Chapter 401

Clang—!

Chloe’s expression shifted, a flicker of genuine shock crossing her features at the sudden, unannounced arrival of another person.

The surrounding students shared her profound astonishment.

Standing directly in the path of the oncoming dark blade, completely obstructing its trajectory, was none other than Luke.

A vibrant, complex magic circle hovered vividly over Luke’s physical frame.

The internal reservoir of mana, which had previously been held in check and suppressed under the weight of Leo’s spellcraft, began to churn and violently react.

‘Swing your sword.’

Luke brought his weapon down in a sweeping motion.

An engagement of this caliber was a stage he technically had no right to occupy.

Within the hierarchy of Lumen, he was universally recognized as the least capable student.

A single miscalculation or momentary lapse in judgment here would cost him his life in an instant.

‘Do not shatter! Stoke the fire of your emotions!’

Luke’s mana was directly tied to his internal state, amplifying rapidly alongside the intense trembling of his feelings.

He might lack the inherent status to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with these geniuses on equal terms.

Yet, he could still choose to serve as a shield, to offer some semblance of meaningful assistance.

The glowing magic circle etched across Luke’s body flared with a brilliant, blinding radiance.

“This might actually prove to be quite effective.”

“I find myself in complete agreement with Leo’s assessment.”

Such had been the evaluation delivered by Leo and Chelsea upon first witnessing the manifestation of his personal spellcraft.

Luke possessed zero natural aptitude as a conventional mage capable of delicately weaving together intricate magical incantations.

Because of this limitation, he had dedicated himself to engineering a form of magic tailored specifically to his unique composition.

The result was the reinforcement and enhancement of his own physical vessel.

It was an uncomplicated concept, yet he had painstakingly constructed the spell by carefully analyzing and aligning it with the specific attributes of his own mana.

The final product was a technique designed to forcefully extract capabilities far beyond standard human limitations.

Muscular power, physical velocity, reflexes, and even his dynamic visual tracking.

It forcefully elevated every single attribute beyond its natural threshold.

Naturally, such a boon did not come without a steep price; it was far from a perfect, flawless technique.

The repercussions were incredibly severe, manifesting as a state of intense Overheat—a direct consequence of violently wringing power out of a body pushed past its breaking point.

Furthermore, the specific magic Luke had innovated grew exponentially more potent in tandem with the volatility of his internal emotions.

Should his feelings surge past the threshold of his mental endurance, the resulting torrent of power could easily destabilize, turning inward to completely tear his physical form apart.

“Even with those risks, the fact that you finalized this spell means you have fully accepted the consequences, correct?”

“Yes. This path represents my solitary chance at ever becoming a true hero.”

“What drives you to pursue the mantle of a hero with such desperation?”

On the specific day he had demonstrated his unique magic to Leo, those had been the questions directed at him.

“Your desire to walk the path of a hero stems from a wish to protect and aid the masses, does it not?”

“That is correct.”

“You possess the ability to assist those in need even without claiming the title of a hero.”

“By achieving the status of a hero, the scope of those I can protect expands immensely. My desire is to forge a superior reality. A world where countless individuals can experience a bit more joy than they do currently.”

“What compels you to push yourself to such extreme lengths?”

“Because within the pages of fairy tales, the heroes always radiated pure happiness whenever they succeeded in rescuing others. I looked up to them deeply, and I swore that I would mirror their examples.”

“A fairy tale is nothing more than a fictional narrative.”

“Yes, I am fully aware of that reality. Yet, throughout history, there have been individuals who saved the entire world without demanding a single justification, haven’t there? Granted, I recognize that I may never match the stature of those legendary figures, but…”

A gentle, quiet smile touched Luke’s lips.

“If I can take the world they fought to preserve, elevate it even a fraction, and successfully hand it down to the next generation, I believe that would make my life entirely meaningful.”

His words held absolute truth.

Lisinas, Luna, Arwon, and Dweno.

None of those legendary figures had preserved existence under the expectation of receiving accolades or compensation.

They had defended the world out of a simple, unadulterated desire to shield the realm they genuinely cherished.

Luke’s motivations were cut from the exact same cloth.

“Very well, if that truly constitutes your ultimate ambition. Every single time you deploy that specific magic, hold fast to the core of your motivations. Keep the image of the person you aspire to become locked in your mind. If you do, that magic will actively shape you into that very ideal.”

Leo had offered a warm smile.

“It will serve as the catalyst that draws you one step closer to the ultimate destination you envision.”

‘Unique magic, Transcendence.’

Whoosh—!

Luke’s blade cut through the air with blinding velocity.

Chae-jae-jae-jae-jae-jae-jae-jaeng!

A brilliant, silvery flash collided with and halted the oncoming blade of darkness.

A collective look of profound shock washed over everyone present as they bore witness to the incredible display pulled off by the lowest-ranked first-year student.

Aina’s eyes widened to their absolute limits as she locked her gaze onto Luke.

For a fleeting, microscopic fraction of a second.

Luke’s execution of swordsmanship had momentarily eclipsed Aina’s own capabilities.

“Magnificent.”

A smile graced Chloe’s expression.

Her spell was now completely primed and ready.

“Fimbulvetr.”

The invocation of her own unique magic.

An absolute, all-consuming frost immediately blanketed the sprawling shadows.

Crackle-crackle-crackle-crackle-crackle-crackle-crackle-crackle—!

The dark forces found themselves entirely immobilized, ensnared within a thick casing of solid ice.

Crunch! Thud! Thud-thud-thud!

Moments later, the frozen shadows fractured into countless pieces, collapsing into nothingness.

Whoosh—!

The core entity vanished completely, sinking back down into the floorboards as if dissolving away.

“Curse it all! Curse it! To think I am pushed back by mere children!”

Delean spat out a venomous string of curses.

Taking full advantage of the absolute absence of the Shadow Lord.

He had managed to successfully breach the depths of the Shadow Underground Labyrinth, forcibly seizing the latent authority slumbering within its confines.

He had managed to claim the staggering, monumental magical reserves belonging to the ancient dragon lineage, yet it infuriated him endlessly that this stolen power manifested strictly through the element of darkness.

However, the moment he deduced that this specific reservoir of energy originally belonged to none other than Lisinas, a wave of pure ecstasy had washed over him.

He had effectively become the heir to the authority of the King of Wisdom.

Shortly thereafter, a magical missive arrived indicating that a highly irregular crisis was unfolding within Dovella, prompting his immediate relocation to this theater.

He had not yet managed to fully tame or consolidate Lisinas’s volatile, rampaging magical energies, but in his mind, that detail was entirely trivial.

Once he utilized this stolen might to completely eliminate the arrogant children standing in his way, he could easily allocate all the time he required to bend the power fully to his whim.

Furthermore, if he turned this newfound strength against the demonic entities of Tartaros who had dared to negotiate with him.

His status as the legitimate successor to the Great Hero would be universally undeniable.

The global paradigm, which had rigidly centered around the authority of Lumen and the prestigious Hero Academy for generations, would inevitably shift to revolve entirely around his singular existence.

Such were the grand, sweeping ambitions he had allowed himself to dream of.

Yet, here he was, suffering a humiliating setback at the hands of mere second-year academy students.

‘It is solely because I have not yet managed to exercise flawless command over this power!’

Delean roared frantically within the confines of his own mind, his thoughts a chaotic scream.

From where he stood, this outcome represented an utterly catastrophic blow to his pride.

He was a recognized alumnus of Lumen.

An individual who had already completed his formal education and spent several long years actively honing and refining his personal combat capabilities. To be forced into a retreat, unable to completely suppress a group that didn’t even consist of upperclassmen, but rather basic first and second-year novices.

Even after successfully inheriting the legendary power of Lisinas.

He had still failed to secure a victory.

‘No! This does not constitute a defeat! This is nothing more than a calculated tactical withdrawal!’

His ego flatly refused to acknowledge the reality of the situation.

‘Lumen’s philosophy is inherently flawed! It is completely wrong! How could it possibly make sense for someone of my caliber to be bested by these fragile children coddled under their system!’

He desperately rejected the truth of his current circumstances.

‘Yes! The moment I achieve flawless mastery over this energy…’

“Look at you, reduced to fleeing like a dog.”

Hesitate—!

Delean, who had been rapidly navigating through the claustrophobic alleyways of Dovella, froze in his tracks as a chilling voice echoed from directly ahead.

Step— Step—

Leo calmly stepped out from around the corner of the intersecting pathway.

Upon identifying Leo’s silhouette, the edges of Delean’s mouth contorted into a dark, mocking sneer.

“Well, well. If it isn’t the youngest individual to ever claim the mantle of student council president within Lumen, my illustrious junior. No. Calling you a junior might be completely inaccurate, wouldn’t it?”

An expression of profound loathing settled deep within Delean’s gaze.

“Nothing more than a foul, artificial shadow attempting to impersonate a true champion.”

Leo let out a quiet, mocking chuckle in response to Delean’s derogatory statement.

“At the very least, that particular brand of hypocrisy shouldn’t be spilling from the mouth of a wretched turncoat who crawled into bed with the forces of Tartaros, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Hmph, I am merely exploiting those dim-witted fools of Tartaros for my own ends.”

Hearing that, Leo let out a weary, dismissive sigh.

“I have grown thoroughly exhausted by these pathetic, recycled justifications.”

“You posture as though you have been subjected to such rhetoric countless times before.”

“Indeed, I have been forced to listen to that exact brand of annoying nonsense for the past 5000 years.”

“I have no interest in whatever delusional garbage you are rambling about, but… I am cut from a completely different cloth.”

Delean’s eyes flared with a manic intensity.

“I! Destiny dictated that I was to become a legendary hero! I successfully earned my graduation from Lumen! My path was meant to involve conquering numerous hero domains, carving my name permanently into the sacred Hero Record!”

Delean shrieked, his voice trembling with manic fervor.

“And yet! Lumen completely denied me the fundamental opportunities required to conquer those hero domains!”

“Lumen consistently extends opportunities to its alumni to stamp their legacy upon the Hero Record.”

“I possess absolutely zero interest in those pathetic, low-tier hero records! My sole desire has always been to claim the records reserved exclusively for the pinnacle tier of champions!”

At those words, Leo’s gaze narrowed into sharp slits.

“You are completely blind to your own insignificance.”

“What did you just say to me?”

“The mere act of subjugating hero domains and inheriting the residual strength of a champion does not automatically qualify you to etch your identity into the Hero Record.”

Thump— Thump—

Leo closed the distance between them, stepping deliberately toward Delean.

“Siphoning the raw energy of a legendary hero does not magically elevate your competence to match theirs. Is that not the most elementary principle of existence?”

A palpable, suffocating aura of pure killing intent began to radiate outward from Leo’s physical form.

“You are nothing more than a pathetic weakling incapable of breaking through your own mediocrity. A textbook failure who shifts the blame for his shortcomings onto anyone else.”

Leo’s gaze transformed into pools of absolute ice.

“By what right do you presume to mock and degrade champions who accomplished legendary deeds directly acknowledged by the gods themselves?”

“Silence! Have not miserable, artificial shadows like yourself also basked in the unearned prestige of subjugating the domain of the Great Hero! What do you mean by the youngest student council president? What do you mean by a legendary savior! Your entire existence is built on nothing but dumb luck, having happened to conquer the remnants left behind by true legends!”

Whoosh—!

Spikes of concentrated darkness violently erupted outward from Delean’s physical frame.

This manifested as the specific, unique magic belonging to the cataclysmic black dragon that had been sealed away by Lisinas in the ancient past.

An incredibly brutal and bloodthirsty form of sorcery.

Precisely because of its horrific nature, it had never been permitted to pass down through succeeding generations.

Even Rodia, upon initially encountering the sheer malice of this magic, had branded it far too volatile to exist freely and opted to lock it away permanently.

Thud—!

A sharp spike of solid darkness drove itself cleanly through Leo’s torso.

Witnessing the strike connect, Delean let out a sharp, mocking scoff.

“Blustering with that level of arrogance is exactly what ensures an early grave. You should have remained mindful of your place.”

“That is a sentiment you would do well to reflect upon yourself.”

“…!”

Delean’s facial features froze in sheer disbelief.

Leo, despite having a massive spike of darkness impaling his body, continued to walk forward, his footsteps steady as he approached Delean.

“If you had possessed even a shred of self-awareness regarding your true capabilities, you wouldn’t find yourself reduced to such a pathetic state right now.”

Sliiiiide—!

The piercing spike of darkness began to effortlessly dissolve, flowing harmlessly into Leo’s physical vessel.

Delean could only watch the phenomenon unfold, his face completely pale with raw terror.

“H-how! By what madness did you neutralize that attack!”

Crackle-crackle-crackle-crackle-crackle—!

Once more, a dense thicket of dark blades manifested, completely surrounding Leo’s position.

Thud! Thud! Thud-thud-thud!

The constructs rained down from every conceivable trajectory, plunging directly into Leo.

Yet, despite the onslaught, not a single blemish or wound manifested anywhere on Leo’s skin.

Sliiiide—

The black constructs were effectively neutralized, merely being drawn into Leo’s presence and seamlessly absorbed.

“What manner of foul sorcery is this!”

“The residual authority of Lisinas is fundamentally incapable of inflicting harm upon my person.”

The core essence of Lisinas’s power belonged uniquely to Lisinas.

And in a reality where Lisinas was no longer present, that specific authority naturally recognized and answered to Leo, who had entirely integrated and accepted every facet of her existence.

Attempting to eliminate Leo by utilizing the stolen elements of Lisinas’s magic was functionally identical to attempting to slay Leo using his own personal reserves of energy.

“Is that the absolute limit of your repertoire? Is there nothing else?”

“Eek!”

The exact moment Delean raised his arm to forcibly channel his internal mana reserves.

Slam—! Splat—!

“Uwaaaaaaah!”

The dark energy erupting directly from Delean’s own physical frame suddenly revolted, violently severing his wrist from his arm.

The detached hand clattered uselessly against the stone ground as a torrent of crimson blood sprayed into the air.

Delean, frantically gripping his mangled arm while shrieking in agonizing torment, caught sight of Leo continuing his relentless, unhurried advance. Panic seized him, and he frantically spun around in a desperate bid to flee the alleyway.

Remaining in this space meant absolute death.

Just as that realization crystallized within Delean’s mind and he attempted to sprint away.

Crunch—!

“Kyahhh!”

The very authority of Lisinas, which Delean had arrogantly presumed to hold under his absolute dominance, turned against him, violently shattering the bones within his leg.

Thud—!

Leo maintained his deliberate, unhurried pace as he approached the writhing figure of Delean, who lay collapsed upon the ground, flailing in desperation.

Sliiiide—!

Leo exerted his absolute mental dominance over the remnants of Lisinas’s magic that had been artificially bound within Delean’s internal system.

The man’s body was violently jerked upward into a standing position against his will.

“M-mercy! Please spare me!”

Absolute, paralyzing terror was written into every line of Delean’s distorted features.

Leo gazed down at the weeping man, his tone completely flat and devoid of emotion.

“Cease your pathetic thrashing and simply accept your end.”

“I am your senior! An official alumnus of the Hero Academy! You truly intend to slaughter a senior graduate in such a horrific fashion! And you still dare to posture as a heroic candidate harbor dreams of chivalry!”

Delean shrieked at the top of his lungs.

Leo simply erupted into amused laughter as he stared down at the hysterical man.

“I am afraid you are mistaken.”

Leo gave a casual flick of his wrist.

The surrounding pool of shadows enveloping Delean began to constrict, tightening around his form with crushing force.

“You categorized me as nothing more than a shadow just a moment ago.”

“Ugh! Ugh ugh!”

Squish! Crunch—!

The encroaching shadows completely blanketed Delean’s mouth, increasing their constrictive pressure with brutal efficiency.

“The fundamental purpose of a shadow is the eradication of turncoats.”

Leo offered a serene, untroubled smile as he turned his back on the scene.

“Furthermore, I have never recognized a piece of trash like you as my senior.”

“Uwoooh!”

Thwack—!

His physical form was entirely compacted under the immense pressure, followed immediately by a sharp, rupturing detonation.

Thud-thud-thud—

The grim echo of fracturing bone, tearing tissue, and cascading fluid reverberated through the narrow alleyway.

The residual magic of Lisinas, which Delean had foolishly deluded himself into believing he had mastered, was completely drawn into and devoured by Leo’s own shadow.

Leo executed a fluid leap, ascending to a vantage point that offered an unobstructed view of the entirety of Dovella.

His gaze washed over the assembly of heroic candidates who remained standing, resolute and unyielding in the face of absolute peril.

Observing their fierce determination, a genuine smile surfaced on Leo’s face.

‘These youths genuinely represent the ultimate destiny of this world.’

The ancient heritage left behind by Lisinas continued to cast a brilliant, guiding radiance across the current era.

‘Rest easy, Lisinas.’