Book 1 Chapter 298
298
KA-GA-GA-GANG-!
“Hhhuup!”
Dwenoo tensed his entire body as he saw the shockwave soaring before him like a wave.
Veins bulged on his forehead-!
Leo threw himself forward, hiding behind Dwenoo.
KU-GA-GA-GA-GANG-!
The shockwave storm engulfed Dwenoo head-on.
“Hryaaah!”
Dwenoo, using his Battle Axe as a shield, withstood the shockwave storm.
As the shockwave dissipated, Dwenoo readjusted his grip on the axe and lowered his stance to charge at Gias.
St-stop-!
Dwenoo’s movement ceased.
“What’s wrong?”
Leo, who had been looking on with a puzzled expression, also turned pale.
Thump-! Thump-!
Gias also stopped walking and looked towards Gadsron.
-Heeheehee.
Seeing Gias burst into laughter, Dwenoo re-gripped his Battle Axe.
“That’s an unsettling laugh.”
-Leo Flov.
Gias’s gaze turned to Leo.
-You said it, didn’t you? That you are the biggest variable in the plan I set? Yes, I admit it. I did not anticipate your existence. And you are bothering me more than I expected. I’ll give you credit for that.
Leo scowled at the sudden remark.
-I don’t know how you got here. This world has not yet been ‘dungeonized.’
‘Not a Hero Dungeon?’
Hero Dungeon.
A phenomenon where an unstable Hero Record goes berserk and encroaches on the surrounding area.
A side effect caused by Erebus being sealed within the Hero Record.
A rampage caused by pages corrupted by Erebus’s power.
Leo had always believed that Dwenoo’s world was a Hero Dungeon created by such a rampage.
But Gias said it wasn’t.
‘If Dwenoo’s Hero Record wasn’t corrupted by Erebus’s power… then perhaps the hero’s world was activated because Eiran touched it.’
Berkia was clearly one of the main characters of this world.
Berkia had fully entered the battlefield after the Battle of Gadsron.
Eiran, a descendant of such Berkias.
And since Eiran possessed the Erquinte that Leo had given him, Eiran became the key.
‘In that case… how in the world did this guy get in here?’
-Aren’t you curious? About why I was able to enter this unpleasant world?
Gias’s eyes gleamed.
-It was the guidance of a great god.
“What?”
-The god bestowed upon me the key to enter this world. And now, the god has awakened from a long slumber and opened his eyes.
Heh-
Gias grinned, baring his disgusting teeth.
-It doesn’t matter if you become a variable. This place will be your grave, and this world will burn and perish. Khahahaha!
Dwenoo spoke in response to Gias’s taunt.
“Go back to Gadsron.”
-Whether you go or not, the result will be the same.
Thump-!
Gias’s massive foot blocked the path leading to Gadsron.
-Do you think I will let you do as you please?
At those words, Dwenoo nonchalantly pulled back his Battle Axe as if to reload.
Whoosh-! Crack-!
-Tch?!
“Your opinion is of no concern to me, Gias.”
The Battle Axe, spinning at incredible speed, sliced into Gias’s ankle.
“I told this friend to go back to Gadsron. That means I will make sure it happens, no matter what you do.”
Thump-!
Gias, with his ankle severed, lost his balance and collapsed to the ground.
Seizing the opportunity, Leo leaped towards Gadsron at tremendous speed.
-Do you think I will let you go?!
Gias swung his free arm at Leo.
Whoosh-!
Dwenoo charged at Gias’s palm with furious speed.
Crash-!
With a headbutt from Dwenoo, Gias’s hand, aimed at Leo, was knocked away.
-That bastard!
Enraged, Gias struck Dwenoo with his other hand.
Whoosh! Crash-!
Hit by Gias’s hand, Dwenoo was slammed into the ground at incredible speed.
A deep crater was formed.
CRASH-!
However, Dwenoo burst through the crater and rammed his head into Gias’s jaw.
-Gasp?!
Gias, who had been trying to stop Leo, staggered and fell to the ground.
Tap-!
Dwenoo, landing on the ground, said.
“Didn’t I tell you? You have no choice but to let this friend go.”
Rumble-!
Gias’s severed ankle regenerated, and he rose to his feet.
-A futile struggle…
CRUNCH-!
Gias got back up.
His size was like that of a giant mountain.
He looked down at Dwenoo, the smallest of all races, a dwarf.
Dwenoo looked up at Gias, whose height seemed endless.
-The fire of the god will ultimately burn everything.
Gias raised the Corpse Sword of Jormungandr.
-It will burn endlessly until everything turns to ashes. No matter how much you struggle, your fate… the fate of this world will not change.
Gias’s eyes gleamed.
-You and your companions… everything is destined to burn and disappear.
“You talk with such confidence. Yet, your future seems to shine brilliantly.”
Gias’s eyes twitched at Dwenoo’s words.
-You…
“Doesn’t that mean… our expedition was successful?”
Dwenoo burst into insane laughter.
“I don’t know what you came to this distant past to change.”
Dwenoo’s eyes gleamed.
“Your future will not change.”
-Speak all you want. I will not listen to the ramblings of a ghost from the past.
Gias’s veins began to swell.
-And this fight is just beginning.
‘A divine power.’
Giant King Gias’s divine power, Berserker.
The moment Berserker is activated, all his strength surges, and he transforms into a destructive demon who only wreaks havoc.
It was the Berserker Gias who ultimately destroyed Dwenoo’s homeland.
‘The drawback is… loss of reason.’
A giant body is also a giant target.
No matter how strong the defense, it will eventually break down under continuous attacks.
While his immense size granted Gias immense destructive power, it also made him excessively cautious of everything.
A monster that destroys everything without looking ahead is, in a sense, prey with many places to attack.
It was a divine power that was truly a double-edged sword.
‘This time, I will sever that persistent ill-fated bond.’
***
Tap-!
Leo, having returned to the walls of Gadsron, hardened his expression as he witnessed the scene before him.
KA-GA-GA-GANG-!
Amidst the burning black flames, Arion was seen engaged in a fierce sword fight with a demon made of black fire.
Crack-!
Arion’s kick struck the demon of flame in the abdomen.
Crash-!
The demon, moving at an invisible speed, slammed into the city wall.
Arion, baring his teeth, lunged forward towards the demon and raised his hand.
KA-GA-GAK-!
Sharp claws tore at the demon of flame.
Tang! Tang! Clang-!
As the demon’s body scattered into flames, a piece of metal fell from its center.
Leo’s gaze was captured by the molten metal.
He felt a familiar energy.
The only weapon Dwenoo considered a masterpiece.
A sword that existed only once in this world, for all classes.
The sword Dwenoo gave to Kyle, with the meaning of opening the path to the future.
“Fostritas.”
In the final battle against Erebus.
Fostritas fulfilled its duty and was broken in two.
It wasn’t broken.
The tip of the sword, which had melted and embedded itself in Erebus’s body, had broken off.
The whereabouts of the remaining half were unknown after that.
Kyle closed his eyes with all his might.
The hilt, which Kyle held until the very end, was recovered by the dwarves much later.
The other parts were thought to have melted and disappeared.
But… it had come to this hero’s world in a state where not even its form remained properly.
‘The god bestowed upon me the key to enter this world. And now, the god has awakened from a long slumber and opened his eyes.’
Gias’s words from a moment ago echoed.
At that moment.
Flash-
Crimson eyes appeared from the sword.
Those hateful crimson eyes gazed at Leo with palpable hatred.
Upon seeing those eyes, Leo felt goosebumps all over his body.
He had seen those eyes before.
A single will.
Hatred-filled hostility towards Leo.
Sometime after the entrance exam.
It was the same as Erebus’s eyes, seen for a fleeting moment.
Whoosh-!
Flames erupted from the fragment of Fostritas, taking on a human form once more.
But this time, the target was none other than Leo.
Whoosh-!
Just then, Arga, seizing the opening, attacked the demon’s flank.
Thwack-!
“Huh?!”
A spell, activated instantly, blocked Arga’s attack.
Along with that…
Wooooong-!
A summoning circle appeared, and demonic beasts poured out.
Demonic beasts with hideous forms opened their mouths, attempting to bite Leo’s neck.
KA-GA-GAK-!
Silver aura swirled, and Eiran sliced off the heads of the demonic beasts.
“Leo! Are you okay?”
“……I’m fine.”
Leo’s expression hardened.
“Stop reviving and just die already!”
With a voice filled with rage, Lunia’s red flames engulfed the demon.
But the demon pierced through those flames.
Arga and Eiran swung their claws and swords to stop the demon.
But even as its body was torn apart, the demon’s sword was aimed at Leo.
Leo’s eyes turned cold.
Crack-!
Suddenly, his head floated in the air.
Leo, drawing his sword, severed the demon’s neck.
“This is unpleasant.”
He realized.
This was Erebus’s lingering consciousness.
‘Is this how he entered this world?’
The dregs of consciousness left by Erebus.
The lingering consciousness, dormant in the tip of Fostritas’s sword, had somehow awakened for some reason.
And it had summoned Gias.
The dregs of consciousness that entered the hero’s world were influenced by his past self in this world, gradually regaining power and awakening.
‘And it read the memories imbued in Fostritas and took on its form?’
Leo’s expression hardened at the completely unexpected situation.
‘I have to deal with this quickly.’
When kindling touches dying embers, the embers reignite.
Though it was a small spark now, it would gradually grow into a large ember.
As Leo gritted his teeth.
Whoosh-!
A magic circle appeared in the air, and a boy materialized.
Leo knew the boy.
‘Jers.’
A dragon boy who had lost his life in the Battle of Gadsron in the past.
“A-Arion! From the west of Gadsron…! Th-the Giant King and his legion have appeared…!”
“What?”
Arion’s eyes were filled with shock.
Not just Arion.
Everyone who heard the report turned pale.
“B-but! The Giant King is being held off by Dwenoo right now! So why is the Giant King appearing again?”
An elf mage exclaimed in a desperate voice.
“I-I don’t know the reason either, even if you say that…!”
Jers looked flustered.
The future Gias was being dealt with by Dwenoo.
The appearance of a past Gias was within the expected range.
However, Erebus’s lingering consciousness was not.
It was too desperate.
‘Should I defeat this guy and quickly go to the west entrance? But if the west entrance collapses in the meantime…’
Leo gritted his teeth.
There weren’t enough hands.
What Leo could handle alone was within the expected range.
The situation had spiraled out of control beyond his expectations.
“Arion! Everyone! Hurry to the west!”
Jers stamped his feet impatiently.
Whoooooosh! CRASH!
“Kyaaaak!”
“Wh-what! Is it an attack?!”
Something flew from Gias’s direction and embedded itself in the city wall.
Amidst the panic of everyone, Dwenoo emerged from the dust.
“Cough! That hurt!”
Tap-tap-!
He said nonchalantly as he brushed off the dust, but his appearance was a mess.
Dwenoo looked at the black flames that had begun to burn again, narrowed his eyes, and asked Leo.
“What is that?”
“……It seems… like a fragment of Erebus.”
“A fragment.”
Dwenoo stroked his chin.
“D-Dwenoo! Another Giant King Gias and his legion have appeared in the west!”
“Is that so?”
Dwenoo’s eyes darkened.
Sighing deeply, Dwenoo said.
“Arion, you block the ones in the west. Leo, you assist Arion.”
At those words, Arion hesitated.
“Then what about Erebus?”
“He’s interfering greatly with the battle, so he needs to be dealt with.”
“Dealt with? Where?”
“Where else?”
Dwenoo charged forward, re-gripped his axe, and swung it sideways at Erebus’s lingering consciousness.
CLANG-!
With a tremendous sound like striking metal, Erebus’s lingering consciousness was sent flying into the city.
CRASH-!
Buildings collapsed, raising thick dust.
“That needs to be dealt with inside the city.”
At those words, Defeser said.
“I and the dragons will handle it.”
“No, you all block the Giant King’s legion that appeared in the west.”
Dwenoo glanced at Erebus’s lingering consciousness.
“That’s for Berqia, Lunia, Ar, Eiran, Driana, and Kal. You all handle it.”
“Yes!”
“Understood.”
Ar replied with a strong voice, and Lunia loosened her knuckles, glaring in the direction of Erebus’s lingering consciousness.
Watching them, Leo approached Dwenoo and spoke so only he could hear.
“It’s dangerous.”
Leo said.
“You know how strong that guy is, don’t you? Even with me joining your chosen members, it won’t be enough!”
The power of Erebus’s lingering consciousness, which had begun to flare up in a short period, was immense.
It was enough to completely overturn the battlefield situation Leo had predicted.
It was truly a desperate variable.
The six chosen by Dwenoo were indeed strong.
But they were still incomplete vessels of heroes.
Asking them to face the greatly empowered Erebus’s lingering consciousness was too reckless.
“But I can’t let you face that guy. Arion will need you.”
“Still…”
“There’s no other way. It’s a dead end.”
Dwenoo looked into Leo’s eyes with a calm expression.
Leo clenched his fist.
“So, trust them.”
“……What?”
“Trust the future you chose.”
“……!”
“From what I see, these children are ready to face their trials.”
Dwenoo looked at Leo with calm eyes.
“They can be a strong support to stand by your side. So, trust them.”
Leo turned his head and looked at his friends preparing for battle.
“You can’t carry it all alone forever, can you?”
“…….”
Leo closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
“I haven’t lived all these years for nothing.”
“Heh. Even Richinas consults me about life.”
“Richinas?”
“Yes. It’s more like a complaint due to some idiot’s foolish actions.”
Leo let out a hollow laugh at Dwenoo’s scathing remark.
Dwenoo looked at Gias, who was rampaging wildly.
“Well then, shall we start the second round?”
***
Thump! Thump!
Everyone who came to the west wall was terrified by the horrifying sight unfolding before them.
Overwhelming despair dominated their minds.
It was nearly impossible for Arion alone to hold back the legion and its commanders.
“Are we… going to end like this?”
Someone mumbled with a trembling voice.
“Are we going to be destroyed like this?”
Desperate voices could be heard.
Fear is highly contagious.
And the fear that began to seep in gave birth to endless new fears.
At that moment.
ROOOOAR-!
A wolf’s roar echoed throughout Gadsron.
The legion’s advance halted at that roar.
The eyes of everyone who had been terrified sharpened.
The contagious fear vanished in an instant.
The echoing howling stopped abruptly.
“Everyone, get ready to fight.”
A voice that had always been timid pierced everyone’s ears calmly.
Tap-!
Arion, who had appeared on the city wall at some point, drew his sword.
Screeeech-!
Along with that, his body began to transform.
His fangs grew longer, and his claws sharpened.
Fur bristled all over his body.
“We might end today.”
Calmly… Arion, having made up his mind, said in a composed voice.
“But it might not be the end, right?”
Arion looked back at the heroes fighting to their deaths for the future.
“We’ve come this far because we never gave up. We saw hope because we didn’t give up, right?”
Arion smiled.
“So, let’s be a little braver.”
It wasn’t a flamboyant speech.
It was just a small encouragement to be brave.
But.
The encouragement from the coward standing at the forefront gave strength to everyone.
“Honestly, you’re better at speeches than Richinas in times like these.”
Wheeee! Tap-!
Leo, standing next to Arion, said with a smile.
Courage surged in everyone’s eyes.
If fear is contagious.
Courage is also contagious.
“We can win.”
Leo said to Arion with a tone of conviction.
“And to do that…”
Leo put his left hand into his pocket.
And between his left fingers, he held four-colored orbs: red, blue, silver, and brown.
“That’s why I’m here.”