Book 1 Chapter 749
749.
Goooooo-
Unusual mana flowed from Risinas.
The Seirun students who saw her wore tense expressions.
The great figure of the elves.
Apart from the blasphemy against Luna, the progenitor of the nebula, they felt that the person before them possessed unusual power.
“I don't feel the distinct aura of a demon race?”
At Rea's mumble, her second-year classmate Yoinia said in a tense voice.
“Lately, many demons with all sorts of dark magic attributes have appeared. Could she be one of them?”
Among demons, there are those from whom no dark magic aura can be felt.
These are individuals whose dark magic attributes specialize in stealth.
“To call them such demons, the atmosphere feels a bit different?”
Rea wore a slightly doubtful expression.
“That person looks like they're about to sweep us away right now?”
Most demons who do not emit the gloomy and evil aura characteristic of dark magic are deployed on stealth missions.
They are tasked with assassinating heroes and key figures.
As such, those fighting on the front lines against demons were well aware of demons with such characteristics.
However, the person before them was, as Rea said, poised to sweep away the elves head-on.
Kukakakakakak-
As Risinas moved her hand, the undulating black energy dug into the ground.
Rea and Yoinia swallowed dry.
They strongly felt that if they were to be grazed by that, they wouldn't even be able to pick up their bones.
Seeing that, the Triina siblings stepped forward.
“Is it our turn to step up?”
“Don't worry, we'll firmly protect the front!”
Aris and Garin drew their weapons.
“Eiran! Help!”
“Let's fight that demon!”
Eiran wore a flustered expression, looking at the Seirun students who were deeply mistaken.
“Th-that person! That person is…”
Just as Eiran was about to tell the students the truth.
“Wait.”
Lunia stopped Eiran.
“Don't say anything for now.”
“Huh?”
“Why do you think Lady Risinas has appeared before us?”
“Huh? Well…”
The greatest grand hero differs from person to person.
Most consider the grand hero of their own race as the greatest.
Since grand heroes were born for each race, it was, in a way, natural.
However, scholars who studied the deeds of grand heroes mostly called the King of Wisdom the greatest hero.
All grand heroes possess mythical martial power.
But no matter how mythical their power, individual strength alone could never end the Age of Calamity.
However, it was none other than Risinas who combined the powers of those five grand heroes, drew out strength beyond their limits, and made it possible.
The Erebus Extermination Force.
It was possible to always lead Arhi's party to victory because of the King of Wisdom's command.
That wasn't all.
Besides the grand heroes, countless other heroes confronted Tartaros.
Risinas was also the one who rallied those heroes.
The pinnacle of all heroes who lived in that era.
“The King of Wisdom was also the Selector of Heroes.”
The Selector of Heroes who led all heroes, including the grand heroes.
The reason such a Risinas stood before them was…
“This is a test.”
Lunia clenched her fist.
The Hero Selection Test.
“You and I have noticed, so there's nothing we can do, but I think it only has meaning if we show ourselves as we are, to the fullest.”
Lunia clenched her fist tight.
“I will earn Lady Risinas's acknowledgment as well.”
Lunia was already Luna's recognized successor.
Not only Luna.
Leo also recognized Lunia as Luna's successor.
Lunia herself was proud of that fact and was trying not to bring shame to Luna's name.
Even so…
“To be perfectly acknowledged… I'll have to earn Lady Risinas's acknowledgment as well, right?”
At those words, Eiran also tightened her grip on the sword in her hand.
Luna's image came to mind.
Even the image of Berkia, who was Luna's disciple.
Although she was terrified by Risinas's formidable appearance.
She couldn't back down.
“Yes.”
Eiran, who had replied with renewed determination, shrank her neck back as she looked at Risinas, who was exuding a fierce aura.
“Then, y-you're not angry, right? You're just pretending to be angry, right?”
“…”
Lunia couldn't bring herself to answer those words.
Berkia and Vihar fought over who Kyle, the Hero of Beginnings, should marry.
Berkia supported Luna.
Vihar pushed for Risinas.
Furthermore, Risinas had even tricked Leo into a traditional dragon clan marriage contract.
Even just looking at that, one could tell that the King of Wisdom's feelings for the Hero of Beginnings were no less than those of the Progenitor of the Nebula.
“She's probably angry.”
“Th-then…!”
Lunia spoke, looking at Eiran's terrified expression.
“Are we in a position to pick and choose!? Please, just like always!”
“Ugh…!”
Eiran made a tearful face and advanced with her sword and shield.
Her face was terrified, but her footsteps were resolute.
***
Watching the Seirun students form a formation to attack her, Risinas raised her hand.
Goooooo-!
Risinas's shadow swelled as if it had a will of its own.
Kwakakakakakak-!
The shadow struck the three students in the vanguard: Eiran, Aris, and Garin.
An attack imbued with unusual power.
At that moment.
Eiran stepped forward.
Risinas's eyes twitched as she saw that.
‘She should know that it's not a force to be blocked alone?’
At that moment.
Silver mana flowed from Eiran's body.
The silver mana took the form of armor.
The silver mana, having completed the armor's form, soon also condensed into a sword.
Animus Armor.
Berkia's unique magic, passed down in the Ersar family.
And the sword that took form was Animus's Sword, which Luna had made for Berkia.
Armor that protects body and mind from darkness, and a sword that cleaves darkness.
The Dragon Language magic Risinas had deployed was Shadow Blade.
It wasn't magic made of dark magic, but it was magic with a dark attribute.
Swish-!
Eiran's sword cut through the shadow.
Not only that.
She pushed back the fragments of shadow with her shield.
‘She uses Erquint well.’
A peculiar light shone in Risinas's eyes.
‘That shield was also made by Dweno.’
Risinas, who had easily discerned the shield's maker, curved the corners of her mouth upwards.
At that moment.
The Triina siblings, who had approached Risinas in an instant, gripped their weapons.
Star mana raged from the fingertips of the twin magic swordsmen.
Seeing that, Risinas swung her hand.
The shadows that had been torn by Eiran once again became blades and pressured the Triina siblings.
“Where do you think you're going?!”
Kukakakakakak-!
Garin protected his younger sister, Aris.
As a gap appeared, Aris, with nimble movements, instantly closed the distance with Risinas.
Risinas, who smiled faintly, swung her fist directly at Aris.
Aris flinched and used protective magic.
‘Just a bare-handed attack with no aura! Block and counter!’
Thump-!
But Risinas's fist brutally pierced Aris's barrier.
Aris gaped.
‘What? Magic?’
Risinas said, looking at the astonished Aris.
“Even with pure physical strength, you can destroy a magic barrier. Remember that.”
Saying that, Risinas then plunged her fist into Aris's abdomen.
Screech-!
“Aris!”
Garin urgently shouted, seeing Aris flung back.
Risinas closed the distance to Garin.
“Gasp?!”
Before Garin could even react, Risinas slammed her palm into Garin's chest.
Kwakakakakakak-!
Garin was also pushed back just like that and tumbled miserably on the ground.
The vanguard was left alone.
Eiran's body stiffened.
“Your name is Eiran, right?”
Risinas smiled faintly.
“You seem to know who I am?”
“It's an honor to meet you.”
Eiran awkwardly smiled and greeted her.
“Oh, by the way, Eiran. I have a favor to ask.”
“Wh-what kind of…”
“That saucy novel you're writing. Would you mind stopping?”
“Gasp! H-how did you… ”
Eiran was startled.
It was then that Risinas smiled faintly, looking at such an Eiran.
“Chain Magic Complete!”
Rea's voice was heard.
The mages in the rear guard had created powerful magic by linking magic formulas.
Kukakakakakak-!
Risinas admired the star magic flying towards her.
“Amazing. To weave magic formulas together and complete a spell… Luna would have been delighted to see this, wouldn't she?”
Risinas, smiling faintly, raised a finger upwards.
Skakakakakak-!
The shadow spread wide and then swallowed the chain magic created by the Seirun students.
“But I don't need it, so I'll give it back to you.”
The swallowed star magic bounced back towards the students who had deployed the chain magic from the rear.
“Uwaaaaaaaah!”
“R-runnnnnn!”
Kwakakakakakak-!
The Seirun students, instantly incapacitated, tumbled on the ground.
Only Lunia and Eiran were standing.
Eiran made a tearful face, looking at Risinas who was smiling brightly.
“Are, are you angry?”
“Oh? Why would I be angry?”
“Ughhh…”
Eiran wore a terrified expression.
She was indeed annoyed.
But that didn't mean she intended to unleash her anger on the children before her.
‘The one who needs to be punished is that girl, Luna.’
Risinas gnashed her teeth.
‘If I ever meet her, I won't let her get away with it.’
It was then that Risinas let out a low growl.
Hwalululululuk-!
Flames soared.
Risinas's gaze turned to Lunia, who was emitting flames.
Lunia, whose hair had turned white sometime during, was holding a pure white staff.
A staff named 'Essence of White Flame'.
It was a personalized staff Dweno had gifted Lunia.
Goooooo-!
Risinas and Lunia's eyes met.
Upon seeing the white flame, Risinas recalled someone.
‘Kataliu.’
The King of the Last Phoenix.
The covenant-bearer who sacrificed herself to protect her at the last moment.
‘Has she inherited that child's power?’
Goooooo-!
Risinas smiled faintly, looking at Lunia who was glaring at her with gritted teeth.
“I see what kind of child you are.”
Thump- Thump-
“Your recklessness is exactly like Luna's.”
As Risinas approached Lunia, Eiran flinched and hurriedly moved in front of Lunia.
And she blocked Risinas.
“Indeed…”
Risinas, letting out an exclamation of admiration, smiled sweetly.
[Shall I test you then?]
Woong-!
A bright light burst from Risinas's body.
Kwakakakakakak-!
A beautiful and majestic black dragon appeared.
Lunia and Eiran gasped.
Risinas opened her mouth, looking at the two elf girls.
Flash! Kwakakakakakak-!
Breath covered the two elf girls.
***
Leo clutched his right chest.
Mana surged.
‘She's really going all out, isn't she?’
Risinas is currently a spirit summoned by Leo's power.
As such, the mana Risinas uses is borne by Leo, the summoner.
And the fact that so much mana was being consumed meant that Risinas was seriously engaging in battle.
‘It seems Lunia and Eiran are more than she expected.’
Thinking that, Leo let out a wry smile.
‘Well, of course they should be.’
They are Luna's successors, chosen by none other than himself.
If they don't impress Risinas, he's the one who'll be in trouble.
Thinking so, Leo turned his head and looked at the chaotic army of the Second Prince's faction.
Spirits unjustly killed by Risinas were battling against the knights.
Initially intimidated and pushed back, the knights soon realized that the strength of the soldier spirits was merely at the level of ordinary soldiers, and easily repelled them using aura.
“Hmph! Even in death, commoners remain commoners!”
“How dare they borrow evil necromancy to harm us knights!”
The sneering knights radiated killing intent towards the soldiers.
“There's no time to waste! While the Seirun students are fighting, we must advance and seize the city!”
Not only had the soldier spirits appeared, but a dragon was also blocking their path.
Morale had already plummeted.
But the nobles and knights didn't care.
“If any of you harbor disrespectful thoughts, speak now! I will personally cut off your head!”
The Captain of the Royal Guards shouted, imbued with aura.
The soldiers, most of whom were farmers, couldn't help but be terrified.
“Advance! Sacrifice your lives for His Royal Highness, the Second Prince! Those who do not advance will be considered traitors!”
At the sharp cry of the knight captain, the soldiers began to advance.
Thump-
Leo blocked their path.
Rustle-
Leo drew his sword.
A knight who saw it shouted.
“Another enemy!”
“Don't get complacent just because it's one person! The First Princess faction must have colluded with demons!”
“Soldiers, forward! Eliminate that wicked enemy!”
The knights clamored.
Having already witnessed an unusual enemy named Risinas, they didn't step forward themselves.
They intended to gauge Leo's strength by sacrificing soldiers.
The soldiers, unable to defy the knights' orders, gripped their weapons and approached Leo.
Looking at those soldiers, Leo recalled a conversation he had with Arion a long time ago.
***
“You're too soft, Arion. If we regain peace and then a war breaks out, what will you do?”
“Huh? War? Why would a war break out if Tartaros is gone?”
“We fight wars among ourselves too, you know?”
“That can't be…!”
Arion wore an incredulous expression.
In the Age of Calamity, there was a common enemy, Erebus and Tartaros, so all races had no choice but to unite.
For Arion, born in the Age of Calamity, the idea of races warring amongst themselves was unimaginable.
A flustered Arion spoke.
“I, I don't want to kill people.”
“Is doing that easy?”
“It's surprisingly easy!”
“What?”
At those words, Arion brought a hundred soldiers guarding Gardsron to the training ground.
And he subdued the soldiers without injuring them.
He hadn't particularly put in more effort than usual.
Arion moved at his usual speed and used his usual strength.
However, those struck by Arion's sword, while temporarily incapacitated for battle, were not wounded.
It was swordsmanship almost divine.
“How is it? Easy, right?”
Arion looked at Kyle, his eyes sparkling.
Kyle, speechless with disbelief, asked Dweno, who had come to watch.
“Hey, pervert. Can you do that?”
“Do you think I could? That's an extraordinary feat only possible for Arion.”
It was a state of being, more than a technique.
A state achieved by Arion, who did not wish to cut down his enemies.
“Kyle can do it too!”
“How would I do something like that?”
“No! You definitely can! I do it too!”
Looking at his friend who had infinite faith in him, Kyle at the time merely clicked his tongue.
***
Glancing- Leo looked at the students watching him from afar.
His gaze precisely fell on where the knight-major students were.
‘I'll show you that such a state exists in the world.’
Thump-
Leo took a step.
And he recalled Arion, who had sent him infinite faith.
‘Yes, as you said, I could do it.’
Leo let out a laugh.
‘It was just incredibly hard to get to this point.’