Chapter 139
Chapter 139
Chapter 139
Hall of Heroes (5)
Yugria A Elskrain.
A survivor of the First Heaven-Demon Great War from 10,000 years ago, and a human hero who claimed countless lives of demons and gods.
She achieved the great feat of annihilating a god who sought to destroy humanity in a one-on-one battle, and in recognition of her accomplishments, she ascended to the 4th floor of the Hall of Heroes, which was essentially the highest level.
Well, no matter how much of a god-slayer she was, it was questionable whether Luciella, a person of the present era, could discover any records or even know the name of someone from 10,000 years ago—not just 1,000 or 2,000 years ago.
Nevertheless, the reason Rudian had assigned Yugria to Luciella was simple.
She was the master who had trained the protagonist 'Abel' in the original story.
"There was a reason why the training ground is such a vast plain."
Luciella muttered quietly as she gazed at the overturned plain that stretched to the horizon.
"That's right! Those on the 1st and 2nd floors get normal training grounds, but we are different."
By 'we,' she likely meant the strong survivors of the Heaven-Demon Great War.
'Any ordinary training ground would be completely destroyed without leaving a trace if we put even a little force into it.'
While Luciella was having such thoughts, Yugria sheathed her sword and smiled broadly.
"I know that damned demons are running rampant in the current era. The gods are also hastily mobilizing their followers to increase their influence on earth in preparation for the end times."
"......"
Suddenly, Luciella recalled that Maria and Rebecca had been attacked by temple forces.
"The fact that you all arrived here in the midst of all this is certainly no mere coincidence. Well, Gabriel grumbles about how fate has been twisted and whatnot. Hehehe!"
For a hero who had lived for 10,000 years, she was quite emotionally rich.
Luciella found her appearance quite fascinating.
'Come to think of it, this is the person who shouted for me to choose her as soon as I arrived here!'
Comparing the voices, they definitely matched.
CLAP!
While Luciella was feeling mixed emotions, Yugria clapped her hands and shouted.
"Good. Now that we've come this far, we should start. Let's set a goal first! You already know that if you don't achieve it, you can't leave, right? Decide carefully!"
"A goal..."
Rudian had said to meet again in 10 years before parting with them.
That meant she should set the maximum level she could achieve in 10 years, considering her own capabilities.
'Based on my current talent and achievements...normally, I should aim for Grand Master.'
But suddenly, this doubt arose.
'Even if I reach Grand Master level and become equal to Archduke Quihiller... Will I be able to definitively surpass them?'
Layla and Dugrid.
The strong ones who had rendered even her, a Sword Master, completely helpless.
Luciella found herself asking Yugria without realizing it.
"I have something to ask."
"Yes, yes, ask anything!"
Since it had been quite a long time since she had seen a living human, Yugria nodded with her face full of goodwill.
Luciella didn't hesitate and asked a question that could hurt Yugria's pride.
"If you were to fight against a 9th class magician or an equivalent being, how overwhelmingly could you win?"
"9th class? Hmph..."
Yugria tilted her head and fell into serious contemplation with a grave expression.
Then, not long after, she casually reached a conclusion as if tossing it out.
"Five seconds should be enough?"
"......"
"Well, during the Heaven-Demon Great War, the Emperor's personal guard members were all at that level. But even when such people attacked in groups, they couldn't even touch the hem of my clothes, let alone mine or Erop's or our people's."
Though Luciella didn't know who Erop referred to, after hearing those words, she decided where to set her goal.
"I've made up my mind."
"Oh? Tell me, tell me!"
CLANG!
Luciella pointed her beloved sword at Yugria with a combative smile.
"To the level where I can land a blow on you."
"......!"
"If I don't reach that level, I won't be able to help with what that person will do in the future."
GRIN!
At those words, Yugria's lips curved up like a mischievous child who had discovered a very interesting toy.
"It might take a thousand years."
"I'll finish it for sure before then."
"Your spirit is really good! I really like it!"
Yugria raised her index finger instead of a sword and pointed it at Luciella.
"Good, come at me."
THUD!
As soon as those words ended, Luciella kicked off from her position and charged at Yugria.
***
While Luciella was beginning her training with Yugria.
The other companions were experiencing similar situations.
"A gorge...? It's quite a steep place."
Elvin, who had emerged from the pillar of light, realized he had arrived at a peculiar location surrounded by mountains.
"You came?"
STARTLED!
Elvin's mind snapped to attention when he heard a voice calling him without sensing any presence.
"An elf...?"
An elf with green hair sitting casually on a protruding part of the hill.
For an elf, he had quite an irritable impression, making Elvin involuntarily gulp.
"Honestly, I'm annoyed to death, but a pact is a pact, so I'll have to take care of you."
The elf bounced his buttocks and safely landed on the ground dozens of meters away.
"Let me introduce myself first. I'm Aelop Rizan. I was called the Elven Lord...but there's no one left who remembers that now, so just call me Aelop."
It was a legendary name that would have made all elves gasp in disbelief if they had known, but unfortunately, the value of that legendary name didn't resonate with Elvin.
But suddenly, Aelop thrust his face close to Elvin's and delivered an unexpectedly menacing warning.
"By the way, if you mispronounce it and call me Erop, I'll kill you about ten times, so you'd better be careful."
'What kind of...crazy elf is this?’
Before Elvin could voice all these inner thoughts, Aelop stepped back slightly and said.
"Well, I understand why you chose me. You also use magic and psionic energy in fusion."
"...! That's right."
"And it's quite stable too? If you had learned only through practice without theory, you could never have become like you... Unless you had a long lifespan like an elf."
Naturally, this was based on the psychic power theory of the Adora civilization that Rudian had taught him, but Aelop's insight in immediately recognizing this was chilling.
Elvin broke out in a cold sweat, feeling that his opponent was truly formidable.
"Yaaawn! Good. Then let's set a goal first. To what level should I train you?"
"......"
Elvin stared at Aelop intently.
Seeing this elf who kept yawning and acting like everything in the world was bothersome, he wondered if he could really receive proper training.
'Of course, he'll probably train me...but I doubt he'll treat me with sincere dedication.'
Rudian had said to meet again in 10 years, but Elvin wasn't confident that even if he grew to his maximum potential during those 10 years, he would really be helpful.
On this point, Elvin and Luciella were in agreement.
'Sorry, Rudian. But to be of help to you...'
I have no choice but to drain this elf's resources completely.
"Whew!"
Elvin took a breath filled with determination.
Then, he executed a life-risking gamble.
"Erop."
TWITCH!
Immediately, murderous intent flashed in Aelop's eyes.
But Elvin ignored it and continued speaking.
"Please train me to the level where I can survive saying this to you."
THUD!
The moment those words ended, somehow a psionic energy arrow was embedded in Elvin's forehead.
Aelop, who had somehow gotten a longbow in his hands, let out a menacing laugh through his teeth.
"Keheheh, a promise is a promise, so I'll have to keep it."
"...Gah!"
The psionic energy began penetrating his brain and tearing through his entire nervous system.
Elvin writhed in agony from the pain coursing through his whole body while desperately glaring at Aelop.
"...But to reach that level, even 10,000 years wouldn't be enough, you damn brat."
POP!
Elvin's head exploded just as those words ended.
***
Unlike Elvin and Luciella, the place assigned to Gray was merely a workshop about the size of a sports ground.
"Seems like everyone else is doing things on a grand scale."
The man summoned in that workshop stroked his chin with an interested expression.
"...You can tell that too?"
"Of course. I'm a 10th class after all. I can roughly tell what's happening beyond the overlapping spaces."
The one called by Gray's 'External Summon' was none other than the head of Celestial and humanity's only 10th class magician, Giovanni Celestial.
"Eugene was quite disappointed. He said you abandoned him."
At those words, Gray immediately frowned.
"That guy isn't our companion! He belongs to a different organization in the first place, so what..."
"Still, please take good care of him. He's quite helpful, isn't he?"
"Hmph!"
Gray snorted.
As Rudian had said, this was just right for that voyeur patient.
Still, when it came to teaching magic, he had been quite sincere and dedicated, so Gray couldn't be too harsh.
"Well, you'll understand his sincerity later on. For now, let's focus on training according to our contract."
"Good."
Giovanni looked at Gray and chuckled.
"Haha, you haven't reached 8th class yet, but well, I'll give you some attribute education. Seeing how you broke through to 7th class in such a short time, you seem to have sufficient talent..."
"Prepare to have your resources drained. I have no intention of being satisfied with just 9th class."
At Gray's spirited words, Giovanni's smile grew even wider.
"Hahaha! Good. Shall we first try to reach the level of constructing a 'Domain'?"
Domain was the exclusive privilege of Great Magicians who had reached 9th class.
Giovanni was speaking as if it were just a casual trip up a mountain peak.
"I won't stop even if you cry in the middle, so be prepared, kid."
"You better prepare to be amazed by this Gray's talent."
Giovanni's magic power began enveloping the entire workshop.
***
"I wonder if everyone is doing well...?"
Rudian had reached a plain similar to Luciella's and was taking a brief rest.
"Well, if nothing major happens, everyone should be doing fine."
The only worry was whether everyone might have set their goals too high due to excessive enthusiasm.
"Hup!"
Unlike the others, Rudian hadn't designated a specific opponent.
He didn't know if his companions would emerge within the 10-year deadline he had set, which was 120 days.
But Rudian, who had many things to do outside, had no intention of dragging out his training time like the others.
'Anyway, in my current situation, it's faster to become stronger by collecting opportunities rather than leisurely training.'
However, that didn't mean he wouldn't train at all.
Since he had assigned Yugria Elskrain, who was Abel's master, to Luciella, Rudian had no choice but to summon a different person.
And the alternative method he chose was very violent and incredibly dangerous.
"Whew...!"
Now that his mind was calm, he was finally resolved.
The reason Rudian had persuaded Kirchrus to obtain all summoning privileges of the Hall of Heroes.
It was to use the system called 'External Summon.'
Like Giovanni whom Gray had summoned, it was the Hall of Heroes' most overpowered ability that could summon any living being regardless of who they were, as long as the target permitted it.
Its overpowered nature was such that even Gabriel could be summoned if there was prior agreement.
But using that overpowered nature, Rudian chose someone far more significant than Gabriel.
"External Summon designation."
The name of a malevolent alien god flowed from between Rudian's lips.
"Yev."