Chapter 586

586.

After a while of talking to Rian about Leo, Kal cautiously spoke up.

“Um… Rian-nim.”

“Yes, Kal-nim. Command me.”

Looking at the deity in front of him, who had even changed his title, Kal was unsure how to respond.

‘His eyes are not sane.’

Although he hadn’t lived a long life, Kal had experienced many things since entering Rumearn Academy.

In the process, he had seen many people who were not in their right minds.

And Rian had a level of madness that could not be compared to those.

Just a moment ago, when Kal had told him Leo’s name and showed a photo of them together, he had exclaimed, “To tell me the new title and face of the Hero of Beginning! Ah! What can I do for you, this insignificant body! Please use me as a footrest for Kal-nim!” while curling up in front of Kal.

The deity who had treated Kal like a mere stone on the roadside was nowhere to be seen.

Now, he seemed more like a fanatic supporting the deity.

And he regarded Kal as a representative of that deity.

‘This is not acting or just being in a good mood.’

A cold sweat trickled down Kal’s back.

To be honest, Kal was afraid of this attitude from Rian.

It wasn’t because he would harm him.

He was overwhelmed by the madness of a transcendent being that he could never understand.

Kal swallowed dryly and spoke.

“My friends are out fighting the Catastrophe Flame, and I’m not sure if it’s okay to stay here for long.”

Rian knew how to defeat Erebus now.

But it wouldn’t do to recount all of Leo’s story here.

If that happened, the situation would be over.

Rian spoke as if to reassure Kal, “You don’t have to worry about that.”

Rian spread his arms.

“This place is another world, detached from the outside. You can think of it as a place similar to the Hero’s World. If I set my mind to it, time here can flow slower than outside.”

Rian smiled brightly.

“Lumeran held off Erebus here for a whole year.”

“A year? Alone?!”

“Indeed, it’s Lumeran.”

Kal had a look of disbelief, and Rodia marveled.

“So Kal-nim can rest assured and convey the story of the Hero of Beginning to me!”

With Rian’s words, Kal scratched his head and began to tell his story again.

By his side, Rodia was also focused on Kal’s narrative.

Soon, Kal’s story came to an end.

Rian closed his eyes and savored the aftertaste.

Kal hastily spoke towards Rian.

“Rian-nim. Now, please tell me how to defeat the Catastrophe Flame.”

At those words, Rian opened his eyes.

“Yes. First of all, when I heard Kal-nim’s words, you have one card that can oppose that monstrosity.”

Rian began to carve a statue with a sculpting kn*fe and jewels that seemed to come from nowhere.

“First, it’s the heir of Lunia El Rundah, the progenitor of the Star Cloud.”

“Lunia?”

“Yes. Wasn’t she referred to as the one who chases the Star Cloud?”

Rian skillfully shaped the statue of Leo.

“The magic left by the progenitor of the Star Cloud, [Flame of Sacrifice]. That magic is the only power among the forces present in the current world that can counter the ever-burning Catastrophe Flame.”

“Is that magic truly that incredible?”

“Yes. Since the existence of magic, it was crafted by the greatest magical genius.”

Rian, having completed the statue of Leo, examined it closely and continued speaking.

“Of course, it’s impossible to completely eliminate Erebus perfectly like the pure mana attributes. It’s merely a ‘seal’ at best.”

Rian, examining the statue, showed a slightly dissatisfied expression.

Originally, he would have made the statue with great care.

But because he was making it quickly now, the level of completion was not up to par.

After placing one statue down, Rian took out another jewel and began to carve it.

Jewel dust spilled onto the floor.

“But it’s something impossible for that child Lunia with her current abilities. She’s still inexperienced.”

At that, Kal nodded.

“The second is to send it back to its original place. In this situation, that’s the only method.”

“What about the method to send it back?”

“From what I gather, that monstrosity invaded here through a connected world. Then the only option is to pinpoint and destroy the breach… that is, its core. Right now, that thing is not its main body. It’s merely a mass of power. Once the core is destroyed, it will disappear.”

“If it were such a simple method, wouldn’t it have been enough to inform Lumeran?”

“It’s absolutely not simple. To prevent that requires divine power. I would need to sacrifice myself. If there had been a chance of winning, I would have sacrificed myself without hesitation. But it didn’t seem promising.”

“What?”

“That’s Lumeran’s limit.”

Hearing that, Rodia bit her lip tightly.

Kal wore a vacant expression.

“Kal-nim, do you know why Lumeran told you to ‘surpass your limits’? It’s because they themselves could not surpass their limits.”

“……”

“They reached out for something unattainable, only to end up despaired when they couldn’t grasp it.”

Rian rested his chin on his hand.

“A bird can fly in the sky, but it cannot reach the end of the sky. If it struggles to reach it, it ends up only falling down. Thus, Lumeran closed off its own potential.”

“……I’ve heard that the gods like Lumeran.”

“Yes, they do. The gods love hero tales, but they equally enjoy seeing heroes fall.”

Rian smiled brightly.

“The Hero of the Cataclysm certainly changed the world. But he couldn’t achieve more than that. In the end, he couldn’t become a Great Hero. The gods relish such tragedies.”

Rodia bit her lip tightly and clenched her fists.

It was a truth that twisted her insides.

Therefore, she could make no rebuttal.

‘When we defeated the pieces of Erebus and ended the Rebirth of Catastrophe, everything felt like it was going to go well.’

But the pieces they had defeated rose up in flames once more.

The Cataclysm Heroes couldn’t help but think, watching the ever-burning pieces of Erebus.

They had failed.

They could not become Great Heroes.

Kal’s words suggested that they would soon find a method in the near future.

But that wasn’t a solution.

It was merely a makeshift extension of time.

‘In the end… we couldn’t achieve anything with our own hands.’

Lumeran had not surpassed its limits, and Seirun had not believed in itself.

Azonia did not move forward, and Demian ultimately failed to pursue possibility.

‘I’m the same.’

If the King of Wisdom transmitted a seed of hope to future generations.

What Rodia left behind was a colossal despair.

It was merely entrusted to the next generation.

“A hero is one who accomplishes what others cannot. It’s true that I like Lumeran, but I’m not sure if it’s worth sacrificing myself for Lumeran, which fled from its limits…”

“Lumeran will.”

Kal interrupted Rian’s words.

“It will surpass its limits and drive Erebus out of this world.”

Rian cocked his head.

“Did you not understand what I said?”

“You did well.”

Kal smiled.

“I know. That you were frustrated because you couldn’t become like Leo. That Lumeran ultimately could not surpass its limits. Also, that it fled from its own limits by confining Erebus in the world of the Cataclysm.”

“And yet you say you will surpass your limits?”

“Yes.”

Kal answered without a hint of doubt.

“Why?”

“Because I haven’t given up.”

The unexpected answer left Rian momentarily speechless.

“If I had given up… I wouldn’t have been able to think of fighting endlessly with Erebus in the Hero’s World.”

Kal looked at the statue of Leo that Rian had crafted as he spoke.

“I could be frustrated that I can’t find a way. I could sit down, hitting a wall. I could despair at the trials before me and flee by passing it to the next generation.”

Kal said with a smile.

“But if I really had given up, I wouldn’t have done anything. If I haven’t given up, I can start again.”

As long as one does not give up, they can challenge their limits once more.

It is also possible to believe in oneself again and stand up to move forward.

Finding the lost possibilities is also achievable.

If one does not give up, they can start over as many times as needed.

“The Heroes of the Cataclysm did not fail.”

“……”

“The sacrifice of those who believed in the possibilities of the future… will ultimately save the world.”

Rodia wore a blank expression.

“So Lumeran will surpass its limits. For the future.”

It was the conclusion of Kal, who had endured and not given up, inheriting the educational philosophy of Lumeran Academy.

“How terribly foolish.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Yes, it’s a compliment.”

Rian took a jewel from his embrace.

And brought it close to his eyes.

Kal’s figure was reflected within the jewel.

“Kal Thomas-nim, you will not be able to become a hero in this era.”

“I know better than anyone.”

Rian looked at the reflection of Kal within the jewel with satisfaction.

And said.

“The core of the Catastrophe Flame is a breach in this world. The very fact that it has come into this world means that a crack has formed in the world, so if we eliminate the crack, the monstrosity will no longer be able to exist in this world.”

Rian smiled gently.

“Just place me within the core.”

“What?”

Rian approached Kal and took his hand.

Then Rian’s body shone with bright light.

“Kal-nim, no. Kal Thomas.”

“……?”

“Meeting you may be great luck. I hope you continue to find new beginnings as you have now.”

“Rian-nim?”

Kal called out to Rian in confusion.

After the light disappeared, Kal found a staff gripped firmly in his hand.

Seeing the staff emitting divine power akin to the Hero Record, Rodia remarked.

“I suppose I’ve reached my limits now too.”

“Rodia-nim?”

Rodia smiled brightly.

By now, the surroundings had vanished.

Where Kal and Rodia stood was an underground temple ruin.

Rumble-!

“The Catastrophe Flame?!”

Just as Kal was about to exclaim in shock.

GOOOOOOO-!

Brilliant light overflowed from Rodia’s body.

Soon, Rodia’s body transformed into the form of a dragon.

Returning to its original form, Rodia reached out and grabbed Kal.

Then he opened his mouth toward the ceiling.

GGGGGGGGGG! Flash-! KWAAGAGAGAGAGAGANG!

The pure white breath that erupted from Rodia’s mouth created a massive hole that reached the ground.

“A, amazing…!”

It was the moment Kal’s mouth dropped open wide.

Flap-!

Rodia spread his wings and began to fly toward the ground at tremendous speed.

“Gyiihh?!”

[Kal Thomas.]

“Yeeesss?!”

[You know that dragons choose heroes, right?]

“But?! What about that?!”

Feeling the immense pressure of the wind, Kal struggled to respond.

[You will become a hero.]

“What?”

When Kal locked eyes with Rodia, he wore a shocked expression.

Whoosh-!

Soon reaching high in the sky, Kal saw the world igniting in flames.

“Rian-nim said I couldn’t become a hero?”

[In this era, yes.]

Rodia said with a cheerful voice.

Kal wore a blank expression.

As Rodia spoke to the dazed Kal.

[The me you will meet again won’t remember you.]

SSSSSSSSS-!

Rodia’s body turned to ashes and began to disappear.

[I’ll be looking forward to you. The you who will be a hero.]

Clearly, his future self would be delighted to see Kal.

Thanks to his search for the Hero’s World, a new era’s hero was born.

Those who inevitably bear the potential to be eliminated now.

In the future, they would blossom that potential and become heroes.

[Help Lumeran, Kal Thomas.]

SSSS-!

Rodia’s form completely disappeared.

Whoosh-!

The moment Kal’s body fell toward the ground.

Whoosh-!

“Kal!”

Eliza, riding on the divine dragon, swooped down to catch Kal.

“Where have you been until now? What was that dragon just now?!”

“Didn’t you say you’d drop the formalities with me?”

“Is that important right now?!”

At Eliza’s words, Kal looked at the staff in his hand.

“It was Rodia.”

Kal replied, looking at the Catastrophe Flame burning on the ground.

“What’s the current situation?”

“Thanks to the sudden appearance of Lumeran, we’re holding our ground, but… it’s not good!”

“Got it.”

Kal took a deep breath.

“Then let’s start counterattacking from now.”