Chapter 446

Book 1 Chapter 446

446.

“Is it ablaze?”

Leo’s features grew rigid.

The tremors in the earth had finally subsided.

Yet, the lone phrase uttered by Arion sent an icy shiver down Leo’s spine.

It is burning.

He required no lengthy contemplation to comprehend the gravity of those words.

‘The resurrection of Erebus.’

Five millennia ago.

It signified that a piece of Erebus, which Kyle, the Hero of the Beginning, had severed into six separate components, had awakened once more.

‘Could a shard truly have been slumbering beneath this very spot?’

Leo cast a sharp gaze down at the earth.

Five thousand years in the past.

Even though he was the individual who had broken Erebus into pieces, Leo himself remained ignorant of where each fragment had ultimately scattered.

‘The only memory remaining is the shards of the fractured entity dispersing across the heavens.’

Shrouded in dark, infernal fire, it had descended from the firmament to the earth.

The final vision Kyle witnessed before passing was.

The six dispersing remnants, and beyond them, resembling the break of day.

It was the image of a radiant sun rising, banishing the overcast, somber skies.

Following that ultimate view, his senses faded, and he entered a prolonged slumber.

‘The known remnants of Erebus up to this point consist of the primary piece unearthed by Silrod, the second shard that reawakened three millennia ago and was confined within the world of genesis by the Heroes of Genesis, and the third piece suspected to be in the possession of that individual known as Hell Kaiser.’

It was impossible for any of those to be present in this place.

The shard located in Fairy Land remained under the supervision of Silrod, while the previously reawakened remnant was securely locked within the Hero Record.

‘Had the Necromancer King set foot in this area, Arion would have immediately noticed his presence.’

Consequently, the manifestation of Erebus that Arion felt at this moment had to be the fourth fragment.

“What caused its abrupt awakening?”

In response to Leo’s inquiry, Arion remarked.

“Five thousand years have passed since the defeat of Erebus, and a single piece returned to life three thousand years ago, correct?”

“That is true.”

“In that case, wouldn’t it be entirely plausible for the other remnants to awaken whenever their time comes?”

Arion’s logic was sound.

A piece had already experienced resurrection three millennia prior.

Therefore, it would not be unusual in the slightest if the other pieces decided to stir at any moment.

“Even so, this is far too abrupt.”

While Leo knit his brows in thought, Arion suggested.

“Alternatively, it might be due to my departure from the Hero’s world.”

“That makes sense.”

Hearing Arion’s hypothesis, Leo gave a profound nod.

Leo had ventured into the frenzied Arion’s Hero Record before retrieving Arion and returning him to the contemporary era.

Throughout that sequence of events, he had exerted divine energy.

‘If the slumbering Erebus was provoked and roused by the holy energy utilized to fetch Arion.’

Then the sudden awakening of Erebus became entirely logical.

He felt an urge to click his tongue in frustration.

“Master Leo!”

“Melina.”

Melina’s call echoed from overhead.

Thump!

Leo addressed her as she touched down right before him.

“Issue an emergency notice across the globe immediately. Inform everyone that a piece of Erebus appears to be returning to life.”

“What?”

The color drained from Melina’s face.

“Is this bizarre phenomenon truly connected to a piece of Erebus?”

“It is.”

Leo tightened and released his grip, expanding on his statement.

“It appears that the fourth fragment has been resurrected.”

“Understood. To begin, I shall evacuate the summoned second-year students along with the first-years to different areas.”

This was no ordinary threat; it involved a remnant of Erebus.

An event equivalent to the resurgence of the great disaster.

Consequently, it presented a challenge far too overwhelming for mere hero prospects to confront.

Melina, holding the title of Dragon Lord, moved swiftly to manage the crisis.

Her expression grew rigid as she channeled her arcane energy, attempting to manifest a teleportation portal.

The moment Leo and Arion observed Melina’s grim countenance, the reality of the circumstances became instantly clear to them.

“Teleportation is non-functional.”

“Correct.”

Melina confirmed in a strained tone, responding to Arion’s assessment.

The very presence of Erebus twists and alters the fundamental rules governing reality.

Sorcery functions as a method that manipulates these global laws to bring forth specific outcomes.

Out of all forms, spatial incantations are exceptionally delicate and volatile.

With Erebus active, the localized fabric of space loses its stability, rendering any manner of transit magic completely useless.

Not even Luna would be capable of executing it.

“For now, assemble all the first-year and second-year students in a single location.”

“I will. And after that?”

“We must brief them on what is transpiring.”

Leo unsheathed his blade.

Melina clenched her jaw, her gaze fixed on Leo.

“The students will fall into hopeless despair.”

“Despair is inevitable. However, that is of no consequence. We still possess a glimmer of hope. Have you forgotten?”

“Pardon? Oh!”

Melina’s gaze expanded significantly as a realization struck her.

“A true hero is standing right here alongside us.”

Unanticipated manifestations of monstrous entities and fiends occurred.

The second-year students stationed throughout Delan had been recalled via an urgent broadcast, receiving Melina’s directive.

Thus, comprehending the emergency instantly, they commenced their assault to suppress the fiendish beasts and monsters.

Swoosh-! Crackle-!

Blazing fire and crackling electrical energy enveloped their blades, announcing their actions with deafening intensity.

Rumble-! Crash-!

“Graaaagh!”

The combined energies of Celia and Duran tore through the flesh of an immense fiendish beast.

Shrieking in agony, the colossal creature toppled over.

Whoosh-!

Leaping toward the fallen creature, Chen Xia soared into the air.

A fluid aura resembling liquid silk billowed gracefully around her.

Slice-!

Yet, that delicate and elegant flow of aquatic energy produced a terrifying sound as it cleaved straight through the monster’s throat.

A torrent of crimson erupted like a massive cascade from the throat of the gargantuan, wall-like beast.

Chen Xia touched down gracefully on the terrain just as the massive carcass slammed into the earth.

Thud-boom!

The lesser creatures trapped underneath were instantly ground into a gory mash.

Whirl-!

Abad hoisted his magic staff high.

“Tempest.”

With the completion of the incantation, a destructive gale erupted, scattering the surrounding fiends and monstrosities.

Freeze-freeze-!

“Fimbulvetr.”

Utilizing her distinct sorcery, Chloe transformed the approaching adversaries into frozen splinters.

Rumble-!

Right at that juncture, the terrain shook violently once more.

“Woredon! Did you trigger this?”

“Negative.”

Woredon cast his eyes downward upon hearing Eliza’s inquiry.

“The elemental spirits of the earth are trembling in terror.”

“What are you implying by that?”

“It implies that an ominous entity is approaching.”

Saying this, Woredon focused his gaze sharply.

Flash-!

A beam of brilliant radiance soared upward in the near distance.

Chelsea, who was currently destroying airborne aberrations above, called out loudly.

“That is the emblem of Dragonia! Master Melina must be instructing us to assemble at that location!”

Prompted by her shout, the disciples of Lumen advanced toward the glowing beam.

The first-year pupils were already converging at the destination.

Furthermore, former graduates who had been eliminating the fiends also arrived at the staging ground.

Carl stared open-mouthed, observing the massive stronghold constructed through alchemical arts.

“Erecting such a structure instantaneously? Truly worthy of a Dragon Lord.”

Carl expressed his awe.

Concurrently, Zamua, positioned by the entrance, bellowed.

“All hands, retreat within the battlements before the incoming hordes overwhelm us!”

Spurred by Zamua’s thundering command, the first-year and second-year trainees filed into the bastion.

“What in the world is happening out here?”

“Could this be another mock exercise?”

“Given that an entire stronghold has been deployed, it must be part of the curriculum, right?”

A portion of the underclassmen and upperclassmen were still erroneously under the impression that this crisis was a simulation.

Observing their behavior, Torua crossed his arms and complained.

“This highlights the flaw within the instructional methods of these Hero academies. Regardless of how often you claim that exercises mirror actual warfare, certain youths will view a genuine catastrophe as a mere drill, even when lethal abominations are charging to slaughter them.”

“That may be true, but because of that mindset, the trainees are managing this crisis remarkably well without panicking.”

Torua gave an approving nod to Ulta’s observation.

Amidst their discussion, Lis murmured softly.

“The surrounding aura feels bizarre.”

“Brother!”

Celia sprinted toward him.

“This isn’t an exercise anymore, is it? It’s an actual emergency!”

Lis confirmed her suspicion with a grim nod.

“Correct.”

“Then what could possibly be causing this?!”

“The precise details escape me as well. We will remain in the dark until Master Melina provides clarification…”

Lis let his words fade.

Gleam-!

A pair of drakes adorned with shimmering golden scales manifested in the heavens directly above the bastion.

As the crowd watched in astonishment.

Gleam-!

The two radiant draconic entities assumed human forms upon the defensive walls.

They revealed themselves as a mature gentleman possessing gilded hair and a young lady with matching golden locks.

These individuals were Akatis, Melina’s loyal lieutenant, and Enkinias, her designated heir.

“Has everyone assembled?”

Answering Akatis’s query, Rienia stepped out from the group.

“Indeed. Every pupil from the Hero Academy is present. Can you now enlighten us as to what is occurring?”

En offered a brief reply to Rienia’s demand.

“Master Melina shall arrive shortly to clarify the current state of affairs.”

Upon hearing this, the students who had previously assumed it was an exercise began whispering among themselves.

Shortly thereafter, Melina glided down from above, alighting upon the battlements.

“Listen well, everyone.”

Flanked by Akatis and Enkinias, Melina spoke with a palpable strain in her voice, causing the expressions of the onlookers to instantly sober.

“You stand here as prospective heroes.”

Melina initiated her address deliberately.

“Day in and day out, you labor without rest to earn that title. You do so to confront adversities at a moment’s notice, regardless of the venue. You represent the honorable vanguard destined to defend this realm.”

Her choice of words left many of the listeners looking bewildered.

“Yet hardships… disasters arrive unannounced. It occurred five millennia past, three thousand years ago, and… it is happening once more.”

Rumble-!

The earth beneath them commenced a ferocious shuddering.

This particular tremor possessed a magnitude vastly exceeding anything they had experienced so far.

At that point, sheer bewilderment washed over the entire student body.

Boom-boom-boom! Roar-!

Abruptly, far on the horizon.

A gargantuan column of flame burst forth, fracturing the crust and launching itself skyward in an explosive surge.

It resembled an immense spire seeking to breach the upper atmosphere.

The fiery column sustained its violent upward surge.

The young trainees, observing this profoundly bizarre spectacle, stared in stunned silence.

“Dark… fire?”

An individual muttered, utterly perplexed.

“Look at the heavens…!”

Another voice trembled with rising dread.

The celestial starlight overhead began fading away.

The radiant gleam was snuffed out, replaced by an absolute, suffocating darkness that blanketed the land.

The aspiring heroes recognized this phenomenon immediately from their histories.

The tragedies of five thousand and three thousand years ago.

The spectacle bore an uncanny, terrifying resemblance to the catastrophes that had previously brought the realm to the brink of annihilation.

As the full gravity of the situation dawned on the horrified crowd.

Melina delivered a somber pronouncement.

“My friends, the great disaster has reawakened.”

“My friends, the great disaster has reawakened.”

Catching the echoes of Melina’s resonant declaration, Leo, standing atop the elevated watchtower of the fortress walls, whispered to himself.

“To be forced to witness that accursed spectacle once more.”

He ground his teeth together as he stared at the emblem of ruin overtaking the firmament.

“So, this is how it truly felt.”

Arion voiced his somber reflections.

Having been brought into existence during an era already plagued by ruin, Arion had never understood.

The sensation of having tranquility suddenly ripped away.

The pure hopelessness that accompanies facing a monstrous catastrophe.

“The circumstances vary slightly on this occasion. Those dark clouds will be dispelled before the night ends.”

Leo shifted his gaze toward Arion.

“My true desire was for you to experience tranquility and live without worry.”

“I have experienced plenty of it. I have known great comfort.”

Arion offered a gentle smile.

“My life ended in that past era. Yet, due to your actions, Kyle, I was granted the chance to look upon the world we fought to protect. Could there possibly be a more profound gift?”

Both Leo and Arion harbored a silent understanding.

Once this confrontation concluded, Arion’s existence would fade away.

It was an incredibly bleak reality.

Nevertheless, Leo and Arion were intimately familiar with hopeless scenarios.

On the other hand, the youthful trainees were entirely unprepared.

The immense dread before them was far too crushing for their unseasoned spirits to bear.

“However, do not let panic overtake you.”

Melina’s authoritative tone cut through the air.

Prompted by her statement, Leo remarked.

“Thus… a beacon is required.”

The hour for keeping secrets had drawn to a close.

“Since the disaster has returned, the emblem of valor must likewise make its re-emergence.”

Leo locked his gaze with Arion’s.

“I implore you, Arion, lend me your strength and resolve.”

“Consider it done.”

Arion gave an assured grin before plunging downward from the watchtower.

Thump!

Alighting right beside Melina, Arion cast his eyes over the gathered trainees.

“Instructor Akan?”

Chen Xia voiced her confusion, her features clouded with bewilderment.

With the attention of the entire crowd locked onto him, Arion extended his arm upward.

Gleam-!

A tidal wave of vital energy erupted from Arion’s palm.

Mirroring the dark column of fire conjured by Erebus, an immense beam of energy surged toward the heavens, seeming to tear through the clouds.

This swirling energy rapidly solidified into the shape of a magnificent golden blade.

Arion brought the towering blade of energy down with a forceful sweep, targeting the distant pillar of flame.

Swoosh-! Crash!

The column of dark fire was cleanly cleaved in half, triggering a titanic detonation.

Beholding this awe-inspiring demonstration, a voice whispered in disbelief.

“Did he just… cleave the heavens?”

The dark canopy, previously masked by the corruptive might of Erebus, parted to reveal the glimmering stars once more.

Torua mindlessly recited an ancient legend that had traveled through generations.

“With a single stroke of his blade, the firmament is divided… and looking upon that magnificent display, humanity found boundless hope.”

Every eye remained fixed upon the silhouette of the warrior who had just performed a feat drawn straight from myth, as they murmured his true identity.

“The Hero… Arion.”