Book 1 Chapter 453

While Arg's expression was anxious,

"Lady Melina. What should we do with this?"

Chelsea asked, holding the sword Arion had thrown away.

Seeing her, Melina said,

"It's Brave. It's a sword that's like Arion's symbol. Chelsea, you know that too, right?"

"Yes, but it's broken?"

As Chelsea said with a worried face, Melina nodded.

"It was already broken before he left the world of heroes."

"Will a broken sword be a hindrance to Arion?"

"It would be better to wield Brave, even if it's broken, than to fight with your bare hands. However… Arion doesn't have the余裕 right now…"

*RUMBLE-!*

A loud noise echoed once again in front of the castle wall.

Arion, struck by Erebus's attack, had fallen to the ground in front of the castle wall.

The monsters rushing towards the castle wall were swept away by the shockwave.

Arion staggered and got up.

The power of Aura was still intact.

But Arion's body was a mess.

However, his fighting spirit was not broken.

As if forcefully shaking off fear,

He glared at Erebus, burning with fighting spirit.

*CRASH-!*

Erebus landed right in front of Arion.

"What makes you struggle so much? Timid hero. Are you afraid of the death of those pathetic creatures you believe are your hope?"

"Kuh-hooooooooong!"

A howling sound erupted from Arion's mouth.

Arion, engulfed in Aura all over his body, charged at Erebus again.

Erebus's eyes gleamed as he saw him, and he swung his arm.

*RUMBLE-!*

Arion was sent flying again.

But without giving up, he burst out of the ground, bared his claws, and tore at Erebus's arm.

Now that he couldn't see the future through his super senses,

Arion continued his seemingly reckless battle.

An unprecedented, thrilling close combat between the hero and the primordial evil.

The aftermath of that battle was terrifying.

In the first place, if it weren't for Arion, no one would have been able to stop the primordial evil alone.

'Just a little longer, if I can hold on a little longer, Kyle's spell will be complete!'

His role was to block Erebus until then and wear him down.

No matter how inextinguishable the flame of disaster, if you keep cutting it, its power weakens.

It was true that he was an immortal being, but he was not unharmed.

'I need to weaken him enough for Innocent to completely annihilate him!'

Terrible burns were added to his entire body.

His body screamed in agony, as if he were dying.

It was more pain than Arion had ever experienced before.

'Hold on!'

Arion's eyes widened.

'Kyle must have suffered much more than this!'

"Kuaaaaaaaa!"

Arion roared and tore at Erebus's neck.

Meanwhile, the monstrous beasts created by Erebus descended upon the castle wall.

Chelsea, who had been watching Arion's desperate struggle, tightened her grip on her hand.

'How can I help Arion somehow?'

She remembered Arion, who had been kind and gentle to her.

Arion, who had genuinely rejoiced, saying he wanted a future where children smiled brightly, was now fighting a desperate battle.

Chelsea, who was stamping her feet, wanting to help Arion somehow, shouted as she looked at Brave in her hand.

"I'll take Brave to Arion!"

Melina's eyes widened.

"That's too reckless."

"But aren't I the most suitable for this role?"

Chelsea said seriously.

"I'm small and fast, so I can enough dodge the attacks of the monsters and come back! This is a wind mage's specialty!"

"Then someone like Nana or Ukita…"

"Melina and Ukita-senpai need to stop the monsters!"

Melina and Ukita were currently powerful forces defending the castle wall.

If they left their posts, the castle might collapse immediately.

"…You're disqualified as a Dragon Lord. To send someone as young as you to the most dangerous place."

"If it seems dangerous, I'll run away immediately!"

"Hey, Chelsea. Are you okay?"

Kal asked worriedly, but Chelsea raised her index finger and shouted confidently.

"Of course!"

With those words, Chelsea slung Brave onto her back and leaped from the castle wall.

'Hot Wind.'

Chelsea used her unique magic.

Magic that manipulates the surrounding wind at will.

That magic gave Chelsea overwhelming mobility and evasion.

*WHOOSH-!*

Chelsea flew to the fierce battlefield of Arion and Erebus at tremendous speed.

The monsters spotted Chelsea, revealed their killing intent, and attacked.

But Chelsea dodged all their attacks by manipulating the wind.

'Training with Leo-oppa was helpful! And Arion-nim's super senses too!'

She couldn't properly use the super senses she had trained with Arion yet.

However, as a result of her training, her senses had become very sharp.

Some monsters persistently targeted Chelsea.

But magic from the castle wall provided cover for Chelsea.

It was support from those specialized in sniping magic, like Rienia and Juien.

Eventually, the moment Chelsea reached the battlefield of Arion and Erebus,

*CRASH-!*

Something flew in front of Chelsea.

"Arion-nim!"

Arion, whose entire body was at its limit, was struggling to get up, groaning.

The moment Chelsea hastily tried to support Arion,

"A pathetic creation,"

A contemptuous voice was heard.

Chelsea's face hardened.

"Leave that timid hero and get out of here. Then I'll spare your insignificant life."

Chelsea's instincts signaled at the malicious voice filled with blatant mockery and ridicule.

Run away.

That it was an unprecedented disaster she could never handle.

Her whole body broke out in goosebumps and trembled.

Tears welled up in her eyes.

She wanted to run away.

But Chelsea didn't let go of Arion.

"Chelsea… step back."

Arion staggered and put strength into his legs.

"Just hold on a little longer. So, go to a safe place."

"Arion-nim is at his limit! Let's go quickly!"

Despite being terrified, Chelsea tried to pull Arion away from the battlefield.

"The young human girl is much braver than you, hero. How pathetic."

There was no lie in his promise to spare her if she retreated.

Chelsea's death held no value for Erebus.

He merely wanted to mock Arion by witnessing the pathetic sight of Arion's supposed hope fleeing in terror.

But it didn't go as planned.

That fact was enough to make Erebus feel unpleasant.

"Die, human girl, cursing your foolishness for unnecessary valor."

*CRASH-!*

As Erebus spoke, flames erupted from all directions.

Seeing that, Arion tried to use Aura, but his body flickered.

That meant only one thing.

'My allotted time has run out!'

His divine power was completely depleted at the worst possible timing.

Arion gritted his teeth, pulled Chelsea into his arms, and squeezed out his Aura.

'At least for Chelsea!'

*WHOOSH-!*

Black flames enveloped Arion and Chelsea.

***

*FLAME-!*

"Ah…"

Everyone was stunned.

The hero who had been blocking Erebus had disappeared.

The word "defeat" naturally crossed their minds.

Everyone's face naturally contorted with fear.

*FLAME-!*

The crimson night sky.

A world burning with black flames.

A single word flashed through the minds of the hero candidates.

'The Return of Disaster.'

*CRACKLE-!*

As everyone despaired, Leo descended from the sky and stood in the middle of the land burning with black flames.

And he looked up at Erebus.

"It's over."

Erebus mocked Leo.

"The hero is gone, and with your strength, you cannot stop me."

A voice filled with ecstasy.

Erebus had no doubt that despair would dawn on Leo's face.

"The era of disaster will come again!"

As Erebus declared, the black flames burned even more fiercely.

*FLAME! CRACKLE- CRACKLE-*

But despite that, there was no great emotional change on Leo's face.

He was simply accumulating the power to unleash Innocent.

With Leo's current strength, even if he squeezed out everything, it was impossible to complete a magic powerful enough to defeat Erebus.

No matter how much pure mana was the natural enemy of primordial evil, it was useless if the power difference was too great.

And yet…

"What is that face?"

Erebus's expression contorted severely at Leo's surprisingly calm face.

"Why can you show such unwavering belief?! He's gone now! That coward has disappeared from this world…"

"Don't make me laugh, you bastard! Who are you calling a coward!"

Interrupting Erebus, someone shouted with an enraged voice.

Arga, who had rushed over, stood beside Leo and glared at Erebus.

"Arion-nim is not a coward! He has the strongest courage in the world!"

"Ignorance is frightening,"

Erebus muttered as if it were ridiculous.

"He died 5,000 years ago, and that coward, whose meager miracles of the gods have ended, has vanished from this world. To think you would try to oppose me by gaining courage from such a coward. How foolish…"

"Nyaaaak! Don't call Arion-nim a coward! You misshapen lump of a face!"

Arga interrupted Erebus again and shouted hysterically.

"I know Arion-nim is scared! But he's not a coward! He overcomes his fear even when he's scared! Hero Arion saved the world! That's why he's a great hero! Do you think it makes sense for someone like that to be a coward? You've been asleep for 5,000 years, aren't your brains messed up?!"

Arga gesticulated wildly, his neck veins bulging with anger.

His opponent was none other than the symbol of disaster,

Erebus, the primordial evil, a being of terror that made even the gods tremble in fear.

His appearance made even Erebus dumbfounded.

In Erebus's eyes, he clearly saw Arga's terrified appearance.

Normally, a beastman like him…

He shouldn't have been able to utter a single word in front of him.

A weak being who didn't even deserve to stand on this battlefield.

A lower creature who should have trembled without even making eye contact.

But

"Arion-nim will! He will rise again! He will get up and beat you up!"

Despite being terrified, he shouted without yielding.

He believed that Arion, who had already disappeared and no longer existed, would return.

"Unless he steps into the realm of gods, that is impossible."

"Arion-nim is a god!"

They couldn't communicate.

"What an utterly foolish person who will never exist in this world again."

"Who are you calling a fool! You fool!"

"Kuh-kuk… Puh-huhuh-hahahahaha!"

Leo, who had been watching the situation from the side, burst out laughing without realizing it.

It was so amazing that Arga was doing what even Luna, who was known for her recklessness, couldn't achieve.

"But he's right."

Leo smiled faintly.

"Arion will come back."

*FLAME-!*

"Are you out of your mind?"

"No, I'm perfectly sane."

Although Arion had fallen, Leo's faith did not waver at all.

"He's the type who never gives up."

"Kru-ru-ru-"

Arga growled low beside him and let out a howl towards the sky.

"Aaaaaaaaah!"

Golden Aura erupted from Arga's body.

As Erebus's eyes twitched at the howl,

*FLASH-!*

Golden Aura shot up, piercing through the flames that enveloped Arion and Chelsea.

Seeing that, Erebus's face turned to shock.

"Impossible!"

Arga beamed.

Leo sighed helplessly, looking at him.

'Who is the burden, you fool.'

Leo looked down at his own hands.

As if reacting to Arion's Aura,

Dwayno's flames ignited.

Seeing that, Leo clenched his fist and thought to himself.

'I didn't hold on because I bore a burden.'

Luna's voice that gave him a sense of relief, Dwayno's armor that he could entrust his life to with peace of mind,

The blinding light of Lisinas even when he closed his eyes,

And the dependable back of Arion, more than anyone else, allowed Leo to endure.

He saw Arion, who had emerged from the black flames, holding Chelsea in his arms.

'You might think you've given up, but at the last moment, you rose again.'

He reassured everyone, saying the world would be saved, and gave them courage.

'We… will win.'

He had no doubt that his friends would win.

'You always say no, but you are always the signal flare for miracles. Arion.'