Book 1 Chapter 76
[76]75.
"Leo?!"
Lunian's eyes widened as she watched where Leo had flown.
"This isn't the time to be distracted!"
Lautha's magic flew towards Lunian.
Seeing that, Lunian chanted a spell with a cold expression.
"Dispel."
*Fwoosh-!*
"……!"
Lautha's eyes widened as he saw his magic instantly dispelled.
"How can a first-year student nullify my magic?!"
"Do you think there are first-year and second-year levels to magic?"
Lunian scoffed and crossed her arms.
"Your magic is certainly powerful, but its structure is very simple! It reeks of magic learned by simply reciting spells, not by contemplating and researching it yourself!"
"……!"
Since the Age of Heroes, magic had undergone continuous development.
As long as one possessed sufficient magical power, powerful magic could be wielded much more easily than in previous eras.
A general upward leveling of magical skill.
However, this also caused those who honed their talents to shine even brighter.
As it became easier for anyone to use high-level spells, it also became easier to counter them.
In this era, magic required not just memorizing spells but also creating complex spell systems through personal research.
Lautha, who had focused solely on learning powerful spells using power gained from others rather than his own strength, was lacking in this aspect.
Even his high-level spells were merely following the curriculum of Seirun, leaving an opening for Lunian to exploit.
Of course, neutralizing a spell one cannot use oneself is by no means easy.
It was an ability born from Lunian's talent and effort.
"Don't get cocky!"
*Zzzzzzz-!*
A magic circle, stained black, appeared around Lautha.
Lunian's eyes flickered with red mana.
She had already finished analyzing Lautha's magic casting system.
If so, the method of dealing with it was simple.
'Just dispel it before the magic is complete.'
*Pachin-!*
The magic circle Lautha had created was destroyed, scattering in all directions.
"……!"
"Don't defile the First Ancestor's spells any further."
Lautha's body trembled.
"How dare you! Just because you're a bit successful, you try to lecture me!"
*Goooooo-!*
Dark red mana poured out of Lautha's body.
Seeing that, Lunian flinched.
"What do you know as a grade representative! I'm from the most prestigious family! I'm destined to become an elf as great as the First Ancestor!"
*Whooosh-!*
The black flames turned dark red.
"Phoenix Shield."
Lunian hastily used her family's magic.
*Fwoosh-!*
Lautha's magic blew away Lunian's magic.
'The power is worlds apart from when I used the Star Magic!'
Seeing Lautha begin to use dark magic in earnest, Lunian gritted her teeth.
"Kuaaaaaaah!"
*Crack! Crackle!*
"……!"
Flesh flew from Lautha's arm.
Along with it, bone fragments shot out, targeting Lunian like projectiles.
"Flame Turtle!"
Lunian hastily summoned a familiar.
A turtle familiar breathing flames appeared before Lunian.
A powerful familiar that swam through lava, with a shell impenetrable even by aura.
*Tidididing!! Thwack-!*
"Gasp?"
The Flame Turtle's shell deflected Lautha's attack.
However, one bone projectile that couldn't be fully blocked pierced Lunian's right shoulder.
"Heeheehee! You were cocky, and now you're paying for it!"
*Gooo-!*
Lautha mocked as he healed his arm.
"You've really… gone too far. You don't hesitate to use dark magic at all."
Lunian glaringly raised her fiery red eyes and clutched her pierced right shoulder.
"I'll burn you to ashes."
"You're the one who's going to burn!"
*Whooosh-!*
Dark red flames raged like madness.
"Heeheehee. Your companions are also nearing their end."
*Clang-!*
Eiran's longsword clashed with Kargor's greatsword.
*Crash-!*
Kargor, deflecting the longsword, swung his greatsword with incredible speed.
*Clang-!*
Eiran barely blocked Kargor's attack.
But she lost her balance from the impact and stumbled.
*Fwoosh! Crash-!*
Kargor kicked Eiran in the chest.
"Gasp!"
Eiran, sent flying, rolled on the ground.
"Cough- Cough-"
Kargor's eyes narrowed as he watched Eiran struggle to get up while coughing.
"Why don't you give up now? You have no chance of winning."
"My ancestor, you know… was a disciple of the great heroes. Amazing, right?"
"……?"
Kargor paused at the sudden remark.
"My ancestor was proud of being a disciple of such great heroes, yet ashamed of not being able to reach their level. So, she made a vow."
Eiran threw down her damaged shield and gripped her longsword with both hands.
"I will never doubt the great heroes."
*Whoooosh!*
The wind blew.
The shimmering silver aura turned subtle and calm.
"They would definitely defeat evil and save the world."
"Fairy… power?"
Kargor's face hardened.
As Lautha's power grew, Kargor's strength had also become immeasurably greater.
Originally, it would have been difficult for Eiran to win.
Yet, Leo believed in Eiran.
The reason was that she was a descendant of Berkia.
Long ago.
A Fairy Knight who protected fairies and became the sword and shield of the Elf King.
The only elf who inherited the power of the last Fairy Knight.
"So, I will believe too."
A knight who wields the power of fairies justly, blessed by the fairies.
And the source of fairy power is life.
It was a power that exerted a fatal force against the undead.
The land that had died due to the curse of the undead regained vitality with the power Eiran emitted.
The tip of Eiran's sword overflowed with the energy of life.
Infinite life force that repels death.
Sword aura wielded by Fairy Knights for generations.
"Evergreen."
Kargor's eyes filled with fear as he watched Eiran raise her sword with both hands.
"This wench…!"
*Fwoosh-!*
As she brought down her sword, sword aura filled with life force surged.
The knight of death, struck by that sword aura, vanished without a trace.
Eiran's hands, having sheathed her sword, trembled.
"I must… help the others…"
*Thump-!*
Eiran, having exhausted all her strength, collapsed on the spot.
"Move… my…"
Gritting her teeth, she struggled.
Eiran, who managed to lift her head, opened her eyes wide.
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 chuckled.
"You still have some fight in you."
*Peep! Peep!*
[Oh no! What do we do! What do we do!]
"You're not going to die, so stop panicking."
Leo sighed as he saw the flustered Fiora and Kirian, and got up.
It wasn't just his arm that was in pain.
His entire body screamed as if creaking.
But the intense pain from his arm overshadowed that ache.
*Thump-! Thump-!*
Leo glared at the Skeleton King, who was walking towards the entrance of Fairy Land, ignoring him, and raised his sword.
*Crack-!*
But then, seeing his sword break in half, he let out a wry laugh.
*Goooooo-!*
*Grrrrooooar!*
The Skeleton King, leaving Leo behind, unleashed a dark red aura towards the entrance of Fairy Land.
Fiora and Kirian's faces turned pale.
[This, this power…]
"I see. As expected, it was the Hell Kaiser's power."
He had thought the Skeleton King's presence changed the moment of the attack.
Glancing, Leo looked towards Lunian.
He could feel Lautha's magic growing stronger.
'He's transferring power through a demonic artifact. Still cunning.'
The attack just moments ago was also Spatial Severance, one of the Skeleton King's techniques.
'Lautha wouldn't be able to use such a technique at his level. He was able to use it because he received magical support.'
Lunian was also being pushed into a more defensive position by Lautha's increasing power.
At that moment-
*Fwoosh-!*
Blue light swirled.
[This is fairy power?]
Kirian exclaimed in surprise.
Leo also showed a surprised expression and then smiled.
"Evergreen."
It was an aura he had seen during the Age of Calamity.
A power that only Fairy Knights could wield.
'Even though the Fairy Knights are gone, their will and power have been passed down through generations.'
Before his last expedition.
Leo recalled the appearance of his disciple ascending to the position of Fairy Knight and took a step.
*Whooosh-!*
Flames swirled.
"Let's go, Fiora."
*Peep-!*
Aura and spiritual energy swirled.
*Whoooosh-!*
Leo, creating a giant sword of flame, blocked the Skeleton King's path.
*Grrrroooar-!*
The Skeleton King's sword glowed dark red.
It was about to use Spatial Severance again.
Leo's eyes widened, and he swung his left arm.
*Fwoosh! Kaga-gaga-gaga-gak!*
Flames erupted.
Along with it, the dark red aura distorted the surrounding space.
*Fwoosh-!*
"Tch!"
Leo gritted his teeth.
'I'm being overwhelmed by the power!'
*BOOM-!*
*Chijijijijik!*
"Gasp-!"
Along with the Skeleton King's attack, Leo's back slammed against the barrier of the former Fairy King.
*Kaga-gaga-gaga-gak!*
The sword that distorted space gradually dug into the barrier.
*Chijijijik-!*
The barrier cracked under the power of the Undead King.
'It's breaking!'
The moment Leo thought that.
*Puh-uk! Clang!*
The barrier shattered.
Leo, who flew through the broken barrier, was miserably impaled on the ground.
"Leo-nim!"
Eiran shouted with a pale face.
"Hahaha! That cocky first-year from Lumern must be dead too!"
Lautha shouted with apparent relief.
"No. That guy won't die."
"Are you out of your mind from being too hot?"
Lautha scoffed at Lunian, who was growling.
The dark red flames he emitted were burning Lunian.
Lunian, suffering burns all over, looked pathetic, as if she might turn to ashes at any moment.
But her eyes were still burning fiercely.
"I said I'd kill him if he died. So, he won't die."
Lunian spat out the words and grinned.
"You're the one who's going to die."
"In that state? That's quite a boast."
Lautha sneered at Lunian, who raised her hand.
"No. It's not a boast."
*Whooosh-!*
Flames bloomed from Lunian's hand.
"Tch. What do you plan to do with just those flames…"
*Whooooosh-!*
Lunian's flames began to burn even more fiercely.
"……!"
Lautha's face hardened as he saw Lunian's flames pushing back the dark red flames.
"As you know, our family has been sworn to the Phoenix for generations."
Lunian smiled.
"The first ancestor vowed to burn Tartarus, even if it meant burning herself."
Flames engulfed Lunian.
"As long as that will does not die out, we are the eternal sworn of the Phoenix."
Wings of flame appeared behind Lunian.
The forbidden secret art of the Lundua family, the flames of an inextinguishable will passed down from distant ancestors.
"Consecration."
Lunian's mana and spiritual energy burned wildly.
"Y-You're insane!"
Lautha's face turned pale.
"You're just dying to die!"
"No. Before I die, I'll just burn you."
Lunian's eyes glinted.
*Whooooosh-!*
"Kuaaaaaaaargh?!"
Lunian's consecration consumed Lautha's flames.
The outcome was decided.
Lunian's flames would not disappear until they burned Lautha to ashes.
As Lautha sensed his impending death, the flames of consecration disappeared from Lautha's burning body.
Lunian's eyes widened.
*Gooo-!*
A dark red aura poured from the black ring.
"Haha! As expected, this ring is amazing…"
*Crack-!*
"…What?"
Lautha's hand was sucked into the black ring.
"Wh-What…"
*Kuaaaaaa-!*
"Kuaaaaargh!"
The ring began to suck Lautha's body like a black hole.
*Kwadudududk!*
"Kuaaaap!"
*Fwoosh-!*
The ring, which had absorbed Lautha without a trace, fell to the ground with a *thump*.
"Wh-What is this…"
The ring, judging that there was no longer any hope, absorbed Lautha and used him as nourishment.
Lunian, unaware of this, simply wore a blank expression.
"In any case, with this, the summoning…!"
Lunian turned her burned body with difficulty.
"Why…?"
Despite Lautha's disappearance, the Skeleton King showed no signs of vanishing.
*Thump-! Thump-!*
The Skeleton King stepped into the Fairy Land, which had revealed itself.
Eventually, the Skeleton King's giant foot stomped on the spot where Leo had fallen.
*BOOM-!*
The snow and dirt scattering seemed to slowly come into Lunian's view.
"Le, Leo…!"
Lunian's face turned pale.
At that moment-!
*Fwoosh-!*
Gray mana swirled.
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