Chapter 439

Book 1 Chapter 439
439.

Step- Step-

Leo and Arion moved down a winding staircase that descended into a subterranean space concealed far beneath the Fairy King’s residence.

“Truly,” Leo murmured quietly while navigating the lengthy corridor. “He is definitely holding it back.”

Right from their initial steps onto this stairwell, the immense pressure of the Fairy King’s might washed over them.

“Could this be more than a basic shield?” Arion whispered under his breath.

Out of the three major legendary creatures, while the Phoenix embodies weaponry such as blades and lances, and Pegasus signifies mounted forces, the Fairy stands for defense—or more precisely, a protective boundary.

“It is completely isolated from the external world.”

‘This goes past a mere physical boundary; it has been segregated on a dimensional level.’

The very steps they trod upon could be viewed as an independent realm.

The magic of the Fairies is a formidable force categorized as singular sorcery, and the Fairy King is a sorcerer who has achieved complete mastery over this grand power.

This particular territory had been severed from alternate realities by the Fairy King over a span of 5,000 years.

‘Yet, the arrangement of this incantation is entirely distinct from the Fairy magic I am familiar with.’

It bore little resemblance to the sorcery Leo remembered.

“Does this incantation layout follow Luna’s methodology?”

“Oh, it definitely shares traits with Luna’s spells,” Arion agreed upon hearing Leo’s observation. Silrod, who was hovering beside them, spoke up.

—That is because this fortification was constructed utilizing the structural research Luna conducted on Fairy magic.

“Unsurprisingly brilliant of Luna.”

“She was lauded as the most exceptional prodigy in the annals of magical history, after all,” Arion mused with admiration, prompting a soft chuckle from Leo.

Their downward journey persisted for an extended duration.

It seemed as though half a day had slipped by.

Nevertheless, Silrod clarified that time moved differently within this localized space compared to the outer world.

At last, Leo, Arion, and Silrod came to a halt in front of an immense stone gateway.

Leo focused his gaze intently, while Arion’s features grew tense.

They were well aware that a remnant of Erebus lay just past this portal.

Even so, standing before it caused their physical instincts to flare up defensively.

—Allow me to grant entry.

Grrr-grr-grr-grr—

The moment Silrod uttered those words, the massive stone barrier ground open with a resounding, heavy echo.

Leo and Arion crossed the threshold into the subterranean vault.

Resting within was a pitch-black mass roughly resembling the proportions of a grown man.

It bore a striking resemblance to a block of incinerated wood or a fused, distorted clump of molten metal.

Undeniably, its darkness was far more profound than the deepest midnight, radiating a subtle, lingering trace of Erebus’s energy.

While its shape had altered and its presence felt diminished, Leo and Arion, having personally clashed with Erebus before, recognized its essence instantly.

“Erebus,” Arion breathed, as Leo stepped closer to the entity.

It existed in a condition where its vital fires had been entirely extinguished.

Nonetheless, this remained the very entity of ruin that had nearly driven the entire world to total annihilation in the past.

Furthermore, three millennia ago, this specific piece of Erebus had flared back to life once before.

‘Silrod mentioned that he spent the last 5,000 years attempting to obliterate this thing, all to no avail, correct?’

Silrod had not simply let the remnant lie dormant.

Throughout the centuries, he had exerted the full might of the Fairy King in attempts to eradicate the piece of Erebus.

Yet, every single endeavor proved futile.

Though its active flame was gone, the fundamental nature of Erebus remained unchanged.

It was an ancient, primeval disaster that struck dread into the hearts of deities.

Even Leo, who had pulled off an absolute miracle by defeating it, had been unable to erase it from existence entirely.

Shattering it into six distinct remnants was the absolute limit of his capabilities.

‘I must refrain from reckless contact. Disrupting it and inadvertently agitating the seal would cause immense trouble.’

Leo’s inherent abilities served as the direct antithesis to Erebus.

There was no telling what volatile reaction might occur if his energy interacted with the contained remnant.

‘Keeping it contained and ensuring Tartaros cannot claim it is likely our optimal strategy for the moment.’

Mercifully, the piece of Erebus remained entirely dormant, offering no indications of reviving.

‘Not even the King of the Dead possesses the knowledge to rouse this sliver. In any case, keeping it secured in this state is the wisest course of action for the time being.’

As Leo kept his gaze fixed on the remnant of Erebus, Arion caught a scent and sniffed the air.

“The odor is noticeably distinct from the Erebus I remember.”

—In what way?

“Fundamentally, the foul reek is identical, but it feels somewhat more degraded.”

—Degraded?

“Correct. It resembles the scent of incinerated cinders.”

Leo spoke up, observing Arion’s grimace.

“Is there any indication that it might flare up again?”

Arion pondered Leo’s inquiry for a brief moment.

“I detect no such inclination whatsoever.”

Leo offered a nod of agreement.

“That is a relief. It implies we can set aside our anxieties regarding this particular piece for the moment.”

Turning his attention toward Silrod, Leo requested, “Silrod, please continue to look after this place for a while longer.”

—Rest assured that the security of this vault is in good hands.

Silrod offered an assured grin, patting his chest proudly.

—Lest you forget, I once stood alongside legendary champions.

“You truly are dependable,” Leo chuckled, amused by Silrod’s demeanor.

—Arion?

Silrod noticed Arion watching him in quiet contemplation and looked back with a bewildered expression.

—Is something wrong with my appearance?

“It is nothing. It simply feels as though Silrod has matured significantly.”

—A span of 5,000 years tends to do that to someone.

Silrod offered a wise, knowing smile.

Observing this exchange, Arion cast his eyes down toward his hands.

“Hypothetically… what if my life hadn’t ended 5,000 years ago?” Arion inquired, lifting his gaze.

“Would I have managed to outgrow my faint-hearted nature?”

“What exactly are you implying?”

“Could I have transformed into someone genuinely brave? Resembling the legends that circulate today. Could I have evolved into an authentic champion?”

—Comparing you to the current legends is quite a stretch. Isn’t that so, Leo?

“Undeniably.”

Arion gave a firm nod, absorbing the remarks from Leo and Silrod.

“Very well. In that case, I intend to become a genuine hero.”

“Pardon?”

“That shall be my current objective.”

“Is such an effort even necessary? You are already—”

“No. I refuse to remain the same person I was back then,” Arion declared, squeezing his hand into a tight fist with determination.

Leo, suppressing his initial response, couldn’t help but smile warmly at Arion’s resolve.

“Best of luck to you, then.”

“Understood!”

—

Beside a quiet pool deep within a thick woodland.

“Wow! Wow! You are incredible! Wow!”

“Haha-haha-haha-haha!”

Arion stared down at Ar, who was desperately gripping his leg, with a look of absolute panic.

Witnessing this display, Leo simply wore an expression that said ‘exactly as expected.’

“And he spoke of becoming a genuine champion…”

Chelsea, standing nearby with a thoroughly bewildered expression, overheard Leo’s quiet comment and asked, “Pardon? What was that?”

“Nothing of importance,” Leo replied briefly, grabbing Ar by the back of his collar to pull him away. “Cease this behavior, you are interrupting the training session.”

Jarred by the intervention, Ar snapped back to reality and relinquished his hold on Arion.

Seizing the moment, Arion hastily ducked behind Chelsea for protection.

Chelsea stared blankly up at Arion, completely stupefied.

“I thought his nervous episodes had stabilized somewhat.”

“But look at that black rabbit! Look at Sir Arion!”

Ar fixed his gaze on Arion, who was still trying to use Chelsea as a shield.

“Oh! Incredible! The greatest! Sir Arion’s beastly manifestation is unmatched! Ah! The radiance is too intense! My eyes cannot bear it!”

Ar shielded his vision, trembling with zeal as he admired Arion.

“Unbelievable grandeur! The venerable aura of a true champion radiates from him!”

“Are you certain your vision does not require correction?” Leo let out a heavy sigh at Ar’s delusional perspective. Ar was stubbornly projecting his idealized thoughts onto the sight of Arion cowering behind a much smaller Chelsea.

“Brother Leo, may I inquire about something?” Chelsea spoke up.

“Go ahead.”

“Sir Arion deviates quite drastically from the legendary figure depicted in historical texts. Was this truly his default disposition?”

Leo gave an affirmative nod to Chelsea, whose face clearly conveyed utter disbelief.

“Indeed.”

“Goodness gracious.”

Who could have ever anticipated such a reality?

The legendary icon Arion, whom contemporary society viewed as the pinnacle of bravery, was fundamentally a timorous person.

‘Granted, that fierce glint in his gaze is genuinely intimidating,’ Chelsea thought to herself while glancing toward Ar’s wide eyes.

“Nonetheless, why must you constantly take cover behind my back?” Chelsea inquired of Arion.

“It simply provides a comforting sense of security, I suppose,” Arion sheepishly offered, leaving Chelsea looking entirely perplexed.

In the meantime, Arion stepped toward Ar, who had finally quieted down.

“Shall we attempt your shapeshifting?”

In response to the prompt, Ar unleashed his inner energy.

Arion gave an approving nod as he evaluated Ar’s altered state.

“Excellent. Now, execute your Howling.”

Ar drew a massive breath into his lungs.

Anticipating the acoustic force, Chelsea used her magic to stabilize the surrounding air currents.

—Rroooooaaaarrrr!

The sheer volume of the reverberation caused a distinct shudder to run through Chelsea’s frame.

‘Incredible.’

Chelsea took a tense breath.

The formidable presence befitting a second-year champion representing Azonia was fully on display.

Arion folded his arms upon listening to Ar’s vocalization.

“If I understand correctly, modern times have seen the development of multiple variations of Howling, yes?”

“Correct!”

The original technique belonging to Arion forced adversaries into a state of panic while bolstering the morale of his comrades.

In contrast, the contemporary usage yielded distinct outcomes based on individual practitioners, occasionally serving to temporarily augment bodily traits or disorient hostile targets.

“Furthermore, individuals of beast heritage who manifest these specific traits typically follow the path of spellcasters or conjurers, do they not?”

“Precisely!”

Pondering this input, Arion took a profound breath following Ar’s enthusiastic confirmation.

—RROOOOOAAAARRRR!

An immense, thunderous bellow erupted, completely eclipsing Ar’s previous attempt.

Stunned by the sheer magnitude of the sound, both Ar and Chelsea found their knees giving way as they collapsed onto the grass.

“St-stunning…”

“Spectacular!”

Chelsea trembled from the impact, while Ar shook with sheer euphoria.

As the pair marveled at Arion’s commanding presence, Leo focused his attention on his own hands, narrowing his eyes.

He noted that his physical form experienced a sudden sense of weightlessness.

“Did you integrate an enhancement property into your Howling?” Leo inquired.

“I did.”

“Pardon?”

“Now that you mention it, my own physical state…?”

Arion replied with complete casualness, causing the jaws of Ar and Chelsea to drop in surprise.

“I merely combined the current methodology of Howling with the internal energy circulation that sorcerers utilize for empowerment spells.”

The modern iterations practiced by contemporary beast-kin relied on an entirely separate manipulation of spiritual energy compared to Arion’s method.

The primordial Howling was exclusively Arion’s personal creation.

Subsequent generations analyzed and modified his technique to adapt it to their own capabilities.

Through that evolution, the art underwent significant alterations, yielding unique attributes that Arion himself had never previously employed.

Yet, simply by listening to Ar’s acoustic delivery and learning about current trends, Arion had spontaneously manifested an entirely new property on the spot.

“Is such a feat truly plausible?”

“It seems to function perfectly fine when I attempt it,” Arion remarked simply.

“Truly magnificent, Sir Arion!”

Arion offered a grin to the dumbfounded Chelsea, while Ar’s eyes gleamed as he continued to shower his idol with accolades.

“However, Ar, I fail to detect any latent energy within you that triggers your transformation,” Arion noted.

“It only manifested a single time, entirely by chance…”

“Is that so? In that case, perhaps refining your vocalized execution will bring it forth. There exists a dedicated regimen designed specifically for cultivating the voice.”

“Wow! Please enlighten me!” Ar’s interest was instantly piqued.

Arion stepped behind Ar, hooked his arms beneath the youth’s shoulders, and hoisted him off the ground.

He then marched toward the edge of the pond while Ar looked up in total confusion.

Ar’s complexion rapidly lost its color.

“Y-you wouldn’t mean…?”

“Precisely. Your task is to submerge yourself.”

Heave! Splash!

“Yaaaooowww?!”

Arion called out over Ar’s frantic splashing and feline shrieks.

“Project your voice with maximum intensity beneath the surface!”

“Blub-blub-blub-glug-glug-glug!”

Despite his profound aversion to moisture, Ar managed to keep his head under and let loose a submerged roar.

“Gasped!”

The moment Ar broke the surface to fill his desperate lungs, Arion commanded.

“Submerge once more immediately!”

“W-what?!”

“This particular exercise was devised with Luna’s assistance to fortify my own vocal strength. It is grueling, but the outcomes are undeniable. Capture the maximum amount of air possible in a split second.”

“Understood! Gulp!”

Ar plunged his face back beneath the water’s edge.

Bubble-bubble-bubble!

“Hack!”

Splash!

“Yikes!?”

Ar’s vision blurred with panic as Arion firmly gripped the back of his skull, pressing him downward.

“I—I was suffocating… Cough!”

“Then learn to draw breath efficiently if you wish to survive!”

“Glug-glug-glug-glug!”

Splash-splash!

“…Does that not cross the line into interrogation tactics?” Chelsea questioned.

“It certainly appears that way,” Leo agreed.

“Could Sir Arion be attempting to eliminate that foolish feline simply out of residual terror?” Chelsea mused.

Reflecting on how intensely he had shuddered upon seeing Ar earlier, the theory held some weight.

“That seems unlikely. Observe his countenance,” Leo noted.

In spite of the harshness of the drill, Arion wore a deeply conflicted and pained look as he held Ar down.

He took no pleasure in the severity of the act, operating purely out of a desire to assist Ar’s development.

‘He is replicating the exact trial that Luna once forced upon him.’

During that era, Arion had been a mere youth.

Through that brutal instruction, Arion had ultimately perfected his mastery of Howling.

He had reaped immense rewards from Luna’s uncompromising guidance.

‘Naturally, that experience also left Arion with a permanent skepticism toward Luna.’

“Do you believe this will produce results?” Chelsea asked, sounding highly skeptical.

Leo rested his jaw against his palm as he observed the scene.

“Given that an authentic legend is directing the instruction, it is bound to yield progress.”