Book 1 Chapter 1012

1012.

Whooooooosh!

A harsh cold wind blew across the frigid northwestern sea.

A woman with golden hair stood amidst the biting cold.

Her gaze was fixed on the frozen ocean.

Enkinias.

The Dragon Lord, the chosen successor to the Dragon Queen Melina.

She was a young, even childlike dragon, but her talent and abilities were recognized even by Leo.

Enkinias was currently on a mission.

It was to monitor the world of creation.

This was a critical mission to report any changes in the world of creation, which had become a dungeon.

Deep within this frozen sea lay a calamity capable of destroying the world.

"Lady Enkinias."

"Yes."

"Is it… really alright not to close off Lady Seirun's world?"

Another dragon, guarding this place with Enkinias, asked cautiously.

"It will be fine. Erebus, trapped in the world of creation, shows no sign of breaking out. We must remain vigilant for any signs of Tartarus stirring."

At Enkinias's words, the dragon, though still uneasy, nodded and disappeared into the blizzard to carry out its duty of patrolling the surroundings.

Though she pretended to be calm, Enkinias also felt a sense of unease.

But more than that, she trusted Melina's words.

'For some reason, Erebus in the world of creation is not moving. But….'

If Tartarus were to move, it would be a different story.

Danger could arise from external factors at any moment.

What Dragonia was currently wary of was the potential movement of Tartarus.

As Enkinias thought this, her shoulders flinched.

The moment Enkinias sensed something was wrong.

The stench of rotting corpses began to permeate the air.

A scent of death far beyond the range of the foul odor.

Enkinias's face contorted in horror.

Golden mana surged from her body.

Enkinias, activating dragon language magic, unleashed her spell backward.

But at that moment, she hastily recalled the magic.

"Hoho?"

A demon let out a gasp of admiration.

Crimson and black eyes gleamed from beneath a foreboding crimson and black hood.

However, the eyes that gleamed were hollow voids of pitch-black darkness.

Contrasting with that darkness, white bone was visible on Enkinias's face.

"The Necromancer King… Helkaiser…!"

Enkinias let out a groan.

In the Necromancer King's hand was the neck of the dragon who had expressed concern moments before.

The Necromancer King had intended to use the dragon as a shield to block Enkinias's magic.

"Your judgment is swift."

The Necromancer King, who had been observing Enkinias with interest, nodded as if he understood.

"Indeed, you are Enkinias? I hear the Silent Dragon favors you greatly."

The Necromancer King, having easily discerned Enkinias's identity, casually tossed aside the unconscious dragon.

Fwoosh!

Suddenly, the blizzard ceased.

It wasn't because the Necromancer King used dark magic or unleashed his aura.

It was as if the very weather, sensing the oppressive aura of death emanating from the Necromancer King, recoiled in fear.

As the blizzard vanished, Enkinias let out a groan.

The dragons assigned to this mission were scattered across the frozen sea.

"How…."

The Necromancer King let out a chilling laugh as he watched Enkinias groan.

"Living beings are cursed with forgetfulness."

Thump.

"Yes, recently we have faced endless defeats."

Thump. Thump.

"I have lost comrades who have been with me since before the age of calamity, and even fragments of the Great Ones have been vanquished by you."

The Necromancer King spoke in a perfectly calm voice.

His voice held no emotion.

Grief, sorrow, despair, anger, lamentation.

The situation of Tartarus was so dire that one could feel such emotions.

In the current circumstances, Tartarus could only be in despair.

The Hero of Creation, Kyle, had been reborn.

Not only that, but he was uniting the world.

He was preparing for something only those who had experienced the age of calamity could.

Of course, time was not on the world's side.

No matter how great the achievements or how awe-inspiring the being who had vanquished even the evil gods.

Ultimately, there was a limit to one's lifespan.

From the perspective of the Necromancer King, who had lived for an immeasurable age, it was merely a hundred years.

After about a hundred years, Leo, a human, would eventually succumb to his lifespan and die.

But the Necromancer King knew this.

The hundred years granted to him, who had received eternal time, were different from the hundred years of a mortal facing death.

From the Necromancer King's perspective, it was merely a hundred years, but from Leo's perspective, it was a significant hundred years.

No need to look far.

It had only been three years since Leo entered the Hero Academy.

In those three years, which were but a blink of an eye to the Necromancer King, Leo had inflicted devastating damage on Tartarus.

'The surviving hero will never grant me time.'

If time were an enemy, then it was simple to end everything before that time arrived.

5000 years ago.

Just as they had prevented the world's destruction when it was on the brink.

The Necromancer King knew this.

Just as he viewed Leo with terrible fear.

Leo felt the same way.

'He will never let his guard down.'

Unless it was complete victory, the tide could change at any moment.

Just as brilliant hope had suddenly filled a world steeped in absolute despair.

The current era, filled with hope, could at any moment be filled with despair.

Because he knew that…

"The surviving hero would never let his guard down. But."

A sneer flickered in the Necromancer King's voice.

"You are different."

The Great Hero and the Heroes of Creation were appearing in the mortal realm.

Even after thousands of years since the era of heroes dawned, the Monster Queen and the Giant King, symbols of calamity and terror, had been vanquished.

Furthermore, even fragments of Erebus, the world's deepest sorrow, were being annihilated.

Successors directly chosen by the Great Hero had appeared, and a new king of the world leading them had emerged.

A turning point that determined the fate of the world.

The most glorious moment in history, capable of completely dispelling despair.

That was the current era.

And in this battle for the world's fate, victory was smiling upon the world.

That was why they were forgetting.

They were blinded by victory and hope.

How terrifying the Necromancer King Helkaiser and Tartarus were.

"If the surviving hero were in your position, he would never have let his guard down. You focused too much on the world of creation."

While his words were directed at guarding Tartarus, Enkinias was actually more concerned about the world of creation.

She had assumed that Tartarus, having been dealt a devastating blow, would be unable to move.

"Kuhuk!"

"Well, even if you hadn't let your guard down, you wouldn't have been able to stop me."

Enkinias frantically tried to inform Melina of the current situation through magic.

But her magic did not reach.

"Victory is truly ironic."

The Necromancer King closed the distance between himself and Enkinias.

"You never know who it will smile upon."

Currently, Seirun was severed.

A situation that neither the Necromancer King nor even Leo could have predicted.

Of course, that was not why the Necromancer King had come here.

Thump. Thump.

The Necromancer King approached Enkinias.

He didn't tell her to move.

She wouldn't move anyway, and even if she did, he had no intention of sparing her.

Enkinias's eyes turned cold.

Crackle! Crackle!

Sharp, bone-like protrusions erupted from the Necromancer King's body, piercing through his robe.

A moment later.

The Necromancer King, leaving the giant golden dragon behind him, surveyed his surroundings.

He had missed all the dragons who were supposed to die here.

"Indeed."

It was because of Enkinias before him.

"It's no wonder the Silent Dragon favors you."

Nodding, the Necromancer King raised his hand.

He intended to extinguish Enkinias's faint breath.

But his movement stopped.

His gaze turned towards the frozen sea.

The Great Creator was calling.

The Necromancer King responded to the call without hesitation.

***

*Flames roared.*

Upon entering the world of creation, the first thing the Necromancer King saw was the world of creation engulfed in black flames.

Seeing this, a look of confusion crossed the Necromancer King's face.

-It's been a long time. My Legion Commander.

To the voice that echoed from the other side, the Necromancer King knelt and bowed his head.

"I pay homage to the Great Destruction."

-It seems you have developed doubts about me.

"……"

At Erebus's words, the Necromancer King did not reply.

He simply kept his head bowed.

Erebus let out a laugh as he looked at his creation.

The primordial evil was absolute destruction to the world.

The beings living in the world could never understand him.

But Tartarus, which he had created, was different.

Erebus knew this.

His demon kin, who followed him as their creator, would never betray him.

Demons were like extensions of himself to Erebus.

Just as the beings living in the world desired the world's continued existence.

Demons desired the world's destruction.

That was the only reason for their existence.

Therefore, it was unthinkable for the Necromancer King, a demon, to express doubt towards his creator.

However, Erebus understood the doubt of his most loyal subordinate.

And for that, he showed mercy.

-I permit you to voice your grievances to me.

"Oh, Primordial Evil, I have waited 5000 years for the resurrection of you, my master."

-I know.

"Then why are you trapped in the world of creation when you could resurrect yourself?"

The Necromancer King asked, unable to comprehend.

"My master, I have found your fragment here. Please regain your strength and prepare for the Great Destruction. As you did 5000 years ago. I, who am lacking, will uphold your will."

Looking at his subordinate bowing his head and wishing for his resurrection, Erebus spoke.

-A few days ago, a dragon claiming to be from the future came to see me.

"The future?"

The Necromancer King's eyes flickered.

It was a word he loathed the most.

-Yes. While bowing to me, he told me about the future.

"……"

-No matter what method I used, I would be vanquished by the surviving hero.

"A most unpleasant thing to say."

-No.

"……"

-What he said is likely the truth. I will eventually be defeated by the surviving hero.

The Necromancer King remained silent, watching Erebus calmly admit his defeat.

-So he said. He would take my fragment to a future where the surviving hero does not exist.

"How incredibly thoughtful that there are still madmen in the future. To take the embers to the future to follow Erebus."

-He was indeed mad, but he was not following me.

"……?"

-He regarded me as a past loser. He believed that if he could defeat me once, he could defeat me again.

"Then what was his intention in taking the risk of transporting the embers to the future?"

Erebus chuckled, recalling the Dragon Lord, Bellian, who had visited him recently.

-He held the belief that the world had stopped progressing due to my absence.

"Development arises from threat… What a trivial delusion."

-I desired knowledge of how to wield the power of my fragment, so I shared it with him.

"Then… does the Primordial Evil plan to use that delusion to resurrect in the future?"

If there is a natural enemy like Leo Frobe, one can simply move the embers to an era where that enemy does not exist.

"I will go and help that dragon immediately."

-My subordinate.

"Yes."

-Do you think someone with such a trivial conviction can win against the surviving hero?

"……"

-To return to the future, various conditions would be necessary. It seems unavoidable to confront the surviving hero to fulfill those conditions.

"Then we must help him all the more!"

-No. He will die at the hands of the surviving hero, one way or another. His delusion will not come to pass.

"Then what should we do……"

-If one knows the future, is it not possible to change it?

"Yes?"

-The surviving hero changed the fate of a world that was certain to be destroyed 5000 years ago.

Erebus laughed.

With the absolute power of calamity, Erebus saw the future of a world reduced to ashes.

But the Hero of Creation twisted that future and changed the world's destiny.

He literally changed the future.

-This means that it is entirely possible to change the future of a world that was certain to be saved into one of destruction.

The black flames that engulfed the surroundings surged.

-Do you understand? My subordinate. This very moment is the turning point that will decide the fate of the world.