Book 1 Chapter 481
481.
“From the sky now!”
Breaking through the bushes, Lil urgently appeared.
And upon discovering Artkhan facing off against Leo, her expression changed drastically.
“A Demon?”
Wham-!
Lil, who had closed the distance at an incredible speed, swung the battle hammer she now held in her hand, striking Artkhan's head.
Crack-!
With a tremendous sound, grass and trees around Lil and Artkhan's center fell in opposite directions.
‘He didn't budge?’
Even after taking a direct hit from an attack imbued with immense power, Artkhan's expression didn't change at all.
He didn't even take any defensive action or prepare himself.
Literally, Lil's attack itself had no effect.
Artkhan's gaze turned towards Lil.
“It's not good to interrupt adults when they're talking.”
Lil felt goosebumps all over her body as she saw Artkhan speaking with a gentle smile.
Thump-!
As Artkhan gripped Lil's hammer, dark red sparks flew.
Sizzle-!
Snap-!
At that moment, Artkhan's wrist was severed.
Swoosh-!
Artkhan, seeing his hand turn into sand and scatter, looked at Leo.
“Don’t touch him.”
Deep murderous intent was embedded in Leo's voice.
“Th-thank you, Master.”
Lil, who had put distance between herself and Artkhan to secure a safe zone, said, sweating profusely.
“Master, you say…”
Artkhan wore an intrigued expression.
“Hehehe! Hahahaha! Indeed. That's right! That girl is like those two.”
“Those two?”
Lil looked puzzled at Artkhan's words.
“Master, do you know that demon?”
Lil asked in a flustered voice, as his words suggested familiarity.
“Heh, we have quite a deep connection. In a way, perhaps you and I are also connected.”
“Don’t talk nonsense.”
Murderous intent emanated from Leo's body.
At that sight, Lil unconsciously stepped back.
Seeing Leo like that, Artkhan bowed his head.
“I apologize if I have defiled your ears.”
‘If I provoke him any further, it will truly be dangerous.’
Artkhan, who had served as the Necromancer King's confidant for 5000 years, knew Leo too well.
With the greatest threat, the Knight of Hades, present, Leo was not one to rashly charge in to settle past grudges.
‘If I provoke him any further, he'll try to kill me by any means necessary.’
The reason Artkhan did not call Leo a 'surviving hero' was to avoid bothering Leo as much as possible.
‘This is different from when we met in Shan half a year ago.’
Leo was recovering his past life's power at an incredible speed.
And that speed was further accelerated by the rewards gained from conquering Dweno's world and Lisinas's world.
‘He hasn't reached his peak power yet… but it's enough to obliterate me.’
Moreover, it was none other than Kyle, the Hero of Beginnings.
‘A man who is well-versed in hunting demons.’
The Great Hero most feared by demons was none other than Kyle.
5000 years ago.
Artkhan had fought all the Great Heroes, but the most terrifying moment imprinted in his memory was the battle with Kyle.
Leo, being an All-Class, used a variety of skills.
Against other Great Heroes who specialized in only one thing, he might have found an opportunity to escape, but against Leo, it was almost impossible.
“Well, since I've set the stage, I'll take my leave now.”
Artkhan curved the corners of his mouth and vanished into the darkness.
Lil, who had been watching him disappear, asked.
“Who was that?”
It was clear at a glance that he was a high-ranking demon, not to be trifled with.
“Grand Duke of the Funeral.”
“Gasp!”
Squeeze-
His grip tightened on the sword.
It was none other than Artkhan who had made Bihal an orphan in her past life.
And it was also Artkhan who made Berkia an orphan when she was an infant.
High-ranking necromancers summon the dead they have killed.
Later, Artkhan made Bihal's comrades into undead to torment Bihal.
He resurrected Berkia's parents, whom she couldn't even remember, as undead, tearing Berkia's heart apart.
‘I'm sorry for being such an incompetent master.’
Leo closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
“Lil.”
“Yes.”
“I'd like you to defeat him.”
At the sudden words, Lil's expression turned flustered.
But Leo's profile, staring at where Artkhan had disappeared, looked somewhat angry and, at the same time, sad.
Lil, watching him, said as if making a promise.
“Yes! I will definitely defeat him.”
Leo gave a slight smile at her strong answer.
It was then.
Groooowl-!
An unusual aura was felt from the sky.
A pitch-black aura was gathering in one place.
‘Is he planning to launch a sword strike at the capital?’
Leo lowered his stance.
If an attack of that power were to hit the capital, countless people would surely die.
Groooowl-!
The moment a gray aura formed around Leo's body.
Flash! Rumble rumble rumble!
A pure white pillar plunged down from the sky.
The Knight of Hades irritably swung his greatsword, deflecting the pure white pillar.
Crash!
The pitch-black aura and the pure white pillar intertwined and flew, striking the capital's city walls.
Rumble rumble rumble rumble-!
The city walls of the capital were seen collapsing in vain.
“Light Spirit?”
Seeing that, Lil murmured with a flustered face.
Leo, narrowing his eyes, looked in another direction.
Standing there were seven individuals, led by a man in a pure white robe.
Leo murmured, seeing the emblem embroidered on the fluttering robe.
“It's the Justice Guild.”
***
“Oh?”
Tamus let out an exclamation of admiration, looking at those blocking his path.
“There were some useful ones even among the heroes of this era.”
“It is an honor to meet you, Sir Knight of Hades?”
“Who are you?”
“I am Jerome, the Light Seeker. Though I am lacking, I serve as the leader of the Justice Guild.”
“A Guild. Are you referring to a group of heroes in this era?”
“You are well-informed.”
Jerome smiled gently.
“But unlike the other seniors who started appearing yesterday, you seem to be quite intact?”
Jerome looked at Tamus with a meaningful expression.
“Seeing dead heroes suddenly appearing as undead made me think of various things.”
“What did you think?”
“The Necromancer King suddenly acquired immense power. And based on that power, he summoned heroes as undead. Perhaps those lacking the qualities of a hero degenerated into undead. And also.”
“And also?”
“Undead with sane minds like you would also appear. And they would have betrayed the world. That's what I thought.”
Jerome shrugged his shoulders.
“In fact, aren't you a coward who has ignored the threat to the world?”
Crash rumble rumble rumble-!
A pitch-black aura enveloped Jerome.
But that pitch-black aura was blocked by a blue aura.
A knight with a bastard sword and shield firmly protected Jerome.
“Quite impressive.”
Tamus's lips twisted.
“You said your name was Jerome? Mind your tongue. I am merely using the Necromancer King.”
“Using?”
“Yes. He thinks he can control me as much as he wants with his power, but.”
Tamus raised his hand.
Groooowl-!
Powerful death energy spewed from his hand.
A moment later.
Gwaaaaaaah-!
A roar echoed.
Jerome's gaze turned towards beyond the city walls.
Countless undead were rising from the ground.
“Necromancy?”
“No, it's Spiritmancy.”
Tamus said with a hint of laughter in his voice.
“Those are the mighty warriors who, long ago, commanded the continent with me. It is the Necromancer King's power that revived them, but they still pledge loyalty to me. He cannot exert dominion over me. Rather, my mind controls his power.”
Thud-
Tamus re-gripped his greatsword.
“Remember this, Jerome. Not all who are listed in the Hero Record are the same kind of hero.”
Tamus's eyes gleamed from beneath his hood.
“You who have easily risen to the position of hero by inheriting the power of previous heroes through the Hero Record cannot be called true heroes. You are merely mass-produced fake heroes.”
Tamus scoffed.
“While heroes with weak minds or fake heroes like you might fall into slavery under the Necromancer King, I am of a different caliber.”
“I agree that not all who are listed in the Hero Record are the same kind of hero, but.”
Jerome let out a hollow laugh.
“What you said afterward is baseless nonsense. So, what is your goal, revived as you are?”
“First, I will create an army of spirits to subjugate Tartarus. And after unifying the continent, I shall rule this world as an immortal hero. Leading humble slaves on the right path is the work of a great hero. If that happens, it will also prove that the foolish dragon of genesis, who chose the Knight of Twilight instead of me, was wrong.”
“Haha, is that why you neglected the world's crisis? How petty.”
Jerome scoffed.
Tamus swung his sword.
Rumble rumble rumble rumble rumble-!
A massive pitch-black slash flew as if to cleave Jerome in two.
Flash-! Crash rumble rumble rumble-!
Then a massive pure white barrier absorbed the slash.
It was magic used by Chain, the sub-guild master of Justice, who had deployed magic beside Jerome.
Tamus's slash, which had been sucked into the barrier, returned.
“Hmph, Seyrun's magic, Counter Shield, is it?”
Tamus, seeing the magic, curled up the corner of his mouth and extended his sword.
The pitch-black sword strike was sucked into Tamus's sword.
Chain narrowed his eyes at the sight.
“Master, that sword is…”
“Yes… it's the divine sword Nox, crafted by Lord Dweno.”
Nox.
During the Age of Calamity, it was a legendary greatsword Dweno had created, recalling the beautiful night sky.
“A Hero Weapon?”
Greed flickered in the eyes of the knight-hero among the Justice Guild executives.
“You use fakes obtained through the Hero Record, but there are no fakes among my treasures.”
Tamus curled up the corner of his mouth.
“This sword is a genuine article left by a divine blacksmith.”
“Indeed, it seems you possess countless treasures, fitting for one who built the most powerful empire in the world.”
Jerome stroked his chin.
“It will be worth defeating you.”
“It is impossible with your strength.”
“This party has even subjugated legion commanders in the hero's world. Do you think it's possible to defeat us?”
Jerome roused his spiritual power.
Countless light spirits appeared in the air.
Jerome's expression changed dramatically.
“Tamus, betrayer of the world. As a hero living in this era, I will have you eliminated in the name of justice.”
“Guiding the world is the true hero's responsibility. Fake heroes who rose to heroism through the power of the Hero Record are not needed in this world.”
It was when a huge aura was stirring around Tamus's body.
Wooong-!
Nox, which had been emanating a pitch-black darkness, reacted.
“Hmm?”
Tamus's eyes twitched.
Whoosh-!
At that moment, golden flames erupted.
“Gah?!”
With the intense heat felt in his hand, Tamus involuntarily dropped Nox.
Whoosh-!
Clunk-!
Nox, which was falling to the ground, was caught by someone's hand.
At that moment, starlight began to shimmer on the pitch-black blade.
Leo clicked his tongue, slinging Nox, which had transformed into the appearance of a beautiful night sky, over his shoulder.
“The same kind of idiots are spouting nonsense.”
“Leo Flobe.”
Jerome narrowed his eyes.
“Isn't this stage too early for you?”
Despite Jerome's words, Leo flew up to a similar height.
“Do my words sound like nonsense?”
Leo ignored Jerome's words.
Jerome let out a hollow laugh, looking at Leo.
“Your attitude towards a senior is utterly disrespectful.”
“I don't recall having a senior like you.”
Leo replied indifferently, looking at Tamus.
“Are you the Knight of Hades?”
“……”
In response to Leo's question, Tamus stared fixedly at Leo.
A moment later, he opened his mouth.
“Those eyes, that tone. Indeed… his words were true. Exactly like what I saw in the hero's world.”
Tamus curled up the corners of his mouth.
“I wished to meet you, Hero of Beginnings. My name is Tamus.”
Tamus, who had shown an arrogant attitude until now, showed courtesy.
“Your true successor.”
At Tamus's sudden words, the people of the Justice Guild widened their eyes.
For them, these words made no sense at all.
Leo poked his ear with his pinky finger once and asked.
“What? Can you say that again?”
“I said I am your true successor.”
At those words, Leo replied with an expressionless face.
“Crazy bastard.”