Chapter 428

Chapter 428

## Chapter 428: A Hellish Welcoming

“This place is much grander than I imagined.”

“Of course, it’s Lord Leo’s ancestral home…!”

Standing before the imposing residence on the Flob family property, Lounia voiced her thoughts while gazing at the grand entry. Beside her, Eiran appeared incredibly tense.

“Let’s head inside, Eiran.”

“Wait, Miss Lounia. Are you sure this is acceptable? Lord Leo’s parents reside here. Isn’t our offering far too modest?”

“You were the very person who argued that an extravagant gift would only make them uncomfortable.”

“Ah! How could I have been so short-sighted!”

Overwhelmed by her spiking anxiety, Eiran began to panic.

“Hold on! We should turn back and find something more suitable…”

“If we do that, we will be tardy.”

Without another word, Lounia grabbed Eiran by the back of her collar and began pulling her toward the entrance.

“Ah, Miss Lounia! Just give me a second!”

“Ugh! Quit making a fuss and move your feet!”

Lounia raised her voice, using her strength to haul Eiran, who was desperately gripping the iron bars of the gate, absolutely refusing to budge.

As the two elves caused a scene at the threshold of the estate, a mocking shout rang out from behind them.

“It looks like you two are terrified of heading to the training camp!”

Lounia glanced back to see Ar, a beast-person standing with her hands resting on her hips. Her white tail flicked back and forth as she let out a triumphant snort. Standing next to her was Drianah, who had her arms crossed defensively.

“So you’ve arrived?”

With a sharp look, Lounia tilted her head and kept one hand on her hip, stubbornly maintaining her tight grip on Eiran’s collar.

Noticing this characteristically aggressive stance, Drianah remarked, “I observe this constantly, but Lounia, you genuinely behave like a common street thug.”

“Wait, what? I thought I actually was one!”

“Who are you calling a thug?! You eccentric dwarf and mindless feline!” Lounia snapped back, clearly provoked.

Watching the exchange, Eiran whispered softly under her breath, “Honestly, she really does resemble a ruffian sometimes.”

“Pardon?”

“Eeek!”

Terrified by the sudden, fierce glare Lounia directed at her, Eiran wrapped herself even more tightly around the mansion’s iron gate.

Lounia attempted to pry her loose, but Eiran’s natural physical strength was far superior to begin with.

“Hey! You silly cat, come help me detach her. She’s being stubborn and won’t budge!”

“Blocking the entrance like this is a massive inconvenience to everyone else,” Drianah noted.

“Precisely!”

Ar stepped forward to assist Lounia in pulling Eiran away from the bars.

*Screeech! Creak!*

With Ar adding her weight to the effort, the iron gate began emitting an alarming noise. Eiran’s expression grew increasingly strained as she fought against the combined force.

“Why must you be so incredibly obstinate!” Ar gritted her teeth, her competitive nature flaring as she poured even more power into her grip.

Drianah could only watch the chaotic display with a look of pure exhaustion.

“What exactly are you all doing?”

The moment Leo’s voice resonated through the air, Eiran instantly released her hold.

“Kyaak?”

“Ugya?!”

Deprived of the counter-resistance, Lounia and Ar tumbled backward, crashing unceremoniously onto the ground.

In stark contrast to the disheveled duo, Eiran stood up smoothly, adjusted her attire, and greeted Leo with a proper posture.

“Lord Leo! How has your break been? We are deeply grateful for the invitation! Please accept this… it is merely a small token!”

Leo offered a soft smile as he watched Eiran beam while presenting her gift.

“Thank you. My mother will certainly appreciate it.”

Hearing his response, Eiran’s cheeks flushed red. She cupped her face in her hands and began shifting nervously, entirely overwhelmed.

Seeing her open vulnerability, Ar and Lounia immediately lunged at her from the ground.

“Wh-why are you targeting me?!”

“Are you seriously asking that right now?”

“Take this!”

Bursting into tears, Eiran scrambled away to escape the two girls pursuing her with furious eyes.

Drianah sighed deeply at the ridiculous spectacle. “To think people refer to them as the future prospects of their respective domains. The future seems incredibly bleak.”

“I hardly think you have the right to make that judgment,” Leo countered with a shake of his head, though Drianah completely ignored the comment.

—

“Pardon me? Formally graduated alumni are returning to act as our mentors?!”

“Exactly! Senior Torua explicitly told me yesterday, just before he vanished later in the evening.”

A massive crowd of pupils had already assembled within the grand residence. The invitation extended far beyond the walls of Rumerun; notable figures from Seirun, Azonia, and even Damian were present. The elite achievers from each institution had received summons, spanning both the second-year and first-year classes.

“Hmph! This feels exactly like a cross-academy tournament, doesn’t it?” Illiana mused, her eyes gleaming with anticipation as she touched her chin.

Hearing her words, Borman, the fifth-ranked student from Azonia, crossed his arms and laughed out loud.

“That would certainly be entertaining. Though, naturally, Azonia will emerge as the absolute best!”

The surrounding Azonia contingent cheered loudly at his declaration.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk.”

Illiana wagged her finger dismissively at the rival academy’s group while clicking her tongue.

“I truly apologize, but your crowd stands zero chance against us. Want to know why?” Illiana threw her head back proudly, covering her mouth as she laughed mockingly. “Because Leo Flob belongs to us! Hohoho! Prepare to taste a truly humiliating defeat.”

“Urgh?!” Borman ground his teeth, squeezing his hand into a tight fist.

Chelsea shook her head in sheer embarrassment at Illiana’s boasting. “She isn’t even the one winning the accolades, so why on earth is she acting so arrogant?”

“This is deeply mortifying. Will someone please make her stop?” Teide pleaded, covering his face in shame.

Sitting off to the side with his arms crossed and eyes shut, Duran commanded, “Chen Sia, remove her from the room.”

“Who, me?”

“Should I handle it personally instead?”

*Pazzzzt!*

Faint electrical arcs began flickering across Duran’s frame. Catching the hint, Chen Sia flashed an awkward grin and walked over to Illiana.

“Miss Illiana, that is quite enough. Please step aside with me.”

“Why should I? I still need to break the spirits of these other schools a bit more before things get—Mmph? Mmph?!”

Ignoring the warning, Illiana attempted to provoke the crowd again, but Chen Sia promptly pressed a white cloth firmly over her nose and mouth. Illiana thrashed about wildly against the sudden restriction before her eyes rolled back and her body went entirely limp.

“A representative from our academy has shown terrible manners,” Chen Sia announced with a radiant smile.

The surrounding students from the other academies instantly paled, looking utterly horrified by the display.

“She didn’t just kill her, did she?”

“She isn’t even twitching.”

“The upperclassmen from Rumerun are absolute monsters.”

While the first-year students whispered in hushed, terrified tones, Celia finally arrived on the scene.

“My goodness, so many people have gathered here. It’s incredibly lively.”

Chelsea moved forward to greet Celia, who was currently tossing her hair back with a shake of her head.

“Welcome, Celia.”

Celia paused, her brow furrowing at the greeting. “What is wrong with you? That is deeply unsettling.”

Given that Chelsea was offering an uncharacteristically sweet and gentle smile, Celia couldn’t shake a sudden feeling of dread. Despite the reaction, Chelsea kept her pleasant expression perfectly intact.

“You see, I happened to stumble upon something incredibly amusing.” Chelsea reached into her clothing and pulled out a small photograph. “Ta-da!”

Celia’s complexion drained completely as she stared at the item with intense suspicion.

“Y-y-you! Where on earth did you manage to find that?!”

“Oh, who knows? I wonder where it could have come from?”

“Argh!”

Her face burning bright red, Celia lunged at Chelsea, ripping the picture into tiny pieces before utilizing her flame aura to turn the fragments to ash. Once the evidence was destroyed, she stormed directly over to Leo.

“Hey! Leo! How could you possibly betray me like this?!”

Leo, who had been deep in conversation with Chloe and Abad, merely offered a helpless shrug. Chloe gave an awkward grin, while Abad maintained his usual, pleasant demeanor.

“I thought it suited you remarkably well.”

“Wipe that thought from your memory this instant if you value your life! You absolute butterball!” Reacting with pure fury at Abad’s comment, Celia seized Leo by his collar and began shaking him back and forth aggressively.

“You gave me your word that you would keep that a secret! A total secret!”

“I wasn’t the one who shared it. My mother displayed it.”

“Auntie did?!”

Celia’s expression crumbled into despair. If Reina was the one responsible for leaking it, she had no room to complain.

“Laying hands on the young master you are supposed to serve… what an incredibly insolent servant.”

“Indeed, Miss Celia. Turning to physical aggression is entirely unbecoming of a proper maid.”

Eliza, who had been observing the chaos, mocked her openly. Chen Sia, having already dealt with Illiana, chimed in with a gentle smile of her own. Driven past her limit, an enraged Celia charged at the two of them and grabbed them both by the throat.

“Release your grip this instant, Celia Gerdinger!” Eliza gasped out, struggling against the hold, while Chen Sia remained eerily collected, murmuring, “Please calm your temper, Miss Celia.”

Right at that moment, an abrupt shift occurred in the room.

“It is truly wonderful to see all of you brimming with such vibrant vitality.”

A melodious laugh echoed throughout the space. The voice carried perfectly, reaching the ears of every single student present.

Every head snapped upward toward the mansion’s second-floor balcony. Upon spotting a diminutive figure adorned with a delicate veil, their expressions froze in sheer shock.

“The Dragon Lord…”

It was the very same Dragon Lord they had caught a glimpse of during the prior grand summit. While they had all witnessed her existence once before, none of them had ever anticipated standing in such close proximity to her.

As a heavy tension settled over the room, Melina leaned over the railing and unfurled a large fabric banner.

*Flap!*

“To every individual gathered here today, I extend my warmest welcomes to this training regime,” Melina announced, beaming brightly as she clapped her petite hands together.

However, the students who read the words emblazoned on the banner could only stare in paralyzed horror.

“Welcome to hell?” Chelsea read aloud, her voice trembling with disbelief.

Karl observed the text and sighed with an expression of profound, worldly exhaustion. “Exactly as I predicted.”

Why did ominous premonitions always hit the mark perfectly? Karl shook his head, a melancholy smile gracing his features.

A collective, tense gulp echoed through the hall. And then…

*Screeech! Slam!*

The massive main entrance doors slammed shut with a resounding thud.

“And now, my dear guests…”

“Hey, hold on… the vibe in here just got incredibly weird, didn’t it?”

“What is happening?”

Just as the crowd began to panic and murmur amongst themselves, Melina’s voice rang out one final time.

“The training camp officially commences.”

In an instant, reality fractured.

The students found themselves suddenly transported, standing in the basin of a massive mountain canyon. They could only look up in utter bewilderment at Melina, who was currently waving down at them from the very edge of a towering precipice.

“Have a safe journey!”

*Kiaaaaaaak!*

*Uwaaaaaaak!*

Yielding instantly to the pull of gravity, the entire assembly of students began plunging straight down into the abyss of the canyon.

—

*Whoooooosh!*

Hurling downward through the seemingly bottomless chasm, Ar managed to keep her composure.

‘There is no reason to panic. I just need to manifest my aura.’

However, the moment Ar attempted to channel her internal energy, a wave of panic hit her. The aura inside her core responded with nothing more than a pathetic flicker, completely uncharacteristic of her true power. She was entirely unable to draw upon her standard strength.

Yet, she forced her panic down within a split second.

Ar rapidly funneled what little energy she could gather into her hands. Extending her sharp claws, she dug them deep into the rocky surface of the cliffside.

*Kwagagagagagak!*

Utilizing the brutal friction against the stone, Ar managed to forcibly reduce her terminal velocity. A smug, victorious grin began to form on her face.

*Wooong!*

“Huh?”

Suddenly, an immense, crushing weight settled over her entire body.

*Thud!*

The strength in her fingers failed against the artificial gravity, and her grip failed entirely.

*Kwagagagang! Thump! Snap! Crash!*

Slamming violently into the dirt below, Ar let out a sharp cry of agony. While the impact hadn’t left her with fatal trauma, the sheer pain was excruciating.

Ar wasn’t the sole individual who had plummeted into this specific sector. Eiran, Celia, and Duran had all impacted the ground right alongside her.

“Ow… that hurts immensely.” Eiran whimpered, rubbing her bruises as she forced herself onto her feet.

Celia ground her teeth together, silently enduring the wave of pain racking her body. Duran rose to his feet with his typical calm demeanor, though his movements were visibly stiffened by the impact. Ar pushed herself up as well.

Each institution had sent fifteen of their top second-year prospects. Out of that entire roster, Ar had ended up clustered with these three.

“It appears the drop separated the main group,” Ar noted, responding to Celia’s observation.

“Did we hit the ground randomly, or were these teams pre-determined before we arrived?”

“Hmph. It is highly probable that these squads were intentionally curated,” Duran grunted, crossing his arms. “Look at us. Aren’t all four of us classified as front-line vanguards?”

“That is correct. Our primary objective is always to hold the line against oncoming threats,” Eiran agreed with a nod.

“That isn’t entirely accurate.”

A voice drifted down from above them. The quartet raised their heads in unison.

Thanks to their superior visual tracking, they easily spotted Leo sitting casually at the crest of the gorge, peering down at their position.

“When you are in the thick of a skirmish, your objective isn’t merely to stall the opposition—it is to completely eradicate them, isn’t it?”

They possessed incredible physical prowess and boundless stamina, allowing them to wield catastrophic destructive power.

“Just like the legendary champion, Arion.”

“Lord Leo!”

“What the—you annoying Black Rabbit! Why are you the only person lounging comfortably at the top of the ridge?! Get down here this instant!”

“Are you exempted from participating in this training exercise?”

While Eiran smiled cheerfully and waved her hand, Ar pouted in annoyance. Celia voiced her confusion, prompting Duran to narrow his eyes and cross his arms.

“No. He simply completed the descent and scaled the cliffside before we even recovered.”

“Spot on, Duran,” Leo affirmed with a light chuckle and a nod. “I completed this initial objective the exact moment the exercise began.”

“In that case, are you planning to just sit there and watch us?”

Leo let out another soft laugh at Duran’s inquiry. “I have already been waiting for you all.”

“Pardon?”

The unexpected statement left not just Duran, but the entire group looking thoroughly perplexed.

“So,” Leo spoke, his gaze locking onto them from his incredibly elevated vantage point. “Just how long do you intend to keep me waiting here?”

Ar snorted, staring back up at him. “We will reach your position shortly. Just stay put.”

“Is that so?” Leo rose to his feet, a small smile playing on his lips. “Then I shall await your arrival.”

Without a single shred of hesitation, Leo turned his back to the ledge and walked out of sight.

Melina, who was standing nearby, looked toward him and remarked, “You seem quite eager for the moment those pupils finally manage to close the distance between you.”

“I am,” Leo admitted with a low chuckle.

“Do you truly believe those youths possess the capacity to stand in the stead of the Great Heroes?”

“They cannot replace them. Furthermore, neither can I, nor any of the champions belonging to this current era.”

“…It is an unfortunate reality. We can scarcely hope to measure up to the caliber of the Great Heroes. We could never truly fill their shoes.” Melina gave a slight shrug, her tone carries a hint of regret.

Leo reached out, gently placing a hand on Melina’s head. “That isn’t what I meant by that.”

“Eh?”

“You are simply yourself,” Leo murmured, affectionately ruffling her hair. “In the exact same manner that you cannot fill their shoes, they could never hope to replicate who you are.”

Leo let out a quiet laugh. “Do you genuinely think we managed to rescue the world purely through our individual might? We simply happened to be granted a level of power that outstripped the rest. Because of that, anyone who harbors the genuine resolve to lay down their life for the salvation of this world is an incredibly dependable and cherished ally.”

Removing his hand from her head, Leo began to amble away with a relaxed stride.

“Hurry up and ascend to this level. I will be waiting with bated breath.”

Melina watched his retreating figure for a long moment before she peered back down into the depths of the canyon.

“My goodness, every single one of you is going to have to push past your absolute limits, aren’t you? After all, the Hero of Beginnings is waiting at the finish line.”