Book 1 Chapter 245
245
Cha-eung-!
The sound of swords clashing echoed in the darkness.
Ka-ga-ga-gak-!
A struggle for power began.
Leo's red eyes narrowed in the darkness.
Ka-gak-! Hwa-ak-!
The tense balance of power was instantly shattered.
Seeing Leo's sword tilt towards him, Xian let Leo's sword pass by and pulled his body back.
Kwang-!
Leo's sword slammed into the marble floor.
Too-doo-duk-
Pieces of marble scattered everywhere.
Leo retrieved his sword from the destroyed marble floor and stood up.
‘What tremendous power. To exhibit such strength with pure brute force.’
“The rumors of him being the best hero candidate were not empty words.”
Xian's eyes gleamed as he pointed his sword at Leo.
“It makes you all the more worth defeating.”
At his words, Leo made an indifferent expression.
He wasn't worth answering.
‘But his skill is real.’
Much could be learned by crossing swords.
Xian's skill was definitely not that of a nobody.
Hwii-o-o-o-o-o-!
Wind blew around Xian.
‘Wind Aura.’
It was different from Chen Xia, who used Water Aura.
‘The emperor of Shan used Fire Aura, right?’
The three of them must have shared the Aura cultivation method that had been passed down for a long time.
However, the attributes they used were completely different.
‘If they are descendants of Bihar… Indeed. Is that how it became?’
Leo recalled the Aura cultivation method he had passed down to his disciple.
Leo chuckled as he realized why the three of them used different Aura attributes.
Xian looked at Leo and said.
“I want to see the power of an all-class.”
At Xian's words, Leo rested his sword on his shoulder.
“Is it worth it?”
“What?”
“I mean you’re not an opponent worth the trouble of using magic or summoning.”
“Your confidence is excessive. Don’t you think that’s arrogance?”
“Not really.”
Leo gave a cold laugh to Xian, who asked with a smile.
Looking at Leo, Xian's eyes twitched.
‘This bastard.’
Xian was a genius.
Both in his qualities as a shadow.
And his qualities as a hero.
A genius encompassing everything.
From a young age, his only rival was Chen Xia, his twin, who was also called a genius.
But Xian even surpassed Xia.
‘Xia is a half-breed.’
Chen Xia was born with only the talent of a shadow.
‘Destined to live purely in the darkness, pitiably.’
Xian did not resent his twin who tried to kill him.
He merely pitied her.
‘It’s a trivial fate that makes her live like that.’
But he was different.
‘I cannot waste my abilities by becoming a mere shadow.’
He was born with the vessel to become a greater hero than anyone else.
From a young age, Xian was an object of praise.
Many who taught him wept in admiration for his talent.
He was praised, saying that throughout the entire history of heroes and shadows, there would be no talent like Xian's.
And it was true.
Xian had never experienced frustration until now.
He easily overcame all the difficulties that others felt were walls and easily achieved what others sought to accomplish.
In fact, after leaving Shan, Xian became stronger.
Using the power of Tartaros, he conquered numerous hero worlds and inherited their powers.
He trembled at the thought of finally becoming the hero he so desired.
‘My thoughts were right.’
He, who easily overcame the trials of those called heroes, was literally a person worthy of a hero.
On the other hand, he thought.
‘Even the heroes’ trials are so easy, I truly can become a great hero. I am a chosen human.’
Xian had never once denied the fact that he was a genius since birth.
A person for whom standing above others was natural.
But… but…
“I don’t like it.”
Leo’s gaze, as if looking down on him from an unfathomably high place, was annoying.
He could tell.
The boy in front of him had no regard for him.
Xian, who had lived looking down on everything beneath him, was truly annoyed by that look.
“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’s deliberation, Leo nodded and answered nonchalantly.
“Trash to be disposed of?”
Xian's eyes trembled.
“Isn’t that right? You betrayed the world and sided with Tartaros.”
“I’m just using Tartaros to become a hero.”
Xian said with pride.
“I also wanted to enroll in Lumern with pride. But this country is wrong. To force a genius like me to become a shadow.”
“I agree that this country’s method is wrong. But that’s no reason to join hands with Tartaros.”
A cold light emanated from Leo’s eyes.
“Saying you’ll use Tartaros to become a hero is just nonsense.”
“You won’t understand. But I will grow strong and subjugate Tartaros.”
At those words, Leo stopped walking.
And he shook his shoulders, suppressing a laugh.
“What’s so funny?”
“Wouldn’t you laugh if you were me?”
Contempt flickered in Leo’s gaze.
“Whether in the past or now, fellows like you all say the same thing.”
“What?”
“Because this isn’t the first or second time I’ve seen idiots like you.”
In the Age of Calamity, there were many with outstanding talents.
And many of them sided with Tartaros.
The reason was always the same.
‘To use Tartaros to subjugate Tartaros.’
“There were countless others besides you, self-absorbed fools who couldn’t admit their limits and had neither the ability nor the will to overcome them.”
Swooosh-
Leo raised his sword.
“I’m sick and tired of such nonsense now.”
Leo curled up the corners of his mouth.
“And a genius?”
Once, Leo also thought of himself as a genius.
During his Kyle days.
Whether it was martial arts, magic, or summoning.
He never doubted that he was a genius who could easily acquire skills.
‘Though the real geniuses were elsewhere.’
His friends, now praised as great heroes.
True geniuses who had reached the pinnacle of their respective fields.
Leo was able to subjugate Erebus as the final great hero because he borrowed many things that his companions had achieved.
‘Even that was close to a miracle.’
Having watched such friends by his side, Leo did not call himself a genius.
In Leo’s eyes, Xian, who boasted about his talent as if he were something great in such a situation, was simply laughable.
Seeing Leo scoff at him, killing intent flickered in Xian’s eyes.
The reason he initially wanted to defeat Leo was simple.
He wanted to defeat him and prove that he was the best hero candidate.
Afterward, Leo’s behavior as a shadow annoyed him, so he tried to kill him.
But now it was different.
‘This guy is denying my very existence.’
Hwii-o-o-o-o-o-!
Mana raged around Xian's body.
It was not the Wind Aura Xian had been using.
‘Are these abilities obtained through Hero Abilities?’
Leo’s eyes narrowed.
It was clearly evident that these were abilities obtained by conquering hero worlds.
And that's not all.
Kwak-! Hwa-ak-!
Accessories and armor imbued with mana were generated all over his body.
‘Hero Weapon. It’s natural to assume he possesses many Hero Skills as well.’
Hero candidates only begin earnestly conquering hero worlds from their second year.
But for Xian, who is merely a traitor, to possess so many conquest rewards…
‘Is Tartaros collecting Hero Records as well?’
Of course, even with Hero Records alone, one cannot open a hero world.
‘But fragments of Erebus are sealed within Hero Records. And they can use them.’
Such as summoning fragments of Erebus dormant in Luna’s world to the real world, or bringing the past legion commander Zeldrak to the present world.
Tartaros was certainly utilizing the power of Hero Records.
Even if demons conquered, they could not receive conquest rewards.
But what if it was Hero Killers?
‘Did they open Hero Records affected by Erebus fragments to support Hero Killers in becoming stronger? The one capable of orchestrating such a thing would be… the Lich King.’
The Supreme Commander of Tartaros.
The Lich King, Hel Kaiser, known as the strongest and most fearsome legion commander.
Hwa-rreu-reuk-!
Xian, holding a red scimitar that spewed enormous flames, muttered lowly.
“Here I come.”
Seeing Xian, Leo chuckled and generated his aura.
Hwa-rreu-reu-reuk-
Flames blazed fiercely.
Hwa-ak-! Kwa-ga-ga-gang-!
The two charged simultaneously.
With that, massive flames engulfed their surroundings.
Kwa-ga-ga-gang-!
The flames, exploding in a chain reaction, filled the entire corridor and completely obliterated the darkness.
Kka-deu-deuk-!
Suddenly, the Hero Weapon Xian was holding cracked.
Xian’s eyes widened at the sight.
“No…!”
Xian hastily pushed Leo away.
At the same time, he pointed his hand at Leo.
Hwa-ak-!
A blade of wind shot from his hand and struck Leo.
Hero Skill.
True to a technique used by a hero, it contained powerful force.
Hwoong-!
Wind Aura swirled from Leo’s hand.
Puh-buh-buh-buh-bung-!
The attack was canceled out, and a strong wind pressure swirled.
With that, all the windows in the corridor shattered.
And Xian, caught in the wind pressure, was blown away.
Sa-ppoon-
Landing lightly on the floor, Xian narrowed his eyes and looked at Leo.
‘Wind Aura and Earth Aura.’
He’s using multiple elemental auras simultaneously.
“It’s Hero Ability.”
“Wrong.”
Leo chuckled.
Chwa-rreu-reuk-! Chii-i-i-i-ik-!
Water Aura gushed from Leo’s hand, extinguishing the flames.
“It’s fundamentally the same as the Aura cultivation method you learned, isn’t it?”
What he was using now was the Aura cultivation method he gifted to Bihar.
‘Arion created the basics, and I created the specifics.’
The Aura cultivation method born from the hands of the two great heroes was tailored to Bihar.
Bihar was born with mana characteristics that allowed him to naturally wield all four major elements.
‘The Aura cultivation method must have changed over generations.’
To specialize in the innate attribute.
That's why even if they learn the same Aura cultivation method, different attributes manifest.
The form has changed, but the essence is the same.
‘I made it, but it’s hard to use as well as she does.’
It was an ability used as a temporary measure to deal with various attributes, but it was difficult to use as freely as Bihar.
Leo re-gripped his sword.
“So.”
“…?”
“Is this all?”
Xian's face hardened.
“You were talking as if you’d use something amazing, but all you can do is borrow someone else’s abilities?”
“Arrogant…”
Kwang- Hwa-rreu-reuk-!
Suddenly, Leo’s sword was swung, aiming for Xian’s neck.
Xian barely parried it, his eyes wide.
Bba-deu-deuk- Cha-eung-!
The cracked Hero Weapon broke.
Xian hastily ducked his head.
Hwoong-!
Leo’s sword swept past where his neck had been, with a menacing force.
Puh-eok-!
“Kkkh?”
Leo’s knee slammed into Xian’s face as he ducked.
Seeing Xian float in the air, Leo bent his knee.
Jjeo-jeok-!
As Leo leaped, the floor caved in with a ‘Pook-!’ sound.
Shwii-ik! Seo-geok-!
“Kkkh?”
Leo’s sword sliced Xian’s side.
Starting with that, Leo used the narrow corridor to leap at incredible speed, slashing Xian from all directions.
Blood began to spray from Xian’s body, suspended in mid-air.
He instinctively avoided vital points and resisted, but he was powerlessly cut by Leo’s sword.
Leo’s eyes glowed sharply in the darkness.
Boo-ak-!
Xian’s right arm cut through the air.
Teol-seok-! Poo-hwak-!
Xian barely landed on the floor.
“This can’t be… I… I’m destined to be a great hero!”
Xian mumbled as if out of his mind.
He couldn't believe the existence of Leo, who had completely overwhelmed him.
Leo approached to strike Xian's neck.
“It’s unfair! You gained great power because you conquered Lady Luna’s world! That’s why you’re stronger than me!”
“I haven’t used any magic at all fighting you, though?”
Leo scoffed at Xian, who was denying reality.
“If I inherit the power of a great hero, I’ll be a great hero! If I get the sword related to Kyle, which is stored in this country, and conquer that world…! If I obtain the power of a great hero, I can become strong!”
Leo’s eyes twitched, watching Xian rave, out of his mind.
‘My sword?’
The known history of the Shan Empire is 4000 years.
And considering that Bihar is their ancestor, the history of Shan spans 5000 years.
‘It wouldn’t be strange to have something related to me.’
“If I inherit the power of the Hero of Beginnings, not the abilities of these insignificant heroes!”
“Have you ever considered that the heroes’ abilities aren’t insignificant, but that you’re just terrible?”
“You bastard!”
Sparks flew from Xian’s eyes.
It was then that Leo raised his sword to end Xian’s life.
Gooooo-
At that moment.
Something stirred in Xian’s shadow.
Hwa-ak-!
Leo’s eyes twitched at the sight of a giant bone blade piercing through the shadow.
‘It’s Hel Kaiser’s necromancy.’
Tta-dak- Tta-da-dak-
The skeleton that emerged from the shadow clicked its jaw.
Then, with crimson eyes gleaming, it looked at Leo and bowed politely.
“It is an honor to meet you, Sir Leo Plob.”
Leo’s eyes twitched at the polite voice.
It was a familiar voice.
Flesh began to emanate from the white bones.
Soon, the fierce-looking giant, who had taken the form of a living human and was about 2 meters tall, wore a gentle smile, contrary to his intimidating appearance.
“It is an honor to meet you, who is called the greatest hero candidate of this era. I am…”
The man, baring his white teeth, introduced himself.
“Atkan, the Grand Duke of Dirges.”