Book 1 Chapter 802

802.

Whoosh-

As the wind blew, an acrid smell of burning pierced their nostrils.

With his white hair fluttering, Leo fixed his red eyes on Erebus, who was in Kyle's form.

For this moment, it was as if time had stopped.

"Kyle, the Hero of the Beginning? That's impossible! Even if he did exist, he's a figure from 5000 years ago. What on earth is this?"

"Someone is impersonating…"

The people dispatched from the Rhodoren Empire began to murmur.

At that moment,

Flash-!

Rune extended her hand and summoned a magic staff.

Thump-!

Rune's eyes, aiming her staff at Erebus, gleamed with killing intent.

Crrraaaash-!

An enormous magical barrage was unleashed from Rune's staff.

It was magic activated in an instant, but its power was beyond imagination.

Everyone stared at Rune with astonished eyes.

"Is it possible to deploy magic of such power in such a short moment?"

A magician dispatched from the Rhodoren Empire muttered with a disbelieving face.

The realm of magic that literally transcended common sense by far.

"Student Council President Seirun. Even so, attacking so suddenly is…"

As Reina spoke with a flustered expression, Leo said,

"That was a fragment of Erebus just now."

"What?!"

Reina's eyes widened as she watched Leo speak calmly while drawing his sword.

"Hey! Leo! Are you sure?"

When Kal asked, flustered, Leo looked at the smoke-filled area and said,

"I'm sure. That last attack was powerful enough to harm even a legion commander."

Whoosh-!

The wind blew, scattering dust.

As the dust cleared, the group wore expressions of utter dismay.

They knew it was magic of unusual power.

But…

"The mountain…"

Kal's mouth hung open.

Nothing remained where Rune had cast her magic.

It wasn't merely a change in terrain.

Literally, everything exposed to the magic vanished without a trace.

Seeing the magic that had created a massive hole, Kal gulped dryly.

Rune, called a genius of the century.

They knew that "genius" was an insufficient title for her level.

Rune had made a name for herself as the reincarnation of the Nebula's progenitor and had overcome countless trials.

Trials where others might have died numerous times.

But Rune overcame all of them effortlessly.

Even amidst this, Kal vaguely thought that her capabilities weren't everything.

For Rune…

No, it was evident that not just Rune, but also Rea, her peer, was hiding her true potential.

But he never dreamed it would be this level.

'This is just a fragment of her power, isn't it?'

As Kal wore a look of exasperation.

Stomp- Stomp-

Erebus emerged, piercing through the thick cloud of dust.

"Hmm?"

Erebus's head tilted slightly.

Swoosh-

And then he extended his left hand.

Fwoosh-

Black flames flickered, and simultaneously, a greatsword appeared.

Leo's and Rune's eyes twitched.

'It's the same.'

The way he drew the sword from subspace.

Even his minor habits were identical to the Hero of the Beginning.

Thump-!

Erebus gripped the greatsword with both hands.

Seeing that, Leo clicked his tongue and charged forward.

"Rune!"

"Tch!"

Rune deployed her magic power.

Instead of the longsword in his hand, Leo drew a greatsword identical to Erebus's from subspace.

Groooan-! Fwoosh-!

Seeing black aura gather on Erebus's greatsword, Leo grit his teeth and drew forth his gray aura.

Whoosh-!

As Erebus swung his greatsword, the atmosphere trembled.

Before Erebus's greatsword could finish its swing, Leo swung his own greatsword, imbued with gray aura, to meet it.

The gray aura and black aura clashed.

Just before the greatswords collided.

Rune deployed a shield spell.

A clash of immense power.

The collision distorted the atmosphere and cracked the surrounding ground.

Along with that, a massive shockwave swept over them.

"What? I can't hear anyt-"

Runia muttered to herself, then flinched.

'The sound…'

She couldn't hear.

Looking to her side with a bewildered face, she saw Eiran saying something with a flustered expression.

But only his mouth moved; no sound was heard.

Leo couldn't withstand the shockwave and was thrown back.

Kiiiiing- Kwagagakakakang-!

Then, tinnitus set in, and a tremendous impact sound began to assault their ears.

As their hearing returned, everyone instinctively covered their ears.

"Ugh? Just how much power was imbued in that sword?!"

Reina exclaimed with an astonished expression.

"Will Lord Leo be alright? Senior Rune! Wouldn't it be better to block it with magic-"

"No. That sword strike just now couldn't be blocked by magic."

"Huh?"

"That sword strike just now didn't just contain aura."

Rune glared at Erebus with cold eyes.

"It also contained magic. Powerful dispel magic."

"Huh? No matter what, it's unlikely Senior Rune's magic could be easily dispelled-"

"It is."

Rune bit her lip.

'If only the magic's power can be weakened, then magic destruction with aura is possible.'

Rune is a flawless and perfect magician.

She possesses unparalleled skill not only in magic research and development but also in combat magic.

In the field of magic research and development, among those Rune had seen, Lysinas was second only to herself in brilliance.

'And as for combat magic…'

Stomp- Stomp-

Rune clenched her lips as she watched Erebus, in Kyle's form, approach her.

'It's Kyle.'

The knack for utilizing magic in combat.

And even the versatility to apply magic to martial arts and summoning.

Kyle is a grand magician who even Rune admires.

And Kyle integrates a dispel spell into his aura when destroying an opponent's barrier magic.

This is easier said than done, a ridiculous technique only possible for a magic swordsman of Kyle's caliber.

'So, he's not just imitating Kyle's appearance.'

Rune clenched her fist.

'Moreover, judging by the power of his sword strike… it's close to Kyle in his prime.'

A power close to Kyle's when he departed on his final expedition.

For her current self, it's hard to handle alone.

"Leo… is he okay?"

At that moment, Kal asked with a worried voice.

At his words, Rune curled the corner of her lips.

'Of course, I'm not alone now, but.'

"He's not the kind of guy to be taken down by just that much. He's… tenacious."

"Would it hurt to show a little concern?"

At that moment, Leo appeared beside Rune using spatial transfer magic.

Seeing him calmly brush off the dust from his body, he seemed perfectly fine.

Kal's eyes widened when he saw that.

"Wha, what? Leo! You knew how to use magic too?"

"So?"

"You've been using aura and summoning! But how can you use magic?"

Leo chuckled, looking at the astonished Kal.

"Didn't I tell you? I'm an all-class."

"What?"

Kal wore a dumbfounded expression.

Others, too, looked at Leo with surprised eyes.

Ignoring the surprised stares of the people, Leo looked at Erebus and said,

"Lady Reina."

"Yes?"

"Please take the investigation team and these children to Flobe Territory."

"What? We'll fight too!"

"Th-that's right. We can't let just the two of you fight!"

As Runia and Eiran protested indignantly, Leo said,

"I'm sorry, but this battlefield is still too early for you."

A year ago, he had barely recovered his strength compared to now.

That's why he received help from the students.

But not anymore.

Leo had recovered even more strength than back then.

'And Luna is here too.'

When the two of them entered battle.

The companion who could create the greatest synergy was none other than Luna.

The current Luna, being a reincarnator like himself and not the Arion of that time, hadn't fully regained her power, but it was fine; their compatibility would be good.

'Crucially…'

"That's not the only enemy."

"Huh?"

Rumble rumble rumble-

At that moment, the ground began to rumble.

At that sound, Rune pricked up her ears.

"Leo, surely that's…"

"That's right."

Leo glared at Erebus, who was in Kyle's form, with sharp eyes.

"It's his right hand."

"…This is getting bothersome."

Rune extended her hand annoyedly.

"La, Lady Reina!"

At that moment, a summoner with one eye covered urgently called out to Reina.

"Why?"

"Uh, a massive army of monsters is heading towards Flobe Territory!"

"What? Where did these monsters suddenly appear from?"

"I-I don't know! But there are a tremendous number of them!"

Reina bit her lip tightly.

Leo said to Reina,

"We'll take care of this, so please take care of Flobe Territory."

"…Alright. Kids, follow me."

At Reina's words, Eiran and Kal hastily prepared to move.

"Senior Rune…"

Runia, left alone, called Rune with a worried expression.

Seeing Runia, Rune winked.

"Don't worry, Runia. Just trust this unnie."

"…"

"Don't worry."

Rune put an arm around Leo's neck and said,

"This Rune-nim, with this guy by her side, is invincible!"

Seeing Rune smile brightly, Runia nodded gravely and headed for Flobe Territory.

As Runia disappeared, Leo said casually,

"Aren't you not invincible?"

"Do you really want to say something like that in this atmosphere?"

Rune, who glared at Leo for breaking the mood, let go of his arm and said,

"Hey, you damn fireball. Why are you annoyingly taking on that form?"

"Indeed. So it's Luna Rubinance."

Erebus, in Kyle's form, wore an expression of interest.

"Reincarnation, you say. Fascinating. In that case…"

Erebus stroked his chin and looked at Leo.

"Are you the hero who survived?"

"Isn't it damn delightful?"

Leo glared at Erebus, a murderous smile on his face.

Erebus, who was watching Leo, wore an amused expression.

"Fascinating. To be blessed by the freezing of death."

Leo's eyes twitched.

"The fact that you are here… must mean you are absent from your world now."

"…"

"Indeed. Fascinating. How interesting."

Erebus hummed as if pleased.

'This bastard…'

As Leo gritted his teeth.

"More importantly, I asked why you annoyingly took that form!"

Rune snarled fiercely.

She wanted to smash Erebus's face right there and then.

"The reason I took this form? Why ask the obvious?"

Erebus spoke as if it were natural.

"Because it's the form of the strongest being I know."