Book 1 Chapter 349

Watching the corpses of monsters begin to stir, Angre and Eclair flinched and trembled.

The phenomenon of corpses rising and moving.

They had studied what this was countless times in class.

The necromancers under Tartaros's Legion Commander, the Death King.

A product of necromancy, considered the most vicious of Tartaros's wicked magic.

'Undead…!'

The first-year students taking the exam showed surprised expressions at the appearance of undead.

The presence of undead suddenly appearing in a test against monsters was bound to be bewildering.

Especially for the first-year students, while they had combat experience against monsters, they had no combat experience against the undead.

However, soon, like true hero candidates, the first-year students responded quickly.

"Hmph, a mere low-level undead."

A female student from the advanced class stepped forward, scoffing.

She glanced at the lower-class students and gritted her teeth.

'To think I'd lose to a lower-class student?!'

Advanced Class.

Especially the overwhelming pride of Class 1.

But that pride was shattered mercilessly.

In this exam, the advanced class boasted an overwhelming score.

But that was entirely due to Lea's power.

Not a single person from the advanced class had performed as impressively as a lower-class student.

Besides the female student, other students also bolstered their fighting spirit.

Their pressure was particularly immense.

They felt the cold gazes of their admired, sky-like seniors mixed with doubt.

'I'll prove why I'm in advanced Class 1!'

Wuuung-!

Magic was cast.

Kwahng-!

A fierce explosion and shockwave swept through.

The undead's flesh scattered in all directions.

Seeing this, the advanced class cheered.

"These low-level undead! They're no threat at all!"

"Right!"

The students of the advanced class shouted triumphantly.

Watching them, Lea narrowed her eyes.

"Conserve your magic. When dealing with the undead, you must consider a long battle."

"Lea. This is just an exam, not a real battle. Besides, we're in the heart of Seirun."

A male student grinned.

"Without a supply of dark magic, the undead won't revive infinitely…"

Squirm-squirm-

The scattered flesh began to squirm and clump together.

Seeing the monsters return to their original forms in an instant, the advanced class students showed slightly bewildered expressions.

"The undead are indeed tenacious."

But they soon used magic as if it were laughable.

They unleashed magic upon the undead that kept reviving.

However, as this was repeated several times, the advanced class students also began to tire.

"Why! Why is there no end!"

"W-we'll be defeated at this rate!"

Bewilderment spread across the faces of the advanced class students.

"We have no choice but to ask for help. This is an unexpected situation!"

A male student said urgently.

It was true.

This was an unforeseen, sudden situation.

But the first-year students had no worries at all.

This was the heart of Seirun.

They believed that they wouldn't be allowed to be in danger.

"Kiiigigig!"

The undead let out unpleasant sounds and charged at the first-year students.

Even monsters have a fear of death.

However, the dead have no fear of death.

That was one of the most terrifying aspects of the undead.

Chomp-!

"Gyah?!"

A crude goblin's sword pierced the shoulder of one of the advanced class students.

Clutching his shoulder, he collapsed to the ground and rolled around.

"M-my arm!"

Screams of pain erupted.

The pain was amplified by the undead's characteristic venom.

"Wh-what is this?"

"Teacher! There's an injured person here!"

The advanced class students shouted urgently.

However, the teachers of Seirun showed no signs of intervening.

Not only the teachers.

The other upperclassmen also watched the first-year students with cold eyes.

The immortal army, endlessly reviving, pushed forward endlessly.

"S-save me!"

"Get me out of here!"

The students, thrown into a sudden real battle, began to panic and scream.

***

"S-shouldn't we help?"

"Teachers! Seniors! Something terrible will happen if this continues!"

Urgent cries erupted from among the first-year students watching outside the test grounds.

But no one reacted.

"Pathetic fools! If you're in crisis because you can't even handle one undead, are you even worthy of being students of Seirun!"

Geras shouted, his veins bulging.

"Don't tarnish the pride of Seirun!"

Geras's shout made the faces of the first-year students contort.

The lower-class students looked at Laura with bewildered eyes.

"Teacher Laura! You must save the children quickly…"

"Everyone. This is a test you are taking as students of Seirun."

Laura's stern voice made the lower-class students tremble.

"It is true that you are still immature first-year students. But before that… you are hero candidates."

Lea spoke with emphasis.

"You are the ones who must bravely face trials and earn the qualifications of a hero."

At Laura's resolute words, the lower-class students clenched their fists.

"You don't need to worry too much."

Leo said, looking at the test grounds.

"If it were truly beyond their ability, the teachers or seniors would have intervened long ago."

Leo said, watching the lower-class students fighting the undead.

'I can feel the Death King's magic, but the Death King isn't pulling the strings.'

Leo's eyes narrowed.

'The magic is too crude.'

He knew more about the Death King's magic than anyone.

It was tiresomely familiar.

'They are merely borrowing the Death King's dark magic.'

Leo's expression vanished.

'Then why did the magic suddenly activate?'

The monsters procured by Seirun for the exam were monsters that could be encountered in the wild.

They were undoubtedly monsters captured in the elf territory.

'If they had tampered with the monsters beforehand, Seirun would have known.'

Nor could demons have invaded Seirun.

The barrier of the Hero Academy was strong.

Moreover, after last year's monster queen's attack, Seirun had extensively inspected its barriers and strengthened its defenses.

No matter how great a demon, it would be difficult to invade so easily.

Yet, dark magic using the Death King's power was activated.

'There's someone within Seirun who's dealing with the Death King.'

A glint appeared in Leo's eyes.

A murderous aura flickered.

During the Age of Calamity, he had buried countless traitors in the darkness.

The anger that surged was far greater than in the past.

Back then, Erebus was a time when the world was heading for ruin.

Survival is the instinct of the living.

It was an unavoidable era for traitors to emerge.

But now it was different.

It was an era of peace, and there was no reason to betray.

'Moreover! Those who claim to follow Luna!'

He wanted to tear apart the traitors immediately.

'But if they weren't fools, they wouldn't have left any traces.'

Leo's mind raced.

'The important thing now is why they suddenly did this.'

Using undead in the middle of an exam.

The undead army before him, though composed of low-level undead, were spirits revived through the Death King's magic.

It wasn't impossible for the first-year students' skills to resolve, but they weren't easy opponents.

If Leo stepped in, it would be over in an instant.

But Leo watched.

'If you truly wish to follow Luna… if you wish to inherit Seirun's will.'

Leo's expression turned cold.

'Prove now that you are not hothouse flowers, but the sprouts of heroes.'

***

The undead army surged like a raging tide.

It wasn't just the advanced class that was overwhelmed by its momentum.

"I can't hold on any longer!"

A male student from Angre's squad shouted urgently.

At his cry, Angre, who was using magic, took a deep breath.

"Let's use it."

"Use what?"

"Aura."

At Angre's words, the male student showed an urgent expression.

"Hey! Using abilities other than magic during the exam results in failure!"

At that, Angre said,

"And yet, we're just going to use magic? Is that not our true strength?"

Angre extended his hand.

A silver spear from his subspace materialized.

"My family has been spear knights for generations, and I've always been proud of that fact."

Angre said with a smile.

"I came to Seirun to become a hero, not a magician."

"Angre."

"This is me. Me, as a hero candidate."

Goooooo-!

Aura swirled around Angre's body.

"If what I take pride in and my path are not recognized."

Huuung-! Tak-

Angre gripped his spear and lowered his stance.

"I don't think I need to be in Seirun."

Seeing Angre's fierce will, the frontline students of the lower class exchanged glances and burst into laughter, drawing their weapons.

Aura imbued their weapons.

"Yeah, you're right!"

"Just using magic is frustrating! I'm a knight!"

The lower-class students, with relieved expressions, had sharp eyes.

Their usual timid and watchful demeanor was gone.

Kwagagagag-!

As Angre swung his spear, a cold wind swept through.

Angre, enveloped in wind aura, charged into the undead without hesitation.

Kwagagagag-!

The unleashed aura sent the undead flying.

Seeing this, the advanced class students shouted.

"He used Aura!"

"It's cheating! It's a failing grade in the exam!"

Lea said coldly, looking at the advanced class students who were cheering.

"Are you still saying that now?"

At her words, the advanced class students flinched.

Lea, looking at her classmates with a pathetic expression, gazed at the center of the undead horde.

Crack! Crack! Kwajijijik!

Clumps of corpse flesh began to fuse together.

Along with it, a massive clump of flesh, emitting a foul stench and oppressive aura, rose.

"Corpse Golem?"

The faces of the advanced class students turned pale at the appearance of a higher-level undead.

"H-help us!"

"There's no way we can defeat an undead like that with our current strength!"

The advanced class students shouted urgently.

'It's too much to ask these guys to be the front line.'

Lea sighed and moved.

The panicked advanced class students didn't even notice Lea stepping to the front.

"Stella Via."

A path shining like starlight materialized before Lea.

The undead caught in that starlight melted away.

In the distant past, this was the magic used by Seirun, the Comet Mage, when breaking through tens of thousands of undead legions.

While everyone's eyes widened in surprise, Lea, who had reached Angre with elegant steps, said,

"I need a reliable front line. Can you help me?"

Lea smiled and extended her hand.

Seeing Lea, the lower-class students looked at her with wary expressions.

Before them was the pinnacle of the advanced class they so disliked, Lea Tingel.

However, after looking at Lea's hand a few times, Angre smiled and took it.

"Yes."

"Eclair, assist Angre."

"Uh, okay! Got it."

Lea closed her eyes and began to chant.

Seeing her, Angre said,

"A powerful magic is coming! Protect Lea Tingel!"

At Angre's shout, the lower-class students guarded Lea.

Eclair showed a surprised expression at their seamless movement.

Although they hadn't received proper training, their efforts to improve their skills day by day were not in vain.

The bond they had built without giving up on their efforts was now exerting great power.

They connected with just a glance and repelled the onslaught of the undead horde.

Angre blocked the Corpse Golem's advance with his aura slash.

The grotesque corpse's greatsword, covered in flesh, cleaved the air.

Kwahng-! Kwagagagagag-!

"Kuhk?!"

Blocking the greatsword imbued with dark magic, Angre gritted his teeth.

"Who… dares lose! Haaap!"

With a battle cry, he unleashed his aura.

The swirling wind aura sent the corpse's greatsword flying.

At that moment, Lea opened her eyes.

"Lux Strike."

As soon as she unleashed the magic, a powerful flash of light erupted from Lea's staff.

Kwagagagag-!

Lea, who had obliterated the Corpse Golem without a trace, sighed.

Angre, who had poured all his strength into it, also slumped to the ground.

The undead stopped reviving.

It was when the first-year students felt relieved seeing this.

Kwahng-!

Gwoooooooh!

A giant skeleton emerged, piercing through the summoning circle.

Its size was incomparable to the Corpse Golem.

An oppressive pressure and dense aura that overwhelmed the surroundings.

Most importantly, a potent dark magic that seemed to steal the life of living beings just by its existence.

The faces of the first-year students turned pale at the sudden appearance of the highest-level undead.

"Skeleton… King?!"

Angre shouted in shock.

Gwoooooooh-! Kwahng-!

The Skeleton King's sword descended towards Angre.

Angre closed his eyes without realizing it.

Kagagagag! Gagagagag-

And then, he cautiously opened his eyes at the sound of metal scraping.

Angre's eyes widened as he met the gaze of a boy enveloped in flames all over his body.

"Re-Reil…?"

Leo smiled faintly.

"Well done."

Kwagagagag-!

Crimson flames swirled from Leo's body.

Blocking the Skeleton King's attack with one hand, Leo looked at the spectators who were staring at him in surprise and touched his neck.

"Well, by now, those who know will know… I don't need to pretend to be a Seirun student anymore."

Thump-!

Fwah-!

His pointed ears turned into round ears.

Angre's jaw dropped.

"H-human?"

Leo smiled at the astonished Angre and applied force to his hand.

Kuang-!

The Skeleton King's arm shot upwards towards the sky.

"I intended to watch until the end… but the undead are too strong for you to handle right now. So I stepped in."

Leo swung his sword towards the Skeleton King, whose eyes glowed with a 검붉은 (dark red) glow.

Kwagagagagagag-!

The intense Schrödinger's flames soared into the sky.

Kwagak-!

The Skeleton King's body was severed by Leo's sword strike.

Chomp-!

However, it instantly recovered and regained its stance.

Seeing this, Leo narrowed his eyes and kicked off the ground, leaping powerfully.

Hwak-!

Leo, who had reached right in front of the Skeleton King, said,

"Scouting is probably enough, right?"

[Hooh?]

Beyond the Skeleton King's glowing eyes.

The ruler of the hateful dead let out an exclamation as if amused.

"Radius."

Bright light emanated from Leo's hand.

Flash-!

Starlight swirled.

The flash of starlight pierced through the Skeleton King.

Kugugugung! Kwahng-!

The giant Skeleton King's body collapsed.

Thunk-!

Landing lightly on the ground, Leo approached the Skeleton King's eyeball rolling on the ground.

[Leo Froob, what exactly is your identity?]

From beyond its eyes.

The Death King Hell Kaiser asked with interest.

"Me?"

Leo curled the corners of his mouth and lifted his leg.

Chomp-! Puhk-!

Then, after stomping and crushing the Skeleton King's eye, he replied coldly.

"The one who will destroy you."