Chapter 579

579.

WHOOSH-!

The towering pillar of black flame that soared high into the sky began to split apart and rain down like a shower from the heavens.

“AHHHHHHHH!”

“KYAAAAAAAAAA?!”

Screams erupted from all around the stands as spectators witnessed this sudden spectacle, akin to the end of the world.

FLASH-!

In that instant, a wall of light formed in the sky.

WHOOSH-!

The black flames were blocked by the wall.

-“Ladies and gentlemen, visitors to Lumeran, please direct your attention.”

At that moment, a gentle voice came from the center of the training ground.

A beautiful female student, Elena, gracefully held the hem of her skirt and gave a slight bow, mesmerizing all who saw her.

-“There are countless hero academy students and heroes present here today. Please rest assured.”

With Elena’s words, the confusion among the spectators quickly subsided.

While the faces of the crowd were still filled with fear, they did not lose their composure and fall into chaos.

Everyone swallowed hard.

Meanwhile…

FLASH-!

WHOOSH-!

A red blade of energy cleanly split the pillar of black flame in two.

The energy blade, having cleaved through the black flames, shot upward into the sky without losing its momentum.

Witnessing this awe-inspiring scene, the audience gaped in astonishment.

“Is that… an energy blade?”

“I’ve heard that sometimes knights can unleash attacks with the power of great mages… but this far surpasses magic, doesn’t it?”

All eyes turned to the one who had unleashed the energy blade.

There stood a young man who looked like he had just begun shedding the last vestiges of adolescence.

“Hark-senpai! That was incredible!”

Lil swung her battle hammer joyously and cheered.

“Is that really a Knight’s Department student?”

“Students from Lumeran’s Knight’s Department are monsters!”

The Azonia students gazed at Hark with expressions of shock.

“Hmph, don’t be surprised. That guy’s mana attribute is ‘accumulation.'”

Dorveman flexed his fists and stepped forward.

“Thanks to that, he can unleash absurd energy blades despite his pudgy build.”

Of course, even with immense mana, there’s a limit to how much power one can unleash in one go.

Moreover, releasing that much power would usually cause physical strain.

Enduring that falls under the domain of rigorous training.

Hark, with his sword resting on his shoulder, attracted everyone’s gaze.

An overwhelming charisma radiated from his presence.

Even Lumeran’s underclassmen, who had only seen Hark often dozing off or screaming while being harassed by Leo, were left speechless at this unfamiliar sight.

At that moment, Elena approached Lil and whispered.

“Wh-What? That’s too much!”

“It’ll be a great help, come on.”

“But… still…”

“Hmm? Who do you think will be with you in school longer?”

Smiling mischievously as she pressured Lil, Elena watched as Lil frowned and approached Hark.

“What is it?”

When Hark asked with a slightly irritable tone, Lil closed her eyes tightly, summoned a water spirit, and drenched Hark with water.

SHHHHISST-!

As soon as the water touched Hark’s body, it turned into steam.

Startled by the sudden shower, Hark grabbed Lil by the collar.

“Ho? So you don’t consider me your senpai anymore because it’s graduation, huh?”

“HIIEK! I-I was told to do it by Elena-senpai!”

‘Wouldn’t a normal person refuse even if told to do it?’

As everyone stared at the two with bewildered eyes, forgetting the situation, Elena interjected with a smile.

“Alright, calm down.”

“Even if we need to cool down, does that mean you pour water?”

Hark glared menacingly.

“Let’s postpone disciplining Lil for later.”

“WHY ARE YOU PASSING EVERYTHING ON TO ME?”

“Are you saying you have no fault in this?”

Ignoring the protests from both the senior and the junior, Elena spoke.

“First-year students, evacuate with the spectators.”

“But, senpai! We can fight too!”

Elena smiled wryly at Juen’s assertion.

“Your resolve is commendable, but here, you’d only be a hindrance. Don’t slow down your seniors.”

Juen flinched at Elena’s words.

“Next, we will assemble a team at Lumeran to handle this. Everyone whose name is called, step forward. Those who aren’t called should follow the professors’ instructions.”

Having said that, Elena glanced at the other schools.

“I’d appreciate it if you’d also form teams.”

At her words, the other schools quickly began assembling their teams.

“By the way, where’s Leo-kun?”

“I’m here.”

“…?”

Elena turned to look at Leo, who had appeared behind her, with a tilt of her head.

“Leo-kun?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm…”

Narrowing her eyes briefly, Elena smiled.

“Can you direct ranged attacks from the rear?”

“I understand.”

“Shouldn’t someone like him be at the front lines?”

“Not just students are present here.”

Elena looked at the heroes who were trying to contain the Catastrophe Flame that had reignited.

“Leo-kun would be best suited to commanding the wizards and summoners right now.”

*

People were evacuating in a hurry.

Among them stood Leo, issuing orders to Melina.

“Melina, have the dragons search for anyone suspicious within Lumeran. I don’t know whose it is, but the object at the center of these flames is a fragment of the Hero of the Cataclysm’s Record. Someone must’ve brought it into Lumeran.”

“Yes, but why would someone do such a thing? If this Hero Record is a passage, it’s surely something even Tartarus would need…”

The Hero Record of the Cataclysm could serve as a pathway for Erebus to escape from the world of Cataclysm.

Yet, why would someone unleash it recklessly in the center of Lumeran?

Leo could block such a passage easily, just like during the Seirun incident.

‘The Demon King wouldn’t be unaware of this. What’s his scheme?’

As Leo narrowed his eyes, a voice spoke up behind him.

“Not all Hero Records can be used as passages.”

Leo turned around.

Lian was walking through the evacuating crowd.

Unconsciously, people gave way to Lian but remained unaware of his presence.

Lian, holding a broad, flat box, stopped in front of Leo.

At that moment, the people also seemed to forget about Leo’s presence.

Amidst this chaos, an eerie calmness surrounded Lian.

“The Hero Records were created with the power of the gods. Their essence is antithetical to monstrosities.”

Lian stepped closer to Leo.

“The pages of the Hero Record turned black when the monstrosity was sealed in the world of Cataclysm. It was as if someone had spilled ink on paper.”

“A consumption?”

“Yes.”

Lian nodded.

“The record was shredded before all the pages turned black.”

Many records were lost or scattered across the world during the process.

“Only the consumed pages can be used as passages?”

“That’s right. However, the residual flames from that monstrosity can escape through the Hero Record. What’s happening now is such a phenomenon.”

Lian’s expression darkened.

“This is an error due to the Record System being significantly damaged.”

“…The Demon King deliberately caused this chaos in Lumeran to exploit the Record’s damage.”

“That’s likely. His intention is…”

“To eliminate the Hero Candidates by causing an explosion during the Hero Festival.”

Leo gritted his teeth.

“How do we resolve it?”

“Enter the Hero’s World and extinguish the lingering flames.”

“In order to do that, we need to put out the flames that’ve already erupted outside first.”

“Yes. That’s why I suggest this.”

“…?”

“Please stand before the people, not as Leo Flove but as Kyle, the Hero of Beginning.”

“What?”

“The inhabitants of the lower realms are already accustomed to the miracle of the Great Heroes’ return, so there won’t be any significant issues.”

Lian looked at the pillar of black flames.

“Of course, you can’t sustain the name of the Great Hero forever. Names can’t be eternal. I also know you’re preparing accordingly.”

Even if the name of the Great Hero fades, the names of those who carry on his legacy will be passed down.

And one day, those names too will be forgotten.

But the legacy will endure.

The same legacy passed down to Leo—Kyle—from Lissinas and his comrades.

The same legacy Lissinas received from someone unknown.

“In an era without gods, accomplishing something even greater than the gods is surely a miracle beyond their imagination, isn’t it?”

Lian smiled brightly.

“I don’t believe this miracle is coincidental. Your return to the world must be because the world needs you.”

Lian looked at the terrified people.

“People are trembling in fear. The name Leo Flove alone isn’t enough to dispel this fear.”

Lian knelt and presented the box to Leo as if offering a tribute.

“The Hero of Beginning, Kyle, must return to this world once more.”

“What is this…?”

“It’s a present I give to you.”

As Leo opened the box lid, his eyes widened in surprise.

Inside was a black cloak.

A cloak far too familiar to Leo.

Before Aron joined them,

It was a time when Kyle was constantly riddled with wounds, standing guard at the forefront for Lissinas and Lu.

Kyle never cared, but Lissinas and Lu seemed deeply affected by his battered state.

One day, while treating his wounds, Lissinas handed him the cloak.

“Take this.”

“Why so dull? Why is it black?”

“It’s made from my skin.”

“And I’ve inscribed a protective charm on it.”

Lu added as she crossed her arms.

“You keep getting hurt. This was a joint effort between Lissinas and me. Do take better care.”

Lu clicked her tongue.

“At least you have a decent face to look at. Don’t go getting hurt, or it’d break our hearts.”

“Don’t flatter yourself.”

“Haha, as if I’d fall for you! Your face isn’t my type anyway. I just said your face is the only decent thing about you. Your character’s messy.”

Lu scrunched up her face dramatically, showing clear disinterest.

Watching the two, Lissinas let out a small sigh.

“It’s durable and will protect you. If it gets damaged, I can repair it with my magic. From now on, your injuries should decrease a bit.”

And that cloak stayed with Kyle until the final moments.

“How can this…?”

It was a relic that disappeared alongside him in that final moment.

But this cloak was undoubtedly his.

“Long ago, one of the Heroes of Cataclysm claimed this as a reward during an attempted invasion of your world. It was entrusted to me before Lumeran sealed Erebus away.”

Without saying a word, Leo extended his hand toward the cloak.

“Melina.”

“Yes.”

“Ask En to take my place.”

“Wait, what? Ah, understood.”

Though confused, Melina instructed En to impersonate Leo to the Lumeran students.

En stepped in as Leo, weaving through the crowd in Leo’s guise.

WHOOSH-!

Leo draped the cloak around himself.

The flowing edges momentarily obscured Lian’s view.

And in the next moment,

A gray-haired youth stood there, cloaked in black leather armor and a black mantle.

“Ahh…”

The voice of the gods trembled at the sight of the silhouette.

TAP-TAP-

Leo walked toward the black flames.

“Excuse me! Civilians must…!”

Nella tried to stop Leo, who was coming from the evacuation route.

“B-b-but… wait… wha…?”

“Why so tense? Hey! Get to evacuations! What are you doing here?”

Iliana, who tried to guide Leo to safety with obvious tension, hesitated before crossing her arms and narrowing her brows.

“Hold on a second, handsome. Haven’t we met somewhere…? No way! EEK?!?!”

Iliana let out a gasp, her mouth agape in shock.

Chuckling softly, Leo roughly ruffled Nella and Iliana’s hair with one hand before moving forward.

“Don’t be so tense, kids.”

The stunned gazes of everyone were fixed on Leo… no, Kyle.

“I’ve arrived.”