Book 1 Chapter 883

883.

Hwaruru rururuk-!

Black flames are raging before my eyes.

The flames seemed to burn greedily and destructively, as if they would never cease.

As if they would only be satisfied after devouring the world.

‘No. They’re actually trying to devour the world.’

Kuoooooooh-!

The black flames burning before my eyes were, literally, a colossal disaster capable of destroying the world.

Hwaak-!

A scorching heat wave washed over them.

‘Ugh?!’

Chen Xia flinched and recoiled from the heat she felt right in front of her.

Just breathing felt like her lungs would burn.

Currently, there were four people who could stand against Erebus here.

‘Me, Miss Chelsea, Miss Eliza, and… Professor Mel.’

The three, excluding Melina, wouldn’t normally be able to stand on the battlefield against Erebus.

Being able to stand there now was entirely a future obtained through the Fairy King’s magic, a kind of trick.

As a Knight class, Chen Xia, who was responsible for the front lines, clenched her fists and looked at the giant spewing black flames.

Chen Xia, who had grown up as Shan’s shadow since childhood, had countless real-world combat experiences.

After entering Lumern, she had fought against demons many times, and this wasn’t her first time seeing Erebus directly.

However, this was the first time she had faced him like this, ready to fight.

Just standing before him made her body tremble involuntarily.

‘Young Master Leo… has been fighting against things like this.’

Chen Xia, who felt Leo’s greatness anew, calmed her trembling body.

‘Someday… the day will come when I have to stand on this battlefield with my own strength.’

From the moment she vowed to protect Leo’s back, that had become a given.

‘When that time comes… this experience will be a great help.’

Chen Xia lowered her stance.

Woong-!

Water aura flowed from her body, shimmering.

Her agitated mind settled down like a tranquil lake.

Sreuk-

Chen Xia closed her eyes and spread her arms.

A nearly defenseless posture.

A shadow fell over Chen Xia’s head.

Erebus’s palm descended upon Chen Xia.

Chelsea, who was watching the situation from a slight distance, flinched and trembled.

“Xia! You’re too defenseless…!”

The moment Chelsea spoke urgently.

Chen Xia opened her eyes.

And simultaneously…

Tukak-!

As Chen Xia swung her arm, a giant blade of water shot up into the sky.

The sharp water blade instantly severed Erebus’s hand.

Of course, merely having a hand severed couldn’t stop Erebus.

Instead, a sticky black liquid poured from the severed spot.

“Xia, watch out…!”

It was when Chelsea was about to rush forward to help Chen Xia.

Hwiriririk-! Pat-!

“Oop?!”

A whip flying from behind wrapped around Chelsea’s neck.

Chelsea, thus restrained, glared behind her.

“What are you doing?!”

“Guard your line, Chelsea Lewelyn.”

“But Xia alone can’t stop him…”

“It’s frustrating, but Xia is overwhelmingly stronger than us in actual combat.”

Eliza glanced- forward.

“She’s also better at gauging the power difference between herself and the enemy. And that Xia said she would stop Erebus by herself.”

Chen Xia, a Knight class, was on the front lines.

Eliza, a Summoner class with excellent mobility, supported by moving between the front and rear.

And Chelsea, a mage, covered the rear.

Chelsea, as a Battle Magician, could maximize her strengths on the front lines, but she couldn’t always take the position she was best at.

“Right now, do your best in the role you’ve been given. That’s how you help Xia.”

“Ugh…!”

At Eliza’s sharp remark, Chelsea hunched her neck.

Eliza took a deep breath, looking at Chelsea.

They were in the same grade and were top-level practitioners, but there was still a clear age difference.

Even if it was only a two-year difference, that gap was much larger than imagined in their teens.

‘Chelsea Lewelyn wouldn’t have been this flustered normally.’

Eliza glanced- forward, watching Chelsea pull herself together.

Erebus.

Maintaining composure in the face of that destructive disaster was almost impossible.

Eliza’s mind was also agitated.

She was merely pretending to be calm because she was a little older than Chelsea.

‘Something unimaginable is happening.’

Until she entered Lumern.

Eliza had never imagined that she would fight against Erebus.

But now, she found herself standing at a moment in history.

‘Can I do well?’

As the successor of the Hergin family, she had lived a life with nothing to be ashamed of.

Eliza herself was proud that she would become a greater hero than any previous family head.

But the being before her was a monster that made even the history of the Hergin family seem insignificant.

Questions and fears about whether she could do well against that monster surged through her.

Eliza’s hand, clutching the Pegasus’s reins, trembled.

As Chelsea and Eliza wavered.

[Alright, monster ladies. Are you ready to start a new legend?]

A relaxed voice, out of place for the situation, was heard.

Chelsea and Eliza flinched and trembled.

[Wow. I always feel it, but I really shouldn’t mess with Chen Xia.]

Kal stuck out his tongue.

Currently, Kal was assessing the overall battle situation from the rear.

[What’s wrong? Why is the atmosphere so heavy? Are you nervous, unlike yourselves?]

Kal spoke playfully, but Chelsea and Eliza couldn’t answer.

[They really must be nervous.]

Kal, who had a slightly flustered expression, soon said.

[Don’t worry too much! Our role is just to hold out until Leo comes! And!]

Kal shouted confidently.

[You have me, who has risen to the position of a hero as a supporter, behind you, don’t you? Don’t worry and just trust me! I’ll lead you to victory!]

At his shout, Chelsea snorted.

“How dare you, Kal! Eliza! You say something too!”

Chelsea looked at Eliza.

And her jaw dropped as she saw Eliza, whose face was slightly red.

Eliza, with a slightly flushed face, was looking around restlessly.

“Eliza, are you sick? Why are you making such an uncharacteristic expression?”

“What did you say?”

“Hoohoo. Student Kal has become quite cool.”

Just then, Melina appeared between the two.

“Professor Mel! Cool?!”

“Oh? He’s incredibly dignified and cool, isn’t he? Miss Eliza, aren’t you lucky? To have such a wonderful boyfriend.”

“Do-don’t tease me.”

As Eliza got flustered, Melina smiled sweetly and looked at the rear.

‘He’s truly reliable now.’

Kal’s ability as a supporter was outstanding, to the point where she could trust him with command.

“Well then, everyone. I know you’re nervous, but.”

Melina gripped her staff.

“Now, please display capabilities beyond your usual limits. Like student Xia.”

Chelsea was slightly flustered by the resolute words, unlike her usual tone.

“Is it because the enemy is Erebus?”

“No. It’s because it’s time to prove yourselves.”

“Prove?”

“Yes. You must prove yourselves to the last Archi, who has protected the world alone for 5000 years.”

Melina glanced- back.

“That you are here now.”

***

Kal looked at his palm with a flustered face.

A small fairy sat weakly there.

The problem was that its condition didn’t look good.

The beautiful fairy’s wings had lost their strength and seemed as if they would crumble at any moment.

Not only that.

Embers were clinging to various parts of the wings, eating away at them.

Seeing that, Kal knew.

That the fairy before him had little time left.

“Are… are you alright?”

At Kal’s question, Silvanus raised his head with difficulty.

-You are…?

“Ah, my name is Kal Thomas.”

-The one who prepares the beginning…

“It’s a lot of pressure, but I’m called by that name.”

It was when Kal was scratching his cheek.

-Father!

Kiran, who was behind Kal, hurriedly flew to Silvanus.

-Kiran…

Silvanus smiled faintly.

-It’s a relief to see you in my last moments.

-What are you talking about! Father! You can live a little longer!

With tears welling up in his eyes, Kiran grabbed Silvanus’s hand.

-I’ll maintain the seal that Father is maintaining! Then there will surely be some time left! You can freely adventure with Leo around the world during that time! It was Father’s long-cherished dream, wasn’t it?!

At Kiran’s words, Silvanus shook his head with difficulty.

-No, I have no intention of passing this role on to you.

Silvanus spread his palm.

Seeing that, Kiran gasped.

-My wing…

-I’m sorry, Kiran. I had your last wing. The power remaining to me wasn’t enough to maintain the seal.

The fragment of Erebus in Fairyland began to show signs of revival around the time Kiran was born.

However, at that time, the sealing magic was too strong to be broken.

Cracks in the seal only appeared a few months ago.

Because Silvanus’s lifespan had come to an end.

-Why did Father…

-…I didn’t want to entrust my role to you.

Silvanus’s eyes sank.

-Unlike me… I wanted you to live a free life.

Silvanus also knew the reason why his son caused more trouble than necessary.

If Kiran became the Fairy King in his stead… he would inherit the unfinished duty from 5000 years ago.

He had willingly taken on that role, but Silvanus did not want Kiran to take on that role as well.

-This is… my fight.

The last Archi, left alone after 5000 years.

He didn’t have the power to end the fight.

Even so, he couldn’t abandon the sense of responsibility to fulfill his duty to the very end as one of the people who fought in that era.

-Because it’s a peace built upon the sacrifice of my precious… friends.

He couldn’t pass on the duties of the old era to Kiran, who had to start a new fight.

-Kiran. Help the Dragon Lord.

-Father!

Perhaps Silvanus’s time might end before this fight was over.

Kiran, knowing that, urgently called out to Silvanus.

-Don’t act childish!

Silvanus said in a stern voice.

-If my duty as the old king is to bind that monster, then your duty as the new king is to defeat that monster! Defeat that monster before the time allotted to me runs out! Hurry!

If Silvanus died, the illusion would break.

Then Chen Xia, Chelsea, and Eliza would lose their power to fight.

At those words, Kiran gritted his teeth and flew to Melina.

“Are… are you going to be okay?”

When Kal asked carefully, Silvanus nodded faintly.

-Kiran is a strong child. He’ll be fine.

Kal put on a solemn expression.

-Ah… I miss it.

Longing filled Silvanus’s eyes.

-Truly… Archi.

Despite the urgent situation, the sight before him stirred old nostalgia.

At that moment.

Goooooo!

“What?!”

Kal made an astonished expression.

“Why did it suddenly get stronger?!”

Erebus’s power suddenly intensified.

Silvanus’s eyes narrowed at the sight.

Erebus had suddenly grown stronger.

‘Too sudden.’

It was natural for Erebus to grow stronger over time.

But this was different.

‘It’s as if… it’s gone back to the past…’

Thinking that far, Silvanus looked down at his hand.

The embers had already eaten away at his palm.

‘…I see.’

Silvanus bit his lip tightly.

‘It’s because I miss the past.’