Book 1 Chapter 447

447.

Everyone was speechless at Arion's overwhelming majesty that split the sky.

Kugugugugugugu-!

The black pillar of fire shot up from a place impossibly far from where Arion stood.

But as if ignoring that distance, Arion cleaved the pillar of fire in two with immense power.

A gigantic sword mark was etched into the ground in a straight line between Arion and the pillar of fire.

Thick dust rose.

The students' gazes, one by one, fixed on Arion's back.

"As expected, Lord Arion! You're amazing!"

At that, Ar raised both hands and shouted.

With that remark, everyone regained their senses.

"L-Lord Arion, the true Hero?"

"Who else besides Lord Arion could deliver such an overwhelming blow?"

"And Ar, that rascal! Didn't you clearly say 'Lord Arion' just now?"

Their strikingly similar appearance and transcendental power.

On top of that, Ar's shout, having directly experienced Arion while conquering the hero's world.

"Hero!"

"He has reappeared in the current world, just like the Hero of the Beginning and the Progenitor of the Nebula!"

"Lord Arion!"

On the city wall, which had been filled with despair, a spark of hope ignited.

"Is that person truly the Hero?"

"Yes. He is the real Hero."

Melina nodded at the astonished Akatis's question.

En couldn't take his eyes off Arion.

Kugugugugugung-!

Then, the earth trembled again.

Kwagagagagagang-!

Black, magma-like substance shot up from where the black flames had erupted.

Cheolpeok-! Chiiiiiik-! Hwareuk-!

Flames erupted on the ground touched by the black magma.

The magma gathered in one place like slime and then transformed into the shape of a gigantic flame giant.

Melina took a deep breath, watching Erebus take form.

To her, a challenger of the World of Genesis, it was a nightmare-like figure.

The faces of the hero candidates stiffened.

Erebus.

5000 years ago and 3000 years ago.

The terrifying primordial evil that drove the world to the brink of destruction.

Those living in the age of heroes could not be ignorant of that name.

However, very few had actually seen Erebus in the 3000 years since the calamity's reappearance was ended by the heroes of Genesis.

They merely imagined and deduced its appearance based on records written in texts.

"Haha. Damn it. It's exactly like the fairy tales."

Karl muttered in a trembling voice.

Runia clenched her fist with a grim expression.

"It… doesn't compare to then."

Runia, who had once fought a fragment of Erebus slumbering in Luna's world, swallowed dryly at the overwhelming pressure that was incomparable to before.

If the Erebus she fought in Luna's world was a small campfire, this was a massive wildfire.

"What's there to worry about! We have Lord Arion! If we combine our strength, we can defeat fragments of a resurrected Erebus! Everyone, be brave!"

Ar shouted, his eyes sparkling.

However, those who faced a calamity that could destroy the world, only encountered in stories, struggled to regain their courage.

As Erebus took shape, their fear also became more pronounced.

"It's okay to be afraid."

Arion spoke, his back to the hero candidates of later generations.

"It's natural to tremble in fear before a great terror. I was like that, and so were Risinas, Kyle, Luna, and Dweno."

Arion inhaled.

"The important thing is to overcome that fear. So, will you show me?"

Arion turned his body.

"Your courage."

At those words, Banir opened his eyes wide and stepped forward.

"Noble warriors! Students who bear the name of Azonia!"

Banir shouted towards the Azonia students.

Everyone's gaze turned to Banir.

Arion momentarily flinched his shoulders at the fierce voice, but no one noticed.

"The great Hero wishes to test our courage!"

"Ah, no. I'm not really testing… I just want to see…"

"For the sake of the world! Did we not enroll in Azonia! With the courage bestowed upon us by the Hero in our hearts! Did we not dream of becoming heroes to protect this world inherited from the great Heroes!"

"Yes, sir!"

The Azonia students let out a roar.

"Now that crisis has arrived! Although, compared to Lord Arion, we are weaklings, no better than pebbles rolling in the street!"

"Weaklings! It's not good to belittle yourselves like that…"

"But! If we tremble in fear here! We are trash, worse than pebbles! Do you want to become trash!"

"No, sir!"

"Then let's prove it! That you are not trash! If you are proud to be descendants of Lord Arion! Show your courage! Do you understand!"

"Yes, sir!"

Arion placed both hands on Banir's shoulders, who was leading his juniors, and spoke seriously.

"You shouldn't use words to belittle yourselves, like 'weaklings,' 'worse than pebbles,' or 'trash.'"

"Lord Arion…!"

"You and the students of Azonia are children to be proud of. My words are not to test your courage. You just need to show your courage. So, value yourselves…"

"Did you hear that! You weakling trash! Lord Arion says we are proud!"

"Woahhhhh!"

Seeing Banir shouting emotionally, Arion made a troubled face and looked at Melina.

"It would be best to just let it be, as Azonia students are simple-minded."

It was then that Melina gave an awkward smile.

"He's still just as simple-minded when he gets excited, huh? Lise, don't we have a fancy speech or something?"

When Torua tilted her head and asked, Lise chuckled and said to her juniors.

"Let's show them that courage isn't exclusive to Azonia."

"Yes! We understand!"

"Lord Arion! You're so cool!"

"Please sign my autograph later!"

Cheers erupted from the Lumerne side as well.

Rienia crossed her arms.

"Hey, everyone. Listen. We inherited the will of Lady Luna, the great Progenitor of the Nebula, didn't we? Plus, Lord Arion has reappeared, and the Azonia kids will be our sturdy shields. Is it really reasonable to be scared when we have such excellent meat shields?"

"Hey, who are you calling a meat shield?"

Banir growled lowly, so she corrected herself.

"Friend shields."

"I don't like that either?!"

Banir shouted, but Rienia didn't bat an eye.

"Anyway, we Seirun proved to Lady Luna and Lord Kyle last year that we Seirun are the best! This time, let's prove to Lord Arion that we are the best too!"

"When did you ever prove to Lady Luna and Lord Kyle that you were the best?"

"It's Azonia who will be recognized by Lord Arion!"

Driana, who had been watching the bickering former student council presidents, raised her hand.

"Shouldn't the former president also say a word?"

"What's the point of talking? I'll just be drowned out by those madmen."

"President, you still have no presence."

"Are you insulting me?"

"It's a compliment."

It was then that Wackerd, the former student council president of Demian, let out a deep sigh.

"Excuse me, but could I borrow a sword?"

"Gasp! Ah, Lord Arion!"

Wackerd's eyes widened.

"I-I'll give it to you! No! Please use it!"

Wackerd, overwhelmed by the fact that the Hero Arion had requested a sword from him, opened a subspace and poured out swords.

"Please use whatever you need!"

Among Wackerd's swords, Arion picked out one that was sharply honed.

Thud-!

Arion, holding the sword, took a deep breath.

Sreung-!

It was a nameless sword, but it was an excellent blade.

Arion looked down at his reflection in the sword's blade and said.

"What a magnificent sword. I'll use it carefully and return it."

"Not at all! Hehehehehe!"

"He's like a sycophant."

"He only has a strong presence when he's like that, you know?"

The graduates from other schools whispered, but Wackerd paid no mind.

It was then.

Thump-!

The earth shook.

Erebus, having now taken shape, began to move.

Goooooooh-!

Erebus's roar echoed.

At that, Arion took a deep breath.

-Khuwooooohhhhh!

Arion's howling pushed back Erebus's roar.

Those who heard that voice opened their eyes wide.

"Is that the Hero's howling?"

"Amazing!"

The anxiety that had been present just moments ago vanished.

Their hearts pounded, and their courage doubled.

As everyone watched in admiration, Arion raised his sword.

"Everyone, get ready now."

Hwarrrururuk-!

Flames erupted from Erebus's body.

"Here it comes."

Kwaaaaahhhh-!

A wave of black flames surged forward.

Goooooooh!

Arion gripped his sword tightly and swung it horizontally.

Hwaak-!

A colossal golden line cleaved the black flames.

The sharp golden sword strike directly hit Erebus.

Swoosh-! Pwooaahhhk!

Khuwooooooooh!

Erebus, split in two, let out a pained shriek.

Arion's eyes twitched momentarily at the sight.

Hwarrruruk-!

From the wound, dark red blood continuously flowed, soaking the ground.

But that wound was soon covered by black flames and healed.

Hwarrruruk-!

Erebus's blood, spilled on the ground, created grotesque monsters.

Seeing that, Arion muttered.

"…Is it the right arm?"

"Yes?"

"It's nothing."

Arion shook his head and turned.

"From now on, I'll choose the party members to go attack Erebus with me."

***

"It seems to be the right arm."

Leo narrowed his eyes.

-What do you mean?

Kirean asked with a puzzled expression at Leo's mumble.

"That fragment is Erebus's right arm."

"How do you know that, Master? On the surface, it just looks like a giant black giant, doesn't it?"

When Atti tilted her head, Leo said.

"You all know that the demon races are Erebus's creations, right?"

The phantasmal beasts nodded.

"Erebus used his right hand when he created demon races, demonic beasts, and monsters. Risinas believed that the power related to creation resided in his right hand."

Indeed, Erebus created his loyal subordinates with his right hand.

-I see. So, you thought it was the right arm among the fragments you cut.

Elsie said understandingly, and Leo nodded.

"But it's strange. The power of creation must consume a lot of his energy, so why is he wasting power?"

He felt puzzled by Erebus's sudden act of generating monsters without restraint.

"Leo!"

Arion, who had finished forming the party to fight Erebus, called Leo.

Leo landed on the ground.

And checked the party members.

'Arion, Melina, Torua, Ulta, Rienia, Runia, Eiran, Eliza.'

Excluding Arion, there wasn't a single knight class.

Eiran and Rienia were sword mages, but they possessed mobility comparable to most knight classes and firepower exceeding mages.

'A combination focused on firepower and mobility.'

Rienia and Eiran also had slightly troubled expressions, perhaps having heard their roles from Arion.

Then Ar approached Leo.

"Black Rabbit! Lord Arion said he'd stop Erebus alone, is that okay? Shouldn't we help a little?"

Ar asked with a worried face.

Looking at Ar, Leo said.

"He must have said he'd handle it alone because he's capable."

"B-But…"

It wasn't just any enemy, it was Erebus.

The worst abomination in the world, one that had driven the world to the brink of destruction.

Even if it was fragmented, stopping such a terrifying monster alone seemed unsettling.

"You still don't know from what era that Arion came, do you?"

"Huh?"

Ar's eyes widened.

Come to think of it, he hadn't heard.

"What era did he come from? Black Rabbit, did you hear?"

"The final chapter."

"What?"

"It's Arion from the time he subjugated Erebus."

Ar's eyes widened even further.

'If not for the restriction of disappearing upon exhausting all divine power, the current Arion could win a war against all of Tartarus by himself.'

With the Monster Queen subjugated and the Giant King absent.

Tartarus, with only the Necromancer King, could not handle a complete Arion.

"You stay here and fight the monsters."

Stomp- Stomp-

Leo approached Arion.

"Well then, shall we go?"

Arion gripped his sword tighter and said.

"To subjugate the primordial evil."