Book 1 Chapter 579

579.

FWOOOSH-!

The pillar of black flames that had soared high into the sky split and began to fall like rain from the heavens.

"AAAAAAARGH!"

"KYYYAAAK?!"

Screams erupted from various parts of the stands at the sudden turn of events, as if witnessing the end of the world.

FLASH-!

At that moment, a barrier of light was created in the sky.

FWOOSH-!

The black flames were blocked by the wall.

-We ask all honored guests who have graced Lumern with their presence to lend us their attention.

At that moment, a gentle voice was heard from the center of the training ground.

Elena, a beautiful student whose mere presence could captivate anyone, gracefully held the hem of her skirt, slightly bent her knees, and bowed.

-Rest assured, countless hero academy students and heroes are present here today.

With Elena's words, the audience's confusion quickly subsided.

The faces of the audience were still filled with fear, but they did not lose their reason and fall into chaos.

Everyone swallowed nervously.

Meanwhile…

FLASH-!

WHOOOSH-!

A red sword aura cleaved the pillar of black flames in two.

The sword aura, having sliced through the black flames, did not lose its momentum and soared into the sky.

Witnessing the awe-inspiring sight, everyone in the audience gaped.

"Is that a sword strike?"

"I've heard that some knights can unleash attacks with power comparable to archmages, but… that far surpassed the power of magic?"

All eyes turned to the one who had unleashed the sword aura.

Standing there was a handsome young man who seemed to have just shed his boyish appearance.

"Hark, senior! You're amazing!"

Ril cheered, swinging his battle hammer.

"Is he really from the Knight Department?"

"Are Lumern's knight students monsters?"

The students from Azonia stared at Hark with astonished eyes.

"Hmph, don't be surprised, everyone. That guy's mana attribute is 'Accumulation'."

Dorveman stepped forward, clenching and unclenching his fists.

"Thanks to that, he can unleash unbelievable sword auras despite his pretty face."

Of course, even with immense aura, there's a limit to the output that can be unleashed at once.

Furthermore, unleashing that much power at once would overload the body.

Enduring it was a matter of training.

Hark, with his sword resting on his shoulder, received everyone's gaze.

An overwhelming charisma emanated from him.

Even the juniors of Lumern, who were used to seeing Hark dozing off or screaming under Leo's torment, swallowed nervously at this sight, which was completely new to them.

At that moment, Elena approached Ril and whispered.

"What? Th-that's too much!"

"It will be a great help, won't it? Hurry."

"B-but still…"

"Oh my? Who do you think you'll be spending more time with at school?"

Seeing Elena threatening with a smile, Ril approached Hark with a dejected expression.

"What is it?"

Hark asked in a slightly annoyed voice. Ril, closing his eyes tightly, summoned a water elemental and sprayed water on Hark.

SPLASH-! HISS-!

As the water touched Hark's body, steam rose.

Hark, drenched in water, grabbed Ril by the collar.

"Hooh? So now that you're graduating, you don't see me as a senior anymore?"

"Y-yes! It was Elena senior who told me to do it!"

'Normally, wouldn't you not do it even if told?'

Forgetting the situation, everyone watched the two with bewildered eyes.

"Now, now. Calm down."

Elena intervened between the two with a bright smile.

"You need cooling down anyway."

"You're going to spray me with water for that?"

Hark's expression turned grim.

"Now, let's postpone scolding Ril for later."

"Why is everything being dumped on me!"

"You speak as if you've done nothing wrong?"

Elena, ignoring the protests of her senior and junior, said.

"First-year students, evacuate with the spectators."

"Senior! We can fight too."

"That's a noble thought."

Elena smiled sweetly at Juen's words.

"Anyone who is not a trained fighter here will only be a hindrance. Don't hold back your seniors."

Juen flinched at Elena's words.

"From now on, Lumern will form a team to stop this. Students who are called, step forward. Those not called, follow the professors' instructions."

Having said that, Elena glanced at the other schools.

"I'd like you to form teams as well."

At her words, the other schools quickly began forming teams.

"By the way, where is Leo?"

"I'm here."

"…?"

Elena looked at Leo, who appeared behind her, and tilted her head.

"Leo?"

"Yes."

"Hmm…"

Elena narrowed her eyes and smiled.

"Can you command long-range attacks from the rear?"

"Understood."

"Wouldn't it be better for him to be in the front?"

"It's not just students here anymore."

Elena watched the heroes blocking the re-igniting flames of disaster.

"I think it would be best for Leo to command the mages and summoners right now."

***

People were hastily evacuating.

Leo, standing among them, was giving instructions to Melina.

-Melina. Have the dragons search for anyone suspicious within Lumern. I don't know whose it is, but the center of that flame is a fragment of the Genesis Hero Record. Someone must have brought it into Lumern.

-Yes. But why would they do such a thing? The Genesis Hero Record would surely be needed by Tartarus…

The Genesis Hero Record could be used as a passage for Erebus, trapped in the Genesis world, to get out.

But to have it erupt in the middle of Lumern?

Like with Seirun, Leo could block that passage as much as he wanted.

'The Necromancer King wouldn't not know that, would he? What is his true intention?'

Leo's eyes narrowed.

"Not all Genesis Hero Records can be used as passages."

Leo turned around.

He saw Rian walking through the evacuating crowd.

People unconsciously avoided Rian, yet did not consciously register his presence.

Rian, holding a wide, flat box, stood before Leo.

Then, people became unable to even perceive Leo.

In the midst of this chaos, it was quiet only around Rian.

"Hero Records are items created with the power of the gods. They are antithetical to abominations."

Rian walked in front of Leo.

"When the abomination was trapped in the Genesis world, the pages of the Hero Records began to darken. Like ink spilled on paper."

"It was corrupted."

"Yes."

Rian nodded.

"I tore the Hero Records before all the pages turned black."

In the process, countless records were lost or scattered throughout the world.

"So, only the corrupted pages can be used as a passage?"

"That is correct. However, the residual embers of that abomination can be expelled outward through the Hero Records. This is what is happening now."

Rian's face blurred.

"It's an error caused by the extensive damage to the record system itself."

"…So the Necromancer King knew that and caused the outburst within Lumern."

"He probably did. That demon's intention…"

"He likely detonated it during the Heroic Festival because it was an unnecessary item. With the intention of dealing with the hero candidates caught in the explosion."

Leo gritted his teeth.

"What's the solution?"

"To enter the hero's world and extinguish the transferred residual embers."

"Then, first, we need to extinguish the flames that have emerged outside."

"Yes. Therefore, I have a proposal."

"…?"

"Please stand before the people not as Leo Frove, but as the Hero of the Beginning, Kyle."

"What?"

"The inhabitants of the mortal realm are already accustomed to the miracle of the Great Hero's return, so there shouldn't be any major issues."

Rian said, looking at the black pillar of flames.

"Of course, you cannot eternally support the world in the name of the Great Hero. Names are not eternal. I know you are preparing for that time."

Even if the name of the Great Hero is forgotten, the names of those who carried on his will will be passed down to future generations.

And their names will also be forgotten someday.

But the legacy that is passed down will never disappear.

Just as Leo… Kyle received from Lisinas and his companions.

Just as Lisinas received from someone whose name he didn't know.

"In an era where gods have vanished, your rebirth, achieving deeds greater than the gods, is a miracle beyond even the gods' imagination."

Rian smiled brightly.

"I do not believe that miracle to be a coincidence. The world needed you to be reborn."

Rian looked at the terrified people.

"People are trembling in fear. The name of Leo Frove is not yet enough to drive away this fear."

Rian knelt and held out the box to Leo as a tribute.

"The Hero of the Beginning, Kyle, needs to return to the world once more."

"This is…?"

"This is my gift to you."

Leo's eyes widened as he opened the lid of the box.

Inside was a black cloak.

A cloak too familiar to Leo.

Before Arion joined them.

Days of being covered in wounds to protect Lisinas and Luna on the front lines.

Kyle didn't mind, but Lisinas and Luna seemed to be hurt by Kyle's appearance.

One day, while treating his wounds, Lisinas handed him the cloak.

"Take this."

"Why is it black and gloomy?"

"It's a cloak made from processing my original skin."

"And on top of that, I engraved it with a blessing spell," Luna said, crossing her arms.

"You get hurt every day. Lisinas and I made this so you'd stop getting hurt."

Luna clicked her tongue.

"The only thing worth looking at is your face, so if you get injured, I'll be heartbroken."

"Don't fall for me."

"You're hilarious. Your face isn't my type, you know? And I told you, the only thing worth looking at on you is your face. Your personality is filthy."

Luna scrunched up her face and showed a clear expression of dislike.

Seeing the two of them, Lisinas sighed softly and said,

"It's sturdy and will protect you. Even if it breaks, I can fix it with my magic. Your frequency of injury will decrease a little from now on."

And the cloak remained with Kyle until his final moment.

"How is this here?"

It was an item that had surely disappeared with him in his final moments.

But this was undeniably his cloak.

"The heroes of Genesis conquered your world long ago and obtained this item as a reward. Lumern entrusted it to me before sealing Erebus."

Leo wordlessly reached for the cloak.

-Melina.

-Yes.

-Tell En to take over my role.

-What? Ah, understood.

Melina, with a bewildered expression, ordered En to transform into Leo's appearance.

En, acting as Leo, infiltrated among the Lumern students.

SWISH-!

Leo put on the cloak.

The cloak's hem momentarily obscured Rian's vision.

And at some point.

Standing there was a young man with gray hair, wearing black leather armor and a black cloak.

"Ah."

Seeing his back, the voice of a god trembled.

Thump- thump-

Leo walked towards the black flames.

"Wait, civilians are…"

Nella, who was preparing for battle, tried to stop Leo, who was walking from the evacuation direction.

"…evacuate… please…?"

"Nella, what's wrong? Huh? Civilian? Hey! Hurry and evacuate! Why are you here?"

Iliana, who was trying to get Leo to evacuate, unable to hide her tension, stopped and furrowed her brow, crossing her arms.

"Wait, handsome oppa. I've definitely seen you somewhere…? Huh? X? EEEEEEEK?!"

Iliana's mouth hung open as she screamed.

At her scream, all eyes were fixed on Leo.

Leo chuckled, reached out, roughly stroked Nella and Iliana's hair, and then headed forward.

"Don't be nervous, rookies."

Everyone's astonished gaze was fixed on Leo… no, on Kyle.

"Because I'm here."