Book 1 Chapter 492
492.
Baa-woom- Baa-woom- Baa-woom-!
Leo, holding Eljenie’s head irritably, was slicing her neck.
As Eljenie screamed from the pain in her neck, her eyes met Leo’s for a moment.
An indifferent, expressionless face that showed no emotion.
Added to that, dull red eyes.
Seeing that, Eljenie felt goosebumps all over her body.
“Kieeeeee! Kuh-hok!”
The scream that poured from Eljenie’s mouth was cut off.
What stopped her mouth was none other than Leo’s sword, which was slicing her neck.
“You’re noisy, stop barking.”
“Kuh-hok! Kuh-uk! Kuh-uk!”
Pwooook-!
Leo irritably put more force into the sword he had thrust into Eljenie’s mouth.
The sword, having pierced through her mouth and out the back of her neck, dug deeper into her flesh.
Eljenie, choking and spitting out gushes of blood, her bloodshot eyes flashed menacingly.
Flash-! Kwaaaang-!
A red flash gleamed from the blood Eljenie spewed, causing a massive explosion.
A gigantic explosion that shook the earth.
From within the rising dark-red flames and smoke, Eljenie burst out, clutching her neck.
“Hahaha! You foolish bastard! How dare you, knowing who I am!”
Eljenie laughed derisively, looking at the burning, blood-red flames.
“I am the Queen of Blood! My blood quickly becomes a powerful weapon! It’s a power even heroes fear! You deserve it! Ahahahaha!”
With bloodshot eyes, she panted and mocked Leo relentlessly.
Eljenie spoke more than necessary.
It was a struggle to escape her fear.
As a demon, she had lived as an object of terror.
Eljenie was a powerful demon from birth, powerful enough to rise to the position of legion commander.
She had been active in countless battlefields and fought many heroes in the process.
Eljenie had rarely been in a position of weakness.
Among her adversaries, there were strong ones she couldn’t handle.
But she could confidently say that no one could kill her like she was an insect, as he had just done.
The aura Leo exuded wasn’t merely that of an overwhelmingly powerful individual or a hunter.
‘He was like a butcher.’
It was when Eljenie was unable to escape the fear of Leo, which had been imprinted in that short moment.
Hwa-reureuk-!
“……!”
The blood-red flames flickered and then began to gather in one place.
Hwa-reureuk-!
Despite being engulfed in a powerful explosion and flames, Leo’s body didn’t even have a small smudge.
Hwa-reureuk-!
Leo, who had been looking down at Eljenie’s blood-flame burning on his palm, raised his head.
“The more I look, the more annoying it gets.”
“What did you say?”
“Are you from the Monster Queen’s legion?”
“How did you know?!”
At Leo’s words, Eljenie flinched and trembled.
The Tartaros Legion Commander is one who leads demons.
In the process, they also create their own retainers.
And the nature of the demon born is also revealed according to the characteristics of the legion commander.
The killing intent in Leo’s eyes grew even colder.
This was the place where Luna closed her eyes long ago.
He could not tolerate demons stepping foot in such a place.
Even more so if that demon was related to the Monster Queen, with whom Luna had a deep-seated enmity 5000 years ago.
Hwa-reureuk-!
The blood-flame burning in Leo’s hand began to blaze crimson.
“Purgatory.”
Leo completed the spell.
Purgatory flames created with Star Magic.
It is the highest-ranking spell among the fire-elemental Star Magic spells that Luna had mastered.
Of course, if one includes the Flame Emperor that Lunia mastered, the strongest fire magic among Star Magic is the Flame Emperor, but sadly, the Flame Emperor is a magic that Luna could not complete in her lifetime.
Therefore, judging by the standard of completed magic, the strongest fire-elemental Star Magic is this Purgatory.
And Purgatory is a kind of inferior substitute magic for the Flame Emperor, born during the experimental process to complete the Flame Emperor.
But…
‘The Flame Emperor was the magic Luna researched to kill Erebus.’
Leo gazed at the Purgatory burning in his hand.
Even if it doesn’t match the Flame Emperor, it is a magic of terrifying power for demons, not for the divine being Erebus.
Even more so.
‘It’s the natural enemy of demons who wield flames.’
Purgatory is a cleansing flame.
It is a magic that exerts deadly power against demons who wield flames.
Hwa-reureuk-!
Purgatory was enchanted onto Leo’s sword.
“Leo… Young Master?”
Chen Xia cautiously called Leo, who was like that.
He was different from the Leo she knew.
“Are you angry?”
Leo, who turned to Chen Xia asking worriedly, smiled a little bitterly and said.
“Do you both want to wait here?”
Leo looked at his sword again.
“It’s a side of me I don’t really want to show.”
It was then.
Eljenie, who could no longer bear to watch Leo, fled.
She instinctively realized.
That the boy before her was a monster.
The moment Leo was about to pursue Eljenie, a gate opened and monsters poured out.
It was when Leo frowned upon seeing that.
“Go, Lord Leo.”
Eiran said, drawing her sword.
“Will you be alright?”
“You can’t forgive it, can you? Demons setting foot in this place where Lady Luna slumbers.”
Eiran said with sharper eyes than usual.
“I can’t forgive it either. I’ll cut down those hideous monsters.”
At Eiran’s words, Chen Xia raised her hand.
“I don’t know the situation, but… since the moment I resolved to follow Young Master Leo, I’ve never thought of holding him back.”
Chen Xia smiled faintly.
“If Eiran and I combine our strengths, we can certainly defeat those monsters. Please don’t worry and go punish that legion commander.”
“Are you sure?”
“Compared to Young Master Leo, we are still lacking, I suppose. But please don’t treat us merely as objects to be protected. Remember what you told Duran-gun in combat class before? That you’d be waiting at the summit.”
Chen Xia smiled brightly.
“I want to stand on the same stage as Young Master Leo. I will do my best to catch up. So please trust me.”
“Me too! Lord Leo!”
Leo stared intently at the two who spoke enthusiastically.
Then he let out a hollow laugh.
“As expected, they grow fast, these kids.”
Seeing the two girls grow faster than he expected, Leo moved forward.
“Then I’ll trust you.”
Leo, executing an Aura Step, pursued Eljenie with incredible speed.
“Let’s go, Xia!”
Eiran, armed with the shield crafted by Erquint and Dwenno, moved forward eagerly before faltering.
“Xia?”
Eiran was flustered, seeing Chen Xia wearing a slightly displeased expression.
“If you know we’re growing fast, I wish you’d see us a bit as women too.”
***
Leo raced through the forest at tremendous speed, pursuing Eljenie.
It wasn't long that Leo had been held back by the legion Eljenie summoned.
But even that amount of time was enough for a powerful demon of legion commander rank to escape.
‘That is, for an ordinary opponent.’
Leo narrowed his eyes.
His awakened supersenses keenly searched the surroundings.
During the height of the Age of Calamity.
The great heroes who had vanquished countless demons eventually became objects of fear for the demons.
Among them, the one who caused the most terror among demons was none other than the surviving hero, Kyle.
The reason was simple.
‘Because I killed demons in the most brutal way.’
He was the one who punished traitors and displayed cruel methods in the process.
There was no reason to show mercy to the fundamental enemy, the demons who plunged the world into ruin.
And through long years as a mercenary, Leo knew well.
There was no easier way to lead a battle than by instilling fear.
Demons and monsters are also living creatures.
As such, they possess fear.
Demons who had faced Leo and survived even once felt immense terror.
Clack-!
Leo adjusted his grip on his sword.
At that moment, he threw his sword as if for a toss.
Thwack-!
“Kuh-hok!”
The sword, flying at tremendous speed, impaled Eljenie’s back.
“H-how…!”
“You’d best give up on running.”
Grab-!
Leo gripped his sword.
“The only demon who has ever faced me on the battlefield, and I decided to kill, and yet successfully escaped, is Silatuna.”
“Urgh! What nonsense….”
Squelch-!
“Kyahhhhh!”
As Leo thrust the sword straight up, Eljenie’s body was brutally torn apart.
Thwack-! Crack! Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-!
Leo’s sword strikes sliced through Eljenie’s body with incredible speed.
“Stop… just stop it! You lowly creatureeeeeeeeeee!”
Blood spewed out like buckshot from Eljenie’s body as she writhed in immense pain.
Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-!
Where the blood fragments touched, massive explosions erupted.
But Leo suffered not the slightest damage from Eljenie’s attack.
Crunch-!
“Ki-hek!”
Instead, he was quicker to crush Eljenie’s head with his foot.
Thud-thud-!
The caved-in head recovered at an astonishing speed.
Leo kicked Eljenie, who was like that.
Eljenie, who had rolled miserably on the ground, painfully got back on her feet.
“How…!”
“Because I haven’t just caught one or two demons.”
Leo smiled coldly.
“I’ve caught so many bizarre power-wielders that I’m sick of them. Usually, such guys only rely on their innate strength.”
Leo’s sword, having answered, flashed.
“Kyaaaaaaaaa!”
Thump! Slash-! Stab!
Leo’s sword thoroughly butchered Eljenie.
Eljenie, thoroughly tortured by Leo to the point of not dying, recovered her body and trembled.
“You! Why! Why are you doing this to me!”
Leo said, looking at Eljenie who was trembling uncontrollably, having lost her sanity.
“Do you demons have a reason to destroy the world?”
Eljenie was speechless.
“It’s the same thing. Me brutally killing you, a demon.”
Leo scoffed coldly and said.
“You… what is your identity!”
“Leo Flobe, didn’t you hear my name from the Lich King?”
“Leo Flobe?”
Eljenie’s face turned pale.
She had heard from the Lich King.
That if she encountered him, it would be difficult to survive, so she should avoid confronting him if possible.
Until then, the legion commanders, including Eljenie, couldn't understand.
They wondered if there was any need to fear a human, however heroic, who was merely a young child.
But facing him like this, she could understand the Lich King’s words.
“By the way, you’re weak for a legion commander. He must have a lot of worries.”
Leo instantly noticed that the legion commander before him was one of the weaker ones.
Even the previously revived legion commander, Cigor the Curse King, wasn't this weak.
Cigor at that time was not in his full power state, but he was still worthy of being called a legion commander.
“Did you replace Silatuna after he disappeared? No wonder you’re pathetic.”
As Leo scoffed, Eljenie’s shoulders trembled violently.
“How dare… a mere human disregard me?”
“Someone who doesn’t even qualify as a legion commander shouldn’t be talking like that.”
Leo raised the hand not holding his sword.
Cometes was summoned with powerful magic.
Goooooo-!
Powerful Star Magic surged.
“Give up.”
Leo sneered.
“Giving up is easy.”
Purgatory flames, far more potent than anything seen until now, blazed up.
Goooooo-!
Eljenie’s face turned deathly pale.
At that moment.
Wooong-!
“…?”
Cometes reacted.
Flash-!
‘What is this?’
Suddenly, the spiritual energy of Lysinass surged in Leo’s hand.
Cometes reacted to Lysinass’s spiritual energy.
Wooong-! Wooong-!
‘Luna’s magic, imbued in Cometes, is resonating?’
As Leo was flustered by the uncontrollable power.
Crack-!
Cometes turned into specks of light.
“What?”
Leo hurriedly reached out for Cometes.
But he couldn’t grasp Cometes, which had become specks of light.
Seeing that, Leo was astonished.
‘The recovery function in Cometes?’
In her lifetime, Luna had a strong attachment to the staff she used.
Like a knight collects armaments.
Luna also had a hobby of collecting powerful magic staves.
As her attachment to objects was strong, she also engraved a recovery magic formula on the staff.
That was literally a function that only the owner could use.
Neither Leo nor even Seirune would be able to use that magic.
‘Only one person can use it.’
It was when Leo wore a flustered expression.
Hwa-reureuk-!
“W-what is this?”
Eljenie’s body began to burn.
Eljenie’s face, which had been bewildered, suddenly began to be tinged with ecstasy.
“Ah… power…! Power!”
The blood-red flames soon changed to black flames.
Eljenie trembled with an omnipotent feeling she had never experienced before.
“Ah! I hear it! I hear it!”
Clutching her head and rolling her eyes back, Eljenie screamed in a trembling voice.
“God’s… the great God’s voice! God wants it!”
Eljenie, who had lost her sanity, her eyes wide and bloodshot, lunged at Leo.
“Surviving hero Kyle! Your death!”
Leo narrowed his eyes at the sudden change in atmosphere, then raised his sword.
Squelch-!
Eljenie’s head flew into the air.
Leo had seen something similar to this before.
‘Erebus’s will.’
It resembled Erebus’s will, which he had encountered in the place where he died.
The fact that Eljenie, who had called him Leo Flobe, suddenly called him Kyle, also seemed to be an influence of that.
Leo, quickly grasping the situation, adjusted his grip on his sword and was about to strike down Eljenie’s torso when.
Hwa-reureuk-!
Eljenie’s body was swept away by black flames and disappeared.
Pwooook-!
Leo, whose sword uselessly struck the ground, let out a breath.
‘Did I miss her?’
He couldn’t feel any trace of her.
She had completely vanished.
Clang- Thud-!
Leo, putting his sword back in its scabbard and returning it to subspace, looked down at the back of the hand that had held Cometes.
A contract formation had appeared there.
It wasn't a spirit’s, nor a mythical beast’s.
It was the first contract formation Leo had ever gotten his hands on.
‘Spirit contract.’
A spirit contract he had never made.
And from it, Leo felt his heart tremble at the faint star magic he sensed.
Thump- Thump-
The entire forest had grown quiet.
The presence of monsters that had been felt moments ago had vanished as if washed away.
Leo, taking his gaze from his hand, looked around the silent forest.
And he moved his steps in the direction Cometes had flown.
Thump- Thump- Thump-
The sound of footsteps treading on scattered flowers and fallen leaves quietly echoed.
Rustle- Rustle-
Soon, the sound of footsteps changed to the sound of treading on vibrant grass.
At that moment, Leo stopped.
‘Magic?’
Leo’s eyes widened at the illusion magic spread before him.
He couldn’t tell who used it, but an illusion magic that even Leo found hard to detect was cast.
Leo reached out his hand.
Then, the space flickered, and a new space appeared.
Shwaaaaaaa-!
What appeared before his eyes were two gravestones.
Of these, Leo’s gaze went to a familiar gravestone.
5000 years ago.
The gravestone Leo and Lysinass had made.
And next to it…
‘My gravestone.’
It was the grave where Verkhia and Viharl had buried his recovered remains.
In front of Kyle’s grave was a black dagger he had seen before.
‘Viharl’s dagger?’
It was a dagger that Leo had asked Dwenno to make and given to Viharl as a gift.
The moment Leo was about to approach the grave.
Hooom-!
The spirit contract formation engraved on the back of his hand reacted.
Leo’s gaze turned to Luna’s grave.
There, Cometes, which had turned into specks of light, floated.
From within those specks of light, a clear presence of someone was felt.
The moment he looked at it, Leo felt his heart stir.
‘What exactly is going on?’
A question arose.
But one thing was certain.
Leo reached out his trembling hand towards Cometes.
The moment he reached out to someone unseen.
Someone took Leo’s hand.
And…
Whoosh-!
Flower petals fluttered around them.
The cluster of light gathered into one and slowly began to take shape.
But it was not the shape of a staff.
The light mass transformed into a human figure.
And then, the light disappeared, and an beautiful elf floated in the air, holding Leo’s hand.
Leo, who had not expected this, gasped at the sight.
The elf, Luna, who was floating in the air, slowly descended to the ground and landed with a ‘thump’ sound.
Leo, who had been frozen still, holding her hand, cautiously opened his mouth.
“Lu…na?”
At Leo’s call, Luna’s closed eyes trembled.
Soon, her star-like golden eyes appeared to the world.
Shwaaaaaaa- Her silver hair fluttered in the blowing wind.
Her beautiful eyes, which had been hazy as if just waking up, soon focused.
Luna, who had been staring blankly up at Leo, smiled and answered his call.
“Yes, Kyle.”