Chapter 247

247

Bang!

Fritz’s hand exploded the Skeleton’s head.

Whirr-

The red threads swirling around Fritz’s body as he spun through the air like a top suddenly tensed up.

Crash!

Fritz, who had just decimated the Skeleton army, adjusted his glasses.

“There are quite a number of them.”

The endless Undead legions rushing down the hallway were enough to make anyone’s spirit falter.

But there was no change in Fritz’s expression.

“Would you like some help if it gets too hard?”

Chen Sia, who had been following behind Fritz, asked.

“There is no need for you, Senior, to get involved.”

Fritz smiled faintly.

Whirrr-!

The red threads that had scattered in all directions became taut.

Fritz’s unique bl**d Magic, created by weaving his bl**d into mana.

“bl**d Flame.”

KOOOOOO! BOOOOOM!

The entire hallway was engulfed in red flames.

Fritz, who had used the scattered red threads as a catalyst to instantly incinerate all the Undead, smiled faintly.

Looking at such a Fritz, Chen Sia frowned and asked,

“Are you alright?”

“How about you, Senior?”

In response to the question of whether he was alright, Fritz instead asked a question back as he adjusted his glasses.

“Didn’t you find it somewhat similar to Senior Leo?”

“What is? No, rather, are you alright?”

“The main attribute of Senior Leo is flame, is it not? So I tried to emulate it with magic. Of course, with my amateur skills, I doubt I could ever reach even the toes of Senior Leo, but maybe… just a little… I might be somewhat similar to Senior Leo…”

“…Senior Leo doesn’t really have a defined attribute when using magic, you know. But are you really alright?”

“Hmm! Senior Leo!”

Completely ignoring Chen Sia’s concern, Fritz took out a notebook from his pocket and jotted down a new fact about Leo.

‘Seems fine enough.’

Although Fritz’s hands were bleeding profusely, he didn’t seem to care at all.

It was not due to wounds but rather the backlash of a bl**d-based magic, inevitably causing a heavy loss of bl**d.

‘The mana property of a double-edged sword, isn’t it?’

While gaining overwhelming power through bl**d consumption, the backlash on the spell caster was equally significant.

‘An interesting first-year has arrived.’

Thinking this, Chen Sia smiled softly.

‘What kind of first-years have come this time?’

Looking at Fritz naturally brought up such thoughts.

But she shook them off quickly.

‘There’s no way I’ll be returning to Lumeran.’

With a wry smile, Chen Sia moved her steps.

Fritz, who had healed his wounds, took out a red potion from his pocket and drank it.

It was an alchemical remedy to replenish lost bl**d.

“Fritz, right? You seem to greatly respect Lord Leo.”

“At first, it wasn’t to this extent. I merely thought he was someone worth protecting as a shadow. But… After meeting him personally, I realized…”

Fritz, while following behind Chen Sia, placed his hand on his chest.

“He truly deserves respect.”

“…That’s right. Lord Leo is an extraordinary person.”

“Senior, if you were to meet and talk with Senior Leo, I’m sure your thoughts would change.”

“Yes. But I can’t meet Lord Leo right now.”

‘If I meet him now, my resolve would crumble.’

“When Lord Leo becomes the greatest hero… I would like to meet him then.”

“No, becoming the greatest hero is my destiny.”

Upon the voice echoing from the depths of the shadows, both Chen Sia and Fritz halted their movements.

Fritz took a cautious stance while Chen Sia let out a heavy sigh.

Thud-thud-

A man named Sian, clad in a bl**d-stained white outfit, emerged from the darkness.

He grinned as he looked at his identical twin.

“It’s been a while, Sia.”

“…It’s been a while, Sian.”

“Your face doesn’t look happy at all?”

Sian smiled and spread out his arms.

“Considering we’ve never been apart this long, your reaction is rather dull; it’s disappointing.”

“I didn’t want to see you ever again in my entire life.”

Fritz’s expression twitched as he glanced at Chen Sia.

‘Is this really the same person?’

The warm demeanor she had shown moments ago was nowhere to be seen.

Chen Sia approached Sian with a face cold as ice.

“I only agreed to meet again because I need to finish you off again.”

Though they called him a traitor, he was her flesh and bl**d with whom she had spent her entire life.

When she thought she had killed him with her own hands, she had felt more pain than ever.

She didn’t want to go through such agony again.

But the pain was something she could ignore. Sian was too warped a monster.

“I wanted to see you again. I had so many things to ask you.”

Sian smiled gently.

“You entered Lumeran posing as a Hero Candidate, didn’t you? Why is that?”

“Isn’t it obvious? Unlike you, I am unsuited to be a hero.”

Sian’s words made Fritz’s eyes flicker.

“Entering Lumeran would only hurt you more.”

Sian asked with a sincere tone of worry.

Seeing the concerned Sian, Sia smiled softly.

I’ve known him since we were young; it’s not a lie.

Those were words not meant to hurt me.

It’s a sincere concern for me.

‘That’s who he is.’

“Hmph. Senior Chen Sia is someone who fits perfectly as a hero.”

“Hooh?”

Fritz’s words elicited a sound of surprise from Sian.

Then he chuckled sarcastically.

“Impossible. Someone who fits perfectly as a shadow, perhaps.”

He shrugged dismissively at Fritz’s statement.

Chen Sia didn’t refute it either.

‘There’s a difference between what one wants to become and what one can become.’

Having forcibly turned a blind eye to the reality and pushed their way into Lumeran,

and eventually recognizing the fact that they could never become a hero after seeing other Hero Candidates,

the conclusion was clear.

“Chen Sia, you cannot become a hero.”

Sian said with a serious face.

“Therefore, I do not want you to hurt yourself anymore. Besides, becoming pitiable achieves nothing.”

“Thanks for the advice.”

Chen Sia raised her hand.

She wasn’t angry.

Swish—

An ominous killing intent erupted from Chen Sia’s body.

“But Sian, you too cannot become a hero.”

At her words, Sian sighed deeply.

“What a pity. I thought you could understand me.”

Sian wore a sorrowful smile.

“You used to be the one who understood me the best.”

Since childhood, the one who felt the most regret about Sian unable to become a hero was none other than Chen Sia.

Chen Sia was also the person who told Sian the most during their younger years—how suited he was to be a hero.

“I thought I understood you.”

Chen Sia’s face became emotionless.

“But I was wrong. You’re insane.”

“Then it appears you’re no different from the rest of them.”

Swish!

Chen Sia disappeared from sight.

Tearrrrr!

Her water aurora surged towards Sian.

Sian responded by swinging his sword.

Whoosh!

A powerful wind tore through the air.

BAM!

Chen Sia’s water aurora scattered about.

“Sia, you cannot defeat me.”

Sian grinned while looking at Chen Sia.

Whooosh!

Powerful winds howled.

Seeing this, Chen Sia extended her aura.

BOOOOOOM! CRASH!

A ferocious storm of wind erupted from Sian’s body.

A cutting wind that could destroy everything in its path.

Fritz quickly retreated.

Swish!

But Chen Sia didn’t step back and charged into Sian’s embrace.

Looking at such Chen Sia, Sian’s eyes flickered.

As if it flowed naturally like water,

Chen Sia effortlessly dodged Sian’s cutting wind and broke through to his embrace.

Clang!

Chen Sia’s palms struck Sian’s chest.

Flash!

For a moment, Chen Sia’s eyes glowed bright blue.

CRASH!

Sian’s body flew back as if exploding.

Water erupted everywhere as if from a burst water cannon.

It was the result of compressing water aura and releasing it explosively with immense water pressure.

BOOOOOOM!

Sian’s body was embedded into the wall.

Chen Sia placed her hand where pain was felt at her side.

She had been struck by a counter-attack in the midst of being hurled away.

“You’ve grown stronger.”

Sian murmured while emerging through the hole in the wall, his eyes sparkling with admiration.

But immediately thereafter, a smirk appeared on his lips.

“But I don’t sense the sharpness you used to have?”

“…”

Chen Sia looked coldly at Sian.

“You used to be more threatening. Seems like life at Lumeran has dulled your edge.”

Sian clicked his tongue.

“That’s what happens when you’re torn between two worlds.”

Swish—

Chen Sia’s figure disappeared into the shadows.

Upon seeing this, a malevolent aura surfaced in Sian’s eyes.

“I’m quite disappointed. I wanted to remember your final moments as a shadow.”

Whoosh!

Flame-like aura erupted around Sian.

‘Is that… Hero Ability?’

In the shadows, Chen Sia, upon seeing Sian emanating a fiery aura, widened her eyes.

“There’s nothing worth remembering.”

BOOOOOOOM!

The fiery aura exploded outward.

Chen Sia, caught by a direct attack, tumbled painfully across the ground.

SSSSSSS—

Smoke rose from her entire body.

She had been cut by the flames and sharp wind currents.

Looking at Chen Sia, Sian turned without hesitation.

Then he cast a glance at Fritz who had been caught in the explosion and smiled.

“You’re alive?”

“Ghn.”

“I have vowed to annihilate all shadows in this world.”

Fritz began to gather his mana.

Seeing this, Sian, with his sword raised, chuckled.

“I will put you to rest now.”

Splish!

The sound of fingertips touching water pooled on the ground rang out.

Sian hesitated for a moment then turned around.

Upon seeing Chen Sia lifting her head while struggling to rise, leaning forward with her head bowed, Sian’s eyes flickered with surprise.

“You’re alive?”

Chen Sia raised her head.

The cold glint of killing intent in her eyes made Sian grin.

“You’re stubborn.”

Sian approached Chen Sia.

“But, Sia, you must’ve felt it, right? The overwhelming chasm in strength.”

Swish!

A tremendous aurora erupted from Sian’s sword.

“Accept your fate; this is your older brother’s final consideration towards you.”

Tearrrrr!

“…”

Chen Sia took a step forward.

This caused the ground beneath her to sink.

Chen Sia, who had compacted her aura, spoke coldly.

“I don’t need your kind of consideration.”

BOOOOOOM!

Chen Sia unleashed a punch.

Sian was flung back from the impact.

ClangClangClang!

Crashing through walls and falling to the ground, Sian winced in pain.

“Looks like taking more time than expected.”

Splish—

Sian shook off the stone debris sticking to his body as he rose.

TrampleTrampleTrample~

Chen Sia was advancing towards him.

‘How is she still moving despite her limits?’

Earlier, the blow from Sian had been his ultimate strike, with all his power concentrated in it.

‘There’s no way she can catch up to Leo.’

Sian felt urgency.

It was simple to think that Chen Sia, whom he had expected to k*ll easily, was still in a battle-ready state.

He had been denying it, but Sian could feel the fear of being chased by someone named Leo.

‘I need to head to the basement now.’

Sian disregarded Chen Sia and rushed forward.

‘Sia will definitely chase me. If I quickly claim Kyle’s sword, dealing with her afterwards shouldn’t be a problem.’

*

Deep beneath the heart of the Shan Palace.

There was a stone chamber that only the royal family of Shan could access.

Certainly, even among them, none could approach without the Emperor’s permission.

But for Sian, getting to the chamber was not difficult.

Since the Palace was already invaded by the Demon King’s army,

and the shadows guarding this place had fallen before the Demon King’s army.

‘Perhaps Father and the others have been captured by Artkan.’

Of course, sooner or later, the Demon King’s army would be completely exterminated.

But as long as he could get what he wanted and escape in the meantime, his mission would be complete.

Sian approached the chamber door.

The powerful seal handed down through generations reacted only to royal bl**d.

With bl**d smeared on his hand, he placed it against the door.

ClankClankClank—

The door opened.

StepStepStep~

The interior of the room was a massive archive.

This was the undocumented records of all the shadows.

Shan’s Emperors guarded these records like treasures.

The achievements of the shadows.

Unrecognized by the world, yet undeniable proof of their existence in the background of history.

But in Sian’s eyes, these records were nothing but a mockery.

“Even if they were revealed to the world, who would recognize them?”

Recognition would never come unless they were recorded in the Hero Record.

People wouldn’t acknowledge achievements otherwise.

The records were made precisely because they couldn’t make it into the Hero Record.

“Shadows remain shadows. Hence why they’re valueless. Sia.”

Sian turned to Chen Sia, who had followed him.

“So why did you come to this archive?”

Chen Sia’s question made Sian point to the sword hung on the wall.

“For the sake of this sword.”

The only weapon among all the items in this chamber.

“The sword of the Hero of Beginning, Kyle, if I’m not mistaken.”

Upon Sian’s words, Chen Sia’s eyes widened.

“The sword… of the Hero of Beginning…?”

“Yes! From what Tartarus told me, our ancestor might have been Kyle’s disciple.”

Seeing Chen Sia’s astonishment, Sian smiled.

“Why our ancestor fell to the level of a shadow, I don’t know, but this is fate.”

Sian pointed at himself.

“With the revelation now that the Hero of Beginning actually existed in this world. I, as the descendant of Kyle’s disciple, am thus destined to inherit the Hero Record of the Hero of Beginning.”

“Do you actually believe Tartarus’s words?”

Chen Sia’s face twisted into a skeptical expression.

“There’s no reason not to believe. So, Sia…”

StepStepStep~

Sian approached the wall and drew the sword from its scabbard.

“Rest in peace. With the power of Kyle, I will subdue Tartarus.”

“Still spouting nonsense even now…”

While frowning and glaring at Sian, Chen Sia’s eyes were drawn to the sword.

‘Wait, this sword…’

It certainly resembled something she had seen before.

Sian seemed unaware, but Chen Sia recalled this sword from a class at Lumeran.

‘Certainly during the Hero Studies lecture…’

Tearr! Swish!

Suddenly, a wind aura surged.

Chen Sia hastily erected her own aura to block the assault.

Boom!

“Kgh?”

Yet she was blown away and hit the wall.

CrackCrackCrack!

Chen Sia collapsed pitifully to the ground as documents of the shadows rained down upon her.

“Remarkable.”

Sian looked down at the sword in his hands with surprise.

“Still this sharp after 5000 years! And the way it handled the aura…”

At a glance, it was clearly an exceptional sword worthy of being called divine.

“Indeed, this is a sword crafted by God’s Blacksmith, isn’t it?”

Sian’s body quivered with excitement.

Step…

At that moment, Chen Sia began to rise.

Her body trembled.

“You’re already at your limit.”

Sian approached Chen Sia at a leisurely pace.

“Then why do you keep struggling so much?”

“…It’s probably because of something I’ve been hearing repeatedly for the past year.”

“What is it?”

“Exceeding one’s limits.”

Smiling and taking a combat stance, Chen Sia made Sian sigh deeply.

“It seems Lumern has abandoned you.”

Sian gave her a disdainful look.

“Sia, you can’t become a hero.”

“I know.”

“Then why do you pretend to be one?”

A shadow immersed in darkness cannot escape to light.

To reach the light, the hands have been stained too deeply with bl**d.

From the moment she judged herself incapable of becoming a hero, the gods would surely never acknowledge her.

A god would not acknowledge someone who cannot even acknowledge themselves.

Still…

“Can’t one dream?”

Seeing Chen Sia’s radiant smile, Sian felt an inexplicable sense of discomfort.

The clear smile Chen Sia used to wear was as usual.

But now, the smile seemed extraordinarily bright.

The dazzling brilliance made an inexplicable wave of nausea rise.

“Dreams are there to be shattered, you already know that, don’t you?”

Sian raised his sword.

“You could never surpass me in a lifetime. Back then, the only reason you nearly killed me was because I was negligent in my shadow training.”

Right as Sian was about to swing his sword with a mocking laugh,

“That’s some bold bragging coming from someone so pitiful.”

A mocking voice rang out.

Chen Sia’s eyes widened.

Distorted by fury, Sian’s head turned towards the entrance.

StepStepStep~

“Leo… Flob.”

“I also know someone who had a wildly extravagant dream. He said this.”

Leo gave Chen Sia a gentle smile.

“Dreams are there to be realized.”