Book 1 Chapter 1014

1014.

Elena tilted her head, watching Bellian dispel her magic formulas.

‘His magic skills are terrible compared to his spirit magic, aren’t they?’

One could gauge his skill just by how well he handled spirits.

The summoner skills of the dragon from the future were overwhelming.

However, his magic skills were not particularly impressive.

‘A mage capable of reversing time couldn't be this mediocre, could they?’

It was possible he didn't create the magic that brought him from the future to the past himself.

But even if he stole someone else's magic, implementing it would require a corresponding level of skill.

And if he possessed such skill, he should have been able to easily deal with Elena's gravity magic.

Of course, Bellian wasn't just helplessly taking the blows.

Instead, he continuously demanded Elena to use her magic.

Elena snapped her fingers, watching Bellian, who was summoning hundreds of spirits to target her.

Crackling-!

Powerful thunder and lightning raged around Elena.

Along with that, dozens of magic circles glowed on Elena's skin.

She had drawn mana circuits on her body to increase the output of her magic.

Dozens of such complex magic circles were layered on her body.

A method to easily draw out maximum output without wasting mana.

However, there was a problem: if the magic circles clashed, mana would run rampant, instantly destroying the body and turning her into a wreck.

A dangerously high-risk method with overwhelmingly higher risk than return.

It would be different if she were casting just one or two spells.

Directly engraving dozens of magic circles onto her body and activating them was literally an act close to suicide.

A method that even Leo dared not use.

But Elena's overwhelming magical sense made it possible.

"Crazy."

Bellian, too, was astonished by the dangerous actions of the mage who would be called empress in the future.

"If you make even a slight mistake, you'll die, you know?"

"Huh? Why would I think about making a mistake?"

Elena tilted her head at Bellian's words.

"Can't I just not make one?"

As Elena spoke nonchalantly, Bellian quickly closed the distance.

Arti tried to move quickly, but the spirits summoned by Bellian surrounded the area like landmines.

"Hmm? Is that Worreden's spirit magic?"

Arti hesitated for a moment, but Elena spoke calmly.

"It doesn't matter. Charge."

But even faster, Eiran, donning Animusu's armor, charged through the spirits.

Crash-!

Elena, who easily saw through the nature of the spirit magic, did not hesitate and escaped through the path Eiran had created.

"If you make even a slight mistake, you'll die, you know?"

Bellian said, looking at Eiran with cold eyes.

Eiran smiled faintly at Bellian.

"I know."

A silvery light emanated from Eiran's tattered body.

Evergreen.

It was the power passed down through generations of the Ersar family.

Eiran's body gradually recovered.

Lena's mouth hung open as she watched Elena and Eiran throw themselves into danger without hesitation.

'Aren't they… scared?'

"But if we don't do this, we can't catch up to that person."

"……!"

Lena's eyes widened at Eiran's words.

She quickly realized who the 'person' they wanted to catch up to was.

Lena clutched the sword in her hand and bit her lip tightly.

'Can I do that?'

Lena's eyes trembled.

At that moment.

Woosh-!

A massive flame raged across the sky.

The sacred fire that purifies impurities.

"The one who chases the Nebula… Lunia El Lundar."

Bellian narrowed his eyes.

Crash-!

A massive pillar of flame struck down towards Bellian.

Bellian, who burst through the flames, targeted Lena.

At that moment, a splash of water raged in front of Lena.

Crunch-!

The one who sprang out of the water spray grabbed Bellian's hand, which was targeting Lena, and twisted it without hesitation.

As light streamed from Bellian's body, Chen Sia, without hesitation, pulled Lena into her arms and retreated.

Flash! Crash-!

A powerful explosion swept through the surroundings.

Thump-!

"Are you alright?"

"Yes."

Chen Sia smiled gently.

"Even a water fairy."

Bellian clicked his tongue.

"What will you do now? More and more will gather."

Elena smiled faintly.

Bellian chuckled, looking at Elena.

"If you are the ones I know you to be, then there would be no chance of victory."

Bellian spoke without losing his composure.

"But if you are flowers that have not yet fully bloomed, it won't be difficult."

"Your spirit magic is based on Worreden's, isn't it?"

"The Great Spirit Master's spirit magic is the most efficient, you see."

"Great Spirit Master? He's come up in the world."

"Master Worreden is known as the Godfather of Spirit Magic in the future."

"Future?"

"What is this talk about now?"

As Chen Sia and Lunia were bewildered by Lena's words, Eiran spoke.

"Miss Lena here is Master Leo's granddaughter from the future."

At that, Lunia and Chen Sia looked astounded.

Meanwhile, Elena tilted her head.

"What about Lil's spirit magic?"

"That monster's spirit magic surpasses what others can comprehend."

Elena clicked her tongue.

"That monster isn't human."

"Yeah. I'll admit that."

It was the kind of comment that would have made Lil's eyes roll back and prompted her to swing her battle hammer, threatening to smash their heads in, if she had heard it.

"So? If it's Worreden's spirit magic, it's not that hard to deal with."

Of course, it wouldn't be the same as Worreden's original, but it was familiar to Elena and Chen Sia.

"Then we'll just have to change our combat method."

"Different spirit magic? Or will you summon a phantom beast?"

Elena scoffed.

At that moment.

A bright light streamed from Bellian's body.

Along with that, Bellian drew his sword.

Hum-!

Golden aura flickered around his body.

Elena's eyes twitched at the sight.

"Bellian has three personalities! And each personality has different special abilities!"

Lena said urgently.

"Why didn't you tell us until now?"

"Huh? That, that… because of the restrictions."

"Hmm? Is it related to time magic?"

Elena tilted her head.

"No wonder I thought his magic skills were terrible."

Elena clicked her tongue.

***

Thud-!

"Ugh!"

Leo casually stomped on Bellian's head.

"Should I just crush him like this?"

Squeeze-!

"Guh-oh-oh-oh!"

As Leo applied force, Bellian struggled wildly.

It wouldn't be difficult to crush him to death like this.

In fact, Leo intended to kill Bellian.

At that moment.

Black flames erupted from Bellian's body.

Leo's eyes twitched.

Along with a golden light, his demeanor changed.

'Spirit power?'

Leo tilted his head, watching Bellian, who had suddenly started exuding spirit power.

Woosh-!

The flames cleared.

"You seem surprised."

"……."

"Is this the first time you've seen an all-class besides yourself?"

Leo stroked his chin, watching Bellian, whose tone and atmosphere had changed.

Then he said,

"Does he have multiple personalities?"

"Do you merely think I have multiple personalities?"

"Well, it's obvious. You can probably create clones with your divided personalities."

Leo chuckled faintly.

Bellian's eyes twitched.

"Given that you said 'all-class,' there must be three personalities."

"……."

"Each clone's power is about 1\/3, and when they combine into a complete form, they're incredibly strong. Is that the kind of common story you're going to tell?"

"You are arrogant."

"So? When you become a complete form, can you use three abilities simultaneously?"

"……."

"Disappointing. I thought since you said you'd take the Erebus fragment to the future, you'd have some countermeasure for it."

"If you're talking about the power of purity, abandon the thought that you alone are special."

"I never thought I was special."

Leo said indifferently.

"So?"

"……?"

"When you go to the future, is there a way to defeat the Erebus fragment?"

"If there is, would you cooperate?"

"No. I was just curious."

Leo chuckled faintly.

Yet, he gazed at the black orb Bellian was holding.

'A fragment of Erebus.'

He had probably obtained the Erebus fragment existing in this timeline using future knowledge.

'And this guy is using the power of the Erebus fragment.'

If so, there's only one explanation.

It means he met Erebus in this era.

'Did he invade the world of creation?'

Leo narrowed his eyes, having thought that far.

'What's his scheme?'

A Dragon Lord who came from the future.

But from Leo's perspective, he was not a particularly threatening being.

Now that the loop was broken, he could easily kill him at any time.

'Though he doesn't seem to think so himself.'

The problem was Erebus.

'At first glance, it looks like he's escaping to the future. But… couldn't he have anticipated that I would stop him?'

Leo hated Erebus.

He could never forgive Erebus, who had burned everything he had.

But the same would be true for Erebus.

From Erebus's perspective, it was Leo who had shattered his greatest desire.

Just as Leo agonized over killing Erebus.

Erebus, too, spent endless hours in torment, trying to burn Leo.

Because of this, Leo and Erebus knew each other well.

'Erebus wouldn't have thought such a petty plan from this guy would succeed.'

If so, he would have burned Bellian the moment they met and found out the fragment's location.

But Erebus, sealed in the world of creation, did not do so.

Instead, he cooperated, risking the danger of another fragment being subdued.

Leo's gaze turned to the black orb.

'What's the scheme? Why would he give his fragment to that half-wit…?'

The moment Leo thought that.

Woosh-!

"……!"

Flames shot out from the black orb Bellian was holding.

Leo's eyes twitched, and Bellian's eyes shot open.

"Kuaaahhh!"

Bellian, engulfed in the flames of disaster, screamed.

"W-what is this! If something happens to me, you won't be able to go to the future…! Kuaaahhh!"

As if mocking Bellian's threat, the black flames burned Bellian even more fiercely.

Soon, Bellian's eyes rolled back.

'Mental corruption?'

Leo quickly tried to strike Bellian's neck.

At that moment.

Flash-!

A bright light burst from Bellian.

For an instant.

The mana felt from Bellian's body became about three times stronger, and magic circles began to be engraved on his body.

Leo's eyes twitched.

He instinctively felt that a spell had been activated.

Swoosh-!

Just before the black flames that engulfed Bellian disappeared.

As if mocking Leo, the black flames flickered.

Along with that, the illusion magic cast on Leo was also lifted, and the peaceful sounds of a festival reached his ears.

'It was definitely… Erebus.'

Leo clicked his tongue, recalling the entity that had engulfed Bellian.

"What in the world is going on?"

***

Lena blinked.

"Where did he suddenly go?"

"He seemed to be swept away by black flames at the end."

As Lunia frowned, Eiran spoke with a flustered expression.

Lena silently stroked her chest.

The magic cast inside her body had changed.

And she realized what had just happened.

"Past…"

"Huh?"

"He seems to have gone even further into the past."