Book 1 Chapter 449

449.

KUUUNG-!

Erebos took a step.

KUGA-GA-GA-GA-!

With a single stride, the earth violently shook.

HWAAAREUK-!

Black flames fiercely erupted around Erebos.

Even from a distance, a suffocating heat emanated.

Torua, breaking out in a cold sweat, muttered,

"Just by existing, it's this much."

Erebos didn't use any special power.

Just one step.

He simply moved his foot.

But even so, it felt like a great disaster had occurred.

The sky emitted an even more ominous crimson light.

Ultah, with Rienia riding on its front, muttered,

"Indeed. This is why Lord Arion didn't bring other front-line fighters."

Most of the party members, excluding Arion, were skilled in long-range attacks.

For Runia, Eiran, and Eliza, the three formed a team.

Runia focused solely on attacking with the White Flame of the Phoenix King.

Eiran, with the Animus Sword and Armor, the unique magic of her family, acted as Runia's shield, while Eliza, carrying Runia, focused on evading Erebos's attacks.

It was a combination designed to allow the still inexperienced Runia to concentrate solely on attacking.

"At first, I thought Lord Arion would block him alone, and I thought, as expected, a hero is different. But it wasn't like that."

Rienia broke out in a cold sweat.

"If another knight class had taken the front line, they would have turned to ashes in an instant."

The reason Lisna, Jamua, and Vanir, who were front-line fighters, were not brought was because they did not yet have the right to stand here.

They themselves were also not suited for this battlefield.

They could barely provide support to Arion from outside the battlefield.

'Well, there's one among the students who's already on that stage.'

Rienia looked up at the sky.

She saw Leo, looking down at Erebos.

Taking a deep breath, Rienia raised her bow.

"I'm counting on you, Ultah."

"Leave it to me."

Among the hero candidates present, Rienia was the most powerful in terms of pure firepower.

She was a former student council president of Seirun.

Although she was a magic archer who wielded magic and aura, just being strong wouldn't have been enough to become the student council president of Seirun when she was there.

'It's different now.'

Until last year, only the strongest Star Mage of the era could become the student council president of Seirun.

Following Rienia, Torua sent Runia flying towards Eliza.

"I'm counting on you, junior from the summoner department with the bad temper."

"You're quite relaxed. In this situation."

"Yeah. We're just here to support Lord Arion from outside the stage, after all. Besides."

Torua looked at Arion's back as he stood before the great black disaster.

"We have a hero, after all."

***

"Once again… are you ready to see the world burn?"

Arion narrowed his eyes.

Seeing Arion like that, Erebos's eyes twitched.

Arion's eyes showed no fear.

- Hooh.

Erebos wore an amused expression.

- The one who couldn't even muster the resolve to die at the moment he sensed death, is now unafraid of it.

Arion, with a blank expression, pointed his sword at Erebos.

- Have you overcome the fear of ignorance by experiencing death? Or…

Swish-!

Erebos's black arm was raised.

- Are you not clinging to life and death because you are a mere specter of the past!

KWA-GA-GA-GA-GA-!

With the full force of Erebos's arm, black flames soared high into the sky.

The black flames engulfed Arion directly.

"Lord Arion!"

Melina cried out urgently, and Leo replied.

"It's fine."

"What?"

"He won't fall to that."

At that moment, a golden flash shot up, piercing through the black flames.

Arion gripped his sword with both hands.

WUUUNG-!

"Hoo-"

He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and concentrated.

His super senses were unlocked.

When he opened his eyes, he could see the flames writhing around Erebos.

He saw Erebos's face contorted viciously.

A clear mockery directed at him.

But Arion didn't care.

'Peaceful.'

Arion had lost.

He knew that better than anyone.

The moment he learned of Kyle and Luna's deaths through his super senses.

Arion felt extreme fear.

And he chose his own death in their place.

Because he was afraid of his friends dying.

'But at the moment Kyle came to save me, I gave up.'

At the last moment, Arion doubted and despaired that this world could be saved.

'Dweno would never have given up.'

He recalled a friend with an iron will.

'Luna would have believed in her own potential until the end.'

A friend who had infinite confidence in her own possibilities.

'Lisinas would not have let go of hope until the end.'

A friend who possessed the greatest hope of anyone in this world.

'He must have believed that Kyle wouldn't give up until the end. Unlike me.'

Arion raised his sword.

His blank face was reflected on the blade.

There stood a coward, terrified countless times, now truly broken.

'But thanks to my friends, I was able to see the world saved. So I have no regrets anymore. Therefore…'

"I will obliterate you by any means necessary!"

FLASH!

As Arion shouted, golden sword energy slashed at Erebos's neck.

But it didn't cut.

KWA-GA-GA-GA-!

Erebos's massive body fell and slammed into the ground.

"I, a specter of the past, will deal with the remnants of the past!"

Arion pointed his sword towards the sky.

Swish-!

Brilliant golden light shot up into the sky.

The moment a small golden sphere, like the sun, exploded in the sky.

FLASH-! KWA-GA-GA-GA-GA-!

A rain of sword energy poured down from the sky like rain, covering Erebos.

***

"My word."

"That's… the fight of a great hero…!"

The hero candidates standing on the castle walls gaped.

The battle of a great hero transcended common sense.

It was shocking even to those who had heard the heroic tales of great heroes their entire lives, admired them, and praised their power and achievements.

"So that's why they saved the world."

Durant muttered with a face full of awe.

"Wow… I thought it was amazing during the siege of Gardesron, but this is incomparable to then?"

Kal, next to him, shook his head in disbelief.

It was shocking even to Kal, who had witnessed Arion's power once before.

"Is that Lord Arion in the final chapter?"

It matched the description in the texts.

He was literally a 'God of War'.

"Leo is at the very front of such a battle?"

Abad muttered softly.

Beginning with Arion's attack.

Torua, Ultah, and Rienia's attacks began.

Torua's magic pierced through the flames Erebos emitted and hit his body.

Ultah, riding a Pegasus, flew at tremendous speed and blocked Erebos's flames.

HWAAAREUU-!

At that moment.

A giant pure white flame erupted high into the sky.

Seeing that, Driana muttered,

"Runia."

The moment she murmured.

FWAAAK-!

The Flame Emperor engulfed Erebos.

Cheers erupted among the Seirun students.

"As expected, senior Runia!"

"The next student council president of Seirun!"

"According to the texts, the Phoenix King's flame is also a flame that never extinguishes, right?"

The first-year students of Seirun's eyes shone.

KU-GA-GANG!

But upon seeing Erebos emerge, breaking through the white flames, they flinched.

Even though he was hit directly by Torua and Runia's magic, Erebos showed no signs of faltering.

"To not even budge after taking that much magic…"

"Is it possible to participate in such a battle…?"

Fearful voices could be heard not only among the first-years but also among the second-years.

Seeing that, Celia frowned.

People tend to be afraid when they see something beyond their imagination.

'I was like that too.'

Midterm exam in the first semester.

Leo's existence was literally a shudder.

Looking at Leo, I felt fear and despair.

Because I thought it was impossible to keep up.

'But I couldn't just hang my head down.'

Leo's figure, moving forward as if showing his back, seemed to be saying, 'Follow me.'

He seemed to be saying, 'I'll wait for the day we stand on the same battlefield.'

'I wish the others knew that too.'

Celia was contemplating how to encourage her classmates and juniors.

STOMP- STOMP- STOMP-!

Arga stomped his foot irritably.

"What's wrong?"

Arga shouted at Kal's question.

"I'm frustrated!"

"What?"

"The black rabbit, the short-tempered elf, and Eiran are on that stage!"

"Well, Leo is exceptionally talented, and Runia and Eiran are on stage because they have special skills. It's not that you're lacking…"

"That's why I'm frustrated!"

A change occurred in Arga's body.

The feline traits in his body became more pronounced.

It was a transformation.

Arga, with his fur and hair standing on end as if a cat was hissing, said,

"I don't have the right to stand on that stage yet! There's a great hero! And I can't enjoy the glory of standing with him!"

At those words, all the students' eyes turned to Arga.

"I'm angry! I need to take out this anger on those ugly monsters!"

NYAAAAAAAK! Letting out a sharp cry, Arga ran towards the castle wall.

Watching Arga's retreating back, the students, who were intimidated by the battle that defied common sense, gritted their teeth and put on embarrassed expressions.

While they were scared, someone was frustrated at not being able to participate after seeing that battle.

They felt ashamed by the stark contrast.

"Damn it!"

"Was I this weak? No, that's not it!"

They overcame their fear, as if spitting it out.

Seeing that, Celia muttered,

"Was it intentional?"

"That idiot? No way."

Kal let out a hollow laugh.

Driana next to him nodded.

"It certainly wasn't intentional. But I think that's Arga's ability."

"Arga's ability?"

Celia tilted her head.

"He's the person the hero designated as his successor. It's not strange if every action he takes instills courage in others."

Driana let out a hearty laugh and pulled out a giant battle axe from subspace.

Watching her retreating back, Celia clenched and unclenched her fists.

"We can't afford to fall behind."

The battlefield isn't just there.

ROOOOOOAR-!

Monsters born from Erebos's divine power attacked the castle walls.

***

"Lord Leo, give us orders."

Melina spoke, and Leo replied.

"Melina, you are the successor of Lisinas, aren't you?"

"Yes? Ah, yes. Although I am lacking, I regretfully conquered Lord Lisinas's world…"

"Then you will take command."

"What?"

Melina was flustered.

"B-but how can I dare to command when Lord Leo is here…"

"Command is originally Lisinas's role."

"……!"

"How long will you remain silent?"

At Leo's cold words, Melina gritted her teeth and bowed her head.

When challenging the world of Creation.

Melina was in command.

And Melina's party was annihilated.

Since then.

Melina became the Silent Dragon.

Even now, after breaking her silence, she couldn't bring herself to command a party in front of Erebos.

Seeing Melina hesitate, Leo said,

"Melina."

"……Yes."

"Look at that."

Leo pointed at Arion, who was fighting against Erebos.

"Lord Leo…"

"If you are afraid, look at that back. We gained courage from that sight. If you can't believe in yourself, believe in me. You have the full capacity to command this party excellently and fight against that Erebos. I guarantee it."

At those words, Melina took a deep breath.

"Yes!"

At those words, Leo smiled broadly.

"What will you do, Lord Leo?"

"Me?"

Leo extended his hand.

With a bright light, a staff was summoned.

"It may not suit me, but…"

Leo fiddled with the tip of his staff and said,

"I'll try to imitate Luna."