Book 1 Chapter 694

694.

Leo and Gias' clash.

A single exchange of blows brought destruction to the surroundings.

Living beings within the vicinity of the clash were turned to rags.

Those rags, drenched and scattered, evaporated without a trace.

The surrounding terrain began to change.

*Thwack-*!

Space distorted, and Leo was flung away.

*Kwakagagagang-!*

Like a meteor, Leo collided with the ground, tracing a trajectory.

The shockwave swept through the surrounding area.

Thick dust rose.

Demons and monsters swarmed from the surroundings.

*Kwaaaaah!*

A vortex of flames raged, sweeping away the surrounding demons and monsters.

The demons and monsters, not yet reduced to ash, screamed.

However, despite their bodies burning, the demons and monsters spread their killing intent and charged towards the center of the flames.

*Swish-*!

A gray line cut through the air.

*Puhwak-*!

With a sharp sword strike, the bodies of the demons were severed and scattered.

*Tuk- tuk-*

Leo, emerging from the flames, casually rotated the arm with which he had swung his sword.

Then, he gazed at Gias standing far away.

'A divine power.'

A unique ability possessed by the highest-ranking high-ranking demons.

However, the divine powers of the Legion Commanders are special.

While the divine powers of the demons under a Legion Commander are bestowed by the Legion Commander, the Legion Commander's divine power is granted by Erebus.

The reason why the Legion Commanders of this era are weaker than those of the past.

It was also a matter of the presence or absence of divine power.

A Legion Commander who possessed awe-inspiring power in themselves was, after all, only half-baked without a divine power.

After Erebus was sealed, Gias also lost his divine power.

'Well, they're such monstrous beings that even without divine power, they're incomparable to the Legion Commanders born in the Heroic Era.'

But now.

Gias had regained his divine power.

He was influenced by Erebus, who existed within the world of the Legion.

'His divine power is Berserker.'

The moment it is activated, their strength explodes, transforming them into a demon that brings destruction and ruin.

It was simple, but it was also one of the most powerful divine powers among the Legion Commanders.

In addition, the Legion Commander's divine power also permeates their Legion.

As a result, the strength of the Giant King's Legion has now become even greater.

Simple and powerful, but Gias' divine power had a clear drawback.

It was that he lost his reason and became a monster driven only by the instinct for destruction.

Gias is excessively cautious.

In a large-scale war, that caution can sometimes be his undoing.

Like a moment ago.

'If he hadn't been wary of Dwenno and had attacked from the start, it would have been dangerous.'

However, Gias was too wary of Dwenno, making the mistake of breaking the Legion's momentum in the first battle.

He also gave Ibadi time to establish a thorough defensive posture.

But his caution doesn't always hold him back.

Sometimes, his caution and patience become Gias' powerful weapon.

'Especially in a one-on-one battle.'

The overwhelming power emanating from his colossal physique is certainly awe-inspiring.

However, it also becomes a weakness due to its large target area.

Therefore, Gias cautiously engages his opponents in one-on-one battles.

He doesn't rush in rashly even when he gains the advantage.

Gias, who has activated Berserker, is, in a sense, simple to counter.

Crush them with strength, or if strength is insufficient, set a trap.

But now, Gias has activated Berserker and maintained his reason.

Moreover, his divine power is much stronger than Leo remembers.

*Hwarururuk-*

Calamitous flames ignited on Gias' body.

He hadn't merely enhanced his strength with divine power.

The current Gias was under Erebus' protection.

'To gain Erebus' protection, one must offer oneself as a sacrifice.'

Seeing that, Leo narrowed his eyes.

'Indeed… he used another self as a sacrifice again.'

The current Gias had devoured his past self.

And he made armor and weapons from his bones and skin.

The sword Gias wielded.

That sword was made from Gias' spinal bone.

'It wasn't Gias himself who activated the divine power, but his weapon.'

He had passed on his strength entirely to his future self.

And he had imbued his consciousness into his spinal bone.

A biological revulsion arose from its strangeness.

'He's a complete monster.'

Leo lowered his stance.

'In terms of subjugation difficulty… it would be comparable to Jormungandr.'

Jormungandr, the Gluttonous King, whom Leo and Lisinas had barely managed to defeat together.

A Legion Commander without a Legion.

The strongest demon, who could have been called a Legion all by himself.

The current Gias' strength is at that Jormungandr level.

*Thump-! Thump-!*

Gias walked up to Leo and narrowed his eyes.

"Surprising. To regain such power after living for just over ten years."

"I've only been seriously wielding mana for three years."

Leo chuckled nonchalantly.

"Is that so?"

*Kwakagagagagang-!*

Gias' sword struck down at Leo.

The calamitous flames that had been on the sword disappeared.

A sword mark was etched into the earth.

Leo, whose sword strike had been deflected and changed course, felt the agony of his arm being crushed.

Gias, looking down at Leo, turned his gaze towards the city walls.

Where Gias' gaze landed was where Ar was standing.

"That girl, called the successor of Arion, her growth is also unusual."

Even considering the Hero Record, Ar's growth speed was fast.

'The elf girl, the successor of Luna, must be the same.'

It was clear who was at the center of everything.

"But your miracle-making ends today."

Gias' face contorted menacingly.

"What do you mean by that?"

"It means you die here. Hero who survives."

"Ah."

Nodding as if he understood, Leo's lips curved into a smile.

"Tearing you to shreds doesn't exactly feel like a miracle, does it? Isn't it natural?"

*Bang-!*

Gias kicked Leo.

*Wheeeeeeiiing! Kwang-!*

Leo, sent flying, crashed into the city walls.

"Bla- black rabbit!"

Ar urgently called out to Leo.

Leo, spitting blood, pulled out his arm embedded in the city wall.

Arion's aura was imbued in Leo's sword.

Leo looked straight ahead.

Right before he was kicked.

He had severed Gias' ankle.

With the maximum strength Leo could muster.

'I couldn't cut it.'

With Leo's current sword strike, he couldn't cut Gias' body, which had been strengthened by divine power and Erebus' power.

"Black rabbit!"

Ar, who had descended beside Leo, helped him up with a tearful face and went up onto the city wall.

"I want to fight too!"

"It's too early for you yet."

"But!"

"It will take time to defeat him."

"T-time?"

"Yes. Time to complete the magic."

Leo detached himself from Ar and wiped his mouth.

His insides felt messed up.

'Still, I can endure.'

There was only one thing that could break this situation.

Luna's magic.

And he could imitate Luna.

The problem was the frontline.

He needed the strongest shield to protect the front while he completed the incantation.

"Dwenno will come."

"B-but! He hasn't come for a long time! Rather, I…"

"That's why I said it's too early."

Leo flicked Ar's head.

*Tuk- tuk-*

Leo stepped forward.

'Everyone is bound to falter.'

He was not a perfect person.

Similarly, Dwenno was not perfect.

Not only himself and Dwenno.

Arion, Luna.

Even Lisinas.

No one was perfect.

It was natural to falter and wander.

But…

'What we always looked at was the same.'

This faith will not waver.

Leo looked up at the sky.

The dawn night sky.

It was time for the dawn to break soon.

At that moment.

A message appeared before Leo's eyes.

"See."

With Ar's eyes wide open, Leo smiled slightly.

"I told you he's coming."

***

*Kwakagagang-!*

With a sword strike like scattered petals, Dwenno extended his hand.

*Tap-!*

"Kuhuk?!"

Aina, whose neck was grabbed, struggled.

A sword filled with killing intent entered his sight.

'The sword I made.'

Perhaps it was a weapon that could pierce Dwenno's defense.

But alas, the sword he made does not harm himself.

The weapons he made were like that.

At that moment-

*Shak-*

"……?"

Aina's sword, the Demon Slayer, grazed Dwenno's cheek.

A flicker of doubt momentarily crossed Dwenno's body.

*Ggggnnn-*!

"Kkeuk?"

As Dwenno applied a slight force, Aina, unable to breathe, suddenly went limp.

"Aina!"

Luke quickly closed the distance to Aina.

"Take her."

"Erk?"

Dwenno threw Aina towards Luke.

Luke, who hurriedly caught Aina, tripped and rolled on the ground.

He held Aina tightly in his arms so she wouldn't get hurt.

Dwenno flicked Luke's forehead, who had rolled in front of him.

*Ppuk!*

"Kuhuk?"

Luke's eyes rolled back, and he fainted.

*Pababababat-*!

At that moment.

Pure white flashes and golden lightning that blurred Dwenno's vision were seen.

It was Duran and Iliana.

"Fast."

Dwenno muttered softly.

"But that's all."

*Guk- guk-*

"Kuhuk?!"

"Kuhk?"

Dwenno reached out and lightly grabbed Duran and Iliana by the nape of their necks.

He had predicted their path and caught them.

At that moment.

"Don't touch my disciples! You damn thing!"

"You. If you're going to curse, curse, and if you're going to be polite, be polite."

Artian, who had sharply exploited Dwenno's opening from behind, swung his fist.

Dwenno smiled and tilted his head back forcefully.

*Thump-!*

Suddenly, Artian's forehead and Dwenno's back of the head collided.

*Thud-*

Artian knelt down and lost consciousness.

And he tightened his grip on Duran and Iliana's necks.

Eventually, the two, who had lost consciousness, also fainted.

At that moment.

*Kwaaaaaah!*

"Now's our chance!"

At Chelsea's shout, Haviden swung his sword.

Chelsea, maximizing her magic, created a blade of wind with Haviden's sword, which handled the aura of wind.

Seeing that, Dwenno gasped.

And…

"Haaaaaaah!"

He let out a shout infused with aura.

It was different from Arion's howl.

The atmospheric pressure in the surroundings changed instantly.

The blade of wind scattered in the air.

Dwenno's shout, contained within the sudden atmospheric change and sound, dealt a heavy blow to the ears of Chelsea and Haviden, who were sensitive to wind changes.

As a result, the two of them rolled their eyes back and fainted.

"…What… this…"

Cal, who was commanding from behind Eliza, who was riding the Wind Wyvern, sputtered.

"Your command is sharp, Cal."

Dwenno smiled.

"But you seem to be seeing this fighting style for the first time."

It was as Dwenno said.

An unconventional fighting style.

'This is almost like hitting the opponent with a shield.'

He subdued them based on overwhelming defense.

Clutching Eliza tightly, Cal himself unknowingly shivered from the overwhelming aura.

Eliza, who would have reacted sharply under normal circumstances, swallowed dryly.

Her heart pounded rapidly due to instinctive fear.

Amidst that…

"Haaaaah!"

Driana charged at Dwenno head-on.

"Hey! No! Driana! Stop!"

Cal said in horror.