Chapter 509

509.

Gooouuuuu!

“AAAHHHHH!”

“It’s a demon!”

“The Tartarus Legion is attacking!”

“Someone, quickly ask for help from Lumeran…!”

The streets were filled with screams.

It was literally a scene of chaos.

“Hey! Snap out of it!”

“She’s unconscious! She won’t wake up!”

“Carry the wounded over here!”

The wounded were scattered everywhere.

“bl**d Queen Elgenie has invaded!”

“All those who can fight, come forward!”

“Stop the legion!”

“Evacuate the people!”

Information about the instigator of the chaos spread across the entire city.

Those who could fight moved to the battlefield.

Those who couldn’t took shelter at safe places.

From a distance, Lunia watched this and took a deep breath. She then stood in front of Elgenie, the bl**d Queen, who was emanating a menacing aura.

Next to Lunia, a beastman warrior approached.

“Seirun’s Student Council President.”

Lunia glanced at the man addressing her.

The beastman warrior looked to be in his early 30s and fit his reputation as a healthy-bodied warrior.

“Do I know you?”

In response to Lunia’s question, the beastman warrior introduced himself.

“My name is Gale. Now, you know me?”

“Stormblade.”

Lunia mentioned his nickname.

Gale the Stormblade.

A young beastman hero who was beginning to earn renown.

Despite his young age, he was already an experienced warrior who had battled countless Tartarus legions, typical of his warlike race.

Still, Lunia was perplexed when he spoke to her.

“What is it?”

“Maybe you should step back?”

Gale moved his chin toward the rear.

“I’ve heard of your skills, but this battlefield is too much for a mere second-year student.”

Gale wasn’t looking down on her, but objectively speaking, Lunia was still only a second-year at Hero Academy.

‘She can’t be like Leo Flove, that beast.’

Leo, who not only became the student council president in his first year but also managed to get his name on the Hero Record recently.

But Lunia was different.

To Gale, it seemed Lunia’s achievement of becoming Seirun’s student council president was more due to the competitive relationship between Lumeran and Seirun.

‘Seirun must have seen Lunia El Rundah’s potential.’

Lunia’s name was already world-famous, and it was clear that one day she would become a hero to represent the elves.

It seemed to Gale that the student council presidency had been assigned to her in anticipation of that time.

It wasn’t just Gale; the heroes who were gathered to stop Elgenie seemed to agree with a nod.

As Lunia looked at them, about to speak…

Gooouuuu! Wwooooshh!

Crimson flames erupted from Elgenie.

The other heroes flinched at the sight.

“Everyone, fall back!”

“Mages and summoners, form a barrier to counter Elgenie’s flames!”

The heroes moved in coordinated chaos, even though most of them were engaging a legion commander for the first time.

Even if a hero was on the Hero Record, fighting a legion commander was not an everyday affair.

And surviving such an engagement was difficult.

Thus, those who have battled legion commanders often document their experiences.

The heroes present thoroughly knew the strategies for countering Elgenie.

Except for one person.

Gale’s gaze sharpened.

“What are you doing, Lunia El Rundah!”

As everyone prepared for Elgenie’s attack, Lunia was walking toward her.

When everyone thought it was s*icide, Lunia inhaled deeply and summoned mana.

Wwooooom!

A magical sigil appeared in Lunia’s palm.

Lunia clenched the sigil and unleashed it.

Wwoooosh!

Flames erupted from her hand.

“Sacred Flame.”

It was the flame passed down through generations of the Rundah family, a holy flame that burned away all that was impure.

‘Even self-abnegation to purify evil.’

Thus, it was a forbidden magic.

The Rundah family—indeed, the existing elves—possessed one of the strongest and yet most dangerous flames in existence.

Throughout the Rundah family’s long history, no one had ever perfectly controlled the sacred flame.

Until now.

Lunia smiled faintly.

Crimson flames wrapped around Lunia, forming fiery wings.

Her hair turned into snow-white strands and surged upward as Linea, her vow keeper, merged into her as a flame.

Gooouuuu!

The flames engulfing Lunia burned even fiercer.

Finally, Lunia completed the spell.

“Flame Emperor.”

The triple harmony of the Rundah family’s flame, the phoenix’s flame, and the star’s flame created by Luna surged around Lunia.

Kwa-gaaa-aak!

Lunia raised her hand to the oncoming crimson flames.

Kwa-gaaa-ang!

The flames clashed, creating a towering pillar of fire.

Lunia clenched her fists tightly after countering Elgenie’s attack.

‘Just countering, huh?’

Lunia gritted her teeth.

If it were Leo, what would he have done?

‘He’d have dominated.’

Thinking of her former companion, Lunia inhaled again.

“How…?”

“Do I still not deserve this stage?”

Lunia asked casually, crossing her arms, to which Gale, shocked and surprised, stiffened.

“How did you…”

“I simply blocked it. My flames are created by Lady Luna. It’s illogical that they could be weaker than a legion commander’s.”

Lunia said nonchalantly.

But getting to this point was far from easy.

‘…A sort of awakening, I guess.’

It all started during the summer camp.

After being chosen by the Dragon Lord, Lunia was filled with dreams.

But in the battle against Erebus, Lunia realized she was powerless, watching helplessly from afar and shivering in fear.

Ar was in the same situation.

‘After the camp ended, that stupid cat and perverted dwarf worked hard with me to get stronger.’

Claiming to be the heir of a Great Hero had made it clear that satisfaction with current strength was inadequate; thus, training intensified.

This was the result.

‘Now I see, this was all Leo’s calculation.’

Even embodying the phoenix spirit was inspired by Leo’s handling of Fiora.

‘Dealing with flames, too.’

Lunia clenched a fist tightly.

Only now did it all make sense.

‘Leo was a Great Hero himself.’

And now, she understood the gaze behind which he had always watched her.

‘I thought I would chase after Leo.’

Her lifelong goal.

‘That resolve hasn’t changed.’

Whatever Leo’s true identity was, Lunia would follow him.

‘Therefore, I have to get stronger.’

Merely blocking a legion commander’s attack once wasn’t enough.

‘I need to move even further forward!’

The heroes around her watched Lunia with a dazed look.

Gale laughed, shaking his head in disbelief.

“Leo Flove, and now you… Looks like Lumern and Seirun these days are something else. The juniors of Azonia need to step up their game!”

“Ar Tune is also quite capable.”

“What?”

“If you settle simply because your name is on the Hero Record, we’ll catch up to you in no time!”

Lunia smiled faintly.

Watching her, Gale chuckled.

“Listen, I’m not like those old geezers. I’m still spry in my thirties. I can’t let such whippersnappers overtake me!”

“Cheeky b*stard.”

Some of the heroes glared at Gale.

The tense atmosphere relaxed momentarily.

“I’ll introduce myself again. My name is Gale Ernedy. They call me Stormblade. Please guard the rear.”

Gale started the introductions, signaling a shift in their perception of Lunia. They recognized her as an equal now.

Looking at them, Lunia inhaled deeply.

“My name is Lunia El Rundah. Pleased to work with you.”

Gooouuuuuu!

Once again, the crimson flames erupted.

The real battle between the heroes and the legion commander began.

*

The streets were vibrant, truly festival-like.

A myriad of races were cheering jubilantly.

More grand than ever before.

There was no sorrow or worry on this day.

Impossible to think of anything else.

“Today is the day of absolute liberation.”

Lissinas smiled brightly.

“The complete elimination of the primal darkness, the flame of doom.”

Lissinas looked at Leo with pride.

“Today is the day you’ve always dreamed of achieving. This gathering is to celebrate your accomplishment.”

Leo was in the midst of the parade.

“…”

Silently, Leo observed all the celebration and blessings from the massive crowd as he reached the central plaza of Rumelia City.

There stood Luna, Aron, and Dwenno.

Looking at them, Leo asked,

“What are you doing here in this era?”

Dwenno crossed his arms in response to Leo’s question.

“That’s odd. Haven’t we all reincarnated? To eradicate the primal darkness we left for the future.”

“Yeah, that’s right! So now we’ve finally achieved complete peace!”

Aron laughed brightly.

Leo stared at Luna intently.

“What? Why are you looking at me like that?”

Luna, with a blank expression, crossed her arms and turned her head defiantly, prompting Dwenno to mutter “not honest” under his breath.

Amongst this, Lissinas said,

“It’s really fortunate. That we were all able to reincarnate together.”

“…”

“Fortunate. That we can live in this world together.”

Leo looked towards the sky.

“Same with you, Kyle?”

Leo closed his eyes.

‘Just fiction.’

The terrifying aspect of the Mirror Queen’s illusions is precisely this: even knowing they are fake, you can’t easily escape.

You may forget they are fake and indulge in them.

Yet, Leo didn’t drown in the illusion.

Because the Mirror Queen’s impression of who he was and who he truly was now were vastly different people.

At that time, Kyle could barely see any hope.

But…

This illusion stung Leo to the bone.

‘How many times did I think about it?’

When Leo Flove realized who he was.

‘If I was reincarnated, maybe the others were too?’

But ultimately, he was the only one who returned to this world.

‘How great it would have been if they had all been reborn too.’

It was, however, a wish that could never come true.

This illusion in front of him was too sweet.

“…”

That’s why Leo turned his back.

“Kyle?”

Lissinas called out, confused.

But Leo moved forward, without hesitation, and stretched his hand into the air.

BZZZT!

A crack appeared in the air.

“Gahk?!”

A sound of pain escaped him.

“Th-then why? This illusion is the dream you desired most. Why are you rejecting it?”

“Because it’s a dream that can never be realized.”

Leo stated straightforwardly.

Canezi’s face twisted.

“In this world, you’ll suffer no more. You can d*e peacefully. Why choose to go to hell?”

“There’s something I want to see.”

Leo smiled.

“I’m curious about how they grow up.”

Recalling the hero candidates of his era.

The kids he acknowledged and guided.

The future comrades with whom he spent joyful times.

Leo wanted to see their future.

“I’m curious about what kind of adults they’ll become.”

Leo’s smile softened.

“And there’s one more thing.”

SNAP!

Leo’s grip on Canezi’s neck tightened, causing more cracks to appear.

“You’re mistaken. It’s not just you who hates me.”

Leo’s eyes burned with a fiery resolve.

“All of Tartarus including Erebus, who killed my friends, must vanish from this world. That’s why I’ll obliterate you all.”

His heart might be ashes now.

But even amidst the ashes, there were precious things.

BLAST!

A spark ignited in Leo’s heart.

ZZZZZZZZT!

A rift opened in the world.

CRASH!

The world darkened as if the mirror had shattered.

Taking a glance at the fading world, Leo stepped into the darkness with no regrets, muttering,

“There’s still a long way before I can rest.”

Beneath the darkness far ahead.

Unseen, but the future Leo was heading towards was undeniably clear.