Book 1 Chapter 886
886.
Kiiiing- Flash! Kwa-ga-ga-ga-gang-! Hwa-reureuk-!
A ray of light burst from Erebus's eye, as if the eye itself flashed.
The heat ray, spewed out like a dragon's breath, pursued Leo.
As Leo maneuvered through Gardeslon, avoiding Erebus's attack, the illusory Gardeslon was instantly turned to ashes.
Then, for a fleeting moment after the attack ended.
Leo, gripping his sword, plunged into Erebus's embrace.
Woong-!
A pale, pure white sword strike lifted Erebus's body.
-
For a moment, the world was enveloped in silence, and Erebus disappeared.
The moment those watching the battle realized it.
The spot where Leo had stood suddenly caved in as if a meteor had fallen, creating a giant crater.
Ku-ga-ga-ga-ga-ga-ga-gang-!
And then, belatedly, shockwaves and noise erupted.
"This is like the world is just ending!"
Kali said with a pale face.
It was true.
The aftermath of Leo and Erebus's battle alone felt as if the world was about to perish.
"What in the world is going on?!"
Chelsea shrieked and crouched to avoid being caught in the shockwave.
Chen Sia, eyes wide and focused on the battle, explained the situation.
"Young Master Leo sent Erebus flying into the sky."
"Did he fall back to the ground because of the recoil?"
Chen Sia shook her head at Lil's question.
"No. Young Master Leo immediately chased Erebus into the sky, but he was hit by Erebus's counterattack and fell to the ground. That crater was caused by the impact."
Chen Sia barely managed to perceive the situation with her dynamic vision.
Lil swallowed hard.
"Our battles… they were like child's play."
This was truly the battle for the fate of the world.
"The higher the goal, the better," Eliza said, clenching her fist.
'It's a relief that no one is discouraged.'
Melina, watching the hero candidates, looked at Leo with a worried expression.
'Their power is evenly matched…'
To show equal strength against Erebus, who was close to his complete form, was almost a miracle.
But there was no decisive blow that could overwhelm Erebus.
'Lord Leo.'
***
Whoo-doo-doo-dook!
Dust poured down as Leo, who had been lying sprawled on the ground, got up.
Tuk- tuk-
Leo brushed off the dust covering his body and looked up.
Kung-!
Erebus, who had been flung into the sky, landed on the ground.
-Interesting.
Erebus, with an eerie laugh, revealed his belligerence.
Goooooo-!
As Erebus spread his hand, flames surged from it, enveloped in black fire, and began to fall towards the ground like lava.
Chiiiii-
The authority of erosion fell to the ground, incinerating the world.
Seeing that, Leo's eyes twitched, then he raised his hand.
Woong-!
Mana created a magic formula.
Flash-!
Hundreds of magic circles embroidered the air.
"That's…?"
Melina spoke as Lil's eyes widened.
"It's Lady Luna's magic, 'End'."
Leo, who had instantly created hundreds of spells, stacked them.
Magic formulas were etched onto Leo's body.
He had enchanted himself with Bible magic.
Hundreds of End spells overlapped.
The concentrated magic became a single point and struck Erebus.
Flash!
Kwa-ga-ga-ga-ga-ga-gang-!
Space distorted, and Erebus's upper body was blown away.
Hwa-reureuk-!
But the black flame did not extinguish and still blazed.
-Are you imitating Luna Rubinance?
Erebus smirked.
It wasn't just an imitation.
It was no exaggeration to say it was Luna herself.
-Indeed, you are different from the you of that time.
During the final battle, Leo was burdened with the strength of all his friends.
But he was merely contained in the vessel that was Kyle.
He couldn't perfectly wield his comrades' powers.
And the future Leo had completely overcome that state.
The current Leo was perfectly utilizing the abilities of other great heroes, to the extent that it was no exaggeration to say he was the great heroes themselves.
'But it's not enough.'
Leo clenched and unclenched his fist.
The reason he was able to defeat Erebus in the final battle was because four great heroes had risked their lives to inflict fatal wounds in the preceding battles.
In the final moments, Erebus was also not in a normal state.
But now, he was literally in his complete form.
-Kyle. How about imagining a stronger future?
Leo let out a small sigh at Shilrod's words.
"Adults lack imagination, unlike kids."
-That's true.
Shilrod chuckled at Leo's words.
Though he had taken on his future appearance, the power dwelling in his body was merely the maximum strength he could imagine.
He had only managed to gather all his strength to be comparable to the complete Erebus.
That in itself was tremendous, but it was not enough to defeat him completely.
He had maximized the power of purity, but it was meaningless if it didn't hit.
Leo felt anxious.
'If I stay like this, Shilrod's lifespan will run out.'
Shilrod had suppressed a fragment of Erebus alone for 5000 years.
Leo wanted to free such a Shilrod from all obligations the moment he met his end.
So he could close his eyes in peace.
-Kyle.
"Why?"
-You've changed so much.
"…"
Leo smiled bitterly at Shilrod's words.
"Because I know now… how terrifying it is to be left alone."
The pain he had ignored when he was the surviving hero.
Shilrod had endured that solitary pain for 5000 years.
Gooooo-!
Black flames blazed.
An unpleasant air assaulted him.
'I need more power.'
Leo concentrated.
He gauged his potential and strength.
He searched for the strongest card among the cards he was given.
At that moment.
Hwa-reureuk- Pa-ji-jijik-
He felt flames and lightning.
The power of the Phoenix and Pegasus.
But it wasn't Fiora and Arti.
It was a power more pure and fundamental than theirs.
And he felt a lingering regret that only Leo, who had reached Lisinas's level as a summoner, could feel.
Leo's eyes widened.
'Could it be…?'
Leo opened his subspace.
An old spear and a necklace were in his hand.
Shilrod's eyes widened.
-The Spear of Punishment and… the Necklace of Purification?
Symbols of beast kings like himself.
'Yes. We weren't the only ones with lingering regrets.'
In a way, those who had closed their eyes without choosing a successor would have even more regret and longing.
Woong-!
Spiritual energy swirled around Leo's body.
As a spirit arts user, there was no need to make a pact.
A pact had already been made.
"By the name of the pact-holder, I call upon thee."
If he could feel their presence.
It was enough to call them here as spirits.
"By the pact, answer my call."
Hwa-reureuk! Pa-ji-ji-jik!
Shilrod's eyes widened.
Kwaaaaaaa-!
Spiritual energy exploded, and pure white flames and lightning swirled to Leo's left and right.
-Who are you? I clearly should have perished?
-How did you summon me?
Phoenix and Pegasus looked at the white-haired young man with bewildered faces.
-Katariu, Albus…!
Shilrod called the two beast kings.
-Shilrod?
-Why are you so old?
The Phoenix King and the Pegasus King looked at Shilrod with surprise.
-Well… 5000 years have passed.
-5000 years?
-My goodness…!
Katariu and Albus reacted with near shock at Shilrod's words.
-Why did you live for 5000 years, for heaven's sake!
-Why did you do such a thing!
Beast kings do not have an exact lifespan.
The moment they decide to end their time is the time allotted to them.
But even such beast kings find it difficult to live for more than 1000 years.
In 1000 years, countless things change.
A time when cherished things must be let go of again and again.
For beings with ego, the repetition of farewells is a cruel and terrible pain.
The pain of parting with a beloved being is equal for everyone.
That is why even beast kings with strong willpower grow weary.
As the two beast kings knew how terrible it was to live for 5000 years, they couldn't help but be angry.
Shilrod smiled brightly, seeing the two angry ones.
It was Katariu and Albus who had guided Shilrod, who was born as a successor but did not inherit the knowledge of the fairy king, to become a proper fairy king.
To Shilrod, the two beast kings were more like mothers and older sisters than comrades.
-You're laughing at this?
Katariu raised an eyebrow.
But the laughter did not stop.
Seeing Shilrod like that, Katariu could no longer be angry.
Because she knew there must have been a reason why he had no choice but to choose a life of 5000 years.
"Aren't you surprised at all that the world was saved?"
-Of course not. Because it's Lisinas.
-Because Kyle would never give up.
At Leo's words, Katariu and Albus showed strong faith in their pact-holder.
-By the way, did that damn flame of calamity revive after 5000 years? That damn Kyle! He should have done it properly!
Katariu grumbled with a displeased look.
At that moment, Albus tried to kick Katariu with his hind leg.
-What are you doing!
-You, on the other hand, don't insult my pact-holder!
Leo chuckled, watching the two snarling beast kings.
"I miss this."
At his words, their gaze turned to Leo.
The question they had set aside about Leo resurfaced.
Who on earth was this young man who had summoned two beast kings as spirits?
The moment they looked at Leo.
Albus's eyes widened.
-Could it be… Kyle?
-What?
Katariu also looked surprised.
"We can greet each other a little later."
Leo stirred his spiritual energy.
"Now is the time to settle the past."
Woong-!
As the summoning circle unfolded, Fiora and Arti appeared.
For the two in spirit form to exercise their power without limitation, a medium was needed.
"Fiora, Arti. I'll borrow your bodies for a moment."
-It's an honor.
-Hwaaaah! To have my body taken over! I love it so much!
Fiora bowed elegantly, and Arti rejoiced.
Flash-! Kwaaaaaaa-!
Leo possessed Katariu and Albus.
-Such absurdity…
Erebus's face was stained with shock.
Hwaak-!
Albus, with Leo on his back, soared high into the sky.
As Leo extended his right hand, Katariu elegantly sat upon it.
Shilrod still sat on Leo's left shoulder.
Leo met Erebus's gaze.
"Well then."
A murderous smile played on Leo's lips.
"Shall we fight with a new pattern you don't know?"