Book 1 Chapter 584

584.

Whoosh-

"What's that?!"

Lunia's eyes shot open at the sight of black flames outside the window of the Hero's Tower.

At the same time, Eiran's perplexed voice was heard.

"Miss Lunia! Your appearance…?!"

"Huh? You too?"

"Yes? Ah!"

Lunia and Eiran, who had been disguised as Seirun and Azonia, had somehow returned to their original forms.

It wasn't just the two of them.

Dryana had also reverted to her original appearance.

Lunia, wearing a flustered expression, flinched and trembled her shoulders.

"It's like back then…"

"Back then?"

"When we subjugated the fragments of Erebus in Luna's world! It's exactly the same as back then!"

It was like this when they were conquering Luna's world during their first year.

With Erebus's rampage, the possession was broken, and they returned to their original forms.

"The people manifested inside the Hero's World don't recognize the existence of that monster!"

Lunia placed her foot on the windowsill.

"We have to stop that! Otherwise, this world will collapse!"

Whoosh-!

Lunia leaped from the windowsill without hesitation, and wings of flame unfurled on her back.

It was magic that manifested the wings of a phoenix.

Seeing this, Dryana leaped and stood behind Lunia.

"Aren't you getting out of the way?!"

"How petty! Give me a ride!"

"What do you take me for?!"

"A model equipped with a ride function."

"Do you want to die?!"

"Miss Lunia! Right now, stopping those flames is our priority!"

Eiran flew over to Lunia and said urgently.

Lunia gnashed her teeth and flapped her wings.

Fwoosh-!

The wings of flame, created by magic, drew a trajectory and flew towards the flames of disaster.

Upon arriving near Erebus, Lunia dropped Dryana from her back.

Dryana also willingly dismounted from Lunia's back.

Lunia's hair, now alone, turned pure white.

Goooooo-!

The crimson flames transformed into pure white.

The Phoenix King's flames, said to purify the world.

Fwoosh-!

From Lunia's outstretched hand, vivid crimson flames blazed.

The forbidden magic of the Rundoa family.

The holy flames that burn all that is impure, even using oneself as fuel, became one with the white flames.

'Sacred Fire.'

As Lunia raised her hand, a gigantic flame roared violently.

Lunia's flames had somehow grown as massive as the flames of disaster.

The sacred flames engulfed the black flames.

Whoosh-!

The pure white flames, having swallowed the black flames, instantly flickered out.

The black flames vanished without a trace.

At that moment.

The pure white flames rapidly contracted.

Seeing this, Lunia flinched and wrapped her entire body in phoenix wings.

Kwagagagagagang-!

The flames, which had shrunk to the size of a fist in the blink of an eye, caused a tremendous explosion.

At the same time, the black flames tore through Lunia's flames.

"Tch!"

Lunia clicked her tongue and quickly put distance between herself and the black flames.

Goooooo-!

The black flames pursued Lunia.

To shake off the black flames' chase, Lunia rapidly ascended into the sky.

Goooooo-!

The black flames persistently closed the distance with Lunia.

'It's getting harder to avoid!'

Just as Lunia gritted her teeth, preparing for Erebus's attack.

Whoosh-!

Someone grabbed Lunia as if snatching her.

"Chelsea Rwallin!"

"Hold on tight!"

Chelsea, enveloped in wind, manipulated the surrounding air.

Chelsea's body rapidly accelerated.

The distance from the black flames widened.

Suddenly, a wall of black flames shot up in front of Chelsea.

Chelsea slowed down and flew in another direction.

As the distance rapidly closed again, the black flames split into several strands, pressing Chelsea and Lunia.

Chelsea, her eyes tracking the trajectories of the black flames trying to ensnare her from multiple directions, maximized her mobility.

Whoosh-!

"Ugh?!"

Lunia unconsciously hugged Chelsea tightly.

Chelsea evaded all of Erebus's complex attacks and headed towards the ground.

Hwoong-!

Chelsea moved rapidly at a height that was almost touching the ground.

The black flames stubbornly pursued Chelsea's back.

"Stupid cat!"

Chelsea cried out urgently.

Ar, who had been heading towards Chelsea, was now standing there.

Ar's blue eyes, signing, directly faced Erebus's flames.

In Ar's hand was a broken sword.

Braver.

The sword Arion had left for Ar.

A golden aura formed at the tip of the sword.

A faint golden aura flowed from Ar's body as well.

Thump-!

Ar gripped the sword with both hands.

"Haaaaaaaaaat!"

Ar let out a battle cry.

Flash-! Kwagagagagagagang-!

As the sword was swung, a massive golden sword strike poured out.

'Arion-nim's sword?!'

Lunia's eyes widened at the sword strike, which was reminiscent of Arion.

Chelsea quickly evaded the sword strike, and the pursuing black flames were swept away by the attack.

Kwagagagak-!

The sword strike, which left a scar on the earth, also blew away the pillar of black flames.

'That Ar… when did he get so…'

Lunia was surprised.

And not just Lunia.

All the conquerors looked at Ar with surprised eyes at the overwhelming sight.

"When did that Ar get so strong?"

As an Azonia student gasped in astonishment, Rwen said calmly.

"It's not strange. Considering how that stupid cat usually trains."

After receiving Braver from Arion, Ar pushed himself even more rigorously.

Ar had always admired Arion and wanted to be like him.

But after meeting Arion in person and being recognized as his successor, his goal became even clearer.

It wasn't simply 'I want to be like Arion'.

It was 'I must become like Arion'.

He had to become like him and reassure the hero who was so full of worry.

That was the goal Ar had embraced, and to achieve it, Ar struggled like crazy.

Whoosh-!

Ar's white hair fluttered in the blowing wind.

Seeing this, Chelsea murmured blankly.

"Lord Arion… it's like…"

It was true.

Ar's current appearance clearly brought Arion to mind.

It seemed not to be Chelsea's sentiment alone, as not a single person denied her words.

At that moment.

Ar's ears twitched.

Then, he folded his arms, raised his chin, and put on a triumphant expression.

"Hehe!"

"Lord Arion, I'm sorry. I thought that stupid cat resembled you."

Chelsea sincerely apologized to Arion.

Fwoosh-!

The black flames flared up again.

Seeing this, Dryana murmured.

"It doesn't seem as strong as the fragment of Erebus we met during summer vacation."

"Of course not. The one we fought last time was one of the six fragments of Erebus that the Hero of Beginnings had shattered. But that's just a splinter that broke off from that fragment. It makes no sense for it to be that strong."

Lunia clenched her fist.

"Even so, it's still a monster."

"C-can we handle it with just our strength?"

Eiran wore an uneasy expression.

At her words, Lunia bit her lip tightly.

"We have no choice."

Ar glared at the black flames and said.

"We can't rely on people who aren't here right now. We have to do it ourselves."

Step- Step-

Ar, having answered resolutely, advanced towards the black flames.

"If you wait for help, you'll only stay in the same place."

Clench-

"I can't be treated like a child forever. To become equals. To follow in his footsteps."

Many gazes fell on Ar's back.

"We have to overcome this with our own strength."

What Ar was looking at were the backs of two people walking far away.

One was the figure of the hero he admired so much.

The other one was.

'Black Rabbit.'

Ar's back gave courage to those who looked at him to move forward.

Seeing that, Chelsea murmured.

"Right now, he really was like Lord Arion."

"Ahem!"

"Still just a stupid cat, after all."

It was then that Chelsea clicked her tongue.

"Karl? Where's Karl?"

Eliza asked Eiran.

At her words, Eiran's eyes widened.

"That… Karl-nim said he'd talk to Rodia-nim separately… he'll be here in a little while."

"It would certainly be difficult without him."

Lunia narrowed her brows and muttered.

"I feel a bit relieved when he takes command."

"Karl Thomas in command?"

At Lunia's words, not only Seirun but also Azonia and Damian students began to murmur.

"It's true that Karl has an amazing ability to read the flow of battle and give commands."

Avad nodded as if understanding.

"Indeed. We received a lot of help from Karl when we fought the fragment of Erebus in Lord Dweno's world before. He should come soon."

Meanwhile, Karl was.

Fwoosh-!

"Kyaaaaaaah!"

Karl shrieked in terror and hid behind Rodia.

"Don't run away!"

"Rodia-nim can only say that because you can't see those black flames! They're incredibly deadly!"

"Then you should be looking properly! Ack! I got burned! Come out front quickly and tell me where these cursed flames are!"

"If I go out now, I'll die!"

"Am I your shield?!"

"You said you'd be my shield!"

Karl was with Rodia, who couldn't see the black flames, going to find Lumerne.

***

Flash-!

A flash of light.

"Kyaaaaaaah!"

"Hey, it's hurting my ears, could you please be a little quieter?"

As Iliana screamed, Elena, cradled in Iliana's arms like a princess, said calmly.

"How can I not scream?! Erebus's flames are blazing right in front of my… Kyaaaaaah!"

"Erebus is scary, and I'm not scary, it seems. Should I make you suffer a terrible fate?"

"Hee-ik!"

Iliana gasped in terror at Elena's threat.

The reason Iliana was currently holding Elena and approaching Erebus was simple.

It was to help Kyle, who was single-handedly fending off Erebus.

"Why me of all people?!"

"Because you're the fastest."

Elena smiled brightly.

Looking at Elena, Iliana disliked her past self a little.

'I'm the fastest here. Hand.'

'Hmph. In terms of speed, I, Iliana Raden, am faster than Chelsea and Duran of the second year, who are renowned for their speed, and Eliza. How may I help you, senior?'

'Oh, how dependable. I appoint you as my ride.'

'Huh?'

'Could you take me close to Erebus?'

Elena needed two things.

Time to fully concentrate on her spellcasting.

And a knight with the mobility to protect her during that time and move at high speed.

Iliana was precisely the knight who fit that description.

Elena took out her staff from her arms.

As she began her incantation, a massive storm of magic power raged.

Iliana, holding Elena in her arms, flinched and trembled.

'I knew it was amazing, but.'

As a magic swordsman, Iliana knew how monstrous a mage Elena Zerion was.

But this…

'If you only consider magic power, it's on a level that surpasses most mage-class heroes, isn't it?'

It was when Iliana swallowed dryly.

Whoosh-!

The black flames, reacting to Elena's magic power, came swooping down.

Seeing this, Iliana drew her sword.

Flash-!

A light aura split the black flames.

Iliana, who had been avoiding Erebus's attacks at an incredible speed, trembled in her shoulders.

'It's hard to avoid at this rate!'

Iliana bit her lip tightly.

Due to the unimaginable surge of magic power, the black flames' target of attack shifted from Kyle to Elena.

In that fleeting moment, there was no time to escape.

Iliana's body moved calmly.

Whoosh-!

She powerfully threw Elena, whom she had been holding, out of the attack range.

Elena, safely out of the black flames' reach, unleashed her magic.

'What do I do now?'

Iliana smiled bitterly.

She had safely sent Elena, the one she had to protect, to a safe place, but she herself was the problem.

'Please just don't die…!'

The moment Iliana squeezed her eyes shut.

Flash-!

Fwoosh-!

A gray aura bisected the black flames.

Flap-!

A black cloak wrapped around Iliana's body.

"Ah?"

Iliana let out a blank gasp, opened her eyes, and looked up.

The moment the black flames targeted Elena, an opening was created, and Kyle squeezed through that opening.

Glance-

Kyle looked down at Iliana.

Kyle flicked Iliana's forehead with his finger as she mumbled, and said.

"Who told you to give up so easily?"

At his words, Iliana's face, forgetting the situation, turned a fiery red.

Kyle set Iliana down from his arms and rushed towards the black flames that had been directly hit by Elena's magic.

Elena approached Iliana.

"Are you alright?"

"So… cool… It's bad for my heart… I'm going to be a fan of Lord Kyle starting today. Haa… haa…"

Iliana, collapsed on the ground, muttered, forgetting the situation.

"Snap out of it. He's a married man."

"E-even so, I like him…!"

"What a sinful person. That person too."

Elena clicked her tongue.