Chapter 424

Book 1 Chapter 424

Sizzzzzle— Crackle—

A dark fissure tore through the sky, appearing as though the very air had fractured like a shattering mirror.

Crack—

A deep crimson energy began to seep out from the broken void in the darkness. A brief moment later, the dark red vapor emerging from the rift carried a sickening sensation of mortality. The vibrant green grass on the ground below immediately began to wither and decay. Had any academy student been present to witness this, the sheer terror of the sight would have paralyzed them, leaving them unable to even utter a proper scream.

The deadly mist soon coalesced into a humanoid shape. Before long, a figure clad in dark robes surveyed the surrounding landscape of Rumerne.

The true identity of this man was none other than Hell Kaiser, the supreme Commander-in-Chief of Tartarus and the Necromancer King, who had stood as an apocalyptic terror for the past five millennia. With every breath he took, the atmosphere became tainted, and every patch of earth his feet touched met instant demise. He was the Legion Commander who commanded ‘Death,’ the most perilous attribute within the armies of Tartarus—the literal embodiment of mortality.

Thud—

Another figure materialized directly in front of Hell Kaiser. It was a young boy possessing snow-white hair and vivid crimson eyes.

Hell Kaiser curled the corner of his mouth into a smirk. The sole purpose of his arrival in Rumerne on this day became clear as he spoke:

“I have been looking forward to facing you, Leo Flobe.”

Leo was far from the only individual to detect the sinister presence of the Necromancer King breaching Rumerne‘s borders.

-Lord Leo.

“I am aware.”

Leo replied serenely to Melina‘s frantic call, which had reached him through a magical transmission.

-I shall join you immediately.

“No, stay where you are. Your duty is to prepare for any unexpected developments.”

-But sir…

“He must have a hidden motive for showing up. A being like him does not launch a reckless assault without reason.”

The grand summit was a gathering where the greatest heroes of the current era assembled. No matter how immense the power of the Necromancer King was, or how he had terrorized the world for 5,000 years, launching a direct attack here would be suicidal.

“If conquest was his goal, he would have struck back when the Monster Queen was still breathing and the Giant King held his power.”

-Then what is his objective?

“I have a strong suspicion.”

With those final words, Leo walked toward the source where the oppressive energy was radiating.

Thud—

The Necromancer King stood waiting, looking exactly as he did five thousand years ago. Spotting the youth, Hell Kaiser‘s lips curled upward.

“I have been eager to see you, Leo Flobe.”

Step— Step—

Hell Kaiser took deliberate steps toward Leo.

“You are the prospective hero meant to guide the upcoming generation, the one who has repeatedly disrupted my designs and wrought various miracles, correct?”

Goooooooh—!

A massive surge of sinister dark magic erupted from Hell Kaiser‘s form.

“When I previously inquired about you, didn’t you claim to be the one destined to bring about my demise?”

His dark crimson eyes flashed dangerously.

“Allow me to ask once more.”

Swoosh—

A concentrated thread of deathly energy swirled at the tips of his raised fingers.

“Who exactly are you?”

KWAHH-ANG—!

A deafening blast rent the air, causing the ground beneath them to tremble violently. Rocketing through the dense cloud of smoke, a fiery aura shot directly toward Hell Kaiser‘s throat.

Kwaak—!

Leo‘s blade slammed into Hell Kaiser‘s neck. However, the strike was halted, failing to cleave through his flesh.

Goooooh—!

A torrent of powerful energy burst from Leo‘s body. Observing this, Hell Kaiser lifted his arm, summoning a staff crafted from macabre black bones into his palm.

Whoosh—!

With a swift swing of the staff, a shroud of dark energy surged toward Leo. Leo quickly employed an Aura Step to nimbly avoid the Necromancer King‘s strike.

Chiiiiiik—!

It was the Curse of Decay. The moment that dark mist touched any matter, it would immediately rot.

Leo rapidly analyzed his surroundings. Unbeknownst to him, a malevolent spell had already blanketed the entire vicinity—a Curse of Isolation. This barrier completely severed the internal space from the outside world. Even if Hell Kaiser unleashed his full devastation here, the people outside would remain completely oblivious.

Leo focused his gaze on his opponent.

Just as I suspected. He came to uncover who I really am.

Leo‘s gaze sharpened. The figure standing before him was merely an avatar, not the Necromancer King‘s actual body. Yet, it still wielded incredible power.

Whooosh—!

Brilliant magical circles formed around Leo‘s free hand, which was not holding his sword.

Star Magic.

Flash! Kwagagagagang—!

Hundreds of luminous projectiles shot forth from the magic circle, bombarding the Necromancer King.

“A rather basic attempt, don’t you think?”

Hell Kaiser casually assessed the incoming spell.

Whoosh—!

The glowing projectiles dissolved into nothingness before they could even brush against Hell Kaiser‘s form. They weren’t just blocked; he had analyzed and nullified the magic entirely.

“I am the individual who neutralized the spells of Luna herself. You should be well aware that flawed copies of her legacy won’t affect me, shouldn’t you? Or should I say… Leo Flobe?”

Goooooooh—

A dark rift opened directly above Leo‘s head. Along with it, a horrific mixture of bones, flesh, and gore rained down.

“The lone surviving hero.”

Thududududududud! Splat! Splat! Shwaaaaah—!

A downpour of skeletal remains and bloody flesh completely blanketed Leo‘s position. Smiling maliciously at the sight, Hell Kaiser unleashed his dark sorcery.

Kwagagagagagang—!

The massive pile of remains exploded, shaking the earth once more.

“Naturally, such a simple spell wouldn’t defeat you.”

Hell Kaiser burst into loud laughter.

“It has been quite a while, Spirit of Radiance. Has it been three millennia?”

-Necromancer King.

Laruel spoke with intense animosity, gnashing her teeth. This was the despised adversary who had clashed with Rodia, the Dragon of Creation, countless times three thousand years ago.

Leo, who had shielded himself from the blast using Laruel‘s power, looked down at the scattered gore. Dropping to one knee, he retrieved a ruined sword hilt from the debris. The weapon was completely broken, having lost its function long ago. It appeared to belong to one of the fallen warriors whose remains had just been dropped from above.

Leo looked up, locking eyes with Hell Kaiser.

“Are these the remains of heroes?”

“Consider it a welcoming present, surviving hero. Did you not outlive the demises of countless champions to remain standing until the very end?”

Hell Kaiser mocked, his laughter echoing.

“Did you not leave behind the deaths of exceptional figures, lives far more valuable than your own, surviving hero?”

His mocking voice filled the air.

“When the warrior vanished while offering an apology, were you weeping? How did you feel witnessing the end of Dweno, who left behind a forbidden weapon?”

A freezing, murderous intent sparked in Leo‘s eyes.

“What do you think Luna felt when she declared it was better for you to live on instead of her?”

Grrrritch—!

“And when Risinas, who ultimately bequeathed everything to you, drew her final breath, leaving you to survive entirely on your own as the final champion—what thoughts filled your mind?”

Goooooooh—!

The atmosphere vibrated with the overwhelming bloodlust radiating from Leo‘s form. Any small creatures that had managed to endure Hell Kaiser‘s pressure desperately fled as far away from Kyle as possible.

“Hold your head high, surviving hero. No, the last hero.”

Hell Kaiser offered a twisted grin, spreading his skeletal arms.

“Even if the rest of humanity forgets your blasphemy in striking down a deity, I will remember.”

He looked toward the heavens and bellowed:

“I am well aware of your madness, defying death itself when others succumbed, standing solitary against a god once more!”

Clack, clack, clack—

The eerie sound of clicking bones reverberated.

“In the end, you will find yourself as the sole remaining hero once more! You represent both the dawn of this epoch and its conclusion! Yet, there is no need to worry. Until the day this world is cleansed by divine intent, I shall remember your existence! Hahahahahahahahaha!”

Whooosh—!

Laruel dissolved into a brilliant light, wrapping around Leo‘s feet.

Spirit Armored—the technique of fusing with a spirit.

“Have you finished your mocking speech, Necromancer King?”

Leo smirked. Seeing that cold grin, Hell Kaiser briefly hesitated.

It didn’t shake him.

His attempt to break Leo‘s composure had failed; despite his immense rage, Leo remained perfectly collected.

Whoosh—!

In a flash, Leo lunged forward, closing the distance like a bolt of lightning.

Splat—!

With a swift slice, Leo‘s sword severed Hell Kaiser‘s head from his torso, sending his body spinning into the air. Spirit Armored allowed a user to draw out a spirit’s traits through their own physical body, making Leo‘s current movement speed match that of the spirit of light itself.

“Your remembrance is unnecessary,” Leo stated freezingy. “Because this world is not going to fall.”

Kwagagagagak—!

Moving like a streak of pure light, Leo instantly slashed Hell Kaiser‘s frame into pieces.

“And I will never be the final hero again.”

Goooooooh—!

A violent eruption of dark magic burst from Hell Kaiser‘s remains as if detonating. Just as the dark energy tried to consume Leo—

Whoosh—!

Leo‘s shadow suddenly shot upward.

Kwagagak—! Kwarghk!

The shadow transformed into a blade, shattering Hell Kaiser‘s bone staff. Hell Kaiser‘s eyes widened in sheer shock.

“This power…”

He recognized this force. It wasn’t just any regular darkness.

“The Shadow Spirit?”

Five thousand years ago, Hell Kaiser had been shaken by the power of the Great Spirit of Darkness, which he believed he had eradicated. Seeing Elsi resting on Leo‘s shoulder, his expression twisted in disbelief.

“How is this possible…!”

Slam!

Grabbing Hell Kaiser‘s face tightly, Leo channeled his energy. Shrouded in a gray aura, he rocketed vertically into the heavens.

KWAANG—!

With a massive crash, Hell Kaiser‘s face slammed against the transparent boundary of the Curse of Isolation. Leo kept ascending, dragging the Necromancer King‘s face along the barrier, grinding it to pieces.

Crack— Crack, crack, crack—!

The spatial wall failed to withstand Leo‘s overwhelming strength and began to split.

Clink!

With a loud shattering sound, a breach formed in the barrier, and Leo carried Hell Kaiser out into the open sky.

“For millennia, you have forced countless heroes to their graves, mocking their sacrifices and desecrating their remains. Today, you answer for those actions.”

Leo declared in a deep, chilling tone. Hell Kaiser‘s very existence was an insult to everyone who had died for the world’s survival, which is exactly why he had tried to provoke Leo. Yet, Leo kept his emotions entirely under control.

“You…!”

Hell Kaiser growled, staring into Leo‘s icy eyes. Leo fiercely twisted his grip on the avatar’s face.

Udududuk!

A sickening crunch of breaking bones resounded as Leo violently tore Hell Kaiser‘s head from its torso.

“Open your eyes and watch carefully,” Leo commanded, forcing the severed head to look down at the arena where the first-year tournament was underway. “Those youths, Erebus. Tartarus…”

Staring directly into the eyes of the severed head, Leo growled, “They are the ones who will bring about your destruction, Hell Kaiser.”

WAAAAAAAH—!

A thunderous roar of cheers echoed from the stadium, marking the conclusion of the match between Luke and Aina. Hearing the applause, Leo smiled coldly.

“We are not the ones destined to burn away!”

“Kyle…!”

Ududeuk—!

Fissures began to spread across Hell Kaiser‘s skull.

“It’s you monsters!”

Poof—!

With a sharp pop, Hell Kaiser‘s head exploded in Leo‘s hand, dissolving into scattering grains of sand.

Hwarrrrreuk—!

Suddenly, dark flames ignited.

Flames of Calamity?

Leo‘s expression shifted at the sudden appearance of the black fire.

Whoosh—!

He immediately mobilized his energy, coiling his gray mana tightly around the unquenchable dark flames until they finally dissipated.

Whooosh—!

As the Flames of Calamity faded, they flickered with a sudden white light before merging directly into his gray mana. Leo‘s eyes widened in astonishment.

Is this… divine power?