Chapter 389

389.

‘Perhaps that’s the reason why Lissinas couldn’t form a contract with Pegasus.’

Dragons were a race that had maintained the world’s order since the Age of Gods.

As the messengers of the gods, they protected the world and followed the will of the gods.

Because of this, each dragon had its own duty depending on its type. Black dragons, for instance, were responsible for eliminating anyone who turned away from the world.

Due to such obligations, black dragons were feared, considered violent and cruel.

Especially during the Era of Catastrophe, darkness was a symbol of both fear and hatred.

‘In reality, quite a few black dragons fell into darkness and sided with Erebus.’

Even if they seemed different, their essence remained the same darkness, making them prone to corruption.

Leo recalled the many fallen black dragons he had once buried with his own hands.

‘It was only natural that Lissinas hated the nature of his own race.’

It wasn’t just hatred; Lissinas feared his true self.

Understanding this, Leo willingly stepped into the darkness for Lissinas, without hesitation.

So that Lissinas could walk toward the light.

‘To me, the light he showed was nothing short of hope.’

For Leo, it was only natural to shoulder Lissinas’ duties.

*

Leo walked through the interior of Guardstron alongside Rodia.

They were heading toward one of the darkest back alleys of Guardstron.

Rodia, who had been following Leo, looked slightly surprised.

“Is there such a place here?”

Even Rodia, who had invaded Lissinas’ world several times, hadn’t known about this path.

“I’ve studied this era of Guardstron many times for the invasion attempts, but even then, there’s no way someone could know this era like Kyle.”

“Yes.”

Leo nodded, “But you know things that even I don’t.”

“Yes,” Rodia agreed with a nod.

“How far can we move within this Hero’s World?”

“For now, within Guardstron, there’s nowhere we can’t reach.”

Rodia carefully explained the past invasion attempts to Leo.

After countless tries at invading this world, Rodia explained the failure conditions in detail.

“In fact, this world can’t be cleared unless you’re Kyle.”

“What do you mean?”

“When the invader isn’t the Omniclass, Lissinas recognizes this immediately, and the invasion fails.”

This was a possessed-type Hero’s World.

Thus, the invader had to possess Kyle’s body and fight with Lissinas against Jormungand.

Yet, no matter how well someone disguised themselves, they would never truly become Kyle.

There was something that Kyle alone possessed — the ability based on the purest magical property of all classes, which couldn’t be imitated.

Rodia had realized this and tried to hide the non-Omniclass reality while attempting the invasion.

But ultimately, her attempt was discovered, and she failed.

“It’s strange. No matter what, the invasion fails just as soon as it’s discovered that you’re not Omniclass.”

“Well, given that Kyle is the one invading this time, we don’t have to worry about that, I guess.”

Rodia smiled wryly.

Leo nodded, suppressing his curiosity.

By the time they reached a dead-end alley, the two had arrived.

Rodia carefully examined the wall and let out an exasperated sigh.

“If I hadn’t come with Kyle, I might not have noticed this.”

The wall was an entrance.

The problem was that the entrance was so discreetly hidden that even someone called the Dragon of the Cataclysm like Rodia would have difficulty noticing it.

“The boundary of the King of Pure Whiteness. It won’t be easy to open.”

“Don’t worry about that,” Leo chuckled.

Ignoring Rodia’s words, Leo extended his hand toward the wall. Gray mana streamed from his hand, covering the wall.

A moment later, the wall rippled, revealing an entrance.

“Still Kyle, as always.”

“I know Albus’ abilities best.”

Recollecting the vow keeper, Leo responded.

As they entered through the entrance, a snowy-white hallway unfolded before them.

At the end of the hallway, a massive hall came into view.

Men and women seated elegantly inside glanced sharply at Leo and Rodia upon noticing them.

“Humans and Dragons?”

“How did you get here?”

Their astonished reactions prompted Leo to speak.

“I’ve come here because I have a Pegasus I want to meet.”

At Leo’s words, a woman with pure white hair approached him.

“Your face… It’s familiar.”

“You’re the surviving Hero, Kyle.”

Leo also recognized this particular Pegasus.

‘The Pegasus contracted with Alene Prilène, wasn’t it?’

One of the three great familiars guarding Guardstron.

The Vow Keeper of Alene Prilène.

Someone Leo had met several times on the battlefield.

‘An optimistic person. Someone who fits the title of Pegasus’ vow keeper.’

Contractors of the three great familiars are known to possess strong mental fortitude.

Most of the people from that age fought not by choice, but out of necessity to survive.

Even stepping onto the battlefield to protect the city often granted them treatment unmatched by others.

During that era, city protectors were treated almost like nobility.

However, the contractors of the three great familiars guarded the city not for the materialistic benefits, but for the invisible hope.

Alene was one such person.

And during that time, those who searched for hope in a world where the end was uncertain were objects of ridicule.

The surviving Hero Kyle himself ridiculed such individuals.

This Pegasus had once been deeply angered by Kyle ridiculing her noble vow keeper.

Pegasus Arpia frowned disdainfully at Leo.

“You who are corrupt and fallen, why have you invaded the sacred ground of the Pegasus?”

“Who exactly called someone corrupt and fallen?”

At Arpia’s words, Rodia spoke in a chilling tone.

Arpia glanced at Rodia.

“Young dragon, that you invaded the sacred ground of the Pegasus together with such a fallen one is truly shameful.”

“Pegasus, take this chance. Apologize for calling Kyle corrupt and fallen, and this time, it will be forgiven,” Rodia said calmly.

“Young dragon, how impudent.”

Arpia’s words didn’t deter Rodia, who smirked.

The moment their eyes met, Arpia hesitated, startled.

‘Could an ordinary young dragon possess such eyes?’

Cold sweat trickled down her brow.

Rodia, having activated her dragon vision unknowingly, was glaring at Arpia with a piercing intensity.

Though Rodia looked like a young girl, she was the hero who rallied the Heroes of Cataclysm and saved the world once again.

Known as the heir of King of Wisdom Lissinas, she was an immensely powerful dragon.

Even a strong Pegasus could easily be overwhelmed.

Instantly, other Pegasuses gathered around.

But Rodia stood firm.

She couldn’t tolerate Arpia’s words.

Kyle was the Hero of Beginning, the one who opened the path for a new age, and one of the most noble five people Rodia knew.

It was humiliating to hear Kyle referred to as corrupt and fallen.

At the brink of conflict, Leo held out a hand and pressed Rodia’s head.

“Calm down. Haven’t you been through countless attempts where you’ve faced similar treatment?”

“It’s different when it’s done to Kyle directly.”

“I appreciate your support, but please endure this. After all, I had to face such treatment in this era.”

Bringing Rodia under control, Leo took a step forward.

“I apologize for invading the sacred ground and showing hostility. But I came here for a reason.”

“…What business do you have here?”

Arpia and the other Pegasuses, regarding Leo with distrustful eyes, asked this.

“I’ve come to meet the King of Pure Whiteness.”

“To meet the king? What is your reason?”

“To form a contract.”

“Contract? Hahahahahahahaha!”

Arpia burst into laughter.

Not just her, all the pegasuses joined in ridicule.

The pegasuses here knew who Leo was.

The surviving Hero — someone satisfied just by living day by day in the world, trembling with fear of an impending doom without even daring to confront it.

A coward who belittles and laughs at hope.

Such Kyle wants to form a contract with the purest being in the world — the King of Pure Whiteness.

Could such a proposition be reasonable?

“Know your place, surviving Hero. You are not worthy to be a contractor of our king.”

Arpia glared at Leo.

“I admit you are strong. In this Guardstron, there might not be anyone stronger than you… Yes, except for the dragon, Lissinas, who embodies noble light.”

“But Lissinas could not form a contract with us.”

“Yes, she can’t. That’s why it’s regrettable. If she hadn’t been a Black Dragon, she surely would have suited as the king’s contractor.”

Arpia let out a wistful smile and narrowed her eyes at Leo.

“Pegasuses are the purest among all familiars. We Pegasuses never abandon hope. No matter how excellent someone might be, a person like you, whose spirit has crumbled long ago, cannot form a contract with us.”

Arpia confidently proclaimed.

“Your call will never reach us.”

At Arpia’s words, Rodia crossed her arms.

“The decision to form a contract lies with the King of Pure Whiteness, doesn’t it? Why don’t you just let us meet him?”

“Hmph. Leading the surviving Hero and a young dragon to the king would be disrespectful… But our king is now in a deep slumber. Having fought against the revolting Tartarus, he fell into sleep with great injuries.”

‘This was when he was asleep.’

Albus had fought against Tartarus from the early days of the Era of Catastrophe.

The fact that he fell asleep to recover from the exhaustion of those long battles was something Leo knew.

However, it was the first time Leo learned that this sleep continued right up until his current attempt to form a contract.

“Alright. If you have finished your business, please leave the sacred ground, surviving Hero and young dragon.”

As Rodia frowned at these words,

Wooom…

Leo stirred his spiritual energy.

A summoning circle formed on the palm of Leo’s hand.

Rodia’s eyes widened at the sight, and the pegasuses frowned in displeasure.

“That’s unnecessary nonsense.”

“You’ll understand if you watch.”

Hearing Arpia’s words, Rodia wore an smug expression.

‘Wake up. Albus.’

Leo summoned his long-lost vow keeper.

‘I need your power.’

Woooom-!

The gray summoning circle erupted with a brilliant light.

Suddenly!

Flash! KAAAAAABOOOOOM-!

A streak of white lightning surged through the area.

The pegasuses’ faces turned pale with shock.

A fierce storm of spiritual energy swirled around Leo.

Whoosh-!

The summoning circle exploded in radiant white light.

A pure white space.

There, among all the turmoil, only Leo and a snow-haired girl remained.

The girl, Albus, looked up at Leo and said,

“…Only the vow keeper can wake me from my slumber.”

Albus said, a bit confused,

“But I’ve never made a contract with you. Who exactly are you? How could you have awakened me?”

“Hmm. Maybe it’s fate?”

“Fate?”

Leo smiled at his vow keeper.

“Maybe in the very near future, you will undoubtedly form a contract with me. It’s just that it’s happening sooner than expected.”

“Such absurd talk.”

“Yet my call has reached you. My spiritual energy woke you from your slumber.”

Albus opened her eyes wide at the spiritual energy emanating from Leo.

‘What kind of spiritual energy is this?’

As the King of the Pegasus, she had met countless noble beings.

‘But I’ve never encountered anyone with such pure spiritual energy.’

Perhaps the reason she was awakened without a contract was due to this purity.

“Can you grant the wish I seek?”

“Of course.”

Albus chuckled at Leo’s unwavering answer.

“You’re answering without even knowing my wish.”

“To eliminate the Catastrophe Flame.”

Leo’s answer startled Albus.

“To that end, I need your strength.”

Leo extended his hand toward Albus.

“Let’s go together.”

Albus looked at Leo with a bewildered expression.

The man before her was unfamiliar.

However, in the near future.

In a future that Albus herself didn’t yet know, she took his hand without hesitation. The man who would eventually become her vow keeper.

“Really… Long time no see.”

“Huh?”

At the puzzled Albus, Leo wore a sly smile.

“Soliloquy.”