Chapter 481
Chapter Title: True Successor
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481.
“From the sky!”
Lil burst through the bushes, her expression urgent.
Her face paled when she saw Artkan confronting Leo.
“A demon?”
*Fwoosh-!*
Closing the distance with incredible speed, Lil swung the battle hammer in her hand and slammed it into Artkan's head.
*Crack-!*
With a tremendous sound, the grass and trees around Lil and Artkan bent away from the impact.
*‘He didn’t even flinch?’*
Despite taking a blow packed with immense power head-on, Artkan’s expression didn’t change in the slightest.
He hadn't made any move to defend or block.
It was as if Lil’s attack had done no damage at all.
Artkan’s gaze shifted to Lil.
“It's rude to interrupt when the adults are talking.”
Seeing Artkan speak with a gentle smile, Lil felt a chill run down her spine.
*Thump-!*
As Artkan grabbed Lil's hammer, dark red sparks flew.
*Sizzle-!*
*Slice-!*
In that instant, Artkan’s wrist was severed.
*Swoosh-!*
Watching his hand turn to sand and scatter, Artkan looked at Leo.
“Don't touch her.”
Leo’s voice was laced with profound killing intent.
“Th-thank you, Master.”
Lil said, breaking into a cold sweat as she put a safe distance between herself and Artkan.
“Master…”
Artkan wore a look of interest.
“Hahaha! Hahahaha! I see. So it is! That girl is just like those two.”
“Those two?”
Lil looked puzzled at Artkan's words.
“Master, do you know that demon?”
Lil asked in a flustered voice, hearing words that suggested they were acquainted.
“Hehe, we have quite a deep connection. In a way, you and I might have formed a connection as well.”
“Cut the crap.”
Killing intent poured from Leo’s body.
Seeing this, Lil instinctively took a step back.
Artkan bowed his head to Leo.
“I apologize if I have sullied your ears.”
*‘Provoking him any further would be truly dangerous.’*
Having served as the Necro-King's right-hand man for 5,000 years, Artkan knew Leo all too well.
With the major threat of the Knight of the Netherworld present, Leo was not the type to recklessly charge in to settle old scores.
*‘If I provoke him any more, he’ll try to kill me by any means necessary.’*
The reason Artkan hadn't called Leo the 'surviving hero' was to avoid getting on his nerves as much as possible.
*‘He's different from when we met in Shan half a year ago.’*
Leo was regaining the power of his past life at an incredible rate.
And that speed had only accelerated due to the rewards he'd gained from conquering the worlds of Dweno and Lisinas.
*‘He hasn't reached his peak yet... but he has more than enough power to annihilate me.’*
Besides, he was none other than Kyle, the Hero of the Beginning.
*‘The one who has mastered the art of hunting demons.’*
The Great Hero most feared by the demons was none other than Kyle.
5,000 years ago.
Artkan had fought every Great Hero, but the battle that remained etched in his memory as the most terrifying was the one against Kyle.
As an All-Class, Leo used a variety of skills.
Against other Great Heroes who specialized in a single area, one could create an opening to escape, but with Leo, it was nearly impossible.
“Well then, since the stage is set, I shall take my leave.”
Artkan curled his lips into a smile and vanished into the darkness.
Watching him disappear, Lil asked.
“Who was that?”
It was clear even at a glance that he was an extraordinary high-ranking demon.
“The Grand Duke of Funerals.”
“Hup!”
*Grip-*
His grip on his sword tightened.
In his past life, it was Artkan who had orphaned Bihar.
And it was also Artkan who had orphaned Berkia when she was just an infant.
High-ranking necromancers command the dead they have killed.
Later, Artkan made a mockery of Bihar by turning his comrades into the undead.
He resurrected Berkia’s parents, whom she couldn't even remember, as undead, tearing her heart to pieces.
*‘I’m sorry for being such a poor master.’*
Leo closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
“Lil.”
“Yes.”
“I want you to be the one to defeat him.”
Lil looked bewildered by the sudden remark.
But as Leo stared at the spot where Artkan had vanished, his profile looked somewhat angry, yet also sad.
Looking at him, Lil spoke as if making a vow.
“Yes! I will defeat him, no matter what.”
At her determined reply, Leo gave a slight smile.
It was then.
*Gwoooooo-!*
An unusual aura emanated from the sky.
A jet-black aura was gathering in one spot.
*‘Is he planning to launch a sword strike at the capital?’*
Leo lowered his stance.
If an attack of that magnitude struck the capital, countless people would surely die.
*Gwoooo-!*
The moment a gray aura began to form around Leo's body.
*Flash! K-gwagwagwagwa!*
A pillar of pure white light shot down from the sky.
The Knight of the Netherworld irritably swung his greatsword, batting away the white pillar.
*Kwagagang!*
The jet-black aura and the white pillar mixed and flew into the capital's walls.
*Kwagagagagaga-!*
The capital's walls could be seen crumbling helplessly.
“A spirit of light?”
Lil muttered with a stunned expression.
Leo narrowed his eyes and looked in another direction.
Standing there were seven people, led by a man in a pure white robe.
Seeing the emblem embroidered on the fluttering robe, Leo muttered.
“The Justice Guild.”
***
“Hoh?”
Tamus let out a sound of admiration as he looked at those blocking his path.
“So there are some decent heroes in this era after all.”
“It is an honor to meet you. You are the Knight of the Netherworld, our senior, I presume?”
“And who are you?”
“I am the Light Seeker, Jerome. Though I am lacking, I serve as the head of the Justice Guild.”
“A guild. You mean a group of heroes from this era?”
“You are well informed.”
Jerome gave a gentle smile.
“But unlike the other seniors who began appearing yesterday, you seem to be in a perfectly sound state, senior.”
Jerome looked at Tamus with a meaningful expression.
“Seeing dead heroes suddenly appear as undead made me consider several things.”
“What did you consider?”
“The Necro-King suddenly obtained immense power. And with that power, he summoned heroes as undead. I imagine those with insufficient qualities as heroes were corrupted into undead. Also.”
“Also?”
“I thought that undead with sound minds, like you, would also appear. And that they would have betrayed the world.”
Jerome shrugged.
“In fact, are you not a coward who once turned your back on a threat to the world?”
*Kwagagagagagang-!*
A jet-black aura engulfed Jerome.
But the jet-black aura was blocked by a blue aura.
A knight holding a bastard sword and shield stood firmly in front of Jerome, protecting him.
“Not bad.”
Tamus's lips twisted into a sneer.
“Jerome, was it? Watch your tongue. I am merely using the Necro-King.”
“Using him?”
“That's right. He believes he can control me with his power as he pleases, but…”
Tamus raised his hand.
*Gwoooooooooo-!*
A powerful aura of death erupted from his hand.
A moment later.
*Gwoaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar-!*
A roar echoed out.
Jerome's gaze turned to the area outside the city walls.
Countless undead were rising from the ground.
“Necromancy?”
“No, it is Spiritmancy.”
Tamus said in a voice tinged with amusement.
“These are the mighty soldiers who once commanded the continent with me long ago. The Necro-King's power may have revived them, but they still pledge their loyalty to me. He cannot exert control over me. In fact, my mind controls his power.”
*Clack-*
Tamus readjusted his grip on his greatsword.
“Remember this, Jerome. Not all heroes are the same just because their names are in the Hero Record.”
Beneath his hood, Tamus's eyes glinted.
“You lot who easily became heroes by inheriting the powers of your predecessors through the Hero Record cannot be called true heroes. You're nothing more than mass-produced fakes.”
Tamus scoffed.
“Heroes with weak minds or fakes like you might be reduced to the Necro-King's slaves, but I am on a different level.”
“I agree that not all heroes are the same just because they're in the Hero Record.”
Jerome let out a hollow laugh.
“But the rest is baseless nonsense. So, what is your goal now that you've been revived?”
“First, I will create an army of spirits and conquer Tartaros. Then, after unifying the continent, I will rule this world as an immortal hero. It is the duty of a great hero to lead the lowly slaves down the right path. By doing so, I will also prove that the foolish Dragon of Creation was wrong to choose the Knight of Twilight over me.”
“Hehe, is that why you ignored the world's crisis? How truly petty.”
Jerome sneered.
Tamus swung his sword.
*Kwagagagagagaga-!*
A massive jet-black slash flew toward Jerome as if to cut him in two.
*Flash-! Kwagagagang-!*
A huge, pure white barrier then absorbed the slash.
It was a spell cast by Chain, the vice guild master of Justice, who was standing beside Jerome.
Tamus's slash, which had been absorbed by the barrier, was sent back.
“Hmph, Seirun's magic, Counter Shield?”
Seeing the magic, Tamus curled his lip and extended his sword.
The jet-black strike was sucked into Tamus's sword.
Seeing this, Chain narrowed his eyes.
“Master, that sword…”
“Yes… It's Nox, the divine sword forged by Lord Dweno.”
Nox.
The legendary greatsword Dweno had forged during the Age of Calamity, reminiscing about the beautiful night sky.
“A Hero Weapon?”
Greed flickered in the eyes of the knight among the Justice Guild's executives.
“You people probably use fakes obtained through the Hero Record, but there are no fakes among my treasures.”
Tamus curled his lip into a smirk.
“This sword is a genuine article left behind by the God of Blacksmiths.”
“Indeed, as expected of the man who built the most powerful empire in the world, you seem to possess countless treasures.”
Jerome stroked his chin.
“It will be rewarding to defeat you.”
“It is impossible with your power.”
“This party has even defeated a Legion Commander in the World of Heroes. Do you really think you can beat us?”
Jerome stirred his spiritual power.
Countless spirits of light appeared in the air.
Jerome's expression changed drastically.
“Tamus, betrayer of the world. As a hero of this age, in the name of justice, I will eliminate you.”
“Leading the world is the duty of a true hero. Fake heroes who rose to their station through the power of the Hero Record have no place in this world.”
Just as a massive aura began to stir from Tamus's body.
*Woooong-!*
Nox, which had been emanating a jet-black darkness, reacted.
“Hm?”
Tamus's eyes twitched.
*Fwoosh-!*
In that instant, golden flames erupted.
“Kuh?!”
The immense heat from his hand made Tamus drop Nox without thinking.
*Fwoooo-!*
*Thud-!*
As Nox fell toward the ground, it was caught by someone's hand.
In that moment, starlight began to twinkle on the jet-black blade.
Leo slung the transformed Nox, now resembling a beautiful night sky, over his shoulder and clicked his tongue.
“A pair of fools, spouting the same crap.”
“Leo Flove.”
Jerome narrowed his eyes.
“Isn't this stage still too early for you?”
Despite Jerome's words, Leo flew up to a similar height.
“Do my words mean nothing to you?”
Leo ignored Jerome's words.
Watching Leo, Jerome let out a hollow laugh.
“Your attitude toward a senior is utterly disrespectful.”
“I don't recall having a senior like you.”
Leo replied nonchalantly and turned to Tamus.
“You're the Knight of the Netherworld?”
“…”
At Leo's question, Tamus stared intently at him.
After a moment, he spoke.
“Those eyes, that tone. I see… what he said was true. You're just like I saw in the World of Heroes.”
Tamus's lips curled into a smile.
“I've been wanting to meet you, Hero of the Beginning. My name is Tamus.”
Tamus, who had been arrogant until now, showed a sign of respect.
“Your true successor.”
At Tamus's sudden declaration, the members of the Justice Guild's eyes widened.
They couldn't comprehend what he had just said.
Leo cleaned his ear with his pinky and asked.
“What was that? Say it again.”
“I said, I am your true successor.”
To that, Leo replied with a blank expression.
“Madman.”
