Book 1 Chapter 524

524.

Wham-! Wham-! Koo-ga-ga-ga-ga-gang-!

Leo and Azonia gripped each other's hands, locked in a test of strength.

The aftermath instantly reduced the surrounding area to ashes.

Leo clicked his tongue, looking at Azonia who was smiling at him.

"Are you enjoying this situation?"

There was no answer to his question.

The Azonia before his eyes was a fake, materialized by the Hero Record.

She had no will, merely a doll meant to fight.

However, she clearly displayed the tendencies and personality of Damian and Azonia.

Unlike Damian, who exuded a serious aura, Azonia wore a belligerent smile throughout her fight with Leo.

'She enjoys the fight itself, didn't she?'

The title of Great Warrior was one Azonia held even before ascending to the position of a Hero of Genesis.

More precisely, it was the highest status among the beastfolk, passed down since before the Age of Calamity.

Beastfolk, born with a belligerence that reveled in combat, harbored a desire to compete with anyone stronger.

Thus, the strongest beastfolk was chosen through a ritual called the Warrior's Festival.

At the Warrior's Festival, all the renowned strong beastfolk gathered in one place.

The chosen beastfolk would become the Great Warrior and the leader of the beastfolk.

It was a tradition that disappeared during the Age of Calamity but was revived with the beginning of the Age of Heroes.

'During the Age of Calamity, it was Arion who was nominated as the Great Warrior.'

Leo recalled the beastfolk who tried to nominate Arion as the Great Warrior back then.

Of course, Arion refused, terrified.

If one ascended to the position of Great Warrior, they would face countless challenges from warriors and could never step down from the position until defeated.

Intentionally losing was also not tolerated.

Given Arion's strength, the thought of him being defeated by someone else was unimaginable in the first place.

It was literally a path of eternal struggle.

Arion, being timid, did not want to be tormented by fierce beastfolk warriors for the rest of his life.

Leo, who was locked in a struggle with Azonia, lowered his stance.

Azonia, whose center of gravity was suddenly shifted, staggered.

Leo rammed his shoulder into Azonia's abdomen.

Thwack-!

Azonia, receiving an enormous impact, let out a dull thud as she was flipped over and bounced away.

Thud-!

However, she landed on one hand and immediately charged at Leo.

Whoosh-!

Leo's face hardened as he saw Azonia rapidly closing the distance with incredible speed.

'Her brute strength is evenly matched, but she has the upper hand in speed.'

Leo curled the corners of his lips.

The Age of Calamity ended, and the Age of Heroes began.

The Warrior's Festival was revived, and the title of Great Warrior also continued for thousands of years.

The beastfolk who ascended to the position of Great Warrior always received the title of Hero.

However, after Azonia, the Warrior's Festival disappeared.

Thus, Azonia became the Last Great Warrior.

After Azonia became the Last Great Warrior.

It was simple.

'It was because she defeated all the Great Warriors recorded in the Hero Record, wasn't it?'

Azonia, who had even ended all struggles with past Great Warriors, became the one and only Great Warrior.

Her power was so overwhelming that she even usurped the titles of the previous Great Warriors, and ultimately, the title of Great Warrior became her exclusive property.

"Let's see, shall we?"

Wham-!

Leo blocked Azonia's knee, which was aiming for his temple, with his hand.

"To see if you're worthy of being called Arion's successor."

Leo pushed Azonia away and drew his sword.

"Hoo."

And he took a deep breath.

Arion's Breath.

Seeing Leo, Azonia also inhaled deeply.

Rumble-!

The trained muscles of Azonia tensed further.

Breath of the Valiant.

If Seirun had restructured the star magic for elves to learn.

Azonia had adapted Arion's Breath for beastfolk to use.

Goo-ooo-oh-!

Aura and spirit power imbued Azonia's body.

'No way, Spirit Integration?'

Seeing that, Leo's eyes widened.

It wasn't Spirit Armored, an advanced spirit magic that imbues a spirit into the body.

It was literally a characteristic of becoming one with a spirit and freely using its traits and power.

It was a powerful ability that even Leo and Licinas couldn't use.

'The power of her contracted spirit isn't strong, but its power has explosively increased due to the aura Azonia uses.'

For Azonia, the spirit's power was part of her physical body.

As such, the increase in power was beyond imagination.

Goo-ooo-oh-!

"Excellent."

Leo murmured lowly, watching Azonia use Arion's power in her own way.

Arion's aura flowed from Leo's body, his sword lowered.

Wham-!

Azonia raised her fist and charged at Leo.

In response, Leo also rushed forward to meet her.

Kwa-ga-ga-ga-gang-!

The barrier Mel created undulated from the clash of aura and aura.

Leo looked back.

Then Azonia's body flickered, just like Damian's did a moment ago.

'Since it's a test, is it going to take the form of each and every Hero of Genesis?'

Leo narrowed his eyes and looked at Mel.

Mel was gritting her teeth.

Unlike Leo, who only needed to focus on fighting the Hero of Genesis, Mel had to suppress all the power emanating from both Leo and the Hero of Genesis.

Leo tightened his grip on his sword.

'I can't let that thing run wild here any longer.'

Leo's gaze turned to the open Hero Dungeon.

'If this came out of there.'

Leo lowered his stance.

'Then I should drag it in there.'

Wham-! Kwoong-!

Leo's body shot forward like a flash of light.

At the same time, he swung his sword at the doll, which had now taken the form of Lumerin.

Clang-! Kwa-ga-ga-ga-gak-!

Leo pushed Lumerin, who met his sword, straight back.

"Leo-nim!"

Mel's urgent voice was heard.

"I'll go solve the fundamental problem!"

With those words, Leo pushed the doll, which had transformed into Lumerin, towards the entrance of the Hero Dungeon.

Whoosh-!

The Hero Dungeon emitted a bright light, engulfing Leo and Lumerin.

***

As they entered the Hero Dungeon, the view changed.

Leo quickly assessed the surroundings.

The space was made of colossal marble.

A vast, wide space like an arena.

Leo instantly recognized that the architectural style of this space was not of the current era.

'It looks like a temple from the Age of Gods.'

The moment he confirmed the existence of this place, Leo was certain that the doll before his eyes was made of divine power.

Leo pointed his sword at the doll in the form of Lumerin.

At that moment.

Swish-

"……?"

Lumerin pointed his sword in the exact same stance as Leo.

Seeing that, Leo narrowed his eyes.

"Unlike Damian and Azonia, is it just mimicking the opponent's appearance?"

With a puzzled expression, Leo lowered his stance.

Then Lumerin copied Leo's movements like a mirror.

Seeing that, Leo clicked his tongue.

'I wanted to see what kind of person Lumerin was.'

Although it was a fake, Leo was curious about Lumerin's existence.

Rhodia had Licinas.

Seirun had Luna.

If Azonia and Damian were the successors of Arion and Dweno, then Lumerin was clearly his own successor.

'He must have cleared my Hero's World.'

Leo didn't know Lumerin.

But he didn't deny that Lumerin was his successor.

Lumerin had no direct connection to Leo.

But if he tried to follow in his footsteps as a Hero of Genesis, that was enough.

'I was curious about what kind of power of mine he inherited and how he made it his own.'

Rhodia and Seirun, whom he met directly, were truly admirable.

Damian and Azonia, whom he experienced indirectly just now, were also excellent.

That's why his expectations for Lumerin were also high.

'Suddenly I have to fight a mirror act.'

Feeling his enthusiasm wane, Leo charged at Lumerin.

Then Lumerin also rushed forward.

Clang-!

Sword and sword crossed.

Leo pressed down with his sword and deployed magic.

Whoosh-

Flame magic condensed in his hand.

At that moment.

Splash-!

Lumerin used water magic.

'Is it not just a simple mirror?'

The moment Leo made a puzzled expression.

Kwa-ga-ga-ga-gak-!

A water vortex trapped Leo.

It wasn't a simple vortex.

Sharp blades of water were rotating in each layer of the vortex.

Whoosh! Bang-!

Leo exploded the flames, bursting the water vortex.

Swoosh-!

Hot streams of water poured down like rain, filling the air with thick steam.

Leo readjusted his grip on his sword.

'This guy, surely.'

Leo rushed towards Lumerin.

Then Lumerin took a defensive stance.

Clang! Kwa-ga-ga-ga-gak-!

Swords clashed, emitting sparks.

Leo slid his sword over Lumerin's, deflecting his attack.

Then Lumerin immediately plunged into Leo's embrace.

Wham-!

He dropped his sword and pulled out a dagger from his chest.

Leo quickly kicked Lumerin's arm away with his foot.

As the recoil created distance, Lumerin immediately opened a subspace to pull out a spear to gain a positional advantage.

Thud-!

Leo, who landed on the ground, raised his head.

And stared intently at Lumerin, who was emitting fighting spirit.

In that appearance, someone's shadow was faintly visible.

He had thought it was simply a mirror.

But it wasn't.

'That doll isn't following me like a mirror. It is Lumerin himself.'

And Lumerin was perfectly mimicking Kyle.

The breath of battle.

Martial arts.

The pattern of freely using all weapons depending on the opponent's weapon.

And even the utilization of magic.

'Fundamentally, it's different. Because what they've built up is different. But…'

Leo felt that Lumerin was struggling to become Kyle himself.

'Why?'

Leo made a perplexed expression.

Mimicking someone doesn't make one stronger.

Ultimately, Leo and Lumerin are fundamentally different.

Leo is an All-Class.

Lumerin is a Magic Swordsman.

Their paths must be different.

Yet, Lumerin was mimicking everything about Kyle, like Kyle's shadow.

'That would rather destroy his own potential. And this guy can't possibly not know that.'

Neither Rhodia, Seirun, Azonia, nor Damian.

None of the Heroes of Genesis simply followed Licinas, Seirun, Arion, or Dweno.

All four had sublimated their abilities in their own way.

It was while Leo was feeling troubled.

Swoosh-!

Lumerin's form suddenly blurred and then disappeared.

More precisely, the doll itself vanished.

Leo's eyes twitched at that sight.

At that moment.

Boom-boom-boom-!

A firmly closed door beyond the space opened with a heavy sound.

What it meant was simple.

'Is it calling me?'

Leo moved his steps without hesitation.

'What is this place? The Hero's World?'

He walked, lost in thought.

'If it's the Hero's World, why is a god here?'

It wouldn't be a god from the past.

When he met Pibua in Luna's world before, Pibua said that she was ultimately a fake materialized by the record system.

And she flatly stated that a fake could never exert influence externally.

'Then the god in front of me must be real.'

Leo's expression became even more confused.

'How can a god remain on the ground?'

5000 years ago, during the Age of Calamity.

Gods disappeared from the face of the earth.

More precisely, they could no longer remain on the ground.

Erebos had destroyed the gate connecting the ground and the divine realm so that their sworn enemies, the gods, could not come to the ground.

After that, the remaining gods were hunted down by Erebos and exiled from the ground without exception.

Even after Erebos disappeared, the gate could not be restored, and thus the world entered an age without gods.

But there's a god on the ground?

Leo reached the end of the corridor with a bewildered expression.

At the end of the corridor was a gray door.

'Gray, Licinas said gods don't particularly like that color, didn't she?'

Leo opened the door with a puzzled expression.

And what unfolded was a world of infinite bookshelves.

But before those bookshelves, there was a presence that captivated Leo's eyes.

A small child, indistinguishable as a boy or girl, with gray hair and gray eyes, stared at Leo with a solemn face.

Their appearance was exceptionally beautiful.

Leo saw through the child's true identity at a glance.

"How can a god be on the ground… "

Before Leo could finish his question, the god clasped their hands together, knelt, and bowed their head.

The sight was like a devotee greeting a god.

Leo was momentarily speechless at the sudden reverent posture.

But he quickly regained his composure and continued his question.

"How can a god be on the ground… "

"This humble being greets the great and noble Hero of Genesis."

The god greeted him with a serious voice.

Leo was again speechless.

"Would you answer my question? How are you on the ground?"

When Leo asked the third question, only then did the god raise their head and meet Leo's eyes.

Those large gray eyes shone with pristine clarity.

"The reason I am on the ground is… "

The god, who had been maintaining divine dignity with a reverent expression, suddenly shrieked.

"Ahhh! I can't take it! I can't take it! How can I bear it when the Hero of Genesis, Kyle, is right before my eyes!"

The god shrieked as if having a seizure, then prostrated themselves on the floor and crawled like a cockroach to cling to Leo's feet.

At that eerie sight, even Leo, who usually didn't bat an eye at most things, was terrified.

"Ahhh, Hero of Genesis, Kyle! My Great Hero! How did you miraculously revive after such a long 5000 years! This revival is surely fate! Your greatness is comparable to a god… No, to compare you with lowly, vulgar, useless beings like gods! This deserves divine punishment! I apologize! I apologize! I beg your forgiveness!"

For the sin of comparing himself and other gods to Leo, the god repeatedly slammed their head against the floor.

"Kyle! Your greatness is surely comparable to the Creator! Please bestow your grace upon me! The honor of kissing your sole! Grace!"

"……"

Leo knew that few gods were sane.

And that they were all hedonistic, worthless beings who only pursued pleasure.

But no matter what, they were immortals who maintained the order of the world.

Leo felt chills crawl up his spine at the sight of such a being drooling and rubbing their cheek against his shoe.

What was even more frightening was that the god's eyes were pure and clear even amidst all that.

That made them seem even crazier.

'What is this clear-eyed madman? No, this fanatic?'