Book 1 Chapter 245

245

Clang!

The sound of swords clashing echoed in the darkness.

Clang-clang!

A struggle of strength began.

Leo's red eyes narrowed in the darkness.

Clang! Swoosh!

The tense balance of power crumbled in an instant.

Seeing Leo's sword leaning towards him, Cyan let it slide and pulled himself away.

BAM!

Leo's sword struck the marble floor.

Crackling—

Marble shards flew in all directions.

Leo retrieved his sword from the shattered marble floor and rose to his feet.

'Such immense power. To exert this much force with pure brute strength.'

"The words 'top hero candidate' were not in vain."

Cyan's eyes sparkled as he pointed his sword at Leo.

"It makes you even more worth defeating."

Leo responded with an indifferent expression.

It wasn't worth answering.

'But his skill is real.'

He could tell a lot just by clashing swords.

Cyan's skill was by no means mediocre.

WHOOOOSH!

Wind blew around Cyan.

'Wind Aura.'

Unlike Chen Xia, who used Water Aura.

'Shan's Emperor had Flame Aura.'

It was clear the three shared an Aura cultivation technique passed down for generations.

However, their used attributes were completely different.

'If he's a descendant of Bihard… I see. Is that how it happened?'

Leo recalled the Aura cultivation technique he had taught his disciple.

Leo chuckled, realizing why the three used different Aura attributes.

Seeing Leo chuckle, Cyan spoke.

"I'd like to see your full-class power."

Leo rested his sword on his shoulder at Cyan's words.

"Is it worth it?"

"What?"

"You're not an opponent who warrants the hassle of using magic or summoning."

"You're too confident. Doesn't that border on arrogance?"

"Not really."

Leo smiled coldly at Cyan, who asked with a smile.

Cyan's eyes twitched as he watched Leo.

'This kid.'

Cyan was a genius.

In his aptitude as a shadow.

And in his aptitude as a hero.

A genius who possessed everything.

Since childhood, his only perceived rival was his twin, Chen Xia, who was also called a genius.

But Cyan had surpassed even Xia.

'Xia is only half.'

Chen Xia was born with the talent for shadows alone.

'His fate is to live strictly in darkness, poor thing.'

Cyan did not resent the twin who tried to kill him.

He only felt pity.

'Such a trivial fate, to live that way.'

But he was different.

'I can't waste my abilities by becoming a mere shadow.'

He was born with the vessel to become a greater hero than anyone else.

Since childhood, Cyan had been an object of praise.

Many who taught him shed tears, marveling at his talent.

He was praised as having a talent unlike any other in the history of heroes and shadows combined.

And it was true.

Cyan had never experienced a setback.

He easily broke down all obstacles that others saw as walls and effortlessly attained what others strived for.

After leaving Shan, Cyan grew stronger.

He conquered countless hero worlds using Tartarus's power and inherited their abilities.

He trembled with the thought of becoming the hero he so desired.

'My thoughts were right.'

He was truly worthy of being called a hero, having easily overcome the trials of those called heroes.

At the same time, he thought.

'Even the trials of heroes are this easy. Indeed, I can become a great hero. I am a chosen human.'

Cyan had never once denied his genius since birth.

It was natural for him to stand above others.

But… but…

"I don't like it."

Leo's gaze, which seemed to look down on him from an unfathomably high place, was irritating.

He could tell.

The fact that the boy before him didn't even have him in his sights.

Cyan, who had always looked down on everything, found that gaze truly bothersome.

"That attitude, as if I'm not even in your sights. What do you think I am?"

"Hmm."

Leo stroked his chin.

After a moment of thought, Leo nodded and replied indifferently.

"Trash that needs to be removed?"

Cyan's eyes trembled.

"That's right, isn't it? You betrayed the world and sided with Tartarus."

"I am merely using Tartarus to become a hero."

Cyan declared proudly.

"I wanted to enroll in Lumen honestly. But this country is flawed. Forcing someone like me, a genius, to be a shadow."

"I agree that this country's ways are flawed. But that doesn't justify joining hands with Tartarus."

A cold light flashed in Leo's eyes.

"Using Tartarus to become a hero is just nonsense."

"You won't understand. But I will defeat Tartarus by increasing my strength."

At those words, Leo stopped walking.

Then he shrugged his shoulders and suppressed a laugh.

"What's so funny?"

"Wouldn't you laugh?"

Contempt flickered in Leo's gaze.

"Whether it's old or new, guys like you always say the same thing."

"What did you say?"

"It's not the first time I've seen imbeciles like you."

Even in the Age of Calamity, there were many with exceptional talent.

And many sided with Tartarus.

The reason was always the same.

'Using Tartarus to defeat Tartarus.'

"There are countless others besides you who are too self-absorbed to admit their limits, lacking the ability or will to surpass them."

*Swish-*

Leo raised his sword.

"I'm tired of such nonsense."

Leo curled the corners of his lips.

"And genius?"

Leo himself had once thought of himself as a genius.

In his Kyale days.

Whether it was martial arts, magic, or summoning, he readily learned it and firmly believed he was a genius.

'There were actually real geniuses elsewhere.'

His friends, now hailed as great heroes.

True geniuses who had reached the pinnacle of their respective fields.

Leo was able to defeat Erebus as the final great hero only because he borrowed from the countless achievements of his comrades.

'Even that was close to a miracle.'

Having witnessed such friends by his side, Leo did not call himself a genius.

In Leo's eyes, Cyan, boasting of his talent as if he were great in such circumstances, was merely pathetic.

Seeing Leo mock him, murderous intent flickered in Cyan's eyes.

The reason he first wanted to defeat Leo was simple.

He wanted to defeat him and prove that he was the top hero candidate.

After that, he wanted to kill Leo because he found his shadow-like behavior bothersome.

But now it was different.

'This guy is negating my very existence.'

WHOOOOSH!

Mana surged from Cyan's body.

It wasn't the Wind Aura Cyan had been using.

'Abilities gained through Hero Abilities?'

Leo's eyes narrowed.

It was clear that these were abilities gained by conquering hero worlds.

Not only that.

*Thump!* *Swoosh!*

Accessories and armor imbued with mana appeared all over his body.

'Hero Weapons. It's only natural, but I can assume he possesses numerous Hero Skills.'

Even hero candidates begin seriously conquering hero worlds in their second year.

Yet, for Cyan, a mere traitor, to possess such conquest rewards…

'Is he collecting Hero Records in Tartarus as well?'

Of course, possessing Hero Records alone wouldn't allow him to open hero worlds.

'But Hero Records contain sealed fragments of Erebus, and they can use them.'

Bringing fragments of Erebus, dormant in Luna's world, to the real world, or even summoning the former legion commander Zerdiak to the present world.

Tartarus was definitely utilizing the power of Hero Records.

Demons cannot receive conquest rewards even if they conquer.

But what about Hero Killers…

'Did they influence Hero Records affected by Erebus's fragments to help Hero Killers grow stronger? Who would be leading this… it must be the Necro-King.'

The Commander-in-Chief of Tartarus.

Necro-King Hel Kaiser, known as the strongest and most fearsome legion commander.

*FLAMES-!*

Cyan, wielding a curved red sword that spewed immense flames, muttered in a low voice.

"Going."

Leo chuckled at Cyan and unleashed his Aura.

*ROARING-!*

Flames blazed fiercely.

Swoosh! KABOOM!

The two charged simultaneously.

Along with it, a massive flame engulfed their surroundings.

KABOOM!

Like a chain reaction of explosions, flames filled the entire corridor, obliterating the darkness.

*CRUNCH!*

Instantly, a crack appeared on the Hero Weapon Cyan held.

Seeing that, Cyan's eyes widened.

"No…!"

Cyan hastily pushed Leo away.

As he did, he aimed his hand at Leo.

Swoosh!

A blade of wind shot from his hand, covering Leo.

Hero Skill.

It contained powerful force, as expected of a skill used by a hero.

*WHOOSH-!*

Wind Aura swirled from Leo's hand.

*WHIZZ-BANG-!*

The attacks canceled each other out, creating a strong gust of wind.

Along with it, all the windows in the corridor shattered.

And Cyan, caught in the gust, was sent flying.

*Thump-*

Cyan landed lightly on the floor and looked at Leo with narrowed eyes.

'Wind Aura and Earth Aura.'

He was using multiple Aura attributes simultaneously.

"It's a Hero Ability."

"You're wrong."

Leo chuckled.

*Sizzle-* *HISS-*

Water Aura emanating from Leo's hand extinguished the flames.

"It's fundamentally the same as the Aura cultivation technique you learned."

He was using the Aura cultivation technique he gifted to Bihard.

'Arion created the basics, and I created the details.'

The Aura cultivation technique, born from the hands of two great heroes, was tailored for Bihard.

Bihard was born with mana characteristics that allowed him to wield all four basic elements.

'The Aura cultivation technique must have changed over generations.'

To specialize in his innate attributes.

That's why different attributes manifested even when learning the same Aura cultivation technique.

Although the form had changed, the fundamental was the same.

'Although I created it, it's hard to use as well as he does.'

It was a temporary measure to cope with multiple attributes, but it was difficult to use as freely as Bihard.

Leo readjusted his grip on his sword.

"So."

"……?"

"Is that all?"

Cyan's face hardened.

"You talked about using something amazing, but all you can do is borrow other people's abilities?"

"Insolent…!"

BAM- ROARING-!

In an instant, Leo's sword swung, aiming for Cyan's neck.

Barely parrying it, Cyan's eyes widened.

*CRACK-!* *CLANG-!*

The cracked Hero Weapon broke.

Cyan hastily lowered his head.

*WHOOSH-!*

Leo's sword swept past where his neck had been with lethal force.

*THUD-!*

"Gasp?"

Leo's knee slammed into Cyan's face as he bowed his head.

Seeing Cyan suspended in the air, Leo bent his knee.

*CRACKLE-!*

As Leo leaped, the floor caved in with a *POOF-!*

*WHOOSH!* *SLICE-*

"Gasp?"

Leo's sword grazed Cyan's side.

From there, Leo leaped with incredible speed using the narrow corridor, slashing at Cyan from all directions.

Blood began to spray from Cyan's body, suspended in mid-air.

Instinctively, he avoided vital points and resisted, but he was cut to pieces, powerless against Leo's sword.

In the darkness, Leo's eyes gleamed.

*BURST-!*

Cyan's right arm slashed through the air.

*THUD-* *SPLASH-*

Cyan barely managed to land on the floor.

"This can't be… I… I am destined to be a great hero!"

Cyan muttered as if in a daze.

He couldn't believe Leo's existence, which had so thoroughly overwhelmed him.

Leo approached to take Cyan's life.

"It's unfair! You're strong because you conquered Luna's world! That's why you're stronger than me!"

"I didn't use any magic while fighting you?"

Leo sneered at Cyan, who was denying reality.

"If I inherit the power of a great hero, I'll be a great hero! If I get my hands on the sword related to Kyale, kept in this country, and conquer that world…! If I gain the power of a great hero, I can become strong!"

Leo's eyes twitched as he watched Cyan rave in a trance.

'My sword?'

The known history of the Shan Empire is 4000 years.

And considering Bihard is their ancestor, Shan's history goes back 5000 years.

'It wouldn't be strange if there was something related to me.'

"If I inherit the power of the Hero of Beginnings, not the pathetic powers of these heroes!"

"It's not that the heroes' powers are pathetic, have you never thought that you are incompetent?"

"You bastard!"

Flames erupted from Cyan's eyes.

As Leo raised his sword to take Cyan's life,

*RUMBLE-!*

At that moment.

Something writhed from Cyan's shadow.

*WHOOSH-!*

A giant bone blade piercing through the shadow made Leo's eyes twitch.

'Hel Kaiser's Necromancy.'

*CLACK- CLACK- CLACK-*

The skeleton that emerged from the shadow clacked its jaws.

Then, with a dark red glare, it looked at Leo and bowed respectfully.

"It is an honor to meet you, Leo Flov."

Leo's eyes twitched at the respectful voice.

The voice was familiar.

Flesh began to sprout from the white bones.

Eventually, a fearsome-looking giant, about 2 meters tall, took on a human form, but he wore a gentle smile that contrasted with his imposing appearance.

"It is an honor to meet you, who is called the top hero candidate of this era. I am…"

The man, revealing his white teeth, introduced himself.

"I am Artkhan, Grand Duke of Funeral."