Book 1 Chapter 627

627

The magic of the stars, the End, erupted, and Shilathuna's body collapsed.

Shilathuna, writhing in pain, raised an arm for a moment.

The monstrous arm instantly transformed into a giant blade.

Thwack!

Without hesitation, Shilathuna severed its own massive body.

The End rapidly disintegrated the severed parts of Shilathuna's body.

Seeing this, Leo narrowed his eyes.

'Is this what you'd call resourceful?'

The End is a destructive magic that endlessly pulverizes objects directly hit by it.

Because of this characteristic, it became a symbol of Luna's magic.

Under normal circumstances, being directly hit by the End would inevitably lead to annihilation.

However, even this absolute destructive magic has a drawback.

It's that its destructive power is influenced to an extreme degree by the user's magic power.

If one were to be hit by the End perfected by a user with Luna's level of magic power, they would have no choice but to succumb helplessly without even time to react properly.

But Leo's magic power isn't on Luna's level.

That's why he couldn't completely annihilate Shilathuna.

Shilathuna is a Legion Commander.

Moreover, a being that survived the Age of Calamity and reigned as the world's terror for thousands of years.

During the Age of Calamity, the Great Heroes attempted to subjugate all the Legion Commanders.

They engaged in continuous battles with the Legion Commanders.

Shilathuna was the one who survived at the end of that struggle.

From Shilathuna's perspective, it was hit by an unknown magic, but it quickly grasped a way to counter it.

'What in the world is this magic!'

A chilling killing intent emanated from Shilathuna's eyes.

It was a magic it had never seen before.

And it wasn't just a magic it had never seen before.

Its power was utterly terrifying.

'Was there an elf who used this kind of magic?'

An unknown sense of dread washed over it.

'Is it that wench named Luna?'

Shilathuna had heard the name often.

Luna Rubinence.

A singularity that appeared in a world spiraling towards destruction recently.

'The Surviving Hero, the Fool, the Blacksmith of God, all outliers.'

If not for them, the world would have long ago turned to ashes by Erebus's flames and walked the path of ruin.

'Is this truly the last obstacle hindering God's will?'

Shilathuna's eerie eyes turned towards the direction the magic had come from.

And then it saw.

A single beautiful elf flying in a straight line towards it.

Seeing the opponent with silvery eyes, harboring a deep killing intent that didn't seem like that of an elf, Shilathuna experienced cognitive dissonance for a moment.

Anyone would recognize her as the one who had just used the magic.

That mage was charging alone, without any escort, towards it.

Under normal circumstances, it would have scoffed at such a suicidal act.

But for some reason, Shilathuna felt a burning rage welling up inside.

[You damned wench! Are you eager to die?!]

There was no way a mage like Luna could defeat Shilathuna in a head-on battle.

No matter who you ask, the Demon Queen is a Legion Commander of Tartarus.

A despair-inducing being, a confidant of Erebus, who plunged the world into terror.

And Luna's actions now were tantamount to looking down on Shilathuna.

Indeed, the sneer on the opponent's lips was unmistakable.

As if its victory was a foregone conclusion.

Looking at a bug.

[Alright! If you want to die so badly, I'll thoroughly tear you to shreds!]

Rumble—!

Dark magic began to surge from Shilathuna's body.

Along with it, a curse was quickly completed.

The Curse of Severance, which spatially isolates connections with the outside.

This made it impossible for anyone outside to help Luna.

Not only that.

Now, escape from Shilathuna was also impossible.

It was as if it had been trapped in this world 1-on-1 with a Legion Commander.

[I'll make you regret facing me!]

CRASH—!

The earth trembled with Shilathuna's formidable killing intent and aura.

Shilathuna charged with incredible speed, unbefitting its enormous size.

WHOOSH—!

As it raised its arm, immense power radiated.

An attack at a range that a mage could never evade.

But sadly, the one before Shilathuna now was not Luna, and moreover, not a mage.

Leo exploded with all the Aura in his body.

FLASH—!

Golden Aura shimmered at the tips of Leo's feet.

[Aura?! So it's a Swordmaster!]

But that wasn't all.

CRACKLE—!

Pure white lightning flickered in Leo's hand.

It was the essence of lightning imbued with the power of Pegasus King, Albus.

Shilathuna's face contorted in shock at the wave of spiritual energy swirling from Leo's fingertips.

[Spiritual energy too?!]

Leo, having merged his Aura with his summoning, rapidly closed the distance to Shilathuna.

"It's good that the target is large."

With a sneer, Leo punched Shilathuna directly in the face.

FLASH! CRACKLE-CRACKLE!

Pure white light and lightning swirled.

The essence of lightning, the power of the Pegasus King, was a contradictory force to Shilathuna.

HISS—!

Shilathuna's massive body, with its upper half severed from its head, swayed and fell backward.

BOOM—!

The ground shook with a deafening roar.

Leo, with his arms crossed, looked down at Shilathuna.

At that moment.

CRUNCH— CRUNCH—! THWACK!

A chilling sound of bones and flesh twisting was heard.

Shilathuna's body, which had fallen to the ground, writhed and began to shrink as if being compressed.

Eventually, Shilathuna, now in human form, looked up at Leo.

Shilathuna spat out, "I heard the Surviving Hero was human?"

The appearance that had seemed on the verge of madness just moments ago was nowhere to be seen.

It was still engulfed in rage, but it maintained its composure.

And it was trying to assess the unknown elf standing before it.

All Class.

Shilathuna, as a confidant of Erebus, knew better than anyone what that meant.

"Why? Are you scared? That Erebus has one more natural enemy?"

At Leo's words, Shilathuna's face hardened.

'How does he know that?'

Looking at the opponent who knew the nature of its power, Shilathuna ground its teeth.

'I must die somehow.'

As Shilathuna glared at Leo, it felt an unusual killing intent radiating from Leo's eyes.

At that ferocious killing intent, Shilathuna curled its lips.

"You seem to want to kill me. Well, I've devoured countless members of your kin. Elves are delicious."

It spoke words that would provoke an elf, known for their strong kinship, to try and unsettle the opponent.

"Of course. When a bug crawls into your house, it's natural for a person to want to get rid of it."

"You damn pointy-eared brat… have you lost your tongue!"

"I tend to be that way."

However, Leo did not lose his composure.

Seeing Leo mocking him, Shilathuna felt inexplicably churning inside.

"Boasting is useless. The fact that you will be destroyed is unchanged."

"Ah, that? I'll make a prophecy."

Leo smiled faintly.

"You won't be able to destroy the world. In 20 years, Erebus will be subjugated by our hands."

"Nonsense."

"Does it sound like that? But it's true. The recent subjugation of the Gluttonous King was just the beginning."

"……"

For a moment, Shilathuna's face hardened.

'How does he know that?'

Shilathuna had also heard the news of the Gluttonous King Jörmungandr's subjugation.

But the elves did not.

There were only two survivors from that battle.

The Fool and the Surviving Hero.

And it had heard that they were coming here.

Shilathuna had attacked today to annihilate the elves before they arrived.

'The Fool and the Surviving Hero would have no means of relaying the news?'

Within the territory of the Legion Commanders, communication magic cannot be used due to the power of curses.

"The world will be saved, Demon Queen."

"You have a long tongue for someone who's about to die here."

Rumble—

Dark magic began to surge from Shilathuna's body.

"Stop the boasting and face reality. Killing a lowly pointy-eared brat like you is simple. A single blow is enough. And yet you talk of saving the world?"

Leo nodded at Shilathuna's words.

"Yes. If I get hit even once, it's instant death."

Leo's eyes narrowed.

"If I get hit even once."

CRACKLE—!

Shilathuna's arm stretched out and flew towards Leo.

Leo dodged Shilathuna's attack.

"Where do you think you're going!"

Shilathuna scoffed at Leo and prepared its next attack.

Arms began to sprout from Shilathuna's extended arm.

Seeing the feast of flesh enveloping it like a spiderweb, Leo curled his lips.

'I see it.'

The pattern of Shilathuna's attack.

If one were to compare Shilathuna now to Shilathuna 5000 years later in terms of pure power, the current Shilathuna is overwhelmingly stronger.

Shilathuna 5000 years later had lost its divine authority.

And Leo's current power was slightly lacking compared to Shilathuna 5000 years later.

Under normal circumstances, it wouldn't be a match.

But…

'Super-sense.'

Leo's senses became extremely sharp.

Combat ability is not determined by strength alone.

Although Shilathuna now possessed superior physical abilities to Shilathuna in the future, the Shilathuna 5000 years later was more threatening in combat.

The one who survived the fierce war between those who sought to save the world and those who sought to destroy it, a war that would last for the next 20 years, was not just the Great Heroes.

Shilathuna also had no choice but to hone itself to survive that war.

It constantly devised unpredictable attacks and endlessly changed the patterns of its dark magic.

In order not to be outmaneuvered by the heroes.

To kill the heroes.

And ultimately, to destroy the world.

It wasn't just them who gained experience and grew stronger.

The Legion Commanders did too.

'Their true fear lies in that.'

Survival.

Compared to the three great Legion Commanders of 5000 years later, the Shilathuna before him was just an inexperienced brat with brute strength, even as the Demon Queen.

'It's neither as cunning nor as wicked as its future self.'

Just a lump that wields its own power.

'There's no one easier to deal with than an arrogant brat who overestimates their own strength.'

That's why Shilathuna's attacks were clearly visible to Leo.

For Leo, who had contemplated killing Shilathuna endlessly, the current Shilathuna was not a great threat.

This Curse of Severance was the same.

'If it were the Shilathuna of the future, it wouldn't rashly think of casting the Curse of Severance.'

From Leo's perspective, the most threatening power Shilathuna possessed now was the Legion it commanded.

A huge variable force.

However, Shilathuna did not bring its Legion into this Curse of Severance.

The Shilathuna of the past would have surely tried to tear him to shreds directly.

If even the slightest mistake is made, one dies.

But the time and experience Leo had accumulated allowed for no room for even the slightest mistake.

'A Legion without Shilathuna is only half complete.'

If he could keep Shilathuna here, the elves outside could hold on.

Of course, just holding on wouldn't lead to victory.

In fact, the more time passed, the more despair would set in.

But Leo knew.

Who was coming to the Elf Forest right now.

'History will not repeat itself.'

Leo curled his lips.

'Feel the terror of the Demon Queen?'

Recalling Zora, who had sent him here, Leo sneered.

'For me, this fight isn't even a proper trial.'

For Leo, this fight was merely a review of past battles.

'Wait, you're next.'

Leo's sword swung, drawing a gray arc.

THWACK!

Shilathuna's head flew into the sky.

Shilathuna's face was filled with shock.

'Why! Why isn't it hitting!'

It felt like the elf before its eyes was toying with it.

As if it knew more about itself than Shilathuna did.

The opponent saw through it completely.

'This is impossible! I am… a Legion Commander! Demon Queen Shilathuna!'

Dark magic surged from Shilathuna's body.

It was a curse, one of the most powerful abilities of a demon.

CRACK—!

The magic circles that formed the curse were instantly dismantled.

Shilathuna's face hardened.

"How…"

"I could see the method of dismantling it."

Leo said coldly and sliced Shilathuna's floating head in half.

'Legion! I need my Legion!'

For reasons unknown, the opponent saw through it completely.

Realizing it was a mistake to have carelessly brought such an opponent into the Curse of Severance, Shilathuna, with a pale face, tried to release the world of severance.

But Leo foresaw even that.

Leo's sword destroyed the release spell faster than it could be activated.

Leo said ominously, "Where do you think you're going?"

Rumble—!

Shilathuna's face was filled with terror at the surging killing intent.

"Spare me…!"

THWACK!

Shilathuna's plea was futilely cut short.

Looking at Shilathuna like that, Leo declared, "You die here."