Chapter 148
Chapter Title: The Awakened Calamity
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Ssssss-
Leo’s body, having pushed its firepower to the limit, cooled down rapidly.
“Leo! When did you learn my family’s magic?”
“I learned it from watching you.”
“What? But that was only one time!”
Leo laughed at the astonished Lunia.
“I used it as a reference to construct the spell formula. Of course, it’s crude compared to the real thing.”
It was just as Leo said.
Although he had created the magic by referencing Lunia’s flames, it was a crude imitation compared to the original.
“What part of this is crude? It’s clearly powerful.”
“It comes with a price.”
“What? What kind of price?”
Leo grabbed his collar and pulled down his shirt slightly.
Lunia flinched upon seeing the burns on Leo’s chest.
She knew Leo had been using flames beyond his limit, even if it meant corroding his own body.
‘Still, isn’t this a bit much?’
Lunia, with a flustered expression, tried to cast a healing spell.
“It’s fine. I’ll do it.”
Leo cast a healing spell on himself and looked toward Erebos.
His gaze was captivated by the black flames.
The detestable flames that had once driven the world to disaster.
The great calamity that had brought terror and despair to the world was right before his eyes.
Killing intent flickered in Leo’s eyes as he tightened his grip on his sword.
Lunia, who had followed Leo into the audience chamber, swallowed dryly.
Seeing it again, she was still overwhelmed.
‘Is Leo not affected at all?’
With that thought, she cautiously approached his side and looked at his profile.
“Le…o?”
All expression had vanished from Leo’s face.
The Leo Flove she knew was a boy who, despite being younger, was infuriatingly more mature than her.
It wasn't the pride or arrogance typical of his age.
Nor was it recklessness; he exuded the aura of a true adult.
A composure that seemed like it would never lose its ease, no matter the situation.
He was even sly like an old man, to the point of being annoying, yet he was a boy she could trust more than anyone.
That was the boy Lunia knew as Leo.
But the Leo before her now showed none of that.
A chillingly blank expression.
And along with it, red eyes emitting a killing intent so intense it could break one’s spirit.
The boy she knew was gone.
For some reason, that fact felt unfamiliar and frightening, and Lunia unconsciously reached out her hand.
Tug-
Leo looked at Lunia, who was pulling on the hem of his clothes.
Seeing Lunia’s somewhat anxious expression, Leo gave a faint smile.
Seeing Leo return to his usual self, Lunia felt a sense of relief and let go of his clothes.
Leo, having regained his composure, calmly assessed the situation.
‘This is a fragment of Erebos.’
As Leo had expected, the Erebos in this world was nothing more than a mere fragment.
A pure mass of power, literally devoid of any will.
Even that power was so weak it was embarrassing to call it Erebos.
‘Of course, even that alone is a catastrophe.’
This fragment, by its very existence, was distorting the World of Heroes.
Though it was only a sliver of power, it was undoubtedly a terrifying monster, too much to handle for now.
‘But that’s only if it had a will.’
Leo flexed his grip on his sword.
‘Now, how should I deal with this damned thing?’
Even if it was just a lump of power, if that power was the unquenchable flame of calamity, it would be tricky to dispose of.
Just as Leo narrowed his eyes.
“What in the world is this?”
Luna’s bewildered voice was heard.
Leo and Lunia looked at Luna.
Luna was staring at Erebos with intensely wary eyes.
“Why is something like this in the audience chamber?”
“Lady Luna. Can you see this?”
Lunia asked, her face a little puzzled.
As far as she knew, the inhabitants of the World of Heroes could not see Erebos.
No matter how great a hero Luna was, she was ultimately a being of the past, long dead and gone.
No matter how real she seemed, she was an illusion that did not truly exist.
Like the other figures in the World of Heroes, she shouldn't have been able to perceive Erebos.
“Of course. It’s this huge, how could I not see it?”
Luna looked at Lunia as if to ask what she was talking about.
“Lunia, has Erebos changed at all from when you saw it before?”
At Leo’s question, Lunia looked at Erebos with a tense expression.
“No, it’s the same.”
At Lunia’s answer, Leo narrowed his eyes.
‘What’s the difference?’
“So this is that monster you were talking about? Then it’s simple! Let’s get rid of it right now before it wakes up!”
“W-wait a minute, Lady Luna! You can’t act rashly!”
Startled, Lunia tried to stop Luna.
But Luna was a quirky individual whose actions always preceded her words.
Gripping Folium, Luna unleashed her magic.
Flash-!
With that, countless magic circles embroidered the air.
Luna’s immense magical power surged.
Before Lunia could even stop her, Luna’s magic poured forth.
Craaaack-!
Magic spectacularly adorned the air.
At its overwhelming might, Lunia’s jaw dropped.
She was once again filled with reverence for Luna’s unfathomable power.
The aftermath of the explosion filled the entire audience chamber with thick smoke.
When the smoke cleared, Luna’s face twisted in frustration as she saw Erebos revealed.
Despite being hit directly by Luna’s powerful magic, Erebos was unharmed.
Seeing Erebos completely unscathed, Luna’s competitive spirit flared up.
“Oh? Look at this thing.”
“L-Lady Luna! Please, calm down…!”
In storybooks and records, the Progenitor of the Nebula was described as a benevolent and gentle soul.
A great archmage who maintained her serenity in most situations and served as the pillar for the Great Heroes.
That was the common image of Luna.
‘This is why storybooks are a scam.’
The real Luna was hot-blooded and stubborn once her mind was made up.
She had also been the most destructive member of the subjugation party.
One could guess her personality just by looking at the incredibly powerful magic she created.
And now, that Luna was fired up.
Once she got like this, it was nearly impossible to stop her.
‘Nearly.’
Leo approached Luna.
And with a ‘thwack-!’, he smacked the head of the fuming Luna.
“Owwwwww!”
Clutching her head, Luna crouched down and glared at Leo, her eyes welling up with tears.
Seeing this, Lunia was horrified and rushed to Luna’s side.
“L-Lady Luna, are you alright? Leo! How could you hit Lady Luna!”
“She was rampaging like an idiot.”
“Who are you calling an idiot!”
Luna grabbed Leo by the collar and growled.
Pushing her away, Leo said.
“Calm down. That monster can’t be defeated by rushing in recklessly.”
At those words, Luna paused.
Then, with a groan, she glared at Erebos.
Lunia wore a dazed expression as she watched Leo calm Luna down in an instant.
Even in their past lives, it had always been Leo’s job to calm down a rampaging Luna.
‘Why didn’t Luna’s magic work?’
Even if she hadn’t yet perfected Star Magic, Luna’s magic was overwhelming.
It was strange that even a fragment of Erebos could be completely unaffected.
Just as Leo wore a serious expression.
“Insolent…!”
A voice filled with killing intent was heard.
Turning his head, Leo saw the recovered Sid and wore an indifferent expression.
“You’re alive? Persistent, aren’t you?”
“I will not forgive you for trampling this place with your filthy feet…”
“Oh my, there was another bug here?”
Thwack-!
Along with a cheerful voice, a pretty leather shoe stomped on Sid’s head.
For a beautiful girl, her actions were quite rough and cruel.
“Ugh~”
Elena, disgusted, shook off the flesh and blood of Sid that clung to her foot.
Thanks to her magic protection, no blood or flesh actually touched her foot, but she couldn’t avoid the physiological revulsion.
“I came because I was worried. You’re both okay?”
Elena, who entered the audience chamber with a bright smile, noticed Luna and her eyes widened.
“The Progenitor of the Nebula?”
“Progenitor of the Nebula? What’s that? I don’t know who’s called by such a grand name, but it sounds pretty cool.”
Luna’s eyes sparkled with admiration.
“Miss Elena, so.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Elena, with her extensive experience in conquering the World of Heroes, easily grasped the current situation.
She then approached Luna and bowed gracefully.
“I am Elena Jer-on. It’s an honor to meet you.”
“Huh? Right. Nice to meet you. I’m Luna Rubinence.”
Elena smiled faintly.
Then she approached Leo.
“Oh my! Leo, are you hurt?”
Lunia was a bit taken aback seeing Elena fuss over Leo’s body.
‘She met a Great Hero, and that’s her only reaction?’
Elena, who had been bustling over to Leo’s side, suddenly stopped.
“What is that?”
Elena’s usually composed face stiffened slightly.
Her eyes were fixed precisely on the sleeping Erebos.
“It’s Erebos.”
“Erebos?”
She recalled Viner’s words before coming here.
‘He said a god had awakened… was he talking about this?’
Elena’s expression grew tense.
Even she, who never lost her composure, couldn’t help but feel nervous in front of the terrifying calamity from the legends.
But soon, she wore a puzzled look as she saw Erebos showing no reaction at all.
“Is it sleeping?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm. Then it’s simple.”
Smiling faintly, Elena poked Leo’s cheek with her finger.
“Even if it’s a monster, there’s nothing to be afraid of if it can’t move, right? Let’s get rid of it right now.”
Leo pushed Elena’s hand away and stepped forward.
Whoooosh-!
Aura and mana swirled around Leo’s body.
“Hoh?”
Elena let out a sound of admiration.
‘Incredible.’
The power swirling around Leo’s body was not at the level of a first-year.
‘As I thought, he’s a bigger deal than I imagined.’
Elena’s eyes sparkled.
Meeting a Great Hero of the past was a surprising event.
But unlike others, she didn’t attach any more meaning to it.
It wasn't that she didn't respect the Great Heroes.
It was because she didn't dwell much on the past.
‘What’s important is the present.’
Elena’s interest naturally lay more with the person who would become a new Great Hero than with one who had passed away long ago.
Just as Leo was about to use his magic.
“Insolent!”
Sid, who had been stomped by Elena and revived again, recovered and blocked Leo’s path.
“A persistent bug.”
Elena wore an annoyed expression.
“By what right do you run that vulgar mouth!”
Killing intent filled Sid’s eyes.
Looking at him, Elena scoffed.
“What can you possibly do to be so confident…”
Thump-!
Suddenly, a massive heartbeat echoed.
Everyone wore surprised expressions at the sound.
Thump- Thump-
Fwoooosh-
The quietly burning black flames began to blaze fiercely.
Sid turned his head, his face filled with disbelief.
Flash-!
Erebos’s crimson eyes opened.
“L-Lord Erebos!”
Sid’s face was filled with ecstasy.
“Hahaha! The god! The great god has awakened! The god’s will has awakened!”
As Sid trembled, laughing maniacally, the faces of Lunia and Elena turned pale.
“Now! Bow down and worship! You detestable remnants of the Great Heroes! Tremble in fear before the great flame of calamity….”
Crash-!
“Keuk-!”
Erebos’s massive foot stomped on Sid.
Fwoooosh-!
Sid was burned away to nothing.
Groooooowwwwl-!
As it raised its body, black flames began to sweep across the World Tree.
Guwooooooooooooooo-!
With a powerful roar, black flames swelled from Erebos’s body.
The moment they saw it, Lunia and Elena’s instincts screamed.
‘We’re going to die.’
Craaaaaaack-!
A massive wave of black flame engulfed everything.
Lunia squeezed her eyes shut.
Then, realizing she was still alive, she cautiously opened them.
Elena stood beside Lunia with her arms crossed.
‘I had no way to block that… As expected of a progenitor, even if she’s young.’
Elena’s gaze, which had been on Luna’s back as she protected them, moved further ahead.
‘By the way, that boy is…’
“Are you okay? That monster is terrifying.”
The face of Luna, who had been composed until now, was tinged with urgency.
“Did it wake up because of me?”
Seeing Luna grit her teeth, Lunia shook her head.
“I don’t think so. M-more importantly, where’s Leo? What about Leo? Was he swept away by those flames?”
“Leo is right up there.”
Elena pointed straight ahead.
There stood Leo, protecting himself with gray mana.
Leo wiped the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
‘Is this my limit for now?’
He had taken significant damage.
But no matter how strong it was, he wasn’t so weak as to be defeated by a fragment of Erebos.
As the one who had subjugated Erebos, Leo had countermeasures against the unquenchable black flames.
The World Tree and the surrounding area had vanished.
The castle had crumbled, and the world was engulfed in black flames.
It was like the end of the world.
Groooooooo!
In the midst of it all, the fragment of Erebos was roaring.
‘Why did it suddenly start moving?’
Leo frowned.
Erebos, which had been nothing but a will-less shell, had suddenly moved.
‘Did it suddenly gain a will? No. I still can’t feel any will from it.’
Erebos’s eyes held nothing but ferocious madness.
And yet, Erebos was rampaging.
‘Is it because of me?’
Just as Leo hated Erebos.
Erebos also hated Kyle, who had split it into numerous pieces.
If Erebos’s power had awakened based on instinct, it wouldn't be a strange story.
Leo clenched and unclenched his fist.
“What do we do now?”
Elena bit her nails with an anxious expression.
Lunia gritted her teeth.
The two who knew about Erebos felt only one emotion.
Overwhelming despair.
“What do we do? Why ask the obvious?”
Just then, Luna, who had lowered her barrier, spoke calmly.
Lunia and Elena looked at Luna’s back.
With a faint smile, Luna turned around and said.
“We have to defeat that monster.”
At that smile, Elena and Lunia’s eyes widened.
For a moment, that confident appearance overlapped with someone else’s.
“Right? Leo.”
Luna said to Leo.
At her words, Leo smirked.
“Of course.”
Seeing Luna’s unwavering demeanor even in the face of a great calamity, Elena muttered.
“It’s strange.”
“Pardon?”
“I’m talking about how Lady Luna just gave us courage.”
Elena smiled.
“Doesn’t she resemble Leo?”
“…!”
Lunia’s eyes widened.
She looked ahead.
They certainly did resemble each other.
Lunia was surprised as she recalled the school trip.
Stretching her interlaced hands behind her back, Elena gazed at Leo.
“So this is how the first-years felt during the Gigantes incident.”
Her heart stirred.
She had never felt this way in her entire life.
“A hero…”
It was a word she had never admired.
Even if she respected them, she had never once thought of following in their footsteps.
She thought it would always be that way.
But… Leo’s back captivated her gaze.
She found herself looking up to him.
Her heart was drawn to that incredibly radiant figure.
Feeling this, Elena thought.
‘This might not be so bad.’
Despite the desperate situation, the girl who had come to admire a hero for the first time in her life smiled brightly.