Book 1 Chapter 844
844.
“Ha.”
The Dark King, Dakiir, stared at Leo with a look of disbelief.
“Indeed. Just as I’ve heard, you’re an arrogant brat.”
Gooooo-
A powerful murderous aura erupted from the Dark King’s body.
Dark magic poured out of him as if smoke was gushing from his body.
“This magic… Yes, it’s Nightmare, isn’t it?”
A sinister smile formed on the Dark King’s lips.
“But where is the nightmare?”
Nightmare.
Originally, it was a unique magic created by Lishinas.
As Dragonic magic, it deviates from the general magical system.
While it has since been interpreted and reinterpreted to become magic anyone can use, its spell difficulty and danger level remained at the highest tier.
To use Nightmare, one must first be able to wield Dragonic language.
And one must be well-versed in the curses used by the demons of Tartarus.
This is because Nightmare itself is a magic built upon ‘curses’.
For this reason, it was also a forbidden dangerous magic in Dragonia, preventing unauthorized persons from using it carelessly.
A magic that forces you to fight the enemy you least want to fight among those you know.
However, the Nightmare currently being used was slightly different from a typical Nightmare.
“It seems he has isolated my mind.”
The Dark King curled the corner of his lips.
Currently, he was in a kind of semi-conscious state.
In reality, perhaps not even a fleeting moment had passed.
Because this was literally inside his dream.
Dakiir’s eyes flashed.
“Even if such magic were properly cast, my mind would not have been destroyed… but I understand. Your shallow trick.”
“Oh?”
“If my mind collapses due to Nightmare, my body will rampage. That would cause significant damage.”
Dakiir grinned.
“But if you defeat me here, my mind itself will die, and then my body will no longer be able to move. That’s what you’re aiming for.”
“That’s right.”
“Hoohoohoo! How does it feel to have your shallow trick seen through?”
“Disappointing.”
“What did you say?”
“Didn’t Helkaizer say anything about you? I bet he said you were excessively thick-headed a lot, didn’t he?”
Leo looked at Dakiir with a disdainful expression.
Dakiir felt a surge of anger rise within him at Leo’s gaze.
‘This bastard!’
It was because Leo’s eyes were strangely similar to Helkaizer, the current Supreme Commander of Tartarus.
Eyes that looked as if seeing a fool.
And Leo’s words were true.
The Dark King, Dakiir.
Long before he rose to the position of Legion Commander.
No, from the moment he was born as a demon of Tartarus, Helkaizer had scorned Dakiir for his low intelligence.
It wasn't just Helkaizer.
The Monster Queen Shilartuna and the Giant King Giass, who had long since perished, were also the same.
Dakiir was a young demon with extraordinary strength, but due to the scorn of the three Legion Commanders who had been a terror to the world since the Age of Calamity, he implicitly became the object of ridicule for other demons.
But now, even Leo Plov, Tartarus’s greatest enemy, was looking at Dakiir with the same eyes as those three Legion Commanders.
“You bastard!”
“Looks like it’s true.”
Leo curled the corner of his lips.
“Thinking that a massive terrorist attack on the coronation is a plausible plan, and then talking as if grasping my intentions was some great deduction.”
Leo tapped his head.
“Among the Legion Commanders I’ve seen, I think you’re the most stupid.”
“You son of a bitch!”
Sparks flew from Dakiir’s enraged eyes.
Goooooo-!
The energy extending from Dakiir’s hand struck Leo.
Slash-!
Kwa-ga-ga-gang!
Leo’s sword cut Dakiir’s energy in two.
The split dark magic flew backward and destroyed the plaza.
“Hmm.”
Leo narrowed his brows and looked down at his sword.
Chiiiiiiik-
A strong toxic energy was flowing from the sword that had cut Dakiir’s attack.
Not only that.
Everywhere exposed to Dakiir’s attack melted away, and a thick toxic fog spread densely.
“Hoohoohoo.”
Dakiir’s sneer echoed.
“Surprised? Leo Plov. You must have seen this power before, haven’t you?”
“Poison King, Zeldia.”
The previous Legion Commander.
More precisely, the power of a Legion Commander who existed in the Age of Calamity.
The Legion Commanders of that era were on a different level from those born in the current era.
Their power was overwhelmingly strong, and they possessed powerful legions and authorities.
If the current era’s Legion Commanders represent a crisis level that could destroy a nation.
The Legion Commanders of that time were catastrophes capable of destroying the entire race.
Considering that the Legion Commanders only began to be truly subdued after the Great Heroes gathered in one place.
Their immense power could be easily inferred.
Zeldia was a Legion Commander whom the Beginning Hero and the Founder of the Constellation had great difficulty subduing, even when combining their strengths.
And previously, when Luna first appeared in the present world.
He had appeared alongside her and been subdued.
Dakiir was using the power of that Legion Commander.
“Hoohoohoo! That’s not all!”
Dakiir, intoxicated with power, swung his arm.
Kwa-ga-ga-ga-gak-!
Leo soared into the sky.
Kwa-ga-ga-ga-gak-!
Dakiir’s right arm began to absorb Retin.
More precisely, it was devouring the Nightmare spell formations spread throughout Retin.
A power that greedily and ravenously devoured everything.
Leo’s eyes narrowed as he saw that power.
“It’s the power of Jormungandr.”
“Hahahaha! You recognized it well! Leo Plov!”
Dakiir’s eyes flashed.
“You who infiltrated my mental world have made a grave mistake!”
Creak- Crackle-
Gooooo-!
Dakiir’s body began to grow colossal.
The master of the nightmare had changed.
If, until a moment ago, this nightmare was under Melina’s will.
Now it belonged to Dakiir.
He had seized control of his mental world by devouring the Nightmare spell formations.
“This is my world of consciousness! Therefore, my power can become infinitely strong!”
Dakiir’s body shed its human form and began to transform into that of a demon.
Obsidian-like skin gleamed.
[I am the Dark King, master of the Dark Legion! An existence who has inherited the powers of countless Legion Commanders from the past!]
An unusual gigantification.
That was clearly Giass’s ability.
[Not only the power of the Legion Commanders, but also having obtained infinite power within the world of consciousness, you can never defeat me! Kuhahahaha!]
The very ground trembled with his laughter.
[To think that the opportunity to kill you would come so quickly! With this, I shall kill Leo Plov, the King of Beginnings, and become the Supreme Commander of Tartarus! And…!]
Dakiir’s grotesque eyes flashed.
[I will finish off the Necromancer King, devour a fragment of a god, and be reborn as the true master of Tartarus to rule this world!]
Thud-thud-thud-!
Countless eyes appeared all over Dakiir’s black skin.
Transforming the body and creating new characteristics.
That was the ability of the Monster Queen Shilartuna.
[In the near future! Consider it an honor to die at my hands, as I will be reborn as a new evil god! Leo Plov! Kuhahahahaha!]
Dakiir burst into maniacal laughter and looked down at Leo.
But then his eyes twitched.
“Indeed.”
Leo ignored Dakiir and was stroking his chin.
“Hero Hunter wasn’t the only one who could inherit the powers of the demon bastards subdued through the Legion’s World. I expected it… but seeing it directly, this will be quite troublesome.”
Leo clicked his tongue.
“The kids are going to have a hard time.”
As if Dakiir was of no concern.
He worried about the demons and Hero Hunters in various parts of Retin, and the aspiring heroes and shadows who had entered their nightmares.
But his worry wasn’t great.
Because he had faith that they would overcome this level of trial.
Because…
‘They are the heroes I chose.’
Leo curled the corner of his lips.
[Grrr! He’s ignoring me!]
Dakiir erupted in fury.
Leo tilted his head back.
“So? How do you want to die?”
[What did you say?]
“Because I don’t think I heard your answer yet.”
[You insolent brat!]
Slash-!
In an instant, a gray sword energy surged as if to cut the sky.
The gray blade erupting from Leo’s sword gleamed dangerously.
“If it’s hard to choose, I’ll decide.”
Leo smiled faintly.
Swoosh-swoosh-swoosh-!
Arion’s slash materialized from Leo’s hand.
With that, Dakiir’s colossal body was cut apart.
Before blood could pour out, a flame aura was added, charring the wound.
A nauseating burning smell echoed.
Pum-pum-pum-pum-pum-!
Large chunks of flesh fell to the ground, making an unpleasant sound.
“You look like various trash put into a trash can, so separating you for recycling seems fitting.”
[Who are you calling a trash can, you bastard!]
“Don’t like it? Would burning trash be better? But then it wouldn’t be environmentally friendly…”
[Kuaaaagh!]
Dakiir roared at Leo’s mockery.
Leo’s verbal prowess was such that it could infuriate even a Great Hero if he put his mind to it.
Hot-tempered Dakiir couldn’t help but be endlessly enraged by Leo’s taunts.
But Dakiir’s attacks didn’t reach Leo at all.
[Why! Why! Why aren’t my attacks working! I’ve gained the powers of countless Legion Commanders!]
“That’s because you’re a trash can.”
[You milk-reeking human!]
“I appreciate you thinking I’m young.”
Leo curled the corner of his lips.
“Show some respect. I’m the one who buried all the masters of the abilities you’re using.”
[What did you say?]
Slam-!
[Kuaaaagh!]
Leo’s slash carved Dakiir’s eye.
Dakiir, who had fallen to the ground and was writhing, let out a grotesque scream.
[Why! This is my mental world! Here, I should have gained infinite power! Why!]
“Probably because your imagination is so poor.”
Leo curled the corner of his lips.
“You don’t actually know how strong the Necromancer King, the Giant King, or the Monster Queen are, do you?”
There is no bond among Legion Commanders.
Only an abundance of unwashable hatred.
But even so, he knew their strength and terror better than anyone.
‘No matter how strong I’ve become… those guys back then were certainly not weak.’
Leo was someone who had fought such Legion Commanders.
Dakiir was merely a fool who mistook himself for being strong just by gaining a little of the Legion Commanders’ abilities.
“And speaking of which.”
Leo slung his sword over his shoulder.
“You don’t even know your own essence.”
[What did you say?]
“You are not monsters of possibility.”
Leo curled the corner of his lips.
“You are trash that gnaws at the world.”
Even inheriting the powers of countless Legion Commanders does not necessarily make one stronger.
Demons have a clear innate capacity and limit for their power.
Through their authority, they can momentarily increase that limit.
But they cannot transcend the limit.
However, Dakiir did not realize this essence and mistakenly thought he had become stronger just by inheriting power.
From Leo’s perspective, it was merely laughable.
“If you inherited their powers through the Legion’s World, there’s only one advantage.”
Being able to use various abilities.
But it’s useless if you can’t utilize that power.
Especially since Leo contributed to subduing all the Legion Commanders who used those powers to their extreme.
Compared to Leo’s experience, Dakiir’s crude abilities were simply powerless.
“It might have been better if he had at least made one power his own.”
Leo scoffed.
“What good is that? You’re going to end your demonic life here.”
[You… what exactly are you?]
“Me?”
A light flashed in Leo’s red eyes.
The moment Dakiir met those eyes.
He suddenly felt the scenery change.
Countless demon corpses were grotesquely strewn across the ground.
And in the middle of it.
A man with gray hair stood.
A presence so intense it made one breathless and terrified just by looking at him.
In an instant.
The illusion vanished, and the original scenery returned.
Tremble, tremble-
Dakiir’s body trembled with fear.
[That just now… what exactly was that…!]
“I have no obligation to tell you.”
Leo raised his sword.
That sword, like the blade of a guillotine.
Thwack-!
Cut Dakiir’s body in two.
Whoosh-
Dakiir’s body scattered meaninglessly.
‘If he hadn’t been a strong but foolish one, but a proper Legion Commander… it would have been a headache.’
Dakiir was easily dealt with because he was intoxicated by the powers of other Legion Commanders.
Otherwise, it would have been a threatening power.
Leo looked down at his hand.
‘By the way… he must have been a disposable card. This one is a failure.’
It had been 5000 years since the demons of Tartarus last saw Erebus.
Even demons with absolute loyalty to Erebus would inevitably develop distrust.
Especially if they recently succeeded in corrupting Hero Records to create their own demon records.
‘It wouldn’t be strange for one or two of these types to emerge.’
From the Necromancer King’s perspective, they would be apostates who distrusted the god.
If such an apostate targeted him and was futilely subdued.
The demons of Tartarus would no longer be able to doubt the Necromancer King’s dominance.
‘It’s annoying that I seem to have acted according to his intentions.’
Leo clicked his tongue.
Shilartuna was also subdued, and Giass was also subdued.
Even two fragments of Erebus were subdued by Leo.
It was clearly devastating damage to Tartarus.
‘Given recent circumstances, it was said that he also absorbed the demons of Styx, right?’
The Necromancer King was moving in silence.
It was clear that he was consolidating his internal strength.
But he was excessively quiet.
Leo narrowed his eyes.
‘What’s his hidden agenda?’
***
“Your Majesty?”
“…”
The Fairy King, Shilod, kept his eyes closed, silent, even at the call of his fairy subordinate.
Eventually, Shilod opened his eyes.
“Your Majesty?”
“Hmm? Oh, did you call?”
Shilod looked at the fairies with a slightly flustered expression.
The fairies were surprised by his unfamiliar demeanor.
“I’m sorry. I was thinking about something else for a moment…”
“Yes, then I will give you the report. Recently, an evil aura has been felt around Fairy Land. It must be…”
“… The Necromancer King, I presume.”
“Yes… But even if they dare to bring the entire Tartarus Legion, they will not invade Fairy Land.”
“That’s right. Because I am here.”
“Yes. Even the Necromancer King would not be able to break through Your Majesty’s seal, who has lived for 5000 years.”
The fairies looked at Shilod with reverence.
“… Your Majesty?”
“Oh. Yes. What did you say?”
“So… even the Necromancer King would not be able to break through Your Majesty’s seal, who has lived for 5000 years…”
“… That’s right.”
“…”
“I’ve lived for a long time, haven’t I?”
Shilod looked down at his hands with a bitter smile.
“Your Majesty?”
As the fairies looked perplexed by Shilod’s strange reaction.
“Everyone.”
“Yes.”
“Please summon the nameless hero, Leo Plov, and his sworn ally, Kirian, to Fairy Land.”