Chapter 590

Book 1 Chapter 590

“Master… Kyle?”

Rumerin laboriously shifted his gaze to look toward the man. A profound sense of comfort washed over Rumerin upon spotting Kyle, who merely observed him with a detached expression while resting on a boulder.

“What a relief… thank goodness…”

All remaining energy seemed to drain from Rumerin’s frame. With Kyle present, there was no longer any reason to feel anxious. The entity known as Erebus, currently wreaking havoc across this domain, would soon cease to be a danger.

“My efforts weren’t wasted… I’m so glad…”

Smack!

“Gah?!”

“What exactly are you celebrating, you foolish kid?”

Kyle tossed a stray fragment of masonry right at Rumerin’s face. Caught completely off guard, Rumerin stared back with a stunned, blank expression. Staring down at the dazed man, Kyle spoke up.

“If you perish right here, won’t your allies be left to endure immense suffering in the world of the Great Opening?”

“…”

“Furthermore, when Erebus eventually breaks free once more.”

Kyle’s gaze sharpened.

“Those young ones will be the ones forced to confront Erebus.”

Kyle directed his attention toward the aspiring heroes locked in combat against Erebus.

“Is that truly something to be grateful for?”

Biting his lip at Kyle’s chilling query, Rumerin replied, “Is it so wrong to place my faith in them?”

“…”

“To trust in my companions… and to believe in the youth who will walk the path after me…”

Rumerin tightened his fist.

“Is it wrong to put my trust in you as well?”

“No, it isn’t.”

Whoosh—

A sudden gust of wind ruffled Kyle’s hair. In truth, Kyle’s past comrades who had already passed away had also placed their ultimate trust in him before closing their eyes for the last time.

“I can scarcely comprehend the kind of existence you’ve endured over millennia. Feeling completely burnt out is only natural.”

A reality bound to a loop of infinity. When existence resets, a person loses track of how many iterations they have survived. Yet, when attempting to conquer the world to break the cycle, the realization hits just how many times they have walked this exact path. It was an exhausting weight to bear.

It was during that dark period that Seyrun brought glad tidings of the resurrection of Kyle, the Hero of the Beginning. Additionally, Rodia had successfully cleared Lisinas’ world alongside Kyle. Within this perpetual cycle, Kyle’s return must have served as a beacon of salvation and comfort for the champions of the Great Opening—a sign that their long vigil could finally conclude.

Wanting to rest was entirely understandable, even if achieving that rest required their own demise. Knowing they had pushed themselves to the absolute limit and that their choices were never incorrect.

However…

“Do you think the other heroes of the Great Opening would handle it this way?”

“…”

Rumerin’s eyes widened in surprise.

“The Seyrun and Rodia I encountered were also profoundly weary. Yet, those individuals chose a different path than yours. They refused to surrender, driving themselves even harder. They likely believed true rest would only be earned once Erebus was entirely destroyed.”

Kyle locked eyes with Rumerin.

“Those two believe in you as well. They believe you won’t throw in the towel.”

Rumerin’s fingers began to tremble. Turning his attention back to the youth, Kyle added,

“Those children feel the same. Because of their faith in you, they continue to fight a battle they know is unwinnable. They believe that you…”

Kyle’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“They hold onto the belief that the Knight of Twilight will shatter his own barriers and join them, just as he always instructed them to do.”

Determination surged back into Rumerin’s hand.

“What about the pupils you observed?”

Rumerin forced his battered frame to move. His physical body screamed in agony. A cataclysmic detonation had occurred when he incinerated every drop of mana within his system all at once. His physical state was completely ruined. Then again, Erebus was surely in a similar condition.

Clench.

Rumerin tightened his grip.

My pupils… they turned out exactly as I had always hoped.

Every single one of Rumerin’s students embodied the perfect ideals he had envisioned. They were children who never faltered when confronting their own boundaries, boldly challenging what seemed impossible. Among them stood a student who shared absolutely no traits with him.

Cal Thomas.

Seeing him present in this place was utterly unexpected. Yet, for that precise reason, he represented the exact archetype of a hero that Rumerin admired most. He had broken through countless barriers. Rumerin understood deeply that what truly forged the Hero of the Beginning was not raw talent, but unyielding determination. Cal had reached this stage through sheer force of will alone. Rumerin desired to embody that kind of heroism.

I had lost sight of it.

The very reason he had revered the legendary figure standing before him. His core philosophy of relentlessly pushing past limitations, never conceding defeat, and reshaping impossible odds into reality.

Overcoming my own limits?

Rumerin bit his lip hard.

Who am I to lecture anyone about breaking through their boundaries when I am the one who surrendered?

He needed to demonstrate the truth to those pupils, who genuinely believed the Knight of Twilight always triumphed over his restrictions. To those children standing on the front lines, revering an illusion, he had to prove to them that the icon they looked up to was real.

That is my duty as the educator… who established the academy.

Rumerin forced himself to stand up. He gathered his remaining energy, stoking the fragile embers of his life force that threatened to extinguish at any second.

Cough! Cough!

Deep crimson blood erupted from his throat and dripped past his lips. Yet, Rumerin paid it no mind.

Thump. Thump.

Kyle silently observed Rumerin’s movements. He did not offer a single hand of assistance; he simply watched. Rumerin let out a small smile at that seemingly cold demeanor.

Indeed… this too is a form of trust.

The absolute certainty that his successor would not break under a trial of this magnitude.

Thump. Thump.

Rumerin took several agonizing steps forward. Gradually, his pace accelerated. Before long, Rumerin was sprinting directly toward the clash. Observing Rumerin’s retreating form as he charged ahead, Kyle thought to himself,

It looks like I won’t have to intervene after all.

Rumerin had finally shattered his own ceiling. For a Rumerin who had begun to leap into unchartered potential, a mere fragment would be no match—unless it were a flawless manifestation of Erebus. This partial entity would never stand a chance.

Kyle’s gaze shifted toward Cal.

Great deeds are not reserved solely for those blessed with immense power.

In comparison to the other prospective heroes, Cal’s combat prowess was mediocre at best. However…

Cal possesses many unique qualities.

The bravery required to conquer terror. An innate ability to spot potential in his peers, draw hope from that potential, and forge a path forward using it. Most importantly… an indestructible spirit that refused to break. Curiously, Cal was beginning to resemble the legendary figures of old.

Then again, it makes perfect sense.

It was those very legends who shaped the present era. And Lisinas, who had pioneered the creation of this age, believed that the principles they fought for would endure through successive generations. Just as Rodia desired for a multitude of paths to flourish among future generations within the world of heroes, Lisinas also wished for the ideals of the great legends to live on within the modest deeds of ordinary individuals.

Cal’s gift was remarkably straightforward. While everyone else stared into the abyss of overwhelming despair, he could identify a glimmer of hope and take action. A simple, yet incredibly grueling talent. A power that could accomplish nothing in isolation.

But then again…

What can anyone truly achieve all by themselves?

Even Kyle himself could achieve nothing alone. Being unable to succeed by oneself was never a shortcoming. If a companion stood by your side, it was equivalent to unlocking boundless possibilities. Following the introduction of the Hero Record, society began to label only those who accomplished monumental feats as heroes.

“But things used to be much simpler in the old days, didn’t they?”

Kyle grinned, reminiscing about Lisinas. He vividly recalled the response he received after grumbling that he was no hero when asked to join the effort to save the world.

“A person who can wield their strength for the sake of others. I believe such a person is a true hero.”

Remembering the gentle smile of Lisinas, Kyle lightly adjusted the edge of his cloak.

Whoosh—!

“It’s coming!”

Following Cal’s frantic warning, Eliza tightened her grip on the reins of the Wind Wyvern and bellowed, “Cling to me tightly!”

Swoosh—!

The Wind Wyvern went into a steep, high-speed dive. Erebus, intent on reducing Cal to cinders, pursued the duo relentlessly.

“Why is that monster singlemindedly pursuing you?!”

“How should I know?!”

“Consider yourself fortunate! The ultimate disaster of this world recognizes you! It views you as the greatest hazard among us! You ought to feel honored!”

“Does this look like a fun situation to you?! Does this look like something I should be proud of?!”

“Hold on!”

Clench!

Cal wrapped his arms tightly around Eliza’s waist, pressing himself flat against her back. Eliza began to channel her inner spiritual energy.

Crackle! Spark!

Instantly, radiant white bolts of lightning erupted from Eliza’s frame.

“Wait, what is this??”

While Cal watched in utter bewilderment, the brilliant white electricity completely enveloped the wyvern’s body.

“What did you just do?!”

“I’m copying Leo Plob!”

Having been consistently subjected to the fundamental forces of lightning by Leo, Eliza had unknowingly begun to store electricity within her spiritual reserves—an energy source that originally resonated with Pegasus. While it wasn’t the pure manifestation of lightning itself, Eliza’s latent capabilities were steadily unlocking, and in this critical moment, it fully manifested.

Whoosh—!

The Wind Wyvern’s acceleration began to outstrip Erebus. Noticing the distance widening, Cal bellowed, “Chloe!”

Right then.

Crack-crack-freeze!

The entire surroundings froze solid. For a brief heartbeat, even Erebus—already diminished by Rumerin’s prior onslaught—was halted.

Hiss!

No one dared to stand near Chloe as she unleashed her sorcery. To draw close meant instant freezing. A pale frost coated Chloe’s entire form.

“Is it truly possible to execute an ice spell of this magnitude using standard magic?”

As Runia watched with wide, shocked eyes, Eyran swallowed hard.

“Judging by the sheer refinement of the mana… it’s practically on par with an ice spirit.”

“What? Chloe Müller is supposed to be an orthodox mage!”

“It’s the specialized magic formula that Lady Luna bestowed upon Chloe previously. I understand it to be a spell that permits a caster to step into the domain of elemental ice spirits.”

“Good grief.”

While Luna was extraordinary for crafting such an absurd spell, Chloe was equally astonishing for mastering it to such a phenomenal degree.

Crack! Snap!

Suddenly, fractures raced across the frozen barrier.

Shatter! Crackle!

Demolishing the ice prison, Erebus continued its dogged pursuit of Cal. Witnessing this, Ar stamped his feet in frustration.

“No way! Why is that giant fireball fixated entirely on Cal?! We’re completely sidelined!”

It wasn’t a matter of Ar being sluggish. However, in terms of sheer evasion, he couldn’t compete with Eliza. Furthermore, when it came to shielding Cal and dodging Erebus, Eliza’s role as a summoner made her the most qualified.

“Look on the bright side, it gives us plenty of room to operate,” Abad offered with a calm smile, gesturing with his hand.

In tandem, Chelsea closed her eyes and parted her lips slightly.

“Ah—”

As Chelsea’s song resonated, the ambient mana began to churn wildly. This, too, was a unique magical technique Luna had provided for the pair—a combination of chantless casting and utilizing vocal tones to direct the currents of the surrounding wind. The combined arcane energies of the two mages funneled straight toward the tip of Serria’s blade.

Whoosh—!

The fiery power of Serdinger intersected with Rwallyn’s tempest, forging a titanic conflagration.

“Flawless.”

Roar—!

Runia smirked, invoking the power of the Flame Emperor. Immaculate white fire enveloped Serdinger’s flames, magnifying its destructive output exponentially. Thanks to the distraction provided by Cal and Eliza, a strike of cataclysmic proportions had been readied.

“The real challenge is figuring out how to direct this strike squarely at Erebus.”

“Leave that to me!”

As Ar prepared to charge forward valiantly, Drianan yanked him back by his collar.

“Your internal injuries are far too severe already.”

“But who else can handle the strain of imbuing that spell…”

“I will take charge.”

Everyone turned around in shock. Rumerin stood before them. Eyran frantically questioned him.

“Rumerin-nim, are you truly alright? You must not push yourself beyond your limits.”

“I am perfectly fine.”

Rumerin hoisted his blade.

“Time is short. Proceed.”

Runia, radiating the intense aura of the Flame Emperor, gave a firm nod.

Roar!

The specialized fire of the Flame Emperor transferred onto Rumerin’s weapon. Assessing the weapon, Rumerin sank into a low stance.

Thud!

Rumerin shot forward, leaping directly at Erebus.

Whoosh—!

Sensing the scorching dark flames closing in from behind, Cal locked his fingers around his staff.

—Cease your futile struggles and surrender.

Erebus’s mocking thoughts echoed in his mind. In retaliation, Cal thrust his middle finger backward.

“Would you give up if you were in my shoes?!”

“Unquestionably.”

“…!”

—Rumerin?

Hearing a sudden voice right behind it, Cal’s eyes went wide while Erebus’s expression twisted in rage.

“It seems a teacher can still learn quite a bit from his pupil.”

Swoosh!

Rumerin swung his sword downward.

“Eliza!”

At Cal’s frantic shout, Eliza instantly executed a sharp pivot.

“Impressive.”

Rumerin let out a short chuckle at their smooth coordination as he drove his blade straight into Erebus.

Boom!

Pitch-black fire clashed with blazing white flames, causing Erebus’s form to briefly distort. Within that fraction of a second, an absolute dark sphere, resembling a void, became visible.

“Haaah!”

Cal drove his staff directly into the center of the dark void.

Flash—!

Instantly, the cataclysmic inferno dissolved into nothingness, leaving no trace behind.

“We pulled it off!”

Cal pumped his fist into the air, screaming in victory. A resounding cheer erupted from the watching crowd of aspiring heroes.

Back on the ground, Kyle observed the desperate triumph of the aspiring heroes and smiled warmly.

“Magnificent.”