Book 1 Chapter 884
884.
Whoosh-!
The aura of water embroidered the air like a stream.
Chen Xia moved quickly over it, as if gliding on ice.
“Wow……”
Chelsea, watching from afar, opened her eyes wide.
“She’s like a water spirit……”
“She’s not *like* a water spirit.”
Melina suddenly appeared from behind, but Chelsea turned her head and looked at Melina as if she had known.
Seeing Chelsea, Melina widened her eyes slightly, then smiled faintly.
“Student Xia is truly handling water at the same level as a spirit.”
Even Leo cannot handle elements as well as spirits.
It was something impossible even for Lisinas, the King of Wisdom, who was called the strongest spirit user.
Even if one handles elements at a spirit's level, it doesn't mean they can obtain overwhelming power.
However, depending on how it's utilized, combat ability can be dramatically increased.
In fact, Chen Xia was tying up the primordial evil with elegant movements, as if dancing.
Even with Melina assisting, moving back and forth, it was astonishing.
“Professor Mel.”
“Yes.”
“Who is the closest person to Leo oppa in our school right now?”
“Well, even if they have the same goal, each person's direction is different.”
Melina looked at Chen Xia, who was holding back Erebus's advance.
“Considering their aims… the closest to Student Leo would indeed be Student Xia.”
“So that’s how it is.”
Chelsea gripped the staff in her hand tightly.
She felt resentment at the fact that she was lagging behind.
But there was no sign of being intimidated or disappointed in herself.
Rather, she burned with fighting spirit, ready to move forward without hesitation.
‘To burn with competitiveness and try to move forward, even in a battle for the fate of the world.’
Melina silently watched Chelsea's back as she began to sing.
Certainly, if only the overall ability to handle elements was considered, Chen Xia had an advantage over Chelsea.
But in specific areas… in the realm of sound, Chelsea handles wind at a level that surpasses spirits.
The fact that she was aware of Melina's movements, who approached without a sound, was proof of this.
In response to Chelsea's song, magic power flickered.
The grand magic, completed in an instant, tore Erebus's body to shreds.
Seizing that opportunity, Eliza pushed Pegasus's power to its maximum, unleashing lightning on Erebus.
Although it was power temporarily gained through the strength of the Fairy King Sildroad, the three of them were clearly fighting against Erebus.
While they had fear of an uncertain future, it was also clear that they possessed an unshakeable belief in themselves.
These were the heroes of the beginning, Kyle.
No, they were the heroes chosen by Leo Plov, the King of the Beginning, to bear the future of the world.
‘If I'm not careful, I'll become obsolete.’
Of course, she had no intention of quietly backing down.
As a descendant of the King of Wisdom.
As a senior hero who had supported this era for a long time.
She had no intention of retreating from the front lines in the slightest.
“Kirian. Help me.”
-…Alright.
Kirian, gritting his teeth, unleashed fairy magic.
It was the power of a seal that suppressed the opponent's strength.
Melina, concentrating, amplified Lisinas’s magic power.
Wooooooong-!
A pain as if her whole body was tearing apart swept over her.
The power Melina was wielding now clearly far exceeded her own limits.
Melina, who converted Lisinas's mana into spiritual power, enhanced Kirian's ability.
Kirian was a phantom beast allied with Leo.
But Lisinas's mana also resided in the pact made by Leo and Kirian.
As such, it was possible to forcibly enforce the symbol of the pact that Kirian had made.
This exacted an even harsher toll, especially in a situation where immense pressure was already being applied to her entire body.
Blood flowed from Melina's mouth, eyes, and nose.
[Professor Mel!]
Kal's urgent voice was heard.
Excluding Kal, the other hero candidates did not know.
The three people currently fighting against Erebus were able to endure not only because of their outstanding individual abilities, but also because of Kal's command and Melina's assistance.
If they were to learn that something was wrong with Melina, one of those two pillars, all three would surely be shaken.
‘Never tell the three of them, Student Kal.’
[But…….]
‘I am not as weak as you fear, Kal Thomas.’
Melina called Kal by his full name.
It meant acknowledging the other as a hero standing together on the battlefield.
‘On this battlefield, I’ll stake everything.’
Even if it was her life.
Crackkkle-!
Rumble rumble-!
Kirian's power overwhelmingly increased with the force of the forcibly enacted pact.
The power of the seal suppressed Erebus.
Whirl-!
-Gah?!
Suddenly, Kirian's eyes shot open.
-It got stronger?!
CRAAAASH!
Despite Kirian's sealing magic, Erebus's firepower grew steadily stronger.
Melina narrowed her eyes.
‘That fragment of Erebus is clearly a newly awakened fragment.’
It was natural that its power would grow stronger the more it flared up.
Since it hadn't fully recovered its power yet, they could barely hold it back to this extent.
But to suddenly unleash a level stronger firepower.
The time was too short for it to have recovered its power.
‘Kal Thomas. Do you know anything about this?’
Kal clenched his lips at Melina's sharp question.
[According to Sir Sildroad… it's because Sir Sildroad misses the past.]
‘Indeed.’
Melina nodded her head.
She understood the situation.
The current master of this illusion magic was Sildroad.
But Erebus had exerted influence over the illusion magic with the authority of encroachment.
In other words, it was assimilated with the illusion magic.
‘So, depending on that influence, the more Sir Sildroad misses the past, the more he recovers his past power?’
For Erebus, who had just been sealed, rewinding time would be a faster way to regain power than letting time pass.
-Ah, can't we tell Papa not to miss the past?
Kirian spoke anxiously.
Melina gave a bitter smile at his words.
“That's impossible.”
-Why! Why!
“…Because he’s an adult.”
-What?!
Kirian made a flustered expression.
“There’s only one reason why adults miss the past.”
Melina continued, looking at Erebus.
“Because the present is too hard.”
The responsibilities and duties each must bear.
“Though the magnitude differs, adults have too many things to care about.”
That’s why they miss it.
Their childhood, when they just moved forward, dreaming of the future.
The past days that will never return, when they looked forward to what tomorrow would bring.
Even if it was a difficult past, the time shared with those they can no longer meet.
“The harder the present is… the more one sometimes misses the past.”
WHOOOOOOSH-!
As if in response to her words, Erebus unleashed powerful firepower.
-Such futile resistance.
Erebus’s voice echoed.
-No matter how much you grasp the possibilities of the future and strengthen your will, it is useless.
Fwoosh-!
[It got bigger!]
Kal cried out in shock.
“Gah?!”
Chen Xia hurriedly drew up her water aura.
Sizzle!
But the water aura instantly evaporated.
“Xia!”
Whoosh-!
Eliza flew over at tremendous speed, snatched Chen Xia's wrist, and soared upwards.
CRA-CRASH-CRASH-! Fwoosh-!
Black flames spread out from Erebus's body as if exploding.
The disaster flames that would burn until death upon contact.
Those flames seemed as if they would instantly engulf Chen Xia and Eliza.
“Gah!”
Eliza gritted her teeth and drew up her spiritual power to increase her speed.
At that moment, a beautiful song echoed in Eliza's ears.
Chelsea's magic accelerated Eliza's speed.
CRAAAASH-!
Eliza barely escaped the black flames with Chen Xia.
“Thank you, Miss Eliza.”
As Chen Xia expressed her gratitude, Eliza bit her lip tightly.
“It’s too early to thank me. Stopping those damned black flames is the priority.”
“……”
Chen Xia straightened herself.
-You have no future.
Erebus’s mockery continued.
-As long as that old, shabby fairy wishes for the past.
WHOOOOOOSH-!
The flames grew even larger.
Sildroad bit his lip tightly.
-It's because of me. Because I'm inadequate…
“No! Inadequate?! On the contrary, you're incredibly amazing, overflowing with power!”
Kal shook his head as if to deny it.
“You've suffered for 5000 years! If I lived that long, I'd miss the past too!”
-…….
“Don’t worry.”
Kal gave a thumbs-up.
“The monsters in our school aren’t the kind of guys who give up this easily! They’re the kind of guys who would come back to life even if they died!”
It was a bluff.
But Kal tried his best to encourage Sildroad.
-Kal Thomas… you are truly a man like Lisinas.
“Haha. Well.”
-You seem like you'd be very good at bluffing.
“……”
Kal made a complex and subtle expression at Sildroad's words, unsure if it was a compliment or an insult.
-Yes… they are all descendants of Kyle.
Sildroad's blurry eyes became clear.
His whole body felt like it was burning.
Yet Sildroad smiled.
-If so, I should put in more effort.
Whoosh-!
The Fairy King's magic power strengthened.
-My pact-mate… and my friends must have been in this much pain too.
***
Whoosh! CRASH-CRASH-CRASH-!
When Lill swung her battle hammer, the ground shook and a strong wind raged as if a natural disaster had occurred.
“This is… beyond the realm of even a beast. A walking natural disaster, literally.”
The King of Greed, Sigas, looked at Lill with vacant eyes.
“If you keep saying rude things, I will scatter your body into pieces.”
Lill growled fiercely.
Seeing Lill, Sigas shook his head.
“Truly, I don’t wish to fight you. I’d rather face Elena Zerion, who is famously known as a villainess; she seems easier to deal with.”
“If you fight Senior Elena, you'll want to die.”
Lill tightened her grip on her battle hammer and charged at Sigas.
Watching Lill, Sigas glanced at Leo, who was in his infant state, overwhelming the legion commanders.
‘Indeed, the Hero of the Beginning. Even with such a penalty, he can easily handle mere fledglings like us?’
It wasn't merely a difference in strength that was the problem.
‘No matter how much of a Hero of the Beginning he is, Leo Plov’s vessel is not yet complete.’
The power of the new legion commanders surpassed that of the legion commanders born in the Age of Heroes.
The difference between Leo and the new legion commanders now was purely a difference in ‘experience’.
In the current situation, it was impossible for Sigas to subdue Lill and join the other side.
‘Even if it were possible, I’d just be overwhelmed.’
Sigas silently waited for his chance.
Of course, if the minds of the new legion commanders were destroyed before that, Tartarus would have to create new legion commanders.
‘That must not happen.’
He didn't think that because of any comradeship.
It was because too much time would be wasted.
Whatever the case, the current new legion commanders were proper creations of the Necromancer King Hel Kaiser.
It would be a waste to use and discard them as disposable chess pieces.
‘But in the worst case, I’ll discard them.’
The moment he thought that.
WHOOOOOOSH-!
From afar, Erebus unleashed powerful energy.
Lill flinched and Leo turned his gaze towards Erebus.
In that brief opening, Sigas moved.
“Ah! Brother! Be careful!”
Lill hurriedly chased after Sigas, warning Leo.
Before Leo could react, Sigas used his authority on Leo.
“Hero of the Beginning, what do you think would happen if you went further back into the past in that state?”
Leo’s body rapidly shrank.
Whoosh-!
Soon, Leo’s existence disappeared.
“Bro, brother…”
Lill’s face turned pale.
“Heh heh. Even a great hero couldn’t abandon his attachment to a past where his beloved companions existed.”
Sigas let out a low laugh and looked at Lill.
“Now then… no matter if you yourself are a natural disaster.”
The legion commanders who had been overwhelmed by Leo stood up.
“Can you face four legion commanders?”
Lill bit her lip tightly, looking at Sigas.