Book 1 Chapter 751

751.

White flames surge.

Already, all Seirun students except Eiran have been incapacitated in battle.

'Overwhelming…'

Lunia looked at Lysinass, who had returned to his form as a giant black dragon.

Lysinass did not use his iconic summoning magic.

He only used Dragonic magic simply.

He faced them with pure mana control alone.

It was a moment to once again realize the gap between them and a Great Hero.

But…

'I have no intention of being intimidated.'

I must raise my head and look forward.

"Linea."

Whoosh-

At Lunia's call, Linea, the phoenix with whom she had made a pact, appeared with crimson flames.

Thud-

Linea, perched on Lunia's outstretched arm, asked.

[What formidable enemy are you fighting now, that you are in that state?]

Linea asked with a slightly worried expression.

Lunia, whose hair had turned white from using white flames.

Lundia, Lunia's family, has made pacts with phoenixes for generations.

This was possible because they had burned their own bodies to fight against the impure.

Most noble elven families boast immense history.

The Ersar family of Eiran, said to be the oldest noble family in elven history, alone has 5000 years of history, and Tingel also has 3000 years of history.

Most other noble families easily surpass 1000 years.

The Lundia family's history is not that deep.

However, despite its relatively short history, the Lundia family stood shoulder to shoulder with those noble families, and in terms of nobility, it competed for the top.

The reason was simple.

It was because they had become torches themselves and carried on the sacred fire.

The elves of the Lundia family have used powerful flames that even consume themselves.

Enduring that pain, they always stood at the forefront in battles against the demons of Tartarus.

It was, in a way, natural for elven society to respect them.

Even within the history of such a Lundia family, Lunia was born with an extraordinary power of flame.

And that flame grew even stronger by inheriting Kateriu's flame and Luna's white flame.

However, as a result, the burden on Lunia's body also increased.

"It's time for me to prove myself."

[Prove yourself?]

"Yes. Before my eyes… is the Phoenix King's last pact-maker."

At those words, Linea's expression changed instantly.

Lunia looked up at the giant black dragon.

Lunia was also Luna's successor.

But before that, she had also inherited Lysinass's power.

Originally, Lysinass, the Phoenix King's last pact-maker, was an object of envy and respect for summoners… especially for phoenix pact-makers.

That Lysinass was before her eyes.

Putting everything else aside, she could not retreat.

Whoosh-

Linea became flames and resided in Lunia's body.

Seeing that, a strange light gleamed in Lysinass's eyes.

'Did he learn that from Kyle?'

Spirit Armored, which weaponizes spirits, was an advanced spirit art, but not difficult.

This was because countless studies had been conducted on it, as it was a technique to maximize the power of spirits.

However, the technique of having a phantom beast reside in one's body or weapon was not something that could be easily imitated.

Unlike pure spirits, phantom beasts possess physical bodies.

Lysinass was the first to use the essence of such a phantom beast.

'Kyle only reached that level of summoning art at the very end of his journey.'

He probably did not stop his training after his reincarnation.

'He said he didn't train mana for 15 years after reincarnating, right?'

It must have been to create a vessel.

But that doesn't mean he would have been idle.

During his time as Kyle, he must have assessed his abilities and endlessly pondered in his mind to implement the techniques his comrades used.

Eventually, after blossoming his mana, he must have begun serious training.

'That training must be continuing even now.'

To surpass his past self.

And to reach other Great Heroes by his own power.

To pass down what he received from his comrades to future generations.

Ultimately, he must have tried to surpass Erebus.

Lysinass, who had been looking at Lunia, subtly turned his head towards Leo.

He caught sight of Leo unfolding Arion's sword.

A moment later, Lysinass looked at Lunia.

'This child's technique wasn't learned from Kyle.'

It was clear that she must have been inspired by Leo and learned the technique on her own.

Flash-!

Lysinass's body transformed into a human form.

Thud-

Lysinass sat on the ground and extended his hand.

"Fiora."

Whoosh-

"Chirp?"

At Lysinass's call, Fiora appeared.

Fiora flapped her small wings and tilted her head, looking at Lysinass who had suddenly called her.

Leo and Lysinass are currently bound by a spirit contract.

In a sense, they are one in body and spirit.

Of course, even so, an ordinary spirit cannot intervene in their summoner's contract.

But Lysinass easily exercised her power over the pact Leo held.

When Lysinass summoned her, Fiora instantly made an expression of incomprehension.

Seeing Fiora like that, Lysinass momentarily looked dumbfounded.

"Have you gained weight?"

"Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!"

Fiora flapped her wings in a flustered face and shook her head.

Lysinass, who watched Fiora for a moment, said.

"I'll pretend not to notice, so will you help me for a bit?"

At those words, Fiora nodded her head.

Lysinass exuded a sense of familiarity.

Young Fiora didn't know that it was the power of the Phoenix King's pact-maker, but whatever it was, she felt she had to help Lysinass.

Whoosh-

Fiora became flames and flickered on Lysinass's hand.

"Ista."

Along with that, Lysinass summoned another of Leo's pact-makers.

Ista, the Great Spirit of Fire.

[What is happening?]

Ista also looked perplexed.

"Will you help me?"

[Hmph! No matter how much of a King of Wisdom you are, my pact-maker is ultimately Leo Plov. The obligation for me to help you is…]

"Shall I call Elsi?"

[If you are the King of Wisdom, you are certainly qualified to handle me.]

Ista, who had been defiant for no reason, immediately tucked her tail.

Goooooo-!

The flames on Lysinass's hand blazed.

Seeing that, Lunia gritted her teeth and increased the firepower of her flames.

"Eiran, move aside."

"Yes? But…"

"It's alright."

Seeing Lunia, who showed strong will, Eiran stepped aside.

Lysinass smiled faintly at Lunia and sent a fist-sized flame towards her.

Lunia glared and sent the flame concentrated on her fingertips towards it.

Crimson flames and pure white flames collided.

And…

Kugagagagagagag-!

A giant pillar of fire shot up.

Whoosh!

A scorching heat engulfed the world.

Lunia was kneeling on the ground.

Step- step-

Lysinass walked up to Lunia and said.

"Amazing."

Lunia trembled as she looked at Lysinass, who was smiling faintly.

Her entire body was covered in burn marks.

"Did I… pass the test?"

"Test?"

Lysinass's eyes widened.

Soon, she realized what Lunia was saying and let out a soft laugh.

"Yes, you passed. Not just you, but all the Seirun students were excellent."

At those words, Lunia let out a sigh of relief.

However, she tensed up at Lysinass's next words.

"But…"

"Is there something… lacking?"

"No. I wasn't going to say that. Lunia el Lundia."

Lysinass waved her hand.

Along with that, the powerful aura of flames that was tormenting Lunia disappeared.

Lunia's burns also began to heal at a rapid pace.

It was the power of the Phoenix Flame.

"It's true that I was once a selector of heroes… but not anymore."

"Yes?"

"My wanting to see your power was merely personal curiosity."

Lysinass, who reached out and helped Lunia to her feet, said.

"Hold your head high, Lunia el Lundia. You are a hero chosen by Kyle and acknowledged by Luna."

Lysinass placed a hand on Lunia's shoulder.

"That's enough."

"…Yes!"

Lunia replied vigorously.

Lysinass smiled gently at Lunia and moved on.

Lunia felt a great sense of emotion watching Lysinass's retreating figure.

'Cool.'

By meeting Lysinass, Lunia had seen all the Great Heroes.

But Lysinass was distinctly different from the other Great Heroes.

What should she call it?

Charisma, perhaps?

Luna was still the Great Hero she respected, but Lysinass possessed something different from Luna.

It was different from Leo's unique overwhelming presence.

She had a power that made one look up to her.

'That's the King of Wisdom… the leader of the Great Heroes.'

It was when Lunia felt a great sense of emotion.

"Oh, come on."

Lysinass stopped, smiled faintly, and looked back.

"It seems strange rumors are spreading among the elves?"

"…"

"Shouldn't it be managed?"

It was the same smile as usual, but Lunia felt her head go completely blank.

"I, I will correct it…"

Seeing Lunia shrink her neck, Lysinass chuckled and approached Leo.

"Eiran."

"Yes, Lunia-nim."

"Let's keep the kids quiet. If we mess up, we could really be screwed."

She clearly felt that this one time would be overlooked, but there would be no next time.

Lunia did not want to see the wrath of a Great Hero fall upon them.

***

Knights and nobles fled, and eventually only soldiers remained.

When their commander disappeared, the Second Prince faction's army didn't know what to do.

"You are to follow Seirun's command."

Nominally, Seirun intervened to help the Second Prince.

"They won't take you to the battlefield. Rather, they'll help you end the war and return to your hometowns."

"Yes, yessir."

"Thank you."

"You don't need to thank me."

Leo said calmly.

The Second Prince faction's advance stopped.

The battlefield reached a stalemate.

Seirun students, who had somewhat recovered from their injuries, approached Leo.

Rumerin students, who had been watching the situation from the city walls, also reached Leo.

An awkward silence hung between the Rumerin and Seirun students, who were now facing each other.

After all, externally, they were currently participating in a civil war as different factions, so the two camps were enemies.

Amidst this, Leo simply sat silently.

Lunia and Elena approached such a Leo.

"Leo-kun. What should we do now?"

"Would it be best to retreat like this?"

Leo, who had been closing his eyes, said in response to their questions.

"First, it would be to honor the souls of the dead."

"Huh?"

"The souls of the dead…?"

"They're coming just in time."

Leo opened his eyes and looked beyond the horizon.

There, Lysinass was seen leading countless soldiers.

All of them were the dead.

The casualties who had not been recovered from this battlefield.

At their appearance, not only the hero candidates but also the soldiers were dumbfounded.

On a wide plain… in the middle of the battlefield, Lysinass knelt down.

Accordingly, the spirits who had followed Lysinass also knelt down.

[It's unfair. It's unfair!]

[I don't want to die!]

[My family is waiting!]

The voices of the spirits, filled with resentment, were carried by the wind.

Looking at them, Lysinass made a bitter expression and closed his eyes.

Hoo-

A bright light emanating from Lysinass's body enveloped the fallen soldiers.

"What is that…?"

As Elena muttered with a bewildered face, Leo said.

"She's listening to the voices of each and every one of the dead."

There were easily a thousand of them.

She was listening to all their stories at once.

"Why?"

When Lunia asked with a surprised expression, Leo said.

"To send the soldiers off."

Listening to the stories of the dead.

And comforting them.

But staying here would only be painful for the dead.

Those who died unfairly would not accept that.

Nevertheless, Lysinass listened to their stories.

It was a very difficult and very hard task.

But Lysinass considered it her duty.

No one else could do it.

It was something only Lysinass, born with overwhelming spiritual magic, could do.

A moment later.

The bodies of the spirits glowed brightly, then scattered into particles of light.

Lysinass carefully laid the bodies of the fallen soldiers, now only corpses, on the ground.

And murmured softly.

"May you find peace in the next life."

Watching that sight, the hero candidates didn't know what to say.

It was beautiful… and sacred… and noble.

They merely… vaguely understood why Lysinass was called the noblest person in this world.

"How can she do that?"

Lunia unconsciously asked Leo.

Leo said calmly in response.

"Because she once carried the world alone."

Leo said, looking at Lysinass watching the spirits ascend to the sky.

'Seeing that, I had no choice but to take her hand.'

A distant past.

Recalling the hand extended to him, Leo let out a bitter smile.