Book 1 Chapter 148
148.
Sssshh-
Leo’s body, which had pushed his magic to the limit, cooled down quickly.
“Leo! When did you learn our family’s magic?”
“I learned it by watching your magic.”
“What? It was only once!”
Leo smiled, looking at Lunia, who was astonished.
“I tried to create a magic formation based on it. Of course, it’s crude compared to the real thing.”
It was as Leo said.
He had created magic by referencing Lunia’s flames, but it was crude compared to the original.
“How is this crude? It’s definitely powerful.”
“There’s a price.”
“What? What price?”
Leo grabbed the collar of his neck and slightly lowered his shirt.
Lunia flinched when she saw Leo’s burnt chest.
She knew Leo had used flames beyond his limit, even if it meant consuming his own body.
‘Still, this is a bit too much.’
Lunia, with a flustered expression, tried to cast healing magic.
“It’s okay. I’ll do it.”
Leo cast healing magic and looked towards Erebus.
His gaze was captivated by the black flames.
Flames that were loathsome, that had once plunged the world into disaster.
The great catastrophe that had brought fear and despair to the world was before his eyes.
Leo’s eyes glinted with killing intent as he tightened his grip on his sword.
Lunia, who followed Leo into the audience chamber, swallowed dryly.
She was still overwhelmed, even seeing it again.
‘Is Leo alright?’
Thinking so, she cautiously approached and looked at Leo’s side profile.
“Leo…?”
Leo’s face was expressionless.
The Leo Flovre that Lunia knew was a boy younger than her, yet arrogantly more mature than herself.
Not the pride or arrogance peculiar to those his age, but a genuinely adult aura.
A composure that seemed to never lose its ease in any situation.
Even sly like an uncle, making him annoying, but still a boy more trustworthy than anyone else.
That was the Leo that Lunia knew.
But there was none of that in Leo now.
A chillingly blank expression.
Along with it, crimson eyes emitting a terrifying killing intent.
The boy she knew was gone.
For some reason, Lunia felt unfamiliar and scared, and she reached out without realizing it.
Squeeze-
Leo saw Lunia pulling at his clothes.
Seeing Lunia with a somewhat anxious expression, Leo smiled faintly.
Lunia felt a sense of relief seeing Leo return to his normal self and let go of his clothes.
Leo, regaining his composure, assessed the situation coldly.
‘This is a fragment of Erebus.’
As Leo had predicted, the Erebus in this world was nothing more than a mere fragment.
A lump of pure power, devoid of any will.
Even that power was too weak to be called Erebus.
‘Of course, even that alone is a disaster.’
This fragment was distorting the world of heroes by itself.
It was merely a shard of power, but it was undeniably a terrifying monster that was currently impossible to handle.
‘And that’s when it has a will.’
Leo clenched and unclenched his fist around his sword.
‘Well then, how do I deal with this damn thing?’
Even if it's a lump of power, if that power is an endlessly burning disaster flame, it’s difficult to handle.
Leo narrowed his eyes.
“What in the world is this?”
Lunia’s perplexed voice was heard.
Leo and Lunia looked at Luna.
Luna was glaring at Erebus with wary eyes.
“Why is something like this in the audience chamber?”
“Luna-nim. Can you see this?”
Lunia asked with a slightly surprised face.
As far as she knew, the inhabitants of the hero’s world could not see Erebus.
No matter how great a hero Luna was, she was ultimately a past existence, dead and gone.
No matter how real it seemed, it was an illusion that didn’t actually exist.
It was normal for her not to recognize Erebus, just like the people from other hero worlds.
“Of course. How could something this big not be seen?”
Luna looked at Lunia as if to say, what are you talking about?
“Lunia. Is there any difference between Erebus when you saw it earlier and now?”
At Leo’s question, Lunia looked at Erebus with a tense expression.
“No, it’s the same.”
Leo narrowed his eyes at Lunia’s answer.
‘What’s the difference?’
“So this is the monster you were talking about? Then it’s simple! Let’s deal with it before this monster wakes up!”
“Just, wait a moment, Luna-nim! You shouldn’t act rashly!”
Lunia, startled, tried to stop Luna.
However, Luna was a person with a peculiar personality who acted before she spoke.
Luna, gripping her Polyum, unleashed her magic.
Flash-!
Along with it, countless magic circles adorned the air.
Lunia’s immense magic surged.
Before Lunia could even stop her, Luna’s magic poured out.
Kwakakakagang-!
Magnificently adorned magic filled the air.
Lunia’s jaw dropped at its overwhelming majesty.
She felt awe for Luna’s unfathomable potential once again.
The audience chamber was filled with thick smoke from the explosion.
When the smoke cleared and Erebus was revealed, Luna’s expression turned tearful.
Despite being hit directly by Luna’s powerful magic, Erebus was unharmed.
Seeing Erebus untouched, Luna’s competitive spirit flared up.
“Oh? Look at this?”
“Lu, Luna-nim! Calm down first…!”
In storybooks and literature, the progenitor of the nebula is described as benevolent and gentle.
A great mage who maintained composure even in difficult situations and was a pillar for the great heroes.
That was the general image of Luna.
‘That’s why the storybooks are lies.’
In reality, Luna is hot-tempered and reckless when she loses her temper.
She was the most destructive in the subjugation team.
Her magic, which boasted incredible firepower, was enough to infer her personality.
Such a Luna was ignited.
When it gets like this, it’s hard to stop.
‘Hard to stop.’
Leo approached Luna.
Then, he ‘thwacked!’ Luna, whose eyes were burning, on the head.
“Ouchhhhhh!”
Luna, crouching with her head in her hands, glared at Leo with teary eyes.
Seeing that, Lunia rushed to Luna’s side with a horrified expression.
“Lu, Luna-nim. Are you alright? Leo! What are you doing hitting Luna-nim!”
“You’re acting like an idiot and going berserk.”
“Who are you calling an idiot!”
Luna grabbed Leo by the collar and growled.
Pushing Luna away, Leo said,
“Be calm. That monster isn’t something you can defeat by rushing in blindly.”
Luna faltered at his words.
Then she glared at Erebus with a grunt.
Lunia looked bewildered at Leo, who had calmed Luna down in an instant.
Even in her past life, it was Leo’s role to calm down a berserk Luna.
‘Why didn’t Luna’s magic work?’
Even though she hadn’t completed the star magic, Luna’s magic was overwhelming.
It was strange that even a fragment of Erebus was unharmed.
Leo wore a serious expression.
“You insolent…!”
A voice filled with killing intent was heard.
Leo turned his head and looked at Seed, who had recovered, with a nonchalant expression.
“You’re alive? You’re persistent.”
“I will not forgive you who trampled here with your filthy feet….”
“Oh my, there was a bug here too?”
Thwack-!
With a cheerful voice, a pretty leather boot stomped on Seed’s head.
It was quite rough and cruel for a beautiful girl’s action.
“Ugh~”
Elena brushed off the flesh and blood clinging to her foot as if disgusted.
Although she wasn't stained with blood and flesh thanks to the magic protection, she couldn't help but feel a physiological aversion.
“I came because I was worried. You two are alright?”
Elena, who entered the audience chamber with a smile, widened her eyes when she saw Luna.
“Progenitor of the Nebula?”
“Progenitor of the Nebula? What is that? I don’t know who’s called by such a grand name, but it sounds pretty cool!”
Luna’s eyes sparkled with admiration.
“Elena-ssi, so.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Elena, with her extensive experience in conquering hero worlds, easily grasped the situation.
Then she approached Luna and bowed demurely.
“My name is Elena Zelion. It’s an honor to meet you.”
“Oh? Yes. Nice to meet you. I’m Luna Rubinence.”
Elena smiled faintly.
Then she approached Leo.
“Oh my! Leo-kun, are you hurt?”
Lunia was a little taken aback by Elena’s fluttering concern as she examined Leo’s body.
‘I met a great hero, and that’s all the reaction?’
Elena’s movement, which had been approaching Leo with fluttering concern, stopped.
“What is that?”
Elena’s face, which had maintained its composure, stiffened slightly.
Her eyes were fixed on the sleeping Erebus.
“It’s Erebus.”
“Erebus?”
She recalled Viner’s words before coming here.
‘He said the god had awakened… was he talking about this?’
Elena’s expression turned tense.
Even she, who never lost her composure, couldn’t help but be tense in front of the terrifying disaster from legend.
However, seeing Erebus not reacting at all, she looked puzzled.
“Is it sleeping?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm. Then it’s simple.”
Elena smiled faintly and poked Leo’s cheek with her finger.
“Even a monster that can’t move is nothing to fear, right? Let’s get rid of it immediately.”
Leo pushed Elena’s hand away and stepped forward.
Gooo-!
Aura and magic swirled around Leo’s body.
“Ho?”
Elena exclaimed in admiration.
‘Amazing?’
The power swirling around Leo’s body was not at the level of a first-year student.
‘As expected, this kid is a bigger deal than I thought.’
Elena’s eyes sparkled.
Meeting a past great hero was surprising.
However, she didn’t attribute more meaning to it than others did.
It wasn’t because she didn’t respect great heroes.
It was because she didn’t dwell on the past.
‘The important thing is the present.’
Elena’s interest was naturally deeper in the person who would become a new great hero than in the great heroes who had passed away long ago.
Just as Leo was about to use magic.
“Insolent!”
Seed, who had been stomped on by Elena and revived, recovered and blocked Leo’s path.
“Persistent bug.”
Elena said with an annoyed expression.
“How dare you flap your vulgar mouth!”
Killing intent flickered in Seed’s eyes.
Elena sneered at Seed.
“What can you possibly do to be so confident….”
Thump-!
Suddenly, a giant pulsating sound was heard.
Everyone looked surprised by the pulsating sound.
Thump- Thump-
Fwoosh-
The black flames that had been burning quietly began to burn fiercely.
Seed turned his head with an unbelievable expression.
Flash-!
Erebus’s 검붉은 (dark red) eyes opened.
“E, Erebus-nim!”
Seed’s face was filled with joy.
“Hahaha! The god! The great god has awakened! The will of the god has awakened!”
Seeing Seed shaking with laughter, Lunia and Elena’s faces turned pale.
“Now! Kneel and worship! Remnants of the hateful great heroes! Tremble in fear at the sight of the great disaster flame….”
Kwakang-!
“Kuhuk-!”
Erebus’s giant foot stomped on Seed.
Fwoosh-!
Seed burned and vanished.
Gooooooo!
As it rose, black flames began to sweep across the world tree.
Gwaaaaaaah-!
With a powerful roar, the black flames swelled from Erebus’s body.
At that moment, Lunia and Elena’s instincts told them.
‘We will die.’
Kwakagagagagagagang-!
A massive wave of black flames swept in all directions.
Lunia tightly closed her eyes.
Then, realizing she was alive, she cautiously opened her eyes.
Elena stood beside Lunia with her arms crossed.
‘I had no means to block it… is the progenitor truly the progenitor even at a young age?’
Elena’s gaze, which had been looking at Luna’s back, who had protected her, moved forward.
‘By the way, what about that child?’
“Are you okay? That monster is terrifying.”
Luna, who had been relaxed until now, showed haste on her face.
“Did it wake up because of me?”
Seeing Luna gritting her teeth, Lunia shook her head.
“I don’t think so. Mo, more importantly, where is Leo? Where is Leo? Was he perhaps caught in those flames?”
“Leo-kun is over there.”
Elena pointed straight ahead.
There stood Leo, protecting his body with gray magic.
Leo wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
‘Is this the limit for now?’
He had taken considerable damage.
However, no matter how strong, he wasn’t so weak as to be overwhelmed by a fragment of Erebus.
As Leo, who had subjugated Erebus, he had means to counter the inextinguishable black flames.
The surrounding area, including the world tree, was gone.
The castle was in ruins, and the world was engulfed in black flames.
It was like the destruction of the world.
Gwaaaaaaah!
In the midst of it, Erebus’s fragment let out a roar.
‘Why did that suddenly start moving?’
Leo frowned.
Erebus, who was just a shell with no will, suddenly moved.
‘Did it suddenly gain a will? No. I still don’t feel any will from that thing.’
Only ferocious madness resided in Erebus’s eyes.
Yet, Erebus was rampaging.
‘Is it because of me?’
Just as Leo hated Erebus.
Erebus also hated Kyle, who had split him into many pieces.
If Erebus’s power had awakened according to instinct, it wouldn’t be a strange story.
Leo clenched and unclenched his fist.
“What should we do now?”
Elena bit her fingernails with an anxious expression.
Lunia gritted her teeth.
The two people who knew about Erebus felt only one emotion.
Overwhelming despair.
“What do you mean, what should we do? Why ask the obvious?”
At that moment, Luna, who had removed the barrier, spoke calmly.
Lunia and Elena looked at Luna’s back.
Luna smiled faintly and turned around, saying,
“We have to defeat that monster.”
Elena and Lunia’s eyes widened at that smile.
For a moment, that confident demeanor overlapped with someone else.
“Isn’t that right, Leo?”
Luna said to Leo.
Leo chuckled at her words.
“Of course.”
Elena muttered, looking at Luna, who showed no hint of giving in even in the face of disaster.
“It’s strange.”
“Yes?”
“The way Luna-nim is giving us courage right now.”
Elena smiled.
“Doesn’t it resemble Leo-kun?”
“……!”
Lunia’s eyes widened.
And she looked ahead.
Indeed, it resembled him.
Lunia was surprised, recalling the time of their school trip.
Elena, with her hands clasped behind her back, gazed at Leo.
“So this is how the first-year brats felt during the Gigantes.”
Her heart fluttered.
She had never felt this way in her life.
“Hero……”
It was a word she had never aspired to.
Even if she respected them, she had never thought of wanting to follow their example.
She thought she never would.
But… Leo’s back caught her eye.
She began to aspire to him.
Her heart was drawn to his dazzling appearance.
Feeling that, Elena thought.
‘It might not be bad.’
The girl, who for the first time in her life aspired to a hero despite the desperate situation, smiled brightly.