Book 1 Chapter 431
431.
Leo, having received Melina's call, secretly left the training grounds and arrived at the mountain peak.
"You're saying a Black Flame erupted with the emergence of a Hero Dungeon?"
"Yes. I believe you need to go to Delan with me right away."
"I see. By the way, who is that next to you?"
Leo pointed with his finger at the girl standing next to Melina.
A girl with blonde hair and golden eyes.
Although she had a human form, Leo could easily tell she was a dragon.
The reason Leo treated Melina with his usual demeanor, despite meeting an unfamiliar dragon, was simple.
If the dragon Melina had called was going to be here, she wouldn't question their relationship.
'Though she doesn't seem to know about my identity.'
The dragon girl stood with a questioning look on her face, trying not to show any emotion.
Melina smiled at Leo's question.
"This child's name is Enkinias. I call her En. She's still young, but she's incredibly wise and intelligent. She serves as the librarian of Draconia."
Upon hearing she was the librarian of Draconia, Leo looked at En again.
Since Lysinas was called the King of Wisdom, dragons of this era, proud of being his descendants, pursue knowledge.
As such, the library of Draconia was a treasure trove of wisdom, housing countless ancient texts collected by dragons.
In addition, the Hero Records of dragons were also kept in the library of Draconia.
Therefore, in dragon society, the position of librarian of Draconia was only granted to special individuals.
'Wasn't that a position held by candidates for Dragon Lord?'
"En, this is Leo Flov. Please greet him with proper respect."
"Nice to meet you, Leo Flov. I am Enkinias."
Watching En curtsey by slightly lifting her skirt, Melina shook her head.
"En. You should greet her with the traditional dragon greeting."
"Ah, yes."
En awkwardly tapped her right chest three times and greeted him.
"You're still awkward. I told you to practice."
"I'm sorry, Lord."
'That's not something you should be saying.'
"So, why did you introduce this child to me?"
"En has 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 burst from En's entire body.
When the light disappeared, Leo stood there.
"Ho?"
"My mana attribute is Copy. This magic is my unique spell, Mirror."
Illusory magic to change one's appearance always has some sort of discrepancy.
However, En's magic was so perfect that it didn't seem like an illusion.
It was literally like looking into a mirror.
"Is she a substitute for when I'm away?"
"Yes."
'Since Melina prepared her, she must be reliable.'
From Leo's perspective, she was a junior, but Melina, as the Dragon Lord, was a dragon who led the world.
He could trust Melina's work.
"Then, I'll be counting on you, young lady."
Leaving En, who would be his double, Leo headed to Delan with Melina using warp.
***
Despite the eruption of Black Flames and the emergence of a Hero Dungeon, the capital, Delan, was as usual.
As they headed towards the location of the dungeon, Melina asked,
"If the Flames of Calamity have erupted, is it likely to be the Hero Record of the Great Creation?"
"It's highly probable."
The fragments of Erebus sealed by the Heroes of the Great Creation used Hero Records as conduits, constantly seeking opportunities to return to reality.
"If we defeat the Flames of Calamity this time, can we purify and absorb them as divine power?"
"Probably?"
Leo had dealt with fragments of Erebus in the world of heroes up to this point.
'In Luna's world, and in Seirun's world.'
Thinking that far, Leo narrowed his eyes.
'One fragment of Erebus was sealed in a Hero Record, and another lay dormant in Fairy Land, right?'
So far, two fragments of Erebus have been identified.
"I think I have a rough idea of where the third fragment of Erebus is now."
Melina's eyes widened.
"Where is it?"
"The third fragment of Erebus is probably in the hands of the Necro King."
Melina's face hardened.
"The Necro King?"
"Yes. Seeing as he caused the Flames of Calamity back then, it's almost certain."
The primordial evil, the symbol of Erebus.
For demons, it is the power of a god.
Just as inhabitants of the lower realms cannot create divine power.
Demons themselves cannot create the Flames of Calamity with their own power.
Yet, the Necro King who invaded Lumern at that time spewed out the Flames of Calamity.
"Are you alright?"
"He won't be able to awaken the fragment of Erebus immediately."
"Why not?"
"If the fragment of Erebus had revived, he wouldn't be sitting still. Nor would he easily expose Erebus before its revival."
"Then?"
"He must have obtained the fragment but doesn't know how to awaken it or use its power. The flames erupted at that time because the fragment reacted to me. He won't attack us immediately using the fragment of Erebus. Of course, I can't be entirely optimistic."
Leo took a deep breath.
'I need to regain my past life's power quickly.'
Thinking so, he stopped walking.
They had arrived in front of the research institute before they knew it.
"It's noisy inside."
"Yes. A Hero Dungeon must have been created."
Thinking so, Melina waved her hand.
Space distorted.
As Melina walked, a massive wall shimmered.
'She warped space.'
It was indeed a spell befitting a Dragon Lord.
Ignoring all obstacles, Leo and Melina arrived at the place where the Hero Dungeon had emerged.
"Are you sure 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 to do that."
"Huk?!"
The chief supervisor, who was hastily giving orders, flinched and turned his head.
There stood Melina, smiling.
"We are from Draconia."
"A, a dragon?"
"Yes. We will investigate the Hero Dungeon."
Saying so, Melina looked at Leo.
Leo approached the location of the Hero Dungeon.
The moment he reached out to the distorted space.
[Hero Record Open.]
The now familiar message appeared before his eyes.
[World of Aeon. Chapter: Epilogue - The Final]
"What?"
At the message that appeared before his eyes for an instant, Leo's face stiffened.
It was a completely unexpected page.
Fwoosh-!
His vision changed.
Fwoosh-!
Black flames blazed.
Leo understood why Black Flames erupted as soon as the Hero Dungeon appeared.
Hero Dungeons invade worlds.
Therefore, sometimes the situation inside the dungeon would manifest externally during the dungeon's emergence.
Those Black Flames were fragments of these flames.
Leo inhaled.
The smell of a world burning stung his nostrils.
A despairing landscape imprinted itself on his vision.
All of this was a familiar sight to Leo.
How could he forget?
To people, this scene was the heroic deeds of tragic and great heroes in stories.
But from Leo's perspective, this scene was a nightmare itself.
Here, Leo. Kyle lost one of his most precious friends.
"Haaaaaaap!"
At that moment, a battle cry struck Leo's ears.
Flash-!
Golden aura soared high into the sky.
The sword strike of the great hero, Aeon.
'Aeon at this time… was braver than ever before.'
Aeon was worthy of the name hero until the very last moment.
He was resolute even as he stepped onto the battlefield.
He sacrificed himself out of fear of his friends dying.
But in his dying moments, he comforted his weeping companions.
Because he had no doubt that his companions would save the world.
To lessen his companions' worries, Aeon smiled.
That's why Leo never knew what Aeon looked like when he single-handedly blocked Erebus at the moment of crisis.
All Leo knew was Aeon's back as he rushed forward without hesitation to face Erebus alone in a moment of crisis.
The hero who fought against the primordial evil alone at the last moment.
Aeon at his final moment, unknown to Leo, was right before his eyes.
"Ae… on."
Leo called out the name of his comrade, who was on the verge of death, without realizing it.
Aeon, holding the broken 'Brave,' turned his head towards Leo.
Fwoosh-!
The Flames of Calamity were seen engulfing Aeon.
At that moment, Leo rushed towards Aeon.
***
Fwoosh-!
"Lysinas! Please defend!"
Dwenno shouted urgently.
Fwoosh-!
Pure white flames erupted.
Kwagagagang-!
Lysinas gritted his teeth.
Even though he had narrowly escaped death, Luna continued her incantation with her eyes closed.
She knew.
Her companions would protect her.
Therefore, she performed her role with an unwavering heart.
Flash-!
Pure white light flashed in the sky.
Kyle, who had imbued Innocence into his sword, unleashed his aura.
A massive slash struck Erebus's neck.
Fwoosh-!
"Kkuh?!"
"Kyle!"
Dwenno, engulfed in flames, charged towards Erebus.
Kuaang-!
The earth shook, and Erebus took a few steps back.
Kugugugugugugung-!
The ground trembled as if an earthquake had occurred.
Lava erupted from underground due to the impact.
A grand battle that could shake heaven and earth.
"There's not enough time! We have to keep him from getting close until Luna's magic is complete!"
It was when Lysinas shouted urgently.
"I'll do it."
"What?"
Aeon, after slicing through the Black Flames, said from the front line.
"Hey! You idiot! It's impossible alone…!"
"We've achieved the impossible before."
Aeon smiled at Kyle's shout.
"You always said I had great courage."
"Aeon."
Dwenno called out urgently, but Aeon didn't stop.
"Now is the time to summon that courage. You protect Luna from Erebus's attacks, and I…"
Aeon held Braver with both hands and lowered his stance.
"I'll block him."
Kuaang-!
Aeon became a golden flash and charged towards Erebus.
Kwaak-!
The soaring golden flash severed Erebus's arm.
Flash-!
The golden flash mangled Erebus.
Aeon, with his eyes wide open, squeezed out his breath.
'Move. Faster! Stronger!'
Kwagagagagak-!
Aeon's appearance, slashing the black giant at an imperceptible speed, was that of a god itself.
'I am a hero!'
People praised Aeon as a hero.
But Aeon found the title burdensome.
Therefore, he had consistently denied that title.
But now, he repeated the title to gain courage and soothed himself.
'The one with the greatest courage in the world!'
Blood gushed from his mouth, eyes, and nose as Aeon kicked the air.
Kwaaaang-!
With a sound that seemed to shake the world, Erebus's colossal body flew through the air.
Kwagagagagang-!
Aeon readjusted his grip on his sword towards Erebus, who had fallen to the ground.
"Haaaaaaap!"
Buuaaaaaaaak! Fwoosh-!
The golden sword strike cleaved Erebus in two.
A golden sword strike that seemed to split the sky soared.
Tzerezh! Kwajik-!
Brave, a sword named courage, broke.
Fragments of Brave scattered.
"Huff- Huff-"
Aeon let out ragged breaths.
His body was a mess from exerting strength far beyond his limits.
His muscles were twisted, and his bones were crushed.
His lungs were tattered, making it difficult to breathe.
Aeon realized.
'It's the end.'
He gritted his teeth.
He had already accepted this.
'I'm not afraid. Lysinas… Kyle! Luna! Dwenno! They will save the world! For that… I'm not afraid!'
[What a pathetic hero.]
At that moment, a voice filled with immense power was heard.
Fwoosh-!
Black flames erupted.
[To fear death even when prepared to die.]
Erebus's contemptuous voice echoed in Aeon's ears.
[Insignificant creation, your companions will not be able to prevent your doom.]
Fwoosh-!
Black flames blazed to burn Aeon.
His life flashed before his eyes.
[You suffered living a fleeting life. Now disappear.]
Aeon's face contorted.
'You don't need to protect the world like him, do you?'
Kyle's words flashed in his mind.
'Find what you want to do.'
With Kyle's unusually gentle voice as the end, Aeon felt an indescribable terror.
The fear he had suppressed until then reared its head.
'I don't want to die.'
He hadn't found what he wanted to do yet.
And now, he was told to die?
'I don't want to die!'
What kind of hero was he, trembling so much in the face of death?
His unfinished resolutions crumbled.
At the moment his face contorted with the fear of death,
"Ae… on?"
A voice, unfamiliar yet familiar, was heard.
Aeon looked back.
'It will be very difficult from now on.'
From the depths of his memory.
The face of the boy who had cheered him on surfaced.
'There will be people you can't protect, and you'll be discouraged by continuous trials.'
The boy, who seemed apologetic and sad, cheered him on.
'Still… you'll make it. You're braver than anyone.'
The boy who had given him boundless faith, though they had just met, was before his eyes.
'You saved the world.'
***
"Aeooooooooon!!"
He reached out, letting out a cry without realizing it.
He didn't know.
Leo, and even his companions, didn't know this side of him.
The moment he saw Aeon's tearful face, he realized.
Aeon, whom they thought bravely faced death out of fear of their own demise, was more afraid of death than anyone else.
He put on a brave front and met his end for their sake.
He played the role of a hero to the end, giving them courage.
The moment he realized this, Leo instinctively rushed towards Aeon.
Aeon also reached out towards Leo.
And the moment their hands touched.
Flash-!
With a pure white light, the world stopped.
***
Crash!
"Kkeuk?"
"Keok!"
"Leo-nim?"
Melina, who was trying to enter the Hero Dungeon after Leo, opened her eyes wide.
The Hero Dungeon closed, and Leo suddenly appeared.
Holding someone's hand.
"You are…"
Melina's face was filled with shock as she saw the face of a beastman youth with his body covered in burns, holding a broken sword.
"Lord Aeon?"