256
Uoooooo-!
Melina gazed at the monster before her with eyes filled with despair.
The sky was darkening.
The world was burning.
The towering Giant of Despair, engulfed in black flames, roared towards the heavens.
“So this… is the primordial evil…”
Melina’s jaw trembled.
The Dragon Lord, the greatest hero of the era and one whose name would be inscribed as a great hero in the annals of history, was as terrified as a frightened young girl.
The final chapter of the Heroes of the Cataclysm.
The Hero Record, which had consumed countless heroes over the past 3000 years.
But still, a world’s aspiration that must be conquered at some point.
Melina believed it was possible.
Her companions were magnificent.
Highly regarded even in the long history of the Heroic Age.
She herself was no exception.
Determined to achieve the world’s mission and restore true peace, she challenged the lingering specter of past calamities.
And the result…
“Everyone…”
Melina’s face contorted.
“Please… please… open your eyes…”
She desperately called out to her fallen or vanished companions in a pleading, fading voice.
But no one responded.
The gap was vast.
A terror and despair unlike anything experienced until now overwhelmed Melina.
Ooooooo-!
Whooosh-!
Erebus raised his arm.
Black flames surged forth.
The Flames of Catastrophe moved to incinerate the last remaining Melina.
Melina resigned herself, bowing her head low.
KAGAGAGANG-!
The flames surged forth.
Then, realizing that someone had stopped Erebus, Melina looked up.
Behind her stood a woman with pure white hair.
Melina’s eyes widened.
The woman glanced back and smiled gently at Melina.
It was a very famous person.
Of course, Melina knew of this individual.
A distant predecessor.
“Lord Rodia…?”
The appearance of the Dragon of the Cataclysm startled Melina.
CHLEP- KAGAGAGANG-!
At that moment, a colossal wave swept down from the sky onto the earth.
CHIIIIIK-!
The water vaporized due to the Black Flame, shrouding everything in thick steam.
GOOOOOOO!
The massive wave soon became a spiraling torrent, driving away the black flames, and Melina caught sight of the face of a Beastman woman at the center.
“Azonia-sama.”
KWAD-!
Far ahead, a Dwarf warrior swung a colossal axe bravely, severing Erebus’s arm.
A human wielding a Long Sword slashed at Erebus’s chest, leaving a huge scar.
It was Demian and Lumeran.
Finally, stars were embroidered across the sky.
Fragments of starlight pierced Erebus’s body.
It was Seirun.
At the appearance of the Heroes of the Cataclysm, Melina couldn’t believe the situation.
The final chapter for the Heroes of the Cataclysm is the Mirror-World of Heroes.
But how have they appeared here?
“What is your name?”
“Me, my name is Melina.”
“Melina.”
Rodia smiled softly.
“Bless this encounter… and give thanks to the Great King of Wisdom.”
With a dragon’s gesture, Rodia asked,
“How many years has it been since we sealed that accursed ball of fire?”
“About 2900 years…”
“I see.”
Rodia nodded.
She smiled gently and said,
“Leave the rest to us.”
“I will fight too!”
Rodia extended her hand towards Melina, who quickly rose.
SWOOOSH-!
Seeing Rodia’s arm pass right through her, Melina’s eyes widened in shock.
“You and your companions can no longer fight. Soon, you’ll be sent outside.”
Rodia smiled softly.
“Th… that…”
Melina realized.
The reason the Heroes of the Cataclysm appeared in the Mirror-World of Heroes.
That they had failed.
And those who have endlessly repeated this fight for thousands of years were about to start again.
Melina’s face twisted with despair, while Rodia, looking at her with wide eyes, smiled.
“You haven’t failed.”
“Pardon?”
“Yeah. This is a tactical retreat. You’re inexperienced, like we once were, but you still have the potential to grow stronger.”
Rodia calmed her distant descendant.
“I believe it. Someday, descendants capable of eliminating that accursed ball of fire will appear.”
Even in the midst of despair, Rodia held onto hope.
“At some point, great Great Heroes will come and save the world again. Thus, can you promise me?”
“Not to give up?”
At that question, she couldn’t respond.
Before she could answer, the world was swallowed by darkness.
Though she barely survived, her companion had been reduced to a cripple, while others left no bodies behind.
In front of such a reality, only the harsh message of “[Quest Failed]” remained for Melina.
“They managed to trap Erebus within their Hero Record, weakening him by tearing it apart, but… Erebus tried to break free from his own seal.”
Erebus, the bane of gods.
He would surely break free from the Hero Record and return to the world someday.
“And to finally stop Erebus, did they enter their world?”
“Yes.”
Mel nodded.
It seems the Erebus in the final chapter of the Heroes of the Cataclysm is the real deal.
“If we go by the records left behind by those who barely returned after attempting to conquer the final chapter… It seems that the Heroes of the Cataclysm are repeatedly sealing Erebus inside the Hero Record as part of a loop.”
“A loop?”
Leo narrowed his eyes.
“Yes. And it seems each time the world repeats, they lose the memories of the previous attempts.”
Leo’s face hardened.
The Hero Record is a divine artifact.
And Erebus is the nemesis of gods.
If they entered the sealed world of Erebus directly, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Hero Record went berserk.
‘Locked in, huh.’
Perhaps the Heroes of the Cataclysm anticipated this.
“And now cracks are appearing in the Hero Record that seals Erebus, correct?”
“Yes.”
Leo sighed deeply.
The flames grow stronger the more they burn.
‘For 3000 years, the Piece of Erebus in the Hero’s World has been burning, growing in power. It means Erebus has grown far too strong for the Heroes of the Cataclysm to handle.’
There must have been countless defeats for the Heroes of the Cataclysm trapped in the endless loop.
This wasn’t due to a lack of power.
Erebus is an immortal being.
The reason the Great Heroes could defeat Erebus was thanks to Kalyan, who possessed a counter-effect specifically against Erebus.
“We have less than 100 years before Erebus defeats the Heroes of the Cataclysm and emerges into the world. So, we need new heroes capable of tackling the final chapter before then.”
After failing the final chapter, Mel endlessly prepared for the next attempt.
But during Mel’s generation, the second attempt never happened.
The surviving companions didn’t live long, dying shortly after.
Even the Sword Sage eventually appeared, but he was a lone figure.
In Kalyan’s generation, there were no five worthy heroes to rise up to the challenge.
Mel knows better than anyone else after surviving the final chapter.
‘In the final chapter of the Cataclysm, miracles don’t cut it.’
What’s needed is the power to defeat Erebus.
To achieve that, Mel has been working tirelessly.
And now…
“The goal has been set.”
At Leo’s words, Mel gave a faint smile.
A person capable of putting an end to this hidden threat is right in front of her eyes.
“Let’s begin now.”
Leo’s crimson eyes burned with determination.
“Preparation for the final chapter of the Cataclysm.”
“Yes.”
The times were moving.
WHOOSH!
The mid-tier Wind Familiars created gusts of wind.
Leo’s white hair surged into the sky.
Upon witnessing this, Leo lightly flicked his hand.
WHOOSHHH-!
A small whirlwind arose, and at the front of Leo, appeared the lower-tier Wind Spirit, Sylph.
Sylph twirled around Leo, shielding him from ShaSha’s attacks.
“Ugh!”
Depleting all her mana, ShaSha wobbled and collapsed.
Clutching her teeth, ShaSha turned her head.
“Mr. Leo’s friend! How much time is left?!”
“For heaven’s sake, I have a name, it’s Kal! Young miss?”
Kal, muttering to himself, took out a pocket watch and shrugged.
“We have about an hour left.”
At Kal’s words, ShaSha’s trembling legs rose to stand.
‘I understand the issue clearly now.’
ShaSha gritted her teeth.
‘I can’t counteract Mr. Leo’s Spirit Magic.’
Almost all challengers were eliminated, and by the time five remained when she challenged him during the entrance exam, Leo hadn’t used a variety of abilities.
He only used Aura against Aina and Habidden and Luke.
He used magic against Juen, and solely summoning against ShaSha.
Against such a Leo, they all felt an insurmountable wall.
ShaSha realized it.
With her current skill level, she couldn’t even touch the tip of Leo’s hair.
“Are you giving up?”
At Leo’s question, ShaSha hesitated but then clenched her teeth.
“Yes.”
“Then, all three of you have given up.”
At Leo’s words, ShaSha’s shoulders slumped as she walked over to Kal.
Habidden, ShaSha, and Juen declared their surrender.
“What about you two?”
Leo turned his head to look at Aina and Luke.
Luke looked at Aina and said,
“Miss Aina, would you like to go first?”
At this question, Aina clenched her fists tightly.
“No. With my current skills, I can’t possibly reach him.”
After relentless challenges, Aina realized that further attempts would be futile.
It wasn’t just her.
The others realized it too.
‘There’s no one in the first year that can land a hit on him.’
“Wow! He’s ruthless! Too ruthless! After all this effort from the freshmen, wouldn’t it be nice to give them a bit of a break~”
Juen’s muttering from the ground made Kal chuckle.
“There’s no such thing in Leo’s dictionary. Anyways, shouldn’t you choose your mentor soon?”
This comment prompted Juen to sit up cross-legged and exclaim,
“Just grabbing any Magic Department senior will do.”
Juen displayed confidence.
After all, the foundation of her magic stems from the South Magic Tower.
No matter which wizard she chooses as her mentor, she’s confident it won’t significantly enhance her as a magician.
“Besides, I’ll also be receiving private tutoring from Toluah.”
Toluah, who graduated last year and immediately attained the rank of Grand Mage, also belongs to the South Magic Tower.
And as the daughter of the South Magic Tower’s master, Juen had grown up very close to Toluah.
Considering that she could receive private tutoring from such an expert, it wasn’t an exaggeration to say there was no need to learn from a second-year student.
“How about Chloe?”
“South Magic Tower and North Magic Tower are rivals, you know that, right?”
At Kal’s suggestion, Juen squinted her eyes.
At that moment, Luke approached Leo.
“Luke, stop. Don’t waste time. Find a mentor quickly. You might end up having to withdraw if you don’t choose one.”
Halind didn’t specify what would happen if one failed to find a mentor.
But given the infamous “Weeping Walls of Lumeran,” there was a good chance one might be expelled.
“I want to challenge one more time.”
Luke grinned awkwardly, scratching his head, as he walked toward Leo.
Then, he took a deep breath.
“I kindly ask for your guidance.”
In response to Luke’s words, Leo drew his sword and said,
“I respectfully accept.”
![[TS] The Protagonist is Conquered](https://i3.wp.com/novelhitam.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/1743806812-5548-TS-The-Protagonist-is-Conquered.png?resize=85,105 "[TS] The Protagonist is Conquered")
