why?"
"Why do you do this? You had the choice of perishing without pain..." muttered a pair of celestial eyes as they observed the final moments of a world, struggling to understand the scene:
Near the edges of an abyssal cliff and in front of his horrified and despairing kin, a blonde man stood as straight as a spear, unwavering and stoic as his golden eyes watched the approaching purple tide of the apocalypse.
Countless horrors raced each other in desperation to get their terrifying claws on their cornered prey first.
Each of the abominations easily dwarfed the man, yet there was not a hint of fear in his eyes, as if the long, thin sword in his hands would be more than enough to repel the purple wave of death.
The man seemed to genuinely believe he could accomplish such a futile feat.
Perhaps he could, but not alone.
Just a meter from him stood a silver princess donning silver battle armor, a silver crown perched atop her long silver hair, and her blueberry eyes, though different in color from the man’s and her own hair and attire, reflected the same resolve.
There were only two of them against the entire purple tide, but just a momentary glance at each other was more than enough to chase the doubts away.
They’ve never been defeated and never will.
Elysium couldn’t cry, nor did she have a heart, but something inside her divine figure ached as the apocalyptic wave neared.
The abominations soon arrived within striking distance, and the stoic man waved his unimpressive sword.
A massive, horizontal, golden slash emerged from the profound strike, shooting forth and mowing down tens of thousands of the approaching horrors.
But tens of thousands more easily took their spot.
This time, it was the silver princess who moved, raising her sword heavenwards.
The simple gesture summoned tens of thousands of swords similar to the one in her hands, raining down upon the apocalyptic tide and easily taking the life of yet another ten thousand of the abominations.
But again, more simply replaced the vanquished.
The golden hero and the silver princess waved their swords.
A hundred times, then a thousand, and then thousands more.
Their seemingly inexhaustible and mighty arms began to feel heavy, and their attacks slowed and weakened, yet the tide remained in their apocalyptic advance.
It didn’t even seem like their numbers were being reduced at all, despite the duo having already killed millions, if not billions of them.
Still, they brandished their weapons, ignoring their protesting bodies to lay ruin upon their enemies.
They were the final protectors of humanity.
They cannot fall, though largely due to the reluctance to part forever.
Unfortunately, Elysium knew all too well how this would end, as this was the inevitable result of a trial she and a few other divinities designed.
All for their twisted entertainment.
She was a goddess, yet she felt ashamed.
Her subjects worshipped her with all their heart and faith, and this was how she treated them: as playthings.
She could always create more.
But as she watched the golden hero and the silver princess’s heroic last stand, she suddenly regretted treating them so lightly.
They were alive.
They had emotions and formed bonds—ones that, unlike theirs, cannot transcend lifetimes.
One and done, that’s it.
And so, Elysium couldn’t resist, bending a few laws to speak to the two of her most beautiful and impressive creations in a slightly flustered attempt to comfort them.
She knew they were aware that their bond in this life was about to be severed.
They didn’t even know if there was a next life; if they would meet again sometime, somewhere...
Her poor little creations...
"You’ve done well." She began, causing the hearts of the golden hero and the silver princess to tremble slightly.
They didn’t recognize the voice, but at the same time, they strangely knew who was speaking to them, as if the mere voice itself was an introduction.
Elysium, the goddess of life and happiness.
They couldn’t reply.
Their situation didn’t allow them, so they could only listen to her comforting voice, untethered by mortal restrictions:
"You can rest now, my dearest creations," her celestial voice whispered, soothing their uncertain hearts.
"You will live another life after this one ends, and once more, you beautiful pair will have a chance to be together. In your next life, you shall receive three rewards, all of which would both aid you and push you closer to the other."
"So...rest..."
That was all the assurance the two creations needed.
With an exhausted smile, they laid down their weapons, embracing the apocalypse.