I Was Supposed to Be the Demon King, but They Made Me Save the World

Galinthias stood towering, his seventy wings glowing with divine radiance. His golden aura poured over the battlefield like an unstoppable flood, every feather emanating light that seemed to challenge the very existence of shadows. Across from him, Baldwin stood motionless, his crimson eyes faintly glowing, his shadow twisting lazily at his feet.

"Creature of mud," Galinthias boomed, pointing his spear at Baldwin. "No matter how much power you pretend to wield, you are but a child playing with fire. Your arrogance will be your undoing."

Baldwin smirked, tilting his head as though unimpressed. "You're not the first to underestimate me. Let's see if your light can handle a little darkness."

The celestial lunged, his spear leaving trails of golden fire in its wake. Baldwin stepped back just enough to avoid the strike, his shadows rising to block the follow-up slash. Sparks of divine light and dark energy collided in bursts of blinding brilliance, but Baldwin's movements remained calculated, measured—always retreating.

As their powers clashed, Baldwin's shadows flickered and weakened. He stumbled back, clutching his side, and let out a strained grunt.

Galinthias grinned. "Pathetic. For all your bravado, you are nothing more than a boy pretending to stand against the divine."

Baldwin feigned frustration, his voice cracking as he growled, "Shut up!" His shadows lashed out in desperation, but Galinthias easily parried them, his spear glowing brighter with each strike.

At that moment, the shadow sphere surrounding Olivia's mother and Lola began to unravel. The light breaking through the dark barrier caught Galinthias's attention, his golden eyes narrowing.

"You're losing control," Galinthias sneered.

Baldwin stumbled again, his knees hitting the ground as he gasped for breath. "No… stay back!" he shouted weakly, looking over his shoulder at Olivia's mother and Lola.

The two women stepped forward, their powers radiating. Olivia's mother summoned a halo of holy light, while Lola's eyes gleamed with the foresight of her gift.

"We're not leaving you to fight alone!" Olivia's mother shouted, her voice firm.

"I've seen it," Lola said, her tone calm yet urgent. "There's a way to escape this."

Baldwin gritted his teeth, glaring at them. "Idiots! You'll just get in the way!" His voice cracked, perfectly selling his role as a desperate, overconfident child.

Galinthias smirked, watching the scene with mild amusement. "Your companions see your weakness, boy. Even they can't trust you to stand alone."

But Baldwin's eyes darted to the dissolving shadows around the women, a glint of satisfaction hidden beneath his panicked facade. Right on cue.

"Enough of this," Galinthias declared, surging forward. His spear glowed with celestial energy as he thrust it toward Baldwin, intent on ending the fight.

In a burst of shadow and light, Baldwin raised a trembling hand, catching the spear. The collision of their powers sent waves of red and gold electricity rippling across the battlefield. He grunted as though struggling, even as the shadows around him coiled with restrained power.

Galinthias's golden eyes widened slightly. "You… truly wield the power of a god-slayer," he muttered, more to himself than to Baldwin.

"Yeah, yeah, you've said that already," Baldwin growled, his tone a mix of annoyance and exhaustion. "What's next? 'I can't let you live'? Go ahead, try."

Before Galinthias could respond, Baldwin's other hand shot forward, striking Galinthias square in the chest. Shadows erupted from the impact point, forcing the celestial to stagger back. He stumbled, his wings faltering as he crashed into a distant church, demolishing its structure in an explosion of rubble.

Olivia's mother gasped. "Baldwin!"

Lola stepped forward, her foresight guiding her movements as she raised her glowing hands. "Now's our chance!"

Baldwin rose shakily to his feet, pretending to struggle as he turned toward the women. "Just… stay back! I can handle this!"

But Olivia's mother rushed forward, her holy light enveloping the area. "We can't leave you behind!"

Galinthias emerged from the rubble, his aura dimmed but far from extinguished. He glared at Baldwin, his expression unreadable as he spoke. "Your power… it doesn't feel like that of a mortal. And yet…"

Baldwin smirked faintly, his exhaustion giving way to a flicker of triumph. "And yet you don't know what I am. Good. Let's keep it that way."

The ground beneath them rippled with dark energy as a shadowy portal formed. Baldwin grabbed Olivia's mother and Lola, pulling them close as the portal began to close.

"You're running?!" Galinthias roared, taking flight and hurtling toward them.

Baldwin grinned. "Just retreating for now. See you around, birdman."

The portal sealed with a whisper of shadows, leaving Galinthias standing alone in the ruins of the battlefield. His golden eyes narrowed as he surveyed the empty space, his spear glowing faintly in his grip.

"This… isn't over."

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Baldwin opened his eyes, the faint light of the hut settling in. The first thing he saw was Olivia, clutching her mother tightly as tears streamed down her face. Her mother, after sixteen long days of unconsciousness, had finally opened her eyes.

It was a great day for Olivia, a moment that filled the room with warmth and hope. Baldwin leaned back slightly, watching the scene unfold. For once, the ever-present weight of his failures as an emperor seemed to fade.

"A kid got back her mother," Baldwin thought to himself, a rare smile tugging at his lips. "Maybe this new version of me isn't so bad. Maybe I can actually do some good."

Olivia's mother turned her gaze toward Baldwin, her voice weak but steady. "Your friend… is strong," she said softly, her eyes filled with gratitude and curiosity.

Olivia looked at Baldwin next, her tears flowing freely. "I don't even know how to thank you. I really appreciate what you've done for us."

Baldwin chuckled lightly, waving his hand. "Now, now, kid. You're still just a kid. Don't force yourself to act all serious. You shouldn't be crying now—you should be laughing, celebrating. Go on. Feed your mother and let her regain her strength. You can talk to me later."

Olivia sniffled, managing a small smile, and nodded. Without another word, she dashed out of the hut toward the outdoor kitchen.

The room grew quieter. Baldwin's crimson eyes shifted to Olivia's mother. Her expression carried a mixture of relief and unspoken questions.

Baldwin let out a nervous chuckle, scratching the back of his head. "Well… the Shadow Mind Door is powerful, huh?"

"Baldwin, thank you," Olivia's mother said softly, her voice steady despite her exhaustion. She paused, her gaze locking onto his, unyielding. "But I have to ask… who are you, really?"

For a moment, Baldwin said nothing, his crimson eyes glinting faintly in the dim light. Then, with a small, almost imperceptible smirk, he replied, "Someone who doesn't belong here… but someone who keeps their promises."