Chapter 447

447.

Aron’s overwhelming majesty that split the sky left everyone speechless.

Ku-gu-gu-gu-gu-gu-!

The black Pillar of Fire surged high from a distant place, far from where Aron stood.

Nevertheless, as if dismissing that great distance, Aron cleaved the Pillar of Fire in two with an immense force.

Between Aron and the Pillar of Fire, a gigantic blade mark was carved into the earth in a straight line.

Thick Dust rose.

The students’ Gazes one by one fixed on Aron’s back.

“Of course, Lord Aron! He’s incredible!”

At that moment, Arga raised both hands high and shouted.

With those words, everyone regained their senses.

“Is that really the valiant Aron?”

“Could there be another warrior capable of delivering such an overwhelming blow aside from Lord Aron?”

“Besides, you! Didn’t you just clearly say Lord Aron?”

The strikingly similar appearance, transcendent strength – and even Art’s cry, having directly experienced Aron through tales of adventures in the Hero’s World.

“O valiant one!”

“As the Hero of Beginning and the Star Cloud’s ancestor reincarnated into this world!”

“Lord Aron!”

Amidst the despair-filled Castle Wall, the Ember of Hope rose.

“Is that honored one truly the hero?”

“Yes. He’s the real hero.”

In answer to Actatis’s astonished question, Melina nodded.

Yen kept his eyes fixed upon Aron.

Ku-gu-gu-gu-gu-gung-!

At that moment, the earth shook again.

Kwa-ga-ga-ga-ga-gang-!

From the place where the black Flames had spewed forth, a substance akin to black Magma surged upward.

Chea-pek-! Ca-ii-ii-ik-! Hwa-reok-!

Wherever the black Magma touched the ground, Flames erupted. And then the Magma conglomerated in one place, transforming into the shape of a colossal Flaming Giant.

As Melina observed Erebus taking form, she drew a deep breath. To her, the challenger of the world of cataclysm, this figure was akin to a nightmare.

The faces of the Hero Candidates turned rigid.

Erebus.

5000 years ago and 3000 years back.

The primal evil that drove the world to the brink of destruction—an awe-inspiring, primordial terror.

To those living in the Era of Heroes, his name was impossible to forget. But those who’d truly witnessed Erebus were barely existent during the 3000 years after the Rebirth of Catastrophe was terminated by the Heroes of the Cataclysm.

They could only imagine and infer his form based on what was documented in literature.

“Haha. d*mn. It’s really just like in fairy tales.”

Kal’s trembling voice muttered.

Lunia clenched her fists, a stern expression set across her face.

“The situation back then… this moment can’t even be compared to it.”

Lunia, having fought against a fragment of Erebus buried within Luna’s realm, swallowed a dry lump as she faced this overwhelming presence, incomparable to back then. If the Erebus fragment she faced was a small campfire, this one was a titanic wildfire.

“What’s there to worry about! We have Lord Aron on our side! Together, we can defeat the revived Piece of Erebus! Everyone, gather courage!”

Art cried out with gleaming eyes.

But the people facing the calamity that destroyed worlds—a calamity known only from stories—couldn’t easily regain their courage.

As Erebus took on a more defined shape, fear grew correspondingly darker.

“It’s alright to be afraid.”

Aron turned, addressing the younger Hero Candidates.

“Shaking in the face of colossal fear is inevitable. I did it, and so did Rissenas, Kyle, Luna, and Dwenno.”

Aron took a breath.

“What’s important is overcoming that fear. So, can you show me?”

Aron turned once more.

“Your courage.”

At this, Banir bared his eyes and stepped forward.

“O righteous Great Warriors! Students bearing the name of Azonia!”

Banir called out towards those from Azonia Academy.

All gazes turned to him.

For a moment, Aron tensed his shoulders at the fierce tone, but no one seemed to notice this.

“The Great Hero seeks to test our courage!”

“Ahhh, no, it’s not a test…”

“To fight for the world! Isn’t this why we enrolled in Azonia Academy? Haven’t we dreamt of becoming Heroes, bearing the courage granted to us by the Heroes and protecting this world inherited from the Great Heroes?”

“That’s right!”

The students of Azonia cried out in unison.

“The crisis has arrived! Though we are mere pebbles on the road, weaker than even that in comparison to Lord Aron!”

“Pebble? Undermining yourself like that… it’s not good…”

“But! If we falter in fear here! We’re not even as good as pebbles! Want to be trash?”

“No, we do not!”

“Then prove it! Prove you’re not trash! If you take pride in being Lord Aron’s legacy, show your courage! Understand?”

“Yes!”

Aron placed his hands firmly on Banir’s shoulder, addressing the juniors seriously.

“To call yourself weak and no better than pebbles or trash. You shouldn’t speak down of yourself like that.”

“Lord Aron…!”

“You and the Azonia students are already commendable kids. My point is not to test your courage but simply to witness it. Show it to us. So, value yourselves…”

“Did you hear that, you pebbles and trash! Lord Aron says we’re commendable!”

“Uooooh!”

While Banir hollered with deep emotion, Aron looked towards Melina with a worried expression.

“It’s best to overlook the simplicity of Azonia students.”

When Melina offered a troubled smile, someone else spoke.

“Still turning simple-minded when excited, isn’t he? Risse, don’t we have more extravagant speeches to deliver?”

Toluah tilted her head in confusion, and Ris smirked towards the juniors.

“Let’s prove courage isn’t the monopoly of Azonia.”

“Yes! Understood!”

“Lord Aron! You’re so cool!”

“Please give me an autograph later!”

From Remern territory also rang out the cheers.

Riena crossed her arms.

“Listen, kids. We have upheld the will of the great Ancestor of the Star Cloud, Lady Luna. Besides, Lord Aron has returned, and with Azonia students forming a solid shield. Does it make sense to be afraid when we have such an excellent meat shield?”

“Hey! Who’re you calling a meat shield?”

Banir growled lowly, but upon the correction,

“Friend Shield.”

“Still not fond of it?”

Banir roared, but Riena didn’t even flinch.

“At any rate, last year, we of Seirun proved to Lady Luna and Kyle that we’re the best! Now, let’s prove to Lord Aron as well that Seirun is the greatest!”

“Proved the best to whom?”

“Lord Aron’s acknowledgment belongs to Azonia!”

While the former Student Council Presidents squabbled, Driana raised her hand.

“Shouldn’t the former President say a word?”

“What’s the use of speaking? I’ll just get drowned out by those crazy people.”

“You’re still lacking presence.”

“Is that an insult?”

“No, it’s a compliment.”

As the former Student Council President of Demonian Academy, Vekkerten, let out a long sigh,

“Sorry, can I borrow a sword?”

“Huh? Lord Aron!”

Vekkerten’s eyes widened upon realizing whom had asked.

“Of course! Yes!”

Overwhelmed by the honor of the Hero Aron requesting his sword, Vekkerten opened the A-space, spilling out numerous swords.

“Use whatever you need!”

Aron selected a sword among those offered by Vekkerten that had a sharp but discarded blade.

Tak!

Aron took a deep breath, gripping the sword.

Sureeung!

Although unnamed, the sword itself was a remarkable blade.

As Aron looked into his own reflection on the blade, he spoke.

“Wonderful sword. I’ll use it with care and return it.”

“No, no! Hehehe!”

“A sycophant.”

“Ah… seems like he only truly has presence when doing such things.”

The graduates from other schools murmured, but Vekkerten paid no mind.

Then,

Kung-!

The earth shook.

Erebus, who had already taken shape, started to move.

Go-ooooooo-!

The roar of Erebus resonated widely.

Upon hearing this, Aron let out a deep breath.

-Kheuuuuuuuuuuuuung!

Aron’s howl pushed back Erebus’ roar.

Upon hearing this sound, the onlookers widened their eyes.

“Is this the howl of the hero?”

“Amazing!”

The anxiety from earlier faded away.

Their hearts felt excited, and their courage doubled.

As everyone admired, Aron lifted the sword high.

Warruurr-!

The body of Erebus burst into flames.

“Here it comes.”

Kwaaaaaaaaa-!

A wave of black Flames rushed over.

Goo-oooooo-!

Aron adjusted his grip on the sword and swung it horizontally.

Hwaek-!

A massive golden streak split the black Flames.

The sharp golden sword strike directly struck Erebus.

Seow-geuk! Phooaaakk!

Kheuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuung!

Erebus, split into two, let out a cry of agony.

At the sight, Aron’s eyes slightly twitched.

Warruurr-!

The wound spurted out dark crimson bl**d, covering the earth.

But the wound was quickly covered in black Flames and began to heal.

Warruurr-!

The bl**d which had spilled on the ground gave rise to monster-like creatures.

Upon seeing this, Aron whispered.

“…The right arm, perhaps?”

“Huh?”

“It’s nothing.”

Shaking his head, Aron turned.

“From now on, I’ll select the party members to attack Erebus with me.”

*

“Seems it’s the right arm.”

Leo narrowed his eyes.

-What do you mean?

At Leo’s mutter, Kiran looked curiously and asked.

“That fragment is the right arm of Erebus.”

“How does Master know that? To the n*ked eye, it just looks like a large black giant.”

As Arti tilted her head, Leo explained.

“You know that demonic races were creations of Erebus, right?”

The familiars nodded.

“Erebus used his right hand to create demons, monsters, and other evil creatures. Rissenas believed that the power of creation was imbued in his right hand.”

Indeed, Erebus would use his right hand to create his loyal subordinates.

-Exactly. So, Leo must’ve guessed that the fragment he cut was the right arm.

As Elni seemed to understand, Leo nodded.

“But it’s strange. Creating so many monsters should require a lot of energy for him, so why the excessive waste of power?”

Leo was confused by Erebus’s unexpected creation of numerous evil monsters.

“Aleo!”

Having finished the formation of the party to fight Erebus, Aron called Leo.

Leo landed on the ground.

He then confirmed the members.

“Arnon, Melina, Toluah, Ulta, Riena, Lunia, Eiran, and Eliza.”

There wasn’t even a single Knight Class member among them, except for Aron.

In the case of Eiran and Riena, although they were Sword-Mages, they possessed mobility comparable to a Knight Class and firepower superior to that of a Mage.

‘They’ve chosen a formation focusing on firepower and mobility.’

Eiran and Riena also seemed to have already been informed of their roles by Aron as their expressions slightly indicated hesitation.

At that moment, Art approached Leo.

“Black Rabbit! Lord Aron insists he will stop Erebus on his own. Is that alright? Should we not help just a bit?”

Art asked with a worried face.

Even Leo replied,

“If he said he’ll handle it alone, then he must be fine.”

“B-but…”

Not some random enemy, it was Erebus.

The world’s worst calamity, the very thing that brought the world to the brink of destruction.

Even if fragmented, it was unsettling to think that one person could stop such a terrifying monster.

“Do you not know from which era Lord Aron comes from?”

“Huh?”

Art widened his eyes, realizing he hadn’t heard.

“From which era does he come? Black Rabbit, have you heard?”

“The last chapter.”

“What?”

“The Aron who fought Erebus.”

Art’s eyes widened dramatically.

‘If it weren’t for the restriction where he would disappear upon consuming all his divine power, Aron’s current form could conquer the entire Tartarus alone.’

With the Demon Queen eliminated and the Giant King absent, Tartarus, ruled only by the Demon King, could not contend with this complete version of Aron.

“You will fight against the monsters here.”

Thud-thud-

Leo approached Aron.

“Then, let’s go.”

As Aron readjusted his grip on the sword, he spoke.

“To eliminate the primal evil.”