396.
“My goodness, he’s really holding off Jormungand all by himself.”
Aleene muttered in disbelief as she watched the fierce battle raging in the distance.
Stopping a Legion Commander alone – and not just any, but Jormungand, known as the strongest among them. Leo’s feat was nothing short of overwhelming.
“When did he get so strong?”
Alrox, gripping his battle axe, murmured quietly.
Both Aleene and Alrox had been comrades in a party with Kyle and were well-aware of his strength.
Even back then, Kyle stood out among others, but his current level was nothing short of awe-inspiring.
The Elf Wizard, Perik, snorted at their astonished reactions.
“You both knew that the more battles he fights, the stronger he gets.”
Magic swirled around Perik as he channeled spells, layering them carefully onto his staff.
While memorizing spells, Perik turned his gaze toward the frontline.
“Besides, this guy has always fought alone.”
Perik narrowed his eyes.
“The number of battlefields he has faced, the levels of carnage he’s endured – they’re beyond us. His strength? It’s only natural.”
“Indeed. He was always at the forefront of Guardstron’s battles.”
A fierce fighting spirit radiated from Alrox’s body.
“This guy is forging the path! We can’t just shrink back in embarrassment!”
Alrox shouted as muscles rippled beneath his skin.
Aleene tightened her grip on her spear and advanced forward.
“Alrox and I will inflict wounds on that beast.”
With Leo holding Jormungand’s attention, the task of a close-range assault unit fell naturally to Aleene and Alrox, who were renowned for their excellent mobility and ability to deliver devastating frontal blows.
“There’s plenty of room to exploit those gaps!”
With a booming laugh, Alrox swung his axe wildly and charged forward.
Rodia watched the scene, visibly impressed.
“Lord Kyle… He’s just like Lady Aron.”
“Aron?”
Lost in thought, Rodia quickly clapped a hand over his mouth upon hearing Lissinas’ voice from behind.
“Who is Aron?”
Lissinas tilted his head in curiosity.
“There’s someone I know, amongst the Beastmen, renowned for great courage.”
“Is that so? That’s the first I’ve heard of it.”
“Not yet renowned, but—”
“But?”
“Someone who brings courage to those around them.”
“Someone like that should be part of our expedition.”
“Before long, you will surely meet them.”
Rodia smiled.
“Hmm.”
Lissinas nodded.
“In that case, I will prepare myself.”
Gooouuuu!
Massive mana surged around Lissinas.
Flash!
The visage of the dragon was revealed, leaving Rodia momentarily stunned.
‘Lord Lissinas.’
No matter how many times she saw it, it was astonishing.
Even without the wisdom and experience of a Great Hero, Lissinas’s power equaled that of Rodia, who once stopped a fragment of Erebus in the ultimate battle.
‘Rodia must have overcome countless trials alongside Lord Kyle, and many other Great Heroes, achieving brilliant feats.’
‘Then Lissinas will become the world’s strongest dragon.’
‘That’s what Lord Kyle said.’
Rodia clenched her fists, staring at Lissinas’ back.
‘At this time, Lord Lissinas was no different from the King of Wisdom in terms of spirit.’
‘Already burdened with the responsibility and anxiety of saving the world.’
Before the expedition, Leo spoke to Rodia about Lissinas’ hidden inner turmoil.
‘Yet his resilience and unwavering spirit remain unshaken.’
A savior destined to bear and guide the world alone.
While it was Kyle who accomplished this destiny, the origin of it all was undeniable—Lissinas.
‘This world can only be conquered by Lord Kyle.’
Rodia tightly clenched her fists, gazing at Lissinas’ back.
Perhaps, the reason she couldn’t do it herself was only natural.
Not because she lacked all classes, but because this is the story of two people who heralded the prelude of salvation—Lord Kyle and Lord Lissinas.
Gwooooooar!
Jormungand roared, unleashing its breath attack directly at Leo.
Goooooo! Flash! Kwaaaaaaaaang!
The streak of destruction tore through the air like a giant tower had been sliced in two.
A shockwave spread widely over the surrounding area.
Dodging the breath attack, Leo called upon his spirit energy.
The moment he did, Elshi, clinging onto his left shoulder with her clothes tugging against the wind, urgently shouted:
“Nameless Uncle!”
“What? Uncle?”
Leo wore a comical expression, but Elshi paid no mind and raised her voice:
“Your body has already reached its limit! If you push your spirit energy any further, it will result in self-destruction!”
Elsi’s scream brought forth a smirk from Leo.
“That’s right.”
He answered, pulling the reins tightly.
Huaack!
Albus turned sharply at an incredible speed.
Flash!
Brilliant crimson lightning surged around Albus.
WHOOSH!
In sync with Leo’s will, Albus avoided every streak of crimson lightning.
“Too rough!”
“Claimed it was fine to handle roughly. Besides, if I don’t do this, we’ll never avoid them all!”
While responding to Albus’ remark, Leo’s gaze darted momentarily toward the ground.
Huaack!
Detecting movement on the ground, Leo tugged forcefully at the reins.
Albus ascended into the skies with astonishing speed.
“Aimless flight!”
Kuguguguug!
Jormungand soared into the sky as well, chasing after Leo.
That moment—
“Hyaaaaaaah!”
Alrox, coated in aura, bellowed while wielding his axe high above his head as he charged toward Jormungand like a b*llet.
Kwaaang!
Huge explosions reverberated as Alrox clashed with Jormungand.
Kuguguguug!
Even amidst the massive impact, Jormungand showed no signs of wobbling.
Contrarily, it glimmered its eyes, then proceeded to chase after Leo.
“Hmph! What a shamelessly bold disregard!”
Held firmly onto Jormungand’s scales from behind, Alrox raised his axe.
Gooooo!
Alrox’s aura rippled through the axe blade.
Kwaaaaaa!
It transformed into a giant axe-like aura.
“Kraaaaaaaah!”
Alrox leaped, swinging his axe toward Jormungand.
The aura penetrated Jormungand’s thick skin.
“Gurgle!”
Jormungand growled lowly, causing black energy to surge.
Fzzzzzz!
“Kruh?”
Insanely bright sparks of crimson scattered across Alrox’s body; yet, despite convulsing like an electric shock, his eyes flashed.
“This is not enough to stop me! Haaaaaaaa!”
Alrox’s increased his grip on the axe, driving it further into Jormungand’s skin.
“Boredom!”
Jormungand howled, plummeting toward the ground with unbelievable speed.
Whoosh! Kwaaaaaaaang!
Kugugugugugu!
Its colossal body slammed the portion where Alrox’s axe was embedded into the ground hard.
It’s as if an earthquake erupted as the surrounding area violently shook.
“Ho! Saved by your hand! Aleene!”
Just before hitting the ground, Alene, who had flown in at an incredible speed, saved Alrox, raising her hand high.
Fzzzz! Fzzzzzzzzt!
A spear wrapped in blazing white lightning trembled as if ready to sh**t out.
Faced with Jormungand, Aleene threw the spear with such precision; it was as if drawn.
Flash! Fzzzzzzzzt!
As the spear flew, carving a white trajectory, Jormungand mockingly chortled.
“Hmph! A trivial attack like that!”
Using its olfactory sense to predict the attack beforehand, it deftly avoided it.
Ignoring Alrox and Aleene, it pursued Leo – until—
Flash! Fzzzzzzzzt!
Aleene’s spear altered its course, lodging precisely into the gap Alrok had created.
“d*mn it!”
Jormungand revealed his rage.
“A guaranteed hit spear.”
Leo muttered, watching.
An offensive move utilizing Aleene’s mana trait.
Her spear never misses.
However, it dealt minimal damage.
Alrox and Aleene’s attack merely tore through Jormungand’s skin.
But even so…
“Enough.”
Leo smirked.
Goooooo!
Massive mana swirled around.
Standing firm, Perik held his staff.
All the mages in the party channeled their mana toward Perik.
Perik Ennar.
Back then, he was considered the strongest mage in Guardstron.
However, mages were often natural foes of Jormungand.
Though Jormungand’s scales held tremendous magic resistance, often rendering all but the strongest spells useless, they were also its nemesis.
But if those scales were already severely torn apart—
“Flare Bullain.”
As Perik completed his spell, an immense ray of light shot toward the gap Jormungand had created.
A grand magic spell that concentrated enormous mana into one focused burst.
The light, faster than sight, pierced through Jormungand’s neck precisely.
Kyyyyeeeeeeeee!
Twisting in agony, Jormungand suffered.
Red mana and spirit energy covered Rodia, raising her arm.
Kugugugugugu!
The ground began to shake.
Leo squinted.
‘A summoning spell.’
The fusion of spells and summoning.
But not the typical spirits or familiars—it was the summoning of a ‘specific item.’
Rodia clenched her fist, extending her index finger upward.
Together with this, she pointed upward with her hand.
Pwuooooooh!
Lava erupted from the ground.
Perik’s eyes widened in shock at the sight.
“Control over nature itself in this vicinity?”
A grand magic spell from a distant future, incomprehensible by this era’s concepts and theories.
Dragon Lord.
Dragon of the Cataclysm Loria’s exclusive magic.
“Disaster.”
Rodia softly spoke the name of the spell.
The lava dissolved parts of Jormungand’s body.
Kraaaaaa!
Yet, with its monstrous vitality, Jormungand continued to writhe in pain but showed no signs of mortal danger.
‘Not enough firepower.’
Leo narrowed his eyes.
Indeed, in the original timeline, even the combined strength of Kyle and others wasn’t enough to land the final blow on Jormungand.
But that’s fine.
‘After all, we have Lissinas.’
As Leo gave a subtle smirk and turned toward Lissinas:
Gooouuuu!
Blinding light radiated from Lissinas’ body.
As the Black Dragon, Lissinas’ most powerful unique skill lies in light magic.
Ziiing!
A massive magic circle ascended around Lissinas, then compacted itself into the form of an arrow.
At that very moment, Luminous, held by Lissinas, transformed into a bow.
As Lissinas placed the arrow on his bowstring, the arrow ignited in pure white light.
The magic that could incinerate all impurities and banish them into the light.
Lissinas’ unique magic to cleanse the evil and bring hope into the world.
“Penalty.”
The spell that took Jormungand’s life.
Unwavering!
The movements of Jormungand, who had been pursuing Leo, halted.
“The scent of… d*ath.”
The dragon capable of perceiving the future instantly sensed its d*ath.
Even the grandest among demons like Jormungand trembled with fear upon sensing d*ath.
He fought ferociously, attempting to change the future.
It must have been…
Leo’s face stiffened.
“O Lord… The Great Calamity leading the world to annihilation…
“I beg thee to forgive this ignorant soul who cannot see thy will! For here I am!
Flash!
Jormungand’s six eyes pierced into Leo.
“I will sacrifice my body and soul, immolate this impious soul who seeks thy destruction!”
Wrrraaaaaaa!
Suddenly, black flames erupted from Jormungand’s body.
Together, Lissinas’ spell pierced through it.
Flash! Kwaaaaaaaang!
An enormous explosion ensued, and the spot hit directly by the spell swelled before bursting.
Massive chunks of Jormungand’s body scattered in every direction.
Flames and a thick rain of bl**d poured onto the surroundings.
Gyaaaaaaa! Tooooooommm!
Dusk had already fallen, and darkness enveloped the world.
“We did it! We did it!”
“We’ve defeated the Devouring King!”
Cheers of triumph resounded across the expedition camp.
Rodia, eyes wide open, shouted triumphantly.
But the faces of Leo and Lissinas remained stern.
Both had seen it, even if for just a fleeting moment.
The ‘Black Flames.’
At the moment of realization,
Wrrraaa!
Jormungand’s corpse ignited with a black blaze.
And then—
Aaaaaeeeeeeeeek!
Let out a scream of agony that seemed to burn the very soul itself, Jormungand revealed itself in the air.
Whoooooo! Kuuuuuuung!
Resuming its original form, Jormungand let out a horrific howl, violently writhing its massive body.
Jormungand’s body now blazed with black flames.
Panic spread across the faces of the expedition members.
The same was true for Leo.
‘Erebus’ flames!’
Leo recalled Jormungand’s last words.
‘That b*stard! He used his own body as kindling and ignited Flames of Calamity!’
The Flames of Calamity symbolize immortal flames.
Even a thoroughly defeated Jormungand came back to life due to these flames.
But Jormungand isn’t Erebus.
Once both its body and soul burn and vanish, there will be nothing left.
Until that happens, the creature is ‘immortal.’
“Prepare yourselves! This will be the d*ath of both your souls!”
Even amidst the burning pain of his soul, Jormungand glared at Leo with eyes filled with stubbornness and hatred.
Whaaaa!
‘Faster? d*mn it!’
Recollecting the Giant King from Dwenno’s world, empowered by Erebus’ blessing,
‘That’s it! His abilities have been enhanced just like that Giant King?’
Leo, realizing this just as Jormungand was about to snap its jaws at him, attempted to dodge.
But it was too late.
As soon as that thought crossed his mind:
Whaaa!
Leo’s eyes widened.
His gray irises reflected the figure of his friend in the way.
Leo’s voice trembled.
“Get out of the way.”
That final moment—foreseeing a friend’s d*ath—flashed through Leo’s mind.
‘Sorry, I couldn’t honor our promise.’
“Sorry, I couldn’t honor our promise.”
He was aware it was a promise he couldn’t keep.
“I know, right? If it comes down to just you or me, it should be you who must remain. And I understand you’d have made the same choice I did.’
“But it should be you who remains alive—not me.”
Alone, he could do nothing.
Together, they had saved the world.
“Avoid my way! d*mn you, lizard!”
“You’re… Supposed to save the world.”
Flash!
The breath attack engulfed both Leo and Lissinas.
Kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!
Jormungand howled as the breath struck its target.
Gooouuuuuuuuuuu!
Upon witnessing the swirling black magic, Rodia, eyes bulging, squeezed her Dragon Heart.
Wooong!
A massive barrier formed around Jormungand.
Flash! Kwaaaaaaaang!
A world-rocking explosion erupted.
The world was burning.
Darkness had settled upon the land.
The situation for the expedition forces was dire.
At the worst moment, Rodia squeezed out all her mana and barely managed to block Jormungand’s attack, sparing them casualties.
But.
As long as Jormungand endures, one thing clouds the minds of everyone.
Despair, that’s all.
“Lord Kyle… Lord Lissinas…”
Coughing up bl**d, Rodia struggled to get up.
At that moment…
Trud… Trud…
The sound of footsteps emerged from the rubble.
Rodia’s widened eyes caught sight of Leo, battered and bruised but still moving towards Jormungand after being hit directly by the breath attack and caught in the explosion.
The expedition forces watched him in awe.
“None of you will survive! Along with your useless companions, I will bury you all!”
Even amidst its suffering, Jormungand cursed them.
“Such futile struggles! All of you shall d*e here like dogs! No one shall remember you! Your history! It ends here!”
“Haa… Haa…”
Leo caught his breath.
A rasping sound, as if his lungs had been shredded, filled the air.
“Yeah.”
Leo looked up at Jormungand.
“Everyone, in the end, dies. That’s a fact that never changes.”
Leo picked up the staff lying on the ground.
Peric’s staff, from a comrade who had fallen.
“Perhaps… no one will remember you in history… perhaps no one will.”
With his other hand, he gripped Aleene’s spear.
“But… it isn’t a meaningless d*ath.”
Leo’s eyes gleamed.
“Because these people staked their lives, enabling the world to be saved.”
“No mere… delusions!”
“It’s no delusion.”
Leo spoke firmly.
“This world… It will be saved. That d*mn Erebus will be annihilated, and the world will reclaim its peace.”
Leo’s lips curved into a slight smile.
“It’s you who will come to an end, Gluttony King. Here, none of us will let ourselves end.”
A murderous intent and spirit of battle emanated from Leo’s body.
“I will carry their stories into the future.”
Everyone looked at Leo with blank expressions.
“Kyle… You’re not… Giving up?”
With immense effort, Alrox questioned.
In response, Leo said,
“That stubborn lizard hasn’t died yet.”
It wasn’t failure.
This world endures.
Leo smirked.
“It isn’t over yet.”
![[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")
