Book 1 Chapter 431
431.
Upon receiving a call from Melina, Leo secretly slipped out of the training grounds and arrived at the mountain peak.
“A Hero Dungeon appeared, and black flames surged?”
“Yes. I think you should come with me to Delan right away.”
“Alright. But who’s that next to you?”
Leo pointed a finger at the girl standing beside Melina.
A girl with blonde hair and golden eyes.
She had a human form, but Leo could easily tell she was a dragon.
The reason Leo treated Melina with his usual composure despite the presence of a dragon he had never seen before was simple.
If Melina called this dragon here, she wouldn’t question his and Melina’s relationship.
‘Though she doesn’t seem to know my identity.’
The dragon girl stood with a face holding a small question, trying her best not to reveal her emotions.
Melina smiled at Leo’s question.
“This child’s name is Enkinias. I call her En. Though still young, she is a very wise and intelligent child. She serves as the librarian of Dragonia.”
At the mention of Dragonia’s librarian, Leo looked at En once more.
Since Lisinas was called the King of Wisdom, the dragons of this era, proud of being his descendants, pursue knowledge.
As such, Dragonia’s archive was a treasure trove of wisdom, holding countless ancient books collected by dragons.
Furthermore, the Hero Records of dragons are also preserved in Dragonia’s archive.
Therefore, the position of Dragonia’s librarian is a status granted only to special individuals in dragon society.
‘Wasn’t it a position held by Dragon Lord candidates?’
“En, this is Lord Leo Flobe. Please show him proper respect.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lord Leo Flobe. I am Enkinias.”
Melina shook her head as she watched En lift her skirt slightly to bow.
“En. You should greet him with the traditional dragon race salutation.”
“Ah, yes.”
En awkwardly tapped her right chest three times as a greeting.
“Still awkward. I told you to practice.”
“I apologize, Lord.”
‘I don’t think that’s something you should be saying.’
“So, why did you introduce this child to me?”
“En possesses a special ability.”
“A special ability?”
“Yes, En.”
At Melina’s words, En stood before Leo and met his gaze.
Her golden eyes reflected Leo’s face like a mirror.
At that moment, a bright light erupted from En’s entire body.
When the light faded, Leo was standing there.
“Oh?”
“My mana attribute is Copy. This magic is my unique magic, Mirror.”
When changing appearances using illusion magic, there is always some sense of incongruity.
But En’s magic was so perfect it didn’t seem like an illusion at all.
It was literally like looking into a mirror.
“Are you a substitute when I’m away?”
“Yes.”
‘Since Melina prepared her, she must be trustworthy.’
From Leo’s perspective, she was a distant junior, but Melina, as a Dragon Lord, was a dragon who led the world.
He could trust Melina’s handling of matters.
“Then I’ll leave it to you, young lady.”
Leaving En, who would act as his double, Leo headed to Delan with Melina using warp magic.
***
Despite the black flames surging and a Hero Dungeon appearing, the capital Delan was as normal as ever.
As they headed to the dungeon’s location, Melina asked.
“If the Calamity Flame surged, could it be the Hero Record of Genesis after all?”
“High probability, I’d say.”
The fragments of Erebus, sealed by the Heroes of Genesis, are constantly seeking an opportunity to return to reality, using the Hero Records as a pathway.
“If we defeat the Calamity Flame this time too, can we purify it and absorb it as divine power?”
“Perhaps?”
Leo had faced fragments of Erebus in the Hero’s world until now.
‘In Luna’s world, and in Seirun’s world.’
Thinking that far, Leo narrowed his eyes.
‘One fragment of Erebus is sealed in a Hero Record, and another was slumbering in Fairy Land, wasn’t it?’
So far, two fragments of Erebus have been identified.
“Now I have a rough idea of where the third fragment of Erebus is.”
Melina’s eyes widened.
“Where is it?”
“The third fragment of Erebus is probably in the Necromancer King’s hands.”
Melina’s face hardened.
“The Necromancer King?”
“Yes. Considering he unleashed the Calamity Flame back then, I’d say it’s quite certain.”
The symbol of Primeval Evil, Erebus.
To demons, it is the power of a god.
Just as the inhabitants of the lower world cannot create divine power.
Demons also cannot create the Calamity Flame with their own power.
Yet, the Necromancer King who invaded Lumern at that time unleashed the Calamity Flame.
“Is that alright?”
“He won’t be able to awaken the Erebus fragment right away.”
“Why not?”
“If the Erebus fragment had revived, he wouldn’t be so quiet. Nor is he someone to easily expose an unawakened Erebus.”
“Then?”
“He probably got his hands on the fragment but doesn’t know how to awaken it or how to use its power. The flame he unleashed back then was the fragment reacting to me. He won’t invade immediately, leading with the Erebus fragment. Of course, we can’t be entirely optimistic either.”
Leo took a deep breath.
‘I need to quickly regain the power of my past life.’
Thinking that, he stopped walking.
They had arrived in front of the research lab.
“It’s noisy inside.”
“Yes. Because a Hero Dungeon must have been generated.”
Thinking so, Melina waved her hand.
Space distorted.
As Melina walked, a massive wall shimmered.
‘She twisted space.’
It was indeed magic befitting a Dragon Lord.
Ignoring all obstacles, Leo and Melina arrived at the place where the Hero Dungeon had appeared.
“Is it certain that no one was caught in the Hero Dungeon!”
“Yes!”
“Report to the palace and quickly request support from the Hero Academy….”
“There’s no need for that.”
“Huh?!”
The supervisor, who was hastily giving orders, flinched and turned his head.
Melina was smiling there.
“We are from Dragonia.”
“D-Dragon?”
“Yes. We will investigate the Hero Dungeon.”
Saying that, Melina looked at Leo.
Leo approached the location of the Hero Dungeon.
The moment he reached out his hand to the distorted space.
[Hero Record Open.]
The now-familiar message appeared before his eyes.
[Arion’s World. Chapter: Finale - The End]
“What?”
Leo’s face hardened at the message that instantly appeared before his eyes.
It was a page he had never expected.
Whoosh—!
His vision changed.
Fwoosh—!
Black flames blazed.
Leo understood why black flames surged as soon as the Hero Dungeon appeared.
Hero Dungeons invade worlds.
Therefore, there were times when the situation inside the dungeon was expressed externally during its generation.
Those black flames were fragments of these flames.
Leo inhaled sharply.
The smell of a burning world stung his nose.
A despairing landscape imprinted itself on his eyes.
All of this was a familiar sight to Leo.
How could he forget?
To people, this scene was the desperate and great accomplishment of grand heroes in stories.
But from the perspective of Leo, who was there, this scene was a nightmare itself.
Here, Leo. Kyle lost one of his friends, more precious than life itself.
“Haaaaaaah!”
Then a battle cry hit Leo’s ears.
Flash—!
A golden aura soared high into the sky.
The sword strike of the great hero, Arion.
‘Arion at this time… was braver than ever.’
In his final moment, Arion lived up to the name of a hero.
He was composed until the moment he entered the battlefield.
He sacrificed himself out of fear of his friends dying.
But even in his dying moments, he comforted his weeping comrades.
Because he unhesitatingly believed his comrades would save the world.
To ease his comrades’ worries, Arion smiled.
That’s why Leo didn’t know how Arion looked when he stood alone against Erebus for his comrades in a moment of crisis.
All Leo knew was Arion’s back as he ran without hesitation to confront Erebus alone in a moment of danger.
The hero who fought alone against the primeval evil in his last moments.
The Arion of the final moments, unknown to Leo, was now right before his eyes.
“Ar…ion.”
Leo unconsciously called out the name of his comrade, who was on the verge of death.
Arion, clutching the broken ‘Brave’, turned his head towards Leo.
Fwoosh—!
The Calamity Flame could be seen surging to engulf Arion.
At that moment, Leo ran towards Arion.
***
Fwoosh—!
“Lisinas! Defense, please!”
Dweno urgently shouted.
Fwoosh—!
Pure white flames soared.
CRASH—!
Lisinas gritted his teeth.
Luna, despite almost losing her life, kept her eyes closed and continued her spell.
She knew.
That her comrades would protect her.
Therefore, she performed her role with an unwavering heart.
Flash—!
A pure white light flashed in the sky.
Kyle, with Innocent infused in his sword, unleashed his aura.
A massive sword strike hit Erebus’s neck.
Fwoosh!
“Ugh?!”
“Kyle!”
Dweno, covered in flames, charged towards Erebus.
Boom—!
The ground shook, and Erebus stumbled a few steps back.
Rumble rumble rumble—!
The earth trembled as if an earthquake had occurred.
Due to the impact, lava erupted from underground.
Truly a colossal battle, capable of splitting heaven and earth.
“Time is short! We must prevent him from getting close until Luna’s magic is complete!”
It was when Lisinas shouted urgently.
“I’ll do it.”
“What?”
Arion, who had sliced through the black flames, said, standing at the very front.
“Hey! You idiot! Alone, it’s impossible…!”
“We’ve done impossible things.”
Arion smiled at Kyle’s shout.
“You always told me I had great courage, didn’t you?”
“Arion.”
Dweno called out urgently, but Arion didn’t stop.
“Now is the time to unleash that courage. You protect Luna from Erebus’s attacks, and I will….”
Arion gripped Braver with both hands and lowered his stance.
“I’ll stop him.”
Boom—!
Arion became a golden flash and charged towards Erebus.
CRACK—!
The surging golden flash cut off Erebus’s arm.
Flash—!
The golden flash mutilated Erebus.
Arion, eyes wide, gasped for breath.
‘Move. Faster! Stronger!’
CRASH CRASH CRASH—!
Arion, mutilating the black giant at invisible speed, was a war god itself.
‘I am the Brave!’
People praised Arion as the Brave.
But Arion found that title burdensome.
Therefore, he had consistently denied that title until now.
But now, to gain courage, he repeated that title to himself, comforting himself.
‘The one with the greatest courage in the world!’
Spitting blood from his mouth, eyes, and nose, Arion kicked off into the air.
BOOM—!
With a sound that seemed to shake the world, the primeval evil’s colossal body flew through the air.
CRASH CRASH CRASH—!
Arion regripped his sword towards Erebus, who had fallen to the ground.
“Haaaaaaah!”
WHOOSH! FWOOSH—!
A golden sword strike cleaved Erebus in two.
A golden sword strike that seemed to split even the sky soared upwards.
CRACKLE! SNAP—!
Brave, the sword named Courage, broke.
Fragments of Brave scattered.
“Haa— Haa—”
Arion gasped for rough breaths.
His body was a mess from squeezing out power that far exceeded his limits.
Muscles were twisted, bones were crushed.
His lungs were tattered, making even breathing difficult.
Arion realized.
‘It’s the end.’
He gritted his teeth.
It was something he had already resolved.
‘I’m not scared. Lisinas… Kyle! Luna! Dweno! They will save the world! For that… I’m not scared!’
[What a pathetic Brave you are.]
Then a voice filled with immense power was heard.
Fwoosh—!
Black flames surged.
[To be prepared for death, yet to fear death.]
Erebus’s scornful voice echoed in Arion’s ears.
[Worthless creature, your comrades will not stop the destruction.]
Fwoosh—!
Black flames blazed to consume Arion.
His life flashed before his eyes.
[You suffered living a fleeting life. Now vanish.]
Arion’s face distorted.
‘You don’t have to save the world like him, do you?’
Kyle’s words flashed through his mind.
‘Find what you want to do.’
After Kyle’s uncharacteristically gentle voice, Arion felt an indescribable terror.
The fear he had forcibly suppressed until now raised its head.
‘I don’t want to die.’
He hadn’t found what he wanted to do yet.
But to die?
‘I don’t want to die!’
What kind of hero was he, trembling like this before death?
His unfulfilled resolve crumbled.
The moment Arion’s face distorted as if to cry from the fear of death.
“Ar…ion?”
A strange yet familiar voice was heard.
Arion turned around.
‘It’ll be very difficult from now on.’
From the depths of his memory.
The face of the boy who had cheered him on came to mind.
‘There will be people you can’t protect, and you’ll be frustrated by continuous trials.’
Somehow apologetic.
And somehow with a sad face, the boy who cheered him on.
‘But… you’ll make it. Because you’re braver than anyone.’
The boy who had sent him infinite trust, even though he had never seen him before, was now before his eyes.
‘Because you saved the world.’
***
“Arionnnnnnn!!”
He screamed uncontrollably, reaching out his hand.
He hadn’t known.
A sight unknown to Leo, and certainly to his comrades.
The moment he saw Arion’s face, as if about to cry, he realized.
Arion, who they thought had faced death bravely because he was afraid of them dying, had feared death more than anyone.
He pretended to be composed for their sake, facing his end.
He acted like a hero until the very end, giving them courage.
The moment he realized that fact, Leo instinctively ran towards Arion.
Arion also reached out his hand to Leo.
And the moment their hands touched.
Flash—!
With a pure white light, the world stopped.
***
CRASH!
“Ugh?”
“Gah!”
“Lord Leo?”
Melina, who had tried to follow Leo into the Hero Dungeon, widened her eyes.
The Hero Dungeon closed, and Leo suddenly reappeared.
Holding someone’s hand.
“You are….”
Melina’s face filled with horror as she saw the beast-kin youth, covered in burns and holding a broken sword.
“Lord Arion?”