Book 1 Chapter 394

The expedition's journey continued.

They arrived near the place where it was expected to find the Gluttony King, Yormungandr, about whom Leo had spoken.

The expedition members also put on a noticeably tense expression.

"Let's rest here for today," Lissinas said, even though there was still time before sunset.

This was because they couldn't carelessly enter a dangerous zone, where they might encounter Yormungandr, at night.

Thus, the expedition set up camp and prepared for a meal.

'The atmosphere is heavy.'

Rhodia, while lighting a campfire with magic, looked around.

They might soon have to battle Yormungandr, who was considered the strongest Legion Commander.

It was natural for them to feel tense.

'Not a single Legion Commander has ever been defeated in this era.'

Although they set out on an expedition to defeat Yormungandr at the risk of their lives,

it was natural to tremble with anxiety.

After lighting the campfire, Rhodia approached Leo, who was looking at a map in a corner.

"Kail-nim."

"What."

Leo, without looking up from the map, replied indifferently, and Rhodia said,

"Shouldn't we inform the expedition about the plan to defeat Yormungandr soon?"

To Rhodia's words, Leo replied calmly,

"There is no plan."

"What?"

"Yormungandr is a Legion Commander against whom no plan will work."

Leo took his eyes off the map and looked at Rhodia.

Rhodia made a bewildered expression.

"How can that be?"

"Where? It's right here. You've fought the Gluttony King before, so you should know."

Rhodia recalled the Gluttony King.

A Legion Commander with overwhelming power.

Even Rhodia, the leader of the Heroes of Genesis, felt a shiver.

'Except for the fragments of Erebus, he was the strongest enemy.'

He was literally the strongest demon.

"Unfortunately, he's not someone you can make plans or strategies for," Leo said with a small sigh.

"Compared to the past, the expedition's current strength has increased. And unlike last time when we suddenly encountered Yormungandr and fought without proper preparation, now we are definitely prepared to defeat him. However," Leo said with emphasis,

"the fact that the expedition will be annihilated if even the slightest mistake is made remains unchanged. The victory 5000 years ago was also a victory close to a miracle."

It was only when he had achieved complete growth, both physically and mentally, that he gained the power to overwhelm Yormungandr.

It was when he reached the era known as the King of Wisdom and the Hero of the Beginning.

"Then how on earth did you defeat Yormungandr?"

"I transcended my limits."

Leo chuckled.

"While I drew his attention, Lissinas pierced his heart."

"As expected of Lissinas-nim!"

Rhodia clasped her hands and her eyes sparkled.

"It's the same now. While I draw his attention, others will attack."

"Will Yormungandr willingly target only Kail-nim?"

"We have to make him. It's true that he has overwhelming power among all Legion Commanders. Yet, do you know why he couldn't serve as the central role of Tartarus?"

"…I don't know. I've never thought about it."

"Because he's stupid."

"What?"

For a moment, Rhodia wore a dumbfounded expression.

All the Legion Commanders she knew were demons with immense power and equally cunning intelligence.

That's why Legion Commanders were frightening.

But the Gluttony King, the strongest Legion Commander, was a fool with only strength?

"If that guy could think even half as much as the Lord of the Undead, the world would have been destroyed long ago. If you insult Erebus, he'll go mad and only target me."

"Okay. I understand the plan where Kail-nim distracts Yormungandr to create an opening. But is it possible for Kail-nim to withstand Yormungandr's focused assault with your current strength?"

"It's possible. That's why I made a pact with Albus."

Leo showed the contract circle on the back of his hand.

"His recklessness is a terrible disaster in itself, but it can also be a fatal flaw."

Leo's red eyes glinted.

"I will create the opportunity."

Leo readily declared he would take on the most dangerous role.

"You just need to pierce his heart when he's full of openings."

At that moment.

Kugugugugugu-!

The ground began to shake as if an earthquake had occurred.

"Wh-what?"

"Something's coming!"

As the expedition panicked.

Kwagagagagagagang-!

Something enormous shot up from a place far from the campsite.

A giant snake.

-Kuooh oh oh oh oh oh oh!

A chilling roar erupted from the mouth of the snake, which shot up as if to pierce the sky.

"Yormungandr!"

***

"What is it?"

"He actually showed up!"

"Everyone, prepare for battle! Prepare for battle!"

The expedition fell into a panic at Yormungandr's appearance.

They hastily formed formations and prepared for battle.

Knights and warriors gripped their weapons.

Mages chanted spells, and summoners summoned their respective familiars.

Up to this moment, most of the expedition members had been dubious about Leo's words that they would have to fight Yormungandr.

That's why everyone was terrified when Yormungandr appeared.

However, even though they were terrified, they did not cower.

They had all weathered the Age of Disaster and were veteran warriors who had defended Gardsron for a long time.

Even if they didn't leave their names in history, they were heroes who laid the foundation for the Age of Heroes.

Even in their fear, they did not neglect their duties.

Meanwhile, Leo and Rhodia, who had been certain of Yormungandr's existence, were the most surprised.

"It's far from where the battle originally happened!" Rhodia said urgently.

Leo clicked his tongue.

"You know that just because it happened that way in actual history, it doesn't mean it will happen the same way in the Hero Record! Unexpected situations can always occur!"

"But… this is too much of a deviation!"

"Nothing will change. You prepare for battle too!"

At Leo's words, Rhodia also joined the formation with the expedition.

Meanwhile, Lissinas ran over.

"Kail! It's just as you said!"

"Yes."

Leo clenched and unclenched his fists.

Meanwhile, Allox, who had formed the formation, said,

"I, Kail, and Alene will advance to the front!"

"No."

Leo shook his head.

"I will stop him alone. Allox, Alene. You aim for his openings."

"What?"

Allox's complexion changed drastically.

"Kail! Even for you, that's too reckless a plan! To stop him alone!"

"Allox is right! Kail! What are you thinking!"

Lissinas, with a pale face, grabbed Leo's clothes.

"No one in this expedition can match my mobility. I made a contract with the King of Pegasus."

Leo looked at Yormungandr.

"That monster cannot be killed with ordinary attacks. You all, except for me, must exert your full strength to inflict a fatal blow."

"Even so, stopping Yormungandr alone is close to impossible."

"Unfortunately, these are the tasks we must undertake from now on."

"What?"

Leo looked at the expedition.

"To save the world, we must make the impossible possible."

Everyone wore a dazed expression.

"And defeating that damned snake here is the beginning of a step to save the world."

Leo said seriously.

"Don't worry about me. I am a hero who survives. Even if everyone here dies, I will survive until the very end."

"You're saying something unpleasant," Ferric let out a hollow laugh.

"Can you really stop him?"

"Yes."

"Then, I entrust the front to you."

"If you falter even a little, I'll help you immediately."

"Please, Kail."

Allox and Alene patted Leo's shoulder.

"Everyone, take your positions."

Rhodia formed the formation.

The heroes moved swiftly.

Meanwhile, Leo said to Lissinas, who was still clutching his clothes.

"Don't worry too much."

Leo gently removed Lissinas's hand from his clothes.

"This battle will be the beginning of a great journey."

At Leo's words, Lissinas nodded heavily.

***

Kugugugugugung-!

-Are these insects that crawled out of Gardsron!

As Yormungandr crawled along the ground, he sneered at the presence he felt from afar.

-I smell dragon. Their meat is a delicacy!

Sniff sniff-

Yormungandr, who had followed the ominous scent all the way here, flicked his tongue.

His ravenous appetite surged, befitting the name Gluttony King.

Meanwhile, the Gluttony King spotted someone flying towards him.

-Hmph, a gnat foolishly coming alone…

As Yormungandr scoffed at the human flying towards him alone, his body froze for a moment.

It was carried by the wind.

An ominous smell of blood.

Not a scent that was actually emanating.

A scent deeply ingrained in the soul of the human flying towards him.

'What is this… this stench?'

It was a scent he desperately wanted to avoid.

But before that…

Kugugugugugung-!

The earth shook.

More accurately, Yormungandr's body was trembling.

The Legion Commander called the strongest.

'What on earth is this… this fear?'

His instincts were speaking.

Yormungandr felt an indescribable terror towards that mere human.

Another scent, hidden by Erebus's scent.

'My blood scent?'

The primal fear of not wanting to face the human before him made him, the strongest Legion Commander, seem so pathetic.

But before that…

He felt a hatred that overwhelmed all of it.

'This is impossible!'

Yormungandr's sense of smell, which had even caught the scent of souls, was telling him.

That human had killed him, and even the great god he worshipped.

He was a being whose very existence was a blasphemy to everything he was.

Yormungandr began to thrash as if having a seizure.

Primal fear and hatred had robbed him of his reason.

-Kieeeeeeeeeeeeee-!

Yormungandr rolled his eyes back and let out a scream-filled roar towards the sky.

"It's been a while, Yormungandr."

Leo, who had reached in front of the raging Yormungandr, said.

-God Slayer! I do not know a being as filthy as you!

"I suppose so. But I know you."

A strong killing intent emanated from Leo's body.

"By the way, God Slayer? I've never killed a god?"

-Shut up! You cannot reach God! Today, here! Your existence will be erased!

Yormungandr, his reason paralyzed, spat out curses of hatred indiscriminately.

Leo narrowed his eyes as he looked at the raging Yormungandr.

'This bastard, for some reason, knows what I'll do in the future, doesn't he?'

Leo narrowed his eyes.

'But nothing changes.'

The fact that he had to defeat Yormungandr here and now remained unchanged.

Woong-!

Leo raised his spirit energy.

Along with it, pure white lightning swirled.

Pajijijijik! Flash-!

Leo, having summoned Albus, said while riding on it,

"Albus, fly."

Saying so, Leo pulled on the reins made of spirit energy.

Kwagagagagagang-!

At that moment, Yormungandr's destructive breath engulfed Leo.

But Leo was no longer there.

Yormungandr's six pupils stared at the sky far above.

-…. It's finally starting.

Albus muttered, looking down at Yormungandr.

"Yes. We have to finish off this worm."

Leo gently stroked Albus's mane.

"Please understand if I'm a bit rough in our first battle, young lady."

-Kail, please don't be swayed by my power.

At Albus's words, Leo smiled.

-But you said your goal was to stop that hateful being alone? Is that possible?

"It's possible, but… seeing him go mad, I think I'll have to reveal my trump card a bit sooner."

-Trump card? Was there another trump card besides me?

Leo burst into laughter as he looked at Albus, who spoke in a slightly petulant voice.

"Yes. I intended to summon it later because I thought it might arouse unnecessary suspicion."

-Suspicion?

The moment Albus wore a puzzled expression.

Leo spread his arms to the sides.

Woong-!

At that moment, spirit energy swirled on the back of Leo's hands.

Contract circles of gold and black appeared.

The moment Albus realized that power, her eyes widened.

-This power is…!

Albus asked as if she couldn't believe it.

-Kail, what exactly is your identity? How on earth…!

"My identity… People do call me that, you know."

Leo burst into laughter and forcibly executed the 'Unbound Pact'.

"The Hero of the Beginning."

A summoning circle appeared.

Leo called the name of the contractor.

"Elsie, Silode."

At that call, the contractors revealed themselves.