Chapter 626

626.

The elves watched the Forest of Monsters with tense eyes.

Leo silently observed them.

The elves present here were truly noble elves.

As the Era of Catastrophe began, the elves who had built the most powerful forces on the surface crumbled helplessly under the invasion of Tartarus.

Though it was true for any race, the elves exhibited this tendency more severely.

‘Even now, the elves were a race with a strong pride in their lineage.’

They were a race that possessed beautiful appearances compared to other races and many born with dazzling talents in aura, magic, and summoning.

The elves during this period were an excellent race revered by other races as well.

However, this inflated pride gradually became tainted with arrogance and dogmatism, causing the decay at the very core of the elven race.

The high elves, who boasted tremendous power in the face of unprecedented catastrophe, cast aside the nobility they had preserved for so long and sacrificed their kin for their own lives.

This was a transgression caused by a chosen people mentality, believing that since they were special beings, the sacrifices of others were only natural.

Thus, while the high elves, the root of the elven race, rotted helplessly and fell, the elven race itself did not lose hope.

No matter how rotten they had become, the elves of that time certainly nurtured a gigantic tree that would become the pillar of the world.

The buds blossoming at the end of that tree possessed nobility.

In search of their homeland.

And to drive away the catastrophe from the world.

The elves gathered here did so for the greater good.

Luna was also one of the countless buds.

“Lady Luna! Stay behind me! I will protect you!”

An elven youth spoke seriously.

‘No adaptation at all.’

Leo couldn’t help but chuckle at the reactions of the nearby elves calling her Luna.

“To ensure Lady Luna can safely use her magic, I, Hirian, will protect her!”

The young man firmly grasped the shimmering shield as he spoke.

“Hirian?”

“Ah, have you forgotten again?”

Hirian made a face that suggested it was unfair.

Hirian.

It was a name Leo was familiar with.

Even in the Era of Catastrophe, overwhelming powerhouses left their names in history.

In this age, a hero was more precious and valuable than any hero of the present.

‘It wasn’t an era overflowing with heroes like it is now.’

It was a slender thread of hope that allowed the allies to continue living.

At that time, the hero known as the Hero of Survival and the foolish one was a target to be avoided, as he and Lissinas were marked as such.

Kyle was a cursed human whose companions all perished, while Lissinas, luring people with vain hope that the world could be saved, was considered a witch-like dragon.

But even in such a situation, Kyle and Lissinas were not isolated.

Though labeled ominous, ironically, the battlefields they participated in were often those of victory or where many survivors remained.

Thus, in Guardstron, Kyle and Lissinas were treated as figures to be worshiped on the battlefield while kept at a distance in normal times.

This was similar for others, except for Aroon, who had never really set foot on the battlefield.

During this time, Luna had already gained fame as a grand magician who had overturned battlefields where defeat appeared certain with her overwhelming magic.

At this time, she was called the hope of the elves alongside Akinte, who had become their leader.

Dwenno, a powerful dwarven warrior and smith, had many seeking to recruit him into their party.

Among others, those called heroes in this era carried great renown.

While the names of the heroes of this era may be forgotten, their deeds have been passed down even 5000 years later.

Leo himself remembered several names of famous heroes from that time.

‘Of course, Hirian is not one of them.’

Hirian was not the hero who was called a hero.

Neither did he possess that level of skill.

Just an elf knight that could be seen anywhere.

Leo remembered him because of Luna.

Hirian would d*e after this battle.

Not just Hirian.

‘Most of the elves here… will meet their end here.’

From that day on, Luna vowed.

To stop people from dying needlessly any longer.

‘This guy will keep struggling to protect Luna until the end and will lose his life.’

Leo glanced sideways.

There stood Akinte with a grim expression.

Everyone here knew it.

That this fight was reckless.

But they had no choice but to engage in a reckless fight.

From the elves’ forest now under the demon queen’s control, monsters were spilling out.

If they waited just a bit longer, the balance of power in the surrounding area would collapse.

Even if they couldn’t reclaim it, they had to inflict at least some damage on the demon queen and her legion.

Failing to suppress the demon queen here would only hasten the world’s destruction.

The situation was that desperate.

The elves here set out for a reckless fight to prevent that.

Then it happened.

Kuuuuung-!

The ground shook.

Pududddeuk-

The birds inhabiting the forest startled and flew into the sky.

Those birds soon became prey for the monsters residing in the forest.

[Hahahahahaha-]

A lighthearted and chilling laughter echoed.

The elves covered their ears at the sound of it.

[Looks like you came seeking d*ath, you worthless pointy-eared things.]

Akinte bit down hard on his lip at the derisive voice.

Hirian, who had previously said to trust him nonchalantly, gripped his shield tightly.

“Lady Luna! Please step back now!”

At that moment, an elf knight wielding a sword hurriedly rushed over and said.

The elves knew.

That Luna’s magic was the only hope in this situation.

It was their duty to hold the front as long as possible so that Luna could use her magic freely.

“Lady Luna! We will risk our lives to protect you!”

Even Hirian, who had been in a panic, quickly regained his composure and said urgently.

Amidst the words of the surrounding elves, Leo stood still.

“Luna, I know this may not be reassuring, but still, trust us. We will do our best to allow you to focus on your magic….”

“I trust you.”

Leo said calmly.

“Akinte. You and those here will risk your lives to protect Luna. I know that better than anyone.”

“Luna?”

To those around, it seemed as if Luna was speaking as if she were another person.

Despite the startled reactions, Leo stared silently into the air.

[Strategy Objective: Repeat the glorious history of victory. Slaughter as many elves as possible.]

Kuuuk-!

Leo tightened his grip.

This was not the Hero’s World that Leo knew.

Here, the protagonist was not a hero but a legion.

And it was none other than Silatuna, woven with the most wretched of destinies.

Leo was sure to settle that discord.

Yet, even so, the events of the past did not vanish.

‘This world is pain incarnate for Luna. It was something she had to bear until the moment of her d*ath.’

Having sent off a father-like figure.

A stained past with the bl**d and tears of many who had to sacrifice themselves to protect a still inexperienced self.

Kugung-!

Off in the distance, the demon queen revealed herself.

Leo stepped forward.

“Don’t risk your lives for me.”

Looking at the elves gathered to protect Luna, Leo spoke.

“What you must protect is your own life. Do your best to survive.”

“B-but the high elves still—!”

“They’re going about it all wrong. It’s not wrong to prioritize your own life. Valuing oneself is only natural.”

Leo continued.

“I will protect you. You must do your best to survive. That is what you need to do right now.”

“B-but, Lady Luna! That means we’re just shifting the burden onto her!”

“It’s okay, I’ve been carrying it for a long time.”

“……?”

Seeing Leo speak in unclear terms, Hirian wore a perplexed expression.

Observing Leo, Akinte spoke with a hardened expression.

“Then who is going to protect you?”

“……”

Leo gazed at Akinte.

“I will protect you.”

“……?”

Seeing Akinte’s confused face, Leo smiled.

[So, who should I hunt first?]

Boom-!

As Silatuna approached slowly to instill fear, Leo knelt down.

‘To repeat the history of victory? To slaughter as many elves as possible?’

Leo lifted his head.

‘Who do you think you are?’

Even if he were to win here.

History would not change.

The written history cannot be rewritten.

But…….

‘As long as I am the Hero of Beginning, I cannot allow the same history to repeat before my eyes. Even if it’s in a false world.’

Bang-!

Leo leaped forth like a b*llet toward Silatuna.

[Hmm?]

Silatuna momentarily paused.

Seeing Silatuna like that, Leo chilledly smiled.

“I came here to ruin this world anyway, didn’t I?”

Gooouuuuu-!

Fierce magical energy surged from Leo’s hands.

It was magic that didn’t exist in the history of this era.

Magic that Luna would later complete.

“Then I can just strike you down without thinking twice?”

Leo smiled chillingly.

Silatuna’s expression hardened under the ominous magic.

“You’re the one being hunted. Demon Queen.”

The magic was complete from Leo’s hands.

Magic of the Stars – End.

Flash! Kwangggggggggg-!

A spell that could not exist in this era struck Silatuna directly.