Book 1 Chapter 76
【76】75.
“Leo?!”
Lunia’s eyes shot open as she looked at where Leo had flown off to.
“This isn’t the time to be distracted!”
Rauta’s magic flew towards Lunia.
Seeing it, Lunia cast a spell with a cold expression.
“Dispel.”
Whoosh—!
“……!”
Rauta’s eyes widened as she saw her magic instantly dispelled.
“How can a first-year student dispel my magic?!”
“Do you think magic has first-years and second-years?”
Lunia snorted and crossed her arms.
“Your magic is certainly powerful, but its structure is very simple! It’s clear that you just memorized spells rather than devising and researching them yourself to master them!”
“……!”
After the Era of Heroes, magic had continuously evolved.
If powerful magic was backed by strong magical power, it could be used much more easily than in previous eras.
The standardization of magical skill.
However, because of this, those who further honed their talent shone brightly.
As it became easier for anyone to use high-level spells, the methods to counter them also became easier.
In this age, magic wasn’t just about accumulating spells; it required complicating one’s spell system through personal magical research.
Rauta, who had merely focused on learning powerful spells with strength gained from others rather than her own, was lacking in this aspect.
Even if it was a high-level spell, it was merely following the curriculum of Seirun, and that point created an opening for Lunia to exploit.
Of course, neutralizing spells that one couldn’t even use beforehand was by no means easy.
It was a power created by Lunia’s talent and effort.
“Don’t get cocky!”
Ziiing—!
A black magic circle formed around Rauta.
Red magical power flickered in Lunia’s eyes as she saw it.
The analysis of Rauta’s magic activation system was already complete.
In that case, the method of countering it was simple.
‘I just need to dispel it before the magic is completed.’
Crack—!
The magic circle Rauta had created shattered and scattered in all directions.
“……!”
“Don’t defile the Ancestor’s spells any further.”
Rauta’s body trembled.
“Impudent! You think you can lecture me just because you’re doing a little well?!”
Gooooooh—!
Crimson magical power poured out from Rauta’s body.
Seeing it, Lunia flinched and trembled.
“What’s a class representative! I’m from the most prestigious noble family! I’m destined to become an elf as great as the Ancestor!”
Fwoosh—!
The black flames turned crimson.
“Phoenix Shield.”
Lunia hurriedly used her family magic.
Whoosh—!
Rauta’s magic blew away Lunia’s magic.
‘The power is vastly different from when she uses star magic!’
Lunia gritted her teeth as she watched Rauta seriously use dark magic.
“Kuaaaaaaah!”
Crunch! Craaack—!
“……!”
Flesh burst from Rauta’s arm.
Along with it, fragments of bone flew out, targeting Lunia like bullets.
“Flame Turtle!”
Lunia hastily summoned a familiar.
A turtle phantasmal beast that spewed flames appeared before Lunia.
It was a defensive phantasmal beast, a powerful creature that swam in lava fields, with a shell that even aura couldn't penetrate.
Tididididing!! Thud—!
“Cough?”
The Flame Turtle’s shell deflected Rauta’s attack.
But one bone bullet that it couldn’t fully block pierced Lunia’s right shoulder.
“Kuhuhuhu! You got cocky, and now look at you!”
Gooooh—!
Rauta healed her arm and scoffed.
“You’ve really… gone too far. Seeing you use dark magic without any hesitation.”
Lunia lifted her fiercely burning red eyes and clutched her pierced right shoulder.
“I’ll burn you down.”
“You’re the one who’ll burn!”
Fwoosh—!
Crimson flames raged wildly.
“Kuhuhuhu. Your comrades are also finished.”
Clang—!
Eiran’s longsword and Kargor’s greatsword clashed.
Kwagagak—!
Kargor, deflecting the longsword, swung his greatsword at an incredible speed.
Kwakak—!
Eiran barely managed to block Kargor’s attack.
But she lost her balance from the impact and staggered.
Whoosh—! Bang—!
Kargor kicked Eiran in the chest.
“Ugh!”
Eiran was sent flying and rolled on the ground.
“Cough— Cough—”
Kargor’s eyes narrowed as he watched Eiran cough and struggle to stand up.
“Why don’t you give up now? You have no chance of winning.”
“My ancestor, you see… was a disciple of the Great Heroes. Isn’t that amazing?”
“……?”
Kargor paused at the sudden remark.
“My ancestor was proud to be a disciple of the truly great heroes, but also ashamed of not being able to measure up to them. So, she made a vow.”
Eiran threw away her broken shield and gripped her longsword with both hands.
“Never to doubt the Great Heroes.”
Whirrrr—!
Wind blew.
The shimmering silver energy transformed into a subtle and calm state.
“That they would surely defeat evil and save the world.”
“Fairy… power?”
Kargor’s face hardened.
As Rauta’s magical power grew stronger, Kargor’s strength also became incomparably stronger than before.
Normally, Eiran would have been an opponent difficult to defeat.
Yet, Leo trusted Eiran.
The reason was that she was a descendant of Berkia.
In the distant past.
A Fairy Knight who protected the fairies and became the Elf King’s sword and shield.
The only elf who had inherited the power of that last Fairy Knight.
“So I will believe, too.”
A knight who handled the power of fairies legitimately, blessed by the fairies.
And the source of fairy power was life.
It was a power that exerted fatal force against the undead.
The land that had died due to the curse of the undead regained vitality from the power Eiran emitted.
The energy of life surged at the tip of Eiran’s sword.
The infinite power of life that drives away death.
The sword energy that Fairy Knights had wielded for generations.
“Evergreen.”
Fear filled Kargor’s eyes as he watched Eiran raise her sword with both hands.
“This wench…!”
Whoosh—!
As she swung her sword down, sword energy full of the power of life raged.
The Death Knight, struck directly by the sword energy, vanished without a trace.
Eiran’s hand trembled as she withdrew her sword.
“I must… help the others… quickly…”
Thud—!
Having exhausted all her strength, Eiran collapsed on the spot.
“Move…”
She gritted her teeth and struggled.
Eiran laboriously lifted her head and her eyes widened.
She saw Leo approaching the Skeleton King.
***
“…….”
Leo, who had been thrown back by the Skeleton King, got up.
He looked at his right arm, which had blocked the attack.
Seeing his arm twisted at a grotesque angle, Leo laughed.
“It’s running, at least.”
Chirp! Chirp!
[Gasp! What do we do! What do we do!]
“Don’t fuss, you’re not dying.”
Leo sighed, looking at the flustered Piora and Kiruan, and got to his feet.
It wasn’t just his arm that felt pain.
His entire body screamed as if creaking.
But the intense pain from his arm overshadowed the other aches.
Thump—! Thump—!
Leo glared at the Skeleton King, who ignored him and walked towards the entrance of Fairy Land, and raised his sword.
Crunch—!
But then he let out a wry laugh, seeing his sword snap in half and break.
Gooooooh—!
Grooooooar!
The Skeleton King, leaving Leo behind, unleashed a crimson aura towards the entrance of Fairy Land.
Piora and Kiruan’s faces turned pale.
[Th-This power, what on earth is it….]
“I see. So it was Hell Kaiser’s power after all.”
The moment he was attacked, he thought the Skeleton King’s presence had changed.
Leo glanced towards Lunia.
He felt Rauta’s magical power growing stronger and stronger.
‘Is she channeling her power to the demon artifact? Still cunning.’
The previous attack was also one of the Skeleton King’s techniques, spatial severance.
‘It must be a technique Rauta could never use at her level. She was able to use it with magical support.’
Lunia was also increasingly pushed onto the defensive by Rauta’s power.
Then—
Whoosh—!
A blue light raged.
[Is this the power of the fairies?]
Kiruan was surprised.
Leo also showed a surprised expression, then smiled.
“Evergreen.”
It was an energy he had seen during the Era of Disaster.
A power that only Fairy Knights could use.
‘So even if the Fairy Knights are gone, their will and power have been passed down through generations, is that it?’
Before his last expedition.
Remembering his disciple who ascended to the position of Fairy Knight, Leo took a step.
Fwoosh—!
Flames raged.
“Let’s go, Piora.”
Chirp—!
Aura and spiritual power surged.
Fwoosh—!
Leo, who had created a gigantic flaming sword, blocked the Skeleton King’s path.
Grooooooar—!
The Skeleton King’s sword glowed crimson.
It was about to use spatial severance again.
Leo’s eyes widened, and he swung his left arm.
Whoosh! Kwagagagagak!
Flames scattered.
Along with it, the crimson aura distorted the surrounding space.
Whoosh—!
“Ugh!”
Leo gritted his teeth.
‘I’m being overwhelmed by the power!’
Clang—!
Cracklecracklecrackle!
“Cough—!”
Along with the Skeleton King’s attack, Leo’s back hit the barrier of the former Fairy King.
Kwagagagagagak—!
The sword distorting space gradually burrowed into the barrier.
Cracklecrakcle—!
The barrier cracked under the Necrolord’s power.
‘It’s breaking!’
The moment Leo thought that.
Thump—! Clang!
The barrier shattered.
Leo, having flown through the barrier, crashed terribly onto the ground.
“Lord Leo!”
Eiran cried out, her face pale.
“Hahahaha! That impudent first-year of Lumiern must be dead too!”
Rauta shouted, sounding relieved.
“No. That guy won’t die.”
“Are you also crazy from the heat?”
Rauta scoffed at Lunia, who spoke with a growl.
The crimson flames she spewed burned Lunia.
Lunia, scorched in places, looked pathetic, as if she would turn to ashes at any moment.
But her eyes still blazed fiercely.
“Because I said if that guy dies, I’ll be the one who kills him. So he won’t die.”
Lunia smiled sweetly, speaking as if spitting out words.
“It’s you who’s going to die, instead.”
“In that state? That’s some bluff.”
Lunia raised her hand, looking at Rauta who scoffed.
“No. It’s not a bluff.”
Fwoosh—!
Flames flared up from Lunia’s hand.
“Ugh. With just those small flames, what could you possibly….”
Whoooooooooosh—!
Lunia’s flames began to burn even more fiercely.
“……!”
Rauta’s face hardened as she saw Lunia’s flames pushing back her crimson flames.
“As you know, our family has been Phoenix’s sworn allies for generations.”
Lunia smiled faintly.
“The first ancestor vowed to burn Tartarus, even if it meant burning herself.”
The flames engulfed Lunia.
“As long as that will doesn’t extinguish. We are Phoenix’s eternal sworn allies.”
Wings of flame formed behind Lunia’s back.
The unquenchable flame of will passed down from distant ancestors.
The forbidden secret art of the Rundia family that even burns oneself.
“Sacred Flame.”
Lunia’s magical and spiritual power furiously combusted.
“M-Madwoman!”
Rauta’s face turned pale.
“You’re crazy to want to die!”
“No. It’s enough if I burn you before I die.”
Lunia’s eyes gleamed.
Whoooooooooosh—!
“Kuaaaaaaah?!”
Lunia’s Sacred Flame devoured Rauta’s flames.
The battle was decided.
Lunia’s flames would not disappear until they had burned Rauta to nothing.
Just as Rauta sensed her death, the Sacred Flame disappeared from Rauta’s burning body.
Lunia’s eyes widened.
Gooooh—!
Crimson energy poured out from the black ring.
“Haha! As expected, this ring is amazing….”
Crunch—!
“……Huh?”
Rauta’s hand was sucked into the black ring.
“W-What….”
Whoooooooooosh—!
“Kuaaaaaah!”
The ring began to absorb Rauta’s body like a black hole.
Cracklecracklecrakcle!
“Kuaaaaaap!”
Whoosh—!
The ring, having sucked Rauta in without a trace, dropped with a thud.
“W-What is this….”
The ring, judging there was no more hope, absorbed Rauta and used her as nourishment.
Lunia, unaware of this, merely wore a bewildered expression.
“Anyway, with this, the summoning…!”
Lunia, struggling, turned her scorched body.
“Why…?”
Even though Rauta had disappeared, the Skeleton King showed no sign of vanishing.
Thump—! Thump—!
The Skeleton King walked into Fairy Land, which had revealed itself.
Soon, the Skeleton King’s gigantic foot stomped on the spot where Leo had fallen.
Bang—!
The sight of snow and dirt flying seemed to unfold slowly before Lunia’s eyes.
“Le-Leo…!”
Lunia’s face turned pale.
Just then—!
Whoosh—!
Grey magical power surged.