Chapter 450

A mystic implement radiated a starlight glow within Leo’s grasp.

Cotemess.

An armament known as Comet.

Crafted at a celestial level by Dweno and given its title by Luna, this artifact stood unrivaled as the most formidable magical catalyst in the modern era.

Because it was forged by Dweno, universally revered as the divine blacksmith who poured the very essence of his artisan spirit into the work, it held an unfathomable reservoir of arcane energy.

‘Beyond that, Luna layered it with an endless array of incantation frameworks and extensively reworked its design. Imbued with her personal reserves of mana, it possessed an extraordinary capacity.’

Furthermore, the weapon had eventually reached Seirun, the chosen successor of Luna, who woven her own distinct magical essence into its fabric.

‘The complication lies in the fact that it evolved into a tool that demands an equal measure of extreme skill to control.’

For generations, no bloodline had managed to command Cotemess effectively.

Not even the descendants of the Tingel family, who carried the actual lineage of Seirun, could unlock its potential.

The explanation for this failure was simple.

‘The individual who forged the staff, the master who originally commanded it, and the prodigy who inherited it were all unparalleled geniuses of their respective eras.’

It was only in recent days that Leo managed to claim absolute mastery over Cotemess, having received the legendary relic directly from Seirun.

Grip tightening around Cotemess, Leo propelled himself into the upper atmosphere.

Soaring to an altitude where the form of Erebus became a mere speck below, Leo began to churn his internal reservoir of power.

Hummmm—!

Responding directly to Leo’s surging mana, Cotemess ignited with a brilliant light.

Leo’s gaze, previously burning with a crimson hue, shifted into a deep shade of ash.

Swirling clouds of gray magic radiated outward from Leo’s form as he concentrated his spiritual energy.

An intricate geometric matrix formed in the open sky.

It manifested as the physical solidification of a supreme incantation framework composed entirely of mathematical runes.

This was no ordinary spellcasting; it represented an entire self-contained paradigm of sorcery.

Exclusive to a single entity across the world.

A fundamental discipline of magic accessible only to the Hero of Beginnings.

Leo brought the grand design to completion by softly breathing the name of the foundational text.

“Bible.”

The moment the utterance left his lips, the fundamental structure of Bible altered rapidly.

Fresh glyphs etched themselves onto the surface of the glowing configuration.

It transitioned into the specific configuration required for cosmic sorcery.

Securing his hold on Cotemess, Leo unleashed the full scope of the technique.

Blaze—! Crackle—!

Exquisite arrays of magical formulas materialized in concentric circles around Leo’s suspended form.

Observing the alignment, Leo began to recite the activation words.

In immediate response to Leo’s vocalized commands, the floating runic frameworks pulsed with a vibrant spectrum of colors.

Simultaneously, the natural mana permeating the sky began to tremble violently.

A hauntingly beautiful symphony began to resonate across the entire battlefield.

It did not originate from a living throat.

It was a melodic frequency generated entirely by the rapid vibration of atmospheric mana.

“What sort of phenomenon am I witnessing?”

Ulta’s expression warped with profound astonishment.

Beside him, Toarua, who had been maintaining her own incantations while clutching her catalyst, snapped her eyes open in shock.

“It is a resonant chant.”

The very energy of the atmosphere was vibrating in perfect harmony with a distant voice.

That precise alignment of power manifested to the ear as a musical composition.

“Star Magic.”

Rienia, instantly identifying the unique signature of the sorcery, widened her gaze and locked her eyes onto the heavens above.

“Leo Flob?”

Her jaw dropped in absolute disbelief.

“The scale of this is magnificent, Lord Leo.”

Eirian spoke with an expression filled with deep admiration.

“What is the actual destructive capacity of such a spell?”

Lunia also appeared entirely unnerved by the unfolding spectacle.

Precisely at that second.

[Listen to me, everyone.]

Melina’s telepathic communication vibrated clearly within their minds.

[I will assume command of the formation from this point forward. Ulta, flank with Rienia and launch a coordinated strike against Erebus.]

Receiving the directive, Ulta instantly gripped the leather reins of his celestial mount, the Pegasus known as Airia.

Swish—!

Slicing through the air at an incredible velocity, Airia discharged a volley of crackling lightning from above.

Zzzzzzt—!

Even while hurtling forward at a speed that defied comprehension, Rienia managed to shift into a standing posture.

Whoosh—!

The sheer velocity threatened to tear at her footing.

Disregarding the intense friction, Rienia firmly drew back the string of her weapon.

Rooaaar—!

As the tension peaked, she vocalized her intended technique.

The moment Rienia invoked the cosmic technique, the ambient environmental mana that was already vibrating in sync with Leo immediately bound itself to Rienia’s personal incantation.

Rienia’s eyes narrowed slightly in surprise.

‘What exactly is happening inside this circuit?’

She had simply synchronized her rhythm with the overarching cadence of Leo’s primary spell.

Yet, she could feel the baseline energy of her own project multiplying exponentially.

An overwhelming reservoir of destructive force, far eclipsing the absolute limits of Rienia’s personal capacity, infused the weapon.

Despite the sudden influx of immense power, there was no perception of volatility or loss of control.

‘If anything, the matrix feels completely anchored.’

Squeeze—!

Rienia anchored her stance and pulled the string back to its absolute limit.

‘It feels as though this magnitude was always its natural state.’

Aided by the flawlessly fluid circulation of the surrounding mana, Rienia brought her formula to its conclusion.

“Doomsday.”

Flash—!

The instant Rienia loosed her fingers from the string, an apocalyptic manifestation taking the appearance of a luminous arrow tore through the sky toward Erebus.

Blaze—! Boom—! Crash—!

In the violent wake of the projectile’s passage, the surrounding forest and vegetation encircling Erebus were forcefully flattened outward by the shockwave.

Whoosh—!

As plumes of dark, corrupted fire erupted from the impact site, Melina issued her next command.

[Toarua, utilize your terrestrial techniques to intercept the oncoming embers.]

Toarua immediately manipulated the geological layout using a specialized runic framework.

Rumble-crash-shatter—!

A colossal bulwark of solid earth tore through the ground, serving as a shield to isolate the dark flames.

‘The baseline output of Toarua’s magic remains entirely unchanged.’

Rienia concentrated her internal energy once more to test a standard incantation.

A current of freezing wind began to circulate around her palm.

Sorcery manifested through conventional runic frameworks demonstrated no amplification in its overall performance.

Rienia then pivoted back to a cosmic formula.

Instantly, a completely distinct tier of magical acceleration manifested compared to her standard capacity.

“Toarua! Focus entirely on your cosmic techniques!”

“The baseline effectiveness of cosmic formulas is heavily elevated under the current conditions!”

Hearing the realization, Toarua rapidly monitored the status of her own internal circuits.

Recognizing the validity of Rienia’s observation, her features mirrored that same profound shock.

Lunia and Eirian similarly discerned the shifting nature of the ambient energy.

“What is causing this sudden alteration?!”

As Eliza demanded answers in a frantic tone, Lunia responded.

“The exact mechanism remains unclear. The sole certainty is that our cosmic formulas are actively drawing amplification directly from the anchor spell Leo established.”

As those words were exchanged, Leo’s grand incantation reached its zenith.

Flash—!

A monolithic torrent of celestial radiance plummeted directly from the heavens.

—

Flash—!

Erebus’s gaze narrowed sharply against the blinding intensity of the cosmic radiance illuminating the firmament.

This represented a manifestation of power that even an entity of Erebus’s stature could not simply disregard.

To the best of Erebus’s recollection, only a singular entity from the past possessed the capacity to execute magic of this caliber.

—Luna Rubinence?

Boom-crash-collapse—!

The descending column of celestial light scored a direct impact, completely enveloping Erebus within its radius.

A monumental detonation rippled through the area, accompanied by a blinding flash that whited out the horizon.

Arion’s eyes widened significantly as he witnessed the devastation.

“Is that Luna?”

The visual spectacle evoked the distinct impression that he was watching Luna herself operate.

Yet, Arion was acutely aware of the reality.

That Luna did not draw breath in this current historical era.

If the caster was not Luna, then a singular individual remained who could manipulate cosmic sorcery to such an advanced degree.

‘Kyle!’

A smile formed across Arion’s features.

‘As I anticipated, Kyle remains extraordinary.’

He stood in stark contrast to his own self, whose progress had entirely halted.

Even after crossing through the cycle of rebirth, Kyle had never ceased his rigorous self-refinement.

‘At this stage, his proficiency has advanced to a level where he could easily be mistaken for Luna. Though his primordial strength has not yet been fully restored, once he reclaims his true zenith, he will undoubtedly surpass the Kyle of my memories by an immeasurable margin.’

Arion reinforced the grip around his weapon.

Whoosh—!

At that exact interval, tendrils of dark fire tore through the billowing shroud of dust and manifested.

—What is the meaning behind that expression of relief?

“Erebus.”

Thud—!

Erebus advanced a single pace toward Arion’s position.

Despite sustaining a direct, unmitigated hit from Leo’s ultimate technique, Erebus remained completely unscathed.

—It is clear now, you are not Luna Rubinence.

Erebus shifted his gaze upward toward the sky.

—The solitary surviving hero.

As Erebus uttered the quiet observation, Leo descended gracefully from the upper atmosphere.

“Did your five-thousand-year slumber provide adequate rest?”

—You present quite a fascinating spectacle, surviving hero.

“Since you managed to cling to life, I simply returned from the grave to ensure your existence is permanently erased. It’s nothing more than that.”

The corners of Leo’s mouth tilted upward.

Erebus addressed the challenger, observing the blatant expression of derision on Leo’s face.

—If you succeeded in deferring the ultimate annihilation of this realm for five millennia, you have more than fulfilled your purpose.

Thud—

Erebus openly taunted Leo.

—My nature is fundamentally distinct from those entities that persist until this entire world is reduced to ash. It would be entirely aligned with the natural order for a mortal such as yourself to fade into nonexistence. Yet, you find yourself unable to embrace death and instead choose to stand in my path. Hahaha—!

The mocking laughter of Erebus vibrated across the terrain.

—To go as far as contradicting the destiny assigned to you. Truly remarkable. You embody the title of ‘surviving hero’ far better than anyone else could hope to, Kyle.

Whoosh—!

In tandem with his words, a fierce vortex of dark fire erupted around his form.

Melina made an urgent attempt to close the distance to provide assistance to the duo.

Noticing Melina’s shifting position, Erebus fixed her with a freezing glare.

—How dare an utterly insignificant specimen presume to covet a position on this stage!

“Urgh?!”

Following Erebus’s furious exclamation, a towering barrier of dark fire erupted instantly.

Observing the sudden wall, Leo narrowed his vision.

“Your preferences seem remarkably narrow, don’t they?”

—The surviving hero, alongside the Brave. Your existence is entirely separate from that of common, inconsequential creatures.

“What separates us in your eyes?”

—Five millennia ago, when I initiated the incineration of this realm. The repulsive deities vanished entirely from this world. My ancient rivals were rendered permanently incapable of ever setting foot upon this soil again.

Whoosh—!

Erebus’s physical form ignited with an even greater intensity of dark flames.

—The total annihilation of this world became an absolute certainty. And you were the anomalous variable that dared to defy that absolute reality under those exact conditions.

An absolute manifestation of malice, persisting since the dawn of creation.

An entity of pure devastation, existing solely to reduce the realm to cinder.

The precise moment the divine entities vanished and he unveiled his full presence.

The absolute ruin of the world should have been a standard, unavoidable conclusion.

Yet, the ultimate champions ultimately subdued Erebus and averted that preordained catastrophe.

—You are the individuals who accomplished a miracle that even the divine entities failed to secure. In my eyes, you represent far more formidable adversaries than the gods themselves. I refuse to categorize your existence alongside common insects. You should express gratitude. For you have received validation from me, the primordial malice.

“Oh, I am so incredibly moved that I can barely keep myself from cursing.”

Leo ground his teeth together in irritation.

—Hahaha. Therefore.

Erebus’s focus shifted back toward Arion.

—You, who manage to prolong your awareness solely through the recording mechanisms of the divine, appear remarkably comforted. Arion. Despite the fact that you were shivering in absolute terror a mere instant before your expiration.

“That perspective has ceased to carry any weight.”

Arion adjusted his fingers tightly around the hilt of his blade.

His countenance was suffused with an absolute determination that completely eclipsed his prior demeanor.

“The concept of death no longer instills dread within me. Because the preservation of the world was successfully achieved.”

Arion leveled the tip of his blade directly at Erebus.

“The prospect of my own cessation does not frighten me either. Because I maintain absolute certainty that Kyle will bring about your ultimate defeat.”

—Hehehe. Hahaha. Hahahahaha—!

Erebus surrendered to a wave of unhinged laughter.

Witnessing the display, Leo frowned deeply.

“What do you find so amusing?”

—How could I possibly restrain my amusement! Kyle! It remains entirely beyond my comprehension why you refer to this pathetic creature as a Brave!

Erebus directed his words toward Arion.

—Pay close attention, faint-hearted Brave. The surviving hero stands entirely alone. Neither the divine blacksmith, nor the founder of the Nebula, nor the fool are present to aid you. He exists as the sole remnant within this current world!

“That is false! Kyle is surrounded by successors who have fully adopted our core values! He is far from solitary!”

—Are you suggesting those magnificent heirs are those pathetic, insignificant creatures scattered across the dirt?

Erebus cast a dismissive glance toward Melina and the assembled hero candidates across the field of combat.

After a brief pause, Erebus regarded Arion with an expression drenched in profound mockery.

—They are utterly incapable of functioning as a replacement for you, Brave.

“You are wrong! Those youths will undoubtedly…”

—Even assuming they possessed the capacity to substitute for your position, Brave… you have completely blinded yourself to a singular reality.

“What reality?”

—The reality that the surviving hero is forced to engage in a mortal struggle against me once more.

Erebus lowered his stance closer to the earth.

And murmured in a hushed tone.

—It means he is destined to endure the exact same agonizing torment you previously witnessed, all over again.

Arion’s features froze instantly.

“Arion, disregard his provocations entirely.”

Leo spoke up, his countenance remaining completely impassive.

“I have long since reconciled myself to this path.”

—You may very well be prepared for the consequences, but does this faint-hearted Brave possess the same fortitude?

The edges of Erebus’s mouth contorted into a sinister grin.

—The singular champion who chose self-sacrifice primarily out of a terror of witnessing his comrades perish, yet ultimately met his end fearing his own demise and questioning whether the world would truly see salvation. Allow me to describe the final moments of your other companions as I observed them.

Whoosh—!

Erebus’s physical vessel erupted in a towering inferno.

—They unilaterally transferred the burden of their unfulfilled convictions onto the shoulders of the surviving hero. Bequeathing dreams they failed to realize! They closed their eyes in smug self-satisfaction, operating under the absolute assumption that the surviving hero would somehow carry their desires to fruition! And indeed! Their assumption proved accurate!

Leo’s expression turned stone-cold as he began to accelerate his internal mana flow.

—In the final accounting! The surviving hero did indeed preserve the world! He clawed his way through the dirt until the very bitter end, unable to embrace the peace of death, driven by the claim that he would execute your five collective aspirations! To my absolute amusement! He endured the most agonizing and torturous passing among the five of you! And now! He stands on the precipice of repeating that exact cycle of misery once more!

Leo shifted his gaze slightly behind Arion’s stance.

He could discern that Arion’s shoulders were vibrating with a subtle, involuntary tremor.

—An ironical scenario, is it not? Brave. Why does your countenance mirror the exact same expression of despair you wore at the moment of your original demise?

Beholding Arion’s face fracturing under an expression of near-weeping sorrow, Erebus’s features flushed with absolute triumphalism.

“You miserable wretch…!”

A suffocating wave of homicidal intent flooded Leo’s gaze.

—It provides the most exquisite satisfaction to utterly shatter an opponent’s spirit.

Erebus, who had been chuckling darkly, abruptly shifted his entire demeanor.

—We have exhausted the utility of conversation.

An overwhelming, suffocating aura of absolute malice radiated outward from Erebus’s physical form.

—The time has arrived to reduce every single one of you to ash.