Book 1 Chapter 119

119.

Thump- thump-

Arion walked towards Talatunia.

Seeing Arion, Talatunia frowned sharply.

"Beastkin?"

The spider princess looked up at the sky as if it were strange.

"A transformed beastkin? It's not even a full moon today."

Talatunia, who had been wearing a perplexed expression, sneered.

"A mutant?"

"Let that child go."

"This?"

Talatunia, holding Elsi, dangled her slightly and sneered.

"No can do?"

Arion lowered his stance, watching Talatunia.

"Why are there so many beasts interfering?"

Talatunia, with an annoyed expression, extended her foreleg to kill Arion.

Talatunia didn't know.

That the beastkin before her was a hunter.

Thump-!

"Huh?"

Talatunia's foreleg, which had been flying to pierce Arion at terrifying speed, was caught.

Crunch!

As Arion tightened his grip, the tip of her foreleg broke.

Compared to Talatunia's huge body, the broken tip of her foreleg was not a significant blow.

As Arion pulled with his hand, the spider princess's massive body was dragged along.

"W-what!"

Talatunia screamed in shock and resisted, but her body, having already lost its balance, fell before Arion.

Squeeze-!

Arion, seeing the spider princess collapsed right in front of him, tightened his fist.

Talatunia instinctively felt that something was wrong.

Whoosh-!

Arion unleashed a punch.

A heavy sound that cut through the wind echoed.

WHOOSH-!

Wind swept in all directions.

Watching the scene, Are lowered his stance as much as possible to avoid being blown away by the strong wind.

When the wind stopped, Are raised his head.

He saw Talatunia, whose upper body had been blown off and was writhing and convulsing.

Are's jaw dropped at the overwhelming power.

Elsi, who had escaped Talatunia's grasp, also looked on in disbelief.

"Who exactly are you?"

"You're an orphan from the orphanage too, aren't you? Are you okay?"

After Schatten broke, Elsi had watched Agon and Arion from the shadows for ten years.

However, she only revealed herself to the two of them after Arion left the orphanage and the orphanage's operations became difficult.

That's why Arion didn't recognize Elsi.

"I'll finish this demon off quickly."

"Who are you going to finish off? A presumptuous worm daring to harm me, the daughter of Silatuna!"

Talatunia's body, whose upper torso had been blown off, regenerated instantly.

Talatunia's face, as flesh filled in and she writhed, had become grotesque.

The casualness from a moment ago was gone.

Seeing Talatunia, who opened her mouth and revealed her fangs, Arion unleashed his aura.

Shudder- Talatunia's body trembled.

Whoosh-!

Arion disappeared from sight.

Talatunia frantically scanned her surroundings to find Arion.

Smack-!

"Cough?"

A pained groan escaped Talatunia's mouth.

Then, her body, twisted at a strange angle, shot up into the sky.

Arion had kicked Talatunia up.

"I'll kill you!"

Talatunia's murderous voice echoed in the air.

Chilling runes began to resonate.

Her true power was dark magic.

Until now, she had only fought hand-to-hand to toy with her opponents.

But Arion had no intention of waiting for the magic to be completed.

Crack-crack-crack-

Arion flexed his finger joints and sharpened his fingernails.

Roar-!

Golden aura gathered at his fingertips.

Talatunia's face turned pale at the unusual power.

CRASH-!

Arion's fingernails tore through the air.

The space around them twisted for a moment.

"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAK!"

The golden trajectory shot up into the sky and tore Talatunia to shreds in an instant.

Are trembled, watching Talatunia disappear without a trace.

'This is… Lord Arion! The great hero who saved the world!'

***

"Huff! Huff! Damn it! Damn it!"

Levayton cursed as he fled the southern region of Leysar.

He had never dreamed that the woman who approached him half a year ago would be a demon.

'I have to go back quickly and come up with a plan!'

Agon was forgotten among the residents of Leysar, but not entirely erased from memory.

He had only retired, so people had momentarily forgotten him, but his fame remained high.

If such Agon were to reveal that he had been colluding with demons, everything he had built up until now would crumble.

A deal with demons was a sin that could never be forgiven.

Screeeech-!

Suddenly, a chillingly sharp sound was heard.

"Did something just…?"

Splat-!

Levayton, with a puzzled expression, heard something fall near his ear.

Along with that, he felt a lightness at the tip of his right hand.

"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAK!"

Levayton clutched the tip of his right arm and screamed.

Blood was gushing from his wrist, and his right hand rolled on the ground.

"This feels strange."

Levayton, still screaming in pain, turned his head.

He saw red eyes devoid of emotion.

"The fact that I'm dealing with a traitor I've already dealt with in the past."

Leo shook the blood from his sword and approached Levayton.

"You, you bastard! Do you think you'll get away with this?!"

"I think I will. Who is there to help you right now?"

"If you spare me, I'll guarantee you status and fame!"

"Not interested. What's the point of status and fame if the world ends?"

A chilling murderous intent laced Leo's voice.

Levayton, judging that his opponent was unapproachable, ran away screaming.

"Is there anyone around? Help me! Please help me!"

But there was no one on the street.

Not even a common beggar was visible.

It was because someone had spread rumors that this place was cursed land, completely isolating it.

Thwack-!

Levayton's neck, screaming pathetically, flew into the air.

"Someone save me…"

The words he desperately spat out stopped.

Thump- Thud-

Levayton's headless body fell to the ground.

Seeing this, Leo sheathed his sword.

'If I had known this happened at the time… perhaps more heroes would have helped us.'

Leo, with a complex expression, returned to the orphanage.

"Lord Arion! Lord Arion! I've admired you since I was little!"

"I, I told you I'm not someone who deserves admiration! And hurry up and treat your wound!"

Ar, excited by meeting Arion, was going berserk.

His frenzied appearance, running around with blood streaming from his head, was bizarre even to Leo.

And how much more terrified would the timid Arion be?

"Ah, Kyle. You're here."

Elsi, who had been watching the scene, approached.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. More importantly, I defeated the spider princess!"

"She won't die from that."

Leo, who had seen Arion's strike from afar, smiled bitterly.

Talatunia, who had swallowed the Fairy King's ring, would not die from that.

Even without the Fairy King's ring, she could recover from such wounds.

She wasn't called a monster who destroyed a country for nothing.

"Anyway, Kyle! How about recommending Arion to Lissinas? With that strength, he would definitely be a great help in saving the world!"

"It will happen even if you don't say it."

"Well, that's true, isn't it?"

Elsi smiled and said.

"And me. I've changed my mind."

"What is it."

"I want to contract with you, Kyle, not Lissinas."

Elsi pointed at Leo with her finger and smiled brightly.

"I like you."

"It's an honor. But I don't have the strength to contract with you right now. And I'm not Kyle right now."

"Huh?"

Elsi, with a puzzled expression at the unintelligible words, pondered for a moment and nodded.

"Indeed. It was strange. Even if you're an all-class, your power doesn't seem that strong yet."

She thought he was Kyle because he had the Orb of Light and was an all-class, but his power seemed weak for "Kyle the Hero Who Survives."

"Still, I want to contract with you."

Elsi smiled as if it didn't matter and held Leo's right hand.

"I believe you can defeat Erebus. So I want to bet my future on you."

Elsi smiled and placed her hand on Leo's back.

"Don't worry about the strength to contract. I am a shadow spirit. As long as I have an object to serve as a medium, I can dwell in your shadow and lend you strength."

"Medium?"

"Yes. And you have the Orb of Light right now."

Although not very powerful, it was an item with strong spirit affinity, passed down through generations of great light spirits.

Elsi placed her hand on Leo's back.

"My name is Elsi, the shadow spirit. I vow to be your sword and shield while the contract is in effect."

A contract inscription appeared on Leo's back.

Seeing the familiar mark of contract, Leo smiled bitterly.

"Please take care of me."

Although the contract would be released the moment the world of heroes ended, the fact that he had contracted with Elsi again evoked strange emotions.

"Huff! Huff! Lord Arion! I respect you! You're amazing!"

"I told you to get off!"

Meanwhile, Ar, who had gone berserk, was hanging from Arion's feet.

Leo approached the two, seeing Arion terrified.

Splat-!

"Meow?!"

"She doesn't want you to, you perverted cat."

Leo hit Ar on the head.

Blood was still flowing from the head that had been injured by Talatunia earlier.

Ar, who had stopped like a broken cat, clutched his head and rolled on the ground.

"Ouch! Ouch! Why did you hit my wound! You damn rabbit!"

"You're fine."

"It really hurts!"

Shedding tears, Ar yanked Leo's rabbit ears.

Just then, Agon was seen running from a distance.

He had rushed over immediately upon feeling Arion's aura raging in the 영주성.

The moment Leo saw Agon.

[Met Arion in Leysar.]

[Saved Agon, the Guardian of the Azure Sky.]

The conquest objective was achieved.

***

Agon arrived and the cleanup began.

The cleanup was limited to comforting the terrified children and scolding Arion, but it was certain that the incident had ended.

Leo, watching Agon, who looked a little brighter seeing his disciple, recalled the past.

'If these children had all died, Agon could no longer be called a hero.'

How could one call a man who came to hate the world a hero?

Yet, Agon said nothing to Arion as he left.

It was clearly Agon's consideration, hoping that his disciple, who had decided to save the world, would not break like himself.

Perhaps if Agon had told him the truth back then, the hero Arion might not have existed.

Naturally, saving the world would have been impossible.

While Leo was lost in past thoughts, Ar was extremely excited.

"I conquered the world of heroes without even entering Azonia! And it was Lord Arion's world! This is an unprecedented major event in Azonia!"

"Your head is still bleeding. Aren't you going to treat your wound?"

"Black rabbit! It's all thanks to you! Let's work hard in school together from now on! Let's make Azonia the strongest hero academy!"

"Yes, let's work hard."

"You have to join too!"

Ar, completely unaware that Leo was a student at Lumern, imagined school life with Leo.

"It's regrettable, but I'll give you the class representative position. You seem more outstanding than me right now."

Ar, grumbling, puffed out his chest.

"But don't let your guard down! I'll take that position back anytime."

'…This is getting more and more uncomfortable. Should I tell him now?'

It was at that moment that Leo was contemplating.

"I owe you a debt."

Agon approached.

"Did you scold Lord Arion?"

"For now."

"Then! Lord Arion!"

"G-get away!"

As Ar rushed again, Arion fled in terror.

"…Did that girl's head injury cause a problem with her mind?"

"She seems to be like that normally, so leave her be."

Leo clicked his tongue.

"Thank you anyway. If it weren't for you guys, it would have been a big problem."

"Don't worry about it."

"Still, if there's anything I can do to repay you, but I have nothing to give. So, I hope you'll accept this."

Agon handed Leo a book.

"What's this?"

"It's my aura cultivation method."

While aura cultivation methods are easy to obtain in the current era, it was not the case during the age of calamity.

"This is the same cultivation method Arion learned. Well, Arion made it his own and gained the ability to freely transform into beasts."

'Is this the original of Hero's Breath?'

He wanted to read it immediately.

However…

Crack-crack-crack-

Leo saw the night sky cracking.

Leo knew what that meant.

'The collapse of the world due to conquest.'

This world had fulfilled its role.

"Thank you."

Leo tucked the book Agon gave him into his chest.

It was time to say goodbye to his friend.

"I have to go now. If there's anything you want to say, say it quickly."

At Leo's words, Ar flinched and looked up at the sky.

Then, with a regretful expression, he said to Arion.

"Lord Arion."

"Yes?"

"Um… could you please pat my head just once to encourage me?"

The girl made a small request to the great hero she had admired since childhood.

Arion, who had been looking puzzled at the words, patted Ar's head.

"I don't know what happened, but keep up the good work. You can do it."

Arion smiled gently and removed his hand from Ar's head.

Ar, touching his head that was bleeding profusely, muttered.

"I'm never washing this head. Uhehehehehehe."

Seeing Ar acting crazy again, Arion was terrified.

Leo sighed and used healing magic.

As the wound healed, the bleeding stopped.

"Oh! Thanks! Black Rab…"

Swish-!

Then, using simple water magic, he thoroughly washed Ar's head.

"You damn black rabbit!"

Ar, with a tearful face, yanked Leo's rabbit ears.

"Lord Arion! Please pat me one more ti-"

"Arion."

"Yes?"

"It's going to be very hard from now on."

Arion looked at Leo with a confused expression.

"There will be people you can't protect, and you'll be frustrated by continuous trials."

"What…?"

Hearing Leo's words, Arion looked bewildered, and Ar's expression became solemn.

Ar also recalled.

The fact that the young great hero before his eyes had to embark on an unimaginably difficult journey.

"But… you'll make it through. You're the bravest person I know."

Arion looked at Leo, confused.

"Why do you think I'm brave? I'm just a coward."

Crack-crack-crack-

The world collapsed.

"Because you saved the world."

"I did?"

"Yes."

Leo smiled, watching his friend's eyes widen.

By then, everything had vanished.

Only Leo and Arion stood in the black space.

Leo, looking at his timid friend who always gave him courage, slowly disappearing with a surprised expression, said as if making a vow.

"So, I'll work hard too."

So that Erebus can be completely vanquished.

[Arion's World. Chapter: Prologue-Beginning has been conquered.]

[Conquest Reward: Arion's Breath, Agon's Book, Shadow Grand Spirit Elsi]