I Failed to Be a Hero, So I Became the God of Three Realms

The heroes stood at the entrance of the dungeon, ready for the trials that awaited them. The air was thick with anticipation. They had all come prepared—magic tools, weapons, and the determination to face whatever dangers lurked within. But they knew that this was not going to be easy.

The first few floors were nothing more than a warm-up. Weak beasts, low-level monsters that barely posed a challenge, but it gave the heroes time to adjust to their gear and the unfamiliar dungeon environment. The real test would begin once they reached the tenth floor. The thought of it hung over them like a shadow, but they pushed forward, determined to conquer whatever lay ahead.

It wasn't long before they reached the tenth floor, and as soon as they entered, they were greeted with the terrifying sight of a massive White Dragon. Its scales gleamed like ivory, and its wings cast a shadow that could swallow the entire floor. With a roar, it unleashed a massive whip of its tail, knocking several of the heroes off their feet. The force was enough to send shockwaves through the room, but there was no hesitation in the heroes' movements. They got back up, prepared to fight.

However, amidst the chaos, two figures stood unfazed by the dragon's attack—Riona and Alfred.

Riona's expression was cold, as though she had already anticipated this moment. Alfred, ever the strategist, remained vigilant by her side, but his eyes flickered toward her with growing concern.

"Riona, don't—" Alfred warned, but his voice was drowned out by the fury of the battle.

Without a word, Riona closed her eyes for just a moment, and then—it happened.

Her body began to glow with an otherworldly light. White wings sprouted from her back, large and magnificent, their feathers shimmering in the dim light of the dungeon. Her clothes shifted, changing in color and shape until she no longer resembled a mere academy student. She looked as if she had stepped out of a divine realm—no, she looked like a Goddess.

The heroes froze, unable to comprehend what was happening. Even Alfred's face shifted from concern to shock, realizing the gravity of what he had feared. But it was too late. The dragon's roar was cut short as Riona raised a single hand.

With one simple snap of her fingers, the White Dragon was reduced to ashes, its towering form crumbling to nothing in a burst of divine power. The flames were gone in an instant, leaving nothing behind but the scorched floor.

The other heroes stood in stunned silence, too caught off guard by Riona's sudden transformation to speak.

"I told you it'd cause problems," Alfred muttered under his breath, but even he couldn't look away from Riona, whose eyes now glowed with an unnatural intensity.

Her wings slowly receded, and her divine aura dissipated, leaving behind a faint trace of what had just transpired. But the silence didn't last long.

The dungeon collapsed.

The walls trembled, and the ground beneath their feet began to crack. The battle was over, but the dungeon's structure was falling apart, unable to contain the energy that had been unleashed.

As the dust settled, the Duke appeared in the doorway, flanked by his guards. His eyes flicked to Riona for just a moment, but he said nothing, as if he had already known.

Behind him stood the Lord—a figure clad in regal armor, his presence commanding the room. The Duke bowed respectfully, but the Lord remained still, his gaze resting on the heroes with a sense of familiarity.

The Duke spoke first, his voice reverberating in the now-silent room. "You have completed the trial, but there is more that needs to be done. You are needed elsewhere."

But before anyone could respond, the Duke turned to the Lord beside him, his voice lowering.

"My lord, Prince Nolan," he said, gesturing toward the mysterious figure, "I believe you may have something to say to our guests."

The White Dragon had been reduced to nothing but ashes, its massive form no match for Riona's overwhelming power. The heroes stood in stunned silence, their minds struggling to grasp what had just transpired.

Riona's transformation—angelic wings, an ethereal glow, and the quiet confidence in her eyes—was beyond what any of them could have expected. It wasn't just a display of magic; it was divine, almost celestial in nature.

Tatsuya broke the silence first, his usual composure faltering. "Riona… What just happened? What was that?"

Before Riona could respond, Alfred spoke calmly, cutting off any further questions. "It's fine," he said, his tone reassuring, but with an undercurrent of finality. "Riona's transformation was due to a magical item she possesses. It grants her temporary strength and powers."

The other heroes exchanged wary glances, but the Duke nodded in agreement, confirming Alfred's statement. "The artifact she uses is well-known here. It allows her to call upon extreme power for a short time, but it doesn't define her. It's temporary."

The explanation didn't entirely clear the air, but it did soften some of the tension. The heroes could tell there was more to the story, but for now, they had no reason to doubt Riona's words.

As the group made their way toward the exit of the dungeon, Nolan and Riona walked ahead, their conversation quiet but significant.

"Long time no see, Little Sister," Nolan said, his voice warm but with a hint of amusement. "I didn't expect you'd use it here."

Riona, still composed but with a slight edge in her voice, responded, "Neither did I, Big Brother. He hurt my friends, so I lost my temper a bit. I just hope it doesn't get revealed before the time."

Their words, though soft, carried a heavy weight. The other heroes didn't hear them, but Tatsuya caught enough to know that there was a deeper connection between Riona and Nolan, and that the truth about her was more complicated than they had been led to believe.

As they walked toward the magic circle that would take them back to their realm, the heroes had more questions than answers. But for now, they were simply following orders—heading back home, with new mysteries and a newfound sense of unease about the world they had just left.

After the heroes had returned to the place where the dungeon had stood, they were left speechless. There was no sign of the dungeon. It was as if it had never been there. The problem had been solved. Riona's transformation, Nolan's revelation, and the strange events of the other realm now felt like a distant memory, almost surreal.

However, the weight of their experience remained, and the heroes made a collective decision. Tatsuya, with his usual pragmatism, spoke first. "We can't tell anyone about the realm, not yet. If we explain too much, it could cause chaos. People would panic."

The rest of the heroes nodded in agreement. They'd stick to the official story: a strange, mysterious realm appeared, and they dealt with its threats. They would only describe the environment—how it was different from their world, the oddity of demons and humans coexisting peacefully, the dangers they faced, and the magic that had allowed them to survive.

As they made their way back to the palace, something strange caught Usagi's eye. There was a moment, just a fleeting glance, where it felt like Riona and Emperor Marc exchanged a silent conversation, as if they were communicating without words. Usagi couldn't shake the feeling that they were both holding back something, something important. When the heroes finished their report to Marc, it became clear. Marc didn't seem surprised by any of it. He spoke with an air of familiarity, as if he already knew everything that had transpired, perhaps even more than the heroes did.

Usagi's suspicion deepened. Marc and Riona, both of them were just... weird. Their connection was undeniable, and the ease with which they interacted made it clear that there was something more than friendship between them. But for now, Usagi couldn't push it any further. After all, Riona was their friend. Whatever the truth was, it didn't change who she was to them.

With that unsettling thought lingering in the back of their minds, the heroes returned to their kingdom.

As they entered the royal halls, the King immediately called for their presence. His expression was grim, his voice full of urgency.

"Demon Empress Nyx has declared war on our kingdom. We need to act fast before it's too late."

The heroes gathered in the royal hall, awaiting King Solan's decision. The weight of the situation hung heavily in the air. King Solan stood before them, his face tight with urgency.

"You have two months," he said, his voice heavy with the gravity of the declaration. "Train as hard as you can. Prepare for war. If we don't act fast, the demons will overrun us."

The heroes nodded solemnly. They had little time to spare. Tatsuya immediately took charge, organizing a rigorous training regimen. They would push their limits, master their abilities, and make sure they were ready for whatever the Demon Empress Nyx threw at them.

They even made the bold decision to venture into the Demons' Realm itself, to try and delay the oncoming war. They launched daring attacks, capturing forts and fortifying positions to slow the demon forces' advance. But as they pressed deeper into enemy territory, the challenges became greater. The demons fought harder, and the heroes were pushed to their breaking points.

Then, word came of a new face: Luca Umbrosia, the younger brother of Nyx, and the General of all Demonic Troops. He was a legend in the demonic ranks. He had never lost a single battle, and his strategic genius was said to be unparalleled. If the demons were to go to war, Luca would be at the heart of it. His reputation alone was enough to send a chill through the group.

However, as soon as his name was mentioned, something strange happened. Riko, ever observant, noticed a shift in Riona's expression. Her eyes... they changed. It was subtle, but it was there. It was as if she had just recognized the name of a long-lost relative or someone she hadn't seen in years. The way her gaze hardened, then softened—it was clear that Luca meant something to her. But Riko kept quiet. She wasn't sure what it meant, and for now, it wasn't the time to ask.

They needed to focus on the task at hand.

Luca was not just a battle-hardened general. He was also responsible for the security of the Demons' Realm, making it even more difficult for the heroes to infiltrate. As they tried to advance, they were quickly pushed back. Every attempt to break through was met with fierce resistance. The enemies were stronger, more prepared, and the defenses tighter than ever. They were outmatched.

The harsh reality set in—they weren't ready. They had two months, but the demons were already several steps ahead. The heroes needed to grow stronger, and fast, or the impending war would be lost before it even began.