Book 1 Chapter 887

887.

A pure white flash, wreathed in lightning, cut across space.

Kiiiiing-!

A sharp, piercing sound, cleaving the air, echoed in the wake of the flash.

And a moment later, a massive shockwave devastated the surrounding area.

Albus, possessing Arty, chased after Erebus, who moved at an invisible speed.

The Pegasus King was the fastest being among all life forms in the world. His speed was such that it created the illusion of teleportation. Moreover, he could control that speed at will.

Pwaaat-! Erebus stopped in mid-air. The primordial evil, enveloped in black flames. He took the form of a gigantic flame giant, but his movement speed was incongruous with his massive size.

Uduuududuk-! Kwadeuk-! Erebus's body instantly began to shrink. No matter how transcendent his speed, escaping the Pegasus King was impossible. In that case, his massive body was nothing more than an easy target.

Shrinking in an instant to the size of a human, Erebus opened his mouth wide. Goooooo-! A destructive aura flickered within his mouth. Kwaaaaaaa! A breath of black flames targeted Leo.

Seeing this, Leo gripped Albus's mane and unleashed his spirit energy. Pazizijik! Pure white lightning raged.

A Beastmaster's ability is to maximize the abilities of their summoned beasts.

-Kyle! You've become even more amazing!

"Of course!"

Albus's lightning formed a shield.

Banjeok-! Leo, having pierced the black flames, raised his hand. Hwarureureuk-! White flames flickered at his fingertips. Pat-! As Leo clenched his fist, the white flames took the form of a sword. Woong-! An aura of purity gathered on the sword made of white flames.

-Amazing! It's completely different from Lisinas's summoning, isn't it?!

As Katariou, now in sword form, reacted with surprise, Leo said, "Because Lisinas and I are different."

-Hmph! Still, Lisinas is the best!

"I agree."

Gerdinger's flames flickered from Leo's body, then crimson flames overlaid the white flames. After that, Dweno's golden flames enveloped Leo and Albus like armor.

Watching Leo rapidly close the distance, Erebus's black eyes gleamed. Hwarureuk- A sword made of black flames appeared in Erebus's hand. Leo's eyes blazed with hatred. It was the sword that had taken the lives of Luna and Lisinas.

Kwak-! The swords of flame clashed. Kwaaaaaaa-! Flames entwined with flames, then soared into the sky as grey flames.

Flames spewed from Erebus's body, quickly taking the form of beasts. Beasts with vicious teeth lunged, tearing at Leo's body. Kwadeuk-! Hwarureureuk! Golden flames protected Leo's body.

Leo extended his opposite hand, the one not holding the sword. As the Punishing Spear, emitting lightning, was summoned, he plunged it into Erebus's face without hesitation. Kwadeuk-! Hwaak-! Pababababat! The lightning spewing from the spear blew off Erebus's face. The power of the black flames momentarily faltered.

Seizing the opportunity, Leo, with an aura around his legs, kicked Erebus. Kwaang! Space distorted, and Erebus's body was sent flying. His entire body shattered into pieces and scattered, but Erebus's body soon returned to its original state.

At that moment. Silroad's magic bound Erebus's body.

-Useless endeavor.

The moment Erebus tried to break Silroad's magic. Kwak-! The Punishing Spear, imbued with Albus's power, flew and plunged into Erebus's chest. The Punishing Spear was imbued with Arion's golden aura.

"Hide-and-seek is over." The balance of the battle, which had been even until just before the summoning of the Beast Kings, was broken the moment Leo summoned them. Erebus from the Age of Calamity, though in his complete form, faced Leo, who had become his future self. The Erebus of the past could never defeat Leo.

After his reincarnation. Leo had replayed the battle with Erebus countless times in his mind. 'What if I had done something different back then, would they not have died?' One by one. He vividly remembered the final moments of his friends, and so he had lived a life of regret, dissecting every choice he made at that time.

Hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands. He spent hundreds of millions of times imagining how he would fight Erebus. Because of this, Leo knew the Erebus of the past perfectly, and that difference was decisive. "You, a mere remnant of the past, can never defeat me." It was certainty. A certainty that only one who had endured a painful past of endless regret could possess.

Tak-! Leo gripped Posteritas. Woong-! A magic circle emerged on the blade. If Luna learned magic to make flowers bloom, Leo learned magic to complete this one. He had bound Erebus with aura and summoning magic solely for this one spell.

"Zero." As Leo completed the magic, the sword was enveloped in pure magic. Banjeok-! As Leo swung his sword, a white flash surged. The power of purity silently and cruelly tore Erebus's body to shreds. Hwaak-! The light faded.

Tududuk- Tudududuk-! The black flames died down, and Erebus's body began to crumble into dust.

-Hmph hmph hmph… Hmph hmph hmph hmph hmph.

"What's so funny?"

-It is astounding, the surviving hero. Erebus's eyes turned towards Leo.

-Your appearance, still trying to walk the same path after enduring such pain, is truly astounding. Saaaaaa- -Go ahead and struggle. Leo's red eyes turned towards Erebus.

-The end is, after all, despair… Kwak-! Leo's sword flashed, severing Erebus's neck. Saak- The black flames died down. Erebus's body, now ash, was purified. Leo felt the divine power accumulating in his body and looked down at his hands. Clenching his fist, Leo withdrew his spirit energy. 'Three more to go…'

***

"We won!"

"It's Leo, as expected! To defeat Erebus!"

Chelsea jumped up and down in her seat, cheering, while Karl clenched his fist, a bright smile on his face. "As expected of big brother!"

"Senior Lill, just lie still. Your wounds will reopen." Eliza gently laid down an excited Lill. Melina stood silently, waiting for Leo.

"Professor Mel."

"Yes, student Xia."

"Get some rest."

"Heh heh? Did you find out?"

Melina had been more seriously injured in this battle than Lill. She just wasn't showing it. Her body was such that it wouldn't be strange if she collapsed at any moment. Melina, who had been waiting for Leo with a relaxed smile, suddenly widened her eyes. Chen Xia, who had been looking at Melina's reaction with a puzzled expression, also looked forward and gaped.

"Ah! Brother Leo! Come on… what?" Chelsea also waved her hand, then made a blank expression.

"Eliza, something big has happened."

"Why?"

"I think I have an arrhythmia in my heart." Lill worried about her condition with a serious face. Eliza shook her head gently and glanced at Leo. "Just as I imagined."

"Huh? What?" Eliza snorted at Karl's question.

"The appearance of an adult Leo Flobe."

"How did you imagine him?"

"A cranky old man."

"You're probably the only one who imagined that." Despite Karl's remark, Eliza just snorted.

It was Melina who came forward to greet Leo as he approached the group. "You worked hard, student Leo." Melina smiled softly and bowed her head. Leo, without hesitation, smacked Melina on the head. Buk-!

"Why, why are you hitting me?" Leo said, looking at Melina, who was holding her head and pouting. "You were trying to die, weren't you?" At Leo's words, Melina shrunk her neck. Leo mercilessly pulled Melina's cheek. "Ow ow ow! That hurts! I'm sorry!" Melina was scolded without even thinking of resisting properly. "Go to school and submit a letter of apology."

"A letter of apology at this age is a bit…"

"That's why I'm making you do it. Xia, help Melina with her treatment."

"Yes." At Leo's words, Chen Xia supported Melina. As she did, she kept glancing at Leo, thinking to herself, 'It's more than I imagined, it's bad for my heart.' While Chen Xia calmed herself.

"Brother Leo! You're really cool!" Chelsea approached, smiling brightly.

"He just looks like an old man."

"Don't you need to wear glasses?" Chelsea scrunched up her face at Eliza's words. In response to their reactions, Leo said, "How does it feel to sense death?"

"……"

"……"

Leo realized that the two had felt the moment of death. At his sharp question, the two fell silent. After a moment, it was Chelsea who spoke. "It was scary."

"Don't forget that feeling." Leo patted Chelsea's head. Eliza knew he was also speaking to her and snorted.

"Anyway, to defeat the complete Erebus. No worries from now on, huh?" Karl approached and spoke cheerfully, but Leo slumped down on a nearby rock and said, "Just because we won easily this time doesn't mean future battles will be easy."

"Huh?"

"Because we don't know what form the newly resurrected guy will take." Karl chuckled at Leo's words.

"Still, you'll win in the end, won't you?" Leo burst into laughter at that.

"Of course." While Karl was chuckling.

Kirian flew towards Leo. Seeing this, Karl noticed and stepped back.

-…Father.

-You've worked hard, Kirian. Silroad smiled gently, looking at Kirian. Kirian bit his lip, looking at Silroad.

-Now you can truly become the Fairy King. At those words, Kirian's shoulders trembled. Becoming the Fairy King meant one thing: Silroad's disappearance.

'What kind of expression should I make?' Should I cry? Or should I act like a Fairy King? Or should I show my usual boisterous self? Kirian didn't know what would reassure Silroad. It was when Kirian hesitated.

-Is this fairy your successor? Katariou, in spirit form, appeared.

-He's quite dignified. Albus, also in spirit form, smiled gently. The time allotted to the two Beast Kings was also short. The reason they appeared here was literally due to Silroad's magic. A vision. But even as a vision, it was possible to designate a successor. The Beast King's contract ritual was not about passing on special powers. It was simply about awakening the Beast King's authority in one who was qualified. And currently, there was a Phoenix and a Pegasus here worthy of succeeding the Beast Kings.

-By the way, Albus, your successor seems to be a mess, doesn't he? Katariou sneered. Albus's eyes twitched at his words.

-Why?

-Arty, wasn't it? That Pegasus. That vulgar Pegasus who enjoys being insulted.

"Ahhh! Vulgar, so vulgar! Those words with that arrogant gaze! I love it so much!" Arty trembled with delight.

-Hmph hmph! Compared to that, look at the child who will be my successor. She's still young, but she's so dignified!

"Though I am inadequate, I will become a Phoenix worthy of the position as Lord Katariou's successor." Fiona, in her adult form, elegantly lifted her chin. One could truly feel the dignity of a Phoenix.

Watching such a Fiona, Albus looked at Arty with a slightly pained expression. Kirian, observing this, rummaged through his pocket, pulled something out, and scattered it on the ground. Jwaareureureuk-! What rolled on the dirt ground like bird feed was none other than chocolate. It was when the summoned beasts looked at Kirian with puzzled faces due to his sudden action.

"Chocolate!" Fiona, who had been standing with her chin held high and her back straight, was startled, then sat down on the ground and frantically began to pick up and eat the chocolate that had fallen. Katariou's jaw dropped.

-Snap out of it, Phoenix King. That 'Pheonix' is like a pigeon picking up fallen snacks. Dignity, my foot. Kirian made a disgusted expression, and Fiona glared up at him. But her mouth was stained with chocolate, and her hands picking up the fallen chocolate did not stop. Kirian, making a disgusted expression, showed his usual self, so that Silroad could be at ease.

-You've truly grown up. Silroad smiled faintly.

-You even know how to consider your father.

-…… Kirian bit his lip tightly.

-Kirian. Silroad calmly called his son's name and embraced Kirian. Patting his back, Silroad said,

-I certainly lived a life bound by the past. Even though the world was filled with light, I remained alone in the darkness.

-I couldn't live the life I wanted. The desire to adventure the world, in the end, I could not fulfill.

-I had many regrets, too. I even resented the world. But…

-Even so… I was happy. Silroad spoke with all his heart.

-Building a new home… meeting many fairies… and meeting you and Kiya… I was truly happy. The reason Silroad resisted until the end was to settle the things he couldn't do in the past. But that wasn't the only reason. It was also to protect Fairy Land, the homeland of fairies, which the countless fairies he had met and parted with truly cherished and yearned for. Silroad was certainly looking to the past, but what he never gave up on until the end was the future.

-So, Kirian, don't pity me too much.

-Father… Tears dripped from Kirian's eyes. Silroad attached the last wing to Kirian's back.

Banjeok- Golden light poured from Kirian's wings.

-Congratulations on becoming the Fairy King, Kirian. Kirian smiled brightly, then took out the Ring of Life. And he handed it to Kirian.

Hwarureuk- Silroad's body, which had been holding on until now, began to burn. Silroad looked back. And he smiled gently at the gray-haired young man standing there.

-You, too, miss the past.

"I don't miss it." Kyle said to the last remaining member of the old Arhi.

"I remember it so I don't forget it." At those words, Silroad smiled brightly. Hwareuk-! Soon, Silroad's body turned to ash and disappeared.

By then, the group was standing in the middle of the Fairy Forest. Leo spread his palm and caught the scattered ashes.

"Now I can't even tease you for being a crybaby." Leo looked up at the sky.

"For 5000 years… you truly worked hard."