Chapter 246
Chapter Title: The Grand Duke of Funerals
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The Grand Duke of Funerals, Artkan.
He was a confidant of the Necromancer King, Hell Kaiser.
A monster who had survived several decisive battles against the Great Heroes.
Leo, too, had fought Artkan before.
‘He was alive?’
But Leo couldn't hide his surprise at the fact that he had appeared before his very eyes.
He was undoubtedly an infamous demon.
But Leo had never expected him to be alive after thousands of years.
After his reincarnation, Leo had familiarized himself with the recorded high-ranking demons of Tartaros.
Among them, Artkan's name was not present.
Even if he had survived the Age of Calamity, he hadn't appeared in any records for thousands of years, so Leo had assumed he'd been vanquished by others long ago.
Yet here he was, right before his eyes.
Leo broke out in a cold sweat, wary of Artkan.
‘In a way, he's a more troublesome opponent than the new Legion Commanders.’
The experience and skills he had accumulated over 5,000 years were certainly a threat.
‘That bastard possesses power comparable to the top-tier heroes of this era.’
Right now, he was an opponent Leo would struggle to handle.
On top of that, Artkan knew Kyle, the Hero of the Beginning.
‘If he figures out that I'm Kyle, things will get complicated.’
Even as he thought this, Leo didn't let his guard down.
The fortunate thing was that this was the heart of the Shan Empire.
If they just became aware of Artkan's presence, this place had the military power to stop him.
It was then, as Leo sharpened his senses and remained wary of Artkan.
“Hoh. Indeed.”
Artkan's eyes gleamed as he looked at Leo.
“You are worthy of being called the greatest hero candidate of this generation. An All-Class, no less. Yes. It's as if I'm looking at the Hero of the Beginning, Kyle. Hahaha.”
Artkan burst into laughter.
Looking at Artkan, Leo spoke.
“The Grand Duke of Funerals? Judging by the name, you must be a rather high-ranking demon, but I've never heard of such a name.”
He feigned ignorance and asked about his identity.
“Hahaha. I'm just an insignificant demon who goes around picking up corpses.”
One of Hell Kaiser's greatest sources of power was corpses.
And Artkan was tasked with collecting those corpses.
At first glance, it might seem like a trivial job.
But his mission was by no means a light one.
The corpses of those who possessed great power in life could be used to create more powerful undead.
That's why the targets of his collection included the bodies of heroes.
In some cases, he even ‘killed’ them to make corpses.
“Lately, I've also been tasked with assisting the collaborators who help Tartaros.”
At those words, Leo's eyes twitched.
“In that regard, Sir Leo Flove.”
Artkan politely took something from his coat and flicked it at Leo.
*Flick-! Thwip-!*
Leo spread his index and middle fingers and caught what Artkan had thrown.
It was an ordinary piece of paper.
‘A business card?’
“How about accepting our sponsorship? I am confident we can support you better than any hero academy. As an All-Class, Sir Leo, you would surely rise to the ranks of heroes in no time.”
Leo checked the contents of the card.
‘Hero Supporter? Are they collecting Hero Records influenced by Erebos to cultivate useful pawns? It seems my guess was correct.’
And it seemed Artkan was the one in charge of it all.
‘He's still good at pulling strings from behind the scenes.’
The reason the hero academies held such powerful influence in this era was none other than their possession of Hero Records.
The Necromancer King was doing the same thing in the shadows.
Of course, they likely didn't possess as vast a collection of Hero Records as the academies.
But even so, it was certain that many, like Xian, would fall for the temptation of being able to conquer a World of Heroes.
*Fwoosh-*
Without hesitation, Leo burned the card.
“Oh, dear. What a shame.”
Artkan wore a regretful expression.
‘Why is he telling me this information? Does it mean he can kill me anytime, even if I refuse?’
But if Artkan failed to eliminate Leo, this story would surely become known to the world.
‘I see. He doesn't care if it gets out.’
Currently, Tartaros had lost the Monster Queen.
This was undoubtedly Tartaros's greatest loss of power since the end of the Age of Calamity.
Conversely, with the return of a Great Hero and the disappearance of one of its long-standing fears, the world was showing stronger unity than ever before.
In such a situation, what if it became known that Tartaros could use Hero Records to open a World of Heroes and provide its rewards?
There would undoubtedly be those who desired it.
And a massive movement to root out the traitors who collaborated with Tartaros in the shadows would also arise.
While they showed strong unity on the surface, internally, the various races had long-standing conflicts.
It wasn't just a problem between races.
Factional strife existed within the same race.
‘There are plenty of bastards who would use this fact as a means to eliminate their political rivals.’
It could lead to immense social chaos.
But he couldn't just not tell anyone, either.
‘He plans to make it collapse from within? The insidious bastard.’
Thinking of the Necromancer King, Hell Kaiser, Leo gritted his teeth and released his aura.
*Fwooooosh-!*
Seeing this, Artkan raised a hand.
“Well then, shall we have a look at the skills of an All-Class?”
With a gentle smile, skeletons began to pour out from all directions.
These were no ordinary undead.
Each and every one was an undead enhanced by Artkan's dark magic.
While Leo was tied down by the undead, Artkan approached Xian with light steps.
“My, you've been thoroughly beaten, Sir Xian.”
Xian looked up at Artkan with trembling eyes.
Artkan smiled warmly at Xian and reached out his hand.
The right arm, which had been severed by Leo, flew into his hand.
“How fortunate. Sir Leo's swordsmanship is so excellent that it was a clean cut. It seems it won't be difficult to reattach.”
With those words, Artkan used dark magic to heal Xian's arm.
Seeing his severed arm restored, Xian gritted his teeth.
‘Leo Flove.’
“The current Sir Leo easily overwhelms you, Sir Xian.”
“What did you say?”
A murderous glint flashed in Xian's eyes.
Artkan smiled at Xian.
“It's only natural. You both have comparable talent, but Sir Leo is a hero candidate that Lumerne has deliberately nurtured. On top of that, he has also conquered a Great Hero's world. Isn't it only natural there's a difference between you and him?”
“Kgh!”
“If you obtain the sword of the Hero of the Beginning, Kyle, which lies dormant in Shan, and conquer Kyle's world that we possess, you will surely be able to surpass Sir Leo.”
“Yes. That's right.”
Xian stood up.
“If I can just inherit the power of the Hero of the Beginning...”
‘I'll take you down along with him.’
Xian gave Artkan a contemptuous look before disappearing into the darkness.
Watching him go, Artkan laughed.
‘He'll be no match for Leo Flove. Not that he could inherit that man's world in the first place.’
Artkan's gaze turned to Leo.
‘What a monster.’
An ordinary hero candidate would have lost their life to the enhanced undead long ago.
But Leo had turned the enhanced undead to ash in an instant.
He shattered the Skeleton Knight's sword and nullified the Skeleton Mage's magic with a dispel.
*Crack-! Thud- Clatter-clatter-clatter-*
The moment Artkan thought that.
The head of a skeleton rolled to Artkan's feet.
Despite his fierce movements, Leo, whose breathing hadn't even faltered, pointed his sword at Artkan.
“Indeed. You're on a different level from other hero candidates.”
Artkan clapped his hands.
“I'd love to continue watching your little show, but unfortunately, I have things to do.”
Soon, the emperor and the Shadows of Shan would surely notice the disturbance in the imperial palace and make their move.
They were powerful individuals that Xian couldn't handle.
He had to stop them from dealing with Xian.
‘Only members of the imperial family can enter the palace underground.’
Since the founding of Shan, Tartaros had known that the descendants of Bihar had established the empire.
Knowing that Bihar was Kyle's disciple, Tartaros had long coveted the items related to Kyle that Shan was safeguarding.
Finally, that opportunity had arrived. He couldn't let it slip away.
‘Leo Flove is certainly a dangerous element to us. But he's still just a brat.’
Artkan sorted out his priorities in his head.
Currently, his priority was to deal with the Shadows of Shan.
“But rest assured. I will be sure to leave a gift for you.”
Artkan pulled at the empty air as if opening a door.
*Creeeak-!*
A massive stone gate materialized in the air.
Along with it, a crimson-black space opened up.
People walked out from it.
Pale skin.
Lifeless eyes.
Pointing at them, who were like marionettes, Artkan laughed.
“Shadows are the natural enemy of Hero Killers, but conversely, they are also the natural enemy of heroes. And these are all Shadows.”
He bowed politely to Leo.
“They are beings who lived insignificant lives, serving heroes their whole lives only to die in vain, never once receiving recognition. They deny it, but they died resenting heroes. That's why they became such perfect corpses to use. They hold a very deep grudge against you, the greatest hero candidate.”
At the same time, the Shadows charged toward Leo.
*Clang-clang-clang-clang-!*
The sharp sound of weapons clashing rang out.
From the open gate, an endless stream of Shadows emerged.
They were all will-less dead.
Retaining only the skills from their past lives, they raised their blades to slaughter Leo.
*Fwoosh-!*
An aura of flame erupted from Leo's entire body.
“I hope you have a pleasant time.”
Smiling, Artkan turned his body.
Looking at Artkan's back, Leo spoke.
“You know... of all the Legion Commanders, I hate the Necromancer King the most.”
“That's usually the case. He is the most terrifying Legion Commander, after all.”
“It's not for that reason.”
In a low voice, Leo burned his aura even more intensely.
“It's because that bastard makes a mockery of the dead.”
It was natural for demons to consider life insignificant.
But the Necromancer King, Hell Kaiser, who ruled over death, had an even stronger tendency for it.
He did his utmost to deny, ridicule, and mock the lives of the living.
The same was true for the demons under his command.
That was why Leo hated the Necromancer King the most.
*Whoosh-*
“These people's lives were never insignificant.”
Even if they weren't recognized.
Even if they despaired over their own lives.
The reason they fought to the very end was singular.
“They were people who fought for the peace their predecessors protected, in their own way. They are worthy of being called heroes.”
“Does your singular affirmation change anything for those even the gods have turned their backs on?”
“Who gives a damn about the gods' approval?”
*Fwoosh-*
An even more ferocious flame erupted from Leo's body.
The movements of the Shadows touched by that flame came to a halt.
They had been freed from the curse of necromancy.
Watching them find their rest, Artkan's eyes narrowed.
‘Indeed, the flames of a phoenix.’
*Fwoosh-*
Before he knew it, a pair of wings had unfurled from Leo's back.
“Whether they were heroes or Shadows. The will they held has been passed down to future generations, unchanged.”
The hope of reclaiming peace.
The hope Lisinas had wanted to convey was passed on to Kyle.
And that hope was passed to Luna, then to Ar-on... and again to Dweno.
Eventually, it bore fruit when Kyle vanquished Erebos.
The Great Heroes vanished 5,000 years ago.
But the will of the Great Heroes is still being carried on.
‘The spirit we received from Lisinas continues on, unchanged even now.’
The desire to reclaim peace. The desire to protect peace. In the end, they are the same.
From Leo's perspective, both heroes and Shadows were people who sought to carry on their will.
‘That will eventually bore the fruit of vanquishing Tartaros.’
But the Necromancer King was one who laughed at and mocked such lives.
That was why Leo hated him the most.
*Shhh-*
Leo lowered his stance.
Seeing this, Artkan summoned his dark magic.
‘He's just a brat, anyway. Leo Flove's sword won't reach m—’
*FWOOOOOSH-!*
*Crunch!*
“...!”
Artkan's eyes widened as he saw Leo, who had pierced through his barrier and impaled his neck.
*Shwaaaaa-*
Artkan's body crumbled into black sand.
*Grab-!*
Artkan seized Leo's neck.
But soon, even that hand turned to sand and disappeared.
“Who... who are you.”
For the first time, the composure vanished from Artkan's face as he asked, his face pale.
It was because he felt fear.
“Me?”
Leo's red eyes flashed as he looked at the disappearing Artkan.
Leo spoke as if declaring war on the being beyond Artkan's crimson-black eyes.
“The one who will vanquish you.”
*CRUNCH-!*
Leo put strength into his hand and tore off Artkan's head.
*Crumble-!*
Artkan's body, which had fallen to the floor, scattered as sand.
‘So it was a clone, after all.’
The main body must have taken some damage, but he wouldn't die from this.
‘If he was the type to die from something like this, I could have killed him 5,000 years ago.’
Leo dragged his burned body and looked at the Gate of the Dead, which continued to summon the deceased.
A single, decisive blow.
He had aimed for a small opening while Artkan was off guard and landed a hit.
His real body was probably holding back the Shadows of Shan.
‘He won't realize it's me, but it looks like I'll be watched more carefully from now on.’
Taking a deep breath, Leo looked at the undead and spoke.
‘First, I need to give these people their rest... and then dealing with that guy Xian is the priority.’