Chapter 584
Chapter Title: Stepping Up
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Fwoooosh-
“What is that?!”
Lunia’s eyes widened at the black flames visible outside the window of the Hero’s Tower.
At the same time, Eiran’s bewildered voice was heard.
“Miss Lunia! Your appearance...?!”
“Huh? You too?”
“Me? Ah!”
Lunia and Eiran, who had taken on the appearances of Seirun and Azonia students, had reverted to their original forms.
It wasn't just the two of them.
Driana had also returned to her original form.
With a flustered expression, Lunia’s shoulders trembled.
“It’s just like that time…”
“That time?”
“When we defeated the fragment of Erebos in Lady Luna's world! It's exactly the same!”
It had been like this when they were conquering Luna's world back in their first year.
As soon as Erebos went berserk, the possession had broken, and they returned to their original forms.
“The people manifested inside the World of Heroes can't perceive that monster's existence!”
Lunia placed a foot on the windowsill.
“We have to stop it! Otherwise, this world will collapse!”
Whoosh-!
Without hesitation, Lunia leaped from the window, and wings of flame unfurled on her back.
It was a spell that manifested the wings of a phoenix.
Seeing this, Driana leaped up and landed on Lunia's back.
“Aren't you getting off?!”
“Don't be so stingy! Give me a ride!”
“What do you think I am?!”
“A model equipped with a ride function.”
“You wanna die?!”
“Miss Lunia! Stopping those flames is the priority right now!”
Eiran flew to Lunia's side and said urgently.
Grinding her teeth, Lunia flapped her wings.
Fwoosh-!
The magically created wings of flame traced an arc as they flew toward the calamitous fire.
Upon reaching the vicinity of Erebos, Lunia dropped Driana from her back.
Driana, too, obediently got off Lunia's back.
Now alone, Lunia's hair turned pure white.
Vwooooom-!
The crimson flames transformed into pure white.
The flames of the Phoenix King, said to purify the world.
Fwoosh-!
A vivid crimson flame blazed in Lunia's outstretched hand.
The forbidden magic of the Lundua family.
The sacred flame that burns away the profane, using even oneself as kindling, became one with the white fire.
‘Sacred Flame.’
As Lunia raised her hand, a massive flame erupted violently.
Lunia's flame had grown as large as the calamitous fire.
The Sacred Flame engulfed the black fire.
Whoosh-!
The pure white flame that had swallowed the black fire momentarily died down.
The black flame vanished without a trace.
At that moment.
The pure white flame rapidly contracted.
Seeing this, Lunia flinched and wrapped her entire body in her phoenix wings.
KABOOOOOOOM-!
The flame, which had shrunk to the size of a fist in the blink of an eye, caused a massive explosion.
At the same time, the black flame tore through Lunia's fire.
“Tch!”
Clicking her tongue, Lunia quickly put distance between herself and the black flame.
Vwoooom-!
The black flame chased after Lunia.
To shake off the black flame's pursuit, Lunia rapidly ascended into the sky.
VWOOOOOOOOOOM-!
The black flame relentlessly closed the distance to Lunia.
‘I can't dodge anymore!’
Just as Lunia gritted her teeth, preparing for Erebos's attack.
Whoosh-!
Someone snatched Lunia and pulled her away.
“Chelsea Llewellyn!”
“Hold on tight!”
Chelsea, shrouded in wind, manipulated the surrounding air.
Chelsea's body rapidly accelerated.
The distance from the black flame grew.
In an instant, a wall of black flame shot up in front of Chelsea.
Chelsea reduced her speed and flew in a different direction.
As the distance closed again in an instant, the black flame split into several streams, pressing in on Chelsea and Lunia.
Tracking the trajectories of the black flames trying to ensnare her from multiple directions, Chelsea pushed her mobility to its limits.
Whoosh-!
“Ugh?!”
Lunia found herself hugging Chelsea's body tightly without realizing it.
Chelsea dodged all of Erebos's complex attacks and headed for the ground.
Fwhoosh-!
Chelsea moved swiftly at a height just barely above the ground.
The black flame relentlessly pursued Chelsea from behind.
“Stupid cat!”
Chelsea shouted urgently.
Where Chelsea was heading, Ar was already standing there.
Having transformed, Ar’s blue eyes stared directly at Erebos's flame.
In Ar's hand was a broken sword.
Braver.
The sword Ar-on left for Ar.
A golden aura gathered at the tip of the sword.
A faint golden aura also flowed from Ar's body.
Thump-!
Ar gripped the sword with both hands.
“Haaaaaaaaaaah!”
Ar let out a battle cry.
Flash-! KRAKABOOOOOOOM-!
As she swung the sword, a massive golden sword strike poured out.
‘Sir Ar-on's sword?!’
Lunia's eyes widened at the sword strike, which was reminiscent of Ar-on.
Chelsea quickly dodged the sword strike, and the pursuing black flame was swept away by it.
KRAK-CRACK-!
The sword strike, which left a scar on the earth, also blew away the pillar of black flame.
‘That Ar… When did she get so…’
Lunia was surprised.
It wasn't just Lunia.
At the overwhelming sight, all the challengers stared at Ar with surprised eyes.
“That Ar, when did she get so strong?”
As an Azonia student exclaimed in shock, a student named Lwen spoke calmly.
“It's not surprising. Considering how that stupid cat usually trains.”
After receiving Braver from Ar-on, Ar pushed herself even more harshly.
Originally, Ar had always respected Ar-on and wanted to be like him.
But after meeting Ar-on in person and being acknowledged as his successor, her goal became much clearer.
It wasn't simply about wanting to be like Ar-on.
She had to become like Ar-on.
She had to become like him to reassure that worry-filled Brave Hero.
That was the goal Ar embraced, and to achieve it, she struggled like mad.
Whoooosh-!
The blowing wind made Ar's white hair flutter.
Seeing this, Chelsea muttered blankly.
“She's like… Sir Ar-on…”
It was just as she said.
Ar's appearance right now was certainly reminiscent of Ar-on.
It seemed it wasn't just Chelsea's impression, as no one denied her words.
It was then.
Ar's ears twitched.
Then she promptly crossed her arms, lifted her chin, and put on a triumphant expression.
“Heheh!”
“Sir Ar-on, I'm sorry. For thinking that stupid cat resembled you.”
Chelsea sincerely apologized to Ar-on.
Fwoooosh-!
The black flame blazed up once more.
Seeing that, Driana muttered.
“It doesn't seem as strong as the fragment of Erebos we met during summer vacation.”
“Of course not. The one we fought last time was one of the six pieces Erebos was split into by the Hero of the Beginning. But that thing is just a splinter that broke off from that piece. It makes no sense for it to be that strong.”
Lunia clenched her fist.
“Even so, it's still a monster.”
“C-Can we face it with just our own strength?”
Eiran wore an anxious expression.
Just as Lunia bit her lip at those words.
“We have no choice.”
Ar said, glaring at the black flame.
“We can't rely on someone who isn't here right now. We have to do this ourselves.”
Thud- Thud-
Answering resolutely, Ar advanced toward the black flame.
“If you always wait for help, you'll just stay in the same place.”
Grip-
“We can't be treated like kids forever. To become equals. To follow in his footsteps.”
Many people's gazes fell upon Ar's back.
“We have to overcome this with our own strength.”
What Ar was looking at were the backs of two people walking far away.
One was the back of the Brave Hero she admired so much.
The other person was.
‘The Black Rabbit.’
Ar's back gave those watching her the courage to move forward.
Watching her, Chelsea muttered.
“Just now, she really seemed like Sir Ar-on.”
“Ahem!”
“Nope, just a stupid cat after all.”
Just as Chelsea clicked her tongue.
“Karl? Where is Karl?”
Eliza asked Eiran.
At her words, Eiran's eyes widened.
“Um… Sir Karl said he was having a private talk with Lady Rodia… He should be here soon.”
“It'll definitely be trouble without him.”
Lunia muttered, furrowing her brow.
“I feel a little more at ease when he's in command.”
“Karl Thomas in command?”
At Lunia's words, not only the Seirun students but also those from Azonia and Demian began to murmur.
“It's true, Karl's ability to read the flow of battle and give commands is incredible.”
Abad nodded as if in understanding.
“You're right. We received a great deal of help from Karl when we fought the fragment of Erebos in Sir Dweno's world, too. He needs to get here soon.”
Meanwhile, at that moment, Karl was.
Fwoooosh!
“Aaaaaaaah!”
Karl freaked out and hid behind Rodia.
“Don't run away!”
“You can say that because you can't see the black flame, Lady Rodia! It's terrifyingly deadly!”
“That's why you have to look properly! Ack! I got burned! Hurry up and get in front of me and tell me where this damn flame is!”
“I'll die if I go out there now!”
“Am I your shield?!”
“You said you'd be my shield!”
He was searching for Lumerne with Rodia, who couldn't see the black flames.
***
Flash-!
A flash of light sparked.
“Kyaaaaaaaaah!”
“Hey, it's hurting my ears, so could you quiet down a bit?”
As Iliana screamed, Elena, held in her arms like a princess, spoke calmly.
“How can I not scream! Erebos's flame is burning right in front of us… Kyaaaaaah!”
“So Erebos is scary, but I'm not, it seems. Should I show you something truly horrible?”
“Eek!”
Iliana was terrified by Elena's threat.
The reason Iliana was currently carrying Elena and approaching Erebos was simple.
It was to help Kyle, who was holding off Erebos all by himself.
“Why me of all people!”
“Because you're the fastest.”
Elena smiled brightly.
Looking at Elena like that, Iliana started to hate her past self from a moment ago.
‘I'm the fastest one here. Raise your hand.’
‘Hmph. In terms of speed, I, Iliana Laden, am faster than the renowned second-years Chelsea, Duran, and Eliza. How may I help you, senior?’
‘Oh my, how reliable. I hereby appoint you as my steed.’
‘What?’
‘Could you take me close to Erebos?’
Elena needed two things.
Time to focus completely on her magic incantation.
And a knight with the mobility to protect her and move at high speeds during that time.
The knight who perfectly fit that description was Iliana.
Elena took a staff out from her robes.
As she began her incantation, a massive storm of magical power raged.
Iliana, holding Elena in her arms, flinched and trembled.
‘I knew she was amazing, but…’
As a magic swordsman herself, Iliana knew what a monstrous mage Elena Jer-on was.
But this…
‘In terms of magical power alone, isn't this on a level that surpasses most mage-class heroes?’
Just as Iliana swallowed dryly.
Whoosh-!
The black flame, reacting to Elena's magical power, lunged at them.
Seeing this, Iliana drew her sword.
Flash-!
An aura of light sliced through the black flame.
Iliana, dodging Erebos's attacks at incredible speed, trembled.
‘At this rate, it'll be hard to dodge!’
Iliana bit her lip hard.
Due to the unimaginable wave of magical power, the target of the black flame's attacks shifted from Kyle to Elena.
In that fleeting moment, there was no room to escape.
Iliana's body moved with cold rationality.
Whoosh-!
She threw Elena, whom she was holding, with all her might to get her out of the attack's range.
Elena, having safely escaped the black flame's range, unleashed her magic.
‘Now what do I do?’
Iliana gave a bitter smile.
She had managed to send Elena, the person she had to protect, to safety, but now she herself was the problem.
‘Please, just don't let me die…!’
The moment Iliana squeezed her eyes shut.
Flash-!
Fwoosh-!
A gray aura bisected the black flame.
Flap-!
A black cloak wrapped around Iliana's body.
“Ah?”
Iliana let out a dazed sound, opening her eyes and lifting her head.
The moment the black flame targeted Elena, an opening was created, and Kyle had slipped through it.
Glance-
Kyle looked down at Iliana.
Kyle tapped the gaping Iliana on the forehead with his finger and said.
“Who told you to give up so easily?”
At his words, forgetting the situation, Iliana's face turned red enough to burst.
Kyle set Iliana down and charged toward the black flame, which had been directly hit by Elena's magic.
Elena approached Iliana.
“Are you okay?”
“S-So cool… It's bad for my heart… I'm going to be Sir Kyle's fan starting today. Hah… Hah…”
Iliana, who had collapsed to the ground, muttered, oblivious to the situation.
“Snap out of it. That old man is taken.”
“I-I don't care…!”
“Such a sinful man. Him, too.”
Elena clicked her tongue.