Chapter 510

510.

“Ugh!”

Meteria let out a battle cry and quickly approached Mel.

A black mist swirled around Mel.

Kwaak-!

The mist coiled around Meteria like silk.

Kuguuguung-!

At that moment, Meteria’s feet sank into the ground.

Meteria’s eyes twitched.

“Is this gravity magic?”

His eyes turned to Mel.

“It’s just a stalling tactic.”

The seasoned knight, Meteria, easily grasped Mel’s intention.

This place was Lumeran.

And Meteria, who had once been the principal, knew the strength of Lumeran well.

Among the students were those whose power could already be compared to heroes.

It was not just them.

The professors who taught those students—these professors were those who had their names inscribed on the Hero Record or, even if their names weren’t listed, possessed powers equal to heroes.

Hero academies didn’t just serve as one of the powerful forces that restrained Tartarus for no reason.

“Hmph.”

Meteria curled his lips upward.

“Shouldn’t you know better than anyone else that we’re not ordinary heroes?”

Gooouuuuu!

A dark blue aura erupted from his body.

The aura quickly turned into sharp sword energy that scattered in all directions.

As Meteria, who had forcibly dispelled the magic, was about to charge at Mel,

Dripdripdrip-!

An ominous sound filled the air as the floor began to freeze.

Meteria’s eyes twitched as he leapt high into the air.

Tak-!

Sssssssaa-!

The floor froze, emitting a powerful chill.

Meteria’s gaze turned to one side.

“Ho, and here I thought you were only a second-year, but you’re capable of using such potent magic.”

Crack-!

Chloe lifted the staff she had planted on the ground.

As she did so, the frost that had covered her body fell to the ground.

Ice Realm.

Her inherent magic had even threatened a hero from the previous generation.

‘Such a pure wizard. A wizard capable of wielding cold magic of this magnitude is rare, and to be able to use it at this age…’

The power of magic does not equate to battle power.

Even if one were to use formidable magic, they would still be powerless if they allowed their opponent to close the distance.

However, it was still impressive that someone of this age used such powerful magic.

‘A second-year using fifth-year level magic. Incredible.’

“Looks like the Department of Knights needs to step up.”

Muttering quietly, Meteria swung his sword at Chloe.

Kwagagaagaagang! Zzzzap-!

A golden aura blocked Meteria’s sword.

Meteria’s eyes flickered as he looked at the young knight blocking his path.

“What nonsense is this?”

Duran narrowed his golden eyes.

“An undead has no reason to worry about the Department of Knights.”

‘Is this one a second-year too?’

Meteria, seeing Duran block his sword with a single attack, furrowed his brows.

To think a second-year could block his once illustrious sword.

“Not bad. Blocking my sword, even if for a moment, is worthy of praise.”

Meteria tightened his grip on his sword.

“But foolhardy. You’ll d*e from your own folly.”

As Meteria’s sword began to change form, a small shadow darted into his arms.

Gwaaang-!

With a loud noise, Meteria’s body rose into the air.

Ddong!

Meteria landed on the ground and glared at the girl who had sent him flying.

Using water aura, Chen Sia, with an expressionless face, fused her aura with Duran’s and then attacked Meteria.

“Another second-year?”

Meteria twisted his face as he attempted to suppress Chen Sia and Duran.

Kukuuguuguung! Wharrllrrk-!

A massive pillar of flame descended from the sky.

Celia, with the help of Abad’s magic, had unleashed a full-force attack.

Meteria’s face gradually stiffened.

‘Another second-year?’

Second-year students with extraordinary power beyond their level kept appearing.

‘Still, the main attackers are only two. They should be easy to subdue…’

As he thought that suppressing Duran and Chen Sia would be enough to easily neutralize them,

A giant rock flew at an immense speed and slammed into Meteria.

Gwaaang-!

Stunned by the impact, Meteria looked at the towering boy, Warden, who had attacked him and twisted his face.

‘Another second-year!’

Just as he was about to retaliate,

A small wizard girl and an elf sword-mage girl darted between Warden and Meteria to interfere with him.

“Mr. Warden, amazing!”

“A brute.”

Eiran exclaimed in admiration, and Chelsea stuck out her tongue in annoyance.

Chelsea had been assisting Warden and Eiran’s movements with wind magic.

It was then.

‘Their movements are systematic. Is someone directing them? Is it the Dragon Lord?’

Although their abilities were impressive, the formation designed to counter him continuously caught him off guard.

Someone was undoubtedly predicting his next moves by analyzing his actions.

‘And the accuracy of these youngsters’ movements points only to the Dragon Lord’s command…’

“Aaaaaaarrrrggh! What should I do if you suddenly fly strangely!”

“Enough! Did anyone say you could touch me? You may d*e later… or now! Kal Thomas!”

“The reason you feel threatened is because of your ominous manner! This is beyond my control!”

Kal’s cry of anguish and Eliza’s venomous voice echoed through the sky.

“Fantastic, everyone.”

Mel smiled brightly at the second-years.

“What are these?”

Meteria asked Mel.

In response to that, Mel shrugged.

“The future.”

“The future?”

“Yes. The future that will bear the burden of this world from now on.”

To that, Meteria sneered.

“Did you deceive these children with sweet talk as well? What lies did you feed them? Did you deceive them by saying they could save the world? Hohoho. Like us? Hahahahahah!”

Meteria burst into laughter, pointing at Mel with his hand.

“Deluded students of Lumeran. Let me enlighten you. Whatever this Dragon Lord told you, you will never save the world. Nay, you’ll probably be abandoned by this dragon!”

His eyes gleamed with hostility.

“You will be given no chance to confront the cataclysm!”

At those words, Celia furrowed her eyebrows.

“Cataclysm? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Could it be related to the Hero of the Cataclysm?”

In response to Chen Sia’s answer, Chelsea placed her hands on her hips.

“No, to begin with, talking about abandonment and such. The delusions of persecution from the former traitor principal are outrageous, are they not?”

“Until today, I didn’t know Professor Mel was the Dragon Lord.”

Cloé looked puzzled.

“What?”

The second-years’ perplexed reactions left Meteria looking perplexed himself.

“Pay no heed to the words of the defector who sold his soul to Tartarus.”

Abad said with a smile.

“All of it is unnecessary. We’ll just strike this one down.”

Warden clenched his fists, revealing his fighting spirit.

Kuguuguuguung-!

The earth shook due to the power of the Great Spirit of Earth he had contracted.

“Reliable, everyone.”

Mel smiled softly at the second-years and then stood in front of Meteria.

“I’ve never abandoned you. You were the ones who went astray.”

Mel’s expression turned cold.

“I don’t know what will happen to these children. But one thing is clear: your failure does not determine their failure; that’s arrogance. Decisively.”

Mel paused and then looked around at the second-years.

“The one who chose these children as the future of the world was not me.”

“What?”

Mel pointed upwards with a finger, smiling faintly.

“Someone far greater than me.”

“Are you suggesting that someone akin to a god?”

“Hmm… In some sense, perhaps. After all, this person gifted us the world we now live in.”

“Nonsense.”

Meteria’s face twisted.

Ignoring him, Mel continued.

“Still, it’s unfortunate.”

Mel let out a small sigh and raised his hand.

“I chose heroes in the past who fell to corruption, selling their souls to the Demon King and proving good for nothing more than a mere delaying move.”

“What?”

“The Demon King will not invade Lumeran.”

Mel’s eyes narrowed.

Although countless undead and demons were invading Lumeran, it was undoubtedly the army of the Demon King.

‘But it’s just a distraction.’

Though Mel had remained silent for a long time, known as the Silent Dragon, he was never merely turning his back on the world.

Throughout his silence, he played a significant role in containing the vast power of Tartarus.

Mel, who had been incessantly battling the Demon King from unseen places, immediately understood.

‘This is merely a stalling tactic to bind my forces and those of Lumeran. The Demon King’s true target must be Lord Leo in Rumelia City.’

Leo might already be in danger.

After all, the Demon King wouldn’t launch such a strategy unless victory was certain.

‘…Erebus’s fragment didn’t just enhance his power; it also increased his strength.’

Even without his core body present, breaking the Demon King’s curse of severance that he had cast was proving immensely difficult.

Mel clenched his fists.

‘But now, we have variables the Demon King never saw coming.’

Mel clenched his fists again.

‘Lord Luna.’

*

Drip-!

As cracks appeared in the air like a fractured mirror, the Demon King’s eyes narrowed.

“Even with the power of Erebus’s fragment, the abilities of the ‘Hero of Survival’ seem immune to the Queen of Mirrors.”

No matter how much the power of Erebus’s fragment might have augmented his abilities, it was impossible to resurrect countless Legion Commanders indefinitely.

He could resurrect just one Legion Commander.

‘And all the resurrected Legion Commanders will escape my control.’

The grudges of the dead Legion Commanders ran deep.

Once resurrected, it was certain they would lose their minds and attack the world.

This was unwelcome news for the Demon King.

Even with an overwhelmingly superior force, launching an attack outside the domain of Tartarus in the age of many heroes was nothing short of suicidal.

‘Both sides will endure losses… but the losses on my side will be significant as well.’

For this very reason, he chose to resurrect the Mirror Queen, who could control her sanity and had once inflicted massive damage on the ancient Great Heroes.

Of course, the Demon King was well aware that the Mirror Queen’s abilities might not penetrate the current Leo.

The Mirror Queen had met a futile defeat at the hands of Luna in the past.

‘And the Hero of Survival has overcome countless trials. The one who even toppled a god—how strange would it be if the Mirror Queen’s abilities could cause him great harm?’

Dripdrip-!

The cracks in the air widened further.

‘Still, it’s certain that some psychological damage will be inflicted.’

The illusions of the Mirror Queen are relentless.

When one illusion is defeated, another appears.

Even if one’s mind couldn’t be completely broken, it could certainly receive a powerful impact.

‘In his weakened state, will he really be able to stop me, Hero of Survival?’

Even if he cannot be defeated, it makes no difference.

‘I have thought long and hard: how could the Hero of Survival overcome Lord Erebus.’

The Hero of Survival, amidst the most desperate situations, single-handedly defeated a god.

It wasn’t simply because he inherited all the powers of the other Great Heroes.

Nor was it because his companions inflicted damage on Erebus.

‘After much reflection, I realized that his mental strength surpasses even the will of the gods.’

So there was a need to create a fracture in that mental resilience.

The Demon King’s ultimate goal was solely to erode Leo’s mental strength.

‘May you suffer, Hero of Survival.’

The Demon King curled his lips upwards.

Then, he looked at the people taking refuge in Rumelia City.

“There are things that even you cannot protect.”

Ziiing-!

An invocation circle appeared in the air, and an undead army began to pour out.

“I wonder how many will d*e by the time you subdue the Mirror Queen.”