Book 1 Chapter 524

524.

Thwack-! Thwack-! Kuga-ga-ga-ga-gang-!

Leo and Azonia locked hands, straining against each other.

The surrounding area was instantly reduced to ruins by the force of their struggle.

Leo scoffed, looking at Azonia, who was smiling at him.

"Is the current situation enjoyable for you?"

There was no answer to his question.

The Azonia before him was a fake, created by the Hero Record.

It was merely a puppet that fought without will.

However, it clearly revealed the tendencies and personality of Damian and Azonia.

Unlike Damian, who exuded a solemn atmosphere, Azonia wore a belligerent smile throughout the fight with Leo.

'This guy said he enjoys fighting itself, right?'

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

More precisely, it was the highest status of the Beastkin that had been passed down since before the Age of Calamity.

Beastkin, born with a belligerent nature that enjoyed combat, harbored a desire to fight any strong individual.

Therefore, they selected the strongest Beastkin through a ritual called the Festival of Warriors.

The Festival of Warriors gathered all the notable strong Beastkin in one place.

The Beastkin chosen this way became a Great Warrior and the leader of the Beastkin.

Although this tradition disappeared during the Age of Calamity, it was revived with the dawn of the Age of Heroes.

'It was Arion who was chosen as the Great Warrior during the Age of Calamity.'

Leo recalled the Beastkin who had tried to make Arion the Great Warrior at that time.

Of course, Arion had been terrified and refused.

Upon becoming a Great Warrior, one had to accept countless challenges from warriors and could never step down from the position until defeated.

Intentional defeat was not tolerated either.

Given Arion's strength, it was unimaginable that he would be defeated by anyone else.

It was literally a path of eternal struggle.

Arion, being timid, did not want to be harassed by fierce Beastkin warriors for his entire life.

Leo, who had been grappling with Azonia, lowered his stance.

Azonia, whose center of gravity was suddenly thrown off, staggered.

Leo rammed his shoulder into Azonia's abdomen.

Thwack-!

Azonia, hit by immense shock, let out a dull thud and was flipped and sent flying.

Thump-!

However, he landed on the ground with one hand and immediately charged at Leo.

Whoosh-!

Seeing Azonia closing the distance with incredible speed, Leo's face hardened.

'Our physical strength is equal, but he has the advantage in speed.'

Leo smirked.

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

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

Beastkin who became Great Warriors always received the title of Hero.

However, after Azonia, the Festival of Warriors disappeared.

Therefore, Azonia became the last Great Warrior.

After Azonia became the last Great Warrior.

It was simple.

'He said it was because he defeated all the Great Warriors recorded in the Hero Record, right?'

Having even finished his struggles with the past Great Warriors, Azonia became the one and only Great Warrior.

Her power was so overwhelming that she even stole the titles of the previous Great Warriors, eventually making the title of Great Warrior her sole possession.

"Let's see."

Thwack-!

Leo blocked Azonia's knee, which was aimed at his temple, with his hand.

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

Pushing Azonia away, Leo drew his sword.

"Hoo."

He took a deep breath.

Arion's Breath.

Watching Leo, Azonia also took a breath.

Creak-!

Azonia's trained muscles tensed further.

Dragon's Breath.

If Seirun had re-established star magic so that elves could learn it,

Azonia had modified Arion's Breath so that Beastkin could use it.

Gooooo-!

Aura and spiritual power imbued Azonia's body.

'No way, Spiritification?'

Seeing that, Leo's eyes widened.

It wasn't Spirit Armor, a high-level spirit art that allowed spirits to inhabit the body.

It was literally becoming one with a spirit and freely using that spirit's characteristics and power.

It was a powerful ability that neither Leo nor Lisinas could use.

'The power of the contracted spirit isn't strong, but it has surged explosively due to the aura Azonia is using.'

For Azonia, the power of the spirit was a part of her body.

As such, the increase in power was beyond imagination.

Gooooo-!

"Magnificent."

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

Leo, with his sword lowered, unleashed Arion's aura.

Thwack-!

Azonia raised her fist and charged at Leo.

In response, Leo charged back.

Quaga-ga-ga-gang-!

The barrier created by Mel trembled with the clash of auras.

Leo looked back.

Then, Azonia's body flickered, just like Damian did earlier.

'Is it a test, to take on the form of each Hero of the Great Unfolding?'

Leo narrowed his eyes and looked at Mel.

Mel was gritting her teeth.

Unlike Leo, who only had to focus on fighting the Hero of the Great Unfolding, Mel had to suppress both Leo's and the Hero of the Great Unfolding's power.

Leo gripped his sword.

'I can't let him run wild any longer.'

Leo's gaze shifted to the open Hero Dungeon.

'If this came out of there.'

Leo lowered his stance.

'I should drag him in there.'

Thwack-! Quaaang-!

Leo moved like a flash.

With that, he swung his sword at the puppet, which had now taken on Lumeron's form.

Clang-! Quaga-ga-ga-gac-!

Leo pushed Lumeron, who was clashing swords with him, back.

"Leo-nim!"

Mel's urgent voice was heard.

"I'll go solve the fundamental problem!"

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

Whoosh-!

The Hero Dungeon emitted a bright light and swallowed Leo and Lumeron.

***

As he entered the Hero Dungeon, his vision changed.

Leo quickly assessed his surroundings.

The space was made of giant marble.

A vast space, like an arena.

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

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

The moment he confirmed the existence of this place, Leo was convinced that the puppet before him was made of divine power.

Leo aimed his sword at the puppet in Lumeron's form.

At that moment.

Swoosh-

"……?"

Lumeron aimed his sword in the same posture as Leo.

Seeing that, Leo narrowed his eyes.

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

With a perplexed expression, Leo lowered his stance.

Then, Lumeron mirrored Leo's movements like a mirror.

Seeing that, Leo scoffed.

'I wanted to see what kind of guy Lumeron was.'

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

Rodia to Lisinas.

Seirun to Luna.

If Azonia and Damian were successors to Arion and Dwenno, then Lumeron was undoubtedly his successor.

'He must have conquered my world of heroes.'

Leo doesn't know Lumeron.

But that doesn't mean he denies Lumeron being his successor.

Lumeron has no direct connection to Leo.

But if he tried to succeed him as a Hero of the Great Unfolding, that was enough.

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

Rodia and Seirun, whom he met in person, were truly admirable.

Indirectly, Damian and Azonia, whom he had just experienced, were also excellent.

Therefore, his expectations for Lumeron were high.

'To suddenly have to fight a mirror image.'

Leo felt his excitement wane and charged at Lumeron.

Then, Lumeron also charged.

Clang-!

Sword met sword.

Leo pressed down on his sword and unleashed magic.

Flame-!

Fire magic formed in his hand.

At that moment.

Swoosh-!

Lumeron used water magic.

'He's not just a simple mirror?'

The moment Leo wore a puzzled expression.

Quaga-ga-ga-gac-!

A vortex of water trapped Leo.

It wasn't just a simple vortex.

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

Flame-! Bang-!

Leo exploded with flames, causing the water vortex to burst.

Whoosh-!

Hot water poured down like rain, creating a dense mist.

Leo gripped his sword again.

'This guy, could it be?'

Leo charged towards Lumeron.

Then, Lumeron assumed a defensive stance.

Clang! Quaga-ga-ga-gac-!

Swords clashed, emitting sparks.

Leo slid his sword on Lumeron's sword, deflecting it.

Then, Lumeron immediately plunged into Leo's embrace.

Thwack-!

He dropped his sword and drew a dagger from his embrace.

Leo quickly kicked Lumeron's arm away.

With the recoil, as the distance widened, Lumeron immediately opened a spatial rift to gain the upper hand in distance and drew a spear.

Thump-!

Leo landed on the ground and looked up.

He stared intently at Lumeron, emitting fighting spirit.

In that appearance, the shadow of someone was glimpsed.

He thought it was a simple mirror.

But it wasn't.

'That puppet isn't just mimicking me like a mirror. It's Lumeron himself.'

And Lumeron was perfectly imitating Kyle.

Combat breathing.

Martial arts.

Patterns of freely using all weapons according to the opponent's weapon.

And the use of magic.

'Fundamentally, it's different. Because what has been built up is different. But…'

He could feel Lumeron struggling to become Kyle himself.

'Why?'

Leo had a bewildered expression.

Mimicking someone doesn't make you stronger.

Ultimately, Leo and Lumeron are fundamentally different.

Leo is an All-Class.

Lumeron is a Swordmaster.

Their goals are bound to be different.

Yet, Lumeron was imitating everything Kyle did, like Kyle's shadow.

'That's rather ruining his own potential. And he can't not know that.'

Rodia, Seirun, Azonia, and Damian.

None of them were Heroes of the Great Unfolding who directly copied Lisinas, Seirun, Arion, or Dwenno.

They each sublimated the abilities of the four people in their own way.

It was while Leo was feeling perplexed.

Rustle-rustle-rustle-!

Lumeron's form suddenly blurred and disappeared.

To be precise, the puppet itself disappeared.

Seeing that, Leo's eyes twitched.

At that moment.

Kugugugugugung--!

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

What that meant was simple.

'Is he calling me?'

Leo moved without hesitation.

'What is this place? Is it the Hero's World?'

He fell into thought as he walked.

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

It wouldn't be a god from the past.

When he met Fibua in Luna's world previously, Fibua said he was a fake created by the Record System.

And he firmly stated that a fake could never exert influence externally.

'Then, the god before me is real.'

Leo's bewildered expression deepened.

'How can a god remain on the surface?'

5,000 years ago, during the Age of Calamity.

Gods disappeared from the surface.

To be precise, they could no longer stay on the surface.

Erebos destroyed the gate connecting the surface and the divine realm, preventing their arch-nemesis, the gods, from descending to the surface.

After that, the remaining gods were all hunted by Erebos and banished from the surface.

Even after Erebos disappeared, the gate was not restored, and thus the world entered an era without gods.

But there's a god on the surface?

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

At the end of the corridor was a gray door.

'Gray, Lisinas mentioned that gods don't like that color, right?'

Leo, with a puzzled expression, opened the door.

What unfolded was a world of infinite bookshelves.

But before the bookshelves, a presence caught Leo's eye.

A small child with gray hair and gray eyes, whose gender was indistinguishable, stared at Leo with a stern face.

The appearance was extremely beautiful.

Leo instantly saw through the child's identity.

"How can a god be on the surface…"

Before Leo's question was finished, the god clasped his hands together, knelt, and bowed his head.

The posture was like that of a devotee greeting a god.

Leo was momentarily speechless at the sudden reverent attitude.

But he quickly regained his composure and continued his question.

"How can a god be on the surface…"

"A humble being pays respects to the great and noble Hero of the Beginning."

He greeted him in a solemn voice.

Leo was speechless again.

"Will you answer my question? How are you on the surface?"

When Leo asked his third question, the god finally raised his head and met Leo's eyes.

Those large gray eyes shone with clear purity.

"The reason I am on the surface is…"

The god, who was trying to maintain his divine dignity with a reverent expression, suddenly shouted.

"Ahhh! I can't stand it! I can't stand it! The Hero of the Beginning, Kyle, is before me, how can I stand it!"

Shouting as if having a seizure, the god prostrated himself on the floor and crawled like a cockroach to cling to Leo's feet.

Even Leo, who was rarely fazed by anything, was terrified by the ghastly sight.

"Ahhh, Hero of the Beginning, Kyle! My Great Hero! How have you miraculously resurrected after 5,000 long years! This resurrection is surely destiny! Your greatness rivals that of the gods… No, comparing you to lowly, vulgar, and useless beings like gods! I deserve to be punished by heaven! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I apologize!"

As punishment for comparing himself to Leo, the god repeatedly banged his head on the floor.

"Kyle! Your greatness undoubtedly rivals that of the Creator! Please bestow grace upon me! The honor of kissing your feet! Grace!"

"……."

Leo knew that few gods had their sanity intact.

He also knew that they were all hedonistic and only pursued pleasure.

But despite that, an immortal being that maintained the order of the world.

Seeing such a being drooling and rubbing his cheek against his shoe, Leo felt a chill.

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

That's why he seemed even crazier.

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