Book 1 Chapter 813

813.

While Chloe was concentrating on developing the magic array with her eyes closed, Lunia was helping her operate the magic array by her side.

"Even a guy like this old man looks like a boy of the same age when he's sleeping."

*Poke*

Elena poked Leo's cheek with her fingertip.

"Excuse me, Elena. Can you help a little? I think we'll succeed with just a little help."

Chloe, who had stopped developing the magic array, stumbled, and Lunia, who was supporting her, glared.

Elena smiled faintly, looking at Lunia.

"I'm sorry, but I'm not as good at conceiving magic arrays as you are. So I won't be of much help right now."

"What are you talking about? After hearing Lissinas say that Leo's soul had been thrown into a parallel world, it was Elena who implemented the array through the theory Chloe created."

Before they stepped out to defend against Nix's large-scale invasion led by Styx.

Lissinas told Chloe, who was researching parallel world theory, along with Lunia and Elena, about Leo's current condition.

And he conveyed the theoretical arrays developed based on Chloe's magic theory.

Based on those theoretical arrays, Elena completed the exit magic that could travel to and from parallel worlds.

And Elena, who did that, says she can't help right now?

At Lunia's words, Elena shrugged her shoulders.

"Lissinas is indeed amazing, isn't he? He chose me as the one who could implement that absurd magic in this situation."

"What do you mean…?"

"I'm not good at creative ideas like you and Chloe."

Elena smiled faintly.

"In other words, I'm not of much help in pioneering areas where new discoveries need to be made."

Sitting on the bed, Elena said, lightly pinching Leo's cheek.

"However, I am confident in finding solutions using the given magic theories."

"So… you mean you can't draw the sketch but you can color it?"

"That's it. As expected, Lunia is smart."

Lissinas had accurately grasped Elena's abilities.

'Lunia. This child is also serious about magic research.'

She is an elf chosen as a successor by Luna, the progenitor of constellations, not by anyone else.

Looking at the magic she uses, there are many amazing creative ideas and new attempts.

"By the way, Chloe. Are you okay?"

"Yes."

Chloe nodded at Elena's question.

"What we are implementing is in the realm of miracles, beyond the realm of magic."

No matter how infinite the possibilities of magic are, creating an exit to travel to and from parallel worlds is beyond the realm of possibility.

Even if it were possible, it is not within the scope of current magic theory.

Even if Lissinas, who is considered the wisest being in history, clung to this magic theory.

Even if geniuses who are rarely found in magic clung to it, they cannot advance the level of magic by several stages in an instant.

The reason the magic succeeded nonetheless was because there was someone who was currently acting as a medium connecting this place and the parallel world.

'Leo.'

Elena's idea of implementing an entrance and exit that travels to and from parallel worlds centered around Leo was correct.

'In addition, I, who have magic of the same attribute as Nix, will open the door.'

This was the basic framework of the current magic method for opening parallel worlds.

Chloe looked down at her hands.

'That was definitely Leo's hand.'

She had barely reached Leo on the other side of the mirror.

'I must complete the magic quickly.'

"Lunia. Let's start again."

"Will you be alright?"

"Yes, I'll be alright."

Developing the magic was entirely Chloe's responsibility.

As such, Chloe had to bear the burden on her body.

Elena, watching Chloe cast the magic, glanced at Leo.

Then she sighed softly.

"Come back quickly, damn old man."

***

Southern Continent's Great Forest.

The great heroes were walking through the dense forest.

They were looking for the entrance through which Leo had come.

"Let's take a break."

Valhar said, stopping at a good resting spot.

"We'll have dinner here."

Leo nodded at Valhar's words and prepared dinner.

A bonfire was lit.

Leo, who was preparing dinner, suddenly furrowed his brow.

"By the way."

"What's wrong now?"

Valhar asked, crossing his arms, and Leo said.

"No, it's not that I'm dissatisfied, but I have a question. Why am I the only one cooking?"

Valhar answered Leo's annoyed question.

"That's what's wrong."

"Anyway."

"If you're unhappy that I'm not cooking, I'll do it. I'll make an artistic dish."

"Get lost."

"Or should I have Lea do it?"

"Her cooking skills are cursed, so no."

At those words, Lea tried to approach.

Of course, she was stopped by Kar.

Leo looked at Rune.

"Help me a bit."

"I want to eat the food you make."

"Me too."

Kar echoed Rune's words.

"Well, make it delicious."

"Am I a cook or what?"

As Leo grumbled, Lea said, sweeping her hair back.

"I'll help you."

"You can't."

"Endure it, Lea."

"Don't be so eager."

The other three heroes held back Lea as she approached Leo.

Leo, who scoffed at the sight, sat in front of the pot and started cooking.

Then, he glanced at his friends.

The four of them were divided into two groups.

Lea and Valhar were guarding the surroundings at a distance.

Rune and Kar had gone far away, saying they would pick fruits to eat after the meal.

Precisely, they were divided into two who agreed to Leo returning to his original world and two who did not.

Of course, even if there are differences of opinion, there is no confrontation or conflict.

'That's because we know each other too well.'

The reason Rune and Kar didn't voice their wish for Leo not to return was because they knew how much Leo had struggled to make that choice.

They knew how much their words would hurt Leo, so they remained silent.

However, unconsciously, they were trying to hold Leo back.

Eagerly hoping that his mind would change somehow.

Lea and Valhar did not explicitly point this out.

Because, mentally, they agreed with Rune and Kar.

They knew each other too well.

They understood each other too well.

That's why they didn't reveal it.

Leo looked up at the star-filled night sky.

As magic developed and magic lamps were installed in cities, it became surprisingly difficult to see the stars in the night sky in the cities.

The stars in the night sky, viewed from the forest, were so bright they seemed to pour down.

Looking at the stars, Leo murmured softly.

"They shine like hell."

***

"How can I hold onto Leo?"

Rune pondered seriously.

Kar, who was following Rune, clapped his hands as if he had a good idea.

"Ah!"

"Why? Did you have a good idea?"

Rune asked, his eyes widening, and Kar said.

"Rune, you pounce on Leo."

"Are you trying to die?"

"Why? If you have a child, won't you become attached to this world?"

"You really seem to be becoming more and more beast-like in your thinking."

Rune clutched his head as if it hurt.

At the same time, he pondered seriously.

'…It might not be a bad idea.'

Rune, his face slightly flushed, shook his head.

'That's too cowardly! It will hurt Leo too.'

He hadn't not thought about creating magic to travel to and from parallel worlds.

But no matter how much he thought about it, it was impossible to implement with current means.

'It seems possible to implement it with Leo as a medium, but it's impossible without Leo.'

It was when Rune was biting his lip.

"Rune."

"If you say to pounce on me again, I won't leave you alone."

"In front!"

At Kar's shout, Rune's eyes snapped open.

*Whoosh!*

*Crackle!*

Rune unleashed his magic and instantly created an ice wall.

The black flames that rushed in melted the ice wall in an instant.

"Erebos…!"

Rune glared at the darkness with a voice filled with hatred.

There stood Erebos, in the form of Kyle.

"Erebos!"

At that moment.

Kar's roar echoed throughout the forest.

A howling filled with killing intent engulfed the surroundings.

Transformed Kar, enveloped in golden aura all over his body, charged at Erebos.

Erebos drew his sword and swung it at Kar.

*Clang!* *Kagagagagak!*

Shards of black flames and golden aura collided, scattering aura fragments in all directions.

"Ho?"

A glint appeared in Erebos's eyes.

"Killing intent, truly unlike you. Arion."

Erebos, curling the corners of his mouth, tightened his grip.

Then, a sword energy in the form of black flames swirled.

Seeing that, Kar's eyes flashed.

'Kyle's technique!'

Kar rotated his body as it was.

*Kagagagagagak!*

Kar, deflecting all the sword energies that attacked from all directions, poured all his rotational force into the tip of his sword.

And with it, he struck Erebos.

*Boom!*

The collision of sword and sword flipped the ground.

Surrounding trees were uprooted and flew away, and Kar, who had attacked, was also flung back by the recoil.

Normally, he should have sustained considerable internal injuries after blocking the recoil with his body.

However, Kar instantly channeled the recoil to minimize the damage.

At that moment.

*Whoosh!*

A giant of golden flames, which revealed its form, struck Erebos with its fist.

"Dwenoo?"

Erebos laughed and conjured black flames.

*Googogogo!*

Suddenly, a giant black flame fist shot up.

*Quaaaaaaaaang!*

Collision of golden flames and black flames.

*Googogogooooo!*

For a moment, the surrounding temperature rose wildly, and the moisture in the area evaporated instantly, burning the plants to nothing.

The ground melted and turned into glass.

*Whoosh!*

The black flames and golden flames soon disappeared.

*Tadak!*

Valhar stood in front of Rune, blocking Erebos.

"Now you're not just blocking with a shield, but with the intention of killing with it."

"I didn't expect you to make such a dull joke."

"A dull joke? I was just imitating a surviving hero."

"When did I ever tell such a joke?"

Leo landed next to Valhar.

"Indeed, it's Kyle's dull joke."

Lea, who came with him, nodded in agreement, and Leo punched Lea on the head.

"Whose side are you on?"

Rune chimed in from behind.

"Why? It's the same as yours."

"You guys are really something."

As Leo scowled.

Kar, who had been flung away, returned to the battlefield.

Erebos, facing the great heroes, laughed.

"How peculiar."

"What's so funny?"

Lea narrowed her eyes, and Erebos replied with a cheerful laugh.

"How can it not be funny? It's been 5,000 years since I was defeated by you all. And yet, it is you who stand before me again, risking the fate of the world."

"…"

"It's a strange fate, isn't it?"

"I'd rather not be associated with someone like you."

Rune replied with a disgusted expression.

"Heh, I even find it welcoming."

"Stop with the chatter."

Lea stepped forward.

"We don't find you welcoming at all. So let's end this."

*Googooo!*

A chilling killing intent flickered in Lea's eyes.

"The outcome will be different from 5,000 years ago."

"Ho. I feel the same way."

Erebos smiled with killing intent.

"I think so too."