Book 1 Chapter 485
485.
“Archer unit, prepare again.”
Lil commanded the knight beside her.
At that command, the knight frantically pointed at the archers with his sword.
“Archer unit! Prepare!”
Then the archers frantically nocked arrows onto their bowstrings.
However, the loading speed of the archers, who were not properly trained as the capital defense forces of a frontier kingdom, was clearly slow.
“Why can’t you hurry up! The enemies are within range!”
The knight shouted, frustrated.
Seeing this, Lil let out a light sigh and raised her hand.
RUMBLE-!
The earth spirits contracted with Lil shook the ground.
Tamuz’s army, advancing, lost its balance and fell due to the violently shaking ground.
Meanwhile, the archers who had finished loading fired their bows.
SWISH-!
The sound of arrows cutting through the wind echoed.
In response, Lil summoned wind spirits to increase the speed of the arrows.
Tamuz’s soldiers, whose power was enhanced by the power of wind, fell directly.
“A-amazing.”
“Was a spirit user such a great being?”
Lil alone had an enormous impact on the battlefield.
Though still young, Lil, who was particularly accustomed to such wars, also possessed overwhelming command abilities.
She was, literally, a being whose mere existence influenced the tide of the battlefield.
Other commanders, who had been directing soldiers from atop the city walls, were speechless.
“Lady Lil! You are magnificent! You are like a goddess who brings victory!”
“I am not magnificent. My brother is even more so. And he, truly, is worthy of being called a god.”
“B-brother?”
Lil, a beautiful girl by anyone’s standards, mentioning “brother” caused the knights to show bewildered expressions.
Just then, a dazzling flash of light gleamed in the sky.
Everyone was startled and looked up at the sky.
“Look.”
It was when Lil spoke calmly.
Lu, one of the orphan soldiers, ran up, saluted, and asked,
“Captain! When should we step in!”
Lu seemed itching to defeat the enemy immediately.
Looking at Lu, Lil said,
“You will not participate in this battle.”
“What? Why? We are much stronger than these people!”
Lu showed a puzzled expression.
Looking at Lu, Lil said,
“You are certainly stronger than them. But you are also at an age that needs protection.”
There was a section of the city wall that had collapsed.
Following that, Tamuz’s knights had also invaded the city.
However, she had received word from Jeremin regarding that section.
‘The Shadow people are helping people evacuate.’
The invading enemies were also being quickly dealt with.
Because of this, Lil could solely focus on this battlefield.
“What is your job?”
“To defeat the enemy…”
“No. It is to find what you want to do.”
Lil cut Lu off sharply.
At that, the orphan soldiers’ eyes widened.
“So, leave such things to the adults. Right? Knights?”
Everyone was speechless as they watched Lil ask, winking.
Though unfitting for such an urgent situation, Lil captivated everyone around her in an instant.
And with that, she gave them a sense of relief.
It was then.
“Are you the third-year representative of Lumerin who is commanding this battlefield, Lightseeker?”
A voice came from the sky.
Everyone’s gaze turned towards him.
There stood a man, Jerom, clutching one arm and distorting his face.
“Are you the Guild Master of the Justice Guild?”
“You know well. Then hand over command to me. I will save you all in this battlefield.”
Jerom said, grinding his teeth.
‘My hero qualifications revoked? What’s the reason!’
Jerom, who had conquered countless hero worlds, knew that the message he saw was not an illusion.
Historically, no one had ever had their hero qualifications revoked.
If this fact became known, Jerom would literally become a laughingstock of history.
‘Unacceptable. I must quickly achieve a great feat and reclaim my position as a hero!’
Jerom’s mind was filled with only such thoughts.
Looking at Jerom, Lil hesitated.
Even setting aside his critically injured state, she hesitated whether to hand over command.
She knew well what ideology he held.
But, after all, as a man who had attained the position of a hero, he might be a more suitable person to command this battlefield than herself.
It was as Jerom was pondering this.
“Lightseeker. We appreciate your offer to command the battlefield, but… the Justice Guild abandoned us. Therefore, following your command would greatly affect the morale of the soldiers.”
“Lady Lil is already commanding this battlefield very well.”
The knights of the Kingdom of Carnel declared their intention to follow Lil.
It was then that Lil’s eyes widened at their reaction.
“How dare these ignorant commoners.”
Jerom’s face turned menacing.
“When I offer to command, it’s not enough to bow down and thank me. You refuse?”
WOOSH-!
Spiritual power raged from his body.
In an instant, Lil’s eyes turned fierce.
SWISH-!
She swung the battle hammer directly at Jerom.
“Hmph-! A clumsy attack!”
Jerom’s eyes flashed.
Though he had already expended much power in the fight against Tamuz and even lost an arm, the fact that he was one of the foremost practitioners among heroes of this generation remained unchanged.
Lil, who was merely a hero candidate, was not an opponent he could be easily dealt with.
But Lil, gripping the battle hammer, tightened her grip even further.
If she retreated now, the knights of Carnel would all die.
Lil instinctively knew this fact and gritted her teeth.
“To try to kill someone just because they don’t follow your will! You! What do you think of human lives?!”
“Are you lecturing me right now! What do you, a mere girl, know about heroes to blabber about? Heroes are special humans who lead the era! Other humans are merely expendables who should just follow the will of heroes!”
At Jerom’s words, Lil’s shoulders trembled.
“I truly wonder what will become of you with such a weak mindset!”
“At least I won’t end up like you! You son of a bitch!”
“What?”
Lil, having uttered an insult, her strength momentarily surpassed its limits.
CRACKLE-!
Cracks appeared in the light barrier Jerom had created with spirits.
“What?!”
CRUNCH-!
“Cough?!”
The battle hammer struck Jerom directly in the chest.
His body flew backward.
“Haa. Haa. How?”
[Impressive.]
Someone gently patted Lil’s head, as if pressing down.
“Lady Laruel?”
What Lil had used was none other than Laruel’s power.
It was the momentary deployment of the Spirit Armored power that Leo had placed on Lil for training.
[Well, my use of my power was purely thanks to Leo.]
When Leo deployed the Spirit Armored on Lil, Laruel had briefly resided within Lil’s body.
This had formed a kind of temporary contract.
However, using Laruel’s power was solely Lil’s ability.
[If not for Leo, you might have been the one to contract with me.]
Lil’s expression, looking at Laruel who wore a proud look, contorted.
“Ugh?!”
Then she covered her mouth and ran to a section of the city wall.
“Blech.”
It was the price for using power beyond her allowed limit.
Laruel, who had been looking at Lil, suffering with a twisted head and stomach, with a strange expression, patted Lil’s back.
“Waaah!”
“Long live Lady Lil!”
“The goddess of victory protects us!”
The knights and soldiers cheered, knowing that Lil had saved them.
[They’re calling out so passionately, why don’t you wave to them?]
“If I vomit… Ugh! Will it stop? Blech!”
[…That wouldn’t look very good. Do it when you feel better.]
***
With an immense flash, Tamuz plummeted to the ground.
[That’s incredible.]
Arti exclaimed in admiration.
“Well, I just unleashed an overwhelming amount of firepower for a moment.”
Even for Leo, maintaining that attack power continuously now was difficult.
If the opponent dodged, it would be useless.
No matter how powerful an attack, it only matters if it hits.
To that, Kilran asked excitedly,
[How does the current Leo compare to his previous life in terms of power?]
“His attack power is probably similar to when I first met Risinas. But catching up on overall aspects is still a long way off.”
Having answered, Leo pursued Tamuz.
‘He’s not completely dead yet.’
As befits one with mighty power, he survived that blow.
WHOOSH-! CRASH-!
Just then, Jerom, who had taken a blow from Lil, flew and crashed in front of Leo.
“Cough! Choke! That damned wench!”
Jerom, rising to his feet, shouted with murderous eyes.
Looking at Jerom, Leo said,
“Looks like Lil got to you?”
“Leo Flobe?”
Jerom’s body flinched.
Leo, noticing that Lil had summoned Laruel, curved his lips upwards.
“How does it feel to see a real hero?”
“Was it you… Are you involved in my hero qualifications being revoked?!”
“Think whatever you want.”
Jerom’s body trembled, watching Leo mock him.
Seeing that attitude, he was convinced.
That his expulsion from the hero’s position was connected to Leo.
“Why?”
Jerom muttered softly.
“Why?! Heroes are chosen beings! And I am the chosen human! I was always the best! I have executed justice for the world! So why should I be driven from the hero’s position! Why me, who achieved such a great feat!”
Leo spoke indifferently to Jerom, who was yelling as if to protest.
“I don’t think you’re that great of a person at all.”
“What?”
“In my eyes, you’re nothing but an idiot who thinks it’s okay to do whatever you want with the world just because you have some power.”
At Leo’s chilling words, Jerom’s face stiffened.
“Isn’t the title of hero too good for such an idiot?”
“Kuaaaaaaah!”
Jerom, eyes wide with madness, charged at Leo.
Leo dodged Jerom.
SLASH-!
With an eerie sound, Jerom’s movements stopped.
SPLASH-! THUD-!
Jerom’s neck, severed, collapsed.
Leo, his face expressionless, wiped the blood from Nox, ignored Jerom, and pursued Tamuz.
Currently, the interior of Carnel’s capital was in chaos due to Tamuz’s army.
‘Unless I deal with him, they will continuously pour in.’
Leo chased Tamuz.
And a moment later.
He found him standing in the middle of a ruin.
Tamuz, realizing Leo had arrived, stared at Leo with a headless form and shouted,
“It’s not over yet!”
Tamuz roared fiercely.
“I haven’t regained my full power! If I regain my power as a Spirit Lord, killing you won’t be impossible!”
Tamuz burned with killing intent.
He had inflicted a fatal wound, but had not completely defeated him.
“Don’t struggle so pathetically; accept death with dignity.”
The moment Leo irritably raised Nox.
FLASH-!
Light surged from the ground where Tamuz stood.
“This is the land I ruled 3000 years ago.”
Tamuz’s eyes flashed.
“Isn’t it natural that I remember the location of my treasure vault?”
Tamuz, curling up the corners of his mouth, stretched out his hand.
With that, a gate was created.
“You won’t be able to open it without a key, will you?”
“Heh. Do you think a key is needed to enter my treasure vault?!”
Tamuz, scoffing, opened the treasure vault door.
FLASH-!
With that, a bright light and simultaneously the surrounding scenery changed.
When Leo opened his eyes, a massive armory revealed itself.
In the center, Tamuz stood beside a throne.
Tamuz picked up the skull head placed on the throne and placed it on his own neck.
FLASH-!
The skull’s eyes gleamed.
“With this, I have regained my complete power! Hero of the Beginning! Hahahahaahaha!”
Tamuz, erupting in insane laughter, raised his hand.
“I will show you! The power of my proud hero legion!”
WOOSH-!
Spiritual power extended from Tamuz’s body and permeated the armaments filling the armory.
FLASH-!
The spiritual power soon manifested the living appearances of the armaments’ former owners.
“I remember that you disobeyed my command 3000 years ago! But I forgive you! Foolish spirits! You shall become my slaves and rule this world again!”
Tamuz’s eyes flashed.
“Let’s drive out the fake heroes who rose to the position of heroes with the power of Hero Records! And show these foolish ones what a true hero is! Follow my command and kill him!”
At Tamuz’s frantic command, the spirits began to approach Leo.
Tamuz’s spirit art, resurrected with the power of the Necromancer King, was close to necromancy.
It forcibly controlled others and reduced them to the undead.
Leo’s face hardened as he watched the spirits approaching him.
It wasn’t hardened by fear or anxiety.
He heard the voices of countless spirits filled with torment.
‘So that’s it.’
Leo looked down at his hand.
‘I had awakened Spirit Art.’
He heard the sorrowful voices of the spirits.
Just as Risinas had.
FLASH-!
Pure white spiritual power flowed from Leo’s hand.
At that light, the spirits’ movements stopped.
“You can do what you want.”
Leo said.
“You are free. No one can bind you.”
CLANG-!
The spirits, touching the pure white light, trembled and then one by one disappeared.
The armaments they had held clattered uselessly on the floor.
Seeing that, Tamuz’s eyes widened.
“H-how?!”
“I just mimicked a spirit user greater than you.”
Leo said as he approached Tamuz.
WOOSH-!
An unusual killing intent emanated from Leo’s body.
Looking at Leo, Tamuz said with a trembling voice,
“S-save me.”
He was perfectly defeated, both as a knight and as a spirit user.
Now there were two choices left.
Accepting death or begging for his life.
“Hero of the Beginning! I… no! I can resist the power of the former Necromancer King! The hateful Necromancer King said it! That a fragment of Erebus has been revived again! And that he possesses the fragment of Erebus! I will be of great help in this era! Please save me! As a great grand hero! Have mercy on your junior!”
Looking down at Tamuz, who was kneeling and rubbing his hands abjectly, Leo said,
“Certainly, a hero with power like yours would be of great help.”
“T-that’s right…”
“A hero, you see.”
Leo raised Nox.
Tamuz’s face stiffened.
“But you’re not a hero, are you?”
“S-save me! There will surely never be another like me!”
“There are plenty of people in this era who will become stronger than you.”
“Kuaaaaah!”
Tamuz, who had been kneeling, made a final desperate lunge at Leo.
SWISH-!
At that moment.
Tamuz’s head flew into the sky.
3000 years ago.
His neck was severed by the same sword trajectory that had cut off his own head.
Tamuz’s body crumbled emptily.