Chapter 301

301

Ssak-!

A chilling sound sliced through the air.

Driana’s body stiffened as she realized the sword was aimed for her neck.

‘There’s no way I can block this!’

Though Driana was a talented blacksmith, she was also an excellent warrior as a hero candidate. She had faithfully served as a shield for her party, standing at the front lines. Even after being struck down multiple times by the monster’s sword, she continued to persevere.

But her warrior’s instinct was now screaming at her—this attack would k*ll her.

But it was too late to dodge.

At that moment,

Chaeng-!

A silver armor blocked the sword.

It was Eiran, armed with the Armor of Animus, who had blocked the attack and stepped in front of Driana.

“…Beautiful.”

Driana admired aloud, forgetting the situation.

In that moment, Ar’s kick aimed for Erebus’s shadow struck true.

Kwagagagagang-!

Puuk-!

With a tremendous impact, Erebus’s shadow’s foot sunk deep into the ground.

But that was the end of it.

No further damage was dealt.

Ar’s face stiffened.

“This… this isn’t working either…!”

Ar quickly distanced herself from Erebus’s shadow, visibly agitated.

At that moment, Lissinas, armed with the Armor of Animus alongside Eiran, lunged into Erebus’s shadow.

Powerful magic engulfed Lissinas, but she broke through it thanks to the armor’s power and swung her sword.

Chaeng-!

But Erebus’s shadow blocked Lissinas’ attack.

“It’s exactly the same as Master Kyle’s movements!”

Lissinas gritted her teeth.

At that moment,

“Now! Everyone, back off!”

As Kal shouted, the four people holding the line quickly retreated.

Hwarreok-!

Crimson flames of the Phoenix surged.

Peooung-! Kugugugu-!

Immense flames whirled.

Chiik-!

Even at a distance, the heat was so intense it made everyone’s skin feel like it was cooking. The front-line warriors swallowed nervously.

Kal clenched his teeth.

“Please… fall already.”

It wasn’t just Kal. Every member of the party shared the same desperate hope. Thanks to Kal’s command, they had successfully landed a few hits on the monster before them, but each time Erebus’s shadow resurrected stronger than before.

Now, even holding the line had become a struggle.

Lunia clenched her teeth.

‘If I don’t fall here… what else should I do?’

Lunia’s entire body was covered in burns. It was the price of pushing her firepower beyond her limits.

Hwarreok-!

Black flames surged.

Everyone’s faces filled with despair at the sight of Erebus’s shadow resurrected in perfect form.

Ssuuk-!

At that moment, Erebus’s shadow reached out a hand.

Woom-!

Instantly, a magic circle appeared in the air.

The Magic of the Stars.

Lunia’s face went pale.

“Everyone, move away!”

Hwaak-!

A black orb of despairic light formed in Erebus’s shadow’s hand.

Lunia knew exactly what it was.

“The End!”

Flash-!

Beams of annihilation scattered in every direction.

There was no sound.

The End light vaporized everything it touched.

Amidst the devastation…

“Be… Lady Berkiya…”

Eiran looked up, her face gone pale as she stared at Berkiya standing over her.

“Are you alright?”

Berkiya asked with her usual blank expression.

“I-I… I’m fine, but Lady Berkiya…”

“…It hurts.”

Berkiya dropped to her knees.

“Why, why did you save me…”

Eiran anxiously examined Berkiya’s wounds, her face on the verge of tears.

“Hmm… why did I do that?”

Berkiya smiled faintly and stroked Eiran’s cheek.

“Maybe it’s because you’re my bloodline.”

“How… how do you know that?”

“When I use my unique magic, the Armor of Animus, during that time, I was certain.”

Berkiya smiled faintly.

“I realized… you’re my descendant.”

“A… ah…”

“To adults, saving a child is… natural,” Berkiya continued, her voice thinning. “Master Kyle… he said that. So, I saved you.”

Berkiya’s voice grew quieter.

“Lady Berkiya…”

“Eiran.”

“Yes?”

“Should I teach you… my ultimate magic?”

Berkiya smiled kindly.

That smile was the exact same one Eiran had seen in the records she studied.

“Hey dummy cat.”

Lunia’s voice trembled.

“Why didn’t you dodge… and save me?”

“The only one who could inflict even a sliver of damage on these cursed black flames is… you.”

Lunia gritted her teeth as she looked at Ar wrapping her.

“Thankfully, it seems our leader was saved by the perverted dwarf… Now, we’ll… fight that fake black rabbit to the end.”

Ar rose, trying to stand but collapsed. Lunia quickly helped support her.

She looked around.

Kal was urgently treating Driana with a potion. Eiran was anxiously supporting Berkiya.

Tubtub-

Erebus’s shadow approached.

Seeing this, Lunia stood up.

‘I must fight.’

Lunia gritted her teeth as she moved forward.

‘Leo wouldn’t have given up and would have kept fighting.’

Remembering the boy with whom she fought many times, Lunia was about to ignite flames when a voice called out behind her.

“You’re quite tenacious, aren’t you?”

Lunia twitched and turned her head.

A proud woman floating in the air with white flames encircling her legs sat cross-legged.

“Lady Katariu…”

“Lunia El Rundah.”

Katariu smiled faintly.

“What do you think the essence of flames is?”

At Katariu’s question, Lunia looked at the black flames.

The flames that reduced everything to ash and burned eternally—was that the essence of fire?

‘No.’

Dwenno had said the essence of fire was creation.

‘The essence of fire… varies from person to person.’

There was no definitive answer.

But for Lunia, who had long yearned for the Phoenix, the essence of fire was singular.

“Purification.”

The Phoenix’s flames endlessly burn itself.

The reason why the Phoenix’s flames seem eternal is due to their immense vitality. The Phoenix, originally promised near-eternal life, burns its own life force to ignite flames.

They burn their lives for one reason.

To burn and purify the wicked.

Katariu’s smile broadened at Lunia’s answer.

“That’s correct, Lunia. The line of kings isn’t inherited through bl**d.”

“Huh?”

“The Phoenix chosen by the previous king inherits the white flames of purification and becomes the Flame Empress.”

Hwarreok-!

Katariu brought the white flame close to Lunia’s nose.

“The Phoenix’s bl**d flows through your veins.”

“…”

“Would you like to taste it?”

Lunia looked at Katariu.

“Instead of Dwenno’s essence of fire, this will be different. If you fail to accept it, you’ll d*e. You’re not a pure Phoenix, after all.”

“Is there a choice?”

Without hesitation, Lunia swallowed Katariu’s flames.

Hwarreok-!

A bright-white flame erupted from Lunia’s body.

*

Dwenno’s face stiffened as he held back the berserk Gias.

‘This is…’

Hwarreok-!

Black flames erupted from Gias’ body.

‘Dark Flame of Erebus!’

Golden flames surged from Dwenno’s body.

Kwagagagang-!

The dark flames enveloped and devoured Dwenno’s flames.

And even Dwenno himself.

At that moment,

Flash-! Kwagagagang!

Jormungand’s corpse sword swung to cut Dwenno in half.

Cheeek-!

Dwenno barely blocked the corpse sword’s attack with his battle axe.

‘More… powerful!’

Dwenno clenched his teeth and resisted.

Cheejejejeik-!

“…!”

Suddenly, a crack appeared on the battle axe.

Kwaang-!

Unable to hold on any longer, Dwenno was sent flying.

Kwagagang-!

As if a meteor had struck, a massive crater formed where Dwenno’s body landed deep into the ground.

“Ugh!”

Dwenno spat out bl**d and barely shook off the black flames.

But his body had taken a heavy blow.

Kung-! Kung-!

Gias approached Dwenno.

“Looks bad, doesn’t it?”

Gias mocked Dwenno.

“You don’t really have your wits about you, do you?”

Holding onto his battle axe, Dwenno slowly rose to his feet.

Pajik-!

A broken tooth fell from the battle axe onto the ground.

It was on the verge of breaking apart.

Like Dwenno’s weapon, Gias’ body was also battered and torn. The berserker state he had unleashed consumed all of his strength in that immense attack a while ago.

“Hum. But I am blessed by the god, unlike you.”

Hwarreok-!

The black flames burning on Gias’ body grew stronger.

“And! I have ultimately won!”

“But I am still alive!”

Dwenno smiled resolutely.

“You cannot declare victory until the moment I fall.”

Kkeh… Kkehkehkeh. Kehehehehehe!

Dwenno’s words made Gias burst into laughter.

“You seem to have some grave misunderstanding, Dwenno. I did not come here to end your meaningless life.”

Check-!

Gias gripped Jormungand’s corpse sword tightly.

“I! The works created by Gias! What is important is that they broke through the crude weapons you forged!”

Gias, with his emotionless eyes, looked down at Dwenno.

“The life you lost long ago is utterly worthless to me. If I, King Gias of the Giants, was born to bring about the world’s downfall by the will of the gods—”

Kung-!

“You’re nothing more than a ghost from the past. Whether you d*e or survive here, you will have no impact on the future. Because you’re nothing but an illusion.”

“Am I… a fake?”

Dwenno’s face stiffened.

Seeing his face, Gias laughed deeply.

“Hmm, yes. A fake. But a near-perfect one. I wonder what expression you’d show if I told you how your final moments were.”

Gias chuckled darkly.

“The first to d*e was Aron. He offered himself as a shield in your place, only to incur the wrath of the gods. He continued to believe in the paltry sword you gave him. Kkehkeh. Your group praised his d*ath as a noble sacrifice… but in truth, he fled d*ath in fear of fighting the great god.”

Gias looked down at Dwenno, whose expression had vanished.

Glee filled Gias’ face.

“The second to d*e was you, Dwenno. Foolishly challenging the god’s flames, you failed even as a shield and were burnt to d*ath!”

Dwenno’s body trembled.

“Neh-!

Dwenno’s hands clenched tightly.

“The third was the vulgar Elf girl, Luna. She recklessly fired off her magic until she ran out of mana and died. Despair overcame her as she realized her own ineffectiveness.”

Gooek-!

Dwenno lowered his head.

After a deep breath, Dwenno raised his head.

“Kyle?”

“Wha-?”

“How did Kyle d*e?”

Dwenno was smiling.

Gias grimaced as Dwenno asked about Kyle’s d*ath.

“Let me correct you.”

Dwenno’s expression disappeared.

“Aron, the fool, didn’t offer himself as a shield out of fear of fighting Erebus. It was because he was more afraid of us dying than himself.”

Dwenno’s face darkened.

“That’s the kind of fool he was.”

Dwenno bit his lip tightly and continued.

“I don’t think Luna would have despaired. She was a fool too, after all. She would have trusted in a bright future without doubt.”

Hwarreok-!

Golden flames surged from Dwenno’s body.

“Rissinas would have worn a sad expression, I suppose.”

Dwenno wore an ironic smile.

“Because I left him all alone.”

Eventually, Dwenno smiled faintly.

“The fool who couldn’t even serve as a shield has no excuse for himself.”

Dwenno was still smiling.

As if he were looking at the bright sun.

“The important thing is… none of us should have despaired, not even one. Giant King Gias.”

Hwarreok-!

Dwenno’s body burned brightly, like the sun.

“It’s because there’s one fool who never gives up. We would have trusted in that friend without doubt.”

Ini-!

“Simply blaming himself and feeling powerless!”

Gooooh-!

Dwenno’s battle axe emitted a powerful force.

“I’ll ask again, Giant King Gias!”

Chaak-!

Dwenno lowered his stance.

“What was the end of the Hero of Survival… Kyle!”

Keoohooohohoh!

“You’re trying to mock me with your paltry tongue. Bad luck for you! That mockery itself is my greatest hope! We eventually!”

Kangkangkangkang-!

With a roar, Gias charged, intent on finishing off Dwenno.

Unwilling to tolerate another word from Dwenno.

He attacked, half-mad, wielding the corpse sword high.

“We saved the world!”

-d*e! Phantom from the past!

Cheeung-!

The corpse sword and Dwenno’s battle axe clashed.

The massive corpse sword bared its fangs, trying to shatter the battle axe.

The crack on the battle axe spread throughout its entirety.

“Huh!”

Dwenno grunted, channeling strength into his raised battle axe.

“A weapon built for battle…”

As Dwenno declared, the battle axe resonated with a sound.

“Should fulfill its purpose! I forged you to destroy Tartarus!”

Dwenno’s eyes gleamed fiercely.

“I forged you!”

Cheejeok-!

-Ugh!

Gias’ eyes widened.

Cracks began to form on the corpse sword.

Kwa-dak-!

-Unbelievable!

Dee-!

-Gah!

Dwenno’s body soared into the sky.

Having cleaved the corpse sword in half, the battered, nameless battle axe glowed with golden light.

God’s Blacksmith Dwenno.

The weapon imbued with his will still shone brightly, undamaged.

As Dwenno hovered above Gias, he smirked coldly.

“I don’t know how much time has passed since I died, but…”

Sooeok-! Hwarrrrrrrrek-!

A massive golden axe blade formed.

“You’ve lost to a mere phantom.”

-Deeennnoooooo!

The axe swung, severing Gias’ head off in one clean motion.