Chapter 524
Chapter Title: The Clear-Eyed Fanatic
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*Crack-! Crack-! Krrrrraaaaaack-!*
Leo and Azonia locked hands, their contest of strength beginning.
The aftermath instantly devastated the surrounding area.
Leo clicked his tongue as he looked at Azonia, who was smiling at him.
“Are you enjoying this?”
There was no answer to his question.
The Azonia before him was a fake, manifested by the Hero Record.
She was nothing more than a doll that fought without a will of its own.
However, she perfectly displayed the tendencies and personalities of Damian and Azonia.
Unlike Damian, who had exuded a solemn air, Azonia wore a belligerent smile throughout her fight with Leo.
‘She’s said to enjoy fighting for its own sake, right?’
The title of "Great Warrior" was one Azonia held even before she became one of the Heroes of the Cataclysm.
To be precise, it was the highest station among the beastkin, a tradition passed down since before the Age of Calamity.
Beastkin, born with a belligerent nature that reveled in combat, all harbored a competitive spirit against the strong.
That was why they held a ritual called the Warrior’s Festival to select the strongest among them.
The most renowned beastkin warriors would gather in one place for the Warrior’s Festival.
The one chosen would become the Great Warrior and the leader of the beastkin.
Though the tradition had vanished during the Age of Calamity, it was revived with the start of the Age of Heroes.
‘During the Age of Calamity, Ar-on was the one they tried to name Great Warrior.’
Leo recalled the beastkin who had attempted to bestow the title upon Ar-on back then.
Of course, Ar-on had refused in terror.
Once one ascended to the position of Great Warrior, they had to accept challenges from countless warriors and could never step down until they were defeated.
Intentionally losing was also not permitted.
Besides, given Ar-on’s strength, it was unimaginable that he would ever lose to another.
It was, quite literally, a path of eternal struggle.
The timid Ar-on had no desire to be tormented by ferocious beastkin warriors for the rest of his life.
Leo, still locked in a struggle of strength with Azonia, lowered his stance.
Azonia, her center of gravity suddenly thrown off, staggered.
Leo rammed his shoulder into her abdomen.
*Thwack-!*
Reeling from the immense impact, Azonia flipped backward with a dull thud and was sent flying.
*Thud-!*
But she landed on one hand and immediately charged at Leo again.
*Whoosh-!*
Leo’s face hardened as he watched Azonia close the distance at incredible speed.
‘Our physical strength is about even, but she has the upper hand in speed.’
A corner of Leo’s mouth curled up.
The Age of Calamity ended, and the Age of Heroes began.
The Warrior’s Festival was revived, and the title of Great Warrior was passed down for thousands of years.
The beastkin who rose to the position of Great Warrior always received the title of Hero.
But after Azonia, the Warrior’s Festival disappeared.
Thus, Azonia became the last Great Warrior.
As for why Azonia became the last Great Warrior…
The reason was simple.
‘It’s because she defeated every Great Warrior recorded in the Hero Record, wasn’t it?’
Having ended her struggles even with the Great Warriors of the past, Azonia became the one and only Great Warrior.
Her power was so overwhelming that she usurped the titles of even her predecessors, and eventually, the title of Great Warrior became her exclusive property.
“Let’s see it, then.”
*Grab-!*
Leo blocked Azonia’s knee, which was aimed at his temple, with his hand.
“Whether you’re worthy of being called Ar-on’s successor.”
Shoving Azonia away, Leo drew his sword.
“Hoo.”
He took a deep breath.
Ar-on’s Breathing.
Watching him, Azonia also took a breath.
*C-C-Crack-!*
More power flowed into Azonia’s toned muscles.
The Breath of the Brave.
If Seirun had redefined Star Magic so that elves could learn it…
Azonia had altered Ar-on’s Breathing so that beastkin could use it.
*Wooooo-!*
Aura and spiritual energy enveloped Azonia’s body.
‘Don’t tell me, Spirit Assimilation?’
Leo’s eyes widened at the sight.
This wasn’t Spirit Armored, the high-level spirit art of cloaking the body with a spirit.
It was a trait that allowed one to literally become one with a spirit, freely using its characteristics and power.
It was a powerful ability that not even Leo or Lisinas could use.
‘The power of her contracted spirit isn’t that strong, but it’s been explosively amplified by the aura Azonia is using.’
To Azonia, the spirit’s power was a part of her body.
As such, the increase in power was beyond imagination.
*Wooooo-!*
“Impressive.”
Leo murmured lowly as he watched Azonia use Ar-on’s power in her own way.
Ar-on’s aura flowed from Leo’s body as he let his sword hang low.
*Thrust-!*
Azonia raised a fist and charged at Leo.
Leo rushed forward to meet her.
*Kra-ka-ka-kow-!*
The clash of aura against aura made the barrier Mel had created ripple.
Leo glanced back.
Azonia’s body began to waver, just as Damian’s had a moment ago.
‘So the test involves taking the form of each of the Heroes of the Cataclysm, one by one?’
Leo narrowed his eyes and looked at Mel.
Mel was gritting her teeth.
Unlike Leo, who only needed to focus on fighting the Heroes of the Cataclysm, Mel had to suppress the power radiating from both him and them.
Leo tightened his grip on his sword.
‘I can’t let that thing run rampant out here any longer.’
Leo’s gaze shifted to the open Hero Dungeon.
‘If this came from in there…’
Leo lowered his stance.
‘Then I just have to drag it back inside.’
*Fwoosh-! Whoom-!*
Leo’s body shot forward like a flash of light.
At the same time, he swung his sword at the doll, which had now taken the form of Lumerne.
*Clang-! Kra-ka-ka-kak-!*
Leo locked swords with Lumerne and pushed forward relentlessly.
“Leo-nim!”
Mel’s urgent voice called out.
“I’m going to solve the root of the problem!”
With those words, Leo shoved the doll, now in Lumerne’s form, toward the entrance of the Hero Dungeon.
*Whoosh-!*
The Hero Dungeon emitted a bright light, swallowing both Leo and Lumerne.
***
Upon entering the Hero Dungeon, his vision changed.
Leo quickly assessed his surroundings.
The space was constructed from massive marble blocks.
It was a vast area, like an arena.
Leo could tell at a glance that the architectural style of this place was not of the current era.
‘Looks like a temple from the Age of the Gods.’
The moment he confirmed this place’s existence, Leo was certain that the doll before him was made of divine power.
Leo aimed his sword at the doll in Lumerne’s form.
At that moment.
*Ssk-*
“……?”
Lumerne aimed its sword in the exact same posture as Leo.
Leo narrowed his eyes at the sight.
“Unlike Damian and Azonia, does this one just mimic its opponent’s appearance?”
With a puzzled expression, Leo lowered his stance.
Lumerne then mirrored Leo’s movement like a reflection.
Leo clicked his tongue.
‘I wanted to see what kind of person Lumerne was.’
Even if it was a fake, Leo was curious about Lumerne.
Rodia was to Lisinas.
Seirun was to Luna.
If Azonia and Damian were the successors to Ar-on and Dweno, then Lumerne was undoubtedly his own successor.
‘He must have cleared my World of Heroes.’
Leo didn't know Lumerne.
But that didn't make him deny that Lumerne was his successor.
Lumerne had no direct connection to Leo.
But if he had intended to follow in his footsteps as one of the Heroes of the Cataclysm, that was enough.
‘I was curious to see what part of my power he inherited and how he made it his own.’
Rodia and Seirun, whom he had met in person, were nothing short of admirable.
Damian and Azonia, whom he had just experienced indirectly, were also excellent.
That was why his expectations for Lumerne were also high.
‘And now I suddenly have to fight a mirror image.’
Feeling his excitement wane, Leo charged toward Lumerne.
Lumerne charged back.
*Clang-!*
Sword met sword.
Leo pressed down with his blade and prepared a spell.
*Fwoosh-*
Flames formed in his hand.
At that moment.
*Swoosh-!*
Lumerne used water magic.
‘Not just a simple mirror, then?’
Just as Leo wore a puzzled expression.
*Kra-ka-ka-kak-!*
A vortex of water trapped Leo.
It wasn't a simple whirlpool.
Sharp blades of water rotated within each layer of the vortex.
*Fwoosh! Boom-!*
Leo detonated the flames, bursting the water vortex.
*Swaaaaaaah-!*
Scalding water rained down, and steam filled the air.
Leo readjusted his grip on his sword.
‘This thing, don’t tell me.’
Leo rushed toward Lumerne.
Lumerne took a defensive stance.
*Clang! Kra-ka-ka-ka-kak-!*
Sparks flew as their swords clashed.
Leo slid his blade along Lumerne’s, deflecting it.
Lumerne immediately closed the distance, entering Leo’s guard.
*Flick-!*
It dropped its sword and drew a dagger from its chest.
Leo quickly kicked Lumerne’s arm away.
As the recoil created distance between them, Lumerne immediately opened a subspace and pulled out a spear to gain a ranged advantage.
*Thud-!*
Leo landed on the ground and looked up.
He stared intently at Lumerne, who was radiating fighting spirit.
In that figure, he saw the shadow of someone else.
He had thought it was just a mirror.
But it wasn't.
‘That doll isn’t mirroring me. It *is* Lumerne.’
And Lumerne was perfectly imitating Kyle.
The rhythm of combat.
The martial arts.
The pattern of freely using any weapon according to the opponent's.
And even the use of magic.
‘Fundamentally, it’s different. Our experiences are different. But…’
He could feel that Lumerne was struggling to become Kyle himself.
‘Why?’
Leo wore a bewildered expression.
Simply imitating him wouldn't make one stronger.
Ultimately, Leo and Lumerne were fundamentally different.
Leo was an All-Class.
Lumerne was a Magic Swordsman.
The paths they pursued were bound to be different.
And yet, Lumerne was mimicking Kyle’s every move, like his very shadow.
‘That would only ruin his own potential. And there’s no way he wouldn’t know that.’
Not Rodia, not Seirun, not Azonia, not Damian.
None of the Heroes of the Cataclysm had simply copied Lisinas, Seirun, Ar-on, or Dweno.
All four had sublimated their predecessors’ abilities in their own way.
Just as Leo was feeling perplexed.
*Srrrrk-!*
Lumerne’s form suddenly blurred and then vanished.
To be precise, the doll itself disappeared.
Leo’s eyes twitched at the sight.
At that moment.
*Ruuuuuumble—!*
A heavy door, firmly shut in the distance, opened with a ponderous sound.
Its meaning was simple.
‘Is it an invitation?’
Leo walked forward without hesitation.
‘What is this place? A World of Heroes?’
He became lost in thought as he walked.
‘If it is a World of Heroes, why is a god here?’
It couldn't be a god from the past.
When he had met Pibua in Luna’s world, she had said that she was ultimately a fake, manifested by the record system.
And she had made it clear that a fake could never exert influence on the outside world.
‘Which means the god up ahead is real.’
Leo’s expression grew even more confused.
‘How can a god remain on the mortal plane?’
Five thousand years ago, during the Age of Calamity.
The gods vanished from the mortal plane.
More accurately, they were no longer able to remain there.
That was because Erebos, their sworn enemy, had destroyed the gates connecting the mortal and divine realms, preventing them from coming to the surface.
The remaining gods were then hunted down by Erebos without exception and banished from the mortal plane.
Even after Erebos disappeared, the gates were never restored, and thus the world entered an age without gods.
But now there was a god on the mortal plane?
With a bewildered expression, Leo reached the end of the corridor.
At the end of the corridor was a gray door.
‘Gray. I’m sure Lisinas said that was a color the gods weren’t fond of.’
Leo opened the door with a curious look.
What unfolded before him was a world of infinite bookshelves.
But something else caught his eye before the bookshelves.
A beautiful child—it was hard to tell if it was a boy or a girl—with gray hair and gray eyes was staring at Leo with a stiff expression.
Its appearance was exceedingly beautiful.
Leo knew the child’s identity at a glance.
“How is a god on the mortal plane…”
Before Leo could finish his question, the god clasped its hands together, knelt, and bowed its head.
It looked like a believer greeting a deity.
The sudden, reverent attitude left Leo momentarily speechless.
But he quickly recovered and continued his question.
“How is a god on the mortal plane…”
“This lowly one greets the great and noble Hero of the Beginning.”
It greeted him in a solemn voice.
Leo was at a loss for words again.
“Would you mind answering my question? How is a god on the mortal plane?”
Only after Leo asked for the third time did the god raise its head and meet his eyes.
Its large, gray eyes were shining with pristine clarity.
“The reason I am on the mortal plane is…”
The god, trying to maintain its divine dignity with a reverent expression, suddenly shouted.
“Aaaah! I can’t take it! I just can’t! How can I stay calm with the Hero of the Beginning, Kyle, right in front of me!”
The god, as if having a seizure, prostrated itself flat on the floor and then scuttled over like a cockroach to cling to Leo’s feet.
The grotesque sight made even Leo, who rarely batted an eye at anything, recoil in horror.
“Aaaah, O Hero of the Beginning, Kyle! O my Great Hero! How have you miraculously resurrected after 5,000 long years! This resurrection is surely fate! Your greatness is comparable to a god’s… No, to compare you to lowly, vulgar, and useless beings like gods! This is worthy of divine punishment! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I offer my deepest apologies!”
For the sin of comparing Leo to its own kind, the god began to slam its head against the floor repeatedly.
“Kyle! Your greatness is surely comparable to the Creator’s! Please, grant me your grace! The glory of being able to kiss the soles of your feet! Your grace!”
“……”
He knew that few gods were of sound mind.
He also knew they were a good-for-nothing lot of hedonists who sought only pleasure.
But still, this was an immortal being that maintained the order of the world.
Leo felt a chill run down his spine at the sight of such a being drooling and rubbing its cheek against his shoe.
What was even scarier was that the god’s eyes, through it all, remained pure and clear.
That made it seem even more insane.
‘What is this? A clear-eyed lunatic? No, a fanatic god?’