Book 1 Chapter 956

Ar followed Agon in a hurry.

Just chasing after Agon, who was running through the back alleys of Leysar at an incredible speed, was enough to make Ar's breath catch in his throat.

'I didn't know when I saw you in Arion's world in my first year.'

Ar also knew that Agon was strong.

After all, he was Arion's master, not anyone else.

But even so, he had never imagined he would be this strong.

Ar had gained overwhelming strength compared to two years ago.

Although still young, he had become a powerful individual who could no longer be called a novice.

Yet, Ar couldn't gauge Agon's strength.

'It's like Arion and Azonia.'

Ar gritted his teeth and put more power into his feet to close the distance with Agon.

Taaat-!

The moment Ar's speed increased further.

Agon suddenly stopped in his tracks.

"Keck?!"

Ar let out a scream and slowed down.

Having narrowly slowed down, Ar was able to stop after bumping his forehead slightly against Agon's solid back.

Agon turned around and said to Ar.

"Amazing. To possess such power at such a young age."

"Yes? Ah! It's because my teacher is so good at teaching."

"I didn't know Arion was also skilled at teaching. I thought he was good at learning but not at teaching."

"Yes?"

"Aren't you Arion's student?"

"Ah, yes, you could say that."

Ar had a flustered expression.

"But… how did you know?"

"Because you used Arion's technique."

"Ah…"

Extrasensory Perception.

A technique Agon taught Arion.

More precisely, he taught him how to control Extrasensory Perception.

Extrasensory Perception itself was a power Arion had possessed since he was young.

Thanks to being swayed by that power since childhood, Arion had become a terrible coward.

"I didn't expect you to be able to teach this ability to others."

At Agon's mumbling, Ar recalled another person who had taught him this ability.

'Black Rabbit.'

It was Leo who helped with the awakening of Extrasensory Perception.

As Agon said, Arion's teaching ability was so bad it was despairing.

Ar wagged his tail.

"Indeed… that child has grown enough to take in a disciple."

A faint smile formed on Agon's lips.

Ar saw a glimpse of the Agon he remembered, a stark contrast to his previously dry, sandy demeanor.

Seeing that, Ar clenched his fist and said.

"Agon-nim! Erebus might be summoned to Leysar soon!"

Ar said urgently.

Currently, attackers were working hard to prevent the worst-case scenario of Erebus's summoning.

Shadows were also moving.

However, they were also prepared for the eventuality that they couldn't stop Erebus's summoning.

In case of an emergency, the hero candidates were also preparing for a siege.

In such a situation, one more strong person like Agon was needed.

At Ar's words, Agon chuckled.

"Then why don't you leave Leysar quickly?"

"Yes?"

"This city is beyond hope."

Agon said in a cold voice.

Seeing such Agon, Ar swallowed dryly.

The Agon Ar knew was no longer here.

Of course, Ar also knew why Agon had become this way.

At that time… if it weren't for Leo and himself, the orphans would have all been killed by those sent by the lord of Leysar.

Agon knew that too.

Nevertheless, he could not oppose Leysar for so many years.

Agon's epithet was Guardian of the Azure Sky.

It was no exaggeration to say that the refugee city of Leysar was a city he had protected and built.

Although burning with hatred, his mission as a hero suppressed that hatred.

But the hatred that had taken root in Agon's heart did not subside.

The more he suppressed it, the more fiercely it burned.

Eventually, the flames of hatred engulfed Agon.

And this is how it came to be.

Agon vowed revenge on the lord of Leysar and his followers.

In the process, the safety of Leysar was pushed out of his concern.

All that mattered to him was revenge.

"Did you tell me to meet Arion?"

"…"

"I don't want to show him this side of me."

He didn't want to show Arion his ugly self, consumed by hatred and trying to destroy Leysar.

Agon had also heard news of Arion.

He was proud of his disciple who had begun to bring hope to a world of despair.

On the other hand, he hated himself for choosing to hinder his disciple.

That's why Agon didn't meet his disciple.

No, he couldn't.

'…Didn't they say the lord of Leysar was dealt with by Black Rabbit?'

When conquering Arion's world in his first year.

It was Leo who dealt with Revaitan, who would later become the lord of Leysar.

But in actual history, it was Leo who dealt with him.

'And Agon-nim remained as the Guardian of the Azure Sky.'

He was consumed by hatred and tried to drive Leysar into crisis.

But when Leysar actually fell into crisis.

He protected the people.

Had he returned to being a hero who protected people, shedding his hatred and revenge?

'No, if that were the case, Black Rabbit wouldn't have failed to notice.'

It wasn't Agon who executed the traitors.

It was Kyle, the Hero of the Beginning.

Ar clenched his fist.

Then, he opened his eyes wide and looked at Agon.

Ar's blue eyes sparkled.

Seeing those eyes, Agon narrowed his brows.

"Why… are you looking at me like that?"

"Arion-nim always respected Agon-nim."

"…I am not someone worthy of respect now."

"No."

Ar shook his head.

His white hair fluttered.

"Arion-nim will continue to respect Agon-nim."

At the moment of crisis.

In the end, Agon chose to save people, not revenge.

He was a man who was destined to be a hero.

Agon's eyes wavered at Ar's confident words.

In a way, that innocent demeanor.

It reminded him of the orphans.

At that moment.

Fuuuung- Kwaaang-!

Azonia, who flew in from afar, collapsed a building in the alley.

Hudududk-

Azonia, who got up, shouted fiercely.

"That damned fellow! He's really holding back nothing!"

"Azonia-nim! Here! Here!"

Ar called out to Azonia and pointed at Agon.

Azonia's eyes widened.

"Master…?"

"….?"

Agon's eyes were momentarily filled with confusion.

Seeing that, Azonia gave a wry smile.

Of course.

Azonia had met Agon many times.

And she became Agon's disciple and learned from him.

But that was within the world of heroes.

Every time Agon accepted Azonia as a disciple, all memories were erased.

It was the same now.

From Agon's perspective, it was a woman he'd never seen before calling him master.

He couldn't help but be bewildered.

At that moment.

'Master!'

A memory flashed through Agon's mind.

At that, Agon clutched his head.

"Keuk?!"

"Are… are you okay…"

Kwagaagag-!

Just then, Arion landed not far away.

The aftermath caused debris from the building to scatter everywhere.

Ppok-!

A pile of flying stones hit Azonia on the back of the head at the perfect timing.

In that fleeting moment.

Agon disappeared as if he had vanished.

"Don't stop me anymore. I'm going back to Guardsron…"

"You made me miss Master Agon because of you!"

Azonia glared and rushed at Arion, grabbing him by the collar.

"That's too much! Arion-nim! If things had gone well, I could have persuaded Agon-nim…!"

This time, even Ar looked upset and blamed Arion.

"Uh… um…"

Arion looked at Ar and Azonia with a bewildered expression, then looked at the spot where Agon had been.

Then, he gave a wry smile.

"My master doesn't want to see me… I can't help it."

"Don't make me laugh! It's not because of you, it's because I wanted to talk to Master again!"

"Are you saying that knowing how Agon-nim feels!"

Azonia shouted as if spewing fire from her mouth, and Ar also rebuked him.

At that, Arion looked upset.

'No one is on my side.'

"This is it!"

"Catch the terrorists who attacked the city!"

Just then, the voices of Leysar guards could be heard.

Among them were those who acted as heroes in Leysar.

At that, Arion tried to escape.

Azonia grabbed Arion by the back of his neck.

"Where do you think you're going!"

"Let go! I have to get back to Guardsron quickly…!"

"Don't be ridiculous! I'm never letting go! Cat! Catch that damned wolf!"

As Azonia growled, Ar clung to Arion's back.

"Don't let go, ever."

Azonia crouched down and said.

"Let's slip out and rejoin the kids."

Kwaak-!

Azonia leaped.

The three of them escaped the area before a encirclement could form.

***

"This… it's too easy?"

Anjas said to Damian.

It was as he said.

Infiltrating the lord's castle of Leysar was too easy.

Even with a hundred shadows infiltrating the lord's castle, there was no great difficulty.

'Is it a trap?'

Anjas couldn't help but think so.

Damian replied to Anjas's question.

"It's bound to be easy. Shadows don't exist in this era."

"Ah…"

The Age of Calamity was an era where shadows did not exist.

As such, their vigilance was also bound to be lax.

A hundred shadows began to search the vast lord's castle from top to bottom.

All of them were skilled at rooting out and executing traitors.

In this Age of Calamity, they felt disgust towards the heroes, including the lord of Leysar, who had sold their souls.

A moment later.

Damian and Anjas arrived in a room in the basement of the lord's castle.

And upon seeing a huge summoning circle, their faces hardened.

"This is…"

"It's dark magic."

Anjas quickly analyzed the magic circle.

"A complex magic circle that I can't understand… It seems like this is a summoning circle."

Saying so, Anjas generated mana.

"Should I destroy it?"

"…"

Damian approached the magic circle.

Fuwafuwafuwa-

Golden flames appeared in Damian's hand.

He protected his hand with the flame of gold and brought it to the summoning circle.

At that moment.

Kwaaaahhhh-!

Black flames erupted.

"Damian-nim!"

Anjas called out to Damian in surprise.

But Damian silently did not remove his hand from the black flames.

A moment later.

Hwak-!

Damian quickly withdrew his hand from the summoning circle.

He narrowly shook off the black flames that were burning him with the golden flames.

"Are… are you okay?"

Anjas rushed over.

Damian wiped the blood flowing from his eyes and nose and said.

"It seems I can't stop Erebus's summoning."

"Yes?"

"And I also found out what the medium for Erebus's summoning is."

Hatred appeared in Damian's eyes.

"What is it?"

"It's a person."

"Yes?"

"These madmen are trying to summon Erebus by sacrificing a living being."