Book 1 Chapter 450

450.

A staff shone in Leo's hand like starlight.

Cotemess.

A staff named Comet.

It was a divine-grade staff created by Dweno and named by Luna, and it could be said to be the strongest magic staff among those currently in existence.

As it was a staff made by Dweno, who was called the god's blacksmith, burning his craftsman's soul, it contained immense magical power.

'Not only that, Luna slathered it with all sorts of spell formulas and heavily modified it. Storing her own magic was a bonus.'

Furthermore, it passed through the hands of Seirun, Luna's successor, and Seirun's magic was added to it.

'The problem is that it became a magic staff that is just as difficult to wield.'

No family has properly handled Cotemess for a long time.

Not even the Tingel family, who inherited Seirun's blood.

The reason was simple.

'Because the staff's creator, the one who used it, and the one who inherited it are all once-in-a-lifetime geniuses.'

It was only recently that Leo, too, perfectly mastered Cotemess after receiving it from Seirun.

Leo, gripping Cotemess, soared high into the sky.

Leo, having ascended to a height where Erebus was almost invisible, stirred up magic.

Woong-!

Cotemess, reacting to Leo's magic, glowed.

Leo's eyes, shining red, turned gray.

Gray magic shimmered from Leo's body as he stirred up his power.

A magic circle was drawn in the air.

The crystallization of a magical spell formula composed of geometric runes.

It was not merely magic, but a complete magic system.

In this world, only one person.

A magic system that only the Hero of Beginnings could use.

Leo completed the magic by quietly repeating the name of the spell.

"Bible."

As the spell was completed, Bible's magic spell formula rapidly transformed.

New runes were carved into the magic circle.

It was the magic spell formula of star magic.

Leo gripped Cotemess and unfolded the magic.

Flash-! Fizzzzzzzt-!

Beautiful magic spell formulas were generated around Leo.

Seeing this, Leo chanted a spell.

In response to Leo's magic incantation, the magic spell formulas glowed in various colors.

Along with that, the mana in the atmosphere began to vibrate.

A beautiful melody echoed throughout the entire battlefield.

It wasn't a voice.

It was a sound created by the trembling mana in the atmosphere.

"What in the world is this?"

Ulta wore a surprised expression.

At that, Toarua, who was holding her staff and chanting a spell, opened her eyes wide.

"It's a magic incantation."

The atmospheric mana resonates with someone's incantation.

That resonance merely sounds like a melody.

"Star Magic."

Rienia, recognizing the nature of the magic, opened her eyes wide and gazed at the sky.

"Leo Flob?"

Her mouth hung open.

"It's incredible, Lord Leo."

Eirian also marveled.

"Just how powerful is that magic?"

Lunia also wore a perplexed expression.

It was then.

[Everyone.]

Melina's voice was heard in their ears.

[From now on, I will lead. Ulta, take Rienia and attack Erebus.]

At her words, Ulta grabbed the reins of his Pegasus, Airia.

Whoosh-!

Flying at tremendous speed, Airia spewed lightning.

Fizzzzzzzt-!

While flying at unimaginable speed, Rienia stood up.

Whoosh-!

A tremendous sense of speed was felt.

But Rienia didn't care and pulled back the bowstring.

Gooouuuh-!

As she drew the bowstring, she spoke the spell.

As Rienia chanted the star spell, the atmospheric mana resonating with Leo reacted to Rienia's spell.

Rienia's eyes widened slightly.

'What is this?'

She had merely chanted along with Leo's magic incantation.

Yet, she felt the spell's power growing even stronger.

A power far exceeding the maximum Rienia could exert was imbued within it.

However, despite that, there was no feeling of instability.

'On the contrary, it's stable.'

Clench-!

Rienia pulled the bowstring even harder.

'As if this were its original power.'

With the incredibly natural movement of magic, Rienia finished her spell.

"Doomsday."

Flash-!

As Rienia released the bowstring, a doomsday spell in the form of an arrow flew towards Erebus.

Flash-! Crash-! Whoosh-!

In the aftermath of the magic, trees and grass around Erebus were flattened in the opposite direction.

Whoosh-!

As black flames poured out, Melina spoke.

[Toarua, please block the flames with earth magic.]

Toarua moved the earth with a magic spell formula.

Kukwagagagagang-!

A massive earthen wall rose up and blocked the flames.

'Toarua's magic has no change in power.'

Rienia stirred up magic and used a spell.

Cold air swirled in her hand.

Magic cast with a general magic spell formula showed no change in power.

Rienia used star magic.

Then, a distinctly different magical reaction occurred than usual.

"Toarua! Use star magic!"

"The power of star magic is stronger than usual right now!"

At her words, Toarua also hastily checked her magic.

And understanding Rienia's words, she wore a surprised expression.

Lunia and Eirian also noticed the change.

"What's going on?!"

As Eliza asked urgently, Lunia said.

"I don't know. What's certain is that the star magic spell formulas are being affected by Leo's spell."

With those words, Leo's magic was completed.

Flash-!

A pillar of light descended from the sky.

***

Flash-!

Erebus's eyes twitched at the brilliance of the starlight covering the sky.

It was magic of a power that Erebus could not easily disregard.

As far as Erebus knew, only one person could use such powerful magic.

-Luna Rubinence?

Kwagagagagagang-!

The pillar of light directly struck and swallowed Erebus.

A massive explosion occurred simultaneously with a colossal flash.

Arion's eyes widened at the sight.

"Luna?"

It was as if he was seeing Luna.

But Arion knew.

That Luna did not exist in this era.

If not Luna, then only one person could wield star magic like this.

'Kyle!'

Arion smiled.

'As expected, Kyle is amazing.'

He was distinctly different from himself, who had stopped.

Even after reincarnation, Kyle continuously trained himself.

'By now, his magic has advanced to the point where one might mistake him for Luna. Although he hasn't recovered his full power, once he does, he will undoubtedly become incomparably stronger than the Kyle I knew.'

Arion tightened his grip on his hand.

Whoosh-!

At that moment, black flames burst through the dust and appeared.

-What is that relieved expression?

"Erebus."

Thump-!

Erebus took a step towards Arion.

Despite being directly hit by Leo's magic, Erebus was still intact.

-Indeed, it's not Luna Rubinence.

Erebus looked up at the sky.

-The surviving hero.

With Erebus's quiet murmur, Leo descended from the sky.

"Did you sleep well for 5000 years?"

-What a sight, surviving hero.

"Since you're still alive, I just revived to finish you off completely, that's all."

Leo's lips curved.

Erebus spoke, looking at Leo, who had a clear sneer on his face.

-If you have delayed the end of the world for 5000 years, you've done your part sufficiently.

Thump-

Erebus mocked Leo.

-I am different from those who do not disappear until this world burns. It would be utterly natural for you, a mortal, to disappear. Yet, you cannot even die and stand before me. Khahahaha-!

Erebus's maniacal laughter echoed.

-To even defy your given fate. Truly astonishing. You are more fitting than anyone for the name 'surviving hero', Kyle.

Whoosh-!

Accordingly, intense black flames swirled.

Melina hastily tried to approach to help the two.

Seeing such Melina, Erebus glared.

-How dare a mere insignificant creature covet this position!

"Guh?!"

With Erebus's enraged shout, a wall of black flames shot up.

Seeing this, Leo narrowed his eyes.

"You're quite discriminatory, aren't you?"

-Surviving Hero, and Brave. You are different from insignificant creatures.

"What's different?"

-5000 years ago, when I burned the world. The detestable gods vanished from this world. My old adversaries were unable to set foot in this world again.

Whoosh-!

Erebus's body blazed with black flames.

-The destruction of the world became a foregone conclusion. And it was you who defied that fate in such a situation.

Pure evil, existing since the beginning of time.

A being of destruction, existing merely to burn the world.

The moment the gods disappeared and he revealed himself.

The destruction of the world was utterly natural.

But the great heroes ultimately defeated Erebus and prevented that destruction.

-You are the ones who achieved a feat that even the gods could not. To me, you are stronger adversaries than the gods. I cannot place you on the same level as insignificant creatures. Be grateful. For you have been acknowledged by me, the primal evil.

"Oh, how damn honored I am, I'm practically swearing."

Leo gritted his teeth.

-Khuhuhuhu. So.

Erebus's gaze turned to Arion.

-You, who continue to exist through the gods' record system, are very relieved. Arion. Despite trembling in fear moments before your death.

"That no longer matters."

Arion gripped his sword tightly.

His face was filled with a resolve incomparable to before.

"Death no longer frightens me. Because the world was saved."

Arion pointed his sword at Erebus.

"I'm not afraid of disappearing either. Because I have no doubt that Kyle will defeat you."

-Huhuhu. Khuhuhuhuhu. Khahahahahahah!

Erebus burst into maniacal laughter.

Seeing that, Leo frowned.

"What's so funny?"

-How can it not be funny! Kyle! I cannot understand why you call this pitiful being a Brave!

Erebus looked at Arion.

-Listen carefully, cowardly Brave. The surviving hero is alone. Neither you, nor the God's Blacksmith, nor the Ancestor of the Nebula, nor the Fool are here. Only he remains alone in this world!

"No! Kyle has successors who inherited our spirits! He's not alone!"

-Are those magnificent successors those insignificant creatures over there?

Erebus's gaze turned to Melina and the hero candidates on the battlefield.

After a moment, Erebus looked at Arion with a pitying expression.

-They cannot replace you, Brave.

"No! Those children surely…"

-Even if they could replace you, Brave… you have overlooked one fact.

"What?"

-That the surviving hero is fighting me once again.

Erebus lowered his body.

And quietly said.

-It means repeating the same suffering you experienced once more.

Arion's face hardened.

"Arion, don't mind him."

Leo said with an expressionless face.

"I'm already prepared."

-You might be prepared, but would this cowardly Brave be as well?

Erebus's lips twisted.

-The only great hero who sacrificed himself because he was afraid of his comrades dying, yet ultimately feared death and doubted the salvation of the world. Let me tell you about the end of the others I saw.

Whoosh-!

Erebus's body blazed with fire.

-They arbitrarily passed their ideals onto the surviving hero. Passing on unfulfilled dreams! They were arbitrarily satisfied and closed their eyes, believing without a doubt that the surviving hero would succeed! Yes! Their belief was correct!

Leo hardened his face and stirred up magic.

-Ultimately! The surviving hero saved the world! He struggled to the very end, unable to die, saying he would fulfill your five wishes! To my astonishment! He met the most painful death among you five! And now! He is about to repeat that suffering once again!

Leo looked behind Arion's back.

He could see his shoulders trembling subtly.

-Strange, isn't it? Brave. Why are you making the same face as when you died?

Seeing Arion's face distorted as if he was about to cry, Erebus's face was tinged with elation.

"You bastard…!"

A murderous aura filled Leo's eyes.

-It is truly delightful to break an adversary.

Erebus, who had been chuckling, changed his demeanor.

-That's enough chatter.

A formidable killing intent poured from Erebus's body.

-Now, I shall burn you all.