Chapter 398

398.

Flash!

A pillar of light soared up.

Everyone looked at it with widened eyes.

However, Leo alone did not seem surprised.

“You’re late, d*mn lizard.”

Leo curled his lips, sensing Lissinas’ mana.

As if he had known Lissinas would arrive.

Leo calmly gazed at Jormungand.

-What is this!?

Jormungand screamed, his teeth chattering.

It won’t fall no matter how many times it’s pushed down.

It keeps rising again and again, charging forward with the sword’s edge.

Jormungand, who once spread terror throughout the world, began to be consumed by fear.

-Are you immortals!?

“Immortal? Then we wouldn’t have to go through all this trouble,” Leo responded coldly.

“Just consider it destiny.”

-What did you say?

“It’s your destiny to d*e at our hands.”

-You son of a biiiitch!

Jormungand’s body erupted with the Catastrophe Flame as his eyes rolled back.

The Disaster Flame, conjured at the cost of his flesh and soul, granted Jormungand temporary immortality.

-There’s no point struggling! Your end has already been decided! Since I have obtained the divine power, the immortal strength of the great god!

“The so-called power…”

Leo curled his lips.

“…is borrowed strength, and I’m sorry to say, it doesn’t work on me.”

-I WHAT?!

“I am chosen by the greatest Great Hero of this world.”

Leo unleashed his magic.

“I am the sole nemesis of Erebus.”

Flash!

The light of Innocent being released enveloped Jormungand.

-CrrrrrrrrAAAAAAHHHHGGGGGGG!

Jormungand writhed in agony.

The pure light woven by the greatest wizard in the world extinguished the eternal Catastrophe Flame.

Whoosh!

-What… what impossible nonsense…!

Jormungand was startled to realize that the protection from Erebus had disappeared.

The Black Flame, which was supposed to burn forever until his very being was consumed, had been extinguished.

All the effort that went into obtaining immortality disappeared.

-Not yet! Even if the god’s protection disappeared because of your trickery, my power still remains!

ROAAAAR!

Seeing Jormungand emit dark mana, Leo curled his lips.

“It’s over, you d*mn worm.”

GROOAAAAA!

Lissinas’ body transformed into a black dragon.

ROAR!

A massive wave of mana surged from Lissinas’ mouth.

The greatest attack technique possessed by dragons.

Flash!

Lissinas unleashed his breath.

A gray light.

The Chaos Breath created by the fusion of the forces of light and darkness.

Jormungand, who had been revived by Erebus’ favor while on the verge of d*ath, screamed as the breath hit him.

-O Lord Erebus!

Struck directly by the breath, Jormungand screamed to the sky before being reduced to dust.

[Rishinas’ World: Prologue – Cleared.]

*

“We won…!”

“We really won!”

“Haha. Not a single one of us died!”

Voices of joy emanated from the expedition team.

They had thought that only d*ath awaited them.

But not a single member of the expedition team lost their life.

WHOOSH!

Exhausted, Leo’s body fell from the sky.

WHOOSH!

Albus quickly flew up to catch Leo.

-Kyle! Are you alright?

“I won’t d*e yet.”

Leo bitterly smiled while petting Albus’ mane.

After landing, Albus carried Leo to where the expedition team was.

Polytransformed Albus supported Leo.

“You’ve worked hard, Albus.”

Leo patted Albus’ head, who looked up at him.

“You really did it.”

Albus smiled while recalling Leo’s words of eliminating Jormungand.

“Yeah.”

Leo smiled.

“This… will surely become a great leap towards the future.”

At that moment, Elshi and Silrod flew around Leo.

-Awesome! Truly amazing!

-How could you even slay the Gluttony King!

The fairies and spirits were chattering loudly enough to give someone a headache.

Albus spoke up through the noise.

“Kyle needs rest. Please, be quiet.”

Despite Albus’ stern warning, the two didn’t stop their chattering.

Unable to bear it, Albus covered the two’s mouths tightly.

Seeing this, Leo smiled bitterly.

As for Elshi and Silrod, he wasn’t sure, but if it came to Albus, he wouldn’t see her again in reality.

Albus was considered Leo’s precious partner from the past.

“How am I doing, Albus? As the Vow Keeper?”

At Leo’s question, Albus gripping the two tightly, smiled brightly.

“You’re the best. I’m glad I followed you.”

‘You were the best. I have no regrets for following you.’

Seeing Albus’ final bright smile, Leo had a bittersweet expression.

“Hurry, move Rodia!”

“The world… this is mana exhaustion!”

“How could he squeeze out so much mana to this extent!”

“Kyle! You should get some treatment too…”

“Nah, I’m fine. Take care of her first.”

As expedition members gathered around Leo, he pointed to Rodia, who was struggling to breathe.

Though Leo himself was in a terrible state, in terms of severity, Rodia’s condition was more urgent.

As Leo was struggling to breathe, Rodia’s expression became slightly more peaceful.

Creak-Creak-Creak…

Cracks began to form in the world.

“…So it’s over.”

Since the world had been cleared, it was no longer possible to remain here.

While Leo had a bittersweet expression, the expedition team gathered around him.

“This victory is nothing short of miraculous.”

“…This victory will surely herald great changes.”

Just as Kai was preparing to speak, gazing at the others’ nostalgic expressions.

[Would you like to record the hero’s story?]

Suddenly, a message appeared before Leo’s eyes.

There had been such an event before.

‘Record’

The moment Leo chose “record,”

Rustle-Rustle!

Pages of the Hero Record began swirling around.

Startled by the sudden situation, all members of the expedition team were surprised.

Meanwhile:

Each hero who accompanied the expedition team found a page in their hand.

“This is… my name?”

“I can sense divine power here. Although it’s strange, the gods had disappeared from the world long ago, didn’t they?”

“…Our story is written here.”

Alrox, Perik, and Alene appeared flustered.

Leo extended his hand.

At that moment,

Rustle!

The pages the heroes were holding were sucked into Leo’s hand.

Looking at the pages in his hand, Leo spoke.

“…I’ll make sure to bring your stories to the future.”

“What?”

Even if the outcome of the Hero’s World is changed, history cannot be altered.

However, at the very least:

The proof that these people once existed can be passed on to the future.

Their story, their achievements, their sacrifices—

the fact that they laid the foundation for the world’s peace could be told.

“This is the least I can do in return.”

Leo smiled bitterly.

“It was nice meeting all of you.”

Leo stroked Albus’ head standing next to him.

At that moment, Lissinas approached.

“I’m sorry I’m late.”

Lissinas spoke with his eyes narrowed.

“…I’m sorry for taking all the satisfaction and dumping the burden on you.”

At those words, Leo laughed.

“It’s fine, I’m used to carrying burdens. Just… don’t give up.”

Reaching out, he gently stroked the cheek of the foolish one.

“Even though you’ll have the hardest time compared to anyone else… We will definitely save the world. Your foolish wish… will surely become reality.”

As Lissinas stroked Leo’s hand on his cheek, Leo spoke.

“Hang in there.”

That was all he could say.

Creak!

The cracks in the world grew larger.

The time of parting was approaching.

Kai’s figure had already disappeared, leaving behind only the boy with white hair and crimson eyes.

Although Lissinas should have been startled by this sudden change, he remained calm.

“Actually… I couldn’t have awakened on my own. You woke me up.”

“Woke you up? Who?”

“The King of Wisdom.”

Upon hearing Lissinas’ answer, Leo’s eyes widened.

“I was able to meet the future me within your mana.”

Leo’s eyes wavered.

Looking at Leo’s reaction, the past Lissinas continued.

“It seems the only repayment I can offer you is this.”

Creak!

The world began to crumble.

At that moment, Lissinas’ eyes slowly closed.

Snap!

The world disappeared.

The space filled with darkness.

Only Leo and Lissinas were left there.

Lissinas’ eyes opened.

With a look that was somehow deeper than before.

Lissinias spoke in a trembling voice.

“…Long time no see, Kyle.”

A voice filled with longing.

Leo felt a lump in his throat.

“Rishinas.”

A friend from a distant past, someone he long parted ways with.

The Wise King, Rishinas.

Of course, it wasn’t the real her.

Both Leo and Rishinas knew.

Necromancy.

While it claims to summon souls, it can’t bring back the dead in full.

The fragment of the soul embedded in mana was just a small piece.

But…

It was enough to tell a story.

“This is the first time.”

Lissinas reached out and wiped away a tear from Leo’s cheek.

“To see you cry.”

Kai never cried in front of the d*ath of comrades.

In order to give faith to those dying comrades.

To ensure they didn’t feel anxious at their final moment, he refrained from shedding tears and appeared strong.

“d*mn lizard, isn’t it surprising?”

Leo responded savagely, but a smile lingered at the corners of his mouth.

Seeing this, Lissinas said:

“I’m just sorry. You must’ve never been able to cry freely in front of comrades’ deaths. And… thank you.”

Lissinas looked down.

“For saving the world.”

“…I didn’t save it alone. It was because we were together that it was possible, and…”

Leo reached out, roughly grabbing Lissinas by the chin.

“Huh?”

“If you’re going to thank someone, shouldn’t you say it straight to their face? Why are you bowing your head and being so melancholy?”

An Lissinas who usually would have kicked Leo the moment he acted so rudely merely couldn’t meet his eyes.

“…You didn’t keep your promise, did you?”

The promise not to leave him alone.

In the end, Lissinas couldn’t keep it.

Kai, once again, became the Hero of Survival.

To such Lissinas’ words, Leo replied:

“Don’t worry about it.”

Leo smirked.

“Because I already knew you’re an insidious liar.”

“…If you’re going to console me, couldn’t you pick better words?”

Though frowning, Lissinas smiled brightly.

“How is the future?”

“There’s still so much to deal with. We only managed to seal Erebus, so I need to eliminate him completely. To do that, I have to train companions to fight together.”

As Leo shook his head while talking, Lissinas crossed his arms and smirked.

“Now you understand how hard it was for me.”

“Yeah, yeah. You did well.”

Leo nonchalantly replied.

Looking at such Leo, Lissinas smiled faintly.

So Leo spoke to Lissinas:

“So… don’t worry too much.”

“Huh?”

“Because the world we risked everything to protect won’t get enveloped in the Catastrophe Flame again.”

Leo smiled as he looked at Lissinas.

Lissinas’ eyes widened.

For some reason, his smile reminded him of his own.

The smile he used to wear to give hope to people.

‘But I am different.’

If he had worn a false smile to instill faith in people,

that smile was different.

“The courage Aron taught, the will Dewenno showed, and the light Luna extended. The hope you displayed.”

It was a smile that truly gave hope.

“I will pass all this on to the next generation.”

‘Already, Kyle…’

Lissinas had a dazed expression.

“I’ll end it this time.”

‘Lleo has truly become a hero who can save the world.’

Looking at Leo, Lissinas gave a bright smile.

His figure began to fade away already.

“That Kyle has become like this is a miracle.”

“It’s because you dumped it all on me, you d*mn lizard.”

Leo spoke tersely.

Lissinas reached out towards such a Leo.

Tshhht!

He roughly grabbed Leo by the collar.

It seemed he finally couldn’t hold back and was about to throw a punch…

…But at the moment he thought that,

Whoosh!

Lissinas pulled Leo towards him by the collar.

Leo’s eyes widened slightly.

Unexpectantly, their lips met.

After kissing Leo for a long while, Lissinas calmly stepped back.

And with a beaming smile, he looked at Leo who had his head bowed.

‘He must be flustered.’

This was undoubtedly the guy, who’s usually unfazed by anything, flustered because he didn’t realize his own feelings.

Expecting this reaction from such a slow-witted companion,

“You’re really bad at it.”

Leo wiped his mouth brusquely.

Upon seeing this, Lissinas’ expression turned rigid.

Leo looked at Lissinas with an expression of disdain.

“I expected better. What, you should’ve practiced, right?”

Lissinas’ shoulders shook.

All the courage he had mustered dissolved when faced with Leo’s calm demeanor, and anger surged up.

“Watch it! d*e already!”

Eyes wide with rage, Lissinas charged at Leo and strangled his neck.

“You’re the one who’s an idiot! How dare you misunderstand and think it’s all your fault! You d*mn human!”

Enraged beyond her usual self, Lissinas railed at Leo, choking him.

After a bit of commotion, Lissinas was breathing heavily.

Smiling faintly at the sight of Lissinas, Leo spoke:

“Lissinas.”

“What!”

Seeing Lissinas’ sharp response, Leo continued.

“Thank you for reaching out to me that day.”

Lissinas hesitated.

Then she clenched her lips, tried to stop the tears, and before she realized it, embraced Leo.

And in a choked voice,

expressed her gratitude.

“I should be the one thanking you. For taking my hand that day.”

While sobbing, Lissinas was hugged by Leo, who gently stroked her hair.

Whoosh!

Lissinas then turned into light and disappeared.