Book 1 Chapter 691
691.
“Indeed. So the release spell doesn’t work?”
Gias stroked his chin.
The magic Leo had just used was a magic Gias also knew well.
During the Age of Calamity.
A magic that hunted countless giant demonkin.
It is the unique magic of Kyle, the Hero of the Beginning.
Giant demonkin with enormous physiques possess overwhelming weight, proportional to their massive size.
The heavier they are, the more they are bound to be affected by gravity.
Kyle aimed at this point and hunted giants using gravity magic.
However, it was not merely a magic that multiplied gravity.
Tartaros also knew of this weakness, so countermeasures existed. When giant demonkin receive gravity their own bodies cannot withstand, Erebus's blessing is activated.
A blessing bestowed upon the giant demonkin by the flames of calamity.
As such, gravity magic at a level that destroys the body should not normally work.
Yet, the reason why giant demonkin are hunted by Kyle's magic is because Kyle's mana characteristic destroys Erebus's blessing.
Of course, it is not a magic that works on all giant demonkin.
They can also endure gravity with powerful dark magic.
Furthermore, giant demonkin skilled in dark magic can counter the spell with dispel.
However, without such counter abilities, they are defenseless.
That is why Gias had studied Kyle's magic for a long time.
But Kyle, too, had steadily developed his magic since being resurrected in the present world.
That is why Gias's release magic didn't work.
Of course, that didn't mean Gias's research was worthless.
The basic foundation of Leo's magic was what Gias knew.
If so, he just needed to fix the release spell and match the code.
‘Besides, continuously using such widespread magic is impossible.’
Unless it's the progenitor of the nebula?
The Hero of the Beginning has limits.
‘Especially if he hasn’t regained his past strength yet, even more so.’
Gias's eyes flashed.
He was still observing the situation on the battlefield from the rear.
Giant King Gias.
He is a cautious great demon.
His temperament was the exact opposite of the belligerent monster queen Silatuna.
At first glance, he seemed similar to the Necromancer King, who enjoyed bringing opponents down with traps and schemes, but he was also different.
Gias does not participate in battle unless he is certain.
He merely observes the situation.
In this battlefield, Gias was confident in defeating the Hero of the Beginning and Dweno.
But that didn't mean he could just recklessly step forward.
His opponents were none other than great heroes.
Those who murdered gods and thwarted the demonkin's long-cherished wish.
Those who turned countless impossibilities into possibilities.
Even if there were only two of them, extreme caution was necessary.
Furthermore.
‘Where is that Dweno guy?’
Dweno, arguably the most troublesome enemy, was nowhere to be seen.
‘What's your plan? Hero of the Beginning, God's Blacksmith.’
It was clear there was a scheme.
There was a high probability it was a trap targeting him.
He was surely hiding somewhere, aiming for him.
‘Do you think I'll fall for such a shallow trick?’
Even if the legion disappeared, it could be rebuilt at any time.
But if he, the legion commander, fell, the legion was finished.
Wear down the prey's strength.
And the moment he was certain of victory.
‘I'll cut off your heads!’
Gias's eyes flashed.
***
“Amazing, incredible! Black Rabbit!”
Ar raised both hands and bounced up and down.
“It makes me wonder if you’re even human anymore!”
“Is that a compliment or an insult?”
Leo glanced back, clicking his tongue.
But that was only for a moment.
He kept his eyes on the Giant King's legion.
He felt the legion stirring.
They probably hadn't expected such a large number to be swept away by a single large-scale area-of-effect spell.
Especially if it was giant demonkin, famous for their high defense, rather than other demonkin.
But their reaction was only momentary.
The legion's confusion was quickly brought under control.
Only a very small portion of the legion died instantly from Leo's magic.
An unexpected number were hit at once, but that was all.
‘Raining down such powerful magic is impossible unless it’s Luna.’
And it's even more impossible for him now.
‘Well, it doesn't matter.’
After all, Leo wasn't trying to instill fear in the entire legion.
“Ah…”
“Th-this magic is!”
Some demonkin fell into a panic.
They were all high-ranking demonkin, the core of the Giant King's legion, who had survived the Age of Calamity.
Just by them falling into delirium out of fear, the magic from a moment ago was effective.
To put a crack in the legion's solidity for a moment.
That was Leo's goal.
“Leo!”
Just then, Enniha rushed over urgently.
“Dweno? Dweno is not here!”
“Lord Dweno went to get the armaments!”
“Armaments?”
“Yes!”
Ar gave unwavering trust.
“He’ll be here soon.”
Leo also replied calmly.
“Prepare before Dweno arrives. It’ll take them quite some time to get their confusion under control.”
“What? It was certainly great magic, but… there’s no way the legion would be that confused…”
Now it was time to poke at the cracks.
“Because I'm going to stir things up starting now.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Ar, follow me.”
“Huh? Got it!”
As Leo jumped off the city wall without hesitation, Ar followed him.
“What?!”
Enniha gasped in shock and looked down at the base of the wall where the two had jumped.
Leo, who was falling towards the base of the wall, kicked off the wall.
Using that recoil, Leo charged straight towards the legion.
Kkheoeoeoeoong!
A howling erupted from Ar’s mouth, who followed behind him.
Ar, in her beast form, also kicked off the wall and charged.
“What kind of kids are those?!”
Even if they were confident in their skills, to charge straight into the legion!
There’s a limit to being fearless.
“To save the world, do you really have to be that crazy…? No! That cat isn’t even a human to begin with! What on earth is it?!”
An Ivaldi warrior approached Enniha, who had an dumbfounded expression.
“Lady Enniha! We must provide support quickly…!”
“…No.”
“Yes?”
“They didn't ask for help. If they went together, they must have a plan.”
“B-but!”
“Let’s trust them.”
Enniha said, looking at Leo and Ar.
“Just as we trust Dweno. Let’s trust that person.”
Dweno also trusted Leo.
If so, they should trust him too.
“Everyone, prepare for defense.”
“Yes, sir!”
The Ivaldi warriors moved busily.
Enniha, who was commanding the warriors, spotted a dwarf boy operating siege armaments and said,
“Dit.”
“Yes, Lady Enniha!”
Dit rushed over urgently.
“Watch Leo closely.”
“Yes? I am watching him well, but…”
“That child… was able to save his life many times on the battlefield thanks to the armaments your father made.”
“Huh?”
Dit's eyes widened.
“You remember your father said he wanted to help save this world even a little bit, right?”
“…Yes.”
Enniha smiled, stroking Dit’s head as he clenched his fists.
“I’ll tell you, Dit. Your father… is the person who saved the life of the hero who will save the world.”
“What? Save the world?”
“Yes, that’s why I told you to watch him.”
Enniha looked towards Leo.
“Because it’s the fight of the man who will save this world.”
***
Hwaaaak-!
Leo sprinted with tremendous speed.
The Giant King’s legion was clearly visible from atop the fortress wall.
But that was only because they were giant demonkin that they could be seen at all.
In reality, there was a considerable distance between the wall and the legion.
But that distance was rendered meaningless as Leo instantly closed the gap with the legion.
“Fiora, Kirian, Arti.”
Woong-!
Three mythical beasts responded to Leo's call.
It was not a summons.
Their blessings enveloped Leo's body.
Hwareureureuk-
Pajijik!
Woong!
“Ooooh!”
Ar made a surprised expression.
The God's Blacksmith.
Phoenix's flames and Pegasus's lightning enveloped the gauntlets and greaves made by Dweno.
A barrier also enveloped Ar's body.
The same was true for Leo.
His sword tip, feet, and body were protected by the power of the mythical beasts.
That wasn't all.
Runes flowed from Leo's mouth.
The mana of the stars surged, invigorating him.
The blessings of the mythical beasts and the enhancement of star magic gave him power.
“This is amazing!”
Ar’s eyes sparkled as he looked at his fists.
“Activate your extrasensory perception! Cover me!”
“Leave it to me! Black Rabbit!”
Grinning, Ar stood behind Leo.
Hwareureuk-
Kwagagagagagang!
A crimson blade of fire bisected the leading Gigantes.
“Gwooooooooh!”
Leaving behind the Gigantes screaming in agony, Leo cut down another massive monstrous beast beside it.
“Graaaaaaah!”
He wasn't going to the center of the legion.
It was as if he was peeling a fruit.
He cut down the legions on the outer perimeter, halting their advance.
Leo's extrasensory perception erased blind spots.
Of course, even if he perceived all attacks threatening him with extrasensory perception, he couldn't block attacks concentrated on him.
But Leo was not alone.
He had one comrade protecting his back.
“Uryaahhh!”
Kwaang-!
Ar kicked away a huge crossbow bolt aimed at Leo's back.
It was a hideous, massive bolt, like a ballista arrow.
As the deflected arrow spun with a "whirring" sound, Ar kicked its fletching, sending it flying back towards the giant demonkin who shot it.
Kwak-!
“Kkeureuk?!”
The giant demonkin, whose forehead was pierced, uttered a dying cry and fell.
Ar bent his knees, looking at other approaching Gigantes.
Hwareureureuk-! Pajijijik-!
Flames and lightning swirled at his fingertips and toes.
Ar’s flame-imbued claws brutally tore apart the Gigantes unit, incinerating the enemies.
Ar's feet mercilessly burst the enemies' heads and roasted them.
Ar's ears twitched incessantly.
His movements, having entered the realm of extrasensory perception, became even sharper.
‘The attacks are focused on Black Rabbit, so I can clearly see the enemies’ movements!’
One step, two steps.
He approached further into the realm of extrasensory perception.
The more he fought, the more he fell into a trance.
‘This guy.’
Leo's eyes widened at Ar's movements he felt behind his back.
‘He’s growing, isn’t he?’
It was as if he was gradually reminiscent of someone's movements.
He was becoming like someone who always gave him courage.
The moment Leo put more strength into the fist holding his sword.
Hwaak-!
Suddenly, a gigantic sword appeared before his eyes.
‘Did it penetrate my blind spot?’
It was an attack beyond the realm of extrasensory perception.
Leo raised his head.
‘Giant Knights.’
As Leo prepared for the impact.
“Where do you think you’re going?!”
Kwaang-!
“Ar?”
Ar reached an area where Leo's extrasensory perception had not reacted.
Tak-!
“As long as I’m here, not a single hair on Black Rabbit can be touched!”
Excited Ar snorted with an "Hmph!"
“Impressive.”
Just then, someone appeared in the air, smiling.
“Nareda.”
“It’s been a long time, Hero of the Beginning, Kyle. You’re raising a formidable pet cat.”
“Who are you calling a pet cat right now?!”
Ar glared and growled.
“I’ll tear you to pieces and kill you!”
Ar, who had clenched his fists and made a murderous expression, suddenly turned to look at Leo with a "Hwik-!"
“Eh? Hero of the Beginning?”
At Ar’s startled reaction, Leo said,
“Your petty tricks have increased over 5000 years, I see.”
“Hmph, thanks to that one thing, I’ve been able to survive until now.”
Leo narrowed his eyes, looking at Nareda, who politely bowed his head.
“Your master’s cowardly nature seems to be unchanged.”
“Please refrain from rude remarks. He is being cautious. He sees through your treacherous traps.”
“Traps, you say…”
Leo curled the corners of his mouth.
“I’d appreciate it if you thought that.”
***
‘…Why. Why doesn't Dweno show himself?’
Giant King Gias’s face distorted.
The Hero of the Beginning charged.
If so, Dweno, known as the strongest shield, should have led the way.
The role of the rookie called the successor of the Brave was originally something the Brave or the Hero of the Beginning should do.
But Leo was taking on Dweno's role.
And the Brave's role was being played by a fledgling who had just started to walk.
‘A pathetic imitation of Dweno. It’s a trap.’
When he first saw that sight, Gias scoffed.
It was clearly a shallow trap, as expected.
But now, he felt something strange.
Gias’s face distorted.
‘Could it be… Dweno isn't on this battlefield? No! That can’t be!’
Giant King Gias knew Dweno better than anyone.
Gias’s eyes opened wide.
‘What on earth are your intentions?! Kyle! Dweno!’