Chapter 482

Book 1 Chapter 482

482.

Beneath a sky stained with the colors of evening.

Two warriors stood opposite one another, one wielding a longsword and the other a greatsword.

The wielder of the massive blade, Tamus, clad in magnificent armor, opened his mouth to speak.

“You possess the courage to face me by yourself, Knight of Twilight.”

Tamus’s tone was icy.

“The uneducated masses frequently babble nonsense.”

He directed the edge of Nox toward Lumern.

“Claiming that the Knight of Twilight is the true heir to Kyle, the Hero of Beginnings.”

Kyle, the Hero of Beginnings.

Two millennia in the past.

The final legendary savior who rescued existence from utter ruin.

He conquered endless adversity and tribulations, breaking past boundless barriers.

Kyle, who brought salvation to the world in its darkest hour, remains revered as the ultimate exemplar for all champions even two thousand years later.

The titles of heroes are granted by the heavens.

In the truest sense, Kyle marked the dawn of an epoch validated by the deities.

Because of this, every aspiring champion dreams of being named Kyle’s successor.

“I refuse to recognize that.”

Tamus narrowed his gaze.

“The Hero of Beginnings represents the pinnacle of grandeur, honor, and might. It is utterly ridiculous that a mere former captive like you could inherit the legacy of such an individual.”

Hearing those words, Lumern briefly lowered his eyelids.

“Moreover, you failed to secure the ultimate prize even after conquering the trial grounds of the Hero of Beginnings. Do you truly believe someone of your caliber deserves to be called the successor of the Hero of Beginnings?”

“I am more aware than anyone else that I fall short of being the successor of the Hero of Beginnings.”

Lumern offered a serene response to Tamus’s taunts.

“Because I lacked the strength to break past my own boundaries.”

Lumern shifted his gaze down toward his palms.

“It would be absurd for someone like me, who faltered and despaired, to claim the mantle of Lord Kyle.”

Despite conquering Kyle’s trial, Lumern had been denied the ultimate reward.

He believed this failure occurred because he simply lacked the worthiness required to carry Kyle’s legacy.

‘Ever since my youth, I held him in the highest regard. I genuinely desired to preserve and continue his legacy.’

Yet, despite drawing so close to that legendary height, he ultimately could not bridge the final gap.

That was the wall he could not scale.

His companions had each fulfilled their destinies.

As befitted the true inheritors of legendary figures, they successfully claimed the powers of their respective mentors.

‘But I, who proved incapable of receiving Lord Kyle’s strength, failed to meet expectations. My shortcomings nearly brought about the deaths of my closest companions.’

No matter how far he extended his grasp, Kyle remained entirely out of reach.

Their fundamental natures were entirely incompatible.

Kyle possessed mastery over all paths, whereas he was merely a practitioner of magic swordsmanship.

“At least you understand your own limitations.”

Tamus gave a mocking laugh at Lumern’s expense.

“If I had been the one destined to conquer Kyle’s trial instead of you… I would have effortlessly claimed Kyle’s power for myself.”

“No, you would have proven just as incapable of inheriting Lord Kyle’s strength.”

“What did you say?”

“Is it not foolish to assume that my unworthiness automatically makes you the rightful heir?”

“How dare a pathetic wretch speak such insolent words in my presence?”

“Rhodea maintained her vigil for you until the very end, clinging to the belief that you would arrive.”

Lumern’s expression grew piercingly cold.

“And she was not alone. Seyrun, Azonia, and Damien felt the same. Even though their journeys have led them down vastly different roads now, they never doubted for a moment that you would show up to fulfill your duty as a hero.”

“You…”

“The entire world was counting on you.”

Right up until the moment the recurring catastrophe was finally halted.

The Knight of Hades was widely regarded as the most powerful champion alive.

His renown easily eclipsed that of the Hero of Genesis.

Countless voices even proclaimed him to be a warrior superior to the Hero of Genesis.

This reputation was built on more than just his individual prowess in battle.

The armies under his command wielded such devastating power that they altered the balance of the mainland and directly imperiled Tartarus itself.

Even the hidden forces of shadow, who typically avoided the daylight due to the dread and revulsion they inspired, marched openly onto the battlegrounds of Tartarus under the banner of the Shan Empire.

“Every soul combined their efforts to stand against the returning cataclysm. Because everyone understood precisely why our world was pushed to the brink of annihilation two thousand years ago.”

The underlying reason civilization nearly collapsed during the Age of Disaster.

It was not merely due to the overwhelming malice of the catastrophic entity known as Erebus.

More than that, the fractured nations were completely helpless against the coordinated incursions from Tartarus.

Even as society teetered on the edge of oblivion, internal conflicts never ceased.

Once the Age of Disaster concluded and a fresh epoch commenced.

The surviving world made every effort to ensure such history would never repeat itself.

“Friction and enmity certainly persisted. Racial conflicts and factional warfare never truly vanished. Yet, the lessons of history remained clear. Over the past two millennia, whenever Tartarus began to stir, the nations laid aside their mutual animosities to stand united against the dark.”

The intense rivalry between the Heroes of Genesis and the Knight of Hades was a legendary tale.

But when a global catastrophe loomed, everyone assumed they would pool their resources.

People harbored absolutely no doubt that the Knight of Hades, celebrated as the pinnacle of martial might, would unsheathe his blade to strike down the rising evil.

Yet, that profound trust was met with absolute desertion.

The populace plunged into utter hopelessness.

Amidst that bleakness, the Heroes of Genesis stepped forward to quell the remnants of Erebus and preserve the world.

However, their celebration was brief.

Public fury quickly shifted toward the Knight of Hades and his sovereign realm, Tarim.

That indignation rapidly transformed into bitter mockery.

“Your wrongdoing was not just choosing to watch from the sidelines while the world burned. You shattered the sacred unity that had been carefully preserved for two thousand years.”

A deep anger manifested in Lumern’s expressions.

“With your own hands, you tore down one of the most precious inheritances left to us by the ancient pioneers. Knowing that, how can you possibly presume to call yourself Lord Kyle’s successor?”

“Hmph. Such simplistic reasoning is exactly what I expect from a common slave.”

Tamus gave a dismissive snort.

“When all is said and done, were the remnants of Erebus not successfully put down? The mere fact that your group managed to handle them without requiring the intervention of the supreme hero proves they were never a genuine peril to begin with.”

Tamus maintained a smug, self-important air.

“Once you perish by my blade, the masses will swiftly come to their senses. They will recognize that I remain the ultimate champion of this world.”

Gooooo-!

An oppressive, midnight-dark energy began to pour from Tamus’s form.

“They will see that your grand exploits were nothing extraordinary. When that realization strikes… Rhodea, that foolish woman, will finally comprehend the gravity of her mistake!”

Flash-!

A fierce light gleamed in his eyes.

A massive surge of spiritual energy erupted outward from him.

“Proud phantoms who swear fealty to my command! Stand forth! Cast down this conceited fool who dares challenge my supremacy, and show him the true scale of my power!”

As Tamus bellowed his order, a rift in reality tore open, unleashing a torrent of legendary armaments.

Ethereal manifestations summoned forth from the weaponry began to take shape.

This was Tamus’s treasured legion of fallen warriors.

Champions who had been vanquished by his own hand, or soldiers who had perished on the fields of battle while marching under his banner.

Tamus had bound these departed souls through strict compacts, reducing them to spectral servants.

This extraordinary feat was unique to him, the man hailed as the premier spirit master across the entire two-thousand-year history following the Age of Heroes.

It was the foundational pillar of his claim to being the mightiest hero.

Yet, the conjured phantoms remained entirely motionless despite Tamus’s directive.

“Rebellious wretches! Why do you refuse to obey my decree?!”

A look of sheer bewilderment crossed Tamus’s features.

“I already explained it to you—you shattered the trust of the world.”

Lumern leveled the tip of his weapon straight at Tamus.

“Did you honestly believe these noble spirits would offer their loyalty to a traitor like you?”

Prompted by Lumern’s icy observation, Tamus’s expression twisted with rage.

“Useless trash. To think they would dare turn their backs on me.”

Whoosh-!

Banishing the unresponsive spirits back into the rift, Tamus allowed a sinister smirk to form on his lips.

“It alters nothing. My status as the premier champion was never solely dependent on the art of spirit mastery.”

Tamus dropped into a low combat stance, tightening his grip around Nox.

“What hope do you have entirely on your own? Your supposed triumphs were merely achieved by leaning on the strength of those who used to follow me.”

Five years prior, Lumern had been nothing more than a tagalong beside Rhodea.

Tamus vividly recalled their initial encounter.

It was true that Lumern had managed to navigate the legendary hero’s domain by his own efforts.

However, that was merely the basic [Prologue].

Back then, Lumern was nothing more than a fragile amateur who possessed no right to the title of a true champion.

A mere five years had passed since.

How much could a weakling transform after failing to properly withstand even a single casual blow in the past?

CRACK-!

Tamus lunged forward with explosive speed toward Lumern.

Slish-!

In the next instant, his world spun completely upside down.

“What…?”

A bewildered murmur escaped Tamus’s lips.

Tamus remained entirely unaware of the truth.

He did not know that when the rest of the Heroes of Genesis lay defeated.

It was Lumern, the Knight of Twilight, who obstinately refused to yield, persisting until he successfully severed the head of the Erebus manifestation.

He did not realize that Lumern’s current capabilities had long since eclipsed his own.

Furthermore, Lumern’s style of combat was…

‘…The Hero of Beginnings… Kyle?’

Tamus had never personally stepped into Kyle’s specific trial domain.

However, he had crossed paths with glimpses of him within the records of alternative legends.

Because of that experience, he instantly discerned that the precise path Lumern’s blade had just traveled was a flawless mirror of Kyle’s own technique.

From his inverted perspective on the ground, he could see Lumern’s retreating back.

The silhouette strangely mirrored the image of Kyle.

‘To think you would deceive me with such falsehoods! You absolutely claimed Kyle’s true power, didn’t you!’

Fury and blood rushed into Tamus’s vision.

‘How could any human attain such immense strength within such a brief window of time?’

Tamus found himself utterly consumed by the chaotic questions flooding his mind.

‘Of course! He didn’t forge this strength through personal merit—he acquired the ultimate prize from the Hero Record itself! This is unacceptable! You are nothing but a fraudulent champion!’

Having arrived at his own frantic rationale, Tamus unleashed his absolute malice.

‘This is entirely your fault! The defiance of my spirits! Rhodea deserting my side! My inability to secure the legacy of the legendary champions! My failure to claim Kyle’s absolute strength! Every bit of it is because of you!’

His awareness began to slip away into darkness.

‘If you had simply never existed… that glorious mantle would belong to me…!’

“You are completely out of your mind.”

“What… did you just say?”

“By what logic are you my heir? I have absolutely no memory of leaving my legacy to someone of your character.”

“Do you honestly view Lumern as your rightful successor as well?! That wretched creature comes from the lowest slave stock! He lacks the nobility required to bear your legendary name!”

Tamus shrieked, his voice trembling with manic energy.

“I am Tamus, born of the highest aristocracy! I am the sole individual worthy of inheriting your mantle…”

“I don’t particularly view Lumern as my successor either. Why place so much emphasis on a title like ‘successor’? Anyone who puts their life on the line to safeguard this world is inherently walking the path we left behind.”

Leo spoke with complete indifference.

“Evaluating you by that metric, you fail to even qualify as a basic hero, let alone an heir of mine.”

“What?”

Following Leo’s blunt verdict, Tamus’s entire frame shuddered with unbridled fury.

“Ah, I understand now. You aren’t truly Kyle, the Hero of Beginnings.”

“You literally just addressed me as Kyle a moment ago with your own mouth.”

“The authentic Hero of Beginnings would never fail to recognize my supreme worth.”

“He is genuinely delusional.”

Leo was well aware that he was interacting with a deeply irrational individual, but the sheer extent of the delusion caught him off guard, prompting him to emit a bitter, empty chuckle.

A sharp gleam cut through the shadows beneath his hood.

“I climbed to the rank of a champion backed by the explicit validation of the heavens. How dare a fraudulent entity like you attempt to instruct me—someone chosen by the deities—on what constitutes the merits of a hero?”

“If you intend to stubbornly cling to that delusion, I suppose words are useless, however…”

A faint smirk played on the edges of Leo’s mouth.

“The truth remains that you are no savior.”

“Arrogant, disrespectful fool.”

An intense wave of homicidal intent radiated outward from Tamus.

“A counterfeit champion who only stood up by clinging to the remnants of the Hero Record, daring to pass judgment on my worth…!”

Right at the peak of Tamus’s fury.

His entire body froze mid-motion.

Moments later, his limbs began to shake uncontrollably, vibrating violently like a leaf caught in a gale.

“Th-this… it cannot be…!”

Tamus stared intently at the glowing declaration manifesting right before his vision, his face pale with absolute horror.

[Hero’s Qualification has been revoked.]