Chapter 485

485.

“Archers, prepare again!”

Lil gave an order to the knight beside her.

Upon that command, the knight urgently pointed his sword towards the archers.

“Archers! Prepare!”

At this, the archers hastily nocked their arrows onto their bowstrings.

However, as part of the defense force of the frontier kingdom’s capital, their loading speed was evidently slow due to insufficient training.

“Hurry up! Don’t you see the enemies are within range!”

The knight shouted in frustration.

Seeing this, Lil sighed lightly and raised her hand.

Rumrmrmbll-!

The earth spirits contracted with Lil shook the ground.

The advancing army of Tamus lost their balance and fell over due to the violently shaking earth.

During this time, the archers who had finished loading fired their arrows.

Swishhhhhk!

The sound of arrows slicing through the wind echoed.

In sync with this, Lil summoned wind spirits to increase the speed of the arrows.

The soldiers of Tamus who were struck by the arrows, now empowered by the force of the wind, fell down.

“Amazing…”

“Is this what a Spirit Master is capable of?”

The impact Lil, all by herself, had on the battlefield was monumental.

Even though she was still young, especially in matters of such warfare, Lil’s command abilities were overwhelming.

She was, in essence, a figure whose mere existence influenced the battlefield.

The other commanders directing the soldiers from atop the castle walls were unable to close their mouths in amazement.

“Lady Lil! You’re incredible! You’re just like a goddess bringing us victory!”

“I’m not incredible. My brother is even more so. He, in fact, is worthy of being called a god.”

“Huh? Speaking of your brother?”

Everyone was taken aback at Lady Lil, who looked delicate and lovely, speaking about her ‘brother.’

At that moment, a dazzling flash of light flashed in the sky.

Everyone startled and looked upward.

“Look.”

Just as Lil was speaking composedly, Lu from the orphan soldiers ran up and saluted, asking,

“Captain! When do we go in?”

Lu had an itchy feeling, eager to take down the enemies right away.

Seeing this Lu, Lil spoke.

“You all will not be participating in this battle.”

“What? Why? We’re much stronger than these people!”

Lu wore a look of confusion as to why.

Looking at such Lu, Lil said,

“It’s true that you all are stronger than these people. But, you’re also at an age where you need protection.”

There’s a part of the castle wall that’s collapsed.

Tamus’s knights have infiltrated the city through that.

Regarding this section, she had received a message from Jelemin.

“Shadow members are helping the citizens evacuate.”

Also, the infiltrated enemies were being swiftly taken care of.

Hence, Lil could fully concentrate on this battlefield.

“What is the task that you all should be doing?”

“Defeating the enemies…”

“No. Find what you truly want to do.”

Lil straightforwardly told Lu.

The orphan soldiers widened their eyes in surprise at this.

“Therefore, leave these matters to the adults. Right? Gentlemen knights?”

Seeing Lil winking, everyone lost their words.

It was an unusual situation, yet Lil captured everyone’s attention with a single gesture.

She gave those around her a sense of relief.

That’s when it happened.

“Are you the representative of the third year of Lumeran leading this battlefield?”

A voice came from the sky.

All eyes turned to it.

There stood Jerome, a man clutching his arm tightly, his face contorted in pain.

“Are you the Guild Master of the Justice Guild?”

“You know well. Hand over the command to me. In this battlefield, I will rescue you all.”

Jerome gritted his teeth as he spoke.

‘They say my qualification as a hero has been stripped. What’s the reason?’

Having conquered countless worlds as a hero, Jerome knew the message he had received wasn’t a deception.

There has been no recorded instance in history of anyone losing their qualification as a hero.

If this fact were to be publicized, Jerome would surely become a laughingstock of history.

‘I can’t accept this. I need to quickly accomplish an achievement and reclaim my position as a hero!’

Such thoughts filled Jerome’s mind.

Looking at such Jerome, Lil hesitated.

Even leaving aside his critically wounded state, she was unsure if she should hand over the command.

She was well aware of the ideals he held.

Nevertheless, knowing that he had once been selected as a hero, Lil wasn’t sure if he was the person more suited to command this battlefield compared to herself.

While Jerome was contemplating this,

“The seekers of light. Although your offer to command this battlefield is appreciated… The Justice Guild abandoned us. Hence, your command would have a great impact on the morale of the soldiers.”

“Miss Lil is more than capable of commanding this battlefield well.”

The knights under the Kanel Kingdom showed their will to follow Miss Lil.

Seeing their reactions, Lil widened her eyes in surprise.

“You uneducated fools dare.”

Jerome’s expression turned ferocious.

“When I offer to command, you should be bowing down in gratitude. Yet you deny me?”

Gooouuuuu!

A surge of power emanated from his body.

Suddenly, Lil’s eyes turned fierce.

Whoosh-!

She swung her Battle Hammer directly at Jerome.

“Hmph! Such a crude attack!”

Jerome’s eyes gleamed.

Though he had expend a lot of energy in the battle with Tamus and lost his arm, the fact that he was a top-notch expert among the current generation heroes remained unchanged.

Lil, still a hero candidate, was far from being his match.

However, Lil gripped her Battle Hammer with even more strength.

If she retreated here, all the Kanel knights would perish.

Realizing this, Lil clenched her teeth.

“How dare you try to k*ll someone because they disagree with you! What do you think of human life?”

“Are you lecturing me now? What do you know about being a hero, you girl? A hero is a special individual destined to lead an era! To the others, they are mere expendable followers destined to follow the hero’s will!”

Jerome’s words made Lil’s shoulders tremble.

“I’m sure it’s quite interesting to see what happens with such a weak-hearted mindset!”

“Like hell I’ll be like you! You b*stard!”

“What?”

Lil’s force, upon hurling the insult, surpassed her limits.

Crackling-!

A crack appeared on the barrier of light Jerome had created using spirits.

“What?!”

Kah-!

“Cough!!”

The Battle Hammer directly struck Jerome’s chest.

His body flew backward.

“Ugh. Ugh. How?”

[Impressive.]

Someone firmly patted Lil’s head, as if stroking it.

“Miss Rael?”

What Lil had used was none other than Rael’s power.

It was the strength of the Spirit Armored that Leo had set up for Lil’s training, which had been manifested momentarily.

[Though, using my power was solely due to the help of Lord Leo.]

When Leo had deployed the Spirit Armored on Lil, Rael had briefly stayed inside Lil’s body.

It formed a kind of temporary contract.

However, using Rael’s power was entirely Lil’s ability.

[Might have been you if it weren’t for Lord Leo.]

While gazing at Rael’s expression admiringly, Lil’s face twisted.

“Ugh?!”

And covering her mouth, she rushed to a corner of the castle wall.

“Ugh.”

Her body retched. It was the cost of using more power than the permitted limit.

Tortured, Lil’s twisted expression was observed by Rael with a strange look before she patted her back.

“Waahhhhh!”

“Hooray for Lady Lil!”

“The goddess of victory is protecting us!”

Upon realizing that Lil had saved them, the knights and soldiers cheered.

[Won’t you even wave your hand with such enthusiastic cries?]

“Throwing up… uh… Can’t… uh!”

[… Perhaps not the best image. Do it when you feel better.]

*

With a tremendous flash of light, Tamus plummeted to the ground.

[Amazing.]

Arti let out an exclamation of admiration.

“It’s just that I momentarily unleashed overwhelming firepower.”

Even now, it was difficult for Leo to maintain that level of attack power.

If the opponent avoided it, it would be meaningless.

No matter how powerful an attack is, it has to hit its target.

To which Kiran asked with an intrigued expression,

[How does the present Leo compare to the past one?]

“The destructive power is about the same as when I first met Lissinas. I still have a long way to go to catch up overall.”

After answering, Leo chased Tamus.

‘The guy is still not completely dead.’

Worthy of one having tremendous power, he had survived that blow.

Whoosh! Bang!

At that moment, Jerome, who had taken a blow from Lil, flew in and crashed in front of Leo.

“Cough! Spitting! d*mn woman!”

On seeing Jerome rise and shout with a murderous glare,

“Looks like you lost to Lil?”

“Leo Flove?”

Jerome’s body shuddered.

Leo, realizing that Lil had summoned Rael, smirked.

“How does it feel to see a real hero?”

“Could it be… Is my loss of the Hero’s qualification related to you?”

“Think whatever you like.”

Seeing Leo sneer, Jerome’s body trembled.

From his attitude, it was confirmed.

That his being stripped of the title of Hero was indeed related to Leo.

“Why?”

Jerome murmured.

“Why! A Hero is a chosen being! And I am a chosen one! I have always been the best! I have executed justice for the world! Why should I lose my title as a Hero? Why should I, who has accomplished great deeds, why?”

Leo said with a bland tone, looking at Jerome who was venting his frustration,

“I don’t think you’re that great a person at all.”

“What?”

“To me, you’re just a stupid guy who thinks you can do whatever you want because you’re strong.”

At Leo’s frosty remark, Jerome’s face hardened.

“Isn’t the accolade of ‘Hero’ too precious for such a fool?”

“KRAAAAAAAAA!”

With bloodshot eyes, Jerome lunged at Leo.

Leo dodged.

Slither-!

With a chilling sound, Jerome froze in place.

Puff! Thud!

Jerome’s head was severed and fell.

With a blank expression, Leo wiped off the bl**d on the Nox and pursued Tamus without a second glance.

At the moment, the capital of Kanel was in chaos due to the army of Tamus.

‘Unless he’s eliminated, they’ll keep pouring in nonstop.’

Leo continued to chase Tamus.

And shortly thereafter,

He found him standing in the middle of a ruin.

Realizing Leo’s approach, Tamus glared with his headless body and shouted aloud,

“It’s not over yet!”

Tamus shouted ferociously.

“I haven’t regained the full power of my prime! But if I regain the power of a spirit mage, it might still be possible to k*ll you!”

Tamus burned with murderous intent.

Though a fatal wound had been inflicted, he hadn’t been completely defeated.

“Stop struggling pathetically and accept your d*ath with dignity.”

The moment Leo raised the Nox in irritation,

Blaze-!

A light shot up from under Tamus’s feet.

“This place is where this body ruled 3000 years ago.”

Tamus’s gaze sparkled.

“Isn’t it natural that I remember the location of my treasure vault?”

Tamus smirked and extended his hand.

“Wouldn’t you need a key to open it?”

“Hmph! Do you think you need a key to enter my treasure vault!”

Tamus sneered and opened the treasure vault door.

Blaze-!

Together with a bright light, the surroundings began to change.

As Leo opened his eyes, a massive armory was revealed.

Inside this place, surrounded by weapons, stood Tamus beside the throne.

Tamus picked up the skull placed on the throne and placed it on his neck.

Blaze-!

The skull’s eye lit up.

“With this, I have regained my full power! Hero of beginning! Hahaha!”

With a loud laughter, Tamus raised his hand.

“Let me show you the power of the Hero army that this body boasts!”

Gooouuuuu-!

The spiritual force radiating from Tamus’s body seeped into the various weapons stored in the armory.

Blaze-!

The spiritual force then manifested the warriors’ lifelike figures when they were alive.

“I remember when you disobeyed my orders 3000 years ago! But I forgive you! Foolish spirit warriors! You will become my slaves and rule this world again!”

Tamus’ eyes glinted.

“By the power of the Hero Record, I will drive out the fake heroes who falsely assumed the title of hero! Show these ignorant ones what true heroes are! Following my orders, k*ll that man!”

Responding to the insane orders of Demon King Tamus, the spirits began to approach Leo.

Tamus’s revived spiritual magic was closer to necromancy.

It forcibly controlled others and turned them into undead.

Looking at the spirits approaching him, Leo’s face tightened.

It wasn’t because of fear or anxiety.

He heard countless pitiful cries from the spirits.

‘So this is it.’

Leo looked down at his hands.

‘I awakened to the spiritual magic.’

He heard the sorrowful voices of the spirits.

Much like how Lissinas had done.

Blaze-!

A pure white spiritual force flowed from Leo’s hand.

The movement of the spirits exposed to this light froze.

“You can do as you wish.”

Leo said.

“You are free. No one can bind you anymore.”

Jangle-!

The spirits touched by the pure white light trembled and then began to disappear one by one.

Their weapons that they had held rolled aimlessly on the ground.

At the sight of this, Tamus eyes wide.

“Wha, how!”

“I just mimicked a greater spirit mage than you.”

While approaching Tamus, Leo said.

Gooouuuuuu-!

An ominous killing intent flowed out from Leo’s body.

Seeing this Leo, Tamus spoke in a trembling voice.

“S, spare me.”

Having been completely defeated as both a knight and a spirit mage,

He was now left with two options.

To accept d*ath or to beg for his life.

“Great Hero of beginning! This body… No! I can resist the power of the Demon King! That vile Demon King fellow said! That again, a piece of Erebus has been revived! And that he has a piece of Erebus! I can be of great help in this age! Spare me! As the Great Hero, show mercy to your junior!”

Looking down at Tamus, who was kneeling pitifully rubbing his hands, Leo said.

“You could indeed be a great help with the strength of a hero like you.”

“Th, that’s ri…”

“A hero, though.”

Leo lifted the Nox.

Tamus’ face stiffened.

“But you’re not a hero, are you?”

“S, spare me! There won’t be anyone like me again!”

“There are plenty stronger than you in this age.”

“KRAAAAAAAAA!”

Tamus, kneeling, made a last desperate lunge at Leo.

DING!

In that instant.

Tamus’s head flew into the sky.

With the very same sword trajectory that had decapitated him 3000 years ago.

Tamus’s body crumbled into dust meaninglessly.