Chapter 588

Volume 1 Chapter 588

588.

Posteritas.

This blade possessed absolute versatility.

It could transform into a blade upon command, shift into a staff at another moment, or even serve as a medium for summoning if its wielder intended.

Crafted by Dweno under the inspiration of Kyle, this weapon held boundless potential.

Dubbed Future, it truly functioned as a universal weapon adaptable to any class, carrying endless variations.

Furthermore, it was destined to grant fresh prospects to destiny alongside its master before eventually fading away.

‘For what reason is this…’

Kyle clutched the edge of his donned mantle.

‘An alternate dimension has unlocked.’

It was more than just Posteritas.

The latent enchantments within his outerwear began to pulsate with life.

Consequently, every piece of gear stored inside the dimensional pocket became accessible to him.

It seemed to offer silent reassurance.

A sensation washed over him as though an unseen hand were assisting him.

Memories of his past awakening with the Spirit Summoning Art abruptly surfaced.

The magical energy of Lisinas had behaved back then as if it possessed its own consciousness.

Involuntarily tightening his grasp on Posteritas, Kyle spoke aloud.

“Have you… returned to this place?”

Silence met his query.

“Surely that cannot be…”

He let out a melancholic smirk at the thought.

Thud—

A sudden pressure nudged him from behind.

Surprised, he spun around to check, yet the space behind him remained empty.

“…”

Staring blankly, Kyle turned his attention ahead.

“Indeed.”

He focused his eyes resolutely on the path before him.

“I need to advance.”

Reigniting his determination, he pulled Posteritas completely from its sheath.

Swish!

The weapon vibrated in response to Kyle’s internal energy.

Although this particular blade was merely a replica manifested through the Hero’s Record, the sensation upon holding it mirrored his very first experience.

‘The masterpieces forged by Dweno are genuinely extraordinary.’

They instill absolute confidence.

A certainty that they would remain loyal under any circumstance.

They serve as a steadfast foundation for their wielders to lean on until the final moment to uphold their principles.

Kyle aimed the point of the blade at the catastrophic inferno.

“One more time… lend me your strength.”

Fwip!

Observing how Posteritas reacted to his call, a soft smile formed on Kyle’s face.

“Lord Lumern…”

“That is truly Lord Lumern.”

“The Knight of Twilight…!”

The aspiring champions converged around Lumern, gazing upon him with reverence.

An legendary figure stood right in front of them.

Kyle, recognized as the Hero of Beginnings, alongside Luna, who was the Progenitor of the Nebula, and the Champion Arwon, had all returned to the contemporary era.

The majority of the crowd had personally observed that phenomenon.

Nevertheless, meeting the Hero of Creation remained an equally breathtaking experience.

The warrior standing before them was one of the foundational figures who pioneered a fresh epoch.

Furthermore, he was a protector who had combated Erebus for millennia within the realm of legends.

Deep veneration shone in the eyes of the young trainees.

Scanning the group, Lumern inquired,

“By what means did you arrive at this location?”

“Pardon?”

Celia appeared somewhat taken aback by Lumern’s query.

“Breaching the defensive fires of Erebus should have been an unattainable feat, correct?”

Noticing Lumern’s bewildered countenance, Wareden chimed in.

“We simply put into practice the lessons Lord Lumern imparted to us.”

“The lessons I imparted?”

“Indeed. We surpassed our own boundaries to reach this place, mimicking the path Lord Lumern once walked.”

Hearing Wareden’s explanation, Lumern’s gaze flickered with fleeting emotion.

Just then, Eliza, who had been transporting Ar through the sky, touched down on the earth.

“Take that, you miserable mass of fire! I managed to strike it!”

“You speak so grandly for someone who passed out from fatigue after a solitary blow. Medical squad! Tend to his injuries immediately!”

Eliza hoisted Ar, whose entire form was covered in agonizing burns, passing him to the medical personnel.

Interestingly, these injuries were the result of Lunia’s White Flame rather than the fires of Erebus.

“What an idiotic feline! I warned you that it was foolhardy!”

“Pff, this is a badge of honor… Yeeeooowwwch!”

Ar, who had been acting prideful despite Lunia’s scolding, shrieked the moment the medical mages began their treatment.

Observing this display, Lumern looked astonished.

“Beast morphing…?”

The capacity to alter one’s physical form into a beast at will was an exclusive trait inherent to Arwon, the Champion.

It was a level of mastery that even his old ally Azonia had failed to attain.

The surprise did not stop with Ar.

Lumern noted with greater astonishment that several beast-kin pupils had also shifted forms, catalyzed by the resonance of Ar’s battle cry.

“We have patched up the external burns, but his energy reserves are entirely depleted!”

“Bah, think nothing of it… Blarg?!”

“Save your bravado for when you aren’t retching from sheer fatigue!”

“Take your nausea over there!”

A group of Elf and Dwarf pupils cried out in annoyance, shoving Ar back and forth amongst themselves.

“My head is spinning… Urgh!”

“Don’t come near me!”

Witnessing Ar being tossed about without any strength to resist, another student walked over.

“Is this the moment for me to take action?”

“Kal, your expertise is limited to elementary restorative spells, isn’t it?”

When Chelsea questioned him with a curious tilt of her head, Kal proudly expanded his chest.

“Have you forgotten that I fully comprehended the alchemical arts of Dweno?”

“Oh, that’s true. Come to think of it, you held the reputation for being the top concocter of medicines at our academy, right?”

“…Phrased that way, it sounds rather shady.”

Kal narrowed his gaze while digging through his garments.

“I prefer to be recognized as the ultimate utility comrade capable of restoring everyone to peak operational state.”

Muttering to himself, Kal retrieved an oversized hypodermic needle.

Ar, already dealing with a churning stomach brought on by severe exhaustion, cringed at the sight of the instrument.

Kal observed Ar, whose ears and tail had gone rigid with wariness, and commanded,

“Secure his position.”

Obeying the directive, Driana and Chen Xia restrained Ar’s limbs.

“Weren’t there rumors that the lineage of the Champion knows no fear? He survived far worse trauma without flinching, so why is he making such a dramatic fuss over this?”

“If applied with care, the pain will be minimal.”

“Yeeek! Stop, aaaah!”

Ignoring the thrashing, Kal resolutely drove the massive needle straight into Ar’s shoulder.

Witnessing the spectacle, the pupils belonging to the Azonia faction averted their eyes in shame.

“What an absolute disgrace.”

“Unbelievable that he serves as our representative.”

“How can we possibly show our faces before Lord Azonia after this?”

“Lord Lumern must find our group utterly laughable.”

Overhearing the crestfallen whispers from the Azonia cohort, Lumern reflected silently.

‘…He mirrors Azonia perfectly.’

Lumern’s gaze, which had been fixed on Ar for a moment, shifted to Kal.

‘But who exactly is this child?’

At a glance, he was incomparable to the students here.

Pupils from different academies swarmed around Kal after he successfully administered a specialized vitality replenishment solution to Ar.

“The instructions you gave us were flawless, weren’t they?”

“Had you not intervened, we would still be hopelessly entangled with the dark inferno!”

“So you possess genuine tactical skill rather than just minor gimmicks. When our next combined training session occurs, would you consider teaming up with us?”

Every individual in the vicinity had to acknowledge the truth.

Their arrival at this destination was entirely due to Kal guiding their efforts.

‘Understood. He acts as a catalyst who propels his peers onward.’

In that regard, Kal had earned his place on this battlefield.

And Lumern could surmise the sheer volume of barriers the youth had shattered to stand here.

‘…He represents a student who accomplished the very things I failed to realize.’

An individual fundamentally distinct from his own self, who had faltered before his own constraints.

The manifestation of the ideal champion he had yearned to become.

‘I feel a sense of envy.’

With that thought, Lumern tightened his grip into a fist.

“Lord Lumern!”

Kal advanced toward the legendary figure.

He then held out the implement in his grasp, offering it to Lumern.

“Please take this! This object was committed to my care by Lord Lian! It was described as an instrument capable of shattering the central core of Erebus!”

“Retain possession of it yourself.”

“What?”

“For I intend to clear a path ahead.”

Hearing that response, Kal’s features froze.

He comprehended immediately the implications of Lumern’s intended actions.

“Hold on a moment! Lord Lumern!”

Lumern charged forward toward the area where the dark conflagration danced.

In order to obliterate the core, one had to utterly break down the manifest form of Erebus.

Given the level of power Lumern currently possessed, such a feat was unachievable through standard means.

‘He intends to forge a route at the cost of his own life!’

Kal’s expression became grim.

‘I cannot just stand by; I must assist!’

Kal ground his teeth together.

Lumern was far too monumental an individual for someone like Kal to presumptuously offer aid.

Nevertheless, the Lumern standing before him was desperate for backup.

Even the most titanic figures are brought to their knees when overwhelmed.

Owing to their greatness, the burdens they carry are vastly heavier.

Consequently, when they finally collapse, rising again proves incredibly difficult.

‘Perhaps we can provide the support he needs to stand once more!’

Mustering his resolve, Kal bolted toward Eliza.

“Eliza!”

“Wh-what is it?!”

Eliza panicked slightly as Kal grabbed her shoulder and spoke with intense urgency.

“Carry me up into the air!”

“Right, understood.”

Under typical circumstances, Eliza would have aggressively swatted his hand away, but she found herself agreeing instantly without thought.

“Listen up, everyone! Though we are exhausted, let us join the battle beside Lord Lumern!”

“Offering peripheral support to Lord Lumern is one thing, but standing directly by his side in combat seems unfeasible. We should consider it a success if we avoid becoming a hindrance to him.”

Lunia gestured in agreement with Driana’s assessment.

“True, a single misstep on our part could end up impeding Lord Lumern…”

“Under ordinary conditions, you would be correct! However, at this very moment, Lord Lumern requires our assistance!”

Kal clenched his jaw, keeping his eyes locked on Lumern’s retreating figure.

‘That is the tragic flaw of genuinely legendary figures! They recognize the impossibility of managing it solo, yet they insist on bearing the entire burden on their own shoulders!’

Lumern undoubtedly believed that since he had failed to surpass his own boundaries, he belonged to a bygone epoch.

He felt obligated to execute his duty by serving as a stepping stone for the upcoming generation.

‘He possesses a truly magnificent spirit!’

His admiration for Lumern ran deep.

Having an understanding of the man’s true character allowed him to harbor a profound, authentic respect.

Be that as it may…

‘Your journey should not conclude here!’

It was not merely the grief of losing Lumern that drove him.

He simply refused to witness it.

The demise of the champion he held in such high esteem and took pride in.

Kal could not bear the sight of him succumbing to despair and meeting downfall.

He now grasped the reason why the Lian belonging to this reality had declined to assist Lumern.

Lian must have concluded that a Lumern who had abandoned the will to survive was beyond salvation.

‘Leo, by what means did you manage to conquer Erebus entirely on your own?’

He brought to mind a query he had posed to Leo in the past.

Leo’s response to that inquiry had been straightforward:

‘Because I possessed a desire to survive.’

Leo had offered a grin.

‘I wished to remain alive to witness it. The future era they longed to behold.’

The Hero of Beginnings himself had been driven by the urge to live, enabling him to achieve that miracle.

‘Since you stand as the heir to Leo, you are obligated to survive as well!’

Crying out internally, Kal declared aloud,

“I will manage the tactical directions to the best of my ability.”

He squeezed his hand into a tight fist.

“My capabilities may be limited to that, but… I must find a way to assist Lord Lumern!”

Enabling a fallen Lumern to rise once more was an impossible task given their current collective power.

‘An exploit of that nature belongs solely to Leo!’

For only an individual who had rescued the entire world could truly comprehend the desolation of another savior.

Even so.

‘We can brace him to ensure he does not collapse completely!’

Kal tightened his fingers around the staff that Lian had passed down.

“That destination represents the very theater of war you are destined to occupy in the future!”

Kal proclaimed with intense fervor.

Hearing his statement, the pupils’ eyes stretched wide in surprise.

“That future could arrive as early as tomorrow! Will you merely defer your responsibility to another party at that time, claiming you lack the necessary qualifications?”

Spurred by Kal’s rhetoric, a fierce martial intent ignited within the gazes of the aspiring champions.

“Lord Lumern, the very man who instructed us to break past our constraints, is out there battling! Let us demonstrate our growth to him!”

Kal roared with conviction.

“Show him that you are individuals capable of shattering boundaries whenever required! I shall back you up with every ounce of my power!”

“It isn’t just ‘you all’, Kal.”

Standing beside him, Eliza let out a sharp click of her tongue.

“The correct term is ‘us’.”

Hearing her correction, Kal looked slightly self-conscious.

Observing the exchange, Chen Xia inclined her head curiously.

“How peculiar.”

“What do you mean?”

In response to Celia’s confusion, Chen Xia let out a subtle smirk.

“At what point did the relationship between those two develop such closeness?”

Right at that moment, Celia’s eyes expanded in realization.

—It seems you are doing more than just mindlessly mimicking.

Whoosh!

Kal’s entire frame went rigid as a voice echoed from his rear.

Wheeling around, he perceived dark conflagrations flickering in that spot.

Erebus cast a sinister smirk, fixing its gaze directly upon Kal.

—A second fool has appeared.