Chapter 511
Chapter Title: The Descent of Luna
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511.
Tartaros's sudden attack.
For those with power, it might have been a trial to overcome.
But for ordinary people without power, it was nothing short of an unprecedented disaster.
Resistance was impossible.
It wasn't their fault, nor was it due to incompetence.
For those who lived their daily lives diligently, it could only be seen as a bolt from the blue.
Under the protection of the superhumans, people evacuated to safe places beyond the reach of Tartaros's influence.
Those who could handle Aura, magic, or summons to some degree volunteered to join the battlefield, but they were refused by the ones orchestrating the evacuation.
“You can't. With your abilities, you'd only die in vain on the battlefield!”
“B-but surely we could be of some help!”
“I may not look it, but I've held a sword for a long time!”
“No. If you, who are weaker than me, go out there, you'll only be a burden.”
The female elf knight who spoke so firmly clenched her teeth.
“Because even I would just be a hindrance if I went to the front lines right now.”
With a frustrated expression, she knew she wasn't skilled enough to stand on the battlefield not far from here.
That was why she had been assigned to the rear, tasked with protecting the people.
A beastkin warrior with the same duty spoke.
“The rear could be in danger at any moment. So let's stay here and prepare for the worst with us.”
“Mmm…”
“Ah, I understand.”
Clenching their fists and nodding, they prepared for battle with tense faces.
The people trembled with anxiety.
Fortunately, there had been no casualties yet.
There were injured, but thanks to the many mages and summoners, they had avoided any critical situations.
This was only possible because countless heroes and exceptional superhumans had been visiting Lumeria City for the Twilight Festival.
However, the loud explosions and eerie screams from afar instilled a sense of dread in the people, making them feel like they could be in danger at any moment.
*Ruuuumble!*
The ground shook from the aftershocks of powerful magic.
In response, people flinched and hunched their shoulders.
Among them, an elf kept her head down.
Her slender shoulders flinched and trembled with each roaring sound.
With her ears drooping, she sat alone to one side, staring at the floor.
‘It'll be fine.’
Her gaze fixed on the floor, Luna bit her lip hard.
‘Lunia has grown to be dependable.’
She was worthy of being called her successor.
‘The other heroes are reliable too.’
Just as Lunia had said, the heroes responsible for the current era were noble and trustworthy.
‘It's fine even if I don't step in.’
Luna squeezed her eyes shut.
She wanted to stay in this world longer.
A brilliant future she had never been able to witness.
In a world overflowing with possibilities, the things she could do were endless.
When she first started learning magic.
Luna had been captivated by it.
She wanted to see the very limits of magic.
But the world wouldn't leave Luna alone.
The dangers of the world didn't allow her to focus solely on the realm of magic.
And when the world finally regained its peace.
Luna's time had already ended.
‘It doesn't have to be me anymore, right?’
Luna chewed on her lip.
‘I've done more than enough, haven't I?’
I want to stay in this world forever.
There are so many things I want to do.
But what made Luna yearn even more than that was…
‘Now I can be with Kyle in peace.’
She thought about it endlessly.
What would have happened if she had met Kyle in a bright and hopeful world, not a dark and desperate one?
Of course, their first impression would have been terrible.
But she would have gradually become fascinated by the man named Kyle.
‘Maybe we would have had children? Maybe we could have enjoyed a happy, normal life?’
A happiness that was now absolutely unattainable.
‘My time has stopped, but Kyle's time is still moving forward. If that's the case… I want to be with him, even just a little longer.’
It was selfish.
‘But that's not wrong, is it?’
Luna lifted her head slightly.
Her eyes, which always shone brightly, were now glazed over.
‘So, just a little longer…’
Just then, something appeared before Luna's eyes.
“Huh?”
Luna let out a blank exclamation.
Her blurred focus sharpened.
It was a single flower, held in a small hand.
Luna raised her head.
A little elf girl was there, holding the flower out to Luna.
“Pretty lady, are you scared?”
The girl asked with a worried expression.
“Ah.”
“Don't be scared. I'll give you this flower.”
“Thank you.”
Luna accepted the flower and smiled faintly.
“Are you alone, little one? Where are your parents?”
“My mommy is fighting the bad monsters right now!”
The girl said, clutching a doll that was wrapped around her other hand.
Luna had no trouble identifying the doll.
‘A doll of me.’
The elf child, hugging the plush doll dearly, spoke.
“My mommy is super strong! She graduated from Seirun and uses star magic just like Lady Luna, pew pew! So don't worry!”
The girl said with a bright, innocent smile.
At her bright demeanor, Luna couldn't help but let out a laugh.
‘She's like Verchia when she was young.’
So bold, despite the critical situation.
It was the naivety of a child who didn't understand the circumstances… but still, she was so bright.
‘It must be because she's a child who has never known darkness.’
Luna reached out and patted her head.
“You're a brave little lady.”
Just then.
“Ah! It's the pretty drunk lady!”
The little boy who said he admired Dweno the most, whom she had met on the first day of the festival, came running over.
“Miss, I bought a Lady Luna mask too.”
The boy smiled brightly and showed her the Luna mask hanging around his neck.
“Wow…!”
The little elf girl's jaw dropped at the sight, her eyes sparkling.
Seeing her reaction, the boy tilted his head, then took off the mask and offered it to her.
“Want it?”
“Yeah!”
“Let's be friends, then.”
“Okay!”
‘…Kids these days are smooth operators.’
Luna stared blankly as she watched the children laugh brightly, becoming friends so naturally.
“Miss, if you're scared, you can stay with us.”
“What?”
The boy took the bewildered Luna's hand and led her to where the other children were gathered.
Humans, elves, beastkin, dwarves.
Children of various races were huddled together, chatting.
It seemed they had been gathered in one place for a swift evacuation in case of an emergency.
Although there were signs of tension and anxiety, the children seemed to firmly believe that the heroes would protect them.
“Oh, I know that lady. She's the one who told us stories about the Great Heroes yesterday. She said Sir Kyle loves Lady Luna.”
“What does 'love' mean?”
“It means you like someone.”
“Miss, tell us more stories about the Great Heroes!”
“Miss! Me! Tell us about Sir Ar-on…!”
The children looked at Luna and chattered nonstop.
Listening to the children's relentless conversation made her feel dizzy.
A moment later, the children moved on to another topic.
Seeing this, Luna smiled faintly.
‘How will these children grow up?’
“Maybe Sir Ar-on will appear and save us.”
a beastkin child said, clenching their fists.
“Don't you think Sir Dweno might show up too?”
“I want to see Sir Kyle.”
“I want to meet the King of Wisdom!”
They talked about dreamlike things, just as children would.
‘Wow… I can't keep up with this conversation.’
Just as Luna was making a troubled face at the children's ever-changing topics.
“I think Lady Luna will show up.”
The little elf girl who had given Luna the flower said with a flushed face.
“You think so too, right, pretty lady?”
“…”
Luna clenched her fist tightly.
*Kra-ka-ka-ka-BOOM—!*
Just then, a massive explosion erupted nearby.
*Fwhoooosh—!*
Along with it, crimson flames shot up.
“We need to evacuate to another location!”
“Move out! Children first!”
The situation changed rapidly.
Amid urgent shouts, people evacuated the children.
Screams filled the air.
In the chaos, the children screamed too.
It was then.
*Ruuuuuumble—!*
The crimson flames that had soared high into the sky turned black.
Seeing that, Luna's face hardened.
‘The flames of Erebos!’
*Kwoooooooosh—!*
The black flames swept over the people.
Just as Luna was about to summon her magic at the sight.
*Fwoooooooooosh!*
Pure white flames blocked the black flames.
“Kugh!”
Lunia, who had erected the wall of fire, let out a groan.
“Lunia!”
Luna hurriedly called out to Lunia.
With no time to answer, Lunia gritted her teeth, her red eyes flashing as she burned the pure white flames even more fiercely.
“Ahahahahahahaha! This power! The flames of a god! Aaaah! A divine revelation! I can hear His voice!”
Elzenie's ecstatic voice could be heard.
Seeing that, Luna's eyes twitched.
‘That isn't simply the blessing of Erebos.’
Luna saw through Elzenie's situation in a single glance.
‘Erebos is burning his flames using that Legion Commander as a medium.’
Elzenie was the firewood.
The problem was that she was an incredibly large piece of firewood.
The kindling, which was the thought-form of Erebos, used the massive firewood of Elzenie as fuel, burning more and more intensely.
“Weak! So weak! You think you can block my flames with pathetic flames like that? Kyahahahahahaha!”
Along with Elzenie's crazed laughter, the black flames only grew stronger.
“Cut the crap and get lost!!”
Lunia roared, pushing her firepower to its maximum.
*K-gwagagagagag-BOOM—!*
The white flames pushed back the black flames, causing a massive explosion.
“Hah—! Hah—!”
Lunia gasped for breath.
The heroes who had retreated were already reforming their lines.
Luna watched them in silence.
“Lady Luna! Please leave this to us and retreat!”
Lunia shouted.
Despite her words, Luna just stood there silently.
It was then.
*Gwooooooo—!*
Countless summoning circles appeared all around.
Seeing them, the heroes' faces turned pale.
“This power is…”
“Don't tell me… the Necromancer King?!”
*Clank— Clank—*
An army of the dead began to pour out of the summoning circles.
Lunia's face instantly hardened.
“Lady Luna! You have to evacuate now!”
“Y-yes, pretty lady. Let's go.”
Just then, someone grabbed Luna's hand and pulled.
Luna turned her head and looked at the little elf girl holding her hand.
The child's body was trembling.
But, worried about Luna, she had braved the danger and run all the way here.
“Lu!”
Just then, a female elf fighting on the front lines cried out urgently.
A hero and a mage, she wore a bewildered expression upon seeing her daughter.
“Mommy! In front of you!”
The little girl's eyes went wide.
*Fwhooosh—!*
In that fleeting moment, a black flame that had infiltrated their lines tried to swallow the elf mage.
Seeing this, Lunia's eyes widened.
Regardless of strength or weakness, Lunia was currently the only one who could block these black flames.
“Tch!”
The moment Lunia hurriedly tried to cast a spell.
*Flash—! Kra-ka-ka-BOOM—!*
A flash of light shot from behind Lunia and blasted the black flame away.
It sent the black flame flying with overwhelming power.
“Lady Luna?”
Lunia quickly turned around.
There stood Luna, her hand raised.
Luna's eyes met Lunia's, and she gave a gentle smile.
Understanding the meaning of that smile, Lunia's face crumpled as if it would collapse.
“Was your name Lu?”
“Huh?”
Luna looked down at Lu, who was holding her hand, and smiled gently.
“Sorry, this flower… it got ruined.”
Luna showed the flower Lu had given her, then summoned her magic.
A vibrant flower then bloomed in Luna's hand.
Luna placed the flower in Lu's arms.
And then she gave her belated answer.
“This big sis thinks so too. That this Lady Luna will crush all the bad monsters. So don't you worry.”
Reaching out to gently stroke Lu's head, Luna walked forward.
‘If I turn away, I can surely stay here longer.’
I could achieve so much more and spend more happy times with the one I love.
‘But… would that really be me?’
5,000 years ago.
The reason she had stepped forward to save the world.
It wasn't simply to save the world.
‘It was to protect this world that I lived in and loved.’
Did she have regrets about sacrificing so much to protect the world?
‘Like hell I did.’
Did she feel resentment for closing her eyes without accomplishing all she wanted to?
‘None. It was the path I chose.’
Reaching an unimaginably high state as a mage.
The reason she gained the fame she so desired in later generations.
‘It must be because I was myself until the very end. If that's the case…’
I can't turn away here.
‘The moment I turn away, I'll surely stop being me. Right, Kyle?’
Luna smiled, thinking of her friend who had been more dependable than anyone.
‘All of you would have eventually chosen to fight Erebos again, just like me.’
Leo's voice echoed in her mind.
Luna smiled at those words.
‘I think he was right, Kyle.’
*Step— Step—*
*Grab—!*
Lunia unknowingly grabbed Luna as she walked past her.
And with a face on the verge of tears, she said.
“Lady Luna…”
Luna, who had been looking at Lunia for a moment, reached out her hand.
*Fwoosh—!*
Kometes materialized in Luna's hand.
The staff that the Comet Mage had entrusted to the Hero of the Beginning now returned to the Progenitor of the Nebula.
And from there, it was passed down again to the next generation.
“Don't cry. Square your shoulders and lift your head, Lunia El Lundua.”
Luna grinned.
“You are the successor to the Progenitor of the Nebula, after all.”
Lunia bit her lip and held back her tears.
“Watch closely and see what kind of person it is you admire.”
Entrusting the rear to her, Luna walked forward.
*Gwooooooooo—!*
The black flames blazed.
Seeing it, Luna reached out, clenched her fist as if grabbing the empty air, and pulled.
*Kra-ka-ka-ka-ka-BOOM—!*
Space distorted, and someone was dragged out and slammed into the ground.
“This power… Don't tell me.”
The stiff voice of the Necromancer King, who had been observing the situation from a safe place, was heard.
“Yep. That's right, you bag of bones.”
Luna gave a chilling smile.
“Lady Luna has descended. Which means you're fucked, you bastard.”
*Flash—! Kra-ka-ka-ka-BOOM—!*
The moment her words ended, a light of finality engulfed the Necromancer King.