Book 1 Chapter 147
147.
Kugugugugugugugu-!
The ground shook.
Gwooooooo-!
At the same time, a mass of corpses roaring emerged, piercing through the floor.
“Oh dear.”
Seeing that, Elena took out a handkerchief from her bosom and covered her nose and mouth.
“How vulgar.”
At the same time, fragments of light flew towards the mass of corpses.
Pababababak-!
Like gigantic shards of glass, Elena’s magic mercilessly crushed the mass of corpses.
Dark crimson blood splattered, and chunks of flesh from the corpse mass flew everywhere.
Flash-
Instantly, yellowish eyes turned towards Elena.
“Hmm.”
Elena narrowed her eyes.
“It’s useless! Such crude attacks!”
Kkalkkalkkal-! Vinere burst out laughing and unleashed dark magic.
Eujeok-!
The mass of corpses summoned by Vinere, a corpse golem, tore off the flesh clinging to its body and threw it towards Elena.
Elena dodged the chunks of flesh hurled at immense speed.
Having cast a Fly spell, Elena was soaring freely in the air.
‘There’s no way he would launch such a shoddy attack.’
Kugugugu-
Simultaneously with Elena’s thought, a pitch-black hole opened right behind her.
Along with it, the chunks of flesh that Elena had dodged burst out.
Seeing that, Elena immediately cast a Shield spell.
Cheolpeok-
Seeing the chunks of flesh clinging to the barrier, Elena frowned.
At the same time, the flesh attached to the barrier swelled up.
Kwaang-!
Flesh and bone scattered in all directions.
A dark crimson mist of blood spread everywhere.
Elena, who had reappeared, let out an “Hmph-” and smiled.
“That hurt a bit.”
‘His attack power has increased to an incomparable degree compared to just a moment ago.’
Elena narrowed her eyes and looked at the black flames enveloping Vinere’s body.
‘Is that the power of a god… the power of Erebus?’
Elena, her eyes narrowed, looked around.
From her vantage point in the air, Elena’s eyes clearly saw the landscape of Barhalrun.
The elves in the streets screamed and fled, seeing the corpse golem.
The entire city was plunged into chaos.
But…
‘They’re disappearing.’
Elena saw the city residents turn into fragments of light and vanish.
‘Like Merin just now.’
The residents of this world are disappearing as if a hero’s world has been conquered.
‘But they’re not disappearing because it’s being conquered.’
The world is collapsing.
Elena, who had experienced many hero worlds, intuitively grasped that fact.
At that moment, a beam of light shot out from the center of the city.
‘A flare spell? Is that Leo and Lunia?’
Hardin also noticed it.
Vinere’s face, now that of a hideous monster, twisted savagely the moment he saw the flare.
“Syed, that damned bastard! Why are those goddamn hero candidates there!”
Elena narrowed her eyes at Vinere’s neurotic shout.
‘Syed?’
It was the name of a famous demon.
A beast summoner who had devoured hero candidates countless times.
‘Can Leo and Lunia handle him?’
Even if they were class representatives, he was a demon too formidable for first-year students to face.
Elena landed next to Hardin.
“Elena.”
“Yes.”
“I’ll take care of this place.”
At his words, Elena glanced at Hardin and spoke.
“Will you be alright alone? That demon. He’s become quite strong.”
“It’s enough. You go and support Lunia and Leo.”
“Understood. Then I’ll leave it to you.”
Elena smiled faintly and was about to head towards the World Tree.
Kwaang-!
A massive chunk of flesh blocked Elena’s path.
Vinere’s giant arm had stretched out, blocking Elena.
“You damned wench. Where do you think you’re running off to?”
Elena smiled faintly, looking at Vinere, who was sporting a chilling smirk.
“I suggest you remove this filthy arm while I’m being nice.”
“Ha! You arrogant wench! Keep being conceited…”
Flash-! Kwajik!
“Keoheok!”
The fragments of light created by Elena embedded themselves in Vinere’s face.
“It seems you’re gravely mistaken about something.”
Puck! Ppeok! Kwak-!
“Kkeueok?”
“It’s not particularly because I’m scared of you that I’m running away.”
The fragments of light created by Elena relentlessly embedded themselves into Vinere’s body according to her will.
Seeing Vinere, who now looked as if he was covered in glass shards, Elena raised her slender arm.
And she wiggled her thin, delicate fingers.
Huuk-!
The fragments of light soared high into the sky according to Elena’s will.
Accordingly, Vinere, whose body was deeply gouged by the fragments of light, also flew up into the sky.
“Then I’ll leave the rear to you, Hardin.”
Elena, smiling brightly and waving her hand, headed towards the World Tree.
Hwiiiiiing-!
At the same time, Vinere’s massive body began to vertically plummet towards Hardin’s head.
Seeing that, Hardin sighed and let his sword hang loose.
Hwioooo-!
A wind of aura swirled around Hardin.
Looking up at the sky, Hardin swung his sword towards Vinere, who was rapidly approaching his vision.
Flash-!
As a silver flash gleamed, a massive blade of wind sliced Vinere’s body in half.
“Kkuwaaaaaaak!”
Vinere’s scream filled with agony.
Kwaang! Kwaang!
Vinere’s body crashed into the ground, and flesh splattered everywhere.
Vinere’s body squirmed and reassembled, recovering.
“Th-that damned wench to the very end…!”
Seogeok-!
Vinere, who had been glaring with gleaming eyes in the direction Elena went, suddenly felt his vision flip.
“What?”
“It’s not the time to be worrying about Elena, is it?”
Kung-!
Vinere’s neck rolled to the floor.
Hardin looked down at Vinere and said.
“Your opponent is me.”
“Ha! Arrogant…! You dare try to stop me?”
Hardin calmly spoke, looking at the enraged Vinere.
“It might not be enough, but I hope you’ll be satisfied with me.”
“Igh! These damned brats…!”
A murderous aura flickered across Vinere’s face.
Vinere, who had picked up his head with an outstretched hand, brought his head to his neck and said.
“I’ll chew you alive…”
Kwak-!
Again, his vision flipped.
By the time Vinere realized it, his head had already rolled back onto the floor.
‘When did he cut it?’
Vinere’s face was colored with shock.
There was no sign of him having swung his sword.
‘Did he swing his sword at a speed I couldn’t perceive? No! This brat didn’t swing his sword!’
Yet, his neck was severed.
Hardin spoke, looking at Vinere's shocked expression.
“You can’t tell where the wind will blow from.”
Hardin calmly raised his sword.
Kwak-!
This time, Vinere’s arm flew off.
Vinere’s body regenerated.
Buwak! Kwak-!
His body began to be butchered at an even greater speed.
When half his body was gone, Vinere realized.
‘He’s controlling this space with aura?’
Vinere’s face was colored with shock.
As he expected, Hardin was perfectly controlling the wind in the surrounding area.
The blowing wind immediately became his sword, slicing Vinere.
‘What kind of monster is this guy…!’
Vinere’s face turned pale.
Seeing Vinere’s face, Hardin said with an expressionless face.
“You were this surprised, yet you intended to fight Elena?”
“What?”
“That woman is incomparably stronger than this.”
Buwak-!
Vinere’s face was severed.
Through his disoriented vision, he saw Hardin wearing a chilling expression.
“I don’t know what schemes you’re plotting in the Ancestor’s world… but it will absolutely not go as you wish.”
***
Luna’s gaze followed the white hair.
A speed difficult to follow with the eyes.
The boy’s gleaming red eyes seemed to embroider the air.
‘What on earth is this child?’
He was a boy she had met for the first time today.
Moreover, he was a human, not even an elf, whom she could call kin.
For Luna, he was the first human she had ever met in her life.
But the boy treated her familiarly, as if they had known each other for a long time.
She wasn't particularly shy, but even so, the familiarity she felt from the boy made Luna perplexed.
The boy’s familiarity. The boy’s attitude towards her felt as if he knew her too well.
It was the same now.
Leo precisely avoided Luna’s magic trajectories, cornering the enemy.
There was no need at all to worry about Leo’s movements when using magic.
All Luna had to do was comfortably chant spells.
It was as if they had been working together for a long time.
‘It’s amazing.’
Luna’s mana flow became lighter.
She chanted spells without hesitation.
She could focus everything solely on the spells.
It was the same for Leo.
Up until now, Leo had paid attention to every situation while fighting.
Even with comrades, he always prepared for contingencies.
He had never comfortably entrusted his back to anyone.
That wasn’t because he didn’t trust his comrades.
In his past life.
It was a habit formed by filling the empty spaces each time his friends left, one by one, during that fierce and long battle.
But the current Leo was different.
As if he had filled a void that had been empty for a long time.
Leo entrusted his back to Luna.
Luna’s presence, having reliably guarded his back for a long time, was like giving wings to Leo’s back.
Lunia, watching them, felt goosebumps.
‘To work so well together.’
Both of them seemed like comrades who had fought together for a long time.
They worked so well together that one might wonder if they were sharing thoughts.
Buwak-!
Leo, who had sliced the demon beast in front of him, glanced at Luna.
Luna also met Leo’s eyes.
Unlike Leo, who knew the reason for their perfect synergy, Luna was perplexed by the perfect coordination with Leo.
Leo smiled and charged towards the next enemy.
“Keuk! He got faster?!”
Lunia exclaimed in astonishment and assisted Leo.
Luna looked at Leo’s back and thought.
‘Leo Flove, who are you?’
As if she had met her soulmate.
‘Why do you know me so well?’
The image of the boy who had affirmed her dream came to mind.
‘Why did I think I had to help this child?’
Questions swirled, but there was no hesitation in Luna’s movements.
Then Pollum emitted a soft light.
A grey light, different from before.
A rough yet warm light caught Luna’s gaze.
‘I guarantee it.’
Luna made a surprised expression, seeing Pollum react suddenly.
The moment she saw that light, it felt as if someone’s beautiful and resonant voice swept through her mind.
‘This encounter will surely save the world.’
“Lady Luna?”
“Hm?”
“Why… are you crying?”
“What…?”
With tears streaming down her cheeks, Luna tilted her head, bewildered.
“Well. Why did I cry?”
Lunia wore a flustered expression, watching Luna express doubt as if she didn’t know the reason.
Even amidst that, Leo didn’t stop.
He frantically slaughtered the demon beasts blocking his path.
‘Only low-ranking demon beasts are blocking the way, that’s strange.’
Leo narrowed his eyes.
Syed, whom they met earlier, was not a low-ranking demon.
‘If a demon of that caliber has been nesting here for a long time, it would be normal for there to be more dangerous things, wouldn’t it?’
While he was thinking that, a fork in the road appeared.
“Which way is the audience chamber?”
“Right!”
At Luna’s words, Leo ran without hesitation.
A moment later, a large door with the World Tree drawn on it was visible.
“Is that it!”
Hwareureuk-!
Leo’s flames blazed even more fiercely.
“Stop.”
Then a shadow surged up in front of Leo.
What burst through the shadow was none other than Syed.
“How dare lowly beings like you come to a place like this…”
Kwak-!
Before Syed could even finish his furious outburst, his neck flew into the air.
Leo, who had severed Syed’s neck without batting an eye, scoffed.
“What’s with all the talk?”
“I! Igh!”
Syed’s face, which had rolled to the floor, was colored with rage.
Teolseok-!
Leo stomped on Syed’s head and said.
“That’s your true form, isn’t it? You worm.”
Leo sneered.
Goooooo-!
Powerful dark magic erupted from Syed’s head.
Puck-!
Leo kicked Syed’s head.
Puck-! Ttegurureu!
Syed’s head, which had been rolling on the floor, stopped abruptly.
Spider legs sprouted from the severed surface of his head.
Luna frowned upon seeing that.
“Ugh! What’s so gross about that?”
“A wench born of vulgar blood sure has a lot to say.”
“Do you think you’re really an elf just because you pretended to be a High Elf?”
Leo smiled chillingly.
Watching Leo, Syed crawled with his spider legs towards a nearby monster and embedded his spider legs into it.
Kwak-!
As the spider legs dug into the flesh, the monster’s body quickly transformed into that of a human.
“You lot will absolutely not enter this place.”
Hwarereureuk-!
Syed’s body was engulfed in black flames.
Along with it, his dark magic began to endlessly surge.
Gooooooo-!
A summoning circle formed in the air, and demon beasts began to pour out.
The terror of a high-ranking beast summoner was that they endlessly summoned terrifying demon beasts.
Luna and Lunia, seeing that, wore tense expressions.
“Absolutely cannot enter, huh.”
Leo narrowed his eyes, watching the scene.
“That’s strange.”
“What’s strange?”
“What you’re currently receiving must be Erebus’s blessing.”
The mana of a demon who has received power from Erebus surges rapidly.
The mere presence of Erebus bestows immense power upon demons.
“Hooo? You’re quite perceptive.”
Syed curled up the corners of his mouth.
“In that case, you’ll also understand how strong my power has become…”
“What great effect could a low-ranking demon like you possibly get from receiving a blessing?”
Leo said indifferently.
“What did you say?”
Syed’s eyes were filled with fury.
“What I’m curious about is why Erebus, who has the power to bestow blessings, isn’t directly executing us?”
Leo curled up the corners of his mouth.
Seeing such a Leo, Syed’s face stiffened slightly.
Just as Leo hated Erebus, Erebus would also hate Kyle, who had reduced him to that state, now Leo.
Erebus’s appearance, divided into six pieces, pouring out curses and roaring, was still vivid in his mind.
The presence of Erebus beyond the door was distinctly felt.
Yet, despite Erebus being right in front of them, there was no reaction.
‘Even if I reincarnated… Luna is also included among those he cursed.’
There is such a Luna.
Yet, there is no reaction.
“What’s inside there. Isn’t it just a shell?”
At Leo’s words, Syed’s face suddenly hardened.
“Looks like that’s the correct answer.”
Leo, letting out a chuckle, unleashed his aura.
“It doesn’t matter. Just because you saw through that fact doesn’t mean you can pass this door.”
A murderous aura erupted from Syed’s body.
Hwarereureuk-!
Black flames blazed fiercely.
“You lot will die here.”
Leo’s flames blazed even more fiercely.
Hwareureuk-!
The flames began to burn Leo’s body.
The Phoenix’s aura, infused with the Hero’s Breath, increased its firepower.
Crimson flames.
Zeldinger’s secret flame, which Leo had mastered through self-study, though not formally learned.
‘Crimson Flame. This isn’t enough.’
He unleashed mana in the hand not holding his sword.
Lunia’s eyes widened at the sight of Leo’s mana.
“Oh?”
Lunia let out an embarrassed exclamation.
Leo’s aura was very familiar to Lunia.
It couldn’t be helped.
Because it was the same Phoenix flame.
‘But… was even his mana similar?’
The moment that question arose, Lunia’s face was colored with shock.
‘No! That mana is…!’
Leo’s mana was similar to that of the Rundia family.
And the magic spell woven with it.
Lunia’s hand trembled.
It was a spell she had shown Leo only once.
One of the Rundia family’s secret spells.
The spell she had used in her duel with Leo.
‘Scorching Heat?’
Hwarereuk-!
Zeldinger’s Crimson Flame and Rundia’s Scorching Heat fused.
Hwarereureuk-!
Wings of flame were created.
Syed’s eyes widened, seeing the flames blaze like the wings of a real Phoenix.
“How can a human wield the Phoenix’s flame!”
“…Because I’m the Phoenix’s contractor, you see.”
Leo, sheathing the flame in his sword, grinned.
“I did some research.”
Flash-!
The instantaneously blazing flames incinerated everything in front of him.
The purifying flames emitted by the Phoenix were an opposing force to demon beasts.
Swept away by that power, Syed’s body was mercilessly incinerated.
“Kkuwaaaaaaak!”
Along with a scream of agony, even the door vanished without a trace.
Instantly, an abyss of darkness appeared in Leo’s eyes.
Lunia was overwhelmed by the darkness, but Leo took a step into it without batting an eye.
Teobok- Teobok-
Inside the audience chamber, it was empty.
Amidst that, Leo raised his head.
Power surged into Leo’s hand.
The arch-enemy he faced after thousands of years.
The calamity of black flames.
‘Erebus.’
A murderous intent formed in Leo’s eyes.