Book 1 Chapter 449

449.

WHAM-!

Erebos took a step.

RUMBLE-!

With a single step, the very earth shook violently.

FLARE-!

Black flames raged around Erebos.

Even from a distance, suffocating heat emanated from him.

Torua muttered, a cold sweat beading on his forehead.

"Just his presence alone is this much."

Erebos didn't use any special power.

Just one step.

He merely moved his foot.

Yet, it was as if a massive catastrophe had occurred.

The sky emitted an even more ominous dark crimson light.

Ulta, with Riennia riding in front of him, muttered.

"Indeed. It seems Lord Arion didn't bring any other vanguards for this very reason."

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

Lunia, Eiran, and Eliza were a team of three.

Lunia focused solely on attack with Phoenix King's White Flame.

Eiran, with the anima swords and armor, his family's unique magic, acted as Lunia's shield, while Eliza's role was to carry Lunia and evade Erebos's attacks.

It was a combination designed to allow the still inexperienced Lunia to focus solely on offense.

"At first, when they said Lord Arion would stop him alone, I thought, 'As expected, the Hero is different,' but I was wrong."

Riennia broke into a cold sweat.

"If any other knight class had taken the vanguard, they would have instantly turned to ash."

The reason they hadn't brought vanguards like Lisna, Zamua, or Banir was that they weren't yet qualified to stand here.

They themselves were equally unsuited for this battlefield.

They could only barely support Arion from outside the battlefield.

'Well, there's one student who's already on that stage, though.'

Riennia looked up at the sky.

She saw Leo, looking down at Erebos.

Riennia took a deep breath and raised her bow.

"Please, Ulta."

"Leave it to me."

Among the aspiring heroes here, Riennia was the most powerful in terms of pure firepower.

A former student council president of Seirun.

She was a magic archer who wielded both magic and aura, but even during her time, simply being strong wasn't enough to become Seirun's student council president.

'Though it's different now.'

Until last year, only the strongest Star Mage of their generation could become Seirun's student council president.

Following Riennia, Torua sent Lunia flying towards Eliza.

"Please, my ill-tempered junior from the Summoning Department."

"You're quite relaxed for the current situation."

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

Torua looked at Arion's back, standing before the colossal black calamity.

"We have the Hero."

***

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

Arion narrowed his eyes.

Seeing Arion, Erebos's eyes twitched.

No fear was felt in Arion's eyes.

-Hoo.

Erebos made an amused expression.

-The wretch who couldn't even prepare for death, even at the moment he intuited it, now doesn't fear death.

Arion, with an expressionless face, pointed his sword at Erebos.

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

SWISH-!

Erebos's black arm was raised.

-Are you merely a pathetic phantom of the past, unconcerned with life or death!

CRASH-!

Black flames soared high into the sky from Erebos's arm, swung with all its might.

The black flames swept over Arion directly.

"Lord Arion!"

As Melina cried out in alarm, Leo replied.

"He's fine."

"Pardon?"

"He won't be defeated by that much."

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

Arion gripped his sword with both hands.

WOOM-!

"Hoo-"

He inhaled, closed his eyes, and concentrated his mind.

His supersenses opened.

When he opened his eyes, he saw flames writhing around Erebos.

He saw Erebos's face twisting hideously.

An obvious mockery directed at him.

But Arion didn't care.

'Peaceful.'

Arion had been defeated.

Arion knew that fact better than anyone.

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

Arion felt extreme terror.

And he chose his own death in their stead.

Because he was afraid of his friends dying.

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

In the final moment, Arion doubted the world could be saved and despaired.

'Dweno would never have given up.'

He recalled his friend, who possessed an iron will.

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

His friend who had infinite trust in her own potential.

'Lysinass would never have lost hope until the end.'

His friend who had the greatest hope of anyone in this world.

'Because he would have believed that Kyle wouldn't give up until the end. Unlike me.'

Arion raised his sword upright.

His expressionless face reflected in the blade.

There was a coward who had been terrified countless times and was now truly broken.

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

"I'll annihilate you, no matter what it takes!"

FLASH!

Simultaneously with Arion's shout, a golden sword energy struck Erebos's neck.

But it didn't cut him.

CRASH-!

Erebos's massive body fell, embedding itself into the ground.

"The remnants of the past! The phantom of the past shall deal with you!"

Arion pointed his sword to the sky.

SWISH-!

A brilliant golden light soared into the sky.

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

FLASH-! RUMBLE-!

A downpour of sword energy rained down from the sky, engulfing Erebos.

***

"My goodness."

"That's… the fight of a Great Hero…!"

The aspiring heroes standing on the city wall gaped.

The Great Hero's battle literally transcended common sense.

It was shocking even to those who had spent their entire lives listening to tales of Great Heroes, respecting and admiring them, and praising their power and achievements.

"So this is why they saved the world."

Duran muttered, his face filled with awe.

"Wow… I thought the siege of Guardsron was incredible, but this is on a level that can't even be compared?"

Beside him, Carl clicked his tongue.

It was shocking even for Carl, who had witnessed Arion's power once before.

"Is that Lord Arion in the final chapter?"

He was exactly as described in the texts.

He was, literally, 'God of War' itself.

"Is Leo standing at the forefront of such a battle?"

Abbad muttered lowly.

Starting with Arion's attack.

Torua, Ulta, and Riennia's attacks began.

Torua's magic pierced through the flames Erebos spewed and struck his body.

Ulta flew at tremendous speed on his Pegasus, stopping Erebos's flames.

FLARE-!

At that moment.

A colossal, pure white flame soared high into the sky.

The moment she saw it, Dryana muttered.

"Lunia."

The moment she muttered.

WHOOSH-!

The Flame Emperor engulfed Erebos.

Cheers erupted from the Seirun students.

"As expected of Senior Lunia!"

"Seirun's next student council president!"

"According to the texts, the Phoenix King's flames are said to be an unquenchable fire, right?"

The Seirun first-years' eyes sparkled.

CRASH!

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

Despite being directly hit by Torua and Lunia's magic, Erebos showed no sign of faltering.

"To not even flinch after being hit by that much magic…"

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

Voices filled with fear came not only from the first-years but also the second-years.

Seeing that, Celia frowned.

People often get scared when they see something that transcends their imagination.

'Because I was like that too.'

Midterm exams of the first semester.

Leo's presence was, literally, a thrill itself.

She was scared and despaired looking at Leo.

Because she thought she could never keep up.

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

Leo's figure, seemingly moving forward with his back to them, was as if telling them to follow.

He seemed to be saying he would wait for the day they stood on the same battlefield.

'The other kids need to know that too.'

Celia was pondering how to encourage her classmates and juniors.

STOMP- STOMP- STOMP-!

Ar stomped her foot irritably.

"What's wrong?"

At Carl's question, Ar shouted.

"It's unfair!"

"What?"

"The Black Rabbit and the ill-tempered pointy-eared one! And Eiran stood on that stage!"

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

"That's why it's unfair!"

A change came over Ar's body.

The cat characteristics became more pronounced in her physique.

It was animal transformation.

Ar, with her fur and hair bristling like a hissing cat, said.

"I'm not yet qualified to stand on that stage! When there's the Great Hero! I can't have the honor of standing with him!"

At her words, all the students' gazes turned to Ar.

"I'm angry! I'm going to unleash this anger on those ugly monsters!"

MEOOOOOW! With a sharp cry, Ar dashed onto the city wall.

Seeing Ar's retreating figure, the students, who had been intimidated by the battle transcending common sense, gritted their teeth and showed embarrassed expressions.

They were terrified, but someone else was angry about not being able to join that fight.

They felt ashamed at the stark difference.

"Damn it!"

"Was I such a weakling? No!"

They overcame their fear as if screaming.

Seeing that, Celia muttered.

"Did she intend that?"

"That idiot? No way."

Carl let out a hollow laugh.

Beside him, Dryana nodded.

"Certainly not intentionally. But I think that's Ar's ability."

"Ar's ability?"

Celia tilted her head.

"She's the person the Hero designated as his successor. It's not strange for her every action to inspire courage in others."

Dryana chuckled and pulled out a colossal battle-axe from a sub-space.

Seeing her back, Celia clenched and unclenched her fist.

"I can't just be losing."

The battlefield isn't just there.

ROOOAAAR-!

Monsters born from Erebos's power swarmed the city walls.

***

"Lord Leo, your orders."

At Melina's words, Leo said.

"Melina, you're Lysinass's successor, aren't you?"

"Pardon? Ah, yes. Though I am lacking, I am ashamed to say I cleared Lord Lysinass's world and…"

"Then you take command."

"Pardon?"

Melina was flustered.

"B-but with Lord Leo here, how could I possibly presume to command…"

"Command is originally Lysinass'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 Genesis.

Melina had been in command.

And Melina's party had been annihilated.

Since then.

Melina had become the Dragon of Silence.

Even now, having broken her silence, she hadn't dared to think of commanding the party in front of Erebos.

Seeing Melina hesitate, Leo spoke.

"Melina."

"…Yes."

"Look at that."

Leo pointed to Arion, who was fighting against Erebos.

"Lord Leo…"

"If you're scared, look at his back. We gained courage from that sight. If you find it hard to believe in yourself, believe in me. You have more than enough ability to skillfully command this party and fight against Erebos. I guarantee it."

At his words, Melina took a deep breath.

"Yes!"

At that, Leo smiled.

"What will Lord Leo be doing?"

"Me?"

Leo reached out his hand.

With a bright light, a staff was summoned.

"It might not suit me, but."

Leo fiddled with the tip of the staff and said.

"I'm going to try to imitate that Luna."