Book 1 Chapter 860

860.

Arhi.

The language of dragons, bearing the name "Beginning."

This word was exceptionally special in the world.

Because it was the name of the party that subjugated Erebus.

A name more glorious than anything else.

Licinas, the King of Wisdom.

Kyle, the Hero of Beginnings.

Luna, the Progenitor of the Nebula.

Arion, the Brave.

Dwenno, the Divine Blacksmith.

The countless innocent histories of each race, whose origins were unknown.

But it was clear that if one were to pick the greatest among them in that history, they would be the Great Heroes.

Their existence, having achieved feats even the gods could not, was a new beginning in itself.

'But Arhi wasn't just made up of Great Heroes.'

Now, the Hero Record, torn into countless fragments.

The first chapter of that Hero Record begins with the chronicle of the Great Heroes.

However, there were certainly heroes from previous eras who were not recorded in the Hero Record.

They, too, belonged to Arhi and fought for the world.

Though forgotten by history.

They, too, were great heroes who dedicated their lives to a new beginning.

And there weren't just heroes.

There were also summoned beasts who worked with summoners to save the world.

King Kataru, the Phoenix King who made a pact with Licinas, and the five great elementals excluding darkness.

The King of Pegasus, who made a pact with Kyle, and the great elemental of darkness.

And…

'Me, who made a pact with Luna.'

Silrod remembered.

Many who stood on the battlefield with him.

After the Great Heroes ushered in a new beginning.

Countless ages passed…

'Now, I am the only one left.'

Berkia and Vihar also left the world.

The fact that the end of those last members of Arhi was not happy made Silrod shed tears.

But Silrod couldn't watch their final moments.

As the last Arhi.

This world was special to Silrod.

Perhaps it is for everyone.

The world is the foundation where people live.

It cannot be exchanged for anything and is more precious than anything else.

However, this feeling was also one that only those who had lost the world could understand.

Innumerable heroes, unrecorded in the Hero Record and forgotten, who sought to reclaim this world.

'I must remember their stories and pass them on to future generations.'

That was also his duty.

But… Silrod couldn't pass on the heroes' stories to future generations.

Because he discovered the seed of black flame that would burn this world once again.

A fragment of Erebus.

To suppress that fragment, Silrod built Fairyland there.

Leaving his old home behind, he made this place his new abode.

And he rarely left Fairyland.

Except for the Comet Mage Seirun, Luna's successor, and a brief call from Kyle.

The new Fairyland was a powerful seal binding Erebus for Silrod, and also a prison that confined him.

After the Age of Calamity ended.

To personally witness the beautifully flourishing world was one of Silrod's fervent dreams.

Because it was his promise with Luna, his only pact-mate.

But.

Silrod spent most of 5000 years in this place.

Only the stories from the outside world brought by the fairies were Silrod's sole connection to the outside world.

Hearing stories of the newly changed world.

And the tales of the birth of heroes who, like the Arhi of the past, risked themselves to protect the world, brought Silrod great happiness.

And…

Now his end was approaching.

Nothing is infinite.

It only feels that way.

5000 years.

He had lived too long.

'I endured by force.'

Gritting his teeth.

As the last Arhi.

For the prosperous world he hadn't seen.

The young Fairy King…

No, the now aged Fairy King had sacrificed his life.

A miraculous reunion with his long-lost friend… Kyle, made Silrod's stagnant time flow again.

'…I've done enough.'

Within the illusion magic he created, Silrod mumbled blankly.

This illusion was… one of the moments Silrod could never forget.

The walls of Gadsron.

The dark red sky.

The moment he anxiously awaited those who had departed.

Whoooooosh-

As always, the wind of death, like the lament of the wind spirits, blew.

A night of ruin where not even stars were visible.

"…Our masters will return soon, won't they?"

"Let's believe. They will surely be able to subjugate Erebus. Right, Silrod-nim?"

A conversation between Berkias and Vihar on the walls of Gadsron.

And he, too, was among them.

"…"

But Silrod did not answer.

After all, this was the distant past and an illusion.

On the walls of Gadsron, people looked eastward.

It was time for the familiar gray sky to arrive.

At that moment…

"Guh?!"

"My, my eyes…!"

People gasped and squeezed their eyes shut.

"A-an attack?!"

"Ring the emergency bell! Tartarus's grand offensive begins!"

Screams erupted on the walls.

Berkia and Vihar also moved urgently.

"…"

Only Silrod calmly gazed at the brilliant light.

At that time, he too thought this light was the beginning of Tartarus's full-scale assault.

But it wasn't.

"The sun."

What came with it was the brightening dawn and the sky that had regained its original color.

"…"

Everyone's mouths fell open.

The dawn signaling the end of the Age of Calamity had arrived.

Everyone in Gadsron shed tears.

"…"

Sitting on the wall, Silrod gazed at the splendid sun.

While everyone rejoiced.

Someone spoke.

-You regret it, your fleeting life.

"I have no regrets, Erebus."

-Hmph… Is that so? Is there anyone who recognizes that you, becoming a specter of the Age of Calamity, sacrificed 5000 years of life for the world?

"Kyle is there."

-He is merely a remnant of the past as well.

"…"

Silrod turned around.

-You could not enjoy the era of peace you barely reclaimed, and you lived your whole life in a prison.

Silrod looked at Erebus with an expressionless face.

-And you will disappear without leaving anything behind. Just like those you sent away.

"Many people will remember me after I vanish."

-What meaning does that have? You couldn't enjoy anything while alive.

Hwa-reureuk-

The illusion began to burn.

Erebus was resurrecting.

It was encroaching on his magic, trying to break the seal.

Wooong-!

Powerful fairy magic swirled from Silrod's body.

"You cannot escape. Oh, flame of calamity."

-I'll give you a piece of advice. You old, shabby fairy.

"…"

-Use the little time you have left for yourself.

Erebus sneered.

-If you don't want to end with a life full of regrets, that is.

Wooong-!

Silrod clenched his fist.

The power of the seal bound the fragment of Erebus.

Goooooo! Hwa-reureureuk-!

Black flames, not yet fully suppressed, seeped out and burned the illusion.

Silrod closed his eyes, looking at the flames.

'…Yes.'

He bit his lip slightly.

'My life… might be full of regrets.'

Silrod opened his eyes, not denying Erebus's words.

'It might have been fleeting.'

He was looking around.

He couldn't see the future in this illusion.

That meant… the moment he missed the most and was happiest was in the past.

That moment.

Though it was the Age of Calamity, he was definitely happy.

Childhood memories were burned by Erebus's flames.

The end of a long life was approaching.

***

Melina, flying at tremendous speed towards the eastern continent, narrowed her eyes.

[Everyone, be careful.]

"Yes?"

With that, a gigantic scythe flew towards Melina's neck.

Skag-!

Melina unleashed magic power.

Kwaaang-!

A powerful shield was cast around Melina.

"Huh? Is this what a Dragon Lord is? She's not ordinary, is she?"

A playful voice was heard.

Melina polymorphed back to her original form.

"Demon?"

Kal, floating in the air with flight magic, widened his eyes.

The one with crossed arms was a small girl.

"How is a demon here?"

"Why? Have I come to a place where I shouldn't be? Dragon Lord?"

The demon scoffed.

"Is that an illusion too?"

Chelsea tilted her head and asked, but Melina shook her head.

"No. That one is real."

"How do you know that?"

Chelsea asked with wide eyes, and Melina said calmly.

"This illusion is the future after we completely defeated Tartarus."

At her words, Chelsea and Kal's eyes widened.

"Erebus is completely annihilated, and all of Tartarus's commanders are subjugated in this future. But that one is a commander."

"A commander? Was there a commander who looked like that?"

"I've never seen them before either. Judging by the power I feel… they seem to be a recently created commander."

At that, the commander grinned.

"That's right. My name is Seneor. I am the Commander of Pain."

'There's a power difference compared to the commanders so far.'

"…You devoured the former commander."

"Oh? So you're a descendant of the King of Wisdom? Your insight is remarkable, isn't it?"

Seneor stroked her chin.

"A new generation commander… You're like us."

Melina smiled gently and looked back at Chelsea and Kal.

Seeing that, the commander snorted.

"Even if I'm young, it's rude to compare me to kids who still smell of milk, isn't it?"

"Oh my? There's someone here preparing for a beginning?"

"Someone preparing for a beginning?"

Seneor's eyes sparkled as she looked at Kal.

"Oh? He's quite my type of big brother."

"Haha."

Kal scratched his head with an embarrassed look.

Chelsea looked at Kal with a disdainful expression.

"Hey. I like your face, so can you just give me your head? So I can cut it off and add it to my collection."

Seneor lifted her gigantic scythe and laughed.

"Lucky you, Kal. You became a hero and got popular."

"I'd rather decline this kind of popularity."

Chelsea said with a gentle smile, and Kal shook his head.

Melina, who had been looking at Seneor for a moment, spoke.

"Chelsea."

"Yes."

"Go alone. Kal and I will handle the demons."

Chelsea's eyes widened.

"Bring Master Leo."

"Yes!"

Chelsea nodded and flew away.

"Do you think I'd let you send her?"

Seneor grinned and swung her scythe at Chelsea.

At that moment.

Chelsea unleashed a spell.

"Gust."

Chelsea's unique magic and a field spell that affected the surrounding space.

Chelsea, who cast the spell instantly without a hint, evaded Seneor's attack at an incredible speed and flew away.

"S-she's incredibly fast, isn't she?"

Kal's mouth dropped open.

Even Melina was surprised by the unimaginably formidable speed.

"Ah."

Then Seneor's body trembled.

Seneor's lips twisted upwards as she looked at Chelsea's back, whom she had missed.

"Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful!"

Seneor's face was tinged with ecstasy.

"What would that pretty face feel like when it's covered in blood?!"

Kal clicked his tongue, looking at her.

"I thought a commander would be really scary, but she seems like some kind of psycho pervert."

"You shouldn't let your guard down because of that, student Kal."

Melina said calmly.

"Devouring the former commander means… that even if she's inexperienced, her power is real."