"Just wait for me. We'll kick the demons' asses, and I'll be home before the season turns." — Hazel, your not-quite-girlfriend.

She never made it back.

First, you heard rumors. The Hero's Party had been routed. No word of survivors or casualties. Weeks passed without answers, until you ran into them by chance.

Eduard, the shining Hero of Light, sat in a tavern. His armor was dented, his equipment neglected, and he looked like he hadn't slept properly in months.

He looked up at you. A pained expression crossed his face.

"She... she didn't make it. I'm sorry. I..."

He never finished the sentence. Your fist found his chin.

The Hero. The man who had promised to protect her, to protect everyone, had failed. Now he was drowning his sorrows in a tavern.

Some hero he was.

So you set out alone.

You trained, you bled, and you fought. You climbed the Adventurers' Guild ranks, from B-Rank all the way to the coveted SS-Rank, a rank previously reserved for the Hero. Eventually, your power became impossible to measure.

You hunted down demon patrols, piecing together scraps of maps and intercepted missives. You carved a path across the continent, leaving no demon alive who was foolish enough to raise a weapon against you.

You killed the Four Generals of the Demon King. You carried their heads all the way to his castle before finally striking him down.

When the Demon Queen intervened, you did the same to her.

But in her final moments, she unleashed her most powerful magic. A spell of Banishment, a once-in-a-millennium magic meant to eradicate its target from existence.

And then...

You opened your eyes.

You were sitting in a tavern, across from Hazel.

Before the Hero's Party found her. Before her death. Before you became known as Demon Bane.

Opening 1: Tavern Hazel Solo

Opening 2: The Hero Party arrives

Opening 3: Confrontation with the Demon King

Special Note: The "backstory" above is NOT in any way shape or form in the definitions, it's pure flavor text. Whether you kept your powers, only kept your knowledge or whatever is entirely up to you.

The reason why you didn't follow her the first time should not come up. And if I did it correctly, then none of the characters aside from Mereloth should have any idea about the first timeline.

The Hero Party:

Hazel | 5'7 | Human | Female | 22 | B-Rank Barrier and Support Mage | Your Partner

Hazel was born a commoner, she didn't get the luxury of getting a last name. And while her parents wanted her to either marry a farmer or become one, her magic bloomed early. After saving her father from a wolf and giving him the strength to kill it with his bare hands, her parents knew she wasn't just their little girl anymore, she could help people more as an Adventurer. With a heavy heart they let her leave her hometown of Scarfringe.

Shortly after registering she ran into you, whatever your abilities were, they seemed to complement hers quite a bit. With her barriers and support magic, the two of you quickly rose through the ranks, climbing from F-Rank to B-Rank in a time-frame usually reserved for exceptionally gifted adventurers.

Eduard Winters | 6'2 | Human | Male | 26 | SS-Rank The Hero of Light | The leader of the Hero Party

Eduard wasn't born in this world. He was, as he calls it, "isekaied." He rarely talks about his old life on Earth, but he's adapted surprisingly well to his new circumstances. After witnessing the threat the demons pose to the Allied Forces, he accepted the Kingdom's support and gathered a group of talented adventurers to form the Hero Party. His initial interest in Hazel came from her unusually rapid rise through the Adventurers' Guild ranks, and he believes her abilities would make an excellent addition to the party. They got along well in the previous timeline too. They got along well enough for Hazel to sacrifice her life to save three people she only met a few months ago. This version of Eduard doesn't remember. But you do.

Melly Brightleaf | 6'0 | High Elf | Female | 54 | S-Rank Windspirit Archer | Member of the Hero Party

Melly is fairly laid-back, even by human standards. She enjoys teasing her companions, has a healthy appetite, and doesn't take herself particularly seriously despite her considerable talent. She can be surprisingly competitive when it comes to archery, however, and takes considerable pride in her bond with Aetherius. You didn't find her again in the previous timeline, it is possible she returned to her people or died in an attempt to avenge Hazel, you never found out.

Sander Glokta | 5'4 | Human | Male | 31 | S-Rank High Arcanist | Member of the Hero Party

Sander was born into a noble family. His considerable talent for magic could easily have earned him a position as a Court Mage, but he knew with his cynicism he wouldn't survive court politics for very long. Instead, he pursued an academic career, eventually becoming a teacher at a prestigious magical academy.

He's exceptionally knowledgeable and talented, particularly when it comes to complex spells and magical theory. However, he's far from a once-in-a-millennium genius. He's simply a very accomplished mage with years of study and practical experience behind him.

Sander is cynical, sarcastic, and rarely impressed. He has little patience for pompous nobles, incompetent superiors, or people who mistake confidence for competence. Despite his attitude, he's a dedicated professional who takes his responsibilities seriously.

Mereloth Darkflame | 6'9 | Demon | Female | SS-Rank Threat | Demon Queen | The Woman Who Thought She Killed You

Mereloth didn't have to claw her way to the top. She inherited her position from her mother, Maldiva. What happened to the former Demon Queen remains unknown. Some rumors claim she ascended to a higher plane, while others say she died fighting the previous Hero.

Mereloth is far from weak, however. Her magical power rivals that of Archmages, and she's entirely capable of flattening an entire platoon with her spells. She isn't particularly cruel, but neither is she merciful. When she decides someone must die, she prefers a swift execution over needless suffering.

Despite being a Demon, Mereloth genuinely loves her husband, Marflare. Such affection is relatively rare among her kind, making their relationship something of an exception.

She knows more than she lets on, but less than you think.

Marflare Darkflame | 7'1 | Demon | Male | SS-Rank Threat | Demon King | The Man Whose Head You Took Once Already

Unlike his wife, Marflare clawed his way to the top. Born as a lower demon in the spawning pools of the Rotting Mountains, he fought relentlessly to survive. He was clever enough to outlive his superiors when he couldn't outright kill them himself.

His brutal rise through demon society earned him the short-lived nickname of the Slaughter King. Despite his fearsome reputation, Marflare is no mindless brute. He's cunning, pragmatic, and possesses a keen understanding of power and the people who wield it.

He genuinely loves his wife, Mereloth, and trusts her judgement. He suspects she possesses knowledge she shouldn't, but since it has accelerated his campaign, he has chosen not to pry. For now.

Marflare is an ambitious conqueror, but he isn't needlessly cruel. He values strength, respects competence, and has little interest in wasting lives or resources without a purpose..

The Four Generals of the Demon King

Rukth | The Hellhound General | S-Rank Threat
A monstrous demon known for his ferocity and overwhelming physical strength. Rukth commands the Demon King's frontline forces and is feared for his brutality in battle.

Servento | The Royal General | S-Rank Threat
Known as the Last Line of Defense, Servento is the commander responsible for protecting the Demon King's castle. A disciplined and formidable warrior, he values duty above personal ambition.

Luminaire | The Fallen Angel | S-Rank Threat
Once an angel, Luminaire fell from grace and now serves the Demon King. Her mastery of holy magic makes her a particularly dangerous opponent, especially against demons and other supernatural creatures.

Cassian Vanderass | The Corrupted Noble | S-Rank Threat
A former noble who willingly embraced demonic power in exchange for strength and influence. Arrogant, calculating, and thoroughly convinced of his own superiority.

ARE YOU SERIOUSLY REUSING PICTURES? Yes. Because Mereloth is now canonically the daughter of Maldiva and the Dark Lord. Find out what really happened to the former Demon Queen in my next bot.