Chapter 431
Chapter Title: The Final Moments of the Brave Hero
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After receiving Melina's call, Leo snuck out of the training grounds and arrived at the mountain's summit.
“A Hero Dungeon appeared, and black flames shot up with it?”
“Yes. I think you need to come with me to Delan right away.”
“Alright. But who’s that next to you?”
Leo pointed a finger at the girl standing beside Melina.
A girl with blonde hair and golden eyes.
Though she had a human form, Leo could easily tell she was a dragon.
The reason Leo treated Melina as casually as ever, despite the presence of a dragon he’d never met, was simple.
If Melina had summoned this dragon here, she wouldn't question the relationship between him and Melina.
‘Though she doesn’t seem to know about my true identity.’
The dragon girl stood there, her face holding a hint of curiosity, trying her best not to show any emotion.
At Leo’s question, Melina smiled warmly.
“This child’s name is Enkinias. I call her En. She may be young, but she is an incredibly wise and intelligent child. She serves as the librarian of Dragonia.”
Hearing she was the librarian of Dragonia, Leo looked at En once more.
Because Lisinas was called the King of Wisdom, the dragons of this era, proud of being his descendants, pursue knowledge.
As such, Dragonia’s library was a treasure trove of wisdom, holding countless ancient texts collected by the dragons.
In addition, the Hero Records of the dragons are also stored in Dragonia’s library.
Therefore, in dragon society, the position of Dragonia’s librarian is a status granted only to special individuals.
‘Wasn’t it a position held by Dragon Lord candidates?’
“En, this is Lord Leo Flove. Be polite and show your respects.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Lord Leo Flove. My name is Enkinias.”
Watching En greet him by slightly lifting the hem of her skirt, Melina shook her head.
“En. You should greet him with the traditional draconic salutation.”
“Ah, yes.”
En awkwardly tapped her right chest three times in greeting.
“You’re still not used to it. I told you to practice.”
“My apologies, Lord.”
‘You’re not one to talk.’
“So, why did you introduce her to me?”
“En possesses a special ability.”
“A special ability?”
“Yes. En.”
At Melina's words, En stood before Leo and met his gaze.
Her golden eyes reflected Leo’s face like a mirror.
In that instant, a brilliant light erupted from En’s entire body.
When the light faded, Leo was standing there.
“Oh?”
“My mana attribute is Copy. This magic is my unique spell, Mirror.”
Using illusion magic to change one’s appearance always leaves some sense of incongruity.
But En’s magic was so perfect it didn’t seem like an illusion at all.
It was literally like looking in a mirror.
“A stand-in for when I’m away?”
“Yes.”
‘Since Melina arranged it, she must be trustworthy.’
From Leo’s perspective, she was a junior from a distant era, but as the Dragon Lord, Melina was a dragon who led the world.
He could trust the way such a person handled things.
“Then I’ll be counting on you, young lady.”
Leaving En, who would be his double, behind, Leo used a warp with Melina to head for Delan.
***
Despite the black flames and the appearance of a Hero Dungeon, the capital city of Delan was no different than usual.
On their way to the dungeon’s location, Melina asked.
“If the Calamity Flames have surged, could it be a Hero Record from the Genesis era?”
“That’s highly likely.”
The fragments of Erebos sealed by the Genesis Heroes are using the Hero Records as a gateway, constantly seeking a chance to return to reality.
“If we defeat the Calamity Flames this time as well, can we purify and absorb them as divine power?”
“Probably?”
Until now, Leo had been dealing with Erebos’s fragments in the World of Heroes.
‘In Luna’s world, and in Seirun’s world.’
Thinking that far, Leo narrowed his eyes.
‘One fragment of Erebos was sealed in a Hero Record, and another was slumbering in Fairy Land, right?’
So far, a total of two fragments of Erebos had been identified.
“Now I have a rough idea of where the third fragment of Erebos is.”
Melina’s eyes widened.
“Where is it?”
“The third fragment of Erebos is probably in the hands of the Necro King.”
Melina’s face stiffened.
“The Necro King?”
“Yes. Seeing as he produced the Calamity Flames back then, it’s safe to assume it’s certain.”
The symbol of the primordial evil, Erebos.
To the demon race, it is the power of a god.
Just as the inhabitants of the mortal realm cannot produce divine power.
The demon race, too, cannot create the Calamity Flames with their own power.
And yet, the Necro King who invaded Lumerne back then spewed forth the Calamity Flames.
“Will it be alright?”
“He won’t be able to awaken the fragment of Erebos right away.”
“Why is that?”
“If the fragment of Erebos had been revived, he wouldn’t be sitting quietly. But he’s also not the type to rashly expose an unawakened Erebos.”
“Then?”
“He has the fragment, but he probably doesn’t know how to awaken it or use its power. The flames he produced back then were because the fragment reacted to me. He won’t be attacking with the fragment of Erebos leading the charge anytime soon. Of course, we can’t be completely optimistic either.”
Leo took a deep breath.
‘I need to regain the power of my past life as soon as possible.’
Thinking this, he stopped walking.
They had arrived in front of the research institute before he knew it.
“It’s chaotic inside.”
“Yes. Because a Hero Dungeon has formed.”
With that thought, Melina waved her hand.
Space distorted.
As Melina walked forward, a massive wall shimmered.
‘She twisted space.’
It was magic befitting the Dragon Lord.
Ignoring all obstacles, Leo and Melina arrived at the place where the Hero Dungeon had appeared.
“Are you certain no one was caught up in the Hero Dungeon?!”
“Yes, sir!”
“Report to the royal palace and request support from the Hero Academy at once—.”
“There’s no need for that.”
“Hah?!”
The general manager, who had been urgently giving orders, flinched and turned his head.
There stood Melina, smiling warmly.
“We’re from Dragonia.”
“A d-dragon?”
“Yes. We will investigate the Hero Dungeon.”
Saying so, Melina looked at Leo.
Leo approached the location of the Hero Dungeon.
The moment he reached out to the distorted space.
[Hero Record Open.]
A now-familiar message appeared before his eyes.
[Ar-on's World. Chapter: Final Chapter - The End]
“What?”
For a moment, Leo’s face hardened at the message that appeared before him.
It was a page he had never expected.
Fwoosh-!
His vision changed.
Fwhoooosh-!
Black flames were burning.
Leo understood why black flames had surged the moment the Hero Dungeon appeared.
A Hero Dungeon encroaches upon the world.
That was why, at times, the situation inside a dungeon would manifest outside as it was forming.
Those black flames were fragments of these flames.
Leo drew in a sharp breath.
The smell of a world burning assaulted his nostrils.
A despairing landscape was seared into his eyes.
All of this was a familiar scene to Leo.
How could he ever forget?
To most people, this scene was the desperate and great deed of the Great Heroes from the stories.
But to Leo, who had been there, this scene was a nightmare itself.
Here, Leo… Kyle… had lost one of the friends he held dearer than his own life.
“Haaaaaaahp!”
Just then, a battle cry struck Leo’s ears.
Flash-!
A golden aura soared high into the sky.
The sword strike of the great Brave Hero, Ar-on.
‘Ar-on at this moment… he was braver than ever before.’
In his final moments, Ar-on lived up to the name of Brave Hero.
He was resolute even as he entered the battlefield.
He sacrificed himself out of fear that his friends would die.
And in the moment of his death, he comforted his weeping comrades.
Because he never doubted that his comrades would save the world.
To ease his comrades’ worries, Ar-on had smiled.
That was why even Leo didn’t know what Ar-on was like when he stood alone against Erebos for his comrades’ sake.
All Leo knew was the sight of Ar-on’s back as he unhesitatingly charged to face Erebos alone at the moment of crisis.
The Brave Hero who fought the primordial evil alone in his last moments.
An Ar-on of those final moments, unknown to Leo, was now right before his eyes.
“Ar… on.”
Leo unknowingly called out the name of his comrade who was on the verge of death.
Clutching the broken ‘Brave’, Ar-on turned his head toward Leo.
Fwhoooosh-!
He could see the Calamity Flames rushing to incinerate Ar-on.
In that instant, Leo ran toward Ar-on.
***
Fwhoooosh-!
“Lisinas! I need a defense!”
Dweno shouted urgently.
Fwhooosh-!
Pure white flames soared.
Kwagagagagang-!
Lisinas gritted his teeth.
Despite nearly losing her life, Luna kept her eyes closed and continued her incantation.
She knew.
That her comrades would protect her.
And so, with an unwavering heart, she carried out her role.
Flash-!
A pure white light flashed in the sky.
Kyle, imbuing Innocent into his sword, unleashed his aura.
A massive slash struck Erebos’s neck.
Fwhoooosh!
“Kuh?!”
“Kyle!”
Dweno, cloaked in flames, charged toward Erebos.
Kwaang-!
The earth’s axis trembled, and Erebos staggered back a few steps.
Kugugugugugugung-!
The ground shook as if in an earthquake.
From the impact, lava erupted from beneath the ground.
A battle so immense it seemed the heavens and earth would be remade.
“We’re running out of time! We have to keep him from getting close until Luna’s magic is complete!”
Lisinas shouted urgently.
“I’ll do it.”
“What?”
Ar-on, having cut through the black flames, stood at the very front and spoke.
“Hey! You idiot! You can’t do it alone—!”
“We’ve always done the impossible, haven’t we?”
Ar-on smiled at Kyle’s shout.
“You guys always said I had great courage, right?”
“Ar-on.”
Dweno called out urgently, but Ar-on didn’t stop.
“Now is the time to summon that courage. You guys protect Luna from Erebos’s attacks. I’ll….”
Ar-on gripped Brave with both hands and lowered his stance.
“I’ll hold him off.”
Kwaang-!
Ar-on became a golden flash and charged at Erebos.
Kwaaaak-!
The soaring golden flash severed Erebos’s arm.
Flash-!
The golden flash hacked Erebos to pieces.
With wide eyes, Ar-on squeezed out every last breath.
‘Move. Faster! Stronger!’
Kwagagagagagak-!
Ar-on, dicing the black giant at an invisible speed, looked like a god of war himself.
‘I am the Brave Hero!’
People praised Ar-on as the Brave Hero.
But Ar-on had found that title to be a burden.
That was why he had constantly denied the title until now.
But now, to gain courage, he repeated the title to himself, steeling his resolve.
‘The one with the greatest courage in the world!’
Spewing blood from his mouth, eyes, and nose, Ar-on kicked off into the air.
Kwaaaaang-!
With a sound that seemed to shake the world, the massive body of the primordial evil flew through the air.
Kwagagagagang-!
Toward the fallen Erebos, Ar-on readjusted his grip on his sword.
“Haaaaaaahp!”
Bwaaaaaaaak! Fwhoosh-!
A golden sword strike bisected Erebos.
The golden slash soared as if to split the very sky.
Jjeojeojeojeok! Kwajik-!
The sword named Courage, Brave, shattered.
The fragments of Brave scattered.
“Heok— Heok—”
Ar-on let out ragged breaths.
His body was a wreck from wringing out power that far surpassed his limits.
His muscles were twisted, and his bones were crushed.
His lungs were so tattered that even breathing was difficult.
Ar-on realized.
‘This is the end.’
He gritted his teeth.
He had already prepared himself for this.
‘I’m not scared. Lisinas… Kyle! Luna! Dweno! They’ll save the world! For that… I’m not scared!’
[What a pathetic Brave Hero you are.]
Then, a voice filled with immense power was heard.
Fwhoooosh-!
Black flames surged.
[To fear death even when you have resigned yourself to it.]
Erebos’s scornful voice echoed in Ar-on’s ears.
[Insignificant creature, your comrades will not be able to stop the ruin.]
Fwhoooosh-!
The black flames blazed to incinerate Ar-on.
His life flashed before his eyes.
[You worked hard living your fleeting life. Now, disappear.]
Ar-on’s face contorted.
‘You don’t have to be like him and live for the world, do you?’
Kyle’s words flashed through his mind.
‘Find what you want to do.’
With that uncharacteristically gentle voice from Kyle as the last thing he heard, Ar-on felt an indescribable terror.
The fear he had forcefully suppressed until now reared its head.
‘I don’t want to die.’
He hadn’t found what he wanted to do yet.
And now he was supposed to die?
‘I don’t want to die!’
How could he call himself a Brave Hero when he was trembling like this in the face of death?
His unfinished resolve crumbled.
The moment Ar-on’s face twisted as if about to cry in the terror of death.
“Ar… on?”
A strange yet familiar voice was heard.
Ar-on looked back.
‘It’s going to be very hard from now on.’
From the depths of his memory.
The face of the boy who had cheered him on came to mind.
‘There will be people you can’t protect, and you’ll face despair from the continuous trials.’
Somehow looking apologetic.
And the boy who had cheered him on with a somehow sad face.
‘But still… you’ll make it through. Because you’re braver than anyone.’
The boy who had shown him infinite faith, even though they’d just met, was now before his eyes.
‘Because you saved the world.’
***
“Ar-ooooooon!!”
He screamed without realizing it, reaching out his hand.
He hadn’t known.
A side of him that not only Leo but all his comrades had never known.
The moment he saw Ar-on’s face, on the verge of tears, he realized.
The Ar-on he thought had faced death resolutely because he was afraid of his friends dying had, in fact, feared death more than anyone.
He had pretended to be resolute for their sake as he met his end.
He had acted like a Brave Hero until the very end, giving them courage.
The moment he realized that, Leo instinctively ran toward Ar-on.
Ar-on also reached out toward Leo.
And the moment their hands touched.
Flash-!
With a flash of pure white light, the world stopped.
***
Crash!
“Keuk?”
“Keoheok!”
“Lord Leo?”
Melina, who was about to follow Leo into the Hero Dungeon, widened her eyes.
The Hero Dungeon closed, and Leo suddenly appeared.
Clutching someone’s hand.
“You are….”
Melina’s face filled with astonishment as she saw the face of the young beastkin, covered in burns and holding a broken sword.
“Lord Ar-on?”