Chapter 448

448.

Two Great Heroes and one Hero had gathered to exterminate the Piece of Erebus.

Along with them, six Hero Candidates charged toward Erebus.

At the very front, Aron soared through the sky.

“Unbelievably fast,” marveled Toluah, who was riding on her staff.

In front of her, Lunia, who was also riding Toluah’s staff, asked, “Because it’s Lord Aron! But why must I travel on Toluah’s staff?”

“There’s no other way, is there? Your friend is moving with a junior from the Department of Summoning. Rienia is flying with Ulta, as well.”

“But I don’t mean that. I’m quite capable of moving without Toluah’s help…”

“Can’t keep up, can you? You’re specialized in firepower, after all.”

“Firepower specialist?! I’m quite proficient with other kinds of magic as well!”

“Yeah, but not as much as me, right?”

“Keh?”

While gripping her fists tightly and glaring at Aron’s back, Lunia showed an expression of frustration. Toluah smirked and whispered softly into her ear.

“Hoo~!”

Lunia turned red instantly, covering her ears and yelling, “What do you think you’re doing?!”

“I thought you were tensed up.”

“I wasn’t!”

Toluah chuckled and said, “Seems like you want to help somehow, but you just need to focus on attacking. Lord Aron must have added you to the party for that very reason.”

“…Yes.”

She answered while glancing at Leo at the front of the team, with a hint of frustration on her face.

‘Am I still not good enough to stand by his side?’

Lunia already understood.

Eiran and Eliza were the same.

‘Excluding Leo, we who are in our second year are still not good enough to join this party.’

Even for Toluah, Ulta, and Rienia, it was hard to keep up with Aron and Melina.

But at least the graduates, they could provide some support to Aron and Melina.

As for Lunia, Eiran, and Eliza, who couldn’t even manage to support them, the reason they were chosen by Aron was because of one magic.

“You completed the Emperor spell, right? That’s impressive! If Lady Luna had known this, she would have been so happy.”

During the height of the training session, when Lunia told Aron she had completed the star magic of the Emperor, he was truly astonished.

Lunia was surprised that something like the Emperor spell could leave Aron so amazed.

“Isn’t the Emperor spell the magic Luna created to stand against Erebus’ black flames?”

“That’s correct.”

The incomplete Emperor magic left behind by Luna.

Even though Lunia had finished it, she still didn’t know much about the Emperor spell.

She only knew it was a magical formula included in Luna’s grimoire kept in the Shan Empire, and that Luna had failed to complete it during her lifetime.

Lunia also knew the meaning behind the undying white flames Luna wanted to create.

“Could you have attempted to defeat Erebus using this spell?”

She believed she must have intended to finish this spell to complete her purpose.

“Yes, though the other meaning is more significant.”

“What other meaning?”

“Luna attempted to create five spells that contained something special in her heart.”

Hearing Aron’s words, both Lunia and Eiran perked up their ears.

No matter what, Luna was the great founder of Star Cloud that Elves most respected and loved.

As one of her colleagues and friends, stories about Luna from Aron were impossible to ignore.

“The first was a magic to make flowers bloom. It contained everything about Luna and was something she herself was most proud of.”

“I know.”

“It’s in the textbook of Magic of the Stars.”

Lunia and Eiran both knew very well about it.

“The second is Stella Radius.”

“Ah…”

“The magic that defeated Zerdiaq.”

“That magic truly is Luna herself. She made it while reflecting on herself, as bright as a star.”

The magical flash of brilliant starlight was Luna’s emblem, something even Leo’s Bible couldn’t contain.

“The third magic is the End.”

Until now, it’s regarded as the most powerful magic in the world.

“Luna was someone who had to demolish everything blocking her to feel satisfied, which is why she created this spell…”

“Lord Aron, you don’t need to finish that sentence.”

Lunia quickly interrupted. She did not want her ideal Luna to be tarnished further.

But others had different reactions.

“Ah! Of course, this surly old cat is similar to her temper!”

“I will k*ll you! Stupid cat!”

Watching such commotion, Aron happily chuckled.

“You look delighted.”

Driana’s question made Aron nod.

“I thought about how others might have viewed us back then.”

Upon hearing that, everyone except Leo widened their eyes.

“Did Great Heroes used to fight daily like this?”

“Pfft, no way.”

“Something feels off…”

Lunia, Ar, and Driana whispered quietly.

“It must have been fun.”

With arms crossed behind his back, Kal said, “It would have been amusing,” and Aron nodded.

“It was enjoyable.”

Looking at the wistful smile on Aron’s face, Eiran asked, “What is the fourth special magic?”

“It’s called Innocent.”

“Innocent?”

“Isn’t that a magic that Kyle used?”

“That’s right. It’s magic Luna created for Kyle.”

“Indeed, it was a beautiful magic.”

Lunia smiled brightly.

Hearing Aron’s story, Leo recalled that moment.

“Hem! Kyle.”

“What is it?”

“Come sit here. I’ve created something for you.”

“It’s probably another useless magic. I don’t need it.”

“Is there anything wrong with the magic that makes flowers bloom?”

While glaring, Luna growled, and Kyle sighed softly before sitting down in front of her.

“What kind of magic is it?”

“It brings out the essence of your mana. The name is Innocent.”

“When you said before that being pure didn’t really suit me…”

“That won’t suit you. But Dweno said you were so pure it was dumb. It inspired me.”

“Pure dumb, huh? Want to taste what it feels like being at the receiving end? d*mn cat.”

“Eek! Let go of me!”

Kyle pinched his cheeks and stretched them, causing Luna to squirm. She wanted to retaliate but couldn’t due to his longer reach.

Recalling this past scene, Leo gave a bitter smile, and Aron burst out laughing, seemingly reminded of the same event.

At this point, Eiran asked eagerly,

“If Lady Luna gave magic specially created with her feelings to Kyle… Could it mean she had feelings for him?”

Just thinking about it made her happy. Covering her cheeks with her hands, she perked her ears up, unable to contain her excitement.

“Definitely, Eiran. You’ve got a vivid imagination.”

“That’s what I said.”

Lunia and Ar burst out laughing.

Their reaction made Driana remark,

“You all seem so similar to her stubborn nature, but Eiran actually has a typically feminine side.”

Hearing this, Lunia and Ar’s eyes widened, and Kal clicked his tongue.

“You’re that age as well? You’re the creepiest out of all of us.”

Seeing these bickering four, Aron shook his head.

“Luna didn’t have those feelings for Kyle. They fought all the time.”

“I see.”

“Just like us.”

Others gave ‘that’s understandable’ expressions, and Eiran, disappointed, let her ears droop.

“The fifth magic is the Emperor, right?”

“Yeah.”

Responding to Lunia’s question, Aron nodded.

“The Emperor was the magic Luna developed to counter black flames.”

“To counter them?”

“Yeah. Because Dweno and I were on the frontlines. It was magic made to protect us.”

Aron gave a wry smile.

“It was magic she made, insisting no one should d*e.”

And it was left incomplete in the end.

‘Surely, if Emperor had been completed, fate could have been different.’

Leo exhaled bitterly.

He recalled Luna blaming herself and crying while they lay dead before her.

For Aron, it must have been fortunate.

‘Lord Aron might have broken with Luna’s scream of anguish.’

Hearing his story, Lunia had a solemn look on her face.

She could not have imagined that the magic she had received after 5000 years was imbued with such emotions.

*

‘Lady Luna, I must accomplish your wish.’

Now, Lunia knew.

First, Aron fell, followed by Dweno.

Third, Luna followed her friends.

She couldn’t even begin to imagine how Luna felt back then.

‘Even if I am inadequate… I must protect everyone with Lady Luna’s magic.’

Lunia steeled herself.

Meanwhile,

They were rapidly approaching Erebus.

Whooosh!

The flame erupted around Erebus’s body.

Then,

Bam!

Aron fiercely stomped his foot.

A strong golden aura surrounded his entire body.

“Rooooaaaar!”

Aron’s roar reverberated once more through the air, instilling courage in the hearts of his allies.

As Aron drew his sword, concentrated golden aura surged to the blade’s tip.

Then, with a brilliant flash, Aron charged toward Erebus.

Whooooosh!

“Rooarrrrr!”

The hero’s sword cut across Erebus’s chest.

Upon landing, Aron’s eyes brightened.

“Melina!”

At Aron’s cry, Melina took Leo’s hand and ascended rapidly into the sky.

Upon reaching a great height,

Melina brought her hands together.

Woosh!

An immense magic circle was generated.

The air around them vibrated from the sheer magical power.

“Truly immense power… What kind of magic is it?”

While preparing for her attack, Lunia asked, and Toluah responded, glancing at the sky, “Disaster, the Dragon of Cataclysm. Rodia’s innate magic.”

A grand magic that dominates the surrounding nature.

Whooooosh! Whoom!

A giant typhoon wrapped around Erebus.

Seeing this, Eliza muttered.

“Absolutely perfect enhancement over Abad’s Tempest.”

“It makes sense. Where Abad’s Tempest initiates natural disasters, this magic controls them.”

This was one of the strongest grand magics in the natural realm.

Whooom!

“KOOOOO!”

Erebus struggled against the devastating typhoon but couldn’t resist being carried away.

Still, Disaster, while immobilizing Erebus’s movements, was insufficient to inflict major damage.

Melina watched with a smile.

“It’s fine. This is enough.”

Melina’s role was simply to bind Erebus to that spot.

“Lord Leo,”

At her words, Leo raised his hand.

“Rael.”

A bright flash!

In Leo’s hand, the great spirit of light, Rael, was summoned.

As Leo channeled his spirit energy, much like how the luminous spirit had once transformed during the time of glorious illumination,

The radiant spirit changed into a bow of light.

Leo seized the luminous bow, pulled the string taut.

Woosh!

A single arrow hung on that string.

Seeing this, Melina smiled brightly.

‘Long ago, the light that was shot by the King of Wisdom to banish false and wicked things.’

Leo spoke the name of the magic.

“Judgment.”

Flash!

Whoom!

Leo’s light arrow struck Erebus, causing a massive explosion.

Whoom!

The typhoon binding Erebus disappeared.

A colossal crater formed while dark magma scattered around.

Seeing this, Leo narrowed his eyes.

The tremor of the powerful force was undeniable.

Yet, neither Leo nor Aron, nor even Melina, understood the situation.

“Isn’t it too… weak?”

At Melina’s murmur, Leo clicked his tongue.

“Sure is.”

“Huh?”

“The seal on the beast may be broken, but his consciousness hasn’t awakened completely. He’s just instinctively wielding his great power.”

“That means…”

Leo’s words caused Melina’s face to grow tense.

“Right. We’re nowhere near the beginning.”

The dark magma swirled and shaped itself into a massive face of Erebus.

Upon seeing this, Aron raised his sword.

Flash!

In an instant, Erebus opened his eyes.

Aron’s expression hardened upon meeting his gaze.

-Hah hah hah.

A mocking laughter echoed from Erebus’s mouth.

“An irksome petty miracle from the gods, is it?”

Kooohhhhh!

The atmosphere around them drastically changed.

Whoosh!

Erebus’s body once more erupted into flames.

Koooom!

Exuding an oppressive presence incomparable to earlier, Erebus mocked Aron.

“Are you prepared to witness the world burn again? O specter of the past.”