Book 1 Chapter 485

"Archer unit, prepare yourselves again."

Lil gave an order to the knight beside her.

At the command, the knight hurriedly pointed his sword at the archers.

"Archer unit! Prepare!"

Then, the archers hastily nocked arrows to their bowstrings.

However, as the defense force of a border kingdom, their training was insufficient, and the archers' loading speed was noticeably slow.

"Can't you hurry it up! The enemies are within range!"

The knight shouted, sounding frustrated.

Seeing this, Lil let out a light sigh and raised her hand.

Quagagagagagong-!

The earth spirits contracted by Lil shook the ground.

Tamuth's advancing army lost its balance and fell due to the violently shaking ground.

In the meantime, the archers who had finished loading fired their arrows.

Shugagagagagak!

The sound of arrows slicing through the wind echoed.

In sync, Lil summoned wind spirits to increase the speed of the arrows.

Tamuth's soldiers, whose power was amplified by the wind's force, fell one after another.

"In, incredible."

"Were spirit users such powerful beings?"

Lil alone had an immense impact on the battlefield.

Though still young, Lil, especially seasoned in war, possessed overwhelming command abilities.

She was a being whose very existence influenced the tide of battle.

The other commanders directing the soldiers from atop the castle walls were speechless.

"Lil-nim! You're amazing! You're like a goddess of victory!"

"I'm not that amazing. My brother is even more so. And he's someone who could be called a god."

"B-brother?"

Lil, who clearly looked like a beautiful young girl, saying "brother" caused the knights to look bewildered.

At that moment, a dazzling flash of light streaked across the sky.

Everyone looked up at the sky in surprise.

"Look."

This was when Lil spoke calmly.

Lu, one of the orphan soldiers, ran up, saluted, and asked, "Captain! When should we step in!"

Lu seemed eager to defeat the enemy immediately.

Seeing the restless Lu, Lil said, "You all will not participate in this battle."

"What? Why? We're much stronger than these people."

Lu looked confused.

Seeing Lu, Lil said, "You are certainly stronger than them. However, you are also at an age where you should be protected."

There was a breach on one side of the castle walls.

Through it, Tamuth's knights had also infiltrated the city.

However, regarding that part, she had received word from Jeremin.

'The Shadows are helping people evacuate.'

The infiltrated enemies were also being dealt with quickly.

Therefore, Lil could focus entirely on this battlefield.

"What is your job?"

"To defeat the enemy…"

"No. It's to find what you want to do."

Lil said bluntly to Lu.

At that, the orphan soldiers' eyes widened.

"So leave this to the adults, okay? Knights?"

Lil's wink left everyone speechless.

Though it didn't seem fitting for such a critical situation, Lil captivated everyone around her in an instant.

She also gave them a sense of relief.

At that moment.

"Are you the third-year representative of Rumern commanding this battlefield?"

A voice echoed from the sky.

All eyes turned to him.

There was Jerome, clutching one arm, his face contorted in pain.

"Are you the Guild Master of the Justice Guild?"

"You know me well. Then hand over the command. I will save you from this battlefield."

Jerome said through gritted teeth.

'My hero qualification has been revoked? What's the reason!'

Having conquered countless hero worlds, Jerome knew the message he saw was not an illusion.

In history, no one has ever had their hero qualification revoked.

If this fact became known, Jerome would undoubtedly be a mockery of history.

'Unacceptable. I must achieve a great feat quickly and regain my hero status!'

Only these thoughts filled Jerome's mind.

Looking at Jerome, Lil hesitated.

Even setting aside his critically wounded state, she hesitated about whether to hand over command.

She knew what his ideology was.

However, as a man who had reached the position of a hero, she wondered if he might be more suitable to command this battlefield than herself.

This was when Jerome was deliberating.

"Light Seeker. While I appreciate your offer to command the battlefield, … the Justice Guild has abandoned us. Therefore, following your command will greatly affect the soldiers' morale."

"Lil-nim is already commanding this battlefield very well."

The knights of the Kingdom of Carnel declared their intention to follow Lil.

At their reaction, Lil's eyes widened.

"Insolent ignoramuses."

Jerome's face turned menacing.

"I'm offering to command, and you can't even offer a bow of gratitude? You refuse?"

Gooooo-!

Spiritual energy surged from his body.

In an instant, Lil's eyes turned fierce.

Whooong-!

She swung her battle hammer directly at Jerome.

"Hmph! A crude attack!"

Jerome's eyes flashed.

Although he had already expended much of his strength in the battle with Tamuth and lost an arm, his status as one of the top-ranked skilled individuals among the current generation of heroes remained unchanged.

He was not an opponent that Lil, merely a hero candidate, could handle.

However, Lil, holding the battle hammer, tightened her grip.

If she retreated here, all the knights of Carnel would die.

Lil sensed this fact and gritted her teeth.

"To try and kill someone for not following your will! You! What do you think a human life is worth!"

"Are you lecturing me now? What do you know about heroes to be spouting such nonsense? Heroes are special individuals who lead the era! Other humans are merely disposable commodities who should just follow the heroes' will!"

At Jerome's words, Lil's shoulders trembled.

"I'm truly curious how far that weak mindset will get you!"

"At least not as far as you! You son of a bitch!"

"What?"

As Lil spat out the profanity, her power momentarily exceeded its limits.

Crackling-!

The light barrier created by Jerome's spirit cracked.

"What?!"

Cracking sound-!

"Cough?!"

The battle hammer struck Jerome directly in the chest.

His body was sent flying.

"Huff. Huff. How?"

[Impressive.]

Someone gently stroked Lil's head.

"Laruel-nim?"

What Lil used was none other than Laruel's power.

It was the power of the Spirit Armor that Leo had placed on Lil for training, unleashed momentarily.

[Well, using my power was purely thanks to Leo-nim's help.]

When Leo deployed the Spirit Armor on Lil, Laruel had temporarily resided within Lil's body.

This had formed a kind of temporary contract.

However, the use of Laruel's power was entirely Lil's ability.

[If it wasn't for Leo-nim, you might have ended up contracting with me.]

Looking at Laruel, who had an expression of commendation, Lil's face contorted.

"Ugh?!"

And covering her mouth, she ran to a spot on the castle wall.

"Ugh."

It was the price for using power beyond her allowed limits.

Laruel, looking at Lil in agony with her head and stomach twisted, patted Lil's back.

"Waaaaah!"

"Long live Lil-nim!"

"The goddess of victory protects us!"

The knights and soldiers, knowing Lil had saved them, cheered.

[They're cheering so enthusiastically, why not give them a wave?]

"If I throw up… ugh! Am I standing? Ugh!"

[…The image is a bit unsightly. Do it after you've calmed down.]

***

With an immense flash of light, Tamuth plummeted to the ground.

[That's incredible.]

Atiga exclaimed in admiration.

"Well, it was just a momentary burst of overwhelming firepower."

Even Leo, with his current ability to maintain such attack power, found it difficult.

If the opponent dodged, it would be useless.

No matter how powerful an attack, it's only meaningful if it lands.

Kieran asked with great interest, [How does current Leo compare to your past life?]

"In terms of attack power, it's similar to when I first met Lisinas. Catching up in overall ability is still a long way off."

Leo, after answering, pursued Tamuth.

'He's not completely dead yet.'

As someone with immense power, he had survived even after taking that blow.

Wheeeeng! Bang!

At that moment, Jerome, who had been struck by Lil, flew and crashed in front of Leo.

"Cough! Cough! Damn woman!"

Jerome, getting to his feet, shouted with murderous intent.

Seeing Jerome, Leo said, "Did Lil do that to you?"

"Leo Plove?"

Jerome's body trembled.

Sensing that Lil had summoned Laruel, Leo curled the corners of his mouth.

"How was it? What do you think of seeing a real hero?"

"It was you… Are you involved in my hero qualification being revoked?"

"Think what you like."

Seeing Leo's mocking smile, Jerome's body trembled.

He became certain.

His expulsion from the hero position was connected to Leo.

"Why?"

Jerome muttered in a low voice.

"Why! Heroes are chosen beings! And I am a chosen human! I was always the best! I've been executing justice for the world! So why should I be expelled from the hero position! I, who have achieved great feats!"

Leo said indifferently, looking at Jerome, who was protesting vehemently.

"I don't think you're that great a person at all."

"What?"

"To me, you're just an idiot who thinks it's okay to do whatever you want with the world just because you have some power."

Jerome's face stiffened at Leo's cold words.

"Isn't the title of hero too good for such an idiot?"

"Kuaaaaaaah!"

Jerome, with his eyes rolling back, lunged at Leo.

Leo dodged such Jerome.

Scrape-!

With a chilling sound, Jerome's movement stopped.

Fwah-! Thump-!

Jerome's head, severed from his body, fell to the ground.

Leo, with a blank expression, shook the blood off his Nox and pursued Tamuth without glancing at Jerome.

Currently, the interior of Carnel's capital was in chaos due to Tamuth's army.

'As long as he's not defeated, they'll keep pouring in.'

Leo pursued Tamuth.

And after a while.

He found him standing in the middle of ruins.

Tamuth, realizing Leo had arrived, glared at Leo with a headless appearance and shouted, "It's not over yet!"

Tamuth shouted ferociously.

"I haven't regained my full power! If I regain my strength as a spirit necromancer, it won't be impossible to kill you!"

Tamuth's malice burned.

He had inflicted a fatal wound, but he hadn't completely defeated him.

"Stop thrashing around so pathetically and accept your death with dignity."

The moment Leo irritably raised his Nox.

Flash-!

Light erupted from the ground where Tamuth stood.

"This is a land I ruled 3000 years ago."

Tamuth's eyes flashed.

"It's natural that I remember the location of my treasure vault!"

Tamuth, curling the corners of his mouth, reached out.

Along with it, a door materialized.

"You can't open it without a key, can you?"

"Heh. Do you think you need a key to enter my treasure vault!"

Tamuth scoffed and opened the treasure vault door.

Flash-!

Along with a bright light, the surrounding landscape changed.

When Leo opened his eyes, a massive armory appeared.

In the center, Tamuth stood beside a throne.

Tamuth picked up a skull that was placed on the throne and placed it on his own neck.

Flash-!

The skull's eyes gleamed.

"With this, I have regained my full power! Hero of the Beginning! Hahahaha!"

Tamuth burst into maniacal laughter and raised his hand.

"I will show you! The power of the Hero Legion I boast of!"

Gooooo-!

The spiritual energy that spread from Tamuth's body seeped into the armaments filling the armory.

Flash-!

The spiritual energy soon materialized the figures of the owners of the armaments in their living days.

"I remember you defying my orders 3000 years ago! But I forgive you! Foolish spirits! You will become my slaves and rule this world again!"

Tamuth's eyes flashed.

"Let's drive out the fake heroes who ascended to hero status with the power of the Hero Record! And show those fools what a true hero is! Obey my command and kill him!"

At Tamuth's frenzied command, the spirits began to approach Leo.

Tamuth's spirit necromancy, revived with the power of the Undead King, was akin to necromancy.

It forcibly dominated others and turned them into the undead.

Looking at the spirits approaching him, Leo's face stiffened.

It wasn't due to fear or anxiety.

He could hear the tormented voices of countless spirits.

'I see.'

Leo looked down at his hands.

'I had awakened spirit necromancy.'

He could hear the sorrowful voices of the spirits.

Just as Lisinas had.

Flash-!

Pure white spiritual energy flowed from Leo's hands.

At that light, the spirits' movements stopped.

"Do as you wish."

Leo said.

"You are free. No one can bind you."

Clang-!

Touched by the pure white light, the spirits trembled and then began to disappear one by one.

The armaments they held tumbled uselessly to the ground.

Tamuth's eyes widened at the sight.

"H-how!"

"I just mimicked a more powerful spirit necromancer than you."

Leo said as he approached Tamuth.

Goooooo-!

An unusual killing intent emanated from Leo's body.

Looking at Leo, Tamuth said in a trembling voice, "P-please spare me."

He had been perfectly defeated as both a knight and a spirit necromancer.

Now, only one of two things remained.

Accepting death, or begging for his life.

"Hero of the Beginning! I… No! I can resist the power of the former Undead King! The detestable Undead King said! A fragment of Erebus has revived again! And he has a fragment of Erebus! I will be of great help in this era! Please spare me! As a great hero! Show mercy to your junior!"

Looking down at Tamuth, who was kneeling and pleading with his hands clasped, Leo said, "Indeed, a hero with your strength would be of great help."

"Th-that's right…"

"Heroes, you know."

Leo raised his Nox.

Tamuth's face stiffened.

"But you're not a hero, are you?"

"P-please spare me! There will never be anyone like me again!"

"There are plenty of people who will become stronger than you in this era."

"Kuaaaaaaaak!"

Tamuth, who was kneeling, lunged at Leo in a final desperate struggle.

Thwack-!

At that moment.

Tamuth's head flew through the air.

3000 years ago.

With the trajectory of the sword that had beheaded him, his head was cut off.

Tamuth's body crumbled into nothingness.