Chapter 518

Chapter 518: The Price of a Shortcut

“Are you prepared to face death?”

Eliza narrowed her gaze, fixing her eyes directly on Leo.

“I am well aware of the brutal regimens you forced upon Cella Gerdinger and Chelsea Lewallen.”

A sharp, confident smile played at the corners of Eliza’s lips.

“Did you honestly believe I haven’t endured training just as severe?”

Even at this very moment, Cella and Chelsea were pushing their limits. However, their routines no longer required Leo’s direct oversight; both had progressed to the point where they could drive themselves forward independently. Witnessing the sheer willpower of those two had ignited a competitive spark within the rest of the student body, prompting everyone to elevate their personal routines. Naturally, Eliza had subjected herself to a regimen that easily rivaled theirs.

Leo crossed his arms, watching her defensive display with a calm demeanor.

“I don’t recall ever forcing them into anything I’d call brutal.”

“What?”

“I assigned them challenging tasks, certainly, but I never pushed them to the brink of absolute exhaustion.”

Eliza’s composure wavered slightly at his remark.

This infuriating man.

She had painstakingly hidden her exhaustion, driving her body to its absolute limits. To hear Leo dismiss such agonizing effort as merely “challenging” made her grind her teeth in frustration.

“Basic physical conditioning is always necessary,” Leo continued, “but the kind of training where you must truly gamble your life is of an entirely different nature.”

“Then what exactly do you expect me to do?”

In response, Leo simply extended his arm and opened his palm.

Fzzzzzt—!

Eliza’s eyes widened in sheer disbelief as a brilliant, blindingly white bolt of lightning crackled to life above his hand.

“The authority of a Pegasus? But how is it this pure?”

The illustrious Hergin family had established contracts with legendary, mythical creatures throughout their long history. Because of this tradition, individuals born with the rare affinity to bond with one of the three supreme mythical beasts were assigned their destined partner from the moment of their birth. Eliza was no exception. Her spiritual resonance was uniquely aligned with a Pegasus. Her future companion had been selected during her childhood, and she had encountered the majestic creature on several occasions.

Granted, they had never shared an actual conversation. The three supreme mythical beasts were notoriously prideful entities; they refused to speak with a chosen contractor until that individual had proven themselves truly worthy. Yet, even without past dialogue, Eliza could instantly recognize that the lightning humming in Leo’s palm possessed an overwhelming intensity that completely eclipsed any ordinary Pegasus.

Swallowing hard, Eliza stared at the sparks as Leo spoke.

“What you are looking at is the absolute core of lightning.”

“The core of lightning? Wait, don’t tell me…!”

Shock washed over Eliza’s features.

“Exactly,” Leo replied, extinguishing the brilliant current. “This is the concentrated essence of the Pegasus Kings—a legendary bloodline that vanished from the world five millennia ago.”

“How could you possibly have something like that?”

“It was my compensation for successfully clearing the Hero Record.”

“When could you have pulled off such a feat?” Eliza demanded, her expression turning incredibly solemn.

Leo offered only a calm, indifferent response. “That happens to be a trade secret.”

Frustrated by his deflection, Eliza shot a sharp glance back toward Karl. Karl merely offered a helpless shrug, shaking his head in ignorance.

So Karl Thomas is in the dark about this as well. Still, to hold the true essence of lightning…

It sounded completely impossible. Yet, Eliza knew Leo well enough to recognize that he wasn’t the type to fabricate such monumental claims. Furthermore, a remarkable precedent already existed: Lunia of Seyrun had successfully revived the ancient power of the Phoenix King after five thousand years as a direct reward for her own triumph within the Hero Record.

If Lunia could achieve it, there is no logical reason Leo Plov couldn’t do the same.

“You truly defy all conventional boundaries,” Eliza muttered, letting out a faint, self-deprecating chuckle.

“Not quite,” Leo countered quietly. “Which is precisely why I require formidable companions by my side.”

He gazed down at his own hand before looking back up to address her.

“If this power mirrors what Lunia El Runda obtained, why choose to keep it hidden?” Eliza questioned.

“Because my situation differs significantly from Lunia’s.”

“In what way?”

“Lunia successfully endured the trials presented by the Phoenix King itself to inherit its divine fire. While she isn’t a mythical beast, she functions as the true heir to the Phoenix King’s legacy.”

Consequently, Lunia’s fire was the absolute manifestation of the Flame Emperor. It was an ability she could uniquely harbor because she belonged to a lineage that had preserved the sacred flame of purification—a fire destined to cleanse corrupt forces for generations.

“My acquisition, however, is strictly a prize for conquering a trial.”

To an outsider, the distinction might have seemed trivial, but the mechanical reality was vastly different. Lunia possessed the authentic flame of the Phoenix King, allowing her to summon its devastating power using nothing but her own spiritual energy. She could amplify the strength of her contracted Phoenix and weave that primordial force into her magic to achieve devastating results.

Leo, on the other hand, required the presence of an actual Pegasus to serve as a proper conduit for the lightning’s essence.

Furthermore, channeling this power inflicts immense strain and agony on the Pegasus I contract with.

It was the inherent flaw of obtaining power through a systemic loophole like the Hero Record, rather than earning it through the traditional, rightful path of a true contractor.

“Most importantly, Lunia possesses the ability to bestow her power unto others at will. I do not have that luxury.”

Eliza scoffed lightly. “So? It’s obvious that your offer to assist me is directly tied to that essence of lightning.”

“Correct. I may lack flawless mastery over it, but I can drastically force your progression forward.”

“Meaning you intend to violently jumpstart my dormant potential?”

“Yes.”

“I see. No wonder you asked if I was prepared to die,” Eliza said, a cold smile returning to her lips. She understood his plan perfectly.

A shortcut.

Yet, shortcuts in the pursuit of power were rarely a blessing.

And there is no such thing as a shortcut without peril.

As a summoner, Eliza understood that unlike the concepts of aura or traditional sorcery, the core of her discipline relied entirely on the sacred bond of a ‘contract.’ She was acutely aware of the absolute balance governing the world. Speed always demanded a corresponding toll. When it came to artificially forcing an awakening of one’s latent talent, the penalty for failure was catastrophic.

Total spiritual ruin, or quite literally, instantaneous death.

Forcing a breakthrough was a gamble against nature itself. Disrupting the natural progression of power could never be done safely.

If an easy path existed, it would be a miracle.

Eliza looked down at her open palms.

Is it truly wise to rely on Leo Plov’s intervention?

To accept his terms felt like a severe blow to her dignity—a crack in the pride she held so dear. And yet…

I refuse to be left behind while everyone else advances.

Leo had suggested that time might eventually resolve her current impasse. But while she waited to naturally overcome her limitations, what would the others be doing? They might encounter their own obstacles, allowing her to maintain her position. But it was just as likely that they would shatter those barriers and surge so far ahead that she would never catch up.

I would rather face death than endure that humiliation.

A fierce determination flared in Eliza’s eyes.

I am the rightful successor of the Hergin family.

The faces of her peers—Cella, Duran, Chen Xia, Chloe, Abad, Chelsea, and Woredan—all flashed vividly through her thoughts, before her gaze locked onto Leo.

Being anything less than the absolute best makes my efforts entirely meaningless.

This wasn’t the petty jealousy of an immature child.

I belong on the grandest stage imaginable. Both as a master summoner and as a true hero.

That was the singular purpose defining the life of Eliza Hergin, a prospective hero candidate. Standing right before her was an individual whose heights she might never reach, even if she spent her entire existence chasing his shadow. He represented an immense, overwhelming wall of despair. Yet, conversely, he provided a permanent horizon to pursue for the rest of her days.

I cannot afford to waste a single moment idling around. Even now, he is slipping further out of reach.

To stagnate out of a fear of danger, especially when an alternative path lay open, was a far deeper disgrace than accepting assistance.

“Tell me what I need to do,” she commanded.

Without a word, Leo held out his hand.

Fzzzzzt—!

The blinding core of lightning manifested once more.

“Grasp it.”

Taking a sharp, steadying breath, Eliza reached out and firmly gripped Leo’s hand.

“Ah—!”

In an instant, a violent current surged through her entire body. Her muscles locked up instantly, her eyes rolled back into her head, and she collapsed forward into unconsciousness. As the world faded into absolute darkness, she could faintly hear Karl’s panicked shouts echoing from somewhere far away.

With the last of her awareness, a singular thought drifted through Eliza’s mind:

This… is going to be hell.

“Wasn’t that a bit too reckless?”

Karl had already carried the unconscious Eliza back toward the residential quarters. As Leo sat quietly on a stone bench, Chen Xia materialized silently from the shadows behind him, a look of genuine concern clouding her expression.

“It is dangerous,” Leo admitted without emotion.

“You don’t intend to lower the severity of the process to accommodate her?”

“No. If I coddled her, Eliza would take it as an insult to her capabilities.” Leo turned his head slightly toward Chen Xia as she took a seat beside him. “Put yourself in her position. If I intentionally held back during your training out of pity, would you be pleased?”

“……No. I would likely find it infuriating.”

“Exactly. You youngsters are always so eager to carry yourselves like fully realized adults that you refuse to tolerate being looked down upon.”

Chen Xia narrowed her eyes, shooting him an annoyed look. “Are you dropping all pretense and speaking like an old patriarch now? It isn’t about mimicking anyone; it’s simply a matter of personal maturity. Stop treating me like a toddler.”

Leo offered a sharp, prompt retort. “A true adult doesn’t throw a tantrum when someone shows them genuine consideration, kid.” He reached out and playfully pinched the bridge of her nose.

Swatting his hand away and pouting, Chen Xia quickly changed the subject. “The hour is late. Are you not returning to your room?”

“My thoughts are a bit chaotic tonight. I’d prefer to stay out and clear my head in the evening air a while longer.”

A sympathetic, knowing smile touched Chen Xia’s lips.

With Lord Luna gone, he must be dealing with an immense sense of isolation.

It was an understandable burden. After finally reuniting with a companion who had thrown her life away to protect reality five thousand years ago, they had been forced to separate once more. On top of that, Luna harbored undeniable, deep sentiments toward Leo.

Even if I can never truly decipher the depths of Young Master Leo’s personal feelings.

It was readily apparent that Leo carried a deeply complicated emotional weight regarding Luna.

Young Master Leo is clearly carrying a heavy burden right now. Perhaps I should try to comfort him.

Despite the legendary status trailing his name, Leo remained a mortal being. It made sense that he would display a rare moment of vulnerability when pressed by the weight of his own heart.

What is the best way to offer solace?

“As a matter of fact,” Leo spoke up, breaking the silence, “I need to ask a rather demanding favor of you, and it concerns Luna.”

A demanding favor regarding Lord Luna?

Chen Xia’s gaze shifted nervously.

Miss Airan… that text titled ‘When the Heart is Desolate, the Flesh Follows Suit’… no matter how many times I review it, it reads entirely like a banned publication within Lumern.

H-H-How on earth did you manage to uncover that?!

And that secondary volume, ‘Chronicles are Written After Midnight,’ falls into the exact same category.

Eeeek!

Remembering the scandalous literature she had accidentally discovered while visiting Airan’s private quarters, Chen Xia subconsciously adjusted her posture, sliding a fraction closer to Leo on the bench.

“Young Master Leo, I am fully mature. You may ask whatever difficult task you require of me. In fact, I am prepared to obey any directive you give.”

“Is that so? In that case, I require the specialized assistance of the Shan Empire.”

Chen Xia blinked her large eyes in surprise before a soft, understanding smile graced her face.

“……Then you are requesting the services of a shadow.”

“Precisely.”

This is bad. I’ve spent far too much time around Miss Airan. My internal thoughts are becoming entirely warped.

Chen Xia let out a small, silent sigh to compose herself.

“It appears that Berkia has been pulled back into existence as an undead entity.”

The casual warmth instantly vanished from Chen Xia’s expression at his words, her features turning completely rigid.

“Ber… Lord Kia?”

“Yes.” Leo’s face darkened with gravity. “She appears to be operating entirely from the dark. If she has truly been reanimated as an undead creature… her objectives cannot be anything benevolent. I need you to uncover any path or sign she has left behind.”

“Understood. Consider it done.”

The moment her response left her lips, Chen Xia dissolved into the surrounding midnight gloom.

Left completely alone on the bench, Leo took a slow, deep breath, his eyes tracing the bright surface of the luminous full moon above.